Wednesday 28th December 2016

Black American Billionaire Offers to Pay for Chibok Girls’ Education Freed girls not allowed home for Christmas, say families Shettima spends Boxing Day in Chibok Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri with agency report African American billionaire, Mr. Robert Smith, who is

currently sponsoring 24 of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls that immediately escaped from captivity, at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, has

offered to also educate the 21 other girls who were freed last October by the Boko Haram terror sect.

Revealing this yesterday, President Muhammadu

Buhari’s media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu, equally said that 21 Chibok girls were being treated as adoptees of the federal government, but disclosed that there was a lot of local

and international interest in the future plans for the girls.

He said: “A black American billionaire, Mr. Robert Smith who is currently sponsoring the education of 24 girls

from Chibok, among them the first set of escapees from Boko Haram, at the American University of Continued on page 8

Fund Managers Bullish on Nigeria, Other Emerging Markets in 2017...

Page 8

Wednesday 28 December, 2016 Vol 21. No 7923. Price: N250

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Malabu Oil Deal: Etete Questions FG’s Decision Not to Prosecute IOCs Denies wrongdoing, insists $1.1bn transaction was legitimate Tobi Soniyi in Abuja A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dauza Loya Etete (better known as Dan Etete) has queried the decision of the federal government not to prosecute the three oil multinationals – Anglo/Dutch Royal firm Shell, France’s Total and Italy's ENI Nigerian subsidiary, Agip – that were

parties to a transaction entailing the payment of $1.1 billion by the international oil companies (IOCs) into a federal government-designated escrow account in exchange for a stake in a prolific oil block held by Malabu and Oil Gas Limited in 2011.

Etete, who owns Malabu Oil Continued on page 10

Oyegun: APC Not Threatened by Proposed Mega Party Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Ahead of the 2018 governorship elections in Ekiti and Ondo States, as well as the 2019 general election, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday declared that his party does not in anyway feel threatened by the much

talked about formation of a “mega party” to challenge the ruling party.

Instead, he said that those behind it should be encouraged to go ahead with the proposed party so as to create a formidable opposition to the ruling APC. Oyegun, who also absolved former Vice-President Atiku Continued on page 10

Sultan Rejects Bill Seeking Equal Inheritance for Men and Women... Page 47

A GIFT FOR SHETTIMA IN THE SPIRIT OF BOXING DAY...

L-R: Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima; Senate Majority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume; and one of the 21 Chibok girls freed by the Boko Haram terror sect last October, Miss Glory Dama, presenting a gift to Shettima when the girls met with the governor in Chibok community, Borno State… yesterday

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PAGE EIGHT

Fund Managers Bullish on Nigeria, Other Emerging Markets in 2017 Oil rises above $55 ahead of Jan 1 supply cut Ejiofor Alike and Obinna Chima with agency reports A number of global fund managers have expressed their preparedness to buy financial assets in Nigeria and other emerging markets in 2017, indicating of a bullish outlook in some of the markets.

But the credit rating agencies have a less than positive outlook for emerging markets.

According to Reuters, the Head of Portfolio Strategy at Makena Capital Management LLC, Michel Del Buono, who oversees $18 billion across asset classes, however, has a bullish outlook for emerging markets.

Del Buono said he favoured investments in things like healthcare, retail and forprofit education in Nigeria, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

“If you’re exposed in the right way and you have a long-term perspective, you should keep a significant weighting to emerging markets,” he said.

The Nigerian economy is in recession. But in an effort to revamp the economy, President Muhammadu Buhari recently presented a proposed aggregate expenditure of N7.298 trillion for the 2017 fiscal year to the National Assembly.

The federal government also recently said it was targeting a growth rate of

7 per cent between 2017 and 2020, through its National Economic Recovery Growth Plan (NERGP).

Since the United States election in November, emerging market stocks have been down by about 7 per cent, based on the Morgan Stanley Capital Index, and the yield spread of emerging market bonds over benchmark U.S. treasuries is wider by 10 basis points, reversing some of the gains seen earlier in the year.

On November 8, the date of the U.S. election, the EMBI Global year-to-date total return was 14.04 per cent, and a week later, on November14, it had halved to 7.60 per cent.

Currencies such as the Mexican peso and the Turkish lira have tumbled 10 per cent or more in the wake of the election.

U.S. President-elect Trump has pledged to impose protectionist trade policies and restrict immigration which would likely damage most emerging market economies.

The Washington D.C. bank lobbying group, the Institute for International Finance (IIF), reported this week that $23 billion had flowed out of emerging market funds since October 4, with $18 billion of that taking flight since November 9.

“The magnitude of outflows has diminished significantly in recent

weeks, but the direction has remained persistently negative,” an IIF research analyst, Scott Farnham said.

BlackRock, the world’s largest assets manager, is expecting to reap solid gains from all emerging market asset classes, especially bonds, the firm’s chief fixed income strategist, Jeff Rosenberg said at the company’s recent global outlook summit.

Other global fund managers also see a rebound on the horizon.

Head of Emerging Markets Debt at Baring Asset Management Limited, Ricardo Adrogué, said analysts, including ratings agencies, are confusing structural versus cyclical problems when evaluating emerging markets.

“Our assessment of emerging markets is actually strengthening at the time that developed markets' institutional framework is weakening,” he said.

Also, lead portfolio manager for multi-asset income strategies at AllianceBernstein, Morgan Harting, said he was especially bullish on the energy sector and is investing in countries like Russia and Brazil as well as companies like Hungarian oil and gas group, Mol Group.

“As we get more economic data to validate that the underlying fundamentals in these economies continue to firm then people are going

to get more aggressive in investing in emerging markets,” Harting said.

However, credit ratings agencies S&P Global, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have recently lowered positive credit outlooks and written even more negative outlooks for emerging markets.

Moody’s even highlighted the risk of capital flight and potential weakness in the banking sector.

Managing Director of global fixed income research at S&P Global, Diane Vazza noted worries about geopolitical risk and energy companies not being able to adjust to a longer-term trend of lower prices for oil and gas.

“About a third of (emerging market) corporates have negative outlooks,” Vazza told Reuters. “So we expect additional downward pressure across emerging markets.”

Meanwhile, crude oil prices yesterday recorded post-Christmas gains, as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members prepare to start curbing output on January 1, 2017 to support oil prices.

In the first trading after the Christmas and the public holiday, oil edged above $55 a barrel, drawing support from expectations of tighter supply once the first output cut deal between OPEC and

non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday.

January 1 is the official start of the deal agreed by the OPEC and several nonOPEC producers to lower production by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd).

Brent crude was up 17 cents at $55.33 a barrel, while the US crude gained 30 cents to $53.32.

The global benchmark had reached $57.89 on December 12, the highest since July 2015.

Reuters reported that there was no trading on Monday after the Christmas holiday, while the volume of trade was light yesterday.

Nonetheless, crude may struggle to rally much further before evidence is available of OPEC’s compliance with the cut.

Oil has been supported in the past several weeks as OPEC and non-OPEC members had agreed to lower output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from January 1.

Major OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq were said to have informed customers of lower supplies.

However, Libya and Nigeria - which are exempted from reductions because conflict has curbed their output - have been increasing production.

Libya’s oil production rose slightly to 622,000 barrels a day (bpd) on Monday, as an armed faction agreed

to lift a two-year blockade on major western pipelines, the National Oil Corporation said.

The company said it could add 270,000 bpd within three months.

Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft said yesterday it planned to increase oil production by 4.5-5 per cent next year, less than it had intended before Russia joined the supply cut deal.

Russia’s oil exports would rise by almost 5 per cent this year to 253.5 million tonnes and a “slight” increase was expected next year, Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov said on Monday.

Algeria’s Sonatrach will drill 290 wells in 2017 in comparison with 265 in 2016, the head of the oil and gas giant’s drilling division told Reuters late on Friday.

Steady growth from the U.S. has also been identified as another factor that could thwart OPEC’s goal to tamp down global supply.

The number of U.S. rigs drilling for oil climbed by 13 to 523 in the week ended December 23, marking the eighth straight week of growth and the most since December 2015.

The US Department of Energy expects to begin sales of roughly 8 million barrels of sweet crude from the country’s emergency oil reserve in early to midJanuary, according to a notice sent to potential bidders.

with their cheerful mood, the next concern had to be their future.

“As you know, 56 of your colleagues who escaped abduction are currently in two international schools where they have been since 2014. We are taking care of all their educational needs, from school fees to other basics.

“Left to me, I would want the 21 of you to join them in those two schools so that you can all feel at home and move on. However, the federal government has a plan, which we will jointly discuss and come up with a decision that is acceptable to you our daughters.

“President Muhammadu Buhari loves you so much and he is deeply concerned about our daughters that are yet to be freed. He is working on that and we are all working,” Shettima was quoted as informing the girls.

Shettima also announced the appointment of Yakubu Nkeki, the chairman of an association of the Chibok schoolgirls’ parents as councillor of the Mbalala ward in Chibok Local Government Area.

“We appointed Yakubu Nkeki as councillor for him to have a formal platform to continue his advocacy for the welfare of families of the missing Chibok girls, for him to ensure that they are given special consideration at all times by the local government area on all issues, particularly on welfare, on issues of health,

empowerment, etc.

“Nkeki will also serve as a constant reminder to the council that there are parents like him who live in pain. He is simply there to advocate for the welfare of the parents and also as someone who has been a victim, he will stand by the efforts of government to protect schools through community surveillance in addition to formal security establishments,” Shettima said.

The governor also consoled parents whose daughters were yet to be freed, promising that all hands were on deck to ensure the return of all the girls. “I will be meeting the parents tomorrow (today),” he said.

Shettima presented clothes to the girls and their parents.

The governor had previously donated clothes to the girls in Abuja.

After his visit to Chibok, Shettima drove to Askira town where he passed the night and is scheduled to return to Chibok today for meetings with community leaders and separate meetings with parents whose schoolgirls were yet to be released and those of the 21 girls freed in October.

Askira where Shettima slept, was attacked by the insurgents in 2014 forcing residents including the emir to flee to Maiduguri.

The emir returned some months back after his palace was rebuilt by Shettima.

Hundreds of residents returned with the emir.

BLACK AMERICAN BILLIONAIRE OFFERS TO PAY FOR CHIBOK GIRLS’ EDUCATION Nigeria, Yola, has offered to pay for the education of the 21 girls released through negotiations and is offering to take responsibility for all the others who will hopefully be eventually set free.”

“The Murtala Mohammed Foundation in the country is equally interested,” he hinted.

Responding to complaints by the families of the 21 Chibok girls that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) had not allowed the girls to visit them at their homes in Chibok on Christmas Day, Shehu admitted that there were some hitches arising from a lack of understanding of the objective of the trip on the part of some security operatives.

However, following the receipt of the complaint, he said a directive had been given from the headquarters of the DSS for the access by the parents to be eased.

“If the situation persists, please let us know so that the higher authorities will make a further intercession,” he said.

The families of the 21 Chibok girls freed by Islamist group Boko Haram had said yesterday that they the girls were being closely guarded and were not allowed home for Christmas.

Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls in April 2014, but freed 21 of them in October after negotiations with the Red Cross.

The freed girls have been in the federal government’s custody since their release

but were brought home to Chibok for Christmas.

But family members told the BBC that the girls were kept in a politician’s house and barred from going home.

They were also prevented from attending church services with their families.

The girls were taken to the house of an assembly member in Chibok to be reunited with their parents but were not allowed to go to their own homes.

“I can’t believe my daughter has come this close to home but can’t come home,” said one father.

“There’s no point bringing them to Chibok only to be locked in another prison.

They couldn’t even go to church on Christmas Day.” Since their release, the young women have been kept in a secret location in Abuja for government debriefing.

Another said a soldier had confiscated his phone when he tried to take a picture of his daughter.

He said: “I snapped a picture of myself and my daughter but the security guys came and grabbed me by shoulder and snatched the phone from my hands and told me to delete all the picture I took.

“I told him I’m taking a picture with my daughter who was away for more than two years. He said to me that’s not his business, he deleted all the pictures including other pictures that were not taken there.”

One mother said: “I can’t

believe my eyes that now my daughter cannot come home. How can I be happy when they don’t have freedom?”

A statement from the office of state governor, Kashim Shettima acknowledged yesterday that “armed soldiers... escorted the 21 girls to Chibok and remained their strict guards throughout the Christmas”.

Speaking earlier this week, one of the girls told Reuters news agency it was a “miracle” that she was home and she was looking forward to church on Christmas Day. “I never knew that I would return (home),” she said simply. “I had given up hope of ever going home.”

Of the 276 students kidnapped, 197 are still reportedly missing, and negotiations for their release are under way.

Many of the Chibok girls were Christian, but were ordered to convert to Islam and to marry their kidnappers during their time in captivity.

Ms. Goni said some were whipped for refusing to marry, but otherwise they were well treated and fed until food supplies recently ran short.

The Chibok girls were first reunited with their parents in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Borno governor spent the whole of yesterday, Boxing Day, in Chibok town.

A statement by his media aide, Mr. Aliyu Gusau said that while in

Chibok, Shettima met the 21 schoolgirls freed by the Boko Haram in October.

Gusau said after the governor took off by road from Maiduguri early yesterday, after which he hosted the girls at a government building in Chibok.

Shettima, he added, was accompanied by Senator Majority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South where Chibok is located.

“The girls were very excited meeting Shettima again after they had met him in Abuja days after their release from Boko Haram captivity.

“The girls were happy that they presented a gift of a medium sized photo frame with a bold ‘Thank you’ printed on it.

“The frame has the picture that the governor took with the girls when he visited them in Abuja some months back. It also has individual pictures of each of the 21 girls.

“Glory Dama, one of the 21 girls, presented the photo frame on behalf of her colleagues. She said they deeply appreciated the show of love by Governor Shettima and his wife, Nana.

“The governor’s wife has visited them countless times in Abuja and whenever she visits, she demands to know their needs and she met them all, Dama said during the presentation,” the statement added.

It noted that the governor informed the girls that

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

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Terrorist Who Planned to Strike in US Reviewing what he described as “global security threat,” a top intelligence officer at the presidency yesterday in Abuja said the Department of State Services (DSS) was capable of detecting any security risk in the country, assuring the Nigerian public to have trust in the agency in dealing with any national security issue. Page 12

R L Former Anambra State Governor Mr Peter Ob h s w fe Margaret daughter Amaka and son E oka arr v ng Ebe town n Enugu State for the 100th b rthday of the gwe of the town gwe Ch bueze An … yesterday

OYEGUN APC NOT THREATENED BY PROPOSED MEGA PARTY Abubakar and the Nat ona Leader of the APC Senator Bo a T nubu of the r a eged nvo vement n the format on of the new party stated that he had met w th some of the eaders of the APC nc ud ng the eadersh p of the Nat ona Assemb y and the former v ce-pres dent He added “We are a so wa t ng for the arr va of Tnubu so we can a so meet w th h m and have mean ngfu d scuss ons because he s a we respected eader of th s party” Speak ng w th ourna sts n Ben n C ty yesterday the APC boss sa d “We do no fee threatened at a no mega party w surv ve the APC I don t know where the name mega party sudden y came from n the ex con of po t cs n th s country “When two peop e gather to have a meet ng t s a mega meet ng We don t fee threatened we w n fact encourage a mega party because w th the gradua co apse of PDP we want a party that can make us s t up and be on our toes n terms of the de very of serv ces to our peop e

“We need a party that w cha enge us that w make democracy rea offer the peop e a rea cho ce We are not threatened at a we are focused on our m ss on made d fficu t by the current econom c s tuat on wh ch of course s compounded by the co apse of o pr ces “Nonethe ess we are reform ng th s country reform ng t eth ca y mora y and econom ca y by bu d ng a fresh econom c base wh ch w no onger depend on an extract ve ndustry wh ch does not nvo ve the peop e “Now we are push ng agr cu ture so most N ger ans are n the fie d of agr cu ture We are push ng extract ve m nera s wh ch of course are v rtua y a over the country so a ot of N ger ans w be nvo ved n that enterpr se “We are push ng for power generat on and d str but on because that w a so energ se sma and med um sca e bus nesses So we want an economy n wh ch most N ger ans are part c pants t s no onger an o economy wh ch s h gh y techno og ca y based ”

He noted that the APC- ed federa government was dea ng w th a d fferent rea ty that t s try ng to bu d and estab sh “It nvo ves sacr fices and hard work But what s necessary today s that we are focused What s rea today s that the government of Pres dent Buhar s pass onate about see ng th s th ng to ts og ca conc us on “Th s nat on must change and the change s so fundamenta that there s no quest on at a that a ot of peop e are go ng through temporary hardsh p but the s tuat on s such that tomorrow everybody w be g ad that we pursued th s ne of deve opment n sp te of the prob ems we are fac ng current y” he exp a ned At ku T nubu have been nked to ta ks w th a fact on of the ma n oppos t on Peop es Democrat c Party (PDP) ed

by Senator Ahmed Makarfi to form a new oppos t on party to cha enge the hegemony of the APC n the forthcom ng e ect ons

MALABU OIL DEAL ETETE QUESTIONS FG S DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE IOCS and Gas has a so den ed any wrongdo ng n the dea The federa government ast week fi ed a n ne-count charge aga nst Etete and e ght others nc ud ng the Cha rman of A A O A ha A yu Abubakar and a former Attorney Genera of the Federat on (AGF) and M n ster for Just ce Mohammed Be o Adoke (SAN) But n h s first react on s nce he was charged to court Etete kened the charges to the government prosecut ng tse f Accord ng to h m the former AGF (Adoke) negot ated the sett ement agreement by h mse f w th the nvo vement of a stakeho ders whom Etete sa d were proper y represented The former o m n ster a so revea ed that the federa government through the Department of Petro eum Resources (DPR) co ected a s gnature bonus of $210 m on nstead of the or g na s gnature bonus of $20 m on that was pa d for another o b ock – O Prospect ng Lease (OPL) 246 – that was awarded by h m when he was the petro eum m n ster to South At ant c Petro eum (Sapetro) Sapetro was founded by a former Ch ef of Army Staff and ater M n ster of Defence Genera Theoph us Yakubu Dan uma Dan uma was ater to se part of h s nterest n OPL 246 to Addax Petro eum (now Ch na Nat ona Offshore O Corporat on) for about $1 b on In text messages sent exc us ve y to THISDAY Etete sa d “Just a s mp e quest on Can the government t gate (aga nst) tse f?

“The Attorney Genera of the Federat on negot ated th s sett ement h mse f and a stakeho ders took part and were proper y represented “The federa government co ected

USD210 m on s gnature bonus nstead of the or g na s gnature bonus of USD20 m on ke Dan uma s B ock 246 wh ch was awarded by me at the same t me as OPL245 ” The former m n ster a so quest oned why the federa government had not charged o mu t nat ona s She and Ag p (ENI) and Tota to court over the Ma abu o dea “They were part es to a the agreements” he ma nta ned He contended that the o b ock was proper y awarded to Ma abu O and Gas L m ted n accordance w th the prov s ons defined n the Petro eum Act and subsequent y the o prospect ng cence (OPL) was awarded by the O usegun Obasan o adm n strat on to Ma abu O and Gas L m ted Prov d ng further deta s on the transact on Etete sa d “An escrow account was estab shed w th a the cond t ons for ntents and purposes ” Etete sa d that the transact on was an agreement entered nto by the part es concerned nc ud ng the Federa M n stry of F nance He a so sa d that the funds nvo ved were never pa d nto the Federat on Account add ng “I Dauz a Loya Etete took part n a the negot at ons that ed to the fina sett ement agreement ” Etete Adoke and Abubakar were accused by the federa government of money aunder ng and other re ated offences The s x compan es charged a ongs de them are Ma abu O and Gas L m ted Rocky Top Resource N g Ltd Imper a Un on L m ted Nove Property and Deve opment Co L m ted Group Construct on L m ted and Megatech Eng neer ng L m ted

They were accused of part c pat ng n an ega dea wh ch nvo ved the payment of $400 m on to Ma abu O and Gas from a N ger an escrow account w th JP Morgan Chase Bank n London The money was sa d to have been pa d nto Ma abu s account n the defunct Bank PHB now Keystone Bank L m ted The offence was sa d to have been comm tted on or about 24 August 2011 They were sa d to have comm tted an offence contrary to Sect on 15 (2) of the Money Launder ng (Proh b t on) Act The fraud charges are n re at on to OPL 245 a deep water o b ock wh ch was awarded to Ma abu O and Gas L m ted be ong ng to Etete when he was the petro eum m n ster between 1994 and 1998 under the San Abacha m tary reg me However after the award of the o b ock and Abacha s death a protracted ega d spute arose between She and Ma abu over the ownersh p of the o asset be eved to ho d severa hundreds of m ons n o and gas reserves The d spute was not eventua y sett ed unt 2011 when the Good uck Jonathans adm n strat on med ated and asked the part es to reach an out-of-court sett ement over the ownersh p of the o b ock On th s bas s She Ag p and Tota pa d $1 092 b on nto a des gnated escrow account to farm nto the o b ock Of the $1 092 b on t s be eved that about $600 m on was pa d to Etete by the federa government ra s ng eyebrows about the propr ety of the transact on L ke Etete Adoke has vehement y den ed any wrongdo ng and ast week wrote a etter to h s successor n the ust ce m n stry Mr Abubakar Ma am (SAN) abso v ng h mse f of comp c ty n the transact on

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It is now becoming increasingly clear that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may have to send a military inter- vention force to help resolve the political logjam inThe Gambia.With the defeated PresidentYahya Jammeh insisting he would not hand over power following his defeat at the presidential election... Page 15

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YAHYA JAM

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t is now becomin g increasingly Economic Commun clear that the ity of West African (ECOWAS) may have to States send a military vention force to interin The Gambia. help resolve the political logjam Yahya Jammeh With the defeated Presiden t power followinginsisting he would not hand his defeat at election, a military the president over ial option left to push appears chase him out to country into of office before be the only a serious he leads his Last week, Presidencrisis. t Ellen Johnson in her capacity Sirleaf of Liberia, Heads of State as the chairperson of the Authority of and Governm delegation which ent of ECOWA included Presiden S, led a Buhari to The t Muhamm Gambia. them as he defiantly But Jammeh practicall adu y bluffed said he “I am not a coward. I cannot would not hand over power. deprive me be intimidat of that victory ed. Nobody except Already the can ECOWAS meeting the Almighty Allah. they came, they was a formality had already . Before down. I will not step down,” said Jammeh must step vow

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custody; he was responsible Reviewing what he described many killings and bombings for as it concerns arrest as “global 2012 and 2013 and detention in of suspected security threat,” in Nigeria,’’ he top intelligence “But if the terrorists which a stated. received The security incident officer at the had officer added presidency yesterday that media hard criticisms from the happened in Nigeria, some had they have always in Abuja said there had been a huge difference and the civil society human rights the Departmen displayed is t of State Services in the intelligence gathering groups, differentlawyers would have filed uncommon,” he added. which had created he said act of (DSS) was capable terrorism has suits in court, some social and standards.

Stressing challenges for global the of detecting any operation of DSS in the challenging security risk in the country fundamenta agency’s last few commitment the years, saying the country, assuring “Look at the incident to fight terrorism advised Nigerians not , the source there is no security the suspects. l human rights of and the Nigerian operations to give up in that recently the need to public to have their path in the agency trust country that takes place in the happened in Berlin, Germany, “Nigerian security on terrorists, the be more firmed the presentto overcoming it, saying in agencies intelligence can afford national securitydealing with any from without intelligence report where a suspected terrorist economic recession the Service. issue. a truck into Christmas rammed in Nigeria to do the same thing said after the 9 11 terrorist officer a global matter. is To buttress how attack in the US, there because Describing some market; He said there the secret agency sophisticated “worse politicians as those linked with the incident all same training with they have the the global was an agreement in than Boko Haram worse than Nigeria are countries community that their colleagues arrested, while were in other the past few years, has become in the senior members,” one or two terrorists difficulty, countries. in the economic should be killed notwithstanding and advised officer revealed the intelligence presidencyintelligence officer at the were killed in different of them their religious belief,But by virtual of kind the to moderate the citizens of weapons they countries. how the agency they are not in accused some a hurry to take some weeks are their comments politicians of While overheating ago life. The patriotism also admitting carrying. order not to in the nation’s planned attack busted a terrorist for their unnecessary economic recession the biting themselvesb expose selfish interest. politics in the United to be carried out y creating in Nigeria, He added that States. wrong impression about “When it comes their country. politicians don’t “some of these to intelligence have the interest gathering, the of the nation DSS is well-respecte at heart in whatever in the internationa d l community they do. They are worse than Hardly a day . Haram Boko passes least seven countriesby without at there terrorists. They talk as if will be no asking from us one favour tomorrow; or the other. When no personal interest it comes to intelligence than the national is greater gathering, the agency is interest.

“Some politicians well-respected. ‘’A few weeks dragging our are nation to dangerous busted a terrorist ago, the agency trend; we need to collectively planned attack that was to be call them to order and regulate executed in the and the security their political US, activities. huge commendatagency received protect If we don’t collectively authority. It also ion from the US victimsour nation, we will become most wanted arrested one of the create.” of the crisis they want to terrorists and he is currently in the world, Defending some in Nigeria’s the secret security of the actions of agency especially

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Like a bout of liquid from a burst high-pressure pipe, his release from a London prison in the United Kingdom provoked a strong dramatic reaction in Nigeria and in even in the United Kingdom. From his kith and kin in Oghara and across the state and beyond, the emotional outburst was both ecstatic and phenomenal, albeit expectedly. Page 18

News Editor

n.iriekpen@this

then Action Group and As the secret trial of its leader, IPOB the same? Which today’s Nnamdi Kanu, of the two do you next month, the is set to commence in view consider more dangerous, of Biafra (IPOB) Indigenous People anarchyof how the former spread supporting thehas hit out at those towns through major Yoruba L-R: Executive Director, at that time? secret trial with hooded witnesses, I put these Directors, Mr. Gbolade Commercial, Benin Electricity questions to Victor Osibodu, during you in Distribution should read history saying they you the courtesy Osibodu, Edo State Governor, Company Plc are students the hope that to know visit by the board there was no (BEDC), According to of history. precedence. that and managemeMr. Godwin Obaseki; and Mr. Abu Ejoor, Chairman, IPOB was peeved nt of BEDC to Managing Director/C social media IPOB, the same Board of that some the governor commentators, EO, Mrs. Funke referred to commentators it in Benin-City as “internet .... recently. social media, haveespecially in the have rats” forgotten that its leader and been disparaging discipline there called history, is a decision of the supporting the they hence federal government deliberately dish out false to try him using information devoid of with the excuse masked witnesses figures that the measure to deceive andfacts and was needed mislead the public. to would testify protect those who “Chief Awolowo against Kanu. was charged, But in a statement Tobi Soniyi issued by its tried in the open and convicted Head of Media in Abuja the more serious of and Publicity, Emma the governmen Powerful, the which is a capitalcharge of treason The t Biafra has embarked restoration federal offence. He was on the movement said government Responding payroll salaries continuous auditing of has been able those backing dumped in Calabar prison to claim by Kanu’s secret the to get rid and wages of Ojukwu released until ghost trial should stop extension services. government members of the ruling workers, saving of 50,000 departmen “infantile digression their party, the All Progressive New farming ts.

“Yes Chief him. the country N200 billion, Chukwuem the simple question and address Odumegwu s Congress, techniques are helping “When the the Senior Special (APC), on the committee president’s failure do their occupation farmers to Ojukwu, an eka Assistant to the late Chief Obafemi of whether the man Igbo President on constituted in February was to appoint qualified better. The and leader of Awolowo was the federal governmen 2016, boards, Biafra, granted Media and Publicity, tried in secret persons into readiness of off takers to pardon Mr. Garba buy the when he was produce is also Shehu t monthly salary bill and convicted tried him to Awolowo and released Shehu, has said. a major boost. would be fully said the process was N151 to Yoruba people. of treason in “When Shehu said the back on track billion the excluding pensions.

1963. Hausa/Fula IPOB said those It wasn’t exercise at with the you put all these together beginning of Now the systematic move trial to justify using Awolowo’s Awolowo, ni North that released the saving of N13 billion led to monthly salary “You know the new year. importation the monthly to warrant is N138 from the payroll it was a Biafran,” trial of Kanu were planned secret stated. that the as a boost to curb reconstitution from February billion, excluding IPOB to December production through local misrepresen pensions.

Which means facts as the this year. began of the methodica the The group charges against ting the government Speaking available foreign restriction insisted that IPOB leader the arguments is sector. Yoully, from sector to its correspond with State House making a monthly saving of exchange is a lesser offence to critically important should expect were “verifiable about to resume N13 billion. That compared to ents at an historical facts sectors of the at the beginningthat the economy, you cleverly hidden meeting to mark interactive 2016 to date,” is from February the levelled against treason charges by have favorable of environmen the new year. The the he defunct Action the leader of the release hegemonies since the the year, the media end of t for According to said. and aide him, the pension has given directions president of the economy. the diversification bill was N15.5billion godfather of Group (AG) and of you of Awolowo, hence all to the president announced to do,” he explained. on what Yoruba politics. e-rats continue that 11 persons “As we speak, monthly as at February.

To drive home to wallow several in championin On stupefying of the the syndicate the g ignorance till IPOB head of their position, the agricultural country’s major manufactur “Now it is down of ghost date.

“This is IPOB! media industries are to N14.4 billion, programmes ing We deconstruct had been handed overworkers which means drenched Kanu’s and publicity our enemies of average monthly administration, he declared the integrating- actively backwardto the Economic traducers with with facts and these posers: figures; Commissioand Financial Crimes saving is made of about the president’s that is why Kanu’s that breweries Nestle, Unilever andthe persistent are looking at billion,” he N1.1 a return n (EFCC).

“Was Chief Obafemi blessed opportunity court case is a added. what we to farming was calls for have as local “The flagship Awolowo’s treason trial, Shehu said materials, changing yielding their programme good results. to lay bare before for us Biafrans President mind you formulations the world and treasonable felony, Muhammadu of the ghost workers about 50,000 not to maintain “The talk about had so far Buhari removed administration conducted in human conscience everything agriculture has production levels and public or secret? to wrong with the from the payroll been driven people Another question share of the market,” keep their fraud and instill rid the system of that to the farm. contraption you must answer and 11 Shehu stated. is this: was the Nigeria and why it should called is on course. good governance syndicatepersons behind the year, there is a huge boom This He Through a notable in the hooked advised manufacturers rural economy not be initiative, one.” of the ghost . We have workers on import had the Efficiency Unit of with been referred to EFCC an excellent harvest. witnessed to re-strategise of raw materials the Federal Ministry Farmers are some of them and getting of Finance, already has value for their output. What advantage of local raw take full undergoing encouraged materials. trial.

“The future belongs to those is the increasingfarmers the more who employ the availability of materials,” he use of local raw added.

EDITORIAL Yahya Jammeh Must Go!

FAMILY OUTING FOR THE OBIs...

WEDNESDAY DECEMBE

Intelligence Report: How DSS Arrested Who Planned Terrorist to Strike in Says most wan US

N 18

MIDWEEKPOL ITICS

T H I S D AY

• WEDNESDAY,

DECEMBER

28, 2016

Group Politic s Editor Olawa le Olaleye Email wale.o laleye@thisda ylive.com 0811675981 9 SMS ONLY

THE NEW SMA

KER Ibori’s Dram atic Walk to Fr eedom

The story of the a London priso release of a former Gove rnor n, is one of inten se drama andof Delta State, James Ibori, ike a bout of liquid from after intrigues, write high-pressure a burst pipe, s Omon-Juliusserving his time in a London prison his release from Kingdom provoked in the United Onabu a strong dramatic reaction in

L

Nigeria the United Kingdom.and in even in Similarly, Prosecutor and kin in From his Sasha Wass stressed Oghara Ibori engaged beyond, the emotionaland across the state kith single biggest in a wide variety of frauds. that and outburst was and phenomen scam involved The both ecstatic million in fake siphoning off the expression al, albeit expectedly. Although $37 consultancy sale of Delta fees during decision of the of heroic approval of the State’s the recent company V-Mobile. stake in mobile telecoms spontaneous, London court was not altogether The court heard the widesprea used his stolen that of the verdict d in parts of the open celebration properties worthfortune to acquire six Ibori who the Law foreign determined Chiefstate, by citizens a fleet of luxury 6.9 million pounds in Ibori had grievously total, James Onanefe cars including a Maybach sinned a Bentley overwhelming.

62, against, was simply million private and that he tried to buy and Despite the fact a $20 jet. his incarcerati that circumstances that on border on led to The Struggle stealing heavily the political Continues…

During his the people were from their commonw actor sentencing trial, ealth, counsel, Mr unprecedented determined to give Ibori Nicholas Purnell,Ibori’s defence reception his an crimes argued once he stepped shores of Nigeria could be mitigated that achievements by his reported evident followingagain. This disposition was into much construction as governor, particularl 2016 announcem the Wednesday, December of y state. To buttressvital infrastructure across the ent of Ibori’s 21, amid legal fireworks release from prison the that argument, called former in London between appellate court Wimbledon footballer Purnell had Nigerian sports and respected the Home Officethat authorized his release the as a character ambassador, Mr John Fashanu, and that was obviously to keep the witness. determined man Fashanu praised with legal niceties.in prison as long as it Ibori for the could three Olympic constructio Oghara, which Delta State as and FIFA-registered stadia n of Ibori...not yet of Ethiope Westis the administrative headquarte in the uhuru. and a shootingwell as an 18-hole golf clearly in a happyLocal Government Area, rs course argument failed range. Although this was mood as ecstatic His Behind-th with acrobatic line of to change the celebration display by youths trial e-Scene outcome in Militancy 2012, it well as motorcycli Effort against of and women set to persuade would appear that many the would stir up Close associates a carnival. There sts created an atmospher as those who have are the political atmospher of with the superfluou picked holes many people, was also general feasting e of that Ibori’s personal the former governor claimed in Delta State but the e not only s praise particularly Niger-Delta believed have mediation went Nigeria as a youths, enjoyedwith in brokering the booze. Even region and unpardonably for a man they a long way whole. reduction in upsurge prayers and should free in the Okubor, Odebala ing were everywhe and songs of thanksgiv not be celebratedfleeced his people oil-rich in militancy and Bozimo - even while region. According to Okubor, to agree that would re offered to also think Ibori famed performance in politicians not his God even in prison office should Ibori of the provide that lacking link mitigate his sufficiently in the state and thereby Everyone simplyknown for religious ceremonieby overarching political in London had used equally his went religious However, it emerged‘celebrated’ iniquities. unite or lead politics influence to Most of the people and philosophic s. various militant groups appeal to the positively towards the the state Amber that the Home future. al. not personally were celebrating even though In the opinion Rudd, based on the Secretary, they were known to him. rumoured homecom apparently to Nigeria untildid not intend to deport an Itsekiri leader, of Mr. Charles Eyimofe Okubor said erstwhile governor Ibori he handed over Pemu, of Ibori should while saluting before the Yuletide ing of the on the occasion “proceeds chance be given £18 his political and the before on Sunday hero fighter because he had proved himself a second Ruling against of crime”, reported million the New Year. prison, “You of his release from the London the BBC. a couple of weeks as a politician The town has a dogged judge the Home Office, enquired after despite for been he his travails, saying said attempts a could come back man was coping wearing a colorful how the ordinary and houses and to detain him High Court reinvigorated with looks streets were were “quite anticipated return as a leader of extraordinary”. readied for Ibori’s the creeks, pleading the recession. You called his people. Pemu, who and begging Ordering Ibori economy for the national best politician to emerge described Ibori as the His influence before the end of the to be immedia year. environmeto be spared; you from prison, from the South-sou geopolitica tely freed begged for The selection on Politics from Prison Mrs. Justice ntal impact th the he remainsl zone, said “Though he of blowing pipelines be avoided the Delta State of a governorship candidate is not a saint, “You don’t hold someoneJuliet May said: the best politician at all and every chapter of the to is convenie by know just because in the South-sout Party (PDP) cost. You didn’t region, only, that he Peoples Democratic who to call it h to deport nt to do so and without for played the politics “Maradona” to save the region but you called all you election practicallythe April 2015 gubernato plans style in a plication them.” Thus, a Home knew No! from total rial placed the The Northerne but should we dump Bozimo, aka Office apthat Ibori be held sway in ‘Willy Bee’, whodestruction.” the state since party, which had as electronic do so. Why should r and the Westerner him? and subject to “the wonder Although a serving 1999, on a precipice. described will not strict curfew ally tagged senator, Dr. Ifeanyi for an illustriouskid of Oghara”, said “We Ibori We need him to we dump our political lion? was also rejected appeared to after the judgecondition s teach us some wait and Okowa, hoping tower son, who fell argumen not to rule. accepted the other aspirants head and shoulders That is why of the moves attemptints that the Home Secretary over all leader his return would provide on evil days, Note he must return. that a former g to misuse political intrigues to the coveted ticket, in Delta State, a formidable was armed her certain deportati and who immigrat robber defender of his subterranean moves us in on powers. had treated ion and horse-trading direction.” the right how people because can become a to Conversely, he Similarly, Odebala, to make use like Mr. Tony displace Okowa with the Home Office’s of the gun.” understands the governm names and Obuh being who is a legal “anointed” incumbent ent was concernedcounsel said practitioner candidate of thrown up as the governme chairman might The Fear of “frustrate confiscati that Ibori of Sapelle the then incumben governor, Dr. nt Lingering Legal Local Emmanue and wanted on proceedin t on phone Area of the state, told Amid the excitemen Battles However, following l Uduaghan. him kept in gs” THISDAY that God had t that greeted to strict controls jail or subjected freed Ibroi because from prison and he ruled his the widely intervention his release on his movemen people with the prospect reported heart, of homecomin of passion and t. met with some Ibori, who was said to saying “the a good associates, g, it soon dawned on his immediate Rethinking relations, political in his London members of his political have state will not remainpolitical atmosphere in the Political the it might supporters and admirers family of Apparently, the same Future Chief James allegedly asked prison, the then governor of Ibori yet be a long the Onanefe Ibori.”with the release belief was night contrary that of the controvers battle over the forfeiture apparently Obuh, a then to jettison the idea of imposing to the crime” ial £18 recently retired supporters that orchestrated by certain stands between million “proceeds of Ibori: A Villain in the state in senior civil servant ardent and his release was Ibori and homecomi or Hero? opportunity Prior to his imprisonm Practically unconditio Nonetheless, favour of an Okowa candidacy ng Uduaghan’s ent in April 2012, nal. to fully roll out for his supporters and admirers . that former all Ibori’s associates believe had pleaded support for late effort to guilty to a 10-count the drums. In Ibori governor was that and money-lau another aspirant rally the meantime a victim of political charge of fraud what appears to be the of the formidabl and a member persecution as against ndering committed , most concerns the genuine prosecutio eight-year tenure corruption or David Edevbie, e Ibori political family, possibility of bizarre projection during his money as n for elected Chief the pitching laundering for former governor State, an oil-rich governor of was jailed in more appealing whom he believed might which he Delta Congresstent with the ruling All the United to Ibori, eventually be this represents federating unit but generally impoveris Kingdom.

Progressives (APC). succeed in stopping of Nigeria like hed the greatest evidence Perhaps, in the did not towering The calculation Okowa. most other states country.

It is, therefore, that Ibori’s political father-figu is that Ibori not surprising members of could allow Addressin ing diminishe associates believed that his political key d. As a matter re is far from be- Southwark g Ibori during his family like that Ibori’s return some of these uncommo sentencing at and Uduaghan as harbingers would stir up Okowa Crown Court n political sagacity of fact, his fabled to the country the prepare the Anthony Pitts into the APC in in the did Delta State but political atmosphere not ground for to said, “During London, Judge him only in and heat of his legal travails, not ebb even (as governor) the a “soft especially in those two terms as a whole. To Niger-Delta region and ultimately in first in Nigeria the light of the landing” for you turned yourself Nigeria the UK. former governors posture order indeed anti-corruption Specificall Dr. Festus Okubor hip into a multi-mill in very short is also of the Buhari governme and Hon Ejaife aspirants, governor y, they believed that nt. Besides, rumoured that ionaire through well as media the former corruption.” He went on: still has a lot to it Odebala as the and social commenta be made to ex-governor “The figure in excess of contribute not Bozimo, Ibori face another might may be home 200 million only to the tor, Mr Willy unity and growth of Delta would provide round of trial pounds, it is to tell. The in Nigeria.

State but Niger-Delt as a whole considering in the politics that lacking back difficult a some furtherconfiscation proceeding The expectation his leadership or lead the stateof the state and thereby link fight for true federalism is that with light on the enormity s may shed Abubakar role unite implement positively towards and resource in the involved.” He and Bola Ahmedold allies like Atiku of the sums ation said it was control money-lau the future. the Tinubu added ates believed in the region. His political ndering cases one of the biggest a fact that President Muhamma to that Ibori’s return associkey player in to the country million pounds Ibori had seen and that the 50 the governme du Buhari was Abacha admitted nt of the late be a “ludicrous Sani ly low” fraction to stealing may adviser. in which Ibori served as presidenti After all, of his total loot. al in politics when practically nothing is impossible the stakes are very high.

FEATURES

I was invited to deliver the keynote address at thissyearsspec year's special event on addressatth a eventon 'Human Rights, Sexuality and the Law', HumanR ghts Sexua tyandtheLaw an annual symposium organised to promote awareness on issues relating promoteawarenesson ssuesre at ng to the plight of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, Queer and/ or Intersex (LGBTQI) Community in Nigeria. Page 20 I

A Day W h he Gay Com mun y

BUSINESS Consumer Price Index Rises By 92%

T H I S D AY

• WEDNESDAY,

DECEMBER

BUSINESSW

R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

28, 2016

A S NIBOR

A T

ORLD

D E C E M B E R NITTY

in 2016 The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is used to gauge inflation in Nigeria, increased significantly by 92 per cent in 2016, from 9.62 per cent in January, to 18.48 per cent in November.

Consumer Pr ice Index Ri By 92% in 20 ses Page 23 16 4.150% 15.8625%

3-MONTH

6-MONTH

18.3916% 21.0554%

1-MONTH 2-MONTH

11.4397% 16.8358%

23

Group Busine

ss Email chika.a Editor Chika Amanze-Nw manzenwach ukwu@thisda achuku ylive.com 0803329415 7

9 , 3-MONTH 6-MONTH

2 0 1 6

17.1394% 19.7842%

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

Quick Takes

Guinness Guinness NigeriaPlans N50bn Rights Issue Plc will hold (EGM)

an extraordi on January 24, nary general 2017 in Lagos company will meeting where to raise N40 approve a right issue. The shareholders of the billion through company is believes the the right issue. expecting rights issue Guinness will allow it to improving its optimize its Nigeria Plc balance sheet rights issue financial and operation al is authorities. subject to the approval flexibility. However, the Market analysts of the equitiy injection and stakehold relevant regulatory ers have called huge cost of into the operations of the for an debt brewing the firm negativelyfinancing, which has impacted firm following the the bottom-li debt, Guinness . Partly due to the high cost of financing ne of for the first timerecorded a loss for the year ended June through year with a loss in 30 years. Specifica 30, 2016 lly, company, Mr. of N2.347 billion. The the company ended the Managing Peter Ndegwa, economic environm had attributed Director of the ent and challenge the loss to “Our performa tough s with one being the nce this year was impacted naira devaluation. very by two major spending, driving tough economic challenge factors, s around across the sector, consumer preferenc es towards consumer the other, value effect of foreign and exchange policymore significant factor brands being the and the devaluati L-R : Executive on of the Naira.

Firms Partne Secretary/Chief President, Institute Executive r on Digital Econo With the goal former Chairman of Chartered Accounta Officer of the defunct of my ways in which helping local businesse Lagos…recently. , Nestle Nigeria, Chief nts of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Accounting to s Standard their customer optimise their business of all sizes discover new Mr. Titus Soetan; Olusegun Osunkeye annual corporate processes and s and employee CEO, Financial s Board (NASB) Mr. at FRC’ financial reporting SAP and Bluechip engage with s through Godson Nnadi; summit and s 2016 annual corporate Reporting Council, Mr.Jim The first of its Technologies recently a simplified experience, dinner in Lagos…r financial reporting Obazee and hosted a cocktail ecently. summit and on the role that kind to be held in recent in Lagos. dinner in times, technology can series of presentat play to drive the event focused delegates attendedions on business-relevantefficiencies through a topics. More the dinner, comprisin customers and than 30 g of customer SAP experts. businesses s, potential “One of the are faced with major problems sets, new technolog today is complexi that increasing customeries, increasing regulatio ty - from huge data Officer at Bluechip, awareness and mobility,”n, globalization and Obinna Chima Tope Ajao, was the Chief Delivery “Organisation quoted have proven such as Apple, Google, as saying in a statement.

The Consume that simplicity Amazon and ECONO MY organisations Facebook Growth Plan (CPI), which r Price Index simplify their is the way forward. Hence, cost and differenti IT landscape expected to (NERGP). This is inflation in is used to gauge will tremendo helping Udoma explained result to a drop ate their From 9.62 per Nigeria, increased Re-affirm products and usly lower in plan was ing its that the significantly cent in Janu- the CPI in the coming ary, the CPI structured strategic and commitment to the West services,” he said. year.

The Minister climbed in 2016, from by 92 per cent per innovative, the African Market of Budget and way that it would in such a cent February to 11.38 National companies can SAP January, to 9.62 per cent in cent for all subseque be the basis unleash the power Analytics event showcaseas both , 12.77 per Planning, 18.48 per cent a balance between Senator Udo Udoma of digital innovation d how nt budgets, 38in cent in March and 13.77 per November. which innovating without maintaining their current while finding in April. Furtherm for the plan said the need and was why the contributio This clearly and its effective n support of infrastructure faced with the disruption. “Informat showed that jumped to 15.58 per ore, it implementation the National and inflationary ion cent in May, was more Assembly was very pressure relevant data challenge of enabling the Technology is therefore critical in 2016 as prices was strong 17.13 16.48 per cent in June, imperative, given for making decisions business to the current ensure the effective realisatioto per cent in July analyse all of goods and state of the on time. service rose of its objective n Security astronomically per cent in August. and 17.61 The ministernation’s economy. s.

WEDNES during the In addition, The Director stated that the CPI edged year. Inflation Airports are Priority for Tech DAY, DECEMBER General of 2016 rose far placing a higher Investments 28, 2016, • T H I S in in Septembe higher to 17.85 effort must be made to every West African Institute the (IT) investme ensure cial that r, 18.33 per D AY for Finanboundary thatabove the upper October nts for passengepriority on information and Economic cent in did the new plan eventual cent rating it technology r and airport Management, ly Prof. Akpan not suffer the central bank. was set by the Novembeand 18.48 per cent a high priority, fate of those in before according to Ekpo, recently up from 37 per security with 50 per r. In Acting the 2016 Airport Although the told Featur cent by 92 per centall, the CPI rose NERGPit. To ensure that the THISDAY that there study of IT trends year. This eslastEditor ITTrends CPI figures was need December does not go for governm for Charles Ajunw within the global Survey, the extensive : is The federal in 2016. would be released

by SITA (and the way ent to embark of Email annual others, airport next month, Airports government a structura charle he stated that industry on Council Internatio recently said s.ajunw co-sponso Airline Business. it is largely the tackle l economic reform to red sdayli it was targeting government was a@thi pected to remain nal (ACI), in exFor many airports, to security in ve.com place a delivery putting in facing some of the challenge within the a growth rate of seven the investmen association with 18 per cent the per cent s between 2017 the economy t focus has shifted band. unit that directly target wake of heightened regional and 2020, through would drive its implemen “Our economy . its National technologystill air travel. While investmen tensions, some of which tation Economic Recovery through effective only cont in passenge ranksthenumber monitoring sumes, we do not from 73 per r processing and evaluatio onepriority produce cent n. priority.The surveyin 2015 to 59 per cent forairports,ithasdropped this Continued airport landscape showed that self-servic year as security rises in on page 24 e and mobile .This year for dominate the the majority the first time of both passenge airports worldwide provide SITA’s research indicates self-service Looking ahead rs and bags. check-in for Ebere Nwoji self-service will of airports planning continue to dominate major with IT influence of mobile investments two-thirds The National in this is also evident INSUR ANCE Insurance Commis(90 per cent) situations with nearly everyarea. The growing sion (NAICOM undertaking where airport worldwide either a related to mobile ) has threatened insurers, or reinsurersthe pools, mission, to sanction insurance services and major programme or a trial to all insurance have aware and location-b are offered 74 per participation, project operators that contraven institutions. arrogated to inappropriately the institutio ased technologcent trialing or piloting contextAccording e local content themselv either ns y in the next policy by has observedto NAICOM, it portionoffered minimal pro- authority to unilaterall es the five years. ceding y exclude that insurance offshore, without businesses practition below their some insurers capacity or informall ers now fail, local capacities fully utilising or over alleged in juicy businesses y restricted neglect or refuse to consider outstanding . and/ compelled claims, The commissio There is too and fully to accept lower urging them to much reliance n disclosed this utilise relevant in-country than their respective desist from in a circular such act and on oil with capacities of insurance titled ‘Utilisatio capacities state of In-Count /reinsurance for the purpose of non-settlement report alleged fighting over governors ry Capacitie n institutions such justifying of claims to cession of the allocations Nigerian Insurers, as; pools, s of statutory grievance and sharing the risks offshore. patterns.

Reinsurers surers and other approved reinNAICOM /complai and Pool redress mechanism People must nt noted that local/ unethical Prior to Foreign recognised insurance go back the ate action. for appropriFacultative Reinsuran and look at capacities practice, prior to applying the resources which contravenes ce, signed by its Director, inherent in The local content the local content to cede certain for approval law, Authouri those hencefort areas initiative sation some and Policy, proportion was introduce and begin to make h, would not Pius Agboola, of tolerated risks offshore. d by the federal be governm sent . future generatiomoney for It maintain ent in It also cautioned ns ed that in some ance industry Nigerian insuroperators in 2007. who, according Minister for State to the comfor Petroleum Resources,

FRC’S 2016

CITYSTRINGS Hope Rises for Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road

SUMMIT

CITYSTRING S

Hope Rises for Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road

The federal road NAICOM Thre connecting Abia it hass to San Content Polithataten and Akwa Ibom ction me a sour Viol of pain cy ementbeco excit States has colla s of for Loca generated by ceator road l users. Emm psed so muc the federal gove rnment's mov anuel Ugwu captures h e to rehabilita the te the road

The sigh of relief was palpable as the people of Ikwuano Lo- cal Government of Abia State gathered to witness the flag off of rehabilitation efforts on the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road.

Page 38

Continued on page 24

Vehicles avoiding

INTERNATIONAL T Russian Plane Crash: Experts Begin

A bad portion

bad spots on

Dr. Ibe Kachikw u

the Umuahia-Ik ot Ekpene Road

44

INTERNATIO NA

of the Umuahia-Ik ot Ekpene Road

L Russian Plane Cra Flight Recorder sh: Experts Begin Examinin g during the rainy

season

WEDNESDAY

DECEMB

he sigh of ER 28, 2016 relief was • T H I S D AY palpable as the people bad cal Governm of Ikwuano Lo- one that a journey that should hour could normally last gathered to ent of Abia State especially take as caused road witness the during rainy long as three hours, users. “We flag off was of rehabilita email:foreigndesk pity season. The who use this tion efforts so incredible excitement road,” he said, other Nigerians so @thisdaylive.com Umuahia on the Ajatanigu, that the traditiona road had wrecked for the road. This particular – Ikot Ekpene adding that King l ruler of the a dream two federal lawmaker lives and maimed many vehicles, road, like other federal protocol during Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu roads in Abia, s, it became come true claimed nod trunk broke It was therefore many people. for the Federal when Fashola gave to the point has over the years, degenerat A kola nut as he the traditional presentati the that it became on of veered off and Road Maintenan not surprising (FERMA) to road users. a huge distress ed about the distress started talking warming as the two ce Agency but heartstart palliative The the poor state federal lawmaker for works on the constituency This effort would with frightenin stretch ofRussian the road is dotted of the s hosts road. whose road the Abia end has – Ikot g potholes, experts have swamps. During of the Umuahia relief for road usersat least provide relative artificialairrivers Ekpene begun examining and in this yuletide the rainy the volume Minister of Road poured encomium of the flight unlikely. plying the season one of traffic Power, Works s on when road had to recorders drivers On board the from minutes Babatunde a plane that and Housing, the triple. The minister would double or even plough deep make after takingFashola, for crasheddetours it crashed were Tu-154 jet when Adler rehabilitat into theand into Ikwuano also raised off from not Durin Black Sea only approving Mr. would not be to avoid terribly airport at 05:25 64 members a combinatio villages Sunday, g the ion of the on the just a temporar hope that it in order killing the road of GMT) commenc n of factors roadresponsibl famedrainy bad spots.

92 people. but for the immediate season Alexandro y relief as the Ukwu axis on Sunday. ement(02:25 were would drivers plying Thefact, v military be toreconstru was trying flight thedata e. source where the flag In of palliative Okwe ensemble, as recorder was music Investigato veer rightcted falls rswithin closehis works. AThe the investigatio performed was next year. In off ceremony found thewellroad to directive seconds as one of to FERMA, hope the before the Abia Russia’s best-know underwate roadInterfax n told Central but to make was hadrecorder could flight crash, flying Fashola agency “should r about that Senator used by the the senatorial water nicknamenotorious for milea from said that still humanitarplane might detour at over a ian figures, provide vital long stretch 500 district Theodore commenc the shore, was the s nand with into why Senate clues overloaded have been 33 years old. military. It of and Yelizaveta its nosee high within thekph Orji represent repair of the plough the military motorists had d “Okwe authorities deep River” that the while Hon Glinka.

Butavailable It was say daring road an audio recording it is in“satisfactory into cameSam “Witness . s in the the agency’s Russia down. Ikwuano/ plane heading to to wade through budgetary up.

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Umuahia of the take-off suffering for some nt governme no signce Ensemble soon shortly. of any – Ikot reason difficulties of the to pay the Alexandrov from an airport after to the Russian officials of the peopleoverloadin Ekpene - possibly . Road, further noted using theg road.

No cause has say they an act the city Voices that near the minister or aAnd Reuters news her respects told remain technical thecalm fault - crashed but terrorism been established landed of Sochi, where it had of terror is not being considered reconstru until the agency: “This be planeout ctionRussia’s disappears into the sea,”carried for refuelling. as a possible is considered is would best choir. “with and possibility the controllers try in vain the cause. Instead the unnamed source I come from It disappeare the Republic they are to re-establis of providd from radar Another anonymousaid. of Sakha [Yakutia]. contact. h They had two human looking into whether s source performed in error, a technical told The Tupolev airliner my home town six times. fault or for the Tass news agency that involved in unknown reasons, the crash was “I do the plane longer flown an old model no Words not know what to say. by airlines in Russia Sorrowcannot express my feelings. is the only thing Polish driver Lukasz left.” in the head hours Urban was shot Tunisian-born before suspected jihadist killer was eventually Anis Amri, 24, Anis shot the man’s lorry Amri rammed Italian policeman near dead by an German media into a crowd, say December, Milan citing a post-mortem after he had on 23 examination. travelled from Berlin through Twelve people France. A including Mr video was released of him Urban died pledging allegiance to in the head of jihadist Berlin Christmasthe attack on a group Islamic State market on 19 December.

(IS).

Investigators are trying to Mr Urban, who out if find was hailed a hero was also stabbed, CCTV he had accomplices, and footage he had preventedamid reports that at Lyon-Part-Dhas emerged of him But doctors have further deaths. he apparently ieu station, before ruled out that he boarded a train was conscious, Chambery on via says his The conclusions Bild newspaper.

He was identified way to Milan. of Mr Urban’s by his backpack, post-mortem French media examination say said.“He was shot in the head between he own on the footage,”was on his (15:30 GMT) 16:30 was a source and quoted as saying. lot of blood, the 17:30 and lost a What boss and cousinpaper reports. His travelled is not clear is how Amri contact with him said he had lost without from Berlin via France being at The attack on around 16:00. Rail tickets spotted by police. the market at bought in cash Breitscheidplatz found on his were body.

20:00, and he took place just after Police may alive at the time still have been of Amri have produced a picture seat although in the passenger three at Milan central station, not bing a steering capable of grab- a gun hours before he pulled wheel, Bild adds. and fired at two police Mr Urban, 37, officers 40-tonne lorry had parked the for a who had stopped him This is the last picture in Berlin, waiting routine check of Lukasz Urban, unload a consignmen to Milan. outside shortly before he was attacked the following day. t of steel beams together They have pieced A petition calling his journey (AP) for him to be first to Turin, given award had attracteda posthumous Milan,then by another train to where some he 38,000 signatures by to the north-east took a coach Tuesday. ern suburb of Sesto San Giovanni.

Examining Flight Recorder Russian air experts have begun examining one of the flight recorders from a plane that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday, killing 92 people. Page 44

Berlin Truck Attac Driver ‘Shot Hour k: Polish s Before’

SPORTS LMC Dec Declares a es FFinancial nanc a Su Surplus p us oof N483m

President Rejec ts Muslim PM Candidate Sevil Shhaideh

US, Russian Mili taries Sharing Information on More Syria

U.S.-Russian separate fights talks on their are crediting against the Islamic State group are putting aside both sides with The Russians much of the public productive and becoming more animosity, have spelled out to retake all American officialsmore frequent, Washingtonwhich has included that after they retake Palmyra, Romania’s president of Aleppo. While they want to move said, with both ’s accusations Russian President sides trading has rejected of Ruson IS sian war crimes the left-wing information house assembly Social Democrats in Aleppo and congregated in Deir militants Putin has expressed Vladimir - enough majority time and even outlining in real Moscow’s charges candidate for el-Zour, a ’ for their hopes that prime minister, some of support Donald Trump of American city closer to the Iraqi Shhaideh, who Sevil the primeleader to be elected as their strategic objectives border. will improve for terrorist groups Succeeding in the months ahead. minister. such according in Deir el-Zour, U.S.-Russian cooperatio the EU nation’swould have been The progress as al-Qaida.

Liviu n, it appears some of to one U.S. Much Muslim prime first female and PSD, Dragnea, leader of the dispels the notion that the official, had withdrawn minister. between the ties the twoof the talk has concerned could take Russia several months. already is being groundwork Klaus Iohannis former his bid to foes Palmyra became U.S. officials done. has not elabo- become prime minister are “frozen.” Cold War operations nations’ immediate urgent rated on his have legal . reason for rejecting is serving a two-year because he mission after a more constraints on In the discussions Since Dec. 15, the candidacy how far they suspended Islamic go.

State militants sentence for , Russia has can made clear its of Shhaideh, the American electoral fraud.

52-year-old politician a counterterrorism coalition has conducted U.S.-led governmen ended the Syrian military-to- law prohibits any Shhaideh’s t’s nine-mont airstrikes over of Turkish political experi- priority in Syria is retaking on about two military relations origin who comes h hold ence the dozen is Russia city, ancient city of limited; she from Romania’s the around seizing Russian locations in the aftermath with 65,000-strong Muslim served as developme of its said. The U.S. Palmyra, officials defense Palmyra, destroying air Syrian military equipmen and 2014 annexation “I have properly community. months nt minister for six is determine t and weapons, tanks, of Ukraine’s weapons pressure d before the analysed the aircraft include in the process. These Crimea region. arguments for previous Raqqa. IS’ headquarters to shelters, storage bunkers PSD-led dangerous and But governme in other vehicles against and as Syria’s and artillery air defense have decided nt and equipmen that have escalated, various conflicts not to accept I in late 2015. This and resigned The closer contacts proposal,” Klaus t. coalition could be used against this closeness her personal between the At the same time, U.S. critical for the it became more and friendly two countries Iohannis said and a televised statement forces. in a witness to Dragnea - he was U.S. and Rushave developed Russian officials having According to sia despite to at on her make officials, Tuesday. to been and their bitter accusation ensuring that 2011 wedding “I call on the sure they avoid Russian militaries the U.S. crashes a Syrian s don’t cross the two militaries’ and other problems make another PSD coalition to spurred businessman - have against each other over have been paths in the airspace communicating proposal.” devastation opposition the regularly, often in the increasingly The PSD, which that she would accusations Moscow’s in Aleppo and above the city that IS militants in real time as strikes crowded skies — has as seized yet to puppet. happened when merely be a comment on have claim for the second the are now “frozen that relations this month, time earlier about to launch to make been U.S. mistakenly put forward the issue, had killed dozens innocent troops on all practical sure of Syrian and Election promises Shhaideh after levels.” aren’t strikes don’t that American The soldiers in airstrikes sweeping election its new concentrat at risk. near Deir Rise Project, a mistakenly The confidentia victory on el-Zour in September member of the ion of U.S. December 11 Organised l military Russian or Syrian forces. hit strikes around Palmyra “We .

But the talks percent of the when it won 45 Reporting Crime and Corruption discussions aren’t focusing in the to have certainly don’t want past week has vote. their opposing have on beyond Project of investigativ made a repeat of that,” The PSD, along positions in the granular gone especially important the effort Air Force journalists, e said and Col. John Dorrian, coalition partner with its junior Shhaideh’s said this month that civil war, where Russia is Syria’s even touched for Russia, on broader U.S. one senior U.S. official fighting spokesman alongside and longtime husband had ally ALDE, for the U.S.-led said. posted United the government and the and Russian plans, according The scope of messages on his control 250 of coalition in the discussion Facebook States has backed to several combined 465 Iraq and Syria. the s seats in the two- in support of Syrian account groups, officials rebel weren’t U.S. officials, who suggests the two sides Palmyra President pulling back said. authorized are difficulties poses particular Bashar al-Assad.

But U.S. officials to speak from some publicly . Several hundred of forces edge of the ongoing with knowl- discussionon the confidential the extreme rhetoric in IS recent city. are believed to be in the conversations s and demanded months, mainly But anonymity.

Russia’s support colored by RussianSyrian government and troops are also for the successful Syrian there, military effort making it difficult to tell them apart.

for 2016 WEDNESDAY SP LMC Dec arORTS As a result of the good governance es F place the running of the Surp us o N483m nanc a structure innp ace inntherunn ngofthe or 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League N ger aProfess ona Footba (NPFL), the League Management Company (LMC) has declared a surplus/ savings of N483 million surp us/sav ngsofN483m on inn its ts operations for the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Profess ona Footba NPFL season. Page 52 W

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Intelligence Report: How DSS Arrested Terrorist Who Planned to Strike in US Says most wanted terrorist in custody

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Reviewing what he described as “global security threat,” a top intelligence officer at the presidency yesterday in Abuja said the Department of State Services (DSS) was capable of detecting any security risk in the country, assuring the Nigerian public to have trust in the agency in dealing with any national security issue.

To buttress how sophisticated the secret agency has become in the past few years, the intelligence officer revealed how the agency some weeks ago busted a terrorist planned attack to be carried out in the United States.

“When it comes to intelligence gathering, the DSS is well-respected in the international community.

Hardly a day passes by without at least seven countries asking from us one favour or the other. When it comes to intelligence gathering, the agency is well-respected. ‘’A few weeks ago, the agency busted a terrorist planned attack that was to be executed in the US, and the security agency received huge commendation from the US authority. It also arrested one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, and he is currently in Nigeria’s

custody; he was responsible for many killings and bombings in 2012 and 2013 in Nigeria,’’ he stated.

The security officer added that there had been a huge difference in the intelligence gathering and operation of DSS in the last few years, saying there is no security operations that takes place in the country without intelligence report from the Service.

Describing some politicians as “worse than Boko Haram members,” the senior intelligence officer at the presidency accused some politicians of overheating the nation’s politics for their selfish interest.

He added that “some of these politicians don’t have the interest of the nation at heart in whatever they do. They are worse than Boko Haram terrorists. They talk as if there will be no tomorrow; no personal interest is greater than the national interest.

“Some politicians are dragging our nation to dangerous trend; we need to collectively call them to order and regulate their political activities. If we don’t collectively protect our nation, we will become victims of the crisis they want to create.”

Defending some of the actions of the secret security agency especially

as it concerns arrest and detention of suspected terrorists which had received hard criticisms from the media and the civil society groups, he said act of terrorism has global standards.

“Look at the incident that recently happened in Berlin, Germany, where a suspected terrorist rammed a truck into Christmas market; all those linked with the incident were arrested, while one or two of them were killed in different countries.

“But if the incident had happened in Nigeria, some human rights lawyers would have filed different suits in court, challenging the fundamental human rights of the suspects.

“Nigerian security agencies can afford to do the same thing in Nigeria because they have the same training with their colleagues in other countries. But by virtual of their religious belief, they are not in a hurry to take life. The patriotism

they have always displayed is uncommon,” he added.

Stressing the agency’s commitment to fight terrorism and the need to be more firmed on terrorists, the intelligence officer said after the 9 11 terrorist attack in the US, there was an agreement in the global community that terrorists should be killed notwithstanding the kind of weapons they are carrying.

While also admitting the biting economic recession in Nigeria,

which had created some social challenges for the country, the source advised Nigerians not to give up in their path to overcoming it, saying the present economic recession is a global matter.

He said there are countries worse than Nigeria in the economic difficulty, and advised the citizens to moderate their comments in order not to unnecessary expose themselvesby creating wrong impression about their country.

IPOB: Kanu’s Secret Trial Has No Precedence in Nigeria’s History Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia As the secret trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is set to commence next month, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has hit out at those supporting the secret trial with hooded witnesses, saying they should read history to know that there was no precedence.

IPOB was peeved that some commentators, especially in the social media, have been disparaging its leader and supporting the decision of the federal government to try him using masked witnesses with the excuse that the measure was needed to protect those who would testify against Kanu.

But in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, the Biafra restoration movement said those backing Kanu’s secret trial should stop their “infantile digression and address the simple question of whether the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was tried in secret when he was tried and convicted of treason in 1963.

IPOB said those using Awolowo’s trial to justify the planned secret trial of Kanu were misrepresenting facts as the charges against the IPOB leader is a lesser offence compared to the treason charges levelled against the leader of the defunct Action Group (AG) and godfather of Yoruba politics.

To drive home their position, the IPOB head of media and publicity drenched Kanu’s traducers with these posers: “Was Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s treason trial, mind you not treasonable felony, conducted in public or secret? Another question you must answer is this: was the

then Action Group and today’s IPOB the same? Which of the two do you consider more dangerous, in view of how the former spread anarchy through major Yoruba towns at that time? I put these questions to you in the hope that you are students of history.

According to IPOB, the same social media commentators it referred to as “internet rats” have forgotten that there is a discipline called history, hence they deliberately dish out false information devoid of facts and figures to deceive and mislead the public.

“Chief Awolowo was charged, tried in the open and convicted of the more serious charge of treason which is a capital offence. He was dumped in Calabar prison until Ojukwu released him.

“Yes Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo man and leader of Biafra, granted pardon to Awolowo and released him to Yoruba people. It wasn’t Hausa/Fulani North that released Awolowo, it was a Biafran,” IPOB stated.

The group insisted that its arguments were “verifiable historical facts cleverly hidden by the hegemonies since the release of Awolowo, hence all of you e-rats continue to wallow in stupefying ignorance till date.

“This is IPOB! We deconstruct our enemies with facts and figures; that is why Kanu’s court case is a blessed opportunity for us Biafrans to lay bare before the world and human conscience everything wrong with the contraption called Nigeria and why it should not be one.”

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Executive Director, Commercial, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC), Mr. Abu Ejoor, Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Gbolade Victor Osibodu, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, during the courtesy visit by the board and management of BEDC to the governor in Benin-City.... recently.

How FG Saved N200bn from Public Sector Payroll Presidential spokesman reveals 50,000 ghost workers sacked Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The federal government payroll has been able to get rid of 50,000 ghost workers, saving the country N200 billion, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, has said.

Shehu said the exercise led to the saving of N13 billion monthly from the payroll from February to December this year.

Speaking with State House correspondents at an interactive meeting to mark the end of the year, the media and aide to the president announced that 11 persons championing the syndicate of ghost workers had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The flagship programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course. Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance,

the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.

“When the committee was constituted in February 2016, the federal government monthly salary bill was N151 billion excluding pensions. Now the monthly salary warrant is N138 billion, excluding pensions.

Which means the government is making a monthly saving of about N13 billion. That is from February 2016 to date,” he said.

According to him, the pension bill was N15.5billion monthly as at February.

“Now it is down to N14.4 billion, which means average monthly saving is made of about N1.1 billion,” he added.

Shehu said about 50,000 ghost workers had so far been removed from the payroll and that 11 persons behind the syndicate of the ghost workers had been referred to EFCC with some of them already undergoing trial.

Responding to claim by members of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), on the president’s failure to appoint qualified persons into boards, Shehu said the process would be fully back on track at the beginning of the new year.

“You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector to sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the new year. The president has given directions on what to do,” he explained.

On the agricultural programmes of the administration, he declared that the president’s persistent calls for a return to farming was yielding good results.

“The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output. What has encouraged farmers the more is the increasing availability of

extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better. The readiness of off takers to buy the produce is also a major boost.

“When you put all these together with the systematic move to curb importation as a boost to local production through the restriction of the available foreign exchange to critically important sectors of the economy, you have favorable environment for the diversification of the economy.

“As we speak, several of the country’s major manufacturing industries are actively backwardintegrating- Nestle, Unilever andthe breweries are looking at what we have as local materials, changing their formulations to maintain production levels and keep their share of the market,” Shehu stated.

He advised manufacturers hooked on import of raw materials to re-strategise and take full advantage of local raw materials.

“The future belongs to those who employ the use of local raw materials,” he added.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 • T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Stop These Diversionary Stories, Nigerians are Hungry, Fayose Tells Buhari PDP blasts APC over insult on Adeboye Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said what Nigerians are

now desirous of hearing from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government is the defeat of hunger and untold hardship

NCAA Penalises Arik for Delaying Delivery of Passengers’ Luggage Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed Nigerian major carrier, Arik Air, to pay N6 million penalty for violating operation regulations over delay of passengers’ luggage.

The airline would also within 30 days, pay $150 to each passenger whose luggage was delayed and for the inconveniences they suffered waiting for days for the delivery of their bags.

NCAA explained that the airline contravened the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations by its actions and the penalties were aimed at deterring them from such malfeasance in future.

“Arik Air Limited has been sanctioned by NCAA for contravening the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations. Earlier, the authority was inundated with complaints of delay and inability to ferry the passengers’ checked-in luggage on the airline’s services from London to Lagos from December 2, 3 and 4.

Upon receipt of the complaints, NCAA invited the airline to a meeting on December 6, which was duly attended by the airlines’ representative,” the statement from NCAA said.

NCAA said Arik embarked on continuous flouting of the regulations and the authority’s directives to freight all backlog of short-landed baggage to Lagos within 48 hours.

“Similarly, the carrier declined to offer care and compensation to the affected passengers,

which were unanimously agreed for $150. In addition, the airline did not inform the passengers at the soonest practicable time that their checked-in baggage would be off-loaded as required

by Part 19.7.2 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NigCARs) 2015.

“Therefore, in a letter of sanction with reference number NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/106/16/439 dated December 22, 2016, the authority has determined that Arik Air Limited is in violation of Part 19.7.2 and 19.17.2.1 (ii) of the NigCARs, 2015,” NCAA said.

It therefore ordered Arik Air Limited to pay to the authority within seven days of receipt of “this letter, the sum of N6,000,000 being civil penalty for violation of Part.19.7.2 of the NigCARs, 2015.

“Arik Air is hereby directed to pay each affected passenger within 30 days of the date of this letter, the sum of $150 as compensation for inconveniences suffered as a result of delayed arrival of their luggage on your service as required by Part.19.17.2.1 (ii) of the NigCARs,2015.”

The regulatory body said it expected strict compliance with the provisions of Part 19 of NigCARs by the airline in future.

“This is to assure all stakeholders that the authority exists to protect their rights at all times and as such, any violation of the regulation in that regard will be viewed seriously,” NCAA said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye.

ravaging the country.

Fayose urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop recycling stories of defeat of Boko Haram terrorists “which is as usual, aimed at diverting the attention of Nigerians from the fact that there is ravaging hunger at this time of the year.”

The governor said it has become predictable that whenever Nigerians cry of the pains and sufferings they are going through, the federal government would come up with stories like: ‘20 Chibok girls found,’ ‘$1 billion found in Mr A, B or C bedroom,’ ‘Boko Haram technically defeated,’ ‘We have captured Sambisa forest,’ among others to divert attention.

In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti last Monday and signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, the governor said: “It is painful that Nigeria under President Buhari has become directionless either due to the cluelessness of the

president or his old age that has foisted a purposeless leadership on the country.

“This year’s Christmas is the worse in the history of Nigeria.

People cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy themselves due to the hardship caused by the APC government. To make matters worse, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also created artificial scarcity of cash, such that people could not access their hard earned money in the banks as most banks in the country do not have cash to pay their customers.

“Like I have maintained, the main issue confronting Nigerians now is hunger, and hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda that is being used by the APC-led federal government. It is therefore no longer about diversionary news, it is about preventing Nigerians from dying of hunger.”

The governor said: “The only solution to the myriad of problems facing the country is for those holding

power in Abuja to face the sad reality that it was the hard stance of the president, his statements against Nigeria and its people both at home and abroad coupled with his demonstration of hatred against some sections of the country and desperation to crush his perceived enemies that led us to where we are today.

“It was the president who went to foreign countries to de-market Nigeria by calling all Nigerians thieves and dishonest people.

He was the one who created atmosphere of economic and political instability in the country by his acts of nepotism and vindictiveness.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the statement credited to the state Chairman of the APC in Ekiti State, Mr. Jide Awe, disparaging the person and image of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare

Adeboye, as a demonstration of the devilish mind-set of the party and height of political rascality, saying denying the statement was a mere afterthought.

The PDP noted that Pastor Adeboye commending Fayose for his courage and willingness to defend his people and the cause of the common man in the country was a statement of fact.

The spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Mr Jackson Adebayo, in a statement last Monday, said: “it is the height of crude politics for the APC to insinuate that a man of God of Pastor Adeboye’s standing took bribe to commend Fayose for what is obvious.

He said: “Adeboye is a respected man of God. He is not a politician.

He only said what he saw about the governor and the only Nigerians, who won’t want to accept the fact that the governor has stoutly defended Ekiti people and the common people of Nigeria, are those in the APC.”

DEDICATED TO GOD

L-R; Chief Host, Sir. Olu Okeowo and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. Most Revd Ephraim A. Ademowo, during the dedication of Okeowo Solomon’s Chapel of Faith held at Palacio De Okeowo in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.... yesterday Mubo Peters.

PDP Congratulates Buhari, Nigerian Military for Conquering Sambisa Forest Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian military and Nigerians for successful clearing Sambisa forest of Boko Haram terrorists.

The opposition party noted that the president was able to build on the efforts of his predecessor, as the war against insurgency received a boost in the weeks leading up to the 2015 general election.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said clearing

Sambisa forest was a welcome development in the fight against terrorism.

PDP however noted that all other forests used as criminal hideouts and bases, particularly in Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue States, which have become killing fields, must also be cleared of criminal elements by the military.

The statement read in part: “We congratulate Nigerians on this important milestone in the long and bitter struggle against the forces of evil that have wreaked so much suffering and hardship on

our people in the last few years.

“We also congratulate the president for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency.

We are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors.

Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present... The insurgents were virtually annihilated - a feat that made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas of all the states in the North-east region last year. We are therefore very much delighted with the continuation of

this great effort by the president.

“We also thank the international community for their support and encouragement particularly, those countries that have helped in the procurement of critical military hardware.

“The clearing of the Sambisa forest is a critical milestone but not the end of the war against insurgency. The government and the military must not rest on their oars. The hot pursuit of the terrorists must continue unabated and relentlessly until the entire North-east is rid completely of them.”

14

T H I S D AY WEDNESSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

COMMENT

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

IN DEFENCE OF BABACHIR LAWAL

D

Deji Sanni argues that the Secretary to the Federal Government has done no wrong

ay after day, the National Assembly appears to be proving many anti-corruption crusaders right that the Bukola Saraki-led National Assembly is not, and can’t be on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari in the seeming ongoing war against corruption in the country.

The fear has always been that with many suspicious characters populating the National Assembly, which is naturally expected to provide the supporting laws or acts that will fast-track the battle against corrupt practices in our country, Buhari might just labour in vain in his present war. There is near agreement by the vast majority of the ordinary people that corruption has permeated and infused every departments of our life, and they have fully supported the determination by the present government to stamp it out. But, not many right-thinking people doubt that Buhari may not go far.

The reason being that those who have milked our national treasury and common wealth, and who ought to be in different jails by now, are the same people designing the framework for fighting corruption; they are the same people over-sighting the institutions that have been put in place to fight malpractice. And no one is surprised that at any time these anti-corruption institutions or person associated with these bodies cross their way or threaten their ill-gotten wealth, they will surely fight back.

These same people, many of whom are in the National Assembly, had recently blackmailed virtually all the anti-corruption agencies: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Code of Conduct Tribunal and others - all because these institutions had attempted to question their unlawful wealth.

For example, when the chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Dr. Saraki, was dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to answer many questions about his past financial deals, he reportedly accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, of activating the tribunal against him for political reason. In several attempts to evade trial, he was said to have sent many delegations to the SGF, pleading with him to save his political career. But Mr. Lawal was said to have rebuffed him, saying he had no power to interfere in a case in the tribunal.

For many who understand the several plots by the Senate to intimidate or blackmail every institution and persons it perceived to be after them, the Senate committee’s report, which was said to have indicted the SGF, was purposefully put together, cooked and served the public with Babachir as the target .

The Senator Shehu Sani-led Senate committee in its interim report submitted recently, had claimed that the SGF received a N233 million contract to clear invasive plant species (removal of weeds) in Yobe State through his company, Rholavision Nigeria Limited. The Senate also claimed that he had remained a director of the company till September 2016, over a year after his appointment, in purported breach of Nigeria’s code of conduct for public officials as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The report also contains other unimaginable claims.

However, in quick but robust response to the purported indictment,

THERE IS NEAR AGREEMENT BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ORDINARY PEOPLE THAT CORRUPTION HAS PERMEATED AND INFUSED EVERY DEPARTMENTS OF OUR LIFE, AND THEY HAVE FULLY SUPPORTED THE DETERMINATION

BY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT TO STAMP IT OUT

the SGF honestly admitted setting up Rholavision in 1990 to carry out information and communications technology services; but denied any wrongdoing, telling journalists in Abuja that the Senate was only victimising him and trying to rubbish his personality for political reason.

Hear him: “The Senate is talking balderdash; it has developed the habit of the bring-him-down syndrome. I have the report of the Senate committee in which it was said that I didn’t resign from Rholavision Nigeria Limited. Let me tell you, Rholavision was formed by me in December 1990, and it has been a company that was run very successfully. Now, when I was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I resigned from that company on August 18, 2015. I can see that in their report, they are talking about 2016. I don’t know where they got their facts. By the way, it is very instructive that when the committee was sitting, no effort was ever made to invite me to come and make a submission. It is therefore surprising that they devoted a whole session to maligning me, claiming what is not true without even giving me the chance to come and put my own case before them.’’

However, apparently to further cement the political agenda of the committee’s report, credible information abound how immediately the report was released, the Senate’s spin-doctors invaded both the traditional and social media to mislead the naïve public over its faulty claims. And from the media blitz on the matter, it appears it is a deliberate and sustained effort on the part of Saraki’s Senate media men, employing what experts in argument usually refer to as “ad populum”, making an appeal to the prejudices of the people.

True, in spite of the Senate’s pointless findings, there are many claims in the report without sound evidence to back them. The promoters of the Senate report have deliberately but wrongly assumed that their claim can be adequately defended without support if they continue to emphasise a belief or attitude that the naïve audience shares with them. And their fable over and over again, has always been that “if President Muhammadu Buhari want to truly fight corruption he must then fire the SGF.’’ Like we all know, one common form of ad populum is an appeal to “patriotism’’, which may allow arguers to overlook evidence that the audience needs for accurate assessment of the claim. The Senate committee knows that its purported indictment of the SGF cannot stand if it passes through an unbiased anti-corruption agency, and that may be why the promoters of the report have chosen to misinform the general public.

To be sure, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, in his recent interview with journalists, in a way confirmed that the report was deliberately crafted to rubbish one of their perceived political enemies.

Many Nigerians, including President Buhari, believe the report lacks credibility, that may have informed the decision by the president to ask the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to take a second look at the issues raised by the Senate Committee in the report.

Sanni, a public policy analyst, wrote from Abuja

THE DAY AFTER

W

The security agencies should put their house in order, writes Simeon Nwakaudu

hile the nation was lamenting the joke that All Progressives Congress leaders have turned the Police into, following their failure to successfully rig the Rivers Rerun Elections, the Department of State Services ( DSS) has followed suit, singing shamefully from a criminally composed hymn book.

In the evening of December 22, 2016, within the space of 15minutes, I received close to 50 calls and text messages from journalists, all seeking the response of the Rivers State Government on yet another concocted statement to justify the mayhem visited on the people of Rivers State, this time by the DSS. The baseless statement was judgmental all through and reeked of what was prepared by some horribly desperate sycophants, eager to satisfy their paymaster.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government has issued an official statement on this dance of shame by the DSS through the Hon. Commissioner of Information, Dr Austin Tam-George. The statement read in part: “It is an irresponsible scaremongering by an agency that seems bent on a mission to blackmail the governor of Rivers State, and bring the state government into disrepute. Governor Wike is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbances in any part of the country.”

In issuing a statement wherein the DSS alleged that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike planned to sponsor protests that will destabilise the federal government and put the administration in bad light, the DSS conveniently forgot that for two separate days, APC leaders sponsored northern elements to protest against the government and people of Rivers State on the

streets of Abuja.

They also forgot that on these two occasions, the police and DSS provided security cover for the hired northern protesters, giving them the official seal to insult the sensibilities of Rivers people who spoke in one voice; that APC stands rejected.

The DSS statement issued on Thursday by interpretation is similar to that issued by the alleged principal sponsor of the alleged murder of the DSP. The main suspect in the murder of the DSP, according to a police statement, confessed that their sponsor is an aide to a prominent APC chieftain and politician. At the time the police released the name to the public, they presumed he was a PDP member. When it became obvious that the suspect is a leading APC member linked to the federal government, the DSS was conscripted to do damage control. As always, this damage control has worsened the already soiled image of the APC government.

Before the DSS joke of trying to link Governor Wike to any form of violence, the said aide issued a statement trying to exonerate himself and his principal. Expectedly, the police are yet to invite him for questioning. Instead, the security agencies are struggling to divert attention from the substance of the matter.

In its embarrassing statement, the DSS took out time to rain insults on Governor Wike. They conveniently forgot that they are a security agency funded with the Niger Delta resources, but expected to serve all interests.That the DSS have joined the police in straying into the bush of infamy, brings to the fore, the danger of having politicians to head security agencies. The DSS, rather than gather intelligence, is desperate to defend the APC.

Did the Nigerian Police and the DSS contest the Rivers rerun/supplementary elections? Why are they crying louder than the bereaved? Why are they setting up joint panel of inquiry to justify their concoction of an already discarded audio clip? We understand that they are paid to act a script. But, every good actor knows when to leave the stage. It is obvious this illegal squad (Police and DSS) are oblivious of this fact. They have continued to dance naked on a stage where they have been repeatedly disgraced.

If 98,000 security personnel (policemen, SARS personnel, DSS operatives, soldiers, Air Force personnel, immigration officials, etc) deployed to Rivers State could not conquer the state for these political armed robbers, what makes the DSS and police think that poorly and hurriedly written statements would move Rivers people?

In Rivers State, there are two popular political songs by the teeming supporters of Governor Wike. One: “How many dem dey wey we no go win dem” and “No body get morale like Wike”. The DSS and Police should set up a 50-man panel to understand these songs. Nobody can intimidate a leader with the backing of his people.

These film tricks will amount to nothing. Like Governor Wike said, the security agencies should quietly retire the money they gave them for the elections without generating noise.

Governor Wike at his philosophical best sums the Rivers situation thus: “I believe that this country belongs to all of us.

I believe that nobody should be a second class citizen of this country. I come from a state that by the special grace of God produces the wealth of the nation. So, even those who depend on the oil noney to survive are allowed to speak, why

would somebody that produces that wealth, not speak?”

The governor emphasised that all the people of Rivers State demand is that democracy must triumph. He wondered why the leadership of APC cannot accept that they will not win in all states, when former President Jonathan willingly conceded defeat.

He said: “This is a government that came to power on the platform of change. We have offered ourselves to help them achieve change, instead of them to commend us, they want to eliminate us. I have told people who care to know, you rig election where you are popular.

When you rig election where you are not popular, it leads to violence “.

Our security agencies should retrace their steps in the interest of this country. The other day it was the Rivers APC helping the Nigerian Army to issue a press statement. Now it is the DSS defending the APC. What kind of security agency would raise frightening false alarm over suspected protests in Abuja, just to cover up inefficiencies which have engendered unpopularity in the land?

Please as you sleep every night, pray for our security agencies. They have fallen victim of the economic recession, hence they are willing tools in the hands of wicked politicians without conscience.

Please pray for our security services so that they realise that they owe their allegiance to the Nigerian Constitution and not to the APC National Executive Council.

In fact, just pray for the deliverance of our security agencies. They have been kidnapped by the APC. Let’s join hands to rescue them in their time of need.

15

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDITORIAL YAHYA JAMMEH MUST GO!

I

Nigeria should provide leadership in easing out the tyrant

t is now becoming increasingly clear that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may have to send a military intervention force to help resolve the political logjam in The Gambia. With the defeated President Yahya Jammeh insisting he would not hand over power following his defeat at the presidential election, a military push appears to be the only option left to chase him out of office before he leads his country into a serious crisis.

Last week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, led a delegation which included President Muhammadu Buhari to The Gambia. But Jammeh practically bluffed them as he defiantly said he would not hand over power.

“I am not a coward. I cannot be intimidated. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah.

Already the ECOWAS meeting was a formality. Before they came, they had already said Jammeh must step down. I will not step down,” vowed Jammeh, who had initially accepted the results of an election he lost to the main opposition SINCE JAMMEH IS INTENT ON candidate, Mr. PLAYING LAURENCE GBAGBO Adama Barrow.

OF COTE D’IVOIRE, EFFORTS However, ECOWSHOULD BE MADE TO EASE AS leaders are not HIM OUT IN SUCH A MANNER taking any nonsense THAT HE DOES NOT CAUSE from Jammeh. “If he is not going, we MUCH DAMAGE TO HIS have stand-by forces COUNTRY already alerted to intervene to restore the people’s wish. Senegal has been selected by its peers to lead the operations but we do not wish to start a conflict”, said ECOWAS Commission chairman, Marcel Alain de Souza. “If he loves his people, he has to be able o negotiate an exit door calmly. If it doesn’t happen, the most radical means will be used.”

In many ways, Jammeh personifies much of the contradictions in Africa’s emergent democracy. He came

Letters to the Editor

to power as a junior military officer who toppled the civilian government of Sir Dawda Jawara. When military autocracy fell into global disfavour, he quickly metamorphosed into a civilian politician. He organised and predictably won a succession of controversial elections.

In the process, he personalised and privatised security and other national institutions to serve his political ends while progressively building a typically African ‘big man’ personality cult that hovered menacingly over his tiny country. On the eve of his defeat at the polls, Jammeh had so elevated religious and ethnic bigotry to a level where he renamed his tiny nation into Islamic Republic of The Gambia. Now that his time is up with his defeat after 22 years in power, he does not want to go.

T T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, JOSEPH USHIGIALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

SENATE VERSUS SGF: NEED FOR FAIR HEARING

T

he Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, may have incurred the wrath of the Senate for a number of reasons. One reason that I readily recall is his strident defence of the ongoing trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for alleged false assets declaration when he was Kwara State governor.

When there were insinuations in some quarters that Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal would affect the work of the Senate, Lawal had argued that it was only Saraki that was on trial, and not the Senate. The trial is still on at the tribunal. Rather than defend himself against the allegations before him, the Senate president and his numerous lawyers have employed delay tactics.

For them, the defence is subterfuge.

It would also appear that part of Saraki’s defence strategy is to go after those who have lent a hand or a voice to his trial. Or how else does one appraise the allegations trailing Lawal over the management of funds for IDPs in the North-east, with the Senate posturing as both the petitioner and the jury? But like in Saraki’s case at the tribunal where the allegations against him remain allegations, as of this point, until he is proven guilty, SGF should not be confined to the gallows until he is found guilty. His case should not be

here is no doubt that ECOWAS has a strong sense of regional identity and a track record of political co-operation in times of crisis vis-a-vis the deployment of regional intervention forces in Liberia and Sierra Leone. But at the end of the day, it was Nigeria that bore the brunt of the ECOMOG intervention in the two countries. Nigeria is not well positioned to undertake similar ECOMOG operations as in the past.

Nigeria is currently facing enormous internal security challenges that have stretched thin the number of men available for active service. But we can still provide the leadership.

That Senegal will lead the push against Jammeh is understandable given its proximity but that also calls for some realistic assessment considering the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Since Jammeh is intent on playing Laurence Gbagbo of Cote D’ivoire who is now before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, efforts should be made to ease him out in such a manner that he does not cause much damage to his country.

It is sad that force has to be deployed but since that seems to be the only language Jammeh understands, ECOWAS leaders must act very quickly by sending a clear message that his time is up.

different. He deserves fair hearing. As opposed to what some senators would want to have us believe owing to their tempestuous relationship with Lawal, the recent interview by the Senate Leader Ali Ndume on the SGF’s issue is quite revealing.

From that interview, it emerged clearly that the Senate had condemned Lawal when they had not even listened to his own side of the story.

Questioned by State House Correspondents on the position of the Senate on SGF’s matter during his recent visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Ndume said the Senate resolution on Lawal was an interim report. “The Senate resolution is a recommendation, it’s not a law. What the Senate considered is work in progress because it was an interim report,” the Senate Leader said.

“I hear, coming from the SGF that he has not been given a fair hearing, so the hearing has not finished. We can give him an ample time to go before the committee and clear himself,” he added.

Babachir Lawal needs to be given time to appear before the Senate. Senate President Saraki is known to have a vice-like grip on the Senate. He leads the pack as he deems fit. His word is law in the upper legislative chamber. But the SGF must have his day before the senators because that is what proper procedure and due process demand.

Bolatito Adeola, Lagos

THE NORTH’S OPPOSITION TO FEDERALISM

N

orthern Nigeria needs to be told in no uncertain terms that they are setting the stage for the disintegration of Nigeria by their fear-inspired refusal to heed the calls of the country’s other ethnic nationalities which are calling for a peaceful and equitable re-balancing of Nigeria’s political-economic system.

We are a disparate people with starkly differing ideologies, but we can make it work for us, not against us (as it currently is) and only true federalism will enable the attainment of such a noble goal. Our founding fathers in appreciation of these realities ensured that we adopted and practised federalism upon the attainment of independence and Nigeria was the better for it.

This forced, suffocating unitary system, is a ticking time-bomb. Nigeria’s “unity” cannot be maintained ad infinitum by the force of arms, there is only so much a people can take.

The first time questions were asked of Nigeria’s corporate existence was 50 years ago.

These questions are still being asked today by a larger segment of people, in spite of the bloody civil war that ensued as a result of the questions asked the first time. That should tell us all something.

It is time for those who truly love Nigeria, whether Northerner or Southerner to insist on the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report; irrespective of any perceived or imagined flaws of that document, it’s just and nationalistic thrust is unimpeachable and in its pages we find an excellent template for the just and equitable restructuring of Nigeria on terms that are agreeable an acceptable to ALL Nigerians.

Nigeria is our only country, we need to make it work and the adoption and practice of federalism is sincerely the only way to keep us together and unleash our great potential.

Ugochukwu Amasike, Lagos

14

COMMENT

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

15

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDITORIAL YAHYA JAMMEH MUST GO!

I

Nigeria should provide leadership in easing out the tyrant

t is now becoming increasingly clear that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may have to send a military intervention force to help resolve the political logjam in The Gambia. With the defeated President Yahya Jammeh insisting he would not hand over power following his defeat at the presidential election, a military push appears to be the only option left to chase him out of office before he leads his country into a serious crisis.

Last week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, led a delegation which included President Muhammadu Buhari to The Gambia. But Jammeh practically bluffed them as he defiantly said he would not hand over power.

“I am not a coward. I cannot be intimidated. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah.

Already the ECOWAS meeting was a formality. Before they came, they had already said Jammeh must step down. I will not step down,” vowed Jammeh, who had initially accepted the results of an election he lost to the main opposition SINCE JAMMEH IS INTENT ON candidate, Mr. PLAYING LAURENCE GBAGBO Adama Barrow.

OF COTE D’IVOIRE, EFFORTS However, ECOWSHOULD BE MADE TO EASE AS leaders are not HIM OUT IN SUCH A MANNER taking any nonsense THAT HE DOES NOT CAUSE from Jammeh. “If he is not going, we MUCH DAMAGE TO HIS have stand-by forces COUNTRY already alerted to intervene to restore the people’s wish. Senegal has been selected by its peers to lead the operations but we do not wish to start a conflict”, said ECOWAS Commission chairman, Marcel Alain de Souza. “If he loves his people, he has to be able o negotiate an exit door calmly. If it doesn’t happen, the most radical means will be used.”

In many ways, Jammeh personifies much of the contradictions in Africa’s emergent democracy. He came

Letters to the Editor

to power as a junior military officer who toppled the civilian government of Sir Dawda Jawara. When military autocracy fell into global disfavour, he quickly metamorphosed into a civilian politician. He organised and predictably won a succession of controversial elections.

In the process, he personalised and privatised security and other national institutions to serve his political ends while progressively building a typically African ‘big man’ personality cult that hovered menacingly over his tiny country. On the eve of his defeat at the polls, Jammeh had so elevated religious and ethnic bigotry to a level where he renamed his tiny nation into Islamic Republic of The Gambia. Now that his time is up with his defeat after 22 years in power, he does not want to go.

T T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOlAJI ADEBIYI, JOSEph UShIGIAlE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAfE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE KOMOlAfE, ISRAEl IWEGBU, EMMANUEl EfENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OlUfEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS pETER IWEGBU, fIDElIS ElEMA, MBAYIlAN ANDOAKA, ANThONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEh ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS hENRY NWAChOKOR, SAhEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOlA TAIWO, UChENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER pATRICK EIMIUhI GROUP HEAD fEMI TOlUfAShE ART DIRECTOR OChI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION ChUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

SENATE VERSUS SGF: NEED FOR FAIR HEARING

T

he Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, may have incurred the wrath of the Senate for a number of reasons. One reason that I readily recall is his strident defence of the ongoing trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for alleged false assets declaration when he was Kwara State governor.

When there were insinuations in some quarters that Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal would affect the work of the Senate, Lawal had argued that it was only Saraki that was on trial, and not the Senate. The trial is still on at the tribunal. Rather than defend himself against the allegations before him, the Senate president and his numerous lawyers have employed delay tactics.

For them, the defence is subterfuge.

It would also appear that part of Saraki’s defence strategy is to go after those who have lent a hand or a voice to his trial. Or how else does one appraise the allegations trailing Lawal over the management of funds for IDPs in the North-east, with the Senate posturing as both the petitioner and the jury? But like in Saraki’s case at the tribunal where the allegations against him remain allegations, as of this point, until he is proven guilty, SGF should not be confined to the gallows until he is found guilty. His case should not be

here is no doubt that ECOWAS has a strong sense of regional identity and a track record of political co-operation in times of crisis vis-a-vis the deployment of regional intervention forces in Liberia and Sierra Leone. But at the end of the day, it was Nigeria that bore the brunt of the ECOMOG intervention in the two countries. Nigeria is not well positioned to undertake similar ECOMOG operations as in the past.

Nigeria is currently facing enormous internal security challenges that have stretched thin the number of men available for active service. But we can still provide the leadership.

That Senegal will lead the push against Jammeh is understandable given its proximity but that also calls for some realistic assessment considering the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Since Jammeh is intent on playing Laurence Gbagbo of Cote D’ivoire who is now before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, efforts should be made to ease him out in such a manner that he does not cause much damage to his country.

It is sad that force has to be deployed but since that seems to be the only language Jammeh understands, ECOWAS leaders must act very quickly by sending a clear message that his time is up.

different. He deserves fair hearing. As opposed to what some senators would want to have us believe owing to their tempestuous relationship with Lawal, the recent interview by the Senate Leader Ali Ndume on the SGF’s issue is quite revealing.

From that interview, it emerged clearly that the Senate had condemned Lawal when they had not even listened to his own side of the story.

Questioned by State House Correspondents on the position of the Senate on SGF’s matter during his recent visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Ndume said the Senate resolution on Lawal was an interim report. “The Senate resolution is a recommendation, it’s not a law. What the Senate considered is work in progress because it was an interim report,” the Senate Leader said.

“I hear, coming from the SGF that he has not been given a fair hearing, so the hearing has not finished. We can give him an ample time to go before the committee and clear himself,” he added.

Babachir Lawal needs to be given time to appear before the Senate. Senate President Saraki is known to have a vice-like grip on the Senate. He leads the pack as he deems fit. His word is law in the upper legislative chamber. But the SGF must have his day before the senators because that is what proper procedure and due process demand.

Bolatito Adeola, Lagos

THE NORTH’S OPPOSITION TO FEDERALISM

N

orthern Nigeria needs to be told in no uncertain terms that they are setting the stage for the disintegration of Nigeria by their fear-inspired refusal to heed the calls of the country’s other ethnic nationalities which are calling for a peaceful and equitable re-balancing of Nigeria’s political-economic system.

We are a disparate people with starkly differing ideologies, but we can make it work for us, not against us (as it currently is) and only true federalism will enable the attainment of such a noble goal. Our founding fathers in appreciation of these realities ensured that we adopted and practised federalism upon the attainment of independence and Nigeria was the better for it.

This forced, suffocating unitary system, is a ticking time-bomb. Nigeria’s “unity” cannot be maintained ad infinitum by the force of arms, there is only so much a people can take.

The first time questions were asked of Nigeria’s corporate existence was 50 years ago.

These questions are still being asked today by a larger segment of people, in spite of the bloody civil war that ensued as a result of the questions asked the first time. That should tell us all something.

It is time for those who truly love Nigeria, whether Northerner or Southerner to insist on the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report; irrespective of any perceived or imagined flaws of that document, it’s just and nationalistic thrust is unimpeachable and in its pages we find an excellent template for the just and equitable restructuring of Nigeria on terms that are agreeable an acceptable to ALL Nigerians.

Nigeria is our only country, we need to make it work and the adoption and practice of federalism is sincerely the only way to keep us together and unleash our great potential.

Ugochukwu Amasike, Lagos

16

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

17

18

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Ibori’s Dramatic Walk to Freedom The story of the release of a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, after serving his time in a London prison, is one of intense drama and intrigues, writes Omon-Julius Onabu

L

ike a bout of liquid from a burst high-pressure pipe, his release from a London prison in the United Kingdom provoked a strong dramatic reaction in Nigeria and in even in the United Kingdom. From his kith and kin in Oghara and across the state and beyond, the emotional outburst was both ecstatic and phenomenal, albeit expectedly. Although the expression of heroic approval of the recent decision of the London court was not altogether spontaneous, the widespread open celebration of the verdict in parts of the state, by citizens who the Law determined Chief James Onanefe Ibori had grievously sinned against, was simply overwhelming.

Despite the fact that circumstances that led to his incarceration border on the political actor stealing heavily from their commonwealth, the people were determined to give Ibori an unprecedented reception once he stepped into shores of Nigeria again. This disposition was much evident following the Wednesday, December 21, 2016 announcement of Ibori’s release from prison amid legal fireworks in London between the appellate court that authorized his release and the Home Office that was obviously determined to keep the man in prison as long as it could with legal niceties.

Oghara, which is the administrative headquarters of Ethiope West Local Government Area, was clearly in a happy mood as ecstatic celebration with acrobatic display by youths and women as well as motorcyclists created an atmosphere of a carnival. There was also general feasting with many people, particularly youths, enjoyed free booze. Even prayers and songs of thanksgiving were everywhere offered to God even by politicians not known for religious ceremonies.

Everyone simply went religious and philosophical.

Most of the people were celebrating apparently based on the rumoured homecoming of the erstwhile governor before the Yuletide on Sunday and the before the New Year. The town has for a couple of weeks been wearing a colorful looks and houses and streets were readied for Ibori’s anticipated return before the end of the year.

His influence on Politics from Prison The selection of a governorship candidate by the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the April 2015 gubernatorial election practically placed the party, which had held sway in the state since 1999, on a precipice.

Although a serving senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, appeared to tower head and shoulders over all the other aspirants to the coveted ticket, certain political intrigues and subterranean horse-trading had treated to displace Okowa with names like Mr. Tony Obuh being thrown up as the “anointed” candidate of the then incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

However, following the widely reported intervention of Ibori, who was said to have met with some members of his political family in his London prison, the then governor was allegedly asked to jettison the idea of imposing Obuh, a then recently retired senior civil servant in the state in favour of an Okowa candidacy.

Nonetheless, Uduaghan’s late effort to rally support for another aspirant and a member of the formidable Ibori political family, Chief David Edevbie, whom he believed might be more appealing to Ibori, eventually did not succeed in stopping Okowa.

It is, therefore, not surprising that some of these associates believed that Ibori’s return to the country would stir up the political atmosphere not only in Delta State but the Niger-Delta region and Nigeria as a whole. To former governorship aspirants, Dr. Festus Okubor and Hon Ejaife Odebala as well as media and social commentator, Mr Willy Bozimo, Ibori would provide that lacking link in the politics of the state and thereby unite or lead the state positively towards the future.

Similarly, Prosecutor Sasha Wass stressed that Ibori engaged in a wide variety of frauds. The single biggest scam involved siphoning off $37 million in fake consultancy fees during the sale of Delta State’s stake in mobile telecoms company V-Mobile. The court heard that Ibori used his stolen fortune to acquire six foreign properties worth 6.9 million pounds in total, a fleet of luxury cars including a Bentley and a Maybach 62, and that he tried to buy a $20 million private jet.

The Struggle Continues…

Ibori...not yet uhuru.

His Behind-the-Scene Effort against Militancy Close associates of the former governor claimed that Ibori’s personal mediation went a long way in brokering the reduction in upsurge in militancy in the oil-rich region. According to Okubor, Ibori even while in prison in London had used his overarching political influence to appeal to the various militant groups even though they were not personally known to him.

Okubor said while saluting his political hero on the occasion of his release from the London prison, “You enquired after how the ordinary man was coping with the recession. You called the creeks, pleading and begging for the national economy to be spared; you begged for the environmental impact of blowing pipelines to be avoided at all and every cost. You didn’t know who to call but you called all you knew to save the region from total destruction.”

Bozimo, aka ‘Willy Bee’, who described Ibori as “the wonder kid of Oghara”, said “We wait for an illustrious son, who fell on evil days, hoping his return would provide a formidable leader in Delta State, who moves us in the right direction.”

Similarly, Odebala, who is a legal practitioner and incumbent chairman of Sapelle Local government Area of the state, told THISDAY on phone that God had freed Ibroi because he ruled his people with passion and a good heart, saying “the political atmosphere in the state will not remain the same with the release of Chief James Onanefe Ibori.”

Ibori: A Villain or Hero?

Practically all Ibori’s associates believe that that former governor was a victim of political persecution as against genuine prosecution for corruption or money laundering for which he was jailed in the United Kingdom. Perhaps, this represents the greatest evidence that Ibori’s towering political father-figure is far from being diminished. As a matter of fact, his fabled uncommon political sagacity did not ebb even in the heat of his legal travails, first in Nigeria and ultimately in the UK. Specifically, they believed that the former governor still has a lot to contribute not only to the unity and growth of Delta State but Niger-Delta as a whole considering his leadership role in the fight for true federalism and resource control implementation in the region. His political associates believed that Ibori’s return to the country

would stir up the political atmosphere not only in Delta State but the Niger-Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.

Okubor, Odebala and Bozimo also think Ibori would provide that lacking link in the politics of the state and thereby unite or lead the state positively towards the future.

In the opinion of Mr. Charles Eyimofe Pemu, an Itsekiri leader, Ibori should be given a second chance because he had proved himself a dogged fighter as a politician despite his travails, saying he could come back reinvigorated as a leader of his people. Pemu, who described Ibori as the best politician to emerge from the South-south geopolitical zone, said “Though he is not a saint, he remains the best politician in the South-south region, only, that he played the politics in a “Maradona” style but should we dump him?

No! The Northerner and the Westerner will not do so. Why should we dump our political lion?

We need him to teach us some of the moves and not to rule. That is why he must return.

Note that a former armed robber can become a defender of his people because he understands how to make use of the gun.”

The Fear of Lingering Legal Battles Amid the excitement that greeted his release from prison and the prospect of his immediate homecoming, it soon dawned on relations, political associates, supporters and admirers of Ibori that it might yet be a long night contrary to the belief apparently orchestrated by certain ardent supporters that his release was unconditional.

Prior to his imprisonment in April 2012, Ibori had pleaded guilty to a 10-count charge of fraud and money-laundering committed during his eight-year tenure as elected governor of Delta State, an oil-rich but generally impoverished federating unit of Nigeria like most other states in the country.

Addressing Ibori during his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court in London, Judge Anthony Pitts said, “During those two terms (as governor) you turned yourself in very short order indeed into a multi-millionaire through corruption.” He went on: “The figure may be in excess of 200 million pounds, it is difficult to tell. The confiscation proceedings may shed some further light on the enormity of the sums involved.” He said it was one of the biggest money-laundering cases seen and that the 50 million pounds Ibori had admitted to stealing may be a “ludicrously low” fraction of his total loot.

During his sentencing trial, Ibori’s defence counsel, Mr Nicholas Purnell, argued that his crimes could be mitigated by his reported achievements as governor, particularly the construction of vital infrastructure across the state. To buttress that argument, Purnell had called former Wimbledon footballer and respected Nigerian sports ambassador, Mr John Fashanu, as a character witness.

Fashanu praised Ibori for the construction of three Olympic and FIFA-registered stadia in the Delta State as well as an 18-hole golf course and a shooting range. Although this line of argument failed to change the outcome of the trial in 2012, it would appear that many are set to persuade those who have picked holes with the superfluous praise for a man they believed have unpardonably fleeced his people and should not be celebrated to agree that his famed performance in office should sufficiently mitigate his equally ‘celebrated’ iniquities.

However, it emerged that the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, did not intend to deport Ibori to Nigeria until he handed over £18 million of “proceeds of crime”, reported the BBC. Ruling against the Home Office, a High Court judge said attempts to detain him were “quite extraordinary”.

Ordering Ibori to be immediately freed from prison, Mrs. Justice Juliet May said: “You don’t hold someone just because it is convenient to do so and without plans to deport them.” Thus, a Home Office application that Ibori be electronically tagged and subject to strict curfew conditions was also rejected after the judge accepted arguments that the Home Secretary was attempting to misuse her immigration and deportation powers.

Conversely, the Home Office’s counsel said the government was concerned that Ibori might “frustrate confiscation proceedings” and wanted him kept in jail or subjected to strict controls on his movement.

Rethinking the Political Future Apparently, the battle over the forfeiture of the controversial £18 million “proceeds of crime” stands between Ibori and homecoming and opportunity for his supporters and admirers to fully roll out the drums. In the meantime, what appears to be the most bizarre projection concerns the possibility of the former governor pitching tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The calculation is that Ibori could allow key members of his political family like Okowa and Uduaghan as harbingers into the APC to prepare the ground for a “soft landing” for him especially in the light of the anti-corruption posture of the Buhari government. Besides, it is also rumoured that the ex-governor might be made to face another round of trial back home in Nigeria.

The expectation is that with old allies like Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu added to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari was a key player in the government of the late Sani Abacha in which Ibori served as presidential adviser. After all, practically nothing is impossible in politics when the stakes are very high.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

ONTHEWATCH

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

The State of Our Nation

The news of some Nigerian soldiers at war with Boko Haram pleading for food and water marks an all-time low for the Muhammadu Buhari administration, writes Femi Fani-Kayode

I

just watched a very sad and disturbing video of our soldiers on the war front begging their President and Commanderin-Chief to provide them with food and water. They did this through footage which was shot on their cell phone cameras and released as a short video on social media.

They were desperate, angry and very loud and some of them were shedding tears about their deep frustration and sorry plight. We saw the lifeless bodies of at least two of them who had apparently died, not of bullet wounds, but of exhaustion, starvation and lack of water.

We saw and heard others as they were slowly dying and we heard their heavy panting and deep groans. We also heard and saw the anger, aggression, loud lamentations and startling complaints from the troops, one of whom had the courage to film the whole thing.

He and at least three of his colleagues appealed to those of us that were watching the video on social media to let the President know what they are going through. It was very moving and even the most hardened heart would have melted whilst watching that video.

This was a heart-breaking and pathetic scene.

These young soldiers had just won a major battle on the war front and they had just recovered numerous towns and villages from Boko Haram yet they were not even given water to quench their thirst or food to fill their stomachs after what was obviously a hard fight. How could things have got so bad?

This is the sort of thing that leads to mutiny and rebellion in the military and once that starts no-one is safe and no-one can stop it. I urge the Chief of Army Staff and indeed our President to do something about this problem quickly and ease the suffering and pain of our servicemen and women at the warfront and indeed when they come home.

In a country with a civilised government, members of the Armed Forces that are prepared to sacrifice their lives just to keep our borders secure and the rest of us safe are cherished and honored. Their salaries are paid promptly and regularly and they are not starved of water and food whilst on the warfront and whilst fighting a battle. The sorry plight of our gallant warriors in today’s Nigeria is indeed the shame of the nation.

Instead of meeting the needs of our soldiers, we are told that the military authorities are sending them to Argentina to learn about cattle-rearing and that they are preparing to set up cattle ranches in every state of the Federation.

One wonders why? What purpose does this serve? Is there a hidden agenda? Is it an attempt to smuggle in the rejected Grazing Reserve Bill through the back door? What on earth has cattle-rearing and setting up cattle ranches for itinerant and vagrant herdsmen got to do with soldiering? I guess one does not have to dig too deep to find the answers.

These are indeed interesting times and those that seek to utterly demoralise, destroy, demystify and demean the essence, ethos, confidence and very fabric of our Armed Forces and our military men have gone far. Instead of equipping them to fight on the war front and providing them with the necessary provisions on the battle field, they are turning them into cattle-rearers, herdsmen and farmers. What a tragedy!

Yet for our country, the picture is even the more bleak than that. It is not just the military that is going through hell but the people – both high and low as well. That is what drove Mr. Edwin Dico Okugbo to write the following words out of what can only be described as frustration and anger. He wrote: “Buhari is not fighting against corruption.

He is stealing the nation blind. 2015 and 2016 budgets have already been embezzled and they are already moving to 2017. Everyone around him has been exposed already as crooks. Which corruption is he fighting? He is only fighting his enemies to consolidate political power. He is the worst thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. A big scam!”

Harsh words indeed yet there can be little doubt that Mr. Okugbo reflects the thinking of many.

The bitter truth is that there is unprecedented hardship and suffering in the land. There is also injustice, wickedness, persecution, abuse of power,

In a country with a civilised government, members of the Armed Forces that are prepared to sacrifice their lives just to keep our borders secure and the rest of us safe are cherished and honored.

Their salaries are paid promptly and regularly and they are not starved of water and food whilst on the warfront and whilst fighting a battle. The sorry plight of our gallant warriors in today’s Nigeria is indeed the shame of the nation

Buhari...a deteriorating change

mass murder, corruption, impunity, religious and ethnic marginalisation, sectarian butchery and conflict, state-sponsored genocide, extra-judicial killings and massive and debilitating poverty.

Few are feeling the joy and love of Christmas this season. Yet, sadly, this is precisely what the Nigerian people wanted.

At the risk of our liberty, lives and reputation some of us warned them about the dangers of voting for the great evil of Buhari and his APC. There is nothing that is happening today that I did not accurately predict would happen if Buhari was given power. People laughed me to scorn, insulted me, threatened me, made mockery of me and said that I was wrong but I have been proved right.

You see, the problem is that most Nigerians do not know the history of their nation and neither can they possibly comprehend the obsessive, narcissistic and sociopathic nature and disposition of most of their leaders. Most of our people are incapable of any form of logical reasoning or analytical deduction that is truly detached from or devoid of emotion and irrational thinking.

Worse of all, they do not understand the prophetic or what is known as “revelation knowledge”. Knowledge means nothing to them and, simply put, they worship and rever money and power and nothing else. Most Nigerians will do anything, including selling their own heritage, glory and divinely ordained destiny, to have or achieve that money and power or to appease those that possess and wield it.

Consequently, if a rich man, a powerful politician or a key government official defecates in his pants at a party or a public function the average Nigerian will continue to celebrate him there and then and tell him and the entire world that he smells like roses or like the finest and most expensive perfume in the world. That is how depraved some of us are.

We have a terrible aversion to truth and we are very comfortable with living with suffering, wickedness and injustice. In fact the greater the injustice, violence, persecution and wickedness that the state metes out to others the more comfortable and the happier we are.

We actually enjoy it and secretly rejoice when those around us and our compatriots suffer pain, death, humiliation, shame, hardship, destruction, injustice and persecution. It is a strange and self-destructive disposition and a devious form of sado-masochism.

For example, just to spite President Goodluck Jonathan and his Niger Delta people and get him out of power, the Nigerian people brought Buhari upon themselves. Can there be a greater example of an entire people cutting their nose to spite their face? This was made all the worse by the fact that Jonathan enjoyed massive support

in the South-east which has come to be the whipping boy of the Nigerian state.

The thinking was that if the Igbo wanted Jonathan, then he had to be stopped at all costs. Consequently, a radical, angry, vengeful, bitter and divisive Buhari, who was viewed and often described by his supporters as the nations “mahdi” and “messiah” became their choice.

They chose him over the gentle, soft-spoken, forgiving, accommodating and humble Jonathan, who was maliciously depicted as a clueless, corrupt and incompetent villain. This was a grave error. I say that because the former was malignant and the latter was benign. The former was malevolent and the latter was benevolent.

It was rather like the time that the Jews chose our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ over the armed robber and murderer Barabas for crucifixion. It was like choosing night over day. It was like choosing a demon over an angel. It was like choosing evil over good.

For the mess we are in today and the disaster and impending doom that our nation is facing, I blame those in the core north, who introduced religion into our politics and who wanted power back at all costs – those in the Middle Belt, who supported them in that quest for reasons best known to themselves and those in the South-west that have come to be known as the “Jagaban Yorubas” that supported the diabolical and occultic concept of “chanji”.

I also blame a small but notable and identifiable section of the media, who sold their heritage for a mess of pottage and who have opted to remain silent and, in some cases even openly encourage and support, the evil that has been visited upon us as our nation goes to the dogs.

All these groups and individuals have betrayed the Nigerian people. They have destroyed their destinies, enslaved their children, impoverished their lives, shamed their loved ones, dishonored their forefathers, divided their nation, shattered their dreams and set our country back by at least 50 years.

The truth is that by the time this is all over, we may not even have a country left. Those that voted for this mess and put us in it should enjoy their “change” and live with the consequences of their stupid choice.

Do you know the number of families that cannot even afford to buy turkeys this Christmas? Do you know the number of people that will not get presents or be given Christmas gifts by their parents, siblings, spouses and loved ones this season? Do you know the number of children that will silently shed tears this Christmas and that will secretly wish that they had never been born Nigerians? It has never been this bad in our entire history and it really is so sad.

Those that put us in this terrible mess deserve no

mercy and no pity. They certainly do not deserve a second mandate in 2019. As for the Nigerian people, they have finally got the leadership that they deserve. Our nation needs repentance and prayer. May God forgive and deliver us from His tool of judgment.

Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following observations. I was right when I wrote both in 2008 and 2012 that Barack Obama would divide America and the entire world and that by the time he finished his tenure, the American people would reject his legacy.

I was right when I wrote about what the outcome of the war in Syria would be and how the Americans were making a big mistake by supporting the terrorists, jihadists and Islamic fundamentalists and trying to remove Bashar Al Assad. I was right when I wrote that the Americans and the Europeans were making a huge mistake by removing and killing Muammar Ghadaffi of Libya.

I was right when I wrote that Europe was making a mistake by allowing in the Syrian refugees, who I described at the time as a Trojan horse. I was right when I wrote about the damage that Buhari would do to our land if he was given a mandate to lead the Nigerian people.

I was right when I wrote about the damage that Ali Modu Sheriff would do the opposition Peoples Democratic Party if he was given the position of National Chairman.

I was right when I wrote that Donald J. Trump would win the presidential primaries of the American Republican Party to become their presidential candidate and when I wrote that he would go on to win the presidential election against Hilary Clinton. I was also right when I wrote that Nana Akufo-Addo would win the presidential election in Ghana. All these things came to me by revelation knowledge and by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by logical deduction or any power of my own.

Now let me share another prophetic word with you today by saying the following. For President Muhmmadu Buhari, like the biblical King Belshassar of Babylon, the writing is on the wall. And Like Belshassar, he has been weighed and found wanting. Soon, he will be gone and the Lord will raise a new leader: a biblical Cyrus with the heart of David, who will heal, unite and prosper our land.

This new leader will be a blessing to our people.

He will remove our shame, restore our peace, return our joy, rebuild our walls, encourage and strengthen our Church and men and women of God, re-establish our sacred alters, resurrect and re-invoke our covenant with the Living God, defend our borders, jealously guard our people and bring glory and honor to our nation.

Thus sayest the Lord and so it shall be. The vision is for an appointed time. Though it tarry, it shall not prove false. God bless you and merry Christmas.

-Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016, • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

A Day With the Gay Community Reuben Abati who delivered a lecture at this year’s special event on Human Rights, Sexuality and the Law, reports on the plight of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or intersex community in Nigeria

Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora protest against Nigeria’s anti-same sex laws

I

was invited to deliver the keynote address at this year’s special event on ‘Human Rights, Sexuality and the Law’, an annual symposium organised to promote awareness on issues relating to the plight of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Intersex (LGBTQI) Community in Nigeria. When this was announced on social media by the organisers, The Initiative For Equal Rights (TIERS) and @YNaija, hell practically broke loose within the LGBTQI community.

I was dismissed as a wrong choice, and the organisers were accused of being insensitive to the feelings of the community. A broad-based protest was launched on twitter and there were essays on the subject on NoStringsNG. com (the online media advocacy platform for LGBTQI issues in Nigeria), with the most scathing objection written by Bisi Alimi, the Nigerian-born, London-based gay rights activist.

Bisi Alimi described me as a “homophobe.”

He said the invitation extended to me was an abuse of TIERS, and he was offended that a group he had helped to co-found, would offer its platform to an “oppressor.”

Following a pre-event twitter chat with me on the subject, co-ordinated by @YNaija, the attacks got even more aggressive. Someone wrote that having Reuben Abati as Keynote Speaker was like inviting the “KKK to an NACCP event.”

An article written by Kritzmoritz and published

by KitoDiaries.com (another Nigerian LGBTQI blog) was titled “Of TIERS, Reuben Abati and all that angst.”

The anonymous author reflected the sentiments of the gay community in the following words: “Let me get this out of the way from the onset so we are clear. I don’t like Mr. Reuben Abati. Over the past five years, I have come to view him as a rather unpleasant human being…” Another commentator, Mandy in a piece titled “There is no engaging with a keynote Speaker” took the additional step of launching an online petition and called for signatures to “drop Reuben Abati”

because in his or her view: “you cannot invite the person who killed me to come apologise at my funeral; things are not done that way.”

My offence is that I had participated in a discussion of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014 shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan signed it into law. Alimi, in particular, was on an Al-Jazeera panel with me. He argued that I exhibited homophobia, defending the law.

The complaints by the gay community were so loud and their objection to the possibility of my being allowed to invade “their space” was so trenchant. I called the organisers to ask if they were considering a change of mind about their choice of Keynote Speaker. Their answer was in the negative.

Gay persons in Nigeria are subjected to police brutality and assault, targeted killings, hate crime, and sundry forms of discrimination.

Their relatives are stigmatised. The jungle justice that is imposed on the community is outside the province of the law. Enforcing the law as it is, until it is amended, revised, or repealed, should be within the province of the rule of law, not the jungle

On December 14, I participated in what turned out to be a lively, engaging, open and inclusive symposium on Human Rights, Sexuality and The Law. I did not see any reason to beat about the bush. I opened my address with a response to Alimi and the critics. The labels used to describe me do not fit me. I am neither a homophobe nor an extremist. My views are liberal and I consider the rights of every man to be ontological, interdependent and indivisible.

These rights are well-covered in all the major nine documents on International Human Rights, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948) and its 30 articles, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979). Nigeria is a signatory to majority of these conventions, protocols and covenants as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981). Chapters Two and Four of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, expressly uphold these rights.

The enactment of certain legislations such as The Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, HIV/AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2014, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2015, the Prohibition Against Domestic Violence Law No 15 of Lagos State, 2007, Gender Based Violation Prohibition Law of Ekiti State, 2011, Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003, the Legal Aid Act, 2011 and the Child Rights Act, 2003 – also point to considerable advancements in human rights legislation in Nigeria since 1999.

Human rights are important. They are indeed matters of urgent and high priority because they are at the core of the idea of our humanity.

They are indispensable vehicles for achieving peace, stability, justice and development in the world. Every human being is entitled to these

rights; to devalue the right of any person is to violate that person’s right to dignity and justice.

Nigeria in spite of acknowledged advancements remains a nightmare where human rights are concerned. The failure of institutional mechanisms and the absence of political will to translate constitutional rights into effective human rights realities have resulted in what is clearly a governance and accountability crisis.

The average Nigerian suffers the after-effects in various ways: poverty, lack of access to justice, violence, kidnappings, police brutality, extortion, wanton resort to self-help by both state and non-state actors, and a general regime of lawlessness reminiscent of the brutal days of military rule. Political leaders and state officials are so powerful that they have no regard for the people. They choose when it is convenient for them to respect court orders.

There is a disconnect between Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and what it does at home, creating conflicts and tensions in the implementation of human rights law. Nigeria is a member, for example, of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, but the government routinely ignores the rulings of this strategic regional court. Non-state actors are emboldened by the negligence of state actors to take the law into their hands, as seen in the conflict between Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights in Nigeria. Nigeria is a member of the International Labour Organisation, the enabling principles of which are covered in the Labour Act, 2004, but with the unemployment crisis in the country, employers of labour trample on the rights of workers at will. The non-justiciability of the social, economic, cultural and group human rights goals in Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution further compounds the nightmare.

It is within this overall context of the human rights situation in Nigeria, that the issue of sexuality is to be located. Section 15 (2) of the 1999 Constitution talks about national integration

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016, • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora against anti-same sex laws

without discrimination on the grounds of sex, among others. Section 17 states that the social order is founded on the ideals of “freedom, equality and justice”, while Section 17(3) says state policy shall be directed towards “all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever”, a goal that had earlier been covered also in Section 14(2)(b). Section 42 further upholds every Nigerian’s right to freedom from discrimination.

Whereas the Constitution talks about sex, and not sexuality or gender orientation, the principle of equality before the law and the right to be human is without exemption of any persons or groups. Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights indeed says sex should be taken to include sexual orientation and gender.

Minority groups are often targets of violence in Nigeria – apart from ethnic and religious minorities, women, children, the girl-child and the physically challenged, perhaps the most targeted and the most violated in recent times are members of the LGBTQI community.

Gays in Nigeria have found themselves in a hostile society. There have been reported cases of persons with suspected LGBTQI orientation being subjected to various forms of violence: kidnapping, extortion, rape, assault, inhuman

Sitting by my side during the interactive sessions was Olumide, the gifted and resourceful activist who runs TIERSNigeria. We reviewed the comments as they flowed forth from the participants in the room. What is clear is that there is a vibrant LGBTQI community in Nigeria led by internationally exposed, media-savvy and knowledgeable young men and women who are determined to insist on their fundamental human rights and their right to be who they want to be. They are aggrieved. They are organised

and degrading treatment, denial of access to justice and curtailment of their fundamental rights. The state looks the other way, the rest of society says serves them right.

There is no plan or structure in place for protecting gay persons in Nigeria from outright violation even by the police and the state.

Section 214 of the Criminal Code criminalises “any person who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature”. Section 217 thereof frowns at “gross indecency”. Similarly, Sections 284 and 405-408 of the Penal Code, and the Sharia Law in 12 states of the North make homosexuality a punishable felony. Public hostility towards the LGBTQI is widespread. It is risky to reveal sexual orientation in Nigeria.

No political party or politician has formally endorsed LGBTQI rights in Nigeria.

The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014, which is a particular source of anxiety and the target of protest by the Nigerian and global LGBTQI community, establishes a legal basis for formal discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

This law forbids any form of gay marriage, or civil union (sections 1-3), the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations or the holding of gay meetings (section 4(1)) and the display of amorous relationship between two persons of the same sex in Nigeria (section 4(2). Anybody who enters into a same sex marriage contract or runs a gay club or association or group or is seen to be aiding and abetting homosexuality is considered guilty of a felony. The punishment ranges from 10 to 14 years (section 5). Although the SSMPA deals with marriage or civil union, it is a much stronger law than the Criminal and Penal Codes and the Sharia on gay issues. It is a law fraught with ambiguities, which devalue the gay person’s rights to privacy, dignity of the human person, freedoms of expression and freedom from discrimination.

But it remains a popular law with the majority of Nigerians who rely on culture and traditional values, public morality as defined in Section 45 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, and the fact that Nigeria being a sovereign nation should be free to make its own laws and not subject itself to Western notions of sexuality. Research findings accordingly indicate that more than 95 per cent of the Nigerian population considers homosexuality a sin. Religion and culture remain major barriers to human rights expression as seen in the case of Christians quoting such anti-gay Scriptural passages as Leviticus 18:22, 20:23, the poor fortunes of the Child Rights Act in spite of its ratification by 26 out of 36 states, constructive and continuing gender discrimination, and the disgraceful politicking over the Gender Equality and Prohibition of Violence Against Women Bill, 2016 which has now been reduced pathetically, at second reading, to a bill on violence and sexual abuse.

There are specific posers to be raised in relation to the SSMPA 2014. One, culture to the extent of its dynamism should evolve, and must not be erected into a given barrier to human rights expression. Two, human rights and sovereignty should not be antithetical. Three, who should

determine what is right and wrong? Is there an objective universal morality in a world of diverse beliefs and practices? And is morality necessarily as determined by the majority? Can the majority possibly be wrong in a democracy?

Where sexuality is concerned, the insistence on basic rights can only be a continuous and inclusive struggle. The debate can only continue to evolve as society itself evolves. The irreducible minimum lies in the need by state and non-state actors to continue to make efforts to dismantle barriers and extend the frontiers of how human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Gay persons in Nigeria are subjected to police brutality and assault, targeted killings, hate crime, and sundry forms of discrimination.

Their relatives are stigmatised. The jungle justice that is imposed on the community is outside the province of the law. Enforcing the law as it is, until it is amended, revised, or repealed, should be within the province of the rule of law, not the jungle. The right of all persons to freedom, justice and equality should be considered sacrosanct.

Any law, which contradicts this principle, in its operation or expression, is to the extent of its inconsistency, questionable.

The more memorable aspect of the 2016 symposium on Human Rights, Sexuality and the Law, attended by both gay and non-gay persons, was the interactive session where further issues were raised and interrogated. One fellow stood up and insisted that I needed to apologise to the LGBTQI community for views I had expressed in the past. My response was that when I defended the SSMPA publicly in 2014, I was doing my duty as the Official Presidential Spokesperson. In that capacity, it was part of my responsibility to explain and promote government policies and decisions. A spokesman’s loyalty is to country, state, government and principal; he or she is essentially a Vuvuzela.

Besides, the SSMPA is not a law about my personal views but the values and the choice of the majority of Nigerians. What people do with their private lives is their business as free human beings without interpreting freedom as absolute, however, but as a guarantee for the equality of all persons.

Someone else wanted to know why President Jonathan considered it expedient and urgent to sign a bill that was first proposed in 2006 into law. The chronology is that the National Assembly rejected the bill in 2007. It was passed by the Senate on Nov 29, 2011, by the House of Representatives on May 30, 2013 and signed into law on January 13, 2014. If President Jonathan had withheld assent, the National Assembly could have exercised its power of veto to override.

What is required, in all of this, to be honest, is not ex post facto hand-wringing and blame games, but continued advocacy and awareness building. Incidentally, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has called on the Nigerian Government to consider a revision of the SSMPA given the manner in which it is being exploited to violate fundamental human rights. A day may well come when this would happen in line with the Yogyakarta Principles

on sexual orientation and gender identity, as has been experienced in Mozambique, Nepal and Nicaragua.

A lady stood up and added: “Dr. Abati, it is important that you realise you are in our space.

This is a very sensitive space and community. My husband is your very good friend, but I still think you owe this community an apology because even when doing your job as a government official, there are certain things you should not say.” I thought I already answered that question.

Another lady intervened: “Hi, Dr. Abati, I am made to understand you don’t believe we exist in Nigeria. Well, now you know we do. I am a citizen. I work in this country. I pay my taxes.

My name is Pamela. And I am a Lesbian.” I have never said any such dumb thing as to insist that the LGBTQI community does not exist either in Nigeria or elsewhere in Africa.

Having read Bernadine Evaristo and other writers on the subject, I have a clear understanding.

I left the symposium with two special gifts.

The 2016 Human Rights Violations Report Based on Real or Perceived Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Nigeria, a 61-page publication

by TIERS Nigeria which was formally presented at the occasion and “Tell Me Where I Can Be Safe”: The Impact of Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, a 108-page publication by Human Rights Watch. Both publications provide detailed and up-to-date information including statistics and the impact of the law with regard to the status of the LGBTQI community in Nigeria, focusing mainly on human rights violations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. I recommend both publications for general reading and for the benefit of those seeking answers on the subject under review.

Sitting by my side during the interactive sessions was Olumide, the gifted and resourceful activist who runs TIERSNigeria. We reviewed the comments as they flowed forth from the participants in the room. What is clear is that there is a vibrant LGBTQI community in Nigeria led by internationally exposed, media-savvy and knowledgeable young men and women who are determined to insist on their fundamental human rights and their right to be who they want to be. They are aggrieved. They are organised.

They have set up platforms for self-expression including the use of technology, publications, movies (re: Hell or High Water, November 2016), the media and other social networking opportunities. Their voice is likely to grow louder as they become more organised. For how much longer can they be ignored?

As the event drew to a close, the microphone got to a young fellow who incoherent at first, still managed to deliver his punch-line killer: “Please, I don’t understand what people are saying. They are saying they are liberal, or that we need to unlearn certain things. Liberal, about what? When you say you are liberal, it is like you are patronising us. Can you talk about rice when you have not even tasted it?” Yes, I think.

One of the privileges of intellection is the right to talk robustly and nineteen to the dozen about rice, without ever tasting it.

22

IMAGES

L-R; Administrative Assistant to the President, African Church Cathedral Bethel, Ven. Tope Odunlami; Arch Cathedral Provost, Ven. Adebayo Ologun; Primate, African Church Cathedral Bethel, Arch Cathedral, Most Rev. Emmanuel J. Udofia; People’s Warden, Col. Akinsela Aboyade-Cole and Chaplain to the Primate, Ven. Daniel Banjo, during the Chrismas service at African Church Cathedral Bethel, , Lagos....recently kolawole alli

L-R; Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Alhaji M.T. Ningi; Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Ade Dosunmu; MD/CEO, Executive Spot, Alhaja Ramatu Lawal and MD/CEO, Jewelry Affairs, Otunba Folashade Adeshoye, during the commissioning of the Spot in Ikoyi, Lagos....recently .kolawole alli

THISDAY •WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

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

Chairman, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement & Advocacy llnitiiiative, Moses lgbrude(left) and Sales Manager, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Chris Amedu at the Annual Summiit/Award of the Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement & Advocacy llnitiiiative in Lagos....recently Abiodun Ajala

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(left) and The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aremolaran, during the 2016 Iwude Ijesa Festival at Obokungbusi Town Hall, Ilesa, Osun State...recently

Men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Fire Services in a rescue operation at the accident scene of a 33, 000 litres PMS laden tanker at the Anthony Bridge inward Gbagada, Lagos....recently

L-R:Head, Customer Service, Wema Bank, Mrs. Kemi Aina; Head, E-Business and Payments, Demola Bolodeoku; Head, Infrastructure Business Unit, Inlaks Computers Limited, Mr. Tope Dare; and Head, ATM, Wema Bank, Mrs. Seyi Oguntade, at the Inlaks hhanding over of first solar powered ATM branch to Wema Bank in Lagos recently

Wife of the Director, Comfort of Christ Gospel Mission House, Mrs Anne Oluwatoyin Ojo (middle) being assisted by the Father Christmas in giving gifts to one of the children of the widows at a party organised for them in Karu Site, Abuja... recently.

L-R; Chairman, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Bolaji Balogun; Chief Executive Officer, Primrose Development Company, Mr. Jide Balogun; Chief Executive Officer, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Founder, FCMB Group, Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun and his wife, Olori Abimbola Balogun, during the Christmas Carol organised by Otunba Balogun in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state....recently

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A S

A T

D E C E M B E R

NIBOR 3-MONTH

4.150% 15.8625%

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 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 Guinness Plans N50bn Rights Issue

Guinness Nigeria Plc will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on January 24, 2017 in Lagos where shareholders of the company will approve a right issue. The company is expecting to raise N40 billion through the right issue. Guinness Nigeria Plc believes the rights issue will allow it to optimize its balance sheet improving its financial and operational flexibility. However, the rights issue is subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities. Market analysts and stakeholders have called for an equitiy injection into the operations of the brewing firm following the huge cost of debt financing, which has impacted the bottom-line of the firm negatively. Partly due to the high cost of financing through debt, Guinness recorded a loss for the year ended June 30, 2016 for the first time in 30 years. Specifically, the company ended the year with a loss of N2.347 billion. The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, had attributed the loss to tough economic environment and challenges with naira devaluation.

“Our performance this year was impacted by two major factors, one being the very tough economic challenges around consumer spending, driving consumer preferences towards value brands across the sector, the other, and more significant factor being the effect of foreign exchange policy and the devaluation of the Naira.

Firms Partner on Digital Economy

FRC’S 2016 SUMMIT

L-R : Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Nigerian Accounting Standards Board (NASB) Mr. Godson Nnadi; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Titus Soetan; CEO, Financial Reporting Council, Mr.Jim Obazee and former Chairman, Nestle Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye at FRC’s 2016 annual corporate financial reporting summit and dinner in Lagos…recently. annual corporate financial reporting summit and dinner in Lagos…recently.

Consumer Price Index Rises By 92% in 2016 Obinna Chima The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is used to gauge inflation in Nigeria, increased significantly by 92 per cent in 2016, from 9.62 per cent in January, to 18.48 per cent in November.

This clearly showed that inflationary pressure was strong in 2016 as prices of goods and service rose astronomically during the year. Inflation in 2016 rose far above the upper boundary that was set by the central bank.

Although the CPI figures for December would be released next month, it is largely expected to remain within the 18 per cent band.

ECONOMY From 9.62 per cent in January, the CPI climbed to 11.38 per cent February, 12.77 per cent in March and 13.77 per cent in April. Furthermore, it jumped to 15.58 per cent in May, 16.48 per cent in June, 17.13 per cent in July and 17.61 per cent in August. In addition, the CPI edged higher to 17.85 in September, 18.33 per cent in October and 18.48 per cent in November. In all, the CPI rose by 92 per cent in 2016.

The federal government recently said it was targeting a growth rate of seven per cent between 2017 and 2020, through its National Economic Recovery

Growth Plan (NERGP). This is expected to result to a drop in the CPI in the coming year.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma said the need for the plan and its effective implementation was more imperative, given the current state of the nation’s economy.

The minister stated that every effort must be made to ensure that the new plan eventually did not suffer the fate of those before it. To ensure that the NERGP does not go the way of others, he stated that the government was putting in place a delivery unit that would drive its implementation through effective monitoring and evaluation.

Udoma explained that the plan was structured in such a way that it would be the basis for all subsequent budgets, which was why the contribution and support of the National Assembly was very critical to ensure the effective realisation of its objectives.

The Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, recently told THISDAY that there was need for government to embark on structural economic reform to tackle some of the challenges facing the economy.

“Our economy only consumes, we do not produce Continued on page 24

NAICOM Threatens to Sanction Violators of Local Content Policy Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has threatened to sanction insurance operators that contravene local content policy by ceding businesses offshore, without fully utilising local capacities.

The commission disclosed this in a circular titled ‘Utilisation of In-Country Capacities of Nigerian Insurers, Reinsurers and Pool Prior to Foreign Facultative Reinsurance, signed by its Director, Authourisation and Policy, Pius Agboola, sent

INSURANCE to all insurance institutions.

According to NAICOM, it has observed that insurance practitioners now fail, neglect or refuse to consider and fully utilise relevant in-country capacities of insurance/reinsurance institutions such as; pools, reinsurers and other approved local/ recognised insurance capacities prior to applying for approval to cede certain proportion of some risks offshore.

It maintained that in some

situations where the pools, insurers, or reinsurers are offered participation, the institutions either offered minimal proportion below their capacity or informally restricted and/ or compelled to accept lower than their respective capacities for the purpose of justifying cession of the risks offshore.

NAICOM noted that the unethical practice, which contravenes the local content law, henceforth, would not be tolerated.

It also cautioned operators who, according to the com-

mission, have inappropriately arrogated to themselves the authority to unilaterally exclude some insurers in juicy businesses over alleged outstanding claims, urging them to desist from such act and report alleged non-settlement of claims to the statutory grievance/complaint redress mechanism for appropriate action.

The local content initiative was introduced by the federal government in Nigerian insurance industry in 2007.

Continued on page 24

With the goal of helping local businesses of all sizes discover new ways in which to optimise their business processes and engage with their customers and employees through a simplified experience, SAP and Bluechip Technologies recently hosted a cocktail in Lagos.

The first of its kind to be held in recent times, the event focused on the role that technology can play to drive efficiencies through a series of presentations on business-relevant topics. More than 30 delegates attended the dinner, comprising of customers, potential customers and SAP experts. “One of the major problems that businesses are faced with today is complexity - from huge data sets, new technologies, increasing regulation, globalization and increasing customer awareness and mobility,” the Chief Delivery Officer at Bluechip, Tope Ajao, was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Organisation such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook have proven that simplicity is the way forward. Hence, helping organisations simplify their IT landscape will tremendously lower cost and differentiate their products and services,” he said.

Re-affirming its commitment to the West African Market as both strategic and innovative, the SAP Analytics event showcased how companies can unleash the power of digital innovation while finding a balance between maintaining their current infrastructure and innovating without disruption. “InformationTechnology is therefore faced with the challenge of enabling the business to analyse all relevant data for making decisions on time.

Security Priority for Tech Investments

Airports are placing a higher priority on information technology (IT) investments for passenger and airport security with 50 per cent rating it a high priority, up from 37 per cent last year. This is according to the 2016 Airport ITTrends Survey, the extensive annual study of IT trends within the global airport industry co-sponsored

by SITA (and Airports Council International (ACI), in association with Airline Business. For many airports, the investment focus has shifted to security in the wake of heightened regional tensions, some of which directly target air travel. While investment in passenger processing technologystillranksthenumberonepriorityforairports,ithasdropped from 73 per cent in 2015 to 59 per cent this year as security rises in priority.The survey showed that self-service and mobile dominate the airport landscape.This year for the first time SITA’s research indicates the majority of airports worldwide provide self-service check-in for both passengers and bags.

Looking ahead self-service will continue to dominate with two-thirds of airports planning major IT investments in this area. The growing influence of mobile is also evident with nearly every airport worldwide (90 per cent) undertaking either a major programme or a trial project related to mobile services and 74 per cent trialing or piloting contextaware and location-based technology in the next five years.

There is too much reliance on oil with state governors fighting over allocations and sharing patterns.

People must go back and look at the resources inherent in those areas and begin to make money for future generations Minister for State for Petroleum Resources,

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

24

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD CONSUMER PRICE INDEX RISES BY 92% IN 2016 anything that brings foreign exchange. So, what you do is that you direct policies that would encourage people to encourage and manufacture, no matter how little, something that would add value, before you export. What we need now are structural policies. What we have seen is that the central bank has been doing a lot of what it ought not to be doing.

The central bank is pushing out a lot of intervention funds. A lot of times, their intervention funds have fiscal coloration.

And that is not supposed to be their business.

“So for me, recessions are recurrent in the market system.

It comes and goes, but it gives you an opportunity to make sure that you manage the economy properly. No two recessions are alike. Also, they need experts to help them manage the economy. It is not a tea party.

“They need technocrats to advise them. And in our system, no government has a long-run luxury. Every government has four years, so they have to move fast.

My worry for Nigeria is more than the economic recession.

Let me ask you as question. If for example, the next quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth becomes positive marginally, that means the economy may be out of recession.

NAICOM THREATENS TO SANCTION VIOLATORS OF LOCAL CONTENT POLICY Its introduction was as a result high rate of capital flight from the oil and gas sector to overseas insurers. Therefore, in a bid to stem this trend, the federal government in 2007, introduced the local content initiative.

In addition to this, NAICOM in 2010, released the oil and gas insurance guidelines and clarified conditions for taking any business abroad.

One f the conditions is that any organisation or person wishing to take any business abroad must first feed the local insurers with such business after which it must obtain NAICOM’s approval to take the excess abroad.

NEWS

NACC Supports FG’s Economic Diversification Programme Raheem Akingbolu

USAID Trade Hub has approved the NACC as an AGOA Resource Centre, and automatically qualified to receive USAID ‘s technical and financial assistance to promote AGOA” he said.

In order to take full advantage of AGOA, NACC urged the government to encourage the relocation of all export processing companies in Nigeria

into free trade zones so that they can be easily inspected for quality.

Olabintan opined that the government should look away from vested interest in the Nigerian Railway, and called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgent public interest, break the Nigerian Railway’s monopoly and thereby open up the sector for development

and private sector participation.

Consul-General, US Consulate in Nigeria, John Bray, represented by Eric Eagleton said as the leading trade partner in Africa and one of the top 30 in the world, the Nigerian economy is highly linked to the United States.

According to Bray, NACC will play an important role to drive the US- Nigerian

Commercial and Investment Dialogue (CID) established by President Muhammadu Buhari on his visit to New York in September.

Speaking further, he said NACC members embody entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to change, and a global outlook that characterize both the American and Nigerian business communities.

The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has thrown its weight behind the federal government on diversification from oil to strengthen other sectors of the economy, especially agriculture. The bilateral body urges the government at all levels to show more political will towards diversifying the economy away from oil in 2017 as the country looks to recover from the current economic recession and the pain of a mono-product economy.

Speaking at the NACC annual dinner dance held recently, National President, NACC, Olabintan Famutimi, said the government must urgently look beyond oil and put more effort into diversification of the economy in 2017.

According to Olabintan, the “American government gave us a platform, an opportunity with Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) signed in 2000, but we have failed to key into that opportunity as a nation. For the whole of the first 15 years Nigeria never took advantage of it. Luckily for us, President Obama renewed it for another 25 years.

Our greatest challenge today is promoting duty free export into America through AGOA.” L-R: Administrator, Boom for Good Foundation, Ms. Kate Alaneme-Douglas; Host/Coordinator, Boom for Good Foundation/Father of “I am pleased to announce the late Temi Braithwaite, Mr. Des Braithwaite; Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Pamela Ajayi; Trustee Mr. Philip Ikeazor and mother of that the Accra Ghana based Temi Mrs. Ajoke Braithwaite, during the second anniversary of the foundation in memory of Temi who died of meningitis in 2014.

CSR IN ACTION

NAICOM to Use Stockbrokers As Referral Agents Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is to use stockbrokers as part of the referral agents in the insurance distribution channels it has proposed to set up.

The commission disclosed this during a recent visit to the Director- General Security and Exchange Commission( SEC), Mr. Munir Gwarzo in Abuja.

The commission said this is part of its on-going effort to deepen insurance penetration in the country.

NAICOM Deputy Director Authorsation and Policy Mr. Leonard Akah, who led the

NAICOM delegation, outlined the role of stockbrokers in the sale of insurance product as being limited to referral partners/agents to the insurance companies without being exposed to any risk.

In return, he said the stockbrokers will earn a percentage commission on any business they are able to generate to the insurance company.

According to him, this initiative is expected to create opportunities for the stockbrokers that are interested without distracting them from carrying out their core functions.

He added that draft guidelines to ensure seamless operation

of the initiative will be sent to SEC for input before the final exposure.

In his response, the SEC DG represented by Head, Monitoring Department, Mr. Isyaku Bala Tilde, thanked NAICOM for the initiative and promised to collaborate with the commission to ensure its smooth execution.

In the bid to deepen insurance penetration, NAICOM has identified various other professionals for consideration in the referral agency model. These include accountants, lawyers and a host of others.

NAICOM, had a fortnight ago announced that it has created new distribution agencies tagged

“Referral Partners/Agents” for distribution of insurance products in the country. According to the commission, the channel will entail integrating and involving many organisations to be partners/agents of insurance companies in the distribution of insurance products across the country.

“To this end, the commission has created new distribution agencies to be known as “Referral Partners/Agents.”

These channels will entail integrating and involving many organisations to be partners/ agents of insurance companies in the distribution of insurance products across the country”,

said the commission In a statement made available to THSDAY, the Commission had said that the initiative is expected to create opportunities for individuals and regulated corporate entities to play a vital role in the insurance distribution chain to access and reach the largely underserved majority of the Nigerian population without being exposed to any liability.

The commission had also promised to meet with relevant regulatory agencies and professional bodies to discuss the modus operandi and benefits inherent in the new initiative.

NIMASA to Enforce Implementation of Stevedoring Regulations 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)

Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has disclosed that the agency is set to enforce the full implementation of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulation, 2014, in order to strengthen stevedoring operations in all Dock Labour operational areas in the country.

The DG made this disclosure at a-one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation seminar on the NIMASA (Stevedoring) Regulation,2014, held in Lagos.

Delivering a welcome address, Peterside stated that the

regulation prescribes standard for the appointment and operations of Stevedoring services at the Ports, Terminals, Jetties, Onshore or Offshore Oil and Gas or Bonded Terminal, Inland Containers Depots (ICDs), Off Dock Terminals, Dry Ports and Platforms within the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Represented by the agency’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, the DG said that NIMASA will continue to ensure a conducive working environment for employers of maritime labour in the industry in line with

international best practices.

According to him, “Let me assure you that the Agency under my watch will strive to create the enabling environment for maritime labour employers to operate in line with International best practices. As a competent authority for the implementation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and regulations, the Agency will also conduct its maritime related affairs in the spirit of tripartism and consultation with all relevant Stakeholders aimed at promoting a decent work agenda and moving the industry forward.”

Also, the NIMASA boss used the opportunity to remind stakeholders of the need to adhere to high safety standards in their daily operations in order to stem the tide of industrial accidents in the ports, jetties and terminals and also implored Operators and Dock Labour Employers to ensure that their workers are adequately remunerated, stating that it will go a long way in enhancing productivity in all aspects of the industry.

Peterside, who solicited the cooperation of stakeholders in the industry, also reiterated the agency’s commitment towards moving the maritime

industry to greater heights by emphasizing best internationally acceptable operational practices with a view to ensuring that the relevant provisions of the Law and International Conventions and Instruments are implemented to the letter.

Stakeholders at the event including the President of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) Mr. Bolaji Sunmola and Otunba Kunle Folarin of the Ports Consultative Council (PCC) welcomed the sensitisation programme and called for effective implementation and enforcement of its provisions.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

25

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NPA Staff Urged to Promote Efficient Service Delivery to Nigeria Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has urged the staff of the agency to redirect themselves towards efficient service delivery to the nation.

She stated this while speaking during the long service awards ceremony organised by the authority in Lagos.

NPA, Bala-Usman said, will always promote productivity and enthrone accountability in its operations.

She informed them that the management has decided to review their rent allowances

next year and told them the need to carry out their official responsibilities diligently and in line with best practices.

The Managing Director, who was represented by the Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello Koko said the issue of staff promotion would always be handled promptly and in line with performance appraisal in order to challenge workers to brace up for better accomplishment. The long service awards, the MD said, would hold annually in order to recognise the contributions of all members of staff that have served the authority meritoriously.

She added that the concession regime had promoted the port business and yielded the benefits to the federal government, the private terminal operators, service providers and other stakeholders in the maritime industry. A total of 481 and 183 staff members who belong to 2013 and 2012 categories were given awards respectively.

Assorted items like refrigerators, air conditioners, television sets and other home appliances were given to the different categories of the awardees as a mark of appreciation for their contribution to the NPA.

SGS Donates Hi-Tech Textile Laboratory Equipment to SON SGS Nigeria Limited, a leader in quality assurance services, has donated high technology textile laboratory equipment to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

This, the company said, is to support the agency’s efforts to increase the quality and competitiveness of textile products sold in the country and for exports.

Speaking at the handover ceremony at the agency’s Lagos head office, Managing Director of SGS Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Hunter, described the gesture, “as a fulfilment of our obligation to support the efforts of SON to achieve its mandate.”

The high value textile testing equipment, the latest versions in the market include a Digital Fabric Air Permeability Tester (ASTM D737) that is applicable in the determination of air permeability of decorating materials used in cars example polyurethane, expanded plastics, PVC, leather, textiles, non-woven and other materials.

Also donated was a Digital Tear Strength Tester (SLY-SI) that is used for the tearing test

of films, sheets, flexible PVC, PVDC, waterproof films, woven materials, polypropylene, polyester, paper, cardboard, textiles and non-woven.

Hunter said that the equipment donated would enhance the capacity of the textile laboratory of SON in testing the quality of local or imported yarns, fabrics and textiles, to assess any imperfection and ensure quality textile products are sold to Nigerians and exported to other countries of the world.

He assured the management of SON that SGS will continue to provide technical support in the implementation of the SONCAP scheme in line with the provisions of the SONCAP contract and operation guidelines.

SGS’s Government and Institutions (GIS) Contract Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Oyebode, informed the Director General that SGS has arranged for the installation and training of SON staff on the usage of the equipment by experts from the manufacturer.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of SON, Mr. Anthony Osita Aboloma, on

behalf of the agency, commended SGS, “for donating state of the art laboratory testing equipment for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“We appreciate SGS for their discretion to raise SON to international standard, we thank the management of SGS for this donation, the company is one of our best agents and we appreciate this gesture. We urge you not to rest on your oars, please keep encouraging, and keep helping us to update our facilities,” he said.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.

Recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity, with more than 88,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world. The company is committed to providing exporters to Nigeria, and importers in Nigeria, with efficient services under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Program (SONCAP), designed to prevent the import of substandard and unsafe products into Nigeria.

Again, Glo Leads in New Internet Subscriptions According to data published by telecom industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Globacom was the only network that recorded an increase in its internet subscriber base in the month of October, 2016.

The NCC Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for October published on its website showed that the total number of internet users on the networks of the four major operators shrank by 378,015 from 93.5m in September to 93.1m in October.

The latest report reconfirms Globacom’s position as Nigeria’s data grand masters as it grew its internet customer base to 27,185,552 million in October from 26,887,929 in September.

This indicates an increase of 297,623 during the month.

On the other hand, MTN and Etisalat had reductions in the number of customers surfing the net on their network during the period, while Airtel did not record any increase as its figures for the two months were the same. The data revealed that MTN had 32,464,779 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network in October, which is a decrease of 306,480 internet subscribers from the September figure of 32,771,259.

On its part, Airtel had 18,832,238 million internet users in October, the same figure it recorded in September. Like MTN, Etisalat had 14,693,492 million data customers in Oc-

tober, showing a loss of 369,158 compared to the 15,062,650 million users it recorded in the preceding month of September.

According to the NCC data, the CDMA operators lost 13,664 internet users, after recording 38,309 in October compared to the 51,973 figure recorded in September.

Globacom’s position as telecom subscriber’s first choice for internet services was strengthened in October when it became the first network to launch a nationwide rollout of the 4G LTE advanced network.

With the launch of the service, millions of subscribers on the Glo network have been able to enjoy instant efficient broadband internet connectivity.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Be Paranoid in 2017 – Part 1 For the most part of December 2016 I worked in Francophone Africa, helping a client define its go-to-market strategy looking at their markets, channels, tiers solutions, growth and positioning. When we finished, they were very excited about the possibilities for their business, amazed at how much they had left undone, how much they could possibly make and were astounded about the amount of money they had been leaving untapped.

After the session, my final message to them emphasized the fact that the plans we had just crafted were very good, but were the easiest part of the whole process in ensuring they achieved their objectives. Implementation, and I cannot say the word loud enough was going to be hard and brutal but key to ensuring they achieved their goals. I stressed the fact that many organizations have underperformed or totally disappeared because they were not paranoid enough and did not implement the plans they set out to do.

Every year, most companies organize well laid out and costly strategy sessions like the one I facilitated above. Where top management teams craft the strategic and growth plans for the year. These sessions are vigorously and passionately executed. Expensive executive time is spent which could have been done servicing clients, selling products or managing the organization. Then after these sessions and beautifully laid out plans are drawn up, nothing happens!!!

It becomes a struggle for them to achieve their set objectives. This is a deadly mistake because the plans become stale and competition also gets the same bright idea and makes a kill out of a decision you thought about six months before. These behavioral trait is a common disease of many organizations. I always tell CEOs I work with that implementing 50 per cent of your strategic growth plans has the potential of doubling your business in 2-3 years. But organizations are caught up with doing the urgent but not the strategic and not putting a focus on what is very important for their future.

Today, Kodak is history.

Same goes for Nokia.

About three years ago, everybody in a room would have had a Nokia phone. But Nokia and Kodak were not sensitive to the strategic inflection points in their business and their success contained the seeds of their own destruction. The Apples and Samsungs have innovated them out of business. James Morse said,“the only sustainable competitive advantage comes from out innovating competition

I had a boss whose favourite saying was, “only the paranoid survive”, taken from Andy Grove, the famous Chairman of Intel. I am not sure many organizations are paranoid today, if they were, they would tenaciously ensure they implement their strategic plans.

In 2017, we must be very paranoid to ensure our survival. I’d like to share additional sayings from Andy Grove for us to reflect on and determine to implement as we go into the New Year: · “Strategic change doesn’t just start at the top. It starts with your calendar.” Do you have strategy plans gathering dust? Do you even have plans much less those not being implemented? What do you want to do in 2017 or will you allow competition run with your ideas? What changes will you make to ensure implementation? These are pertinent questions, only you can answer. · “Businesses fail, either because they leave their customers or their customers leave them.” In 2017, we need to ensure our customers stay with us and we don’t dissatisfy them to the point of making them switch. We all know the popular saying that it is easier to sell to your existing customer than breaking new grounds with new customers. How are you going to build likeability, loyalty, trust, differentiation and the sticky factor into your business to ensure your customers do not leave you? Customer retention should be a paramount priority. · “The person who is the star of the previous era is often the last one to adapt to change, the least one to yield to the logic of a strategic inflection point and tends to fail harder than most.” This quote should scare us, many bright stars are not with us today . On Christmas day my brother in-law and I got into a conversation about photography, selfies and “usfies” a new word I learnt as we took family pictures. We discussed Kodak and Nokia and marveled at the fact that a few years ago not owning a Kodak or Nokia phone put you at the lowest rung of the social totem pool, especially in Nigeria where being in conformity with social standards is taken very seriously.

We went on to talk about the fact that Kodak was the first to come out with their instant photographs and the success they had with their Polaroid pictures. When Kodak’s R&D team muted the idea of taking their Polaroid technology to the next level and bundling more activities into it, “a bright executive”, concerned with their film business scuttled the idea because it meant an end to the sales and manufacture of the downstream part of the film business. Today, Kodak is history. Same goes for Nokia. About three years ago, everybody in a room would have had a Nokia phone. But Nokia and Kodak were not sensitive to the strategic inflection points in their business and their success contained the seeds of their own destruction.

The Apples and Samsungs have innovated them out of business. James Morse said, “the only sustainable competitive advantage comes from out innovating competition.”

In 2017 take a cue from Kevin Kelly the author of “New Rules for the New Economy”, who said, “Wealth in the new regime require flows directly from innovation, not optimization; that is wealth is not gained from perfecting the known, but by imperfectly seizing the unknown..

- Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Another Year of Losses for Stock Market Investors Goddy Egene writes that in 2016, the Nigerian stock market recorded its third consecutive yearly decline Top Price Losers Stock % Price Loss Skye Bank 68% Forte Oil 68% UACN Property 63% Diamond Bank -60.8% Lafarge Africa .57.6% AshakaCement 56% Sterling Bank 53% GSK Ngeria 53.9% Fidson Healthcare 50.8% Unity Bank 48.2% CCNN 48% Wema Bank 48% Portland Paints 47.3% Vitafoam 44.5% Transcorp 44% AXA Mansard Insurance 42% Fidelity Bank 41% Beta Glass 40.4% Honeywell Flour Mills 40% Paints & Coatings 37.6%

Top Price Gainers Dangote Flour Mills Total Nigeria Mobil Oil Seplat E-Tranzact Eterna Conoil UBA Union Dicon Salt N.E.M Insurance GTBank DN Meyer…… .

African Prudential Access Bank

NSE tradong floor

The last trading day at the Nigerian stock market will be Friday December 30, 2016. Going by the year-to-date (YTD) performance of the benchmark index, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI), the market will close the year on a negative note. As at last Friday, the ASI had recorded YTD decline of 7.5 per cent. Considering the fact that only three trading days are left, it is very certain that the 7.5 per cent decline already recorded would not reversed for the market to close the year with a growth.

This implies that for the first in many years, the nation’s stock market would be posting negative performance for three years in a row.

The market had suffered a decline of 16.1 per cent in 2014, 17.4 per cent in 2015 and is now recording the third decline, though better than the two previous years.

Although the decline recorded 9n 2014 and 2015 depressed most prices of stocks and created an entry opportunity for investors, most investors stayed away due following economic headwinds. Lack of fiscal direction, declining oil prices, policy reversal by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), naira devaluation and persistent liquidity challenge in the foreign exchange market combined to dash hopes of the market recovering in 2016.

NSE Early Optimism At the beginning of the year, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema raised optimism that with greater clarity on policy direction, investors who had remained on the sidelines throughout 2015 would return to the market in 2016.

“This return is predicated upon return of investor confidence as a result of: effective implementation and communication of the government’s economic blueprint; credibility in monetary policy stance; relative stability in the macro economy (oil price stability above benchmark targets, increase in tax collection to gross domestic product among others) and improved security,” he said.

According to Onyema, the exchange would focus on executing its strategy in order to continue to provide a credible platform for

financing the economy.

“To this end, we intend to intensify engagement efforts with the federal government. We have also prioritised three initiatives for 2016 aimed at achieving the exchange’s three strategic objectives of increasing the number of new listings across five asset classes, increasing order flow in the five asset classes operating a fair and orderly market based on just and equitable principles,” Onyema said.

He noted that state of the market created both challenges and opportunities for investors.

“We believe that taking a portfolio approach to investing provides the best risk adjusted alternative for participating in the capital market. As such, we want to ensure that the NSE provides a repertoire of products that will allow investors to create well diversified portfolios of uncorrelated asset classes,” he said.

However, the expectations of the NSE were not met as the market remained under pressure of weak demand for stocks from both domestic and foreign investors due to the economic challenges.

Unfavourable Policies In the past the market was highly driven by foreign investors. However, the policy of the CBN that restricted forex and exchange volatility prior to June 20, 2016 discouraged most foreign investors. Unfortunately, domestic investors, who ought to have taken advantage of the low prices of stocks, were handicapped by reduced disposable income and high inflation. Besides, the increase in monetary policy rate (MPR) to 14 per cent swayed many investors to fixed income securities, making the equities market less attractive. Besides, the high rate of MPR shot up the cost of borrowing, a development an economist and Director General of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, said was detriment to the capital market.

According to him, the tight monetary policy in form of high cash reserve ratio, liquidity ratio, MPR has led to an increase in interest rate and better returns on investment in the money market.

“This is a disincentive to investment in the capital market. High interest rate is not good

for firms in the real sector, many of which are listed on the NSE. This has implications for Return on Investment (ROI) for those firms and by extension ROI on investment on those equities,” Yusuf said.

The negative impact of the monetary policies combined with naira devaluation led to poor results by many listed companies, a development that further discouraged investors from staking their funds on equities.

The foreign exchange losses that followed the devaluation of the naira affected the bottom-lines of many companies with some ending the nine months period with losses.

Regulatory efforts Amidst the challenging environment, regulators in the capital market, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is the apex regulator and the NSE, which is a self-regulatory organisation (SRO), made efforts to sustain investors confidence in the market by embarking on various initiatives.

For instance, discovering that one of the reasons investors have stayed away from the market was frustration in having access to their dividends, SEC introduced the electronic dividend platform. Although the e-dividend was launched late last year, the commission embarked on public awareness campaign in this year in Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

According to the Director General of SEC, MounirGwarzo, e-Dividend platform will enable investors have direct access to their dividends.

“Once the e-dividend is in place, the issues surrounding stale dividend warrants will be a thing of the past, similarly, the challenges of travelling from one place to another to deposit dividend warrants would be completely eliminated. This process would eliminate all challenges associated with payments of dividends in our markets,” he said.

He added that the quantum of unclaimed dividends in the market would be reduced.

“This is because unclaimed dividends are an off-shoot from dividends of small stakeholders who have been unable to claim them,” Gwarzo said.

Also, before now, less than 20 per cent of investors had dividends posted directly to

253% 93% 75% 82% 64.4% 51.7% 51.5 .33.1% 32.3% .29.4% 28.8% 24.2% 22.4% 17.3%

their accounts. Investors suffered from inefficiencies of the warrant and postal systems, which contributed to the growth of unclaimed dividends. However, SEC’s partnership with the CBN and the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), to develop the e-dividend mandate system has changed the narratives.

Investors can now pay dividend warrants into savings accounts while over 1.6 million accounts have hooked to the e-dividend platform, just as over 1.4 million accounts have been attached to BVN. Another positive development during the year was the increased in dematerialisation of share certificates.

Less than 40 per cent of share certificates were dematerialised as at June 2015 after 20 years of the introduction of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc. However, SEC set up a committee to fully focus on dematerialisation, which has resulted in the dematerialisation of 98.7 per cent of share certificates has been fully dematerialised Similarly, the commission introduced the Direct Cash Settlement(DCS) that will enable investors to receive proceeds of the share sales directly into their own accounts.

Currently, payments are made into broker’s account before being remitted to be investor, a system that opens doors for abuse and infractions. Substantial number of complaints received from investors involved delayed or no remittance of funds from the brokers. In order to address the complaints the commission set up a committee and the DCS would fully become effective April 1, 2017.

On the part of NSE, it has deepened products offering, providing a repertoire of products that will allow investors to create various portfolios.

The exchange has become a multi-asset class exchange offering exposure in equities, fixed income, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs-Golds, Bonds, Equities, real estate, REITs among others.)

The NSE introduced ETFs in 2011 and they have increased to eight ETFs. “The existence of ETFs in our market is beneficial to retail and institutional investors, as ETFs offer a direct and inexpensive way to Continued on page 27

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

ANOTHER YEAR OF LOSSES FOR STOCK MARKET INVESTORS

Gwarzo

attain diversified exposure to an index, commodity, sector or region. Aside diversification and tradability, ETFs also offer additional benefits of low expense ratio as compared to mutual funds and increased liquidity, and can be used to execute different investment strategies,” Onyema said.

And in a bid to broaden and deepen the Nigerian capital market, the NSE partnered ETFs, issuers, Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, Lotus Capital Limited and Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, to organise the 2016 NSE Exchange Traded Funds Workshop last November.

Also, the NSE intensified efforts around market data services by organising the inaugural market data workshop in in collaboration with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Market Data Vendors (MDVs) in October.

The aim of the workshop was to increase awareness on the critical role of market data in making sound investment decisions on both the buy and sell sides.

After two years, the NSE recorded a fresh listing as The Initiates Plc was listed on the Alternative Securities Exchange Market(ASeM).

Equally, the exchange listed the N6.295 billion Series 1:7-Year 18.50 per cent Fixed Rate Bond Due (2023) under the N50.000 billion Wema Funding SPV Plc Debt Issuance Programme.

The 2016 was also memorable for the NSE as it hosted the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and capital market committees of the House of Representatives and Senate to an interactive session.

It also hosted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to an interactive session with listed companies and capital market operators with a view to addressing the headwinds in the capital market.

During the year, the NSE also revised its listing and trading fees for securities listed and traded on its Fixed Income Market. Under the revised fee structure, the NSE no longer charge trading fees on fixed income traded on its platform. The initial flat listing application fees of 0.15 per cent for all bond types has been replaced with variable listing application fees.

As part of efforts to further provide timely information for investment decisions as well as enhance the protection of investors in the capital market, the NSE introduced enhanced Compliance Status Indicator (CSI) codes on the ticker tape for listed companies.

Under this initiative, the exchange tags all listed companies with a three character code that indicates the compliance status of the listed company at any particular point in time. This compliance code will enable investors to make informed decisions whilst ensuring a transparent market guided by timely information.

Stakeholders’ Comments Commenting on the performance of the market, the Managing Director of APT Securities and Funds Plc, Garba Kurfi, said the market has never in the past 25 years experienced

Onyema

three consecutive years of decline. He added that the daily turnover has reduced to about N1 billion from a peak of N10 billion in 2008.

“Most of the stocks are in their lowest prices of over 15 years or even more. The foreign investors that used to patronise the market with over 50 years turnover have moved elsewhere.

However, once the recession is over, hopefully, by next year, the market will also improve,” Kurfi said.

In his opinion, the Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, the market has declined in 2016 and the primary market, where capital is formed has been dormant.

“As the economy moves out of the stagflation, the market will recover,” he declared.

Also expressing their views, shareholder activists cited various reasons for the lackluster performance of the market. Some of them even rated the regulatory bodies, saying how their actions and inactions affected the market.

In the views of a founding member of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, the market is always the reflectors of every nation’s economic indicators and since we are in recession, we couldn’t have performed better. He noted, however, that we may be on the way out of the woods.

Although he said speculative trading had taken the back seat, the truth is that we still refuse to take stock and learn from our past mistakes.

While SEC has introduced some initiatives that would help restore investor confidence and drive growth in the market, Olatokunbo said one of the regulator’s undoing is its non-acknowledgement of domestic investors/ shareholders as part of the stakeholders in

We believe that taking a portfolio approach to investing provides the best risk adjusted alternative for participating in the capital market.

As such, we want to ensure that the NSE provides a repertoire of products that will allow investors to create well diversified portfolios of uncorrelated asset classes

the industry.

“We were never consulted on any policy being made for the interest of capital market in order to serve as a guard to the formulation of such policies, but we were expected to comment on what had been concluded as new policy,” he said.

He added that apart from SEC, NSE and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and most regulatory agencies adopt the same attitude towards the Nigerian citizens whom they are supposed to protect.

According to him, there is the need to be more concerned on the protection of investors on risk management to their wealth in the companies.

“Companies shouldn’t get approval to be quoted and then goes to bed on ROI. No company without proper planning on returns should be quoted while their exit should be based done in a way that investors are protected,” he said.

The shareholder noted that initial pricing of companies being listed on the NSE should not be too high so that more domestic investors can embrace them.

“SEC should focus more on how to solve the problems of unclaimed dividends while the NSE should stop behaving like headmaster without responsibility to the pupils with the delisting of companies without recourse to the interest of shareholders. SEC and NSE should not forget that they stood sureties for the companies before the involvement of the investing-public. Therefore, they must work out risk management issues with quoted companies before and after quotation in the interest of shareholders,” Olatokunbo said.

In the opinion of Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), the stock market has lived up to its major characteristic of price fluctuation, noting that in 2016 the market experienced more of ‘downs’ than ‘ups.’

“This is the year the retail or small scale shareholders qualify more to be described as an endangered specie. We have had more sellers than purchasers of shares thereby depleting the ranks of this vibrant class of players in the capital market. There has been nothing of note to persuade big and foreign investors to come back to the market since the collapse that followed the pre and post 2008 boom.

No thanks to the officially declared economic recession which is yet to show any signs of going away,” Adebisi said.

According to him, the regulators – SEC, CBN, NSE, FRC, and even the Corporate Affairs Commission had more than enough attention from corporate bodies they are regulating, shareholders’ groups and the National Assembly.

“This attention has severely put the regulators on their toes and this situation is likely to continue for a long time to come. It is perhaps the beginning of good things to happen to the

capital market,” he said.

However, Adebisi decried that despite various spirited efforts being made by the relevant committees of the National Assembly, SEC and recently the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria, to ‘deepen’ the capital market, it is not likely that much will be achieved along this line.

“This is largely because the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not come up with any clear cut economic policy which investors can take cue from besides the rather nebulous declaration on ‘diversification of the economy,” the ISAN boss stated.

The newly elected Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Eric Akinduro said the year started with hope and aspirations from investors particularly for the local investors but due to the current recession market came down below expectations.

“However it is the reflection of the economy.

Idle funds are not in pockets of investors coupled with non- payment of salaries to workers. Quarterly reports of companies, apart from few are not attractive. Their exposure to forex is very high and the losses recorded on forex is really affecting their performances.

However, Nigerian capital market is still very promising when you consider the equity prices particularly companies that are less in exposure to forex and importation of raw materials,” Akinduro said.

Also commenting, Mr. Oderinde Taiwo of Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria said the nation economy, which is crude oil dependent experienced a decline due to a fall in price of crude oil in the international market and this impacted negatively in our capital market by experienced bearish run throughout the year with market capitalisation drop from about N13 trillion about N9 trillion.

“Two, Nigerian capital market was over regulated by the regulatory authorities, especially the code of corporate governance compliances.

Among them is the FRC’s code of corporate governance that is under debate by the capital market stakeholders. To me these regulations will make some companies to delist from our market because our country’s regulatory templates are gradually becoming risks themselves,” he said.

Taiwo added that the inability of governments at the federal, state and local government level to meet their financial obligations such as non-payment of salaries, contractors, among others also affected the market directly and indirectly.

“Therefore, there’s investor apathy in the market. But I believe the year 2017 will be better than the year 2016 because of the lessons we have learnt as stakeholders,” he said.

To Mrs. Bisi Bakare of Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, the market performed poorly due to the economic recession, poor financial results of most companies and investor apathy.

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

Bankers’ Committee Celebrates World Savings Day As part of the initiative to promote financial literacy in Nigeria, the Bankers Committee of Nigeria celebrated World Savings Day on October 31st 2016 by partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria to teach a module on Savings as developed by Junior Achievement of Nigeria. The program focuses on increasing the awareness of the importance of savings as a path to financial empowerment.

Relationship Manager, Access Bank Plc, Calabar Branch, Officer: Joseph Eweh, with students of Unique Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State

Karim Seifeddine, Citi’s MEA Head of Public Affairs speaking to Students of Government Senior College, Victoria Island at the World savings day event in Lagos.

Mr. James Adiotomre Ochuko of Ecobank and students of Ogbe Secondary School, Effurun, Delta State

Olushola Abe, Zonal Head, FCMB, with students of Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State

Members of Heritage Bank (Financial Literacy Team from L-R Amarachi Iheagwam, Chinenyenwa Ozoemena, Chigozie Okwakpam) pose with teachers at the Estate Grammar School, Ipaja on the WSD 2016

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC, Yinka Sanni, with students of Lagos Progressive Schools, Surulere, Lagos.

Head, Regional Operations, South East Branch Coordination, Union Bank, Uchenna Okpala, addressing students of Colliery Secondary School Ngwo

A staff of Keystone Bank, Mr. Bassey Essien, with students of Nigerian Christian Institute, IBB Way, Uyo LG.A., Akwa Ibom State

Mr. Ademola Akinleye of Sterling Bank, addressing students of Government Secondary School , Share Local Government, Kwara State

Executive Director, Unity Bank Plc, Abubakar Abba Bello, delivering the World Savings Day lecture at Government Secondary School (GSS), Gwale, Kano

A staff of Rand Merchant Bank, Bayo Ajayi, addressing students of New Era School, Surulere, Lagos

Head, Corporate Services, SunTrust Bank, Mr Raymond Onomerike, with some pupils of Niger Delta Science School, Port Harcourt

Chinelo Ezioba of WEMA Bank distributing mathematical sets to students of West End Mixed Secondary School, Asaba

A staff of Skye Bank, Felix Akporokah, with students of Ado Girls Secondary School, Awka Road, Onitsha North, Anambra

Executive Director, Lagos and West Bank, UBA Plc, Mr. Ayoku Liadi, addressing students of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo.

Pastor Victor Biyibi, Sectional Head, Senior Secondary, St. Finbarrs College; Mr. Ayoola Kusimo, Zenith Bank Plc.; Mrs. Edna Anger, Zenith Bank Plc.; Mr. Paul Dakpokpo, Zenith Bank Plc. and Sir. Daniel Ifeanyi Ikediobi, Head Teacher, St. Finbarrs College flanked by students of St. Finbarrs College, Lagos during the World Savings Day 2016 held in the school

Branch Leader, Utako Market Branch, Fidelity Bank, Elizabeth Roxy-Obiesie and Head, CSR and Sustainability, Chris Nnakwe, with students of Government Secondary School, Mabushi District, Abuja, FCT.

Mr. Henry Dike of FBN Holdings with students of Notre Dame Girls Secondary School, Ikot Ekpene

Head of Abuja Branch, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Suleiman Baba, at a presentation to students of Government Secondary School, Byazhin, Kubwa, Abuja

Buki Olukuewu of GTBank addressing students of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege, Lagos

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Managing an Economy in Dilemma Faced with rising inflation and contracting economic growth, 2016 is a year that policy makers and operators in Nigeria would not forget in a hurry, writes Obinna Chima The Nigerian economy is in a dilemma in the sense that on one hand, it is officially in recession and at the same time, it is battling high inflation. In most other climes, inflation is very low when the country is in recession and with that it is always very easy to deal with.

This is because, faced with such a situation, the simple thing textbook economics tells us is for the nation to spend its way out of the recession. Here, spending is increased so as stimulate consumer demand by pushing out a lot of money.

However, in a situation where the country is faced with a high inflation environment, then there is a problem. The economy is boxed into a corner. If you fix inflation, you may be worsening recession. If you fix recession, you may also be worsening inflation. So, this is a unique problem that requires a unique solution.

This is exactly the situation the Nigerian economy is suffering in 2016. The contraction in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first three quarters of 2016 as well as the steady rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is used to gauge inflation, clearly manifested in the activities of firms and households in the country as consumer confidence deteriorated.

The slow budget implementation also impacted economic activities negatively.

With these, consumer Confidence in Nigeria decreased to -28.20 in the third quarter of 2016 from -24.20 in the second quarter of 2016.

Consumer Confidence in Nigeria averaged -8.57 from 2008 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 6.38 in the first quarter of 2011 and a record low of -28.20 in the third quarter of 2016.

Also, 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, according to the NBS. 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. The NBS also revealed that 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.

Given that most banks have decided to individually provide security, power, and other infrastructure, it is not surprising that some of these costs are passed on to customers in the form of high interest rates.

Notwithstanding these facts, we will continue to use moral suasion to encourage commercial banks to be more considerate in interest charges on customers

Buhari

Inflation The inflationary pressure was strong in 2016.

In fact, inflation in 2016 rose far above the upper boundary that was set by the central bank. From 9.62 per cent in January, the CPI climbed to 11.38 per cent February, 12.77 per cent in March and 13.77 per cent in April. Furthermore, it jumped to 15.58 per cent in May, 16.48 per cent in June, 17.13 per cent in July and 17.61 per cent in August. In addition, the CPI edged higher to 17.85 in September, 18.33 per cent in October and 18.48 per cent in November. In all, the CPI rose by 92 per cent in 2016.

the benchmark monetary policy rate (MPR) was left at 11 per cent and the committee met against the backdrop of challenging external conditions and downside risks in the domestic economic environment. It, however, raised the MPR to 12 per cent in March and also retained it at same level in its May meeting. However, at its July meeting, the MPC raised the MPR to 14 per cent and left it unchanged till the end of the year.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele pointed out that although interest rate remains a veritable tool for curtailing inflation, with inflation at 18.3 per cent; “the CBN would be abjectly failing on one of its cardinal objectives if it cuts interest rates at this time.”

According to him, although he remains a strong believer in low interest rates, discussions around low interest should be based on facts, rather than politics or emotions.

“For those who say we need a rate cut to spur growth, we need to remind that high inflation is highly inimical to economic growth. Indeed, many empirical studies have estimated the threshold level at which inflation becomes significantly growth retarding to be 11 percent for developing countries.

“With ours at 18.3 per cent, one must question the judgment of cutting interest rates at this time. Finally, I think it is important to underscore that interest rates reflects not just the cost of capital but also the cost of doing business, and so we need to also look at interest rates from the perspective of the lender.

“Given that most banks have decided to individually provide security, power, and other infrastructure, it is not surprising that some of these costs are passed on to customers in the form of high interest rates. Notwithstanding these facts, we will continue to use moral suasion to encourage commercial banks to be more considerate in interest charges on customers,” the CBN governor said.

Interest Rate The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met a total of six times this year. At January MPC,

Naira and Exchange Rate Management The naira exchange rate against the dollar depreciated severely in 2016 due to scarcity of

GDP Contraction For instance, the third quarter real GDP growth data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had shown that the country sank deeper into recession, contracting by 2.26 per cent from -2.06 per cent in the second quarter of this year, and -0.36 per cent in the first quarter. This represented a 0.18 per cent drop from the growth recorded in the preceding quarter and lower by 5.08 per cent relative to the corresponding quarter in 2015.

The contraction in GDP was largely driven by the militancy in the Niger Delta, which resulted in a drop in oil output during the third quarter to 1.63 million barrels per day (mbpd) and the oil sector’s contribution to GDP, notwithstanding the rebound recorded in the agriculture sector.

Nigeria depends on oil exports for 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings, reflecting the impact of a depressed oil sector on the economy. The latest GDP growth data further confirmed the level of weakness in the economy, which has been hobbled by rising unemployment and job losses, declining capacity utilisation, and acute foreign exchange shortage.

the greenback as well as pressure from importers and investors for capital repatriation. For instance, on the parallel market, the naira dipped by 76 per cent to about N485 to the dollar as at December 25, 2016, compared with the N275 to the dollar it was as at December last year.

On the official FX market, the CBN during the year ditched its 16-month-old peg on the naira in June and introduced a flexible exchange rate regime to allow the currency to trade freely on the interbank market. It also introduced the Futures and Forwards FX markets. In addition to these, as the complaints of FX scarcity intensified, the CBN created an arrangement whereby special FX auction would be held periodically for the importation of critical raw materials by manufacturers as well as for the aviation sector.

Banking Sector Fragility The situation in the economy also impacted the banking sector as non-performing loans increased to 11 per cent in 2016, from the five per cent threshold that was set by the central bank. The international rating agencies also reviewed downwards their ratings on Nigerian banks.

Also, the central bank, during the year, intervened in Skye Bank Plc, which raised concerns about the health of Nigerian banks.

The CBN’s intervention at Skye Bank led to the removal of the bank’s chairman, its chief executive officer as well as some of its directors.

The central bank had explained that it took the decision to intervene in the bank following the persistent failure of Skye Bank to meet minimum thresholds in critical prudential and adequacy ratios, which culminated in the bank’s permanent presence at the CBN lending window, its huge non-performing loans (NPLs) profile as well as its low liquidity ratio, the central bank in a proactive move effected a change in the board and management of the bank. But the central bank insisted that Nigerian banks remains strong.

Anchor Borrowers’ Programme The central bank during the year intensified efforts on its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). Launched in 2015, the initiative was an innovative way of improving access to finance for farmers and manufacturers. Presently, the

CBN has committed over N23 billion to the project and is a aggressively extending it to states that have the potential to cultivate rice.

The focus presently is on rice, with plans to take on other crops in 2017.

Emefiele said that emphasis was now placed on creating an enabling environment for a more diversified growth structure that is not dependent on the sale and production of one produce – crude oil. He said the initiative would also lead to job creation.

The ABP was designed to assist small scale farmers to increase the production and supply of feedstock to agro-processors. The programme is aimed at creating an ecosystem to link outgrowers (small holder farmers) to local processors, increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector enhance capacity utilisation of agricultural firms involved in the production of identified commodities and as well as the productivity and incomes of farmers. The anchor borrowers’ programme is also a platform to build capacity of banks in agricultural lending to farmers and entrepreneurs in the value chain, reduce commodity importation. It is also expected to reduce the level of poverty among small holder farmers and create jobs while assisting rural small-holder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

Way Forward Looking at the way forward, a former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo, urged the federal government to embark on medium to long term policy to diversify the economy.

“Another thing is that the government must work on productivity. When you make your economy a lot more productive, then people would come. All of that is also medium to long-term. But you and I have a responsibility today to moderate our importation.

We should reduce our propensity to import.

About four items gulped 56 per cent of our forex. Last year we spent 30 per cent of our forex importing refined products. That is self-inflicted,” Lemo stressed.

To the Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Blaque Group, a financial advisory firm, Mr. Zeal Akaraiwe, there is need for increased monetary and fiscal policy collaboration to get the economy out of recession.

“We have structural issues that we have not yet addressed and we are fighting the symptoms. Inflation that the central bank is fighting is a symptom and not the issue.

The issue I have with hike in MPR is that it takes about six month for a monetary policy change to be felt in an economy.

“So, our economic team – the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Minister for Finance, the CBN Governor, the Vice President, the Head of Customs, all need to sit down and map out a strategy that they would all execute jointly.

CBN alone cannot get us out of this problem,” Akaraiwe said.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Nkpa: This is the Best Time to Drill for Oil in Nigeria Bolpex.com is the first online global energy market place in Nigeria, which is making waves in the oil and gas industry. Its founder, Mr. Ukariwo Nkpa spoke to Nume Ekeghe on various issues in the industry. Excerpts: What do you think about the current state of the oil and gas industry globally and in Nigeria?

The current trend vis as-vis very cheap oil will surely continue during the first second and third quarters of 2017. Late third quarter and fourth quarter 2017 will see a sharp increase in oil price, but not up to $90 to $140 per barrel for sure. The shale gas drilling and production will still keep the oil price low.

It is believed that emerging higher oil price will spur investor confidence and will see increase in drilling activities around the world and will directly affect the amount capital inflow to this sector. Nigeria will definitely see quantum leap in drilling activity immediately oil price increases.

New exploration and new drills will start again and owners of oil blocks and major investors in the sector will feel very safe to invest in the oil and gas sector again. This trend will also help the bottom line of countries like Nigeria, Angola and Venezuela to creep out of recession. Services companies, the Weatherford, Schlumberger and Baker of this world are cutting cost and reducing overhead.

Oil producing companies are getting bargain of a life time and contractors are bagging for contracts. In the past we had an ecosystem that services contractors market, now it is solidly an oil producing market. Oil producing companies are imposing ridiculous pricing regime on contractors with no possibility of rate escalation. Prices are fixed and firm over the contract duration and contractors are expected to hedge the princes.

What is Bolpex Energy doing differently in the energy marketplace?

Bolpex Energy Limited, the sole owner and operator of the very Innovative Oil and Gas e-commerce start-up, first in Nigeria. The oil and gas online ecosystem provides a unique platform where buyers and sellers in the oil and gas environment collide in real time and broker deals seamlessly. It helps oil and gas related companies but contractors and companies save and make money. Oil producing companies, the international oil companies (IOCs), marginal operators and independent operators can sell their surplus material via this platform. They can even borrow material from each other because they can easily see what the other company has in real time. This has a potential of reducing project slippage and downtime.

Oil and gas contractors with purchase orders will have a user friendly platform were they can meet suppliers of these goods in Nigeria. Contractor in Lagos can easily locate Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) pipe from a supplier in Port Harcourt or Warri. The supplier would not have to travel to these states, he needs to just visit Bolpex. com, which is your 247 buying house, the platform reduces your sourcing time by 80 per cent and connects you to genuine oil and gas suppliers.

The founders of this specific oil and gas platform has worked for major oil companies like Shell, Total, Centrica Energy, Seplat, Eland Oil and Gas. How has the decline in oil prices affected activities or transactions between buyers and sellers on your platform?

We believe that increase in oil price will also increase the activity in the platform. Nigeria is 95 per cent dependent on oil and when oil companies are not paying their contractors, the contracting/supply chain confidence will drop to zero even negative. This trend tends to affect e-commerce platform and the transaction volume. We have strategically reduced the effect this trend to on our bottom line by recently launching www.shop.bolpex.com.

Thus independent Bolpex.com sub-platform is specifically designed to give Nigerian an

New exploration and new drills will start again and owners of oil blocks and major investors in the sector will feel very safe to invest in the oil and gas sector again. This trend will also help the bottom line of countries like Nigeria, Angola and Venezuela to creep out of recession.

Services companies, the Weatherford, Schlumberger and Baker of this world are cutting cost and reducing overhead

Nkpa

What is the state of rig count in the Nigerian oil industry?

Due to global low oil price and low investors’ confidence, the rig count is at the lowest in five years. The Niger Delta freedom to operate impasse is not helping the rig count for swamp and land rig. The low price is affecting deep offshore rig count.

But Bolpex.com intelligence, our oil and gas market intelligence unit believes that is the best time to drill. The Rig day rate is very low and the services companies are cutting their day rate for personnel and equipment by 45 per cent percentage.

all the economic pricing strategy adopted by oil and gas contractors. The contractors are owing their banks and laying off their workers.

Workers are adopting different strategy to make end meet and patronizing Ponzi schemes.

This cycle goes on without end.

The production department will always function even when oil is low. But because the total cost of ownership of an asset also involves operating expenditure, cost among other cost, drop in oil price has resulted in the reduction in Turn –Around-Maintenance programme (TAM). But oil facilities are scheduled to be TAM once every two to three years. Some go for years without structured TAM. We will not look far to see this trend around us. This trend has negative impact on the installed equipment and more often than not nullifies the warranty clause in the purchase contract. The lack of fund caused by low oil price has also effect ability of this company to recruit the best candidates. The information technology world is taking up the best brain and this is affecting the quality of workers in the oil and gas sector. It is worth noting that most of the asset handing over by the IOCs to local companies are in a bad shape and needs TAM. But the lack of funds is obviously not allowing the new owners to do mandatory TAM.

Which aspect(s) in your view has been mostly hit by the drop in oil prices?

Drilling operation rules the market, this vital operation makes up about 70 per cent of capital expenditure spend. The low price has reduced this sector by 90 per cent. Most companies have cut and/or cancelled their drilling budget. In Nigeria, a new norm has emerged, crude barging and trucking is no longer a seminar words but a key word in all operations meeting and morning broad cast. This is basically the new reality and it will continue unless the Niger Delta issues are resolved and it have to be resolved very fast to keep Nigeria oil and gas industry viable. Marginal field operators are not paying contractors, the IOCs are paying but they are asking contractors to discount already executed contract by 40 per cent, thereby destabilising

How has the increased focus on local content in Nigeria and some other African countries impacted on your business?

Many local companies are now giving bigger opportunities and contracts that would have gone to international companies. The normal scenario in the past was to give local companies contract less than $500. Now local companies are given multiple million dollars contracts.

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) supply, a major drilling and completion spent was over the years reserved for few two international companies, now a lot of this local companies are now major players in the ecosystem.

These local companies normally source their products within Nigeria before sourcing or looking for it internationally. Bolpex.com has always been their first port of call, seamlessly contacting buyers and sellers together. The

Outlet Mall experience. Use it and experience the unique experience.

In Bolpex.com, we know that oil and gas workers, buyers, sourcing and procurement specialist working both offshore and onshore are people too. They buy laptops, art workers and phones among others, while doing their primary assignment, which is procuring for their respective companies.

Bolpex.com has created a platform where you can have fun and still work hard. Bolpex. com is also one of the first and only one per cent, one per cent, one per cent company in Nigeria. We operate in a sustainable way - The Bolpex way.

smart local companies leverage on our platform and use it as a means to support their client.

Product lying in warehouses in Warri and Port Harcourt can easily be made visible in real time to a buyer or buying organisation.

Bolpex.com has positioned itself as a genuine platform and the gateway procuring oil and gas material without hassle.

Companies from Ghana, Angola and around the world are also sourcing from www. Bolpex. com. Bolpex.com is continuously innovating and meeting customer’s expectations. We are transforming from a regional oil and gas platform to a truly international oil and gas online hub.

What new developments are you seeing in the energy marketplace?

Smart, innovative and tech savvy companies are coming into the oil and gas marketplace.

These companies are headed by ex-bankers and oil workers that love and use of internet and e-commerce as a vital tool to supply chain management optimisation and to drive growth. At Bolpex.com, we believe that it can always get better and we envisage over 2000 per cent growth in this next two years.

We are presently talking with MIN.ng in the bid to allowing local oil and gas equipment manufacturing in Port Harcourt, Aba, Ogun State and Warri to showcase and market their product in Bolpex.com. Listing and organic growth is our strategy for growth in year to come. Some Angel investors are also talking to Bolpex.com. Bolpex is open to both foreign and local direct investment opportunity.

Going forward, what are your expectations and plans for the energy market?

It will get better for sure and Bolpex.com, being a pioneer in this innovative ecosystem, will surely be a leader for years to come. We want more people/companies to come and join this unique marketplace. The opportunity is huge enough for all.

Our recruitment day is coming soon. We need young smart people to join our work force. Come and help Bolpex .com to create the next big thing, leveraging on the power and opportunity embedded in the Internet of Things. The Nigeria energy supply chain system needs Bolpex.com and Bolpex need contractors and oil producing companies to come on board because it is the right thing to do.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Mutual Benefit Grows Assets, Capital to N46bn, N4 bn Stories by Ebere Nwoji Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc said it has grown its share capital from N5 million to N4 billion, while its assets have grown to N46 billion in its 21 years of existence as corporate insurance entity.

Managing Director, Mutual Benefit, Segun Omosehin disclosed this to insurance brokers at the Members’ Evening organised by the umbrella body of insurance brokers, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers ( NCRIB),recently in Lagos.

He said within the period the company has grown to become one of the leading brands in Nigerian insurance industry today.

“We commenced operation as a private company with a share capital of N5 million, but today, we are a publicly quoted company with considerable market share in Life assurance, General Insurance and Asset Management,” he stated.

According to Omosehin, currently, Mutual Benefit, has an authorised share capital of N5 billion, and a paid up share capital of N4 billion, total asset

base is in excess of N46 billion and shareholders’ funds of over N7 billion. With these, he said Mutual Benefit, has remained one of the few value adding underwriters in the insurance industry in Nigeria and within the West African sub-region with full fledged subsidiaries in Liberia and Niger Republic.

He said the company, has over these years, demonstrated its commitment to honouring its obligations by consistently improving its claims administration processes and procedures, adding that as at November 30, 2016,it has paid claims

in excess of N1.5 billion in non-life business category and N1 billion in life category of business. According to him, this is in addition to about N10.6 billion paid by the company as maturities/ surrender under its investment/deposit administration portfolio by the life arm of the company.

He spoke on the company’s commitment towards popularising insurance among Nigerians saying, “As an organisation, we are resolute in our determination to take insurance to the grass roots. This we have continually demonstrated by

broadening our agency network.

We shall be ready to partner any broker that has interest in the area of grassroots development of insurance.”

Speaking on the future prospect of the company, Omosehin said Mutual Benefit, a few months back, engaged KPMG to chart a new focus for its operations in the next five years.

He said this is aimed at repositioning the company for future opportunities and challenges and ultimately draw a new strategic roadmap for itself.

According to him, the roadmap will focus on four key areas of the company’s business namely deepening market penetration and customer acquisition, customer service delivery excellence, transformation and culture and driving of operational effectiveness.

He also said the company has planned to invest more in technology to be able to develop innovative customer -centric products that will meet the needs of its current and potential customers while increasing its market share.

PAL Pensions Promises Competitive Service Delivery to Retirees Ebere Nwoji Pension Alliance Limited (PAL) Pensions, has promised to continue to deliver competitive service to its numerous clients across the country.

The Managing Director/CEO, PAL Pensions, Mrs. Morohunke Bammeke, who made this promise, while speaking at the Christmas party organised for some retirees of the company recently ,noted that PAL Pension Fund Administrator(PFA) has the interest of its customers at heart.

According to her, during tough times, PAL Pension will always be there for its Retirement Savings Account(RSA) holders.

She pointed out that the retirees, who were given the Christmas care package, were RSA holders who have stood by the company in good and bad times, noting that this goes to show the value PAL Pension holds, by standing by its customers.

“We want to celebrate with them (retirees), especially during this Yuletide season.

Therefore, we put together some gifts that can be of use to them this season. It goes with the value we hold as a

company. We always stand by our customers, no matter what happens,” she stressed.

She disclosed that the PFA will extend its operations to places where it does not exist presently next year.

Bammeke stated that the PFA recently opened a branch on Ikorodu Road area of Lagos, adding that activities are at an advanced level to open more offices and customer centres across the federation in a bid to serve RSA holders for better.

According to her, PAL Pension has knowledgeable staff and delivers quality services to its numerous customers, adding that it has, for years, been consistent in the delivery of quality services. She therefore, promised to continue to make the company a customercentric firm, adding that the company gives good returns on investment that are most times higher than inflation rate.

She also disclosed that PAL Pensions is putting finishing touches to its plan to tap into the micro pension scheme when it finally kicks off, expressing hope that the scheme will ensure that more people, especially, in the informal sector, starts planning for retirement as quickly as possible.

Continental Re Announces Panel for 2017 Journalism Awards Continental Reinsurance Plc has announced the jury members for the second edition of the Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards.

According to Continental Re, Founder of IC Publications, publisher of leading magazines African Business and New African, Afif Ben Yedder, will chair the jury this year.

Other panelists of the Journalism Awards are:, Leader Writer, Financial Times, William Wallis; Journalist, Forbes Afrique, Nadia Mensah-Acogny; Business & Finance Journalist, Michael Wilson; Technical Director, Airmic, Julia Graham.

Continental Reinsurance, the private sector champion of the pan-African reinsurance industry is sponsoring the awards.

A statement from the company said the awards are open to both English and French-speaking journalists,

covering the re/insurance sector in Africa.

Speaking on the forth coming edition of the award, Group Managing Director/CEO of Continental Reinsurance, Dr. Femi Oyetunji, said: “The outstanding quality of our international judging panel attests to the importance and prestige of these awards. We are privileged to bring together a very talented group of top media and insurance experts, to judge Africa’s most effective journalism work on the topic of re/ insurance.”

Yedder said: “As an industry expert, I applaud any initiative that encourages journalists to develop their knowledge and expertise, particularly in Africa.

Following the success of the inaugural awards, I look forward to reading this year’s entries.”

SHOWING APPRECIATION

Chairman, Premium Pension Limited, Alhaji Aliyu Dikko, presenting 10 years service award to a staff member, Mrs Faith Abulimen Oahimije, during Christmas party/award organised by Premium Pension in Abuja…recentl

Guinea Insurance Assures Stakeholders on Financial Health Guinea Insurance Plc, has said that it is financially hale and hearty to discharge its responsibilities of consolidating and strategically growing market share through decisive long-term investments and customer engagement initiatives.

The company, in a statement, said in spite of the daunting challenges in the operating environment, it has remained focused and true to its ideals of becoming an insurer of first choice.

“We will determinedly build capacity, explore opportunities within the industry and strategically set our internal processes on the path of returning to profitability “, said the company’s spokesman Mr

Ufot Hanson.

He further reassured stakeholders of the company that the newly appointed crop of eminent Nigerians and professionals as members of the Board of Directors have set a growth agenda which is aimed at positioning the insurance company on a higher pedestal that will further propel confidence, equitable service delivery and offer gratifying returns on investments to all stakeholders.

“They are working heart and soul to see it through and through”, he said.

He said Guinea Insurance Plc is set to host its 58th annual general meeting (AGM) following the approval of its Annual

Financial Reports and Accounts for year 2015 by the industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission( NAICOM).

According to him, the approval is contained in a letter from NAICOM dated December 19, 2016.

The development is coming on the heels of widespread speculations that the company may not have been in its best state of financial health.

Guinea Insurance’s foundation dates back to the year 1948.

It was managed from abroad until 1976 and became a fully independent Nigerian company in 1988. It operates as an insurer for all classes of insurances including companies and consumers as

customers.

Guinea Insurance provides a variety of general insurance products and services, such as professional indemnity, accident as health and travel, goods-in-transit, personal/group accident, motor, fire and special perils insurances. Furthermore, it provides special insurances such as oil and energy risk, bonds and guarantees, marine cargo and reinsurance.

Since 2007 Guinea Insurance has undertaken major changes in its structure and focus. The company now focuses more on its customer needs and understood as one of the first in the industry to make use of technology to provide the best service possible.

NICON, NAMB Sign MoU on Insurance Cover for Chairmen/MDs NICON Insurance Limited recently signed a partnership agreement with the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) to provide Group Welfare Insurance to all chairmen and managing directors of over 900 microfinance banks in the country.

NICON Insurance Executive Director Technical, Mr. Akinsola Ale and President of NAMB, Mr. Valentine signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations recently in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Speaking on the partnership, Ale said the signing of the agreement marked the beginning of a strong relationship between NICON and NAMB. He further assured NAMB that NICON would provide quality service to its members nationwide.

“NICON with its 40 branches is strategically positioned to provide cover to all members of NAMB nationwide,” he added.

Also speaking, Chief Marketing Officer, of NICON, Mr Samson Davies said the signing

of the agreement came after long and intense negotiations between the parties.

He said in case of death or permanent disability arising from unforeseen circumstances, the insured or their family can now look to NICON for indemnity.

Davies, further said NICON is poised to provide other insurance services to the association, its member banks and their clients that are financially excluded.

On his part, the NAMB president said the current

executive found it necessary to insure its chairmen and managing directors against death and permanent disability.

He noted that while the depositors’ funds in micro finance banks are insured by NDIC, his members are left exposed to every kind of risk imaginable.

He further stated that the present NAMB executive is responsive to the needs of its members, adding that the premium arising from the partnership with NICON will be paid from the yearly subscription paid by members.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Boosting the Economy through YouWin Made-in-Nigeria Project

When the YouWIN programme was launched in 2012 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the focus was to create jobs and build a legacy that will serve the public good.

Today, the initiative has veered off its original focus, writes Sunday Okobi

Some products displayed during the exhibition

At the first YouWin Made in Nigeria trade exhibition, where various locally made products, including solar-powered car, machineries, consumables, where displayed, the Project Team Leader of YouWin, Yemin Bello, told THISDAY that the programme which is meant to promote locally made goods and services, is also to pull the Nigerian economy out of it present state as well as effectively encourage local entrepreneurship in the country. He noted that the beneficiaries of the programme have been provided with grants, mentorship as well as technical support by the government as a way to further to grow the economy.

Bello, who noted that the programme started in 2011, said: “We want to find a way of giving the local producers access to the market. This programme is an opportunity for the beneficiaries of the YouWin project to connect not only with their customers, but also with other businesses.

This will help them to scale their businesses.

Another thing we have tried to do is to bring on board as many of our partners as possible, so we are working with banks such as Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and Stanbic IBTC, so that they can tell beneficiaries what products are tailored towards Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The programme which is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank to alleviate poverty and boost the acceptability of our locally manufactured products is a huge success.”

It was learnt that a lot of planning had gone into make the programme a success, even though some of the exhibitors, who came from different parts of the country decried the low patronage mostly from the host state, Lagos, the project coordinator noted that “The financial grant for the third edition of the YouWin programme came from the current administration. This shows their commitment to supporting and boosting made-in-Nigeria goods and SMEs businesses, not only now but in the future. Recently, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, also promised to provide support to small scale businesses nationwide and make it the bedrock of Nigeria economic recovery.”

He assured Nigerians that the federal government is committed to making locally made products means to diversify the economy, adding that Nigerians are very innovative, “therefore, we are not surprised that many YouWin beneficiaries have received international awards based on their high quality products which are displayed here.

“The product we have here are 100 per cent made in Nigeria. I will continue to encourage young Nigerian budding entrepreneurs to live out their dreams and look for opportunities within the country. There are so many Nigerians who are educated and innovative, they just require the right platforms and YouWin, for example is a platform, and the recently unveiled N Power programme which is another platform.”

Despite the said commitment of the government,

some of the participants who spoke to THISDAY, expressed disappointment at the organisation of the programme. According to them, the awareness on the exhibition was below par, saying that really discouraged many of them from attending subsequent exhibitions in Lagos.

For instance, the Chief Executive Officer of Rashad Entreprises, Edu Razak Olayinka, who displayed some of his company’s work-furniture, crafts and paintings-said the exhibition was poorly organised “as we are disappointed by the government officials who we expected to participate in the programme. It is obvious that this government seems not ready to assist the youths in their endeavours. We are expecting government officials from different related ministries to be present here and give us the needed motivation, but unfortunately, none of them is here.”

“For instance, in China, the youths are playing a key role in developing the economy, so the government, if serious in pulling the country out of this recession, should focus on SMEs. The YouWin 4 is coming up soon, so government should please put aside political sentiments and help those interested in developing the economy through locally made goods. The patronage for the two-day event has been very poor maybe because of our expectation that the YouWin exhibition should be one of the best exhibitions in Nigeria. The challenges I faced in producing these products are enormous even though I was born into it.”

A representative of a car manufacturing firm in Nigeria, Emmanuel Eyibo, said they came

We want to find a way of giving the local producers access to the market.This programme is an opportunity for the beneficiaries of the YouWin project to connect not only with their customers, but also with other businesses.

This will help them to scale their businesses.

Another thing we have tried to do is to bring on board as many of our partners as possible

all the way from Akwa Ibom State to exhibit smart solar-driven-first-of-its-kind fueless vehicle.

According to him, “We started production of this vehicle on May 9, 2016, and it took us five months to get to this level. We get the tricycle and see what we can extract from it, and in the end, we have been able to recycle a tricycle into a solar driven car.

“We started the project in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Government; it was the state governor who funded our transportation to Lagos. We partnered them through the Ministry of Science and Technology because we did not have the facilities to carry out those things, but with our partnership with them, we were able to use their workshop to do some of the cuttings and processing.”

Eyibo, who was elated to build the first solar-driven car in Nigeria, said: “With sun (at day), it takes up to 15 hours to drive, without sun, it takes up to eight hours. I attribute the success of this project to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who initiated the YouWin project. I want also thank President Buhari for not discarding the YouWin programme in order to empower the youths through it.

However, the current administration should do more to empower the youths, and public officer holders should patronise made-in-Nigeria goods, as this effort will help reduce unemployment in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which also had a stand at the exhibition ground, expressed gratitude to the government and the exhibitors for participating in the programme. Highlighting its reason for participating, a representative of the director-general of SON, Mrs. Nene Obianwu, said: “We are here to advise these young budding entrepreneurs and make them know the importance of standards as well as help them key into the activities of SON in their production. In my engagement with these entrepreneurs, I discovered that most of them are just getting to know about SON while some have known it and understood what is required of them. In production, the input affects the output. You start getting it right from the input.”

“To be able to compete favourably with other products outside, they have to adhere to the requirement of the standards for each particular product. It will help them and enhance trade. It will also prohibit the issue of rejection of their products across borders. If they follow the specifications of the standards, they will not have problems.”

She said from her findings, she realised that some don’t work with the specified standards in their production.

“They are not aware, so they have to be put through regarding why we are trying to get their database.After the interaction we had with them, we are hoping to use the data we have

gathered to contact them,” she added.

Obianwu stressed the issue of thorough conformity to international standard in production before export.

“I also want them to know that for export, it is important they get their products certified by Mandatory Conformity Assessment (MANCAM) programme under SON. This certification will help them export their products because a certificate will be issued to them after series of test and inspection must have been carried out on their products before export. MANCAM is required for a products going out of the country, so it is important these energetic manufacturers have it. We want here to partner and collaborate with them. We are here to encourage businesses; we are not here to give them bills to pay,” the SON official said.

Gabriel Gambomadu from Kaduna, who exhibited popcorn and other confectionaries, responded that some of the exhibitors, including himself, made sure their products strictly follow the standard in production especially those specified by SON, NAFDAC among other regulatory bodies.

On the challenges faced by local producers, which he said was finance, Gambomadu lauded YouWin for taking care of that.

“However, when we started, we targeted high quality standard products sellable all over the world, and still be useful locally, today we thank God all that has been settled,” he noted.

To further boost the economy with locally made products and as part of efforts to boost SMEs in Nigeria, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, will on January 2, 2017, launch the ‘Made-in-Nigeria Challenge.’

Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on New Media, Bamikole Omisore, stated that the initiative will afford entrepreneurs in the country opportunity to connect manufacturers that produce alternatives to imported products.

The move, the Senate president stated, would not only assist upcoming entrepreneurs but open door of opportunities for established local manufacturers to compete in international markets.

“On 2nd of January 2017, my office will launch #MadeInNigeria challenge to connect investors to manufacturers that produce alternatives to imported products. Since inception of the eighth Senate, we have championed and encouraged the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods in order to jump start the economy, and we have also amended the Public Procurement Act to support this agenda.

“In 2017, we intend to take #MadeInNigeria initiative further by using legislation to discourage importation of goods that can be produced locally, take the advocacy directly to Nigerians, work with government agencies to create enabling environment and encourage Nigerians who have eyes for local production i.e. goods that are ready substitute to imported ones,” Saraki stated.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDUCATION 2016: Progress in Education Hampered

by Recession, Says Experts With few days to the end of 2016, Uchechukwu Nnaike and Funmi Ogundare recount some of the major events that shaped the education sector, as well as stakeholders’ assessment of the sector in the outgoing year 2016 is no doubt an eventful year which Nigerians will not forget in a hurry, as the current recession in the country reflected in all sectors of the economy, including education. However stakeholders think the sector fared well this year, but could have done better but for the inflation and forex scarcity, which were fallout of the economic crisis.

At the tertiary level, only the managements of few federal-owned institutions have come out to openly state the grueling impact of the recession on their operations, while many, afraid of being sanctioned by the government, have remained taciturn. Even those that elect to divulge details of their sufferings prefer to do so anonymously.

At the basic education level, many parents who grappled with unpaid salaries, half salaries, companies whose accounts have been blocked, retrenchments, among others, were forced to withdraw their children from private schools to public schools, even as some private schools had to increase tuition fees with the rise in exchange rate to sustain teachers’ salaries.

The proposed 2017 budget, which President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the National Assembly formed and will be the subject of many discourse in the outgoing year, as some stakeholders contend that the N448.01 billion allocated to education is still way below the UN benchmark, while others were full of commendation for the government for allocating a large percentage of the total budget to the sector.

Just as the president promised to address the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country by partnering state and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders, in his May 29 Democracy Day broadcast, he formally launched the unprecedented social investment programmes already provided for under the 2016 appropriation by his administration.

The 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed N-Power Teach on the portal, is one of the three direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians have started applying for since June 12.

Others are N-Power Knowledge which will train 25,000 Nigerians in the area of technology, and N-Power Build, which trains another 75,000 in the areas of building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminum and gas services.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the presidency would start taking applications online for positions in the 500,000 direct teacher jobs scheme, adding that all trainees would be paid for the duration of their training. He said the training would be a paid volunteer programme for two-year duration.

“Unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in primary, and secondary schools, agricultural extension systems across the country, public health and community education-covering civic and adult education.

“Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at about N23,000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development. They get to keep the devices even after exiting from the programme.”

The federal government also launched a new three-year education strategic plan known as ‘Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan 2016-2019’ for the country.

At the launch, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said it was strategic to the Buhari administration’s change agenda.

“No nation can achieve economic prosperity without a sound and functional education system; and knowing full well that the security and stability of our country depends on its

Buhari

ability to provide functional education to its citizens; bearing in mind the key to fighting unemployment.”

He expressed concern that while the world is producing professionals, Nigeria is still grappling and leading the world with the highest number of out-of-school children, adding that the new plan seeks to address the various existing gaps in the sector to attain optimum results.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof.

Anthony Anwukah on his part said the new plan seeks to enthrone equity and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, as declared in the global education agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and would ensure that the vulnerables are included.

A major incident that rekindled the hope of Nigerians in the outgoing year was the release of 22 of the over 200 Chibok girls that were kidnapped by insurgents in 2014. They were reunited with their parents by the Buhari administration.

According to reports, the young women were freed in October after Switzerland and the International Red Cross made a deal with Boko Haram.

Also in the outgoing year, the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) generated dissatisfaction among candidates and operators of CBT centres, who called for the resignation of the erstwhile JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde for incompetence, among other allegations levelled against him.

Tertiary institutions’ admission processes also caused confusion and uncertainty among the UTME candidates, as they became unsure of the possibility of securing a hitch free admission to study their courses of choice in any Nigerian university.

Parents and guardians were worried about the educational destiny of their children, particularly as it concerns several policy somersaults of the government; the most worrisome aspect was the issue of post-UTME exams being conducted by individual universities for the purpose of testing the candidates’ academic and intellectual competence.

Perhaps to put to rest insinuations of exploiting candidates under the guise of the post-UTME, the minister announced the ban on post-UTME describing it as a well-orchestrated means of defrauding candidates. The statement unsettled most universities and also generated mixed reactions from stakeholders.

Adamu

The minister, apparently working on information available to him insisted that post-UTME exams should remain scrapped, describing the exercise as illegal, unconstitutional and well-orchestrated platform for schools to defraud candidates, thus throwing more financial burden on parents and guardians.

He maintained that JAMB is the only statutory body that has constitutional backing to conduct admission exams into public tertiary institutions and under no circumstance whatsoever should any institution take over that responsibility by proxy. In 2016, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recorded improved performance in its May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as a total of 878,040 candidates, representing 52.97 per cent of the 1,552,758 candidates that sat for the examination obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. According to the Head of the Nigerian Office (HNO), Mr. Olu Adenipekun, the performance of candidates was encouraging compared to the 31.28 per cent and 38.68 per cent recorded in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

He attributed the improvement to better commitment on the part of students, teachers and governments at all levels.

In the Nov/Dec diet, the 2016 result also showed an improved performance as 38.50 per cent of the candidates obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics as against the 29.37 per cent and 20.5 per cent of 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Another major occurrence in the sector in the outgoing year was the federal government’s drastic decision with the sack and replacement of heads of 17 agencies and parastatals in the education ministry. The affected agencies are: National Universities Commission (NUC); Nigerian Institute for Educational Planning and Administration; Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC); National Library of Nigeria; National Examinations Council; National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education; Nomadic Education Commission; National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB, among others.

The move generated positive and negative reactions among stakeholders.

When the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and sundry groups deplored the inclusion of all federal government-owned educational institutions in the blanket implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the federal government on the ground

that it was crippling their efforts to deliver on their set objectives, not many thought matters would get worse soon.

To protest the inclusion of universities in the TSA; the non-implementation of the recommendation of the needs assessment on universities, among other issues, ASUU embarked on a one-week warning strike which grounded academic activities in most federal and state universities across the country.

Thankfully, the government resolved the TSA issue and made other commitments to prevent an indefinite strike.

In his assessment of the sector in the outgoing year, the Chairman, Governing Council of Crawford University, Ogun State, Professor Peter Okebukola stated that many are unaware of the strings of activities in the education sector since January 2016 ostensibly because of the posture of the education ministers of not making much public noise of their achievements, which he said have been noteworthy.

“I have taken special interest in monitoring progress in the sector since I was part of the 2015 Obasanjo Presidential Library technical group on the roadmap for education for Nigeria, post-2015. I have been ticking away items on our to-do-list and by December 26, 2016, concluded that the Buhari administration has taken off to a fair start in education especially in such areas as increasing access to university education through licensing of eight new private universities; reinvigorating the NUC through the appointment of Professor Abubakar Rasheed as Executive Secretary; re-positioning the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and improving teacher numbers and quality.

“Other specific achievements are the schools for the girl-child; transfer of IDP children to federal government colleges on full scholarship; and school census which is in progress to ensure acceptable data that meet international standards in quality and scope.”

He said the country has had a relatively peaceful year in the sector with little disruption to academic calendar due to strikes; perceptible drop in the incidence of social vices on our campuses especially cultism and a greater degree of transparency and accountability induced by the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“We must also not lose sight of the launch of the four-year education strategy and the administration’s school feeding programme which will impact enrolment, participation and achievement of basic education pupils.

On the downside, the former Executive Secretary of the NUC said: “Many states

35

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDUCATION

Kaduna to Spend N2.25bn to Feed Secondary School Students John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Kaduna State government has concluded plans to spend N2.25 billion on the feeding of students in boarding secondary schools next year.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Jonathan Nok, who disclosed this in a statement, said the State Executive Council gave the

approval after reviewing the feeding system in boarding schools in the state.

He said as from next year, N300 would be spent on the feeding of a student per day as against the N180 per student per day, adding that this would be the second upward review of the feeding allocation this year.

“This will cost the government N2.25bn every school year

to feed 27,501 students. The government took the decision to increase the feeding allocation after noting the hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.”

He explained that a market survey which was conducted by the State Bureau of Statistics between June and September 2016 revealed that there has been a 30 to 40 per cent increase in the prices of

foodstuffs.

Nok said in January 2016, the state government in trying to improve the quality of meals given to students in boarding schools, had approved N60 per meal as against the N44 per meal that was budgeted in the past.

“This N60 per meal was piloted in six schools, whose feeding was outsourced to private caterers. Following

the significant improvement in the quality of the meals, the scheme will now be applied to all the 31 boarding schools owned by the state government.

“This decision means that each student will be fed at N100 per meal, up from the previous N60. The goal is to ensure that students get the adequate nutrition they need to boost their intellectual

capability, stimulate healthy growth and ensure they get a well-rounded education.”

He added that feeding for students in junior secondary schools in the state is free, in line with the nine-year free education policy of the present administration. “But the senior secondary schools are not yet fully free. Parents and the state government share the cost of feeding.”

the subjects and collaborate with my classmates, which I have found invaluable. In just less than two-and-a-half years I will earn a degree that will help me to advance my career without having to relocate or take a career break.”

Through the programme, she communicates with fellow students and faculty members from across the world. She contends that collaborating with people from other countries helps bring a diverse perspective to her learning and provides a culturally rich experience.

“The MBA has given me the opportunity to expand my network and expose myself to new experiences and perspectives that are not only helping me meet my career goals, but also help me create a more productive environment at work.”

According to her, she is also able to apply many of the course materials to areas of her work that she felt less comfortable with previously. “I have discovered new interests

and also strengthened my understanding of finance and accounting already.

“Previously, I actively avoided anything to do with this area, which I assumed was my weakness, but studying at the University of Roehampton has forced me out of my comfort zone and I now feel a lot more comfortable with handling finance and accountingrelated matters within my department.”

Her passion for learning has now extended offline as she and more than 250 other students and graduates across Nigeria have formed an offline forum to continue supporting each other’s academic journey in an interactive, committed and productive environment.

Kayode-Bolarinwa expressed delight with her choice of Roehampton Online, saying, “I enrolled on the MBA programme because of my hunger for knowledge and I have no doubt it will take me much further in my career and help inspire others in the sector.”

MBA Student Counts Gains of Online Learning Uchechukwu Nnaike For years, Gbemisola KayodeBolarinwa has recognised the potential of the ICT sector in Lagos, Nigeria. As an appointee to the Lagos State Civil Service in 2000, she received unprecedented exposure to the development of the field when she served as project champion for the government’s global computerisation initiative.

She was also part of the team that represented the state at the 2007 World Leadership Awards in London, which recognised cities that showed exceptional imagination, foresight or resilience in key fields. Here, Lagos won Best Science and Technology Innovation State, and her passion for the sector led to her working for Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, where she is currently the Head of ICT Training.

“I am responsible for developing and facilitating technical and professional training for staff at Lagos State Government.

As part of my duties I conduct

comprehensive assessments of training needs and determine subsequent training and development plans and priorities,” Kayode-Bolarinwa explained.

Having worked in the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology for more than 15 years, she said she is keen to build a more holistic understanding of business: “I want to establish a career at the highest level of my field and in order to do this it is important to be a good all-rounder. I also want to be able to think more critically and develop a diverse range of practical skills.”

With three existing qualifications in Information Technology (IT), Kayode-Bolarinwa enrolled on the online Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programme at the University of Roehampton, London in December 2015 in a bid to push herself further. “My father always tells me that success is not just about hard work but about the attitude for continuous improvement, which is linked to the ability to succeed.”

Kayode-Bolarinwa

Already familiar with the online format after earning her masters in Information Systems Management with another institution, she was looking for an online MBA option that complemented her lifestyle and professional responsibilities. “I

2016: PROGRESS IN EDUCATION HAMPERED BY RECESSION, SAYS EXPERTS could not pay the salaries of teachers for months impacting negatively on motivation and attendance. This will take a short and long-term toll on quality.

“On the combined indicators of quality, relevance, efficiency, equity and international competitiveness, I will score the sector 59 per cent with an entry in the remarks section as ‘can do better with improved resourcing, handicapped this year by the recession.”

Okebukola stressed that the assessment of the education report card of 2016 should be read within the context of the recession to which the Nigerian economy is subjected. “Nowhere in the world is performance in education spared when recession kicks in.

“The 18.6 per cent inflation rate and the dollar exchange rate of close to N490 was a recipe for disorganising the education delivery system.

Costs of school consumables and equipment jumped out of the roof. Costs of maintaining school plant and machinery became prohibitive.

For those who were paid, the salaries of teachers and other school staff were eroded in terms of value. It has been a rather harsh year for the economic drivers of education.”

The Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Mr. Samuel Sogunro, expressed concern about the paucity of funds in the sector, saying, “when you look at it from the budget presentation, the percentage allocated to the sector is below the UNESCO standard which is 26 per cent. I cannot remember when last Nigeria met that benchmark.”

He said many institutions would have collapsed if not for TETFund, adding that it has been used to support infrastructure and other facilities. “So many institutions cannot pay wages of staff, most of the infrastructure are decayed and facilities are obsolete. Most

institutions don’t have enough personnel; both teaching and non-teaching, most of them don’t have equipment in their laboratory, furniture for their staff, most infrastructures have been there that need to compete with the modern world for years without any changes, so funding is basically the major thing. If you have enough funds and good personnel, the tertiary institution will begin to do research; we tried to develop capacity with TETFund which has been assisting in the area of academic staff training and development.”

He commended the Lagos State Government for funding the institution saying, “with what they are doing, other states are still struggling to meet up and it continues to improve to make education conducive for learners. I know they can do better.”

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, also commended the federal government for its impact in the sector so far, as well as in the institution saying. “We have done quite well, as usual there are plus and minuses but we keep doing very well. The sector has done very well; the government is giving us the attention that it can though the recession has not helped matters because it has made the money to be severally limited.

“I have always told people, there are so many contending factors trying to access government; the health, transport, education, among others, with all of these, what is important is prudent management of resources and I think we are doing quite well.”

Despites the plus and minuses in the sector, it is believed that more funding and prudent management of resources will go a long way in building infrastructure for quality teaching and learning.

was attracted by Roehampton Online’s established reputation and flexibility.

“The programme provides 12 weeks to complete each module, which allows me to easily fit my study around my work, and I have more time to research

Improve Funding to Achieve Quality, Govt Told Peace Obi The President, Class of ‘96 of the Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja Old Students’ Association (AFSSOSA), Captain Soji Ajayi, has advised the federal government to increase funding to education so as to equip Nigerian students for future challenges and to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts around the world.

Speaking during the inauguration of a block of renovated canteen with new sets of chairs for students and teachers recently, Ajayi said improved funding is critical to quality education, quality manpower and infrastructure.

He argued that insufficient funding limits spending to few areas of educational needs, adding that the challenges of poor funding forces educators and school administrators to prioritise their needs, which leaves many other needs unattended to.

He said as part of the association’s reunion programme, the renovation of the 2007 ITF-funded structure was its first intervention that would be followed by many others,

adding that the members’ mission to give back to their alma mater stemmed from their desire to see how they could contribute towards improving the current state of the school so that the students could get the quality education they got some 20 years ago.

Addressing the students, the president said, “this is my school and it remains my school. My formative years were in this school and I am very grateful for the quality of education I got here.

It shaped me, moulded me and catapulted me to where I am today.”

While urging them to embrace hard work and make the best of their time and technology, Ajayi said good time management and good reading culture are some of the key elements that propel success.

“I encourage you today read your books very well and excel. Learn not only within the school but also outside the school. Explore other sources learning materials, such as the internet. There are many informative and educative materials out there

in the internet. Some of the information available to you today were not available to us then. So, I will encourage you to spend more time in research beyond what you can get from your school.”

He announced that the group’s next intervention would be based on the school management’s prioritised area of need.

In her remarks, the VicePresident, Mrs. Omolara Shabi, who noted that education remains the best foundation upon which a successful life can built upon, advised the students to shun frivolity and commit quality time to their studies. “This is jet age, you need to be prepare to face it. So read wide, do not limit yourself.

Read books about successful people, watch documentaries and less entertainment.”

The climax of the reunion programme was a novelty football match between the set’s male and women football team, which ended in favour of the women with two goals to nothing, followed by a dinner party.

36

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDUCATION

‘New High Schools Will Bring the Best Out of Students’ Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola has assured parents that the decision to conduct qualifying examinations into the state’s new mega high schools is to get serious students into the schools.

He said any student that qualifies to be enrolled in the school is considered good enough and such would encourage others to aim higher in their educational pursuits.

He advised parents not to see it as a means by government to deprive their children entrance into the new schools, adding that they will be made to write an entrance examination where the most serious students will be selected.

Aregbesola, who made this known during the annual children’s Christmas party organised by his wife, Alhaja Sherifat, said it is a move implemented to further sanitise the state’s education sector and bring the best out of the system.

“I urge you parents to go and obtain the entrance forms into our new high schools. Don’t listen to mischief makers

who are trying to deceive you about our good plans. Those who obtain the forms will be selected through an examination which we believe will enable us get the best of the best into the schools for optimum performance.

“Our plans for the new high schools will go a long way in raising the standard of education in the state and we want you to key into the process.”

While congratulating the children on the celebration of another Christmas party, he urged them to take their education seriously so as to become great future leaders.

He said his administration is spending so much in developing educational facilities in the state because it believes that investing in the future of children through education is the best way to guarantee a better future for the state.

The governor added that the state government believes so much in creating a good platform for the development of children in the state so that they can compete favourably with their peers from any part of the world.

“We are investing huge amount in the

‘O meal’ programme because we believe through good food that is nutritious, your brains can be well developed for you to have the required mental capacity to face academic challenges.”

In her remarks, the governor’s wife advised parents and all those present to always find time out of their busy schedules to recreate and interact with one another. While commending parents for taking care of their children, she urged children in the state to obey lawful instructions of their parents, guardians and teachers while advising them to embrace hard work and shun all forms of immoral behaviours.

“It is expedient for you to step aside occasionally from your routine activities to come around from your different homes and socio-economic backgrounds for leisure, recreation and interact with one another.

“I call on parents and guardians to continue to take care of their children because they are our future. I also charge you children to be obedient at all times and face your education for you to be great in future.”

Nip Their Anger in The Bud!

A UK daily tabloid recently carried the story of a young man that’s been imprisoned for verbally assaulting airhostesses on board of a domestic flight for not being served more alcohol.

He simply lost the plot when asked to wait. Unclear what his stressors might have been, the judge appeared not ready to accommodate any excuses.

In our world today, it is difficult to always be patient and positive. World politics, strained international relations, religious intolerances, race issues, natural disasters, wars and terrorist attacks - all make life challenging for adults as it were. For teens growing up amidst it all, the prospects of the many more years laid out in front of them, must be daunting indeed.

In developing countries like Nigeria, stressors and angertriggers for teenagers abound. The majority of teenage Nigerian children are forced to grow up long before their time. Inequalities in wealth and poverty saddle them with weighty daily responsibilities. These responsibilities range from fending for their younger siblings and sponsoring their own education to challenges like fending off sexual abuse, emotional abuse and other vices.

Teenagers handle adversities differently. Some are quick to build a defensive wall around them when faced with confrontation. Many others lash out, become reckless and sadly die too young. Do you know your teen child or teen-student very well? Have you got an angry teenager around you? Do you compound the problem with a stringent high-handedness?

Inwardly, teenagers are a bundle of charging hormones.

Psychologically, they are in the process of resolving their own emotions and coming to terms with their changing roles.

They are trying to modify their physical appearance to ‘fit in’ whilst they are in the process of developing a comfortable self-image. Little wonder then that teenagers seem often compelled to be defensive and at times raucous. Teenagers are not always thoughtful and compassionate individuals.

They are constantly in competition, jealousy is a huge factor.

The fight to always be number one is not uncommon in the teenage world.

Developing an anger management plan for a teenager should be done with him/her. Such a programme should be tailored to the realities of their social environment. In order for the anger management plan to be successful, an individualised programme must be designed that would reach the targeted teen without being overbearing. However, do remember that most teens would be difficult anyway, as teenagers tend to be quick to resist advice and are not always compliant with instructions.

Convincing a teenager that they have behavioral issues which need attention may be a challenge itself. However, you must persevere as it is essential to make them see the importance of making a change.

We all know that if anger is not controlled, it could damage L-R: The Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Kolade; General Manager, Saint Peter and Paul Crèche, Nursery and the life of the individual affected. Teenagers with anger Primary School, Lekki, Lagos, Barbara Pepoli; Finance Director, Vodacom, Mr. Oluseyi Olanrewaju; a parent, Mrs. Blessing Okwuokenyen behaviours that yell and scream, verbally abuse, damage properties, goad people around, may even go on to carry out with some of the pupils during the handover of a library donated by Vodacom to the school… recently self-injurious behaviour. It is important at regular points to reassure troubled teenagers that everyone can change and that they can be a success. Let them know that they can make positive changes to their own lives which would ultimately make their lives easier and more enjoyable.

So learning to control their anger would definitely be a “It is a basic tool in education and a distributed to schools would be acquired Uchechukwu Nnaike positive move. very important skill in everyday life. through purchase and donations and Anger management for teens should support teenagers As part of efforts to enhance basic Reading is best taught before and at would be mainly story books and simple to be self-aware, to evaluate their own feelings and to readers, as these are the kind of books education and literacy in the country, the the primary school level.” understand the reasons for their anger. Teenage anger She said the project is aimed at creating that expand the minds and stretch the Rotary Club of Lagos, in collaboration management plans should incorporate activities that: with Quramo Publishing Limited, has create keen interest in children to read imagination of children to be able to -help teens learn to practice self-control. launched the READ Project to promote regularly, adding that once the interest innovate, make discoveries and invent -to pause a few seconds and think about the effects of the reading culture among primary is ignited in children, they become things in future. their reactions to situations.

“Children between the ages of prolific readers and would desire to school pupils.

-to make a choice, pick an option which would bring about seven and nine in 20 schools in 20 Though the initiative, the oganisation read unceasingly. effective results.

The Project Manager, Ms. Omowunmi local government areas will be the plans to take thousands of books to 20 -review their own progress. schools in 20 local government areas in Segun, regretted that since the economic recipients of these books. It is expected -see what the outcomes of their choice are.

Lagos and Ogun States over 20 weeks. It collapse in Nigeria in the 80s, there has that each recipient will initially own By using this plan each time they are confronted with irritatnoted that items like the internet, books been a steady decline in the reading one book but have access to five or ing situations, eventually the teenager should be capable and laboratories are far more important culture mainly because of the prohibitive more books through exchange of books of dealing with confrontations much better. among recipients. We also expect these in the education of a child because over cost of books.

Teenagers have their own minds with their likes and dislikes.

“In recent years, the situation has been books to be shared with family and 40 per cent of expenditure goes to bricks Suggesting techniques like exercising or listening to music and mortar which do not specifically further compounded by the inordinate friends and to exchange as many hands might not be enough anger management for teens. Success amount of time which young people as the binding will permit.” improve a child’s education. would only be achieved when the teenager is able to accept Segun added that the presentation of “The average western child has access devote to social media, Nollywood movies responsibility for their own actions and realise they need to books at the selected schools would be to about 13 books at any given point and other forms of entertainment. make changes. Using their own likes as distractions may be “This lack of a reading culture which by a delegation of Rotarians, adding in time. In sharp contrast, there is an a good tool in anger management. These may be techniques average of 300 African children to every is pervasive in the country has resulted that celebrities from the entertainment which they are willing to try when they feel angry or threatened. one book. The READ initiative aims to in low literacy levels and given rise to a and business world who can be role Helping a teenager to be successful in anger management be one of the single largest redistribution new generation of illiterates for whom models for children will be invited to may require hours or months or even years of hard work and there are very few opportunities if any read and share stories from the books of books ever done in Nigeria.” tears. However, realising that your youngster is being spared While stressing the importance of to acquire the kind of skills that can they read and enjoyed as children. from a future of recklessness is worth every effort.

“This way, children will learn that reading, the President of the club, Mrs. improve their lives and keep them out reading for pleasure and achieving Modupe Sasore, said the most basic form of poverty.”

Omoru writes from the UK She said the books that would be success in life go hand in hand.” of learning takes place through reading.

INVESTING IN FUTURE LEADERS

Rotary Club Takes Reading Campaign to Primary Schools

37

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

EDUCATION

Varsity Teaching Hospitals, Others Demand Access to TETFund Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Committee of Chief Executives of Tertiary Health Institutions has called on the federal government to incorporate tertiary health institutions in Nigeria into the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

To buttress the demand, the association disclosed that it had forwarded a letter to the National Assembly, urging the lawmakers to amend the TETFund Act of 2011.

Addressing journalists in Calabar recently, the Chairman of the Tertiary Health Institutions in the country, Dr. Thomas Agan, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), said the demand has already been forwarded to the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, through the Federal Ministry of Health.

Agan stressed the urgent need to amend the TETFund Act of 2011 to include the funding of tertiary/teaching hospitals in the law.

“It is possible that formulators of the act were not sufficiently informed at the time. It is however not late to address this pathetic situation. The act should

be amended to incorporate tertiary/teaching Hospitals.

Thus Section 7(1) Sub-section 3 of the act should read thus: ‘the distribution of the fund shall be in the ratio of 2:1:5:1: between universities, tertiary hospitals, polytechnics and colleges of education.

“The teaching/tertiary hospitals can be called the ‘workshop’ of the universities.

This is so because over 80 per cent of all students graduating through any medical school of a university must have their training through the teaching or tertiary hospital.”

He added: “I have always wondered why the proponent of TETFund did not consider it necessary to recognise teaching/tertiary hospitals in Nigeria as tertiary institutions.

A teaching hospital all over the world is considered both as a tertiary health institution as well as a tertiary training institution. The activities intrinsic in a teaching hospital are obvious and can therefore be ascertained.

I therefore with due respect believe that either the original advocates of this noble idea of TETFund did not consult widely or must have been engulfed in ignorance of the mandates of a teaching/ tertiary hospital.”

Explaining their functions,

Agan said: “Tertiary health institutions have three core mandates which are health service delivery, training and research. Funding of tertiary institutions has always come from yearly appropriation given to the institutions as predetermined ‘envelopes’ by the federal government through the supervisory Federal Ministry of Health.

Institutions are required to share the contents of the envelopes to accommodate all their needs.

“It is known that no budgetary appropriation has even been made for training and research needs of the tertiary hospitals. Institutions are expected to rely on their epileptic overhead allocations and their internally generated funds. Overhead allocation is part of the envelope that ranges between N2 to N11 million monthly, if it comes at all.

“What constitutes internally generated funds in tertiary hospitals include bed fee, consultation fee, some aspects of card free, operation fee, rent and fee from boarded items. Others are principally revolving funds (drugs, theatre and ward consumables, laboratory consumables, among others).

“Most tertiary health insti-

tutions’ overhead is unable to pay for monthly consumed public power supply to the institutions, talk less of paying for a truck load of diesel, servicing backup generator sets as well as taking care of other subheads meant for the allocated overhead funds. Thus, funding research and training in these tertiary institutions have always been a major challenge (one of the major causes of regular unrest in tertiary health institutions in Nigeria.)”

He disclosed that since 2011 to date, capital releases to all the tertiary health institutions have been between 38 per cent and 52 per cent, adding that most capital projects in these tertiary institutions have remained either uncompleted or abandoned.

“The above analysis is comprehensive in justifying the tertiary status and need to incorporate teaching hospitals as one of the beneficiaries of TETFund. The Nigerian universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education have improved their infrastructure, training needs and research through TETFund. Tertiary health institutions are also educational institutions and also require upliftment to better the health of the Nigerian people.”

RUNNING THE CLASSROOM

CHIOMA ERUOTOR

Be the Parent Your Child Really Needs

A parent decided that the behaviour of his daughter had deteriorated to the point where it was destroying the family. The father decided to talk to his daughter. While he was waiting for her, he took out a note pad and listed some changes she had to make. In his emotional pained spirit, he turned the sheet over and decided to list the improvements he would make if she agreed to change. He was stunned when he realised his lists of improvements were longer than those his child needed to make when his daughter got back, rather than a show down he began a meaningful talk starting with the improvements he needed to make on his own part. His choice to work from the inside out makes all the difference. Find below techniques that are essential for child rearing.

Let kids experience the natural consequences of their behaviour If you are always preventing your child from falling on his face, he will never learn to pick himself up. A child as young as three can understand a basic cause and effect relationship. In a matter of fact simply state the likely consequences of a particular behaviour. If you leave your toys in the driveway, they may get run over, then let the nature take its course. But don’t spoil the lesson by replacing the damaged toys.

These are the ways to develop a sense of responsibility.

Provide positive reinforcement To keep a healthy balance, criticisms aimed at any child on a given day should be outweighed at least three to one by positive interactions, especially physical affections. Catch your child being good- sharing toys, being polite and doing chores- give her praise, a smile or a hug.

Be specific and stay behaviour focused. I’m proud of the way you settle that disagreement with your brother. But don’t use rewards as a bribe to prevent bad behaviour, which is better dealt with by giving a timeout or removing a privilege.

Set Limits Spoiling can start at six months of age, therefore the sooner you start setting limits the better. Even a baby can be pulled away from the breast if he bites it, while feeding. To set limits effectively, you must learn to tolerate occasional cries of unhappiness, because to get along in the world, a child needs to know where his legitimate rights end and those of other people begin.

A common mistake made by parents is being too strict. Kids need opportunities to explore and learn from experience, so don’t set unnecessary restrictions.

Don’t put your child down Put downs are likely to provoke rebellion. Therefore, the way we correct bad behaviour should not make the child feel unloved or unjustly accused. A common mistake made by parents is to talk down to a child rather than talk as though we are interacting with our kids. That way the child does not see it as a nag but feels the need to be co-operative.

Let kids grow at their own pace Parents often hurry out of diapers into academics and on the independence. It was assumed that children who go fastest go furthest.

Pushing sets up children for failure. Hurried children also feel that their parents are impossible to please. But we should not stop pushing and fail to open doors of opportunities for our kids. A parent’s role is like that of mountain guide. Don’t drag your little hiker up the hill kicking and screaming, but do point out the trail to the top! .

Eruotor writes from Lagos

‘NTI is Determined to Improve Teachers’ Quality’

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

Pupils of TLS, Ikoyi reenacting the story of the birth of Jesus Christ during the school’s 2016 Christmas concert… recently

John Shiklam in Kaduna

TLS Organises Xmas Concert, Unveils School’s Extension

The Director General of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare, has expressed the institute’s determination to boost the quality of teachers so as to improve the standard of education in the country.

He assured all stakeholders that the institute is always ready and willing to introduce any programme designed to upgrade teachers to be able to tackle the challenges they face in their daily classroom professional practices. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2016 nationwide capacity building workshop for primary school teachers under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project, Azare called on state governments to

Funmi Ogundare TLS, Ikoyi recently held its 2016Christmas concert, where the pupils re-enacted the story of the birth of Jesus and performed songs to the admiration of parents and guests present. The school also unveiled its extension.

In her remarks, the Administrator, Miss Oyindamola Egbeyemi, expressed excitement about the programme, while appealing to parents with children who play instruments, particularly those in the orchestra to get personal instruments with which they

could practice at home.

“The author Malcom Gladwell says that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field and believe me, it is best to start young.”

She also appealed to the parents to support the school in the area of equipping the library with more books in the new building.

The Director of the school, Mrs. Bunmi Egbeyemi, urged school owners to put the interest of their pupils first, saying that owning a school should not be seen as an avenue to acquire wealth.

She also called on the government to support private schools by providing an enabling environment, while advising proprietors not to compromise quality and continue to persevere in the current recession.

Egbeyemi, who was presented with the Humanitarian Award by the Nigerian Red Cross, said, “running a school is capital intensive and should be built on the foundation of passion and commitment to excellence. School business is not a cash cow. Quality teachers do not take cheap salaries anymore. Many of them invest

in online professional courses.

It is best not to compromise on quality on the altar of recession because the future of pupils is at stake.

“With the recession this is the time not to compromise on quality. Investments in school facilities and trainings should continue because recession is not going to last forever.”

The director said her school has been involved in community projects such as the refurbishment of the playground and preschool class of the Motherless and Abandoned Babies School, Makoko, Lagos.

take advantage of the training opportunities at the institute to upgrade the skills of their teachers.

Represented by the Director, Field Operations and Students Services Department, Dr. Dele Yaya, he said the NTI is the only distance learning institution dedicated to teacher training in the country and has made great strides in the training of secondary and primary school teachers. While calling on state governments to prioritise the training of teachers so as to improve the standard of education, he urged the participants to use the experience acquired to impart knowledge to their students. A total of 16,350 primary school teachers across the country were re-trained in 109 training centres for six days.

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

Hope Rises for Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road The federal road connecting Abia and Akwa Ibom States has collapsed so much that it has become a source of pain for road users. Emmanuel Ugwu captures the excitement generated by the federal government's move to rehabilitate the road

Vehicles avoiding bad spots on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road

A bad portion of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road during the rainy season

T

he sigh of relief was palpable as the people of Ikwuano Local Government of Abia State gathered to witness the flag off of rehabilitation efforts on the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road. This particular road, like other trunk A roads in Abia, has over the years, degenerated to the point that it became a huge distress for road users. The stretch of the road is dotted with frightening potholes, artificial rivers and swamps. During the rainy season drivers plying the road had to make detours and plough deep into Ikwuano villages in order to avoid terribly bad spots. In fact, the Okwe Ukwu axis where the flag off ceremony was performed was notorious for a long stretch of water nicknamed “Okwe River” that daring motorists had to wade through in order to proceed on their journey. The situation was so

bad that a journey that should normally last one hour could take as long as three hours, especially during rainy season. The excitement was so incredible that the traditional ruler of Ajatanigu, King Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu broke protocol during the traditional presentation of kola nut as he veered off and started talking about the distress the poor state of the road has

During the rainy season drivers plying the road had to make detours and plough deep into Ikwuano villages in order to avoid terribly bad spots

caused road users. “We pity other Nigerians who use this road,” he said, adding that the road had wrecked many vehicles, claimed lives and maimed many people.

It was therefore not surprising but heartwarming as the two federal lawmakers whose constituency hosts the Abia end of the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road poured encomiums on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, for not only approving the rehabilitation of the road but for the immediate commencement of palliative works. The road falls within Abia Central senatorial district that Senator Theodore Orji represents in the Senate while Hon Sam Onuigbo represents Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Both lawmakers said that they collaborated in drawing the attention of the federal government to the suffering of the people using the road. And

so for the two federal lawmakers, it became a dream come true when Fashola gave the nod for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to start palliative works on the road.

This effort would at least provide relative relief for road users in this yuletide when the volume of traffic would double or even triple. The minister also raised hope that it would not be just a temporary relief as the road would be reconstructed next year. In his directive to FERMA, Fashola said that the agency “should commence repair of the road within the available budgetary provision in the agency’s 2016 budget while preparation would be made towards total reconstruction in 2017.”

To underscore the importance of the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road, the minister further noted that the reconstruction would be carried out “with the possibility of provid-

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ing rigid pavement (concrete road) due to high volume of heavy duty vehicles plying the road.” Though the road is a direct link between Abia and Akwa Ibom states, it also indirectly links Rivers and Cross River states and even Cameroun hence it is among the national network of roads of huge economic importance.

Before he climbed into excavator to officially flag off the commencement of the palliative work at the flagging off ceremony held at Okwe Ukwu autonomous community in Ikwuano Local Government, Orji commended the federal government for realising the importance of this particular road to the economy of not only the states it links but also the national economy.

He said that the road has always been in very bad shape due to the heavy vehicles that ply on it on a daily basis, adding that both him and Onuigbo joined forces to draw the attention of the federal government to the sufferings of road users that travel on this road. The Abia Central Senator, who was the immediate past governor of Abia, recalled that the bad state of the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road was a knotty issue for his administration.

“When I was governor, I saw hell on this road; If you repair it, it soon collapsed,” he said. However he noted that FERMA had always been making apparently feeble efforts to repair the road, saying, “they (FERMAA) will come, do some magic and disappear and the road would degenerate to worse condition.” He therefore urged FERMA and the contractor (Ferotech Construction Company, FCC) it engaged for the palliative work “to do a very good job” as any shoddy job on this problematic road would create more hardship for those who ply the road. Orji stated that it would not go down well with the people who have been enduring so much pains and loss of man hours just to travel from Abia to Akwa Ibom through this route.

Onuigbo, who hails from Ikwuano where much of the bad portions on the road are located assured that the palliative work was just the beginning of the journey to permanently fix the road, adding that “despite the dire economic situation in the country, which has stalled the execution of capital projects, we have been determined that our people deserve some respite. We are not done yet.

“The road serves as an important channel through which petroleum products, cement and other key economic materials are moved from Akwa Ibom, Cross River through Umuahia to Aba, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country.” He called on the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Fashola, to keep his promise of the reconstruction of the road in 2017 so that “our pains, our sufferings, and our anguish on this road will be a thing of the past.” Onuigbo said that in the course of various representations to draw the attention of the federal government to repair the road, teams from both the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and FERMA had respectively visited and inspected the road.

He then followed it up with a motion on the floor of the House hence the road was captured in the 2016 Appropriation Law and after several representations to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, the approval was given for Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene road to start wearing a new look.

With every finger pointing at FERMA for not doing enough to prevent the road from total collapse, the state director of FERMA, Engr. Abraham Akange assured that this time around the agency would not allow shoddy job to be done by the contractor. He said that FERMA would ensure that quality materials were used, adding that all the materials meant for the road would be subjected to analysis to checkmate constant failure of the road.

Akange explained that the problem of the

Senator T.A.Orji commended the federal government for realising the importance of this particular road to the economy of not only the states it links but also the national economy

Senator Orji inside the excavator, during the flag off of palliative work on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road...recently

R-L: Onuigbo, Orji, others, during the flag off of palliative work on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road

Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road was that it was not built to carry heavy traffic hence the road could no longer cope with the weight of heavy duty vehicles plying on it. He lamented that the absence of haulage transportation has put much stress on the country’s road network and urged the federal government to lay more emphasis on rail transport in order to ease the stress on the roads and make them last longer.

The assurance by FERMA state director did much to assuage the hard feelings of King Larry Agwu. The royal father was blunt, saying that the communities were already frustrated by the ineffectiveness of FERMA to keep the road in good shape. In fact, he confessed that the communities would not have allowed FERMA to do anything on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road again if not

that the presence of the federal lawmakers assured them that something good was going to happen this time around. Apparently mocking the agency for its ineptitude, King Larry said that in the past occasions that FERMA came to repair the road, the agency “used kettle to pour bitumen on the road.” The traditional ruler of Ajatanigu, who spoke on behalf of other royal fathers at the ceremony, told FERMA that the people would no longer tolerate shoddy job by the agency as was the case in the several occasions FERMA did palliative works on the road. However, he said that all the needed assistance and cooperation would be given to FERMA and the contractor handling the job provided they were prepared “to give us quality job.”

As the palliative work on the ever busy

Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road is progressing, the excitement would continue to heighten more so as Fashola has promised that total reconstruction would eventually commence.

Vice chairman of the Abia State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Eze Okwulehie, said that the union members, who are mostly commercial transport drivers, were happy at the new turn of events on the road, adding that “everybody using the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road should be happy that the road is receiving federal attention.” From palliative work the journey to smooth ride on the road has started and by the time reconstruction would eventually be carried out the pains and distress of travelling from Umuahia, the capital city of Abia to Akwa Ibom State and beyond would end.

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email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Russian Plane Crash: Experts Begin Examining Flight Recorder Russian air experts have begun examining one of the flight recorders from a plane that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday, killing 92 people.

The flight data recorder was found underwater about a mile from the shore, and the authorities say it is in“satisfactory condition”.

At least 12 bodies have been also been recovered so far, along with numerous fragments of the plane.

No cause has been established but terrorism is considered

unlikely.

On board the Tu-154 jet when it crashed were 64 members of the famed Alexandrov military music ensemble, as well as one of Russia’s best-known humanitarian figures, Yelizaveta Glinka.

It was heading to Russia’s air force base in Syria where the ensemble were due to perform at a New Year’s concert.

The plane crashed soon after take-off from an airport near the city of Sochi, where it had landed for refuelling.

It disappeared from radar two

minutes after taking off from Adler airport at 05:25 (02:25 GMT) on Sunday.

Investigators hope the flight recorder could provide vital clues into why the military plane came down.

It is believed that the location of a second black box has also been established and it could be recovered shortly.

Russian officials say they an act of terror is not being considered as a possible cause. Instead they are looking into whether human error, a technical fault or

a combination of factors were responsible. A source close to the investigation told Interfax the plane might have been overloaded.

“Witness accounts and other objective data obtained during the investigation suggest the plane was unable to gain height and for some reason - possibly overloading or a technical fault - crashed into the sea,” the unnamed source said.

Another anonymous source told the Tass news agency that for unknown reasons, the plane

was trying to veer right seconds before the crash, flying at over 500 kph with its nose high up.

But an audio recording played on Russian media and said to be of the final conversation between air traffic controllers and the plane reveals no sign of any difficulties.

Voices remain calm until the plane disappears and the controllers try in vain to re-establish contact.

The Tupolev airliner involved in the crash was an old model no longer flown by airlines in Russia

but still used by the military. It was 33 years old.

Russia observed a day of mourning on Monday for the victims.

One woman who came to the headquarters of the Alexandrov Ensemble to pay her respects told Reuters news agency: “This is Russia’s best choir. I come from the Republic of Sakha [Yakutia].

They had performed in my home town six times.

“I do not know what to say.

Words cannot express my feelings.

Sorrow is the only thing left.”

Berlin Truck Attack: Polish Driver ‘Shot Hours Before’ Polish driver Lukasz Urban was shot in the head hours before suspected jihadist killer Anis Amri rammed the man’s lorry into a crowd, say German media citing a post-mortem examination.

Twelve people including Mr Urban died in the attack on a Berlin Christmas market on 19 December.

Mr Urban, who was also stabbed, was hailed a hero amid reports that he had prevented further deaths.

But doctors have ruled out that he was conscious, says Bild newspaper.

The conclusions of Mr Urban’s post-mortem examination say he was shot in the head between 16:30 (15:30 GMT) and 17:30 and lost a lot of blood, the paper reports. His boss and cousin said he had lost contact with him at around 16:00.

The attack on the market at Breitscheidplatz took place just after 20:00, and he may still have been alive at the time in the passenger seat although not capable of grabbing a steering wheel, Bild adds.

Mr Urban, 37, had parked the 40-tonne lorry in Berlin, waiting to unload a consignment of steel beams the following day. A petition calling for him to be given a posthumous award had attracted some 38,000 signatures by Tuesday.

Tunisian-born Anis Amri, 24, was eventually shot dead by an Italian policeman near Milan on 23 December, after he had travelled from Berlin through France. A video was released of him pledging allegiance to the head of jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

Investigators are trying to find out if he had accomplices, and CCTV footage has emerged of him at Lyon-Part-Dieu station, before he apparently boarded a train via Chambery on his way to Milan.

He was identified by his backpack, French media said.“He was on his own on the footage,” a source was quoted as saying.

What is not clear is how Amri travelled from Berlin via France without being spotted by police.

Rail tickets bought in cash were found on his body.

Police have produced a picture of Amri at Milan central station, three hours before he pulled a gun and fired at two police officers who had stopped him for a routine check outside Milan. They have pieced together his journey first to Turin, then by another train to Milan, where he took a coach to the north-eastern suburb of Sesto San Giovanni.

President Rejects Muslim PM Candidate Sevil Shhaideh Romania’s president has rejected the left-wing Social Democrats’ candidate for prime minister, Sevil Shhaideh, who would have been the EU nation’s first female and Muslim prime minister.

Klaus Iohannis has not elaborated on his reason for rejecting the candidacy of Shhaideh, a 52-year-old politician of Turkish origin who comes from Romania’s 65,000-strong Muslim community.

“I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal,” Klaus Iohannis said in a televised statement on Tuesday.

“I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal.”

The PSD, which has yet to comment on the issue, had put forward Shhaideh after its sweeping election victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote.

The PSD, along with its junior coalition partner and longtime ally ALDE, control 250 of the combined 465 seats in the two-

house assembly - enough majority for their leader to be elected as the prime minister.

Liviu Dragnea, leader of the PSD, had withdrawn his bid to become prime minister because he is serving a two-year suspended sentence for electoral fraud.

Shhaideh’s political experience is limited; she served as development minister for six months before the previous PSD-led government resigned in late 2015. This and her personal closeness to Dragnea - he was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian businessman - have spurred opposition accusations that she would merely be a puppet.

Election promises Rise Project, a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of investigative journalists, said this month that Shhaideh’s husband had posted messages on his Facebook account in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

This is the last picture of Lukasz Urban, shortly before he was attacked (AP)

US, Russian Militaries Sharing More Information on Syria U.S.-Russian talks on their separate fights against the Islamic State group are becoming more productive and more frequent, American officials said, with both sides trading information in real time and even outlining some of their strategic objectives in the months ahead. The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are “frozen.”

In the discussions, Russia has made clear its counterterrorism priority in Syria is retaking the ancient city of Palmyra, officials said. The U.S. is determined to pressure IS’ headquarters in Raqqa.

The closer contacts between the two countries have developed despite their bitter accusations against each other over the devastation in Aleppo and Moscow’s claim that relations are now “frozen on all practical levels.”

The confidential military discussions aren’t focusing on their opposing positions in Syria’s civil war, where Russia is fighting alongside the government and the United States has backed rebel groups, officials said.

But U.S. officials with knowledge of the ongoing conversations

are crediting both sides with putting aside much of the public animosity, which has included Washington’s accusations of Russian war crimes in Aleppo and Moscow’s charges of American support for terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

Much of the talk has concerned the two nations’ immediate operations.

Since Dec. 15, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted airstrikes on about two dozen locations around Palmyra, destroying air defense weapons, tanks, aircraft shelters, storage bunkers and other vehicles and equipment.

At the same time, U.S. and Russian officials having been ensuring that the two militaries’ don’t cross paths in the airspace above the city that IS militants seized for the second time earlier this month, and that American strikes don’t mistakenly hit Russian or Syrian forces.

But the talks have gone beyond the granular and even touched on broader U.S. and Russian plans, according to several U.S. officials, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the confidential discussions and demanded anonymity.

The Russians have spelled out that after they retake Palmyra, they want to move on IS militants congregated in Deir el-Zour, a city closer to the Iraqi border.

Succeeding in Deir el-Zour, according to one U.S. official, could take Russia several months.

Palmyra became a more urgent mission after Islamic State militants ended the Syrian government’s nine-month hold over the city, seizing Russian and Syrian military equipment and weapons in the process. These include dangerous air defense artillery that could be used against coalition and friendly forces.

According to officials, the U.S. and Russian militaries have been communicating regularly, often in real time as strikes have been about to launch to make sure innocent troops aren’t at risk.

The new concentration of U.S. strikes around Palmyra in the past week has made the effort especially important for Russia, one senior U.S. official said.

The scope of the discussions suggests the two sides are pulling back from some of the extreme rhetoric in recent months, mainly colored by Russia’s support for the successful Syrian military effort

to retake all of Aleppo. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hopes that Donald Trump will improve U.S.-Russian cooperation, it appears some of the groundwork already is being done.

U.S. officials have legal constraints on how far they can go. American law prohibits any military-to-military relations with Russia in the aftermath of its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

But as Syria’s various conflicts have escalated, it became more critical for the U.S. and Russia to make sure they avoid crashes and other problems in the increasingly crowded skies — as happened when the U.S. mistakenly killed dozens of Syrian soldiers in airstrikes near Deir el-Zour in September.

“We certainly don’t want to have a repeat of that,” said Air Force Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.

Palmyra poses particular difficulties. Several hundred IS forces are believed to be in the city. But Syrian government and Russian troops are also there, making it difficult to tell them apart.

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Budget Padding Allegations: Why Police is Discontinuing Probe of Dogara, Abdulmumin Hembe, ex-chair trade words over latter’s return to Nigeria Abdulmumin hails Speaker at 49 Dele Ogbodo and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP), on the alleged padding of the 2016 budget, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG), Ali Amodu, yesterday revealed why the panel set up by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to unravel the allegations and counter-allegations between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Jibrin Abdulmumin,

could not continue with its assignment.

The chairman, who spoke through the telephone, said police was no longer continuing with the probe because the EFCC had taken over the case and therefore, all matters relating to the probe can only be verified from EFCC. Asked about his findings before handing over the case to EFCC, Ali, while declining further comment, claimed that the anti-graft would avail THISDAY its latest findings on the probe While excusing himself from further engaging with THISDAY,

Uduaghan Tells Those Making Fanfare ofVisit to Ibori to Stop It Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has told those going to London to see James Ibori, his predecessor, to stop posting pictures and comments about their visit.

A video of one of such visits, which has been trending on social media, shows Peter Nwaoboshi, a senator from the state, boasting about how Ibori “installed” governors and lawmakers from prison.

The video, according to The Cable, drew public criticisms with many calling for Ibori’s extradition and further prosecution in Nigeria.

Uduaghan said in as much as the love for Ibori is appreciated, those making public comments about it are creating more problems for him.

“For those going to London to see Ibori and posting pictures and making comments, please stop it,”

he wrote on Facebook.

“We appreciate your love for him but you can go quietly without the unnecessary publicity.

“You are creating more problems for him than you can ever imagine.

“Nigeria is a complex country and you must understand and respect people’s sensibilities.”

Uduaghan is Ibori’s first cousin.

Ibori was governor of the oil-rich state between 1999 and 2007.

He was released from a United Kingdom prison last Wednesday after serving a concurrent 13-year jail term for money laundering.

The Southwark Crown Court jailed him on April 17, 2012, after he pleaded guilty to a 10-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

Since his release, friends, family members and political associates have been paying him visits in his London home.

he said he would not be able to comment further as he was driving and therefore cannot speak further.

With President Muhammadu Buhari recently commending the Speaker on his performance in office on his 49th birthday, the Abdulmumin, who has been on suspension has written to him on the need to reopen the case even as efforts to meet the president have been hitting brick walls.

The former Chairman on Appropriation in a statement on the allegations which was made available to the media said: “I write this letter to you Mr. President, as a last resort to seek action on the allegation of budget fraud, abuse of office and corruption I levelled against, Yakubu Dogara and three principal officers of the House of Representatives.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon.

Herman Hembe, andAbdulmumin, yesterday traded words over the latter’s return to Nigeria after vowing not to do so.

Abdulmumin, in early November 2016, had left Nigeria for London, from where he issued a press statement vowing not to return to Nigeria until his safety was guaranteed.

The suspended lawmaker had alleged that Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his men, including Hembe were after his life, for his revelations of alleged corruption against them.

Abdulmumin had however returned to Nigeria at a date which THISDAY could not ascertain.

Hembe in a statement, said Abdulmumin fled back to Nigeria after reports of his ownership of five foreign accounts in Barclays bank and property located at No. 81, Cotswold Gardens, London, NW2, 1PE in

London were published.

“I wish to remind Jibrin that there is no longer hiding place for criminals. He fled to UK after getting hint that anti-graft agencies in Nigeria were investigating him in order to avoid arrest and prosecution,” the statement read.

“Now, having realised that even in the UK, the National Crime Agency and the Financial Intelligence Unit have already profiled him and may soon open a case against him; he quietly sneaked back to Nigeria. His days of freedom are numbered and sooner than later he will face the full wrath of the law,” it added.

Abdulmumin in a counter statement said he returned to the country at the invitation of one of the anti-corruption agencies who required additional information from him.

He however did not disclose which of the anti-graft agencies he visited.

“I visited the agency and provided what they required and sign to stand witness. Hon Hembe is obviously aware of this fact and has been panicking and running helter-skelter including trying to get the Speaker to intervene and save him,” he said.

“I travelled peacefully from the Nnamdi Azikwe airport Abuja and landed at Heathrow airport and same on my way back. I also enjoyed my stay in London and other part of Europe catching up with my vast international network, delivering lectures and granting interviews,” Abdulmumin added.

In an interesting development, Abdulmumin expressed birthday wishes to Dogara who clocked 49 on December 26, 2016.

In a tweet yesterdat, Abdulmumin said: “This is to wish Mr. Speaker @ SpeakerDogara a happy 49th birthday and many prosperous years ahead. Wishing you God guidance and blessings.”

Boko Haram: Atiku Hails Military, Buhari Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated the officers and men of the Nigeria Army on their spectacular feat on the invasion and sacking of Camp Zero, the last Boko Haram stronghold in Sambisa Forest.

Describing the success of the soldiers as “a military feat worth celebrating,” the former vice president said the army has made good on its promise to finally defeat the terrorists and bring peace to the North-east region of our country.

He added that by accomplishing this feat, the army has shown that it has truly regained form and its famed fighting ability for which the Nigeria Army is known.

The Turakin Adamawa said further that this spectacular victory is the result of committed and focused leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the military commanders at the battlefront, the intelligence agencies and the unity of purpose exhibited by the nation’s military chiefs to rid the country of the Boko Haram menace.

Atiku also commended Nigerians who at every point in the anti-terror war has always stood by and supported the military with prayers and good wishes. He also thanked the international community and close partners of Nigeria in the anti-terror war saying that the final routing at Sambisa Forest

hopefully should herald the end of terrorism in the country.

The Turakin Adamawa states that the victory presents the people and government of Nigeria as well as the country’s international partners with the challenge of consolidating the peace by joining hands for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and re-development of the entire Northeast region which was heavily devastated by the activities of the Boko Haram while the anti-terror war lasted.

Arguing that final peace and reconstruction cannot take place without the return and resettlement of the displaced persons in internally dislaced persons (IDPs) camps in the region, the former vice president called on the government and all stakeholders including international partners and donor agencies to seize the momentum of the final routing of the Boko Haram, to intensify the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Atiku described the new situation in the region as the best Christmas and New Year gift to a nation that has been under tremendous stress on account of the deadly activities of these insurgents, adding that the North-east region can now rejoin the nation’s development process which it has been denied by the over seven-year insurgency.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Chairman, Photojournalists Association of Nigeria (PJAN), Ademola Akinlabi; former Governor of Ogun State/Patron, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Kehinde Adebayo; and Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Olatunji Disu, during the annual dinner by PJAN, and presentation of its recognition plaque to Adebayo of LASEMA, in Lagos…. weekend.

NJC Clears Lagos Judge of Misconduct Lagos High Court judge, Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali, has been cleared of an allegation of judicial misconduct by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The NJC also dismissed a petition written against her over alleged perversion of justice by a lawyer, Evans Azuike.

The petition dated May 24, 2016, written to the NJC, alleged that Justice Kasali struck out suit number LD/1791/2010 without justification and deliberately refused to release exhibits tendered in the suit.

He also said the alleged refusal to release the exhibits 11 months after the suit was struck out had hindered immediate commencement of a fresh suit.

The petitioner, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), alleged further that the delay in releasing the exhibits enabled the defendants to mobilise men and materials to complete the structure which they had erected

on the disputed land prior to the assignment of the suit to Justice Kasali in 2013.

However, following deliberation

by NJC, it resolved that the petition lacked merit and evidence to establish the allegations levelled against Justice Kasali.

The council, in a letter with ref.

No. NJC/S.24/LAG.HC/12/1/46, held that no act of judicial misconduct was established against the judge.

Part of the letter read: “The NJC set up a three-man committee to investigate the allegations contained in a petition dated May 24, 2016 against Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali of High Court of Justice, Lagos State.

“The committee finds that no act of judicial misconduct is established by the petitioner against the judge.

“At its meeting, which was held on 3rd November, 2016, council considered and deliberated on the report of the committee.

“At the end of the deliberation, council decided to dismiss the petition for failing to establish the allegation of judicial misconduct against Justice Kasali.”

Both the petitioner and Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali led evidence before the three-man Investigative committee of the NJC. Justice Kasali in her evidence stated: “I did not sit on the exhibits as alleged,” and that she neither delayed nor obstructed justice by allegedly sitting on the exhibits.

She also told the committee that suit No: LD/1791/2010 was a case inherited by her as a trial court when she was newly posted to the Lagos Judicial Division of High Court of Lagos State.

Prior to inheriting the case from Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi (as the trial judge) the petitioners’ counsel sought and obtained an Interim and interlocutory injunction from the case management judge.

After trial commenced in the suit, the defendants filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit on the grounds that at the time the suit was commenced, the petitioner’s client’s name had been struck off the register of companies by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Petitioner’s client subsequently had her name restored in the Register of Companies at the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The said restoration was well after the case was instituted and well after the claimant’s client had obtained interim and interlocutory orders during CMC. In her ruling delivered on February 18, 2015, Justice Kasali held that the suit was incompetent on account of same having been commenced when the name of the claimant had been struck out of the register of companies.

The claimant though dissatisfied with the ruling elected not to appeal.

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More Passengers Stranded as Bad Weather Forces Airlines to Cancel Flights NIMET: Air and ground visibility not likely to improve in days as operators count loses Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) yesterday said there would be more flight cancellation and delays by airline operators as

a result of the Southward bound dust haze coming from Niger and Chad Republic.

Flight cancellation by virtually all the airlines operating from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International

Tambuwal Tasks CAN on Peace, Unity Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has urged both the Christian and Muslim faithful to continue to live in peace with one another.

Tambuwal made the remark yesterday when the state chapter of CAN the Christian Association of Nigeria, paid him a visit at Government House, Sokoto.

He stressed the need for the adherents of the two major religions to be brothers’ keepers, and strive to ensure rapid socioeconomic development of the country.

According to him, no meaningful progress can be achieved in the country without peace and stability.

“Peace is the key to national development, hence the need

for all citizens to work towards ensuring a long lasting peace in the country,” he said.

Tambuwal also used the occasion to rejoice with the Christians on the Christmas and wished them a prosperous new year ahead.

He commended the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the state, and urged them to sustain it.

Speaking on behalf of the members, spokesman of CAN in Sokoto, Reverend Steven Okafor, commended the people of the state for their tolerance and hospitality.

He said Christians in the state had celebrated the Christmas under a very peaceful atmosphere, which he described as commendable.

He thanked Tambuwal for his numerous people-oriented projects in the state and urged him not to relent.

Airport (NAIA), Abuja, caused agonising experience for passengers who could not make their trips outside of Abuja.

Corroborating what the DG of the agency, Mr. Anthony Anuforom, told THISDAY last Monday, the agency’s latest weather report monitored on its broadcast station, said that the weather condition across the country is not likely to improve in the days ahead.

With a coupled of airlines grounded as a result of bad weather, operators however declined speaking on the quantum

of their loses due to their inability to fly.

Meanwhile, THISDAY checks at the airport showed only MedView airline landing the airport from Yola.

A THISDAY source while pleading anonymity, informed that Arik air inevitably has to cancel all its flights to Lagos, Yola, Enugu and Kano because of the bad weather report from NIMET. The source said: “As we speak (4:15 p.m), only MedView has landed successfully at the airport. Dana airlines’ flight to

Lagos during day was returned because it couldn’t land in Lagos, due to the bad weather.”

Also, Air Peace airline had to cancel all its Tuesday scheduled flights because of the deteriorating weather condition, the Source confirmed.

NIMET, in its live-steam broadcast, said: “Monday ushered a blanket of dust haze into the country from Niger and Chad Republic.”

The incoming wind, the report hinted, is expected to reinforce the

suspended dust over the country as it gravitates towards the Southern parts of the country.

According to the report, this will lead to cancellation and delays in flight operations across the 22 airports in the country as confirmed by THISDAY source at the airport.

The agency said: “Temperature will be on the low side as horizontal visibility over Bida, Minna will be recording between 100 and 200 meters respectively, adding that the the blurred visibility will not get better in the days ahead.”

Falana Warns Women against Taking Back Seat in Ekiti Guber Poll Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Mrs. Funmi Falana, wife of Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana has declared that it would be disastrous for Ekiti women to take the back seat as the state prepares for another governorship election in 2018.

Mrs. Falana said Nigerian women must take every opportunity of electioneering process to prove a point that they are important and competent like their male counterparts, to establish gender equality in the country’s governance and reverse the trend of male chauvinism that is taking root in Nigeria.

Lamenting the non-release of the over 200 chibok girls seized

by Boko Haram insurgents, Falana advised President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action and ensure that all the girls are released from captivity, adding that the failure of government to achieve this will dent the image of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

She said this in Iyin Ekiti yesterday while donating materials to the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home to mark the annual gift presentation to the orphanage.

Falana, who described women as the pivot of any nation said: “Women will not take the back seat in Ekiti governorship poll. We are embarking on advocacy programmes through my organisation ‘Women Empowerment and Legal Aids’

to help our women realise their potentials and rights.

“Time has come for women to present themselves for both elective positions and appointments to prove that they are as competent and important as their male counterparts.

“Some used to say that the African culture has not been fair to women.

“I want to believe this is not so, because our culture respects our roles and that is why we had the Iyalodes and the Iyalojas in the old days. So, what women are suffering today are human creations and we have to fight back to reclaim our lost glories,” she stated.

Falana told President Buhari to live up to his promise to free all the Chibok girls, expressing regret that the girls were still being held hostage after two years.

“We thank God that some of them have been released. We are pleading with government not to stop at the level of retrieving them alone, they should give all the girls psychological rehabilitation first.

They must ensure that those that are supposed to go back to schools are helped to realise that.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that these girls need rehabilitation and the support of every Nigerian to recover from this trauma. The government must not abandon them, they should give them scholarships for them to realise their dreams and become a pride to this nation,” she advised.

CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER

R-L: Wife of Ondo State Governor, Olukemi Mimiko; Governor Olusegun Mimiko; wife of Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks, Akure, Mrs. Amoge Ofoche, and Commander, Brigadier General Charles Ofoche in Akure....yesterday

Lagos Pledges Fair Distribution of LAKE Rice Maintains retail outlets in three senatorial districts Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government yesterday said it would ensure fair distribution of LAKE Rice, thereby pledging to meet rising demand for the rice and make the products available to all Lagos homes.

The state government also assured that LAKE Rice would be available in all designated retail outlets in three senatorial districts, urging the residents not to rush at the sale centres.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Toyin Suarau, gave this assurance in Ikeja yesterday while reviewing sales reports of LAKE Rice from designated retail outlets and centres.

Suarau noted that the state government “is working assiduously to ensure that the product is available in all

designated outlets and centres that are short of supply.”

He assured that as from today, December 28, 2016 all designated retail outlets and centres “will have enough supply of LAKE Rice to meet growing demands of residents.”

He thus assured residents of the availability of LAKE Rice at designated outlets across the state, thereby urging the residents to keep calm and cooperate with sales officers at the retail outlets.

The commissioner noted that the state government had resolved to distribute and retail the product on senatorial district basis using designated outlets.

He explained that the idea was mooted “to ensure fair distribution, availability of the product to residents and to guard against unwanted persons diverting the product.

“The product which is

packaged in 50kg, 25kg and 10kg bags is being offered for sale to residents at N12,000.00, N6,000.00 and N2,500.00 respectively,” Suarau noted.

He added that residents residing within Lagos Central Senatorial District can get the product in Ajah at Agric Area Office, Ajah; Lagos Island at LATAMA Works yard, Lagos Island; Ajegunle at Alakoto Senior High School, Tolu; Surulere at Teslim Balogun Stadium; and Yaba at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park.

Suarau said the product “will also be available to residents that reside at the Lagos East Senatorial District at designated centres which include; Odogunyan Farm Service Centre, Ikorodu; Temu Farm Service Centre, Epe; Noforija Town Hall, Eredo; Magbon Alade School, Ibeju Lekki; and State

Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) premises, Maryland.

“The product will also be on sales at the following locations in Lagos West Senatorial District; Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority(LSADA)/Farm Service Centre, Oko-Oba, Agege; Lagos Agricultural Inputs Supply Authority (LAISA), Ojo; Farm Service Centre, Marina-Badagry; and Ikeja Grammar School, Bolade, Oshodi.”

Suarau said LAKE Rice “is a product of the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi for the development of agricultural commodities like rice, wheat, ground-nut, onions, maize, sorghum and beef value chains.”

The commissioner added the collaboration would ensure that quality rice “emanates from the 2.5 metric tonne-capacity mills to boost food production in Lagos.”

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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Sultan Rejects Bill Seeking Equal Inheritance for Men, Women The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar lll, yesterday voiced his opposition to a bill seeking to ensure men and women have equal right to inheritance.

The Sultan said the bill was against Islamic religion and, therefore, unacceptable to Muslims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the bill seeks equality for male and female children in the sharing of inherited family wealth or property.

The bill also proposes that a widow is entitled to the custody of her children unless it is contrary to the interests and welfare of the children.

The bill also seeks that a widow shall have the right to remarry any man of her choice and should have the right to a fair share in the inheritance of her late husband’s property and the right to live in her matrimonial house.

“Our religion is our total way of life; therefore, we will not accept any move to change what Allah permitted us to do,” Abubakar said.

“Islam is a peaceful religion; we have been living peacefully with Christians and followers of other religions in this country.

Therefore, we should be allowed to perform our religion effectively.”

He called on the Senate to

not consider the bill because of its religious implications.

The Sultan also hailed the federal government and Nigerian Army for the capture of Sambisa Forest from Boko Haram terrorists.

He made the commendation in Gusau at the closing ceremony of the 20th Zamfara State Annual Qur’anic Recitation Competition.

The Sultan said the capture of Sambisa Forest from Boko Haram was historic and a great success.

“We are happy to hear this good news,” he said. “We are, therefore, calling on the Nigerian Army not to relent in its efforts in fighting the activities of Boko Haram.”

He called on Muslims to continue to pray for peaceful coexistence in the country, adding that they should cooperate with all the tiers of government to move the country forward.

The royal father called on political office holders to ensure fairness and transparency in implementing projects for the development of the people particularly at the grassroots.

In his remarks, the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, gave the assurance that the state government would continue to support the Qur’anic recitation

Lagos to Build Five Care Centres for Senior Citizens, Pensioners The Lagos State Government has earmarked a sum of N2.698 billion for the construction of five care centres for pensioners and senior citizens in the state.

The state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, disclosed this at the 2016 senior citizens day in Ikeja, noting that the centres would be built in Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Alimosho and Lagos Island.

At the celebration, the governor described pensioners and senior citizens as strategic class of people who deserve to be remembered, appreciated and celebrated at all times.

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, said his administration would remain committed to the welfare of the people and the principle of inclusive governance.

He noted that his administration “has more than passing interest in the lives of senior citizens and pensioners who have spent their youthful period in serving their fatherland.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have remained committed to our workers welfare including retirees. In addition to regular payment of salaries for those in active service, we have also prioritised the payment of retirees’ benefits, especially those that have accrued over the years,” he explained.

According to him, apart from the payment of entitlement to all senior citizens in Lagos State, they also enjoy welfare incentives including free medical services for those above 60 years in government hospitals.

He, thus, revealed that a total of N21.929 billion accrued pension rights “has been paid to 5,027 retirees. Also, N1.5 billion Intervention Fund has been approved for the payment of outstanding gratuities and accrued pensions to local government retirees including the balance of 142 per cent pension arrears.”

Ambode said the theme of the celebration: ‘Take a Stand against Ageism,’ was apt considering the discrimination and prejudicial attitudes towards older people, old age and aging process are evident in the society.

Also at the celebration, the Commissioner for Establishment, Training & Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke said the state government through the Civil Service Pensions Office and other pension offices would continue “to ensure that not only do retirees get what is due to them statutorily, but also continue to empower them with socio-economic activities to make life worth living for them.

“To our aged citizens, this government is reassuring that your wellbeing will continue to enjoy a prominent place in the policies and programmes of the state government,” Oke said.

competition.

Yari and that his wife, Asma’u, donated N500,000 to each male and female winner of the seventh category of the

competition – recitation of the Qur’an with Tafsir.

The winners are Faisal Muhammad from Shinkafi Local Government Area and

Subai’a Sa’idu from Gusau Local Government Area.

The state government also donated a car to each of the male and female winners.

Other prizes, including refrigerators, televisions, sewing machines and money were also given to winners of all the seven categories of the competition.

ROYAL VISIT

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (right), receiving a document from the Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers’ Council and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Jaja, during a goodwill Christmas visit to the governor by traditional rulers in Government House, Port Harcourt...yesterday

AU Chairmanship Election: Africa Needs More Dynamic Leadership, Says ECOWAS Candidate Alex Enumah in Abuja As the January 31, 2017 date for the election of the African Union (AU) Chair draws near, a leading and ECOWAS candidate, Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily, has stressed the need for the continent to elect persons with dynamic leadership qualities that will take Africa out of the woods.

Bathily, a core Pan-Africanist and advocate of democracy and good governance in Africa also argued that until Africa devices her own strategy for development the continent would continue to lag behind.

The AU Chair contender who revealed this during an interview with select journalists in Abuja, said it was high time African voted into office only those that have what it actually takes to move the continent forward and not vote on sentiment of

regional and linguistic affinity.

“For the last two and a half years, I was based in Gabon covering the 11 countries of Central Africa. When you look at this, I can confidently say that I have the enough experience, conviction not just as a Senegalese citizen, or a member of ECOWAS country, but also as an African citizen.

“I think today, the AU needs somebody who would not just do business as usual but who will be inspired by the Africans in their hope for democracy, regional integration, peace and security. More importantly, the African Union needs a more dynamic leadership that will make the organisation more relevant to the Africans,” he said.

Bathily, while disclosing that his main target is to make the African Union relevant to the

African people, promised to work very closely with African grass-root organisations, so that they would be acquainted with the workings of the commission.

He also promised to push for reforms particularly in the area of good governance that would promote peace and security needed for the development of the continent. He said if there is good governance in Africa, the controversy surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be a non-issue.

On regional integration, the ECOWAS candidate said if elected, he would persuade the Heads of State and Government to bring together African entrepreneurs, to build a sustainable economy.

“I dream of having not only one Dangote or Elemelu, but hundreds of them throughout

the continent, coming together to cooperate and build dams, roads, have airlines for easy air transportation. When we pull financial resources and intellect together, there is a possibility of having good cooperation which will build Africa. But when you have a partner who will build their companies, once they finish they go,” he said.

“The Europeans have their own strategy about Africa, but we don’t have our own strategy towards them. It is the role of the AU Commission to strategise to bring the Heads of State and Government to come together and to come with a common position vis-à-vis all the new partners.

He also appealed to losers in any elections to strive to make necessary sacrifice for the peace and well being of their people.

17,000 Kwarans to Benefit from FG’s Cash Transfer Programme Hammed Shittu in Ilorin No fewer than 17,000 people across the 360 communities in Kwara State are to benefit from the cash transfer programme of the federal government .

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Asiat Ayinke Saka, disclosed this yesterday while speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the state capital.

He said biometric data of the beneficiaries consisting of women and vulnerable children had been captured.

On the Small and Medium Enterprises, Saka disclosed that about N200million would be disbursed to 10,000 widows in the 16 local government areas of the state to jump start their own businesses.

The commissioner stressed the need for government

at all levels to empower women to enable them fend for themselves and reduce their sufferings.

Saka also said the ministry’s vocational centre was currently training women and youths in 42 trades across the state, with five beneficiaries from each local government.

On the special intervention for people of special needs,

the commissioner noted that mobility aides had been provided for them to enable them move around and earn a living.

She said the ministry’s legal department also fights for and advocates the right of women and children, appealing to members of the public in trauma or facing domestic violence to inform the ministry for proper legal action.

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Rivers Rerun: Security Agencies Plotted to Make Rivers Ungovernable, Says Wike Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the violence that trailed the rerun elections in the state was orchestrated by security agencies with a motive to making the state ungovernable for politically-motivated reasons.

The governor also announced that the police high command had arrested all his personal police detail who accompanied him to stop Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Commander, Akin Fakorede, from rigging Rivers East senatorial district.

He said all the said policemen

had been detained in Abuja by the police high command.

The governor spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt when he received members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council who paid him a Christmas goodwill visit.

He said the police high command was insisting that the policemen shouldn’t have accompanied him to stop Fakorede.

Wike explained that he was compelled to take action because the previous day, policemen and soldiers were used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ikwerre Local Government Area to beat up PDP agents and force collation officers to concoct results.

He said: “The security agencies orchestrated plans to cause violence with a view to making the state ungovernable for ulterior motives.

“As I speak with you, all my personal police details who accompanied me to stop Fakorede from successfully rigging the Rivers East senatorial district election have been arrested and detained in Abuja.”

The governor drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that Rivers State has been peaceful since the

conclusion of the rerun elections.

He said: “Look at how peaceful Rivers State has become after the elections. Why was the election violent? It is because they wanted particular candidates to win and they wanted to rig in favour of such candidates.

“I was called to share seats. I said I will not participate in such a fraud. I insisted that the votes must count.

Let everyone go for elections “

The governor berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conniving with APC to print fake result sheets ahead of the elections.

He noted that INEC and police have swept the matter under the carpet.

He informed that many INEC staff who were victims of violence by security agencies are under pressure from the electoral commission to deny the physical assault on them .

In his remarks, Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Opobo, warned against the militarization of the electoral process.

He commended Wike for always defending the rights of the people of the state.

He lauded Wike for his developmental projects in the course of 2016, saying that his efforts have helped to improve the fortunes of the state.

Ganduje Suspends Director, Nine Others over Salary Scam Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has ordered the immediate suspension of a Director at the state Ministry of Finance and sacked no fewer than nine employees of the Ministry for Local Government over their alleged connivance to divert funds, running into millions of naira.

The nine local government employees were schedule officers under the platform of REMITA. Also, the state government has handed over four employees of the Kano State Pension Funds Trustee, including two top members of Kano Pension Union to the police authorities.

The four persons, whose case files had already been handed over to the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation, were accused of connivance to siphon public funds.

According to a statement, issued from the office of the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammed Awwal Naiya and made available to journalists yesterday, noted that preliminary investigation

by a special committee indicted the affected officers for illegal insertion and fraud in the salary of civil servants in Kano.

The governor who is visibly worried over the discovery of salary scam, warned that any violation of due process, contravening the government’s quest against zero tolerance to corruption would not go unpunished.

Ganduje promised that the state government would deploy the necessary machinery to recover all diverted funds, as well as not hesitate to effect all appropriate dispensary action against anybody indicted in the salary scam.

“It is therefore pertinent to make it abundantly clear that government will not condone any act of fraud or theft in every business of governance”.

The statement therefore appealed to all civil servants and pensioners, who are yet to receive their entitlement, as a result of the ongoing investigation to be patient.

Ganduje promised that workers in this category would be paid after undergoing fresh screening exercise.

Dagomo Foundation to Run Free Medical Service in Honour of Omoigui’s Mother Dagomo Foundation, a private, charitable, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, will commence its third, two-day free eye, dental, and general medical mission for the elderly in Benin City, Edo State, on December 28.

The medical mission, available to persons aged 60 and above, is being held on Grace Onaiwu Omoigui’s first posthumous birthday.

Omoigui (nee Asemota), teacher, lawyer and philanthropist, passed on last month at a Lagos hospital following complications from multiple gunshot injuries from an armed robbery attack in Benin City, on her way from the bank.

She was one month away from her 83rd birthday.

A statement by the foundation said: “This was a project dear to Mom’s heart and the focus of the foundation primarily on the elderly and the dead was largely her idea,” Omogui’s children said in a statement.

“It does form part of her funeral activities given that it happens a few

days before. However, our desire is to celebrate her and what she stood for, and to ensure her legacy lives on.”

The foundation will also unveil an ultra modern elderly care centre in a ceremony to be attended Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“The aim is to create a new social order through a commitment deeply rooted in a passion for development at all levels.

“Damogo is currently implementing intervention programmes in areas critical to nation building, but has not received adequate attention from stakeholders.”

Named after Daniel Aiyanyo, former Surveyor-General of the Federation, and Grace Onaiwu Omoigui, Dagomo Foundation Nigeria LTD/GTE was founded in 2008 but became fully operational in 2013.

It is governed by a sevenmember board of directors, and is run by an advisory board of 12 members and a management team headed by a chief programme officer (executive secretary).

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

L-R: Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Chief Remi Bakare; Senator representing Lagos west, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan; and his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, during a Christmas party by the senator for the people of his senatorial district in Lagos....Monday Kola Olasupo

Diamond Bank Set to Give over N500m to Customers in Promo Diamond Bank Plc yesterday in Lagos launched the season 9 of its Diamond Xtra Savings promo after a successful completion of the Season 8 where over a thousand lucky winners were rewarded with cash prizes ranging from N500,000 to N1million and a star prizes of Hyundai SUV’s.

The colourful event which attracted some of the bank customers, shareholders, journalists and management staff of the bank saw in attendance past winners of its regional draws and the latest set of winners from the Lagos draw who were presented with their cheques and also shared testimonials of how Diamond Bank has improved their lives through the Savings Xtra promo.

The winner of the grand prize of a brand new SUV in the Lagos Draw, Mr. Kingsley Ezeji, was also in attendance to be presented with the keys to his star prize of a brand new SUV. Speaking at the event, Mr. Osita Ede, Head, Mass Market said the bank expected that a total of 1,055 customers would be rewarded with a total of N584 million.

He said: “Every month, 13 customers will win N1m each, one customer will win N2m and the luckiest customer will win Salary4Life. In addition to the monthly and regional draws, Season 9 will have draws for Diamond

Woman where 10 female customers will be rewarded and also hold two special draws to celebrate key milestones during the year where 30 customers will win N1m each.”

He said the Diamond Xtra reward scheme was no longer a promo as it had become a part and parcel of Diamond Banks efforts at rewarding its loyal customers.

He said it was important to note that the campaign continues because, every month a lucky Diamond Bank customer could emerge as the recipient of Diamond Banks “Salary for life” no matter where his or her account was opened.

Officials from KPMG and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission were also on hand to vouch for the authenticity and transparency of the promo.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Kenneth Ukanwa representing KPMG, the audit firm in charge of the validation process for the promo, said the processes put in place for picking eventual winners and even those qualified for the promo was transparent and above board.

He said KPMG was satisfied with the outcome of the past draws as they also ran checks and mock runs to ensure the verification process was authentic.

The first draw of the DiamondXtra Season 9 will take place on January 3, 2017 and to

qualify for the monthly draw, all a customer needs to do is maintain a minimum monthly balance of N5,000 in their DiamondXtra account while additional deposits would count as multiple entries thereby increasing the customer’s chances of winning.

Explaining the concept behind the account and the draws, Aisha Ahmad, Head Consumer Banking of the bank pointed out that the principal goal of the Savings extra account is to promote a savings

culture amongst the people.

She further stated that the draws were to reward customers who had religiously operated their Savings Xtra account and stayed true to the concept behind which the product was created.

She concluded by stating that Diamond Bank would not relent in its efforts to create mutually beneficial relationships between the bank and customers through its products, services and offerings.

PDM Denies Sacking NWC for Squandering Funds Damilola Oyedele inAbuja The caretaker committee of the People Democratic Movement (PDM) had denied reports that its National Chairman, Malam Bashir Ibrahim, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were sacked for squandering party funds.

The party in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Interim Chairman, Hon. Munir Garba and Secretary, Hon. Ifeanyi Egwe, said the sack was not due to wrong doing, but due to a need for a reorganisation of the party to move it forward.

The statement read: “The attention of the caretaker committee members of the PDM has been drawn to the rumour circulating, alleging that the National Executive Committee led by Malam Bashir Ibrahim was dissolved because it had squandered billions of naira belonging to the party.

“We dispute this allegation and inform the public that Bashir and the entire former members of the national executive of the PDM was dissolved not because of any wrong doing but because the majority of the NEC members wanted the reorganisation of the party to move it forward,” it read.

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FG to Establish Science, Technology Villages, Museum in 2017 Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said government will establish science and technology villages and museum centres in the six geopolitical zones of the country in 2017.

Towards making the project a reality, the minister who spoke at the convocation ceremony of Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, said the ministry is targeting one per cent of federal budget to finance research and innovation.

According to him, the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC), which took 30 years to hold its first meeting has already met three times in 2016.

Onu said: “A bill to institutionalise the NRIC as well as the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) will soon be before the Federal Executive Council for onward transmission to the National Assembly for enactment into law.”

While recalling nurturing the plans several years ago, he said, the pioneering spirit has been with him for long, adding, I remember vividly how more than 20 years ago in 1992, as governor of old Abia State, I started work on the establishment of a technology village in the state.

He said: “At that time, we had purchased computers for distribution to selected primary and secondary schools in the state.

On the ministry’s plans at commercialising research findings, he said though it was difficult to achieve, the government is determined to succeed.

“We have strengthened inter-agency cooperation and promoted a cordial relationship between industry and research institutes as well as between universities and research institutes.

“We have encouraged the commercialisation of research findings, as well as the protection

of intellectual property through patents. We have on several occasions seen the sad effect, on our economy, whenever there is a sharp drop in the prices of commodities in the international market.”

According to him, the ministry is working hard to move the economy from a resource-based to a knowledgebased and innovation driven economy.

He said: “As the developed countries of the world spend enormous resources on research and innovation in order to fully exploit the huge contributions of science and technology in nation building, Nigeria did not do so in the past. We are working to

ensure that this changes.

“In the years to come, we can no longer afford to pay lipservice to the development of science and technology. We must see it as our future and hence work very hard to utilise it as an important tool for enduring and sustainable development.

“The current state of science and technological development is a big challenge as well as a wake-up call for us to rise up and fully embrace science, technology and innovation in biotechnology, chemical technology, food safety and security, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics and space technology.

The minister, while

acknowledging that the country is not doing well in research, said: “We should reorder our national priorities so that in the next one or two years, we should be spending at least one per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and innovation.

“This percentage should gradually increase with time, such that in the next 25 years we will be spending at least 3 per cent of our GDP on research and innovation. We should work very hard to commercialise research findings.”

According to him, ideas are only meaningful when converted into goods and services available in the market place for the good

of Nigerians.

“The linkage between research institutes and industry must be strengthened just as that between universities and research institutes. Government, industry, universities and research institutes must work together for the common good.

“Our research efforts for now, in the short term, should focus on agriculture and energy. Nigeria must be able to feed herself.

“Nigeria should use science and technology to support food production, storage, safety, processing and preservation.

Nigeria must be secure. Nigeria must achieve food security. We should also achieve energy security,” he said.

IPAC Calls for Conduct of LG Polls in Anambra Accuses Obiano of killing LG system David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has called on the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to conduct local government elections into the 21 local government areas of the state without further delay.

The group gave the governor three months to conduct the elections, saying that when the period of the ultimatum elapses in March 2017, they would have no other option than to drag him to court.

It also called on the governor to immediately put the sum of N21billion refunded to local governments in Nigeria from over deductions of London and Paris Club debts from the federal government to use to better the lives of the people of the state, wondering why the state received the money in silence without telling the citizens.

IPAC state acting Chairperson, Oby Kate Okafor of ACD party, in a statement said Obiano has enough money to put the state on high pedestal especially the 21 local government areas and should not make any excuses.

The statement released by the group noted: “Anambra State IGR is about N29 billion for the year 2016, federal allocation to Anambra for the month of September 2016 alone is N3.43 billion, July 2016 above N2.5billion, So, federal allocation for Anambra in 2016 is approximately N35billion.

“This is apart from support funds from all foreign donor agencies and financial institutions towards health, education and environment among others. So, to blame non-performance or zero performance on economic recession, devaluation of the

naira or insufficient fund is an excuse that is unacceptable and does not hold water.

The group said projects in the state are stagnated, giving instances of abandoned projects in the 21 local government areas to include construction of access road to Civil Servants Housing Estate, Isiagu; reconstruction of access road to AUSCO farms Ltd, Agu – Awka, and many others.

It said: “The unseriousness of the government of Chief Willie Obiano was shown in the 2017 Appropriation bill presented to the Anambra State House of Assembly, where no budgetary provision was made for the Anambra State local government elections.

“Therefore, in the effect that the government of Anambra State refuses to take necessary steps toward the conduct of the local government election, political parties in the state will be left with no other option than to employ all necessary legal actions against the government of Anambra State to compel the government to do the needful.

“Political parties in Anambra State which are the major stakeholders in the Anambra political business cannot continue to keep silent while our state government continues to violate the laws of the land with impunity.

“In the event of the negligence of this important demand, we shall appeal to the National Assembly and the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop the release of all federal allocations meant for Anambra State local governments, pending when duly elected local government executives will emerge.”

BRANDING

Globacom Brand Ambassador, Odunlade Adekola (left), posing with a Globacom subscriber, Mrs. Olabisi Olowolayemo, at the Globacom pavilion at the Ikorodu centre of the One Lagos Fiesta sponsored by the company...Monday

Commissioner Explains Why Bauchi Budgeted N50bn for Education, Health Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State government has stated that it has allocated the sums of N27.4 billion and N23.4 billion to the education and health sectors which represent 18 and 16 per cent respectively of its 2017 budget in order to renovate 293 secondary schools across the state and construct 20 model primary health centres in the 20 local government areas.

The state Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi, stated this yesterday while addressing journalists on the N145 billion 2017 budget breakdown of the state at the ministry of budget and economic planning.

He stressed that education and health are the most vital sectors which affect all and sundry, hence the resolve of the present administration to allocate more funds with a view to revamping the two sectors.

On measures to mitigate unemployment, the commissioner said funding for the agricultural sector was also increased in the 2017 appropriation bill, with the

main objective of creating many jobs and wealth as well as food security, pointing out that certain measures have been put in place to ensure the actualisation of the agricultural revolution programme of the administration before the next farming season.

These measures, according to him, were the purchase of strategic grains, for future use to cushion the effects of price fluctuation on farmers’ income and the provision of farm implements, fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides and other inputs, just as tractor hiring unit of the ministry of agriculture is being strengthened with refurbished tractors and that simple and affordable new ones are being purchased.

Apart from that, the commissioner said the government would establish farm training centres and demonstration farms, adding that the biometric data of farmers in the State would be taken to enable small farmers access inputs directly at subsidized prices under the Nigeria Agricultural Payment Initiative.

Police Detains APC Leaders in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Tension arose within the rank of the All Porgressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as the state police command detained the ward leaders of the party in Oredo Local Government Area.

One of those detained included the state Youth Leader of the party, Osakpanwa Eriyo, over alleged threat on the life of the state Secretary of the party, Chief Osaro Idah and a security detail attached to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Their arrest followed a petition by Idah who alleged that Eriyo had threatened “to eliminate him the way my father was killed,” during a meeting of the leaders of the party at Government House last week.

Trouble started according to information reaching THISDAY when some loyalists of Eriyo were prevented from entering a meeting of the

party leaders in Oredo which was called by the governor with a view to resolving the leadership crisis in the local government which was said to have heightened as Eriyo and Idah engaged themselves in a war of words which almost marred the meeting.

However, in the petition addressed to the state Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, Idah alleged threat to his life and called for investigation.

It also learnt that after the police refused to release Eriyo who was invited, his loyalists stormed the police command, urging the police to detain all of them instead.

Following the confusion, his loyalists were detained including the some members of the party executive in Oredo.

However, Eriyo who spoke with journalists, denied threatening the life of Idah, saying that “ they are only fighting me to control the party in Oredo. I have not done anything to anybody.”

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Niger to Train 15 Judicial Officers in Australia Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Government has completed arrangement to send 15 of its judicial staff to Australia for training, the state Attorney

General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Nasara Dan Mallam, disclosed yesterday in Minna, the state capital.

The training which would last for six weeks is one of the

Victory over Insurgency will Aid Economic Recovery, Says Baraje Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now a leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has said the recent breakthrough of the nation’s armed forces in the war against terror will have desirable impact on the ailing economy.

He said the victory would bring about economic recovery, if well managed.

Baraje, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin on the state-of-the-nation, also hailed the diligence and resilience of the nation’s armed forces in dislodging the remnants of Boko Haram fighters from Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

He stated that it was cheering that the troops took over the hideout of the terrorists widely believed to be the most dreadful among the dens of the outlawed sect.

Baraje said the military, which was saddled with the responsibility of protecting territorial integrity of the nation, had significantly restored peace in the country.

He therefore noted that the battle against insurgency cannot be totally won, pointing out that there is likelihood of the insurgents committing pocket of attacks on innocent Nigerians.

Baraje added, “Our men in uniform, particularlythearmyhavedoneusproud.

Theirmajordutyistodefendtheterritorial integrityofthecountry,andthatisexactly what they have done on our behalf.

“They have brought peace to the land, and we can never thank them enough. “Even before today, they have been spending sleepless nights under very harsh conditions, we quite appreciate them.

“And we believe that this is the beginning of many good things to come. In fact, this is the beginning of overcoming the (economic) recession.

“This is a war against insurgency, and this war is very technical and tactical. If I say we have finally won it, am not in the best position to say that. I’m not in the military, and apart from that, from the little that I know of war of insurgency from history, it doesn’t just end once and for all in that way.”

steps taken by the government to improve the professional competences of staff in the Ministry of Justice.

Mallam, who made this known at an end-of-the-year get together organised for the staff of the ministry, said the first batch of the participants would depart the country for Australia early next year.

“Capacity building is

important and there are different ways you can improve the capacity of your staff in every organised sector. I don’t have any doubt that this kind of training will go a long way to inspire quite a lot of them to do more,” he stated.

The Attorney General said the government would continue to encourage those willing and able to go for further studies

while administration was also making arrangement to send some staff on in-service training to expand their horizons in the discharge of their duties.

He disclosed that arrangements have been completed to review all the obsolete laws of the state, adding that to achieve this, the staff in the ministry have a role to play.

Mallam solicited for the

cooperation of the people in the bid to transform the ministry, saying government on its part would provide a conducive working environment for them to discharge their duties.

“It is my belief that in a short time, the justice sector of the state will be a model if not for Nigeria as a whole, for the Northern region,” he stated.

Bauchi Govt Unveils Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme, 20,000 Farmers Registered Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has officially launched the Anchor Borrower’s Scheme initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with 20,000 farmers successfully registering under the scheme.

The state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, who officially launched the scheme in Gadan-Maiwa town in the state at the land preparation for the programme ceremony yesterday said his administration would accord priority to agriculture, especially laudable programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Scheme as part of efforts to empower the people; create job opportunities and tackle the challenges of food security.

He said the state government undertook to pay off the nine per cent interest on the loan to be granted farmers in the programme to encourage participation and show commitment towards the success of the programme in the state in addition to other contributions.

“The government has placed a high priority on agriculture, especially laudable programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Scheme as part of efforts to empower the people, create job opportunities and tackle the challenges of food security.

“I urge famers to seize this golden opportunity presented and boost food production in the state as well empowering themselves economically,” the

governor said.

In his address at the occassion, the lead consultant in charge of the programme in Bauchi, Dr. Abdulmalik Nura, said out of the 20,000 registered farmers, 10,000 had so far been screened by field officers and representatives of participating banks.

He said they had concluded input assessment of irrigated rice enterprise production module for the state, which currently stood at N370, 000 per hectare.

“The aim of the programme is to create economic linkage between small holder farmers and reputable large scale processors with a view to increasing agricultural output and supply of feedstock to agro processors.

“Each bonafide farmer is

now expected to deposit N18, 500, which is his mandatory five per cent equity contribution as prescribed by the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) guideline,” he said He maintained that the next stage was the training of the farmers on good agricultural practice; farm enterprise management and group dynamics before the commencement of the distribution of input.

In his address, Branch Controller of CBN in Bauchi, Musa Muhammd, said the target of the programme in the state was to create economic linkages between over 100,000 small-holder farmers and reputable large scale processors in the state.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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Okpozo, Ex-Bendel Deputy Speaker Dies Okowa, Uduaghan, Emerhor mourn

Adibe Emenyonu inBeninCity and Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Francis Okpozo is dead. He was aged 81.

Okpozo died in Benin City on Monday night after a brief illness.

Okpozo who was one-time Deputy Speaker of the defunct Bendel State House of Assembly on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and was later elected to the Senate on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Speaking with journalists at the father’s residence off Ekenhuan

Road, Benin City, eldest son of the deceased, Edgar Okpozo, expressed surprise at the death of his father, saying though the man was elderly, he should have stayed much longer..

Sympathisers thronged the residence of the deceased to console the widow, Mrs. Anna Okpozo.

One of the sympathisers was a former Commissioner for Health in Delter State, Dr. Alex Ideh.

The former deputy speaker was reputed to be the one who presided over the bill establishing the then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, now Ambrose Alli University as well as the then Bendel State Polytechnic, Ozoro, now Ozoro Polytechnic, Delta State.

Umahi Endorses Ebonyi Lawmakers for 2019 Polls Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has endorsed the candidacy of all the 24 members of the state House of Assembly for the next legislative election in the state.

Umahi made this known when the legislators and their spouses led by the speaker,Francis Nwifuru, paid him a Christmas homage at his country home in Uburu.

The governor, who expressed delight over the cordial relationship that exists between the House and the executive which has translated into speedy passage of people-oriented bills, said he would fight for the legislators to retain their positions.

He was quoted in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, as saying: “It is very difficult to start a journey with people,like what one of the past leaders did sometime. You started journey with people and at the time of transition, you shift position and drop some,and when you are

dropping them,you didn’t tell them their next destination. ‘’That is not a team work. And so, you see 24 of you,you are very dear to my heart. If I were the leader of the PDP at the national level, I would have said automatic tickets forall of you. But that is to say that the leader of PDP in Ebonyi State is already giving it to each and every one of you.” Umahi thanked the legislators for their commitment and dedication to Ebonyi project, assuring that his administration would continue two give them the required attention.

He charged the spouses of the House of Assembly to always pray for their husbands and wives and not to listen to third parties who would like to divide their homes. The speaker,Nwifuru, in his remarks,said the members of the assembly came to felicitate with the governor,and to thank him for his magnanimity towards them.

Bello Releases N2bn to Former Political Appointees Yekini Jimoh inLokoja The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has released the sum of N2 billion to the immediate past political office holders in all the 21 local government councils of the state owed by the former Governor, Captain Idris Wada, as part payment of their salary and severe packaged.

The governor disclosed this at the weekend when the Chairman, National Councillors Forum, Kogi State chapter, Hon. Musa Abdullahi Adekeke, and the Secretary, Hon. Muhammed Idris Omale, led about 512 members on a thank you visit to the governor.

According to the governor, his administration would continue to welcome whoever was ready to work with him, adding that everybody in the state belongs to his administration.

Bello stressed that his administration has paid former chairmen and secretary of local government councils part of their salaries and severance package owed by the immediate past administration.

According to the governor, his administration would do

everything possible to take care of civil servant in the state, noting that virtually all genuine workers have been paid up till December.

The governor who donated 18-seater bus for the forum, promised to appoint numbers of the forum to key positions in his administration.

Earlier, the Chairman of the forum, Adekeke, in his address, thanked the governor for releasing the money as part payment of their salaries and severance package to all former political office holders at the local government councils, as he appreciated the dogged determination of the governor to transform the state in the area of infrastructure development.

“This will help in no small measures to engage handful number of our youths in gainful employment, thereby reducing the incidences of crime in the state and its environs,” he said.

The forum therefore appealed to the governor to provide 5,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) membership cards to them and their numerous supporters and approve a date for their official and formal decamping to APC.

Okpozo, a consummate politician, was a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta sSate.

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has commiserated with the family of the deceased, urging them to take solace in the fact that he left behind a string of achievements as a legacy.

In a statement yesterday in Asaba, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said Okowa was saddened by news of Okpozo’s death of the former Deputy Speaker of the defunct Bendel State House of Assembly.

The governor also extended heartfelt condolences to the Isoko nation and his party, the APC, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees, over the loss.

Also, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has described the death of Okpozo as “a very painful exit of an iconic politician who loves telling truth to power always.”

Uduaghan said: “This is one piece of news we do not need to end the year,” asserting that the politician was “a man of truth who hates oppression, he was a constant ally in our struggle for the greatness of the Niger Delta. I recall my several consultations with him as Governor, where he always gave me undiluted, invaluable advice on peace and stability of the state.

“At times of crisis, political or otherwise, you would always want Okpozo to be on your side.

As Deputy Speaker of the then Bendel State House of Assembly

and senator in the Second Republic, he was a lawmaker of uncommon wisdom who used his background to marshal issues for the common good of all.

“The great people of the Ozoro Kingdom will miss his presence and invaluable service, the state has just lost a great and influential voice at the national level, Nigeria will miss a fearless elder statesman who believed in service before self.

“I pray God to give all those he left behind, especially the wife and children, the fortitude to bear this great loss and to continue his legacies of equity, justice and fair play,” Uduaghan said.

Similarly, the leader of the APC in the state, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, has described Okpozo as a great nationalist and one of the key

foundation members of the party in 2013.

He said in a condolence message to the Okpozo family that “it is with great shock that I received the sudden passing away of Okpozo. A great nationalist, a renowned statesman in Delta State and an Iion in Isoko land, Senator Okpozo has been a leading light and a grand commander in the camp of the progressives in the sate for ages.

“A grand father and elder of the APC in Delta, it is unfortunate that he died when the Delta APC house is in the final stretch of full reconciliation; an ideal of his life long struggle. We, in Delta APC will miss him sorely. We pray that his death will spur those of us left behind to honor him with a final unity.”

CONJUGAL BLISS

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and lndustry, Bimbo Ashiru; his wife, Kemi; General Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare; and his wife; Laide, at the 26th wedding anniversary/birthday of the Ashirus in Lagos....Monday Abioday Ajala

How Recession, Revolt Undermined N13bn Alade Mall, Says Concessionaire Says it will be Nigeria’s first 24-hour smart mall Gboyega Akinsanmi The concessionaire of the Old Alade Market redevelopment, Masters Reality Int’l Concepts Limited, has lamented that economic recession and revolt by market women gravely undermined the execution of Alade Mall designed to cost N6.8 billion at the inception.

Unlike other malls across the federation, the concessionaire said the Alade Mall would be the first 24-hour smart shopping centre situated at the centre of commercial activities in Ikeja and about one kilometre to the state’s seat of power.

The firm’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Lai Omotola, disclosed this at a session with journalists in the firm’s head office, Maryland alongside other executive directors, noting that the mall would be ready by the end of 2018.

At the session, the concessionaire lamented grave impact of economic recession

on the project, noting that the project cost had moved from N6.8 billion to N13 billion due to foreign exchange crisis, crushing inflation and revolt by some market women against the project.

He said the concession “sealed in 2010. The exchange rate was N152 to a dollar, but now the official rate is N315 while the black market rate is going towards N490.

Costs of building materials have equally increased.”

Omotola provided a little background about the project, on which he said his firm signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Ikeja Local Government on August 17, 2010. Nigeria of today needs bold and savvy entrepreneurs.

“We believe even in this time of recession, we have estimated that even 13 billion, we would deliver the mall by 2018. It is our hope and aspiration that by December 2018, we will have unprecedented shoppers, witnessing the opening of the Alade Mall.”

He explained that the thrust of

the concession was to redevelop the Old Alade Market into a first-class shopping mall after it suffered fire disasters three times and became unsafe for trading.

He said agitation by some concerned traders stalled the redevelopment of the old market for six years until peaceful settlement of all issues and subsequent relocation of the traders on July 16, 2016.

Even though his firm lost several millions of naira in the period of six years, Omotola disclosed that the concessionaire had already commenced the construction of the New Alade Mall.

Upon its completion, the managing director explained that the new shopping centre “will be the first 24-hour live, work, shop, eat and entertain smart mall in Nigeria and West Africa at large.

“The t sits on 1.56 hectares of land at the highbrow Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. The Mall is just one kilometre away from Governor’s Office and located at a prime area of Allen/Opebi Street.

“The layout plan consists of two basement parking lot for at least 700 cars, ground floor plus three floors, 214 shop spaces, a hotel, cinema, anchor tenants, two lounges, walk in clinic, restaurant, game shops, bowling space, offices, giant aquarium and common areas for entertainment.”

He, also, gave insight into the design of the New Alade Mall, which he said, “is iconic in nature.

It will be a delight for both the customers and the vendors. We are indeed confident that the Mall will generate the most unprecedented crowd of shoppers in the history of Nigeria.

“Unlike other malls that depend on anchor tenants across Lagos State, we have been able to make more addition towards this end.

It is based on the above that we invite you to be part of the coming success and take the first move advantage that will earn you great returns and add value to your business and lives in the shortest period of time,” he explained.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

LMC Declares Financial Surplus of N483m for 2016 Introduces NPFL U-15 Youth League

Duro Ikhazuagbe As a result of the good governance structure in place in the running of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the League Management Company (LMC) has declared a surplus/ savings of N483 million in its operations for the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

This revelation is contained in the Financial Report of the LMC submitted by its Chairman, Shehu Dikko, at the league body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Enugu on Sunday, December 11.

In one of its 22 points resolutions, the AGM made up of the 20 NPFL Clubs, the Nigeria Football Federation and LMC Independent Directors, noted that it received a detailed presentation of the LMC income and expenditure report from the 2015/16 season which was approved at the 2nd AGM in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in February, 2016.

“The outline of expenditure report shows actual income receipts for 2016 of N2.831 million as against the N2.112 million expected guaranteed revenues and N4.817 million projected gross revenue while actual expenditure budget for year 2016 stood at N2.347 million as against budgeted expenditure of N3.260 million for the season.

“The financials for 2016

season therefore show a surplus/savings of N483million which has been carried over to form part of the revenues for the 2016/17 to facilitate early commencement of the season,” the financial report explained.

As a way to further boost the integration of youth into the professional league and also constitute talent reservoir base for club-sides, LMC has ordered that from the coming season all the teams in the topflight are to raise youth teams (aged 15 years and below) to compete in the new NPFL Youth League tournament in partnership with LaLiga in furtherance of the partnership agreement between the two leagues.

The league would be fashioned after the ‘LaLiga Promisas’ with Laliga serving as technical partners.”

It went further to state that clubs are expected to employ young coaches for the youth teams and in line with the collaboration with Laliga, the Spanish league will provide Technical Assistance by sending coaches who will train the youth team coaches before the start of the league.

Other high points of the AGM resolution include the endorsement of a new bonus/ incentives structure as proposed by the LMC. The new bonus/incentive structure will see clubs earn N500, 000 for an away win, N200, 000 for an away draw

NOC Sends Rowing,Canoeing Coaches to Classroom

Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Sports Coaches drawn from across the country are currently in the classrooms where they spent the Christmas holidays receiving tutorials for the second face of the Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and sailing Federation’s NOC/ IOC Solidarity Coaching course holding at the Naval Sailing Club, Ojo, Lagos.

The programme began on 23, December 2016 and will last till December 30, 2016 and was packaged by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in conjunction with the International Olympic(IOC), the course which is being conducted by Rachel Davis, an expert from Canada is a follow up to the first phase held in April this year as facilitated by Sallie Malt from the United Kingdom who was accompanied by two other UK water experts to scout out conducive places for the development of Nigeria water sports.

Commenting on the initiative, President NOC, Habu Gumel, who was

represented by the Secretary General, Babatunde Popoola said the ongoing course is part of the NOC’s pre-arranged “Train the Trainers programme aimed at repositioning Nigerian sports for good.

Adding that the present administration of the NOC under the leadership of Gumel is determined to take Nigeria’s sports to greater heights, hence the quick follow up of the Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Sports coaching Course.

Drawn from across the country, the 10 beneficiaries who are attending having passed the first course include, Olagunju Adebola Sunday, Egbele Babajide Omoh, Oshikolu Oreoluwa, Aweh Dennis Simon, Showetan Olalekan, Taibu Adebayo Ahmed, College Emmanuel, Ajao Ayo Adeyinka, Ogunbiyi Ayo Olaide and Momodu Ayo who is attending as an observer completes the list if attendees.

Action packed scene was the highlight of the immediate past season of the Nigeria Football Professional League and N250, 000 for attracting over 5000 fans to watch home games. There is also a N200, 000 monthly stadium maintenance support and N100, 000 for dressing three Youth players (U-18) in a Match-day squad with one of the players having a play time of 15 minutes while N200, 000 will be paid to a club that fielded such youth

players with one playing for 45 minutes on a Match-day.

On club merchandising proposal by the LMC, it was agreed that teams deploy part of their revenue from source for payment of clubs’ jersey replicas.

“The meeting approved with enthusiasm, the club merchandising proposal by the LMC Board to pay part

of the funds due to clubs in kind through the supply of clubs official replica jerseys.

The clubs are to sell the replicas to fans to recoup the money and also drive passion in club supporters. The meeting noted this scheme would jumpstart and open club merchandising market and create new revenue streams for the clubs”.

The newly elected Directors

to represent the clubs on the LMC Board are; Paul Bassey of Akwa United, Chief Emeka Inyama of Abia Warriors, Mike Idoko of Lobi Stars, Emmanuel Aiyeyun of MFM, Alhaji Danarewa Kurfi of Katsina United and Alhaji Isa Musa Matori of Wikki Tourists.

Their election is in line with article 13 and 14 of the LMC Governance structure

GOTV BOXING NIGHT 10

Edo Boy Wins ABU Welterweight Title, N1.5m Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo, on Monday, won the African Boxing Union welterweight title when he defeated Ghana’s Isaac Sowah at GOtv Boxing Night 10, which held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

For his impressive performance, he was also voted the best boxer of the night, winning a cash prize of N1.5million.

It was a classic Edo Boy performance, cleverly holding off his bulkier opponent and coming up with telling combinations when it mattered most to win by unanimous decision.

The night also completed the Oto Joseph/Nurudeen Fatai trilogy, when the arch rivals clashed for the third time. As with the previous duels, national lightweight champion, Joseph won,

knocking out the former national champion in the fourth of their eight-round contest.

Also in the lightweight division, Rilwan Oladosu defeated Prince Nwoye.

Another grudge match on the night paired national featherweight champion, Waidi Usman and his predecessor, Dare Oyewole, who was knocked out by his opponent.

In the light welterweight division, rocked by the last minute injury-induced cancellation of the West African title defence by Olaide Fijabi, rising star Rilwan Babatunde defeated Sikiru Shogbesan.

The light heavyweight clash of the night ended in defeat to the debuting Emmanuel Igwe, who suffered a knockout against Kabiru Towolawi.

Oliseh Named Fortuna Sittard Head Coach Former Super Eagles Head Coach and Captain, Sunday Oliseh, has been appointed as head coach of the Dutch second tier club Fortuna Sittard.

Oliseh, who stood down as Eagles coach ten months ago, previously played for Dutch giants Ajax from 1997 to 1999.

Fortuna Sittard confirmed

his appointment on their website, saying he had signed an 18-month contract.

Oliseh, 42, has an option to extend it for another season.

He will take charge of training at Fortuna Sittard for the first time on 2 January.

The club’s Turkish owner, Isitan Gün, said he was ‘very happy’ to announce Oliseh’s arrival.

“With Sunday Oliseh we signed a young and ambitious coach with vision, one players look up to,” Gün said.

“We were looking for someone who plays attractive football combining it with the will to win. We think Sunday is the right one for this job,” Gun added.

Oliseh, who also played for Juventus and Borussia

Dortmund during his club career, earned 63 caps for Nigeria.

He helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic gold in 1996.

Before taking on the role of head coach with Nigeria, Oliseh had previously coached Belgian lower tier side Verviétois.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Oshodi: We’ve Raised Nigeria Table Tennis Profile Globally

2016 has been an eventful year for table tennis in Nigeria particularly with the impact of Team Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, believes with more funding and commitment of the players, Nigeria has the capacity to take the leadership of the sport in Africa. Excerpt of the interview…

Plans for 2017 We are planning more grassroots tournaments, workshops and coaching clinics to enable us discover more players all over the country.

We are also going to enable our coaches with the opportunity to further develop their knowledge so they can better harness the skills of our young players and finding the resources to expose our best players to life on the professional tour at both junior and senior level. Funding is key to all this. We are going to start the year with five of our players taking part in the Hungary Open the first pro tour of the event of the year.

It is difficult financially but we continue to try.

On the plans to honour Atanda Musa, Yomi Bankole, Olawunmi Majekodunmi I think this is an area where the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports should be looking to take the lead. They are great athletes across different sports who have served this country conscientiously and deserve national honours. We at the federation (NTTF) will continue to play our part by honouring them during our tournaments, naming our awards after them to inspire the young players and ensuring that their contributions are always remembered.

Aruna Quadri, the leading light of Nigerian table tennis in the circumstances. It was the first international tournament for many of the players which meant they were quite nervous and the loss of the team captain who could not make it to the tournament made it a bit more difficult especially for the girls team. But all in all it was quite a useful test and the experience gained will assist in fast tracking the development of this young talented boys and girls.

Gains and challenges as NTTF president I don’t want to start listing the gains but my joy and happiness come from the fact that we have been able to raise the profile of the sport and that we can boast of world-class players. We intend to do more but this also depends on the availability of funds. In our own way, we have been engaging our players (senior and junior) with some of them playing at international levels. Funding is a major challenge because apart from organising tournaments at local level, these players must also be exposed internationally and that is why the fund is very vital.

The most important gain I believe is that we are back at the top table of all aspects of world table tennis in terms of players, umpires and administrators.

Aruna Quadri’s rising profile globally

Wahid Oshodi, President of NTTF

Aruna Quadri is a product of hardwork and dedication because we cannot start saying that investing in him alone is what has been paying off but his own involvement and dedication to the sport made it possible for him to get to where he is today. We have a lot of players with the quality of Aruna Quadri in the country and they just need to instill more hard work and dedication.

They should take a cue from the likes of Aruna, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshonaike, whom I believe have become great examples to others with their commitment to the sport. Aruna Quadri has more than justified whatever investments myself and a few others have made over the years. He is a source of great pride and joy to us.

Every Nigerian player is a threat to any team because they have distinct skills that give them edge over others. Their neversay-die spirit coupled with all other talents, they are considered as major players in the

game. Aruna is adored all over the world not only because of his great skills but also because of his humility and willingness to always showcase the best in our sport. He is a respected player worldwide.

On contribution of Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike Moving to coaching is a player’s personal decision. But already we are encouraging our top senior players to give back to the game by holding clinics for the junior players where they can impact their vast knowledge and latest techniques to the younger players. We have done this with Toriola a couple of times in the last year and Funke Oshonaike is set to hold one in the first quarter of 2017. In this way we can ensure that they assist our coaches in bringing up the next generation of players.

Winning Olympic medal in Table Tennis We just need to continue to work hard and expose our players to the latest techniques at a much younger age. We need to find the funding to take the players on the junior and senior pro tours where they can test themselves against the best in the world.

The competition is very fierce at the top with the powerful Asian and European teams who invest a lot of money and give their players the right training and exposure very early in their careers.

On the performance of Nigeria at 2016 World Junior Championships Overall it was a relatively good performance

Also, we need to work hard coupled with discipline and progressive coaching. You can always see that from the best teams here. Japan for example with 10coaches and other support staff numbering over 30 just to ensure that the players lack nothing We need to organise more junior tournaments and training camps across the country. We need to give chances to players all over the country. The large numbers of young players we have discovered need to get the much needed exposure. That means we need to find the funding to conduct training camps and the best of them need to go on the ITTF Junior Circuit where they can consistently play against the best young talent in the world and develop their game.

Competing favourable against European and Asian teams We need to find the funding to give the players the opportunity for better coaching.

They need to attend tournaments. We need more sponsors to come onboard and assist in setting up more tournaments where we can get these children to showcase their talent. We must continue to appeal to the private sector and individuals to help us in tackling the challenge in sports. We all know the economic situation in the country but sports plays such a critical role in developing the youth, creation of job and tourism opportunities, we must not relent in finding ways to find the needed funds.

T H I S D AY •WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS A F C O N

2 0 1 7

Aubameyang Leads Cast as Hosts Gabon Name Final Squad

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville.

Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali.

Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England.

But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad.

Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna.

Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three domestic-based stars and also placed three players on standby for the biennial Africa Cup of Nations, which runs between 14 January and 5 February.

The 2012 quarterfinalists are the first of the 16 participants

to announce a final squad for the tournament on home soil.

As well as taking on Guinea-Bissau in Group A, the hosts will also face four-time winners Cameroon and Burkina Faso, runners-up in 2013.

Gabon will be hosting the continental tournament for the second time. They previously co-organised the competition with Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Didier Ovono (Oostende, Belgium), Yves Stéphane Bitséki Moto (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached).

Defenders: Lloyd Palun (Red Star, France), André Biyogho Poko (Karabukspor, Turkey), Aaron Appindangoye (Stade Lavallois, France), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Bruno Ecuélé Manga (Cardiff City, Wales), Yoann Wachter (CS Sedan Ardennes, France), Johann Serge Obiang (Troyes, France), Benjamin Zé Ondo (Mosta FC, Malta) Midfielders: Mario René Junior Lemina (Juventus, Italy), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Levy Clément Madinda (Gimnàstic, Spain), Guélor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Merlin Tandjigora (Meixian Hakka FC, China), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (Sunderland, England), Samson Mbingui

Uganda Cranes Facing Cash Crisis ahead of Nations Cup The Uganda Cranes are facing a financial crisis as they embark on their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Gabon - their first appearance at the finals in 39 years.

Decolas Kiiza, the Uganda Football Association’s head of Finance, told BBC Sport they are still waiting for a cash-advance which the Ugandan government had promised to give them.

Kiiza claims the money is vital to help the Cranes in their preparations and then at the tournament itself.

“We made a budget of US$2,122,909 and after consultations and meetings with officials from the Ministry of Education and Sport and the National Council of Sports, the budget was slashed to US$1,226,855.

But that money has not come as yet,” said Kiiza.

He says they have had to fund the team from the FA’s own limited resources to help keep Uganda on track with their training schedule.

They have a trip to Tunisia on Friday for an international friendly before heading to the United Arab Emirates for an eight-day training camp, followed by two other warm-up matches against

Slovakia and then the African champions Ivory Coast.

“We call upon the government to come in quickly to help the situation because we want to send a very strong and well motivated team,” added Kiiza.

The Federation has also had to make an advance payment to fund the team kits so that each player can have six jerseys.

Charles Bakkabulindi, the State Minister for Sports, told the BBC that the FA will have to wait for their advance until the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni - who is also the First Lady - has responded to the budget details which he has forwarded to her.

The Uganda Cranes will be in Group D alongside Egypt, Ghana and Mali for the 2017 Nations Cup and will be based in Port Gentil for the event which runs from 14 January to 5 February.

Uganda is the only country that qualified for Gabon 2017 from the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) region and the Cranes are also still in contention for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Aubameyang of Gabon (Raja Casablanca, Morocco) Forwards: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany),

Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda FC, China), Denis Athanase Bouanga (Tours, France), Serge Kevyn Aboue Angoue

(Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana) Standby: Axel Meyé

(Eskisehirspor, Turkey), Johan Lengoualama (Raja Casablanca, Morocco), Donald Nzé (AS Pelican)

EPL

Liverpool Roar Back to Demolish Stoke A fine finish by Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool to come roaring back from behind and beat Stoke City 4-1 as they reclaimed second place in the Premier League table yesterday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were rattled for a spell after Jonathan Walters headed Stoke into an early lead at Anfield, but Adam Lallana restored parity before Brazilian striker Firmino netted with a minute of the first half remaining.

A Giannelli Imbula own goal and a first Premier League goal of the season for Daniel Sturridge in the second half put the seal on a third straight victory for the Reds, who are still unbeaten

at Anfield this season.

The win allowed the Reds to move back to within six points of Premier League leaders Chelsea as they moved back above Manchester City, who they host at Anfield on New Year’s Eve. Without a win in four games, Stoke are 13th.

Klopp stuck with the same team that had beaten Middlesbrough and Everton away in their last two outings as Simon Mignolet was again preferred to Loris Karius in goal.

The Belgian had kept clean sheets in each of these games but he was beaten here inside 12 minutes as Stoke stunned the home fans.

Erik Pieters was quicker

onto a loose ball than either Sadio Mane or Nathaniel Clyne just outside the area and his cross from the left was met by Walters at the near post. Mignolet got a touch to his header but could not keep it out.

Stoke were the last visiting team to win at Anfield when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final, second leg, back in January -- although they eventually lost on penalties that night.

Their boss Mark Hughes had never won away to Liverpool as a manager in the Premier League but Stoke had their hosts on the ropes for a while after going in front.

Back at Anfield for the first

time since leaving Liverpool in the close season, Joe Allen engineered himself space in the box before seeing his shot saved by Mignolet as Stoke almost doubled their lead.

There were groans coming from the Kop but Firmino lifted the home fans in the crowd of over 53 000 when his shot was blocked on the line by Peter Crouch and the equaliser then arrived after 34 minutes.

Glen Johnson appeared to want to control the ball inside his own six-yard area and Lallana pounced to tuck a low shot from a tight angle between goalkeeper Lee Grant and the near post and in for his seventh goal of the season.

Delta State Govt Moves to Revive Principals’ Cup Delta State Government has a signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with a consultant, Hideaplux Limited in a bid to revive the Principals’ Cup soccer competition among secondary schools across the state. Signing

the MoU on behalf of the Government, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Festus Agas reiterated the commitment of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration to human capacity development.

Congratulating Hideaplux

Limited on the initiative, he however, urged the firm to source for sponsorship across the country for the competition to succeed, adding that government would not provide funds for its sponsorship. On his part, Chief Executive Officer,

CEO, of Hideaplux Limited, Mr. Tony Oritse-Pemu said the decision to revive the “abandoned Principals’ Cup competition” stemmed from the need to redirect the energies of talented students into productive ventures including sports.

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

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Wednesday December 28, 2016

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Adebayo to FG’s Critics ”We must not throw away the baby with the bath water. If they had packed up and left, let us assume all their staff are not more than 5,000, it means all of those 5,000 will lose their jobs. ‘Also those who made investment, who bought shares will lose their shares and the Nigeria banking sector would go into crisis” – Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu justifying federal government’s decision to reduce MTN’s N1.04 trillion fine to N330b.

NUHURIBADU GUEST COLUMNIST

Economy, Corruption and Lawyers T

he poor countries of the world lose up to $1 trillion every year to corruption, according to a recent report by Transparency International.

The African Development Bank believes that African countries lose up to $100 billion every year through corruption, an amount that far exceeds what gets into the continent in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and assistance.

Sadly, Nigeria contributes a chunk of those grim continental figures. Corruption has unfortunately gone deep into our national fabric. It is the major reason why we are where we are today.

It is also the reason why we are unable to address our problems and challenges.

Economic prosperity, no doubt, depends solely on the integrity of the system and efficiency; two important elements that corruption denies us. When critical infrastructures are lacking, there is nothing to expect in terms of economic progress. Similarly, when the cost of doing business is high and process is compromised due to corruption, no investor would want to invest in such an economy. Fighting corruption therefore is key to the survival and progress of our country.

Years of mindless stealing and waste of public resources has dimmed the light of prosperity that was all over our country when we started off. Little wonder that we find now ourselves in tough economic condition with the attendant security challenges troubling us from all angles.

Ironically, however, there have been a number of efforts in the past aimed at tackling the corruption albatross that has been around our country’s neck since birth.

Subsequent governments evolved one measure or another aimed at tackling the corruption bug, starting with General Yakubu Gowon who promulgated the Public Officers (Investigation of Assets) Decree No 5 of 1966. However, there was no noticeable implementation until the coming of the Murtala/Obasanjo administration.

Murtala gave life to the Public Officers Decree and went on to fight corruption practically by establishing the Assets Investigation Panel. He also reinforced the legal provisions by further enacting the Corrupt Practices Decree of 1975.

Despite all the criticisms against his methods, it was clear that for the first time in Nigeria, that administration underscored the need to give corruption a fierce and spirited battle rather than tolerating it.

The military government, under Major General Muhammadu Buhari was to promulgate decrees that include Miscellaneous Offences Decree of 1983 and Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Decree. This enabled creation of Special Investigative Panels and Tribunals to try offences under these decrees. Politicians that were tried under these decrees were handed down various prison terms and their assets confiscated. That action was however short-lived as the government was kicked out after just 18 months.

However, with the change in regime, the Ibrahim Babangida administration ordered a review of the cases ostensibly because, just like the case with Murtala about a decade earlier, the method of the Buhari regime was equally considered rather hasty and harsh, and therefore devoid of due process. The regime made series of amendments to the laws, which largely watered down the provisions.

Under Abacha, the government continued with the existing laws it met. The only significant

NBA President, A.B. Mahmoud addition was the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices decree which also came along with tribunals to try offenders.

His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar did not promulgate any law in respect of the fight against corruption but it was under him that the recovery of the Abacha loot began.

On assuming office on May 29, 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo pressed on with the actions on Abacha loot. And for the first time in the history of Nigeria, Obasanjo went on to institutionalise the fight against corruption by establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and later, in line with international requirements, set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). These institutions are the pillars of the war against corruption in Nigeria till date.

The Obasanjo administration also went on to evolve other institutional avenues of fighting corruption by carrying out wideranging public service reform and establishing pro-transparency agencies such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Nigeria Extractive Industry Initiative (NEITI).

Lawyers as the Fulcrum In all these efforts targeted at tackling corruption over the years in our country, lawyers, either as advisers, public prosecutors, or judicial officers on the Bench or as private counsels, have played central and momentous roles. There was nothing done without lawyers, and there is nothing to be done in the fight against graft without involving lawyers.

Talking about my observations regarding the fight against corruption and the place of the lawyer in it, would take me into a journey to my life, from my earliest days as a lawyer fresh from the Law School.

As a youth corps member, just out of Law School, I observed at close range the investigations and subsequent trials of Second Republic politicians in 1984. The revelations from the SIPs were quite mind-boggling to my young mind. But I was also awe-struck by how law enforcement officers and lawyers conducted the

investigations and handled the trial. Having always had this dream of fighting for justice, I started meditating of which path to take, in line with what I witnessed. I opted to go for law enforcement by enrolling into the Police even though I had some more lucrative offers.

In the 25 years that I spent as a law enforcement officer, mostly as an investigator and prosecutor of economic crimes, I have interacted with lawyers long enough to appreciate their roles in the success of such work or otherwise.

I drew inspiration and moral support from several lawyers, just as we battled with some others who attempted to serve as stumbling blocks.

My encounter with late Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the tribunals in the early 1980s left in me an indelible mark and to this date I hold Gani as the epitome of what a lawyer should be in a system like ours, especially in the fight against corruption, – fearless, honest, determined yet humane and patriotic. For his belief in the propriety of the fight against corruption, Gani alone went even against the NBA to participate in the tribunals. His belief was that to fight corruption was necessary even if one has issues with the method. I continued to encounter Gani at many junctures of my work. He also proved to be a pillar of support even when we were at different poles of a case. His example, more than other thing influenced me in many ways.

The Babangida regime requested review of all the corruption cases done during the Buhari regime. Two colleagues in the police, Pious Usang, Diete-Spiff and I were drafted to review the cases. Working with other legal practitioners, we made various recommendations on how best to carry on. The work however lost steam and vigour due to insufficient political will.

My other experience was with the Failed Bank Tribunals where the focus was also economic crimes. Here, we worked with many lawyers on both sides of the divide. Private lawyers were brought in as prosecutors. We experienced the antics of all manner of defence lawyers some of whom engaged in unethical conducts including hampering our own enquiries, and frustrating the trials.

It was during the Failed Tribunals that I first encountered Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, who was among the lawyers engaged as prosecutors.

Coincidently, it was Chief Agabi who facilitated my appointment as EFCC chairman, when he was –Attorney General of the Federation – in 2003.

Lawyers as Change Agents

By their training and practice, lawyers are very well entrenched in our systems, from politics to business. There are no business transactions that are done without involvement of a counsel, sometimes not just as a lawyer but also as a party to the transaction. Lawyers are needed as company secretaries, as legal advisers, as arbitrators, et cetera. This, in a way has placed lawyers in a position of advantage where they can easily be absorbed in corrupt practices or fight it, if they choose to.

More than any other professional groups, lawyers are in charge of an entire arm of government; the Judiciary. Lawyers are in charge of the Judiciary and by its strategic place in the power equation in democratic setting, the Judiciary has the capacity to bring corruption to its knees and solve myriads of

our national problems.

All things considered, one is not amenable to the principal functions of a lawyer, especially a private one, in the administration of justice chain. Similarly, the right of the suspect in criminal prosecution to legal representation is something that is well entrenched in our statues and laws. Therefore, in litigation, like in other aspects, a lawyer’s focus and concern is tailored towards his role for his client and the client’s satisfaction.

This much is captured rather more aptly for our own case today by the English legal luminary, Henry Lord Brougham, when he said: “An advocate in the discharge of his duty knows but one person in all the world, and that person is his client. To save that clients by all means and expedients, and at all hazards and costs to other persons, and, among them, to himself, is his first and only duty; and in performing this duty he must not regard the alarm, the torments, the destruction which he may bring upon others. Separating the duty of a patriot from that of an advocate, he must go on reckless of consequences, though it should be in his unhappy fate to involve his country in confusion.”

The challenge of the private practitioner is striking a balance between what is in the client’s interest and public interest especially at a crossroads our country found itself regarding the corruption challenge.

Indeed, suspects have the right to representation and a lawyer is legally empowered to offer such services. However, that must be done within the ambit of the law and morality. That is why there is code of ethics. Legal representation should not be seen as an avenue to win a case by all means. A situation where a course of justice is perverted by all manner of antics is costly to the society and the profession. A lawyer serving as a conduit of desecrating the Judiciary by bribing judges and judicial officers is a disgrace to this noble profession. And these are the set of people who plunged the judiciary into the embarrassing trial it faces today.

Agreed, defence lawyers cannot be yes-men of the prosecution or sacrifice their clients for that matter. However, there should be morality threshold that should not allow a lawyer to turn himself into a tout or a charlatan in defence of a suspect through irresponsible tactics, especially in the face of naked obvious facts.

In conclusion, I want to urge our legal practitioners to always put our legal code ethics as your guiding light, set morality as your canvas and carry in your heart the public interest, to avoid harming yourself along with the larger society, as Lord Brougham cited above described.

We must take an active step in self-cleansing.

We as lawyers should shun the attitude of playing ostrich for self-preservation. The NBA must be in the forefront of the current effort to cure the justice sector of the evil of corruption and in this there should be no sacred cows.

The talent commonly displayed by lawyers and their training place the lawyer at a comparative advantage for leadership roles, especially at important junctures of history. A number of lawyers have played that role to the admiration of the world. Let us look at our Mandela, let’s look at Ghandi, let’s look at Obama, as lawyers they altered the course of history. We all have similar trait in us. Lawyers are trained to be change agents, and we the Nigerian lawyers should not be any different.

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