Thursday 16th March 2017

As Oil Rebounds, Kachikwu Says Fluctuating Prices Pose No Immediate Threat Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that the current fluctuations in oil prices pose no immediate threat to Nigeria’s economic recovery, even as oil prices

yesterday inched up for the first time in more than a week on a surprise drawdown in U.S. crude inventories and data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggesting that OPEC cuts could create a crude deficit in the first half of 2017.

Brent futures gained 89 cents, or 1.8 percent to settle at $51.81 a barrel, their first increase in seven days. The global benchmark on Tuesday fell to its lowest level since November 30.

Kachikwu, who spoke on Arise News Network, the sister

broadcast arm of THISDAY, said it would amount to being an alarmist to consider the gyrations in the oil market a threat to the Nigerian economy, adding that Nigeria still sells most of its crude oil blends well above $50 per barrels.

The minister also stated

that member countries of OPEC were alert to the current price movements and the resurgence of shale oil production, explaining that they would react to the changes as required.

He explained that members of OPEC were already

exploring opportunities to engage U.S. oil producers on efforts to stabilise prices, adding that he was optimistic the U.S. would soon join OPEC and non-OPEC members to sustain existing efforts on this.

Continued on page 9

Customs Boss, Hameed Ali, Shuns Senate, Risks Arrest ...

Page 10

Thursday 16 March, 2017 Vol 22. No 8001. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Disquiet Among Judges over Proposed Appointment of Lawyers to S’Court Tobi Soniyi Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen’s plan to appoint senior lawyers directly to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court is causing disquiet among

justices of the higher courts.

In the recent past, particularly since the advent of democratic rule, appointments into the two highest benches on Nigeria have by convention been restricted to serving judges from the lower courts.

Under the military, however, a couple of appointments to the Supreme Court were made directly from the bench, the first being Justice Teslim Elias, an academic who was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria by Gen. Yakubu

Gowon in 1972, having been Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice at various times since 1960.

Another lawyer so appointed was Justice Augustine Nnamani (SAN),

who was nominated by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo to the Supreme Court in 1979 from his position as the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He was at the Supreme Court for 11 years.

However, the CJN and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, are now leaning backwards to this old and rare Continued on page 9

Again, Senate Rejects Magu, Says He Should Cease to Act as EFCC Chair DSS maintains he lacks

integrity, not fit for purpose Magu: I’ll fight corruption till the end Sources allege N49m recovered at Kaduna airport was a stunt by commission Damilola Oyedele and James Emejo in Abuja Exactly three months after he was rejected by the Senate to have him confirmed as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu suffered the same fate yesterday when the Senate declined to

confirm him for the second time, citing a damning letter by the Department of State Services (DSS) as reason for the decision.

The Senate also said Magu should cease to act as the chairman of the anti-graft commission and a replacement should be sent by the president Continued on page 9

COUNCIL MEETING...

Justice Ademola, Wife Ask Court to HOLDING Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (left) and President Muhammadu Buhari, when the president entered the council chamber at the Villa yesterday to chair his first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting after his 50-day medical vacation in the Strike Out Charges against Them... Page 12 Presidential United Kingdom

2

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

REGISTER for a free retail space at the GTBank Food and Drink event To register for a retail space, please go to foodanddrink.gtbank.com Terms & conditions apply

Time: 10am - 8pm (daily) Date: April 30th & May 1st 2017 Venue: 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PROMOTING ENTERPRISE Attendance is free

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

3

4

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

5

6

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

RC 103022

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

7

8

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

9

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

PAGE NINE AGAIN, SENATE REJECTS MAGU, SAYS HE SHOULD CEASE TO ACT AS EFCC CHAIR for confirmation.

The letter of the DSS dated March 14, 2017, which was almost similar to the first one that led to his rejection last December, indicted him for corruption, living a double life, and concluding that Magu lacks the integrity and was not fit for purpose to head the EFCC. Following his rejection by the Senate last December, President Muhammadu Buhari re-nominated Magu in January, explaining that he had been cleared of wrongdoing, following investigations into the DSS’ allegations by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

However, yesterday’s rejection came after almost two hours of grilling, during which Magu attempted to field questions bordering on the DSS report, his relationship with Air Commodore Mohammed Umar (rtd), internal corruption in the EFCC, allegations of human rights abuses, refusal to obey court orders, inter-agency rivalry, and other issues.

The first indication that Magu was up against a brick wall came when Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) made an allusion to the “Ides of March”.

The Ides of March refers to yesterday’s date, March the 15th, a day imbued with a sense of foreboding worldwide, because it was the same day when Roman Emperor, Julius Ceasar, was assassinated.

Sani demanded explanations into the circumstances that led to the death of one Desmond Anulogu in EFCC’s custody, since Magu had described the agency’s holding cells as similar to hotels.

In his response, the acting EFCC boss said the death was

unfortunate.

On the first DSS report, which was again raised by the senators, Magu initially said he was not prepared to defend himself against the report of the DSS, as he had already responded to the president in writing and preferred to “avoid a bad relationship with a sister agency”.

The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, however, observed that one of the issues Magu raised after his initial rejection by the Senate was that he was not accorded a chance to explain himself.

Also, while fielding other questions, Magu did not provide clear answers to some questions and claimed ignorance of some of the allegations against the EFCC bordering on corrupt practices.

He was also unable to provide a figure on the amount of money that has been recovered since he became acting chairman of the EFCC almost two years ago.

One of such questions was a query on how some Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) seized during the raid on the home of an individual, were discovered in the “market”, after some EFCC officials allegedly tried to sell the land linked to the C-of-Os. The issue, according to Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), was now with the police and two of the C-of-Os had been returned to the owner.

Melaye also noted that the latest DSS letter referred the Senate to the earlier report, adding that Magu was being screened because of the president’s letter.

“I also want to inform you Mr. Magu, if you are not aware that for every nominee that comes to this Senate, we do request for

screening by the DSS. “It did not start with you, it will not end with you. So on the premise of this request that we have received this from the DSS, the DSS is to us what the FBI and CIA are to the United States of America, and we cannot ridicule, we cannot undermine, and we cannot put in abeyance the report of the DSS. “Do you still think that after this report and as a result of what has happened to the C-of-Os of an innocent Nigerian, do you still consider yourself qualified to be the chairman of EFCC,” Melaye queried.

Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) further added that there was the issue of perception when Magu chose to associate with Air Commodore Mohammed, who according to the DSS report, was of questionable character.

Gemade also queried why some high profile cases appear to have endless lifespans in the EFCC. Brandishing the DSS report, Magu reminded the Senate that two reports had been written about him by the DSS, but one of the reports was missing.

He also questioned the credibility of the DSS, alleging that the agency did not accord him fair hearing.

“Two different reports submitted the same day about the same person, that goes to tell you the credibility of such an institution.

What does it say of an agency that submitted two varying reports on the same person the same day?

“Up till now, the DSS has not given me a chance to hear from me. I have not been given fair hearing by the DSS. It is a fundamental issue. It is a

constitutional matter.

“On the case of the stolen C-ofOs, it is not everything that is done in the EFCC I have knowledge of. The EFCC is too big, if not for today, I did not know that there was a case pending against EFCC staff with the police.

“But I will now go back and investigate it and give you feedback after my investigation,” Magu said.

Explaining his relationship with Commodore Mohammed, Magu said they did not know each other until their appointment as members of Arms Procurement Panel set up by the presidency.

He, however, did not address the allegations that he flew on a private jet owned by Commodore Mohammed, or other allegations raised on his association with the retired air force officer in the report.

Magu, nonetheless, clarified that his official residence belongs to the estate of the former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, now late, whose son needed money to return to the U.S. and rented the house to him.

“I was not involved in looking for the house. It was rented; they called it a safe house. Every key personnel of government stay in safe houses and it was actually rented and furnished by them.

“I don’t even know when my rent will expire. I was actually comfortable in Karu (where he owns a personal house), if not for the pressure from people in authority that said I must relocate or they will deal with me,” he said.

Explaining why the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, was still being held despite court orders granting him bail, Magu said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows

for the application of an order to detain a person beyond the stipulated 24 hours.

“I try as much as possible to obey court orders, but if we have some reasons not to obey, we appeal.

“Sometimes when we invite someone, the disclosures from the interrogation could open new issues that need to be revisited, and sometimes if you allow the suspect to leave so early, there is a chance that it would jeopardise our investigations.

“But as much as possible, we try to comply with court orders.

In fact, we do not detain people until we are absolutely and completely sure that an offense has been committed. We actually got Dasuki from the DSS,” Magu added.

Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) also accused the acting EFCC boss of not adequately handling the inter-agency rivalry between the DSS and EFCC. She also wondered if the anti-corruption fight would be taken seriously with the “albatross hanging” around his neck.

Having interrogated Magu, the Senate then dissolved into the Committee on the Whole to deliberate on the matter. Following a voice vote, his nomination was rejected.

It concluded that to re-nominate Magu for a third time would amount to undermining the DSS and portraying the agency as incompetent, incapable of doing its job, and rubbishing the institution.

Aside the report of the DSS, the Senate also based its decision on what it described as Magu’s lackluster performance during the screening exercise yesterday,

abysmal attempts at answering questions, and not defending himself over the allegations raised against him in the report.

Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), an avid supporter of Magu, however, raised a point of order indicating that the letter from the DSS was not signed by the director-general of the agency.

“I have two letters here. None of them is addressed to you (Senate President). One is addressed to the Clerk, one is addressed to the National Assembly.

“Number two, yesterday we got a letter from the Nigerian Customs Service signed by an Assistant Director to the Clerk.

We said that was not the right thing to do.

“Accordingly, the DSS letter should have been written and signed by the DG DSS,” he argued.

Saraki, however, ruled him out of order, saying the matter has been concluded.

“It is important for us, we should not rubbish an institution for the process of a process. We are not here for individuals. So you are ruled out of order,” he said.

Speaking on whether Magu should continue in an acting capacity, Saraki added that the rejection of his nomination was indicative that the president should nominate another candidate, while someone else should continue the job in the interim.

professional knowledge of the candidate’s requisite attributes for a reasonable period of time as would make him competent to make the nomination.

“He/she shall expressly certify that from his/her personal knowledge of the candidate, the candidate possesses the qualities set out in Rule 4 (4)(i)(a)-(b) of these Rules; and, where applicable the qualities set out in Rule 4(4) (i)(d) and/or (e).”

Under Rule 4, serving and retired justices are also requested to give their opinions on the suitability of persons seeking to be appointed a judicial officer.

It is not clear whether retired justices support the appointment of lawyers directly to Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

However, a former CJN, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, has openly voiced his opposition to the proposal.

Rule 4 also states: “Soon after

the closing date for the receipt of applications and or nominations, the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission/Committee concerned shall make a provisional shortlist on the merits consisting of not less than twice the number of Judicial Officers intended to be appointed at the particular time and circulate the provisional shortlist together with a request for comments on the suitability or otherwise of any of the short listed candidates, as follows: “(i) Among all serving and retired Judicial Officers of the Court to which an appointment of a Judicial Officer, other than the Head of a Court, is proposed to be made; “(ii) Among all serving and retired Heads of the relevant State or Federal Court, including retired Chief Justices of Nigeria and retired Presidents of the Court of Appeal, in the case of appointment of a Head of Court.”

On the refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the minister disclosed that the plants are producing some 7 million litres per day and have “come back from where we met them, almost comatose”.

“It takes almost 12 months to turnaround the refineries once you have the financing and model.

We have set that target, we really don’t have an option, I’ve set that target for the ministry and if we don’t do that we will collapse because the 35 to 40 per cent exchange rate burden by virtue of importation of petroleum products shouldn’t be. Sending out crude with all the uncertainties in terms of price movement is a killer.

“So, we really don’t have an option, we have to work night and day to try and accomplish this.”

He said as part of the government’s plan for the Niger Delta, it might allocate the state governments in the region some marginal fields, but with the discretion of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also said the government did not pay any money to

militants in the Niger Delta to buy the prevailing calm in the region, but was concentrating on long-term solutions as against short-term gains.

Nailed a Second Time The DSS, in its latest report to the Senate indicated that it was standing by its initial report dated October 3, 2016, where it stated Continued on page 10

DISQUIET AMONG JUDGES OVER PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF LAWYERS TO S’COURT selection process, sending notices to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the nomination of qualified lawyers to be appointed justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Many justices of the higher courts, according to THISDAY sources, are however opposed to the new proposal and while choosing not to express their opposition publicly, have decided to block the idea by not recommending the selected lawyers to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment into the two higher benches.

Under the extant Revised National Judicial Council Guidelines for the Appointment of Judicial Officers of All Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria, which came into force on November 3, 2014, justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are

required to write an assessment for whoever seeks appointment into the appellate courts.

One of the justices who confided in THISDAY said he and his colleagues were determined not to nominate a lawyer and would also not comment on the suitability of any lawyer for the purpose of appointment into the higher courts.

However, the prerogative to nominate is not restricted to them alone, the NBA can also nominate.

But their opinions are mandatory. Without such opinions from judges, no lawyer will meet the requirements for appointment as a judge.

The source said judges would rather give their support to sitting judges.

When he came on board, Justice Onnoghen decided that for the first time, the Supreme Court will have a full complement of 21 justices so that three courts can sit separately everyday, a measure

that will reduce drastically the backlog of cases now pending before the court.

At present, there are seventeen justices of the court. However, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is on trial for alleged corruption is not sitting.

So also is Justice Inyang Okoro whose house was raided by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS). Although, he was arrested and later released, he has not been charged with any offence.

The Supreme Court is established by Section 230 of the 1999 Constitution.

It states: “(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of Nigeria. “(2) The Supreme Court of Nigeria shall consist of: (a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria; and (b) such number of Justices of the Supreme Court, not exceeding twenty-one, as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

Furthermore, Rule 3 of the NJC Guidelines, state: “In the case of appointment of Judicial Officers for Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Nigeria, the President of the Court of Appeal/Chief Justice of Nigeria shall as the case may be, write to Heads of Courts, serving Justices of Court of Appeal/Supreme Court of Nigeria and President of the Nigerian Bar Association asking for nomination of suitable Judicial Officers/Legal Practitioners for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal/ Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

However, Rule 3(1)(b) of the guidelines add: “Except a sitting judge supports a lawyer’s application for appointment as a judge, his application will fail.”

Also Rule 2, which equally applies, provides: “Any person nominating a candidate must do so in writing and indicate clearly and in detail that he/ she has sufficient personal and

AS OIL REBOUNDS, KACHIKWU SAYS FLUCTUATING PRICES POSE NO IMMEDIATE THREAT “I wouldn’t be that alarmist frankly. We are still in the $50 range. In fact, some of our key product components are selling above $50 per barrel,” Kachikwu said, explaining: “Forcados is about $52, Bonny Light is about $51.5, so we are over and above the $50 threshold.”

The minister also stated that Nigeria’s crude oil production was down to 1.7 million barrels a day (mbpd) following scheduled maintenance works by Shell and ExxonMobil, and that importation of petrol into the country was exerting about 40 per cent foreign exchange pressure on the economy.

Kachikwu said: “We have always projected that given the incentive that higher prices create for shale producers, it will see a spurn reaction, and let’s face it, the Trump presidency era creates a lot of incentives for people to go back into shale production.

“We’ve always anticipated that and we knew we were going to flip-flop in the $50 range.”

“I expect as the winter season gets towards the end and a lot more consumption begins for those who do summer holidays,

you are going to see movements in all that.

“My projection is that we still will end the year on an average of $54, $55 per barrel, that is one of the things OPEC is focused.

“Bear in mind that Saudi Arabia and all the other producers in OPEC have always said that as we watch those numbers build, there is a need to take more drastic actions, and I think that is something we are taking very seriously.

“Over and above that, continuous engagements continue with the likes of Russia, Mexico and the rest, and we are even beginning to look for windows of talking to the United States because it is in the long-term interest of everybody that there is stability in the price of oil.

“Bear in mind that the infrastructure for oil production is coming out of the U.S. This doesn’t just impact nations like Nigeria, it also impacts nations with a huge technological input base into oil production.

“A lot of American oil companies are caught right in the web of this and their survival depends on the stability of this

market.

“So, sooner or later, just like Russia did came on board, I am one of those who are optimistic that America will come on board.”

He stated that while U.S. shale oil was still a challenge to OPEC members, their low production costs was still an advantage, adding that OPEC members could leverage on this to hold on to a comfortable market share.

“I’ve been able to get everybody interested in maintaining some stability in oil price and so it is not a clobbering issue, it is work in progress, it is taking each season at a time and seeing what develops and at some point.

“Even the shale producers are going to realise this, just like what happened the last time – that the further the price drops, the lesser the ability to survive as a business entity.

“So I think that these things will even out. The first salvos were fired by OPEC in the first cuts; there probably would be some more cuts that would follow both between OPEC and non-OPEC. “But more important, as I keep saying is that at the end of the day, the least cost producer are

still the OPEC members and that is what we are pushing aside.

“As we focus on the price increasing, the more critical thing that OPEC countries must begin to focus is on how they will ensure that costs remain the least, and that is where countries like Nigeria are challenged and we need to do a lot more work in this, and we are working on that,” he said.

The minister also spoke on the government’s mediation efforts in the Niger Delta, the country’s oil production level and the refinery rehabilitation programme, amongst others.

On oil production, he said: “As of yesterday, we dropped because Shell (Bonga field) for example has closed down for maintenance and that has taken about 200,000 barrels.

“Exxon is also doing some turnaround maintenance that is going to last about 30 days, those are non-violence related shutdowns and certainly would have been made easier if Forcados was back on stream.

“So now we are down to about 1.65-1.7 million barrels per day as of yesterday.”

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN AFRIPRUD 0.19 2.53 CONTINENTAL 0.09 1.20 HONEYWELL 0.05 1.05 UNILEVER 1.60 33.90 UNITEDCAP 0.13 2.82 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN NAHCO 0.10 2.00 NEIMETH 0.03 0.67 FORTEOIL 2.19 47.81 ASHAKACEM 0.36 10.00 TRANSCORP 0.02 0.72 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N730.00 Volume: 233.777 million shares Value: N2.163 billion Deals: 3,196 As at yesterday 15/03/17 See details on Page 42

% 8.1 8.1 5.0 4.9 4.8 % 4.7 4.4 4.3 3.4 2.7

10

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

NEWS

Customs Boss, Hameed Ali, Shuns Senate, Risks Arrest Policy on car duty payments suspended

Ndubuisi Francis and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), yesterday failed to appear before the Senate over the contentious ultimatum issued to car owners and dealers nationwide to pay duties on their vehicles between March 13 and April 12, 2019, or risk having their cars impounded.

This is just as the Customs Service caved in to pressure and suspended the policy, confirming THISDAY’s exclusive report on Tuesday that the NCS had beaten a retreat on its ultimatum to car owners and dealers in the country.

Ali’s failure to appear led the Senate to pass a resolution compelling him to appear today at 10 a.m., failing which a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

Senate spokesperson, Senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), shortly after plenary yesterday, told newsmen that a warrant of arrest would be issued against Ali if he fails to honour the summons today.

“If he does not appear, that is when a warrant of arrest would be invoked. We would not condone anybody challenging the integrity of the institution,” he said, adding that the CGC must appear in his Customs uniform.

Ali, in a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki, cited recent bereavement as reason for his absence, contradicting his

excuse in an earlier letter to the Senate, when he said he would not be able to honour the summons due to a fortnightly meeting of the NCS management that he had to attend.

The letter was read on the floor of the Senate, in addition to a statement issued by the NCS yesterday, where the agency cited “unnecessary tension” caused by the policy as reason for its reversal.

The statement signed by the acting Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, said: “Following the unnecessary tension generated as a result of misconception and misrepresentation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s planned motor duty payment, the leadership of the National Assembly and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), met with a view to resolving the impasse.

“They both agreed that the proposed motor duty payment, though in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C.45, LFN 2004 should be put on hold, while the Senate Committee on Customs & Excise interfaces with the NCS for further discussions.”

However, the choice of words in the letter and Ali’s refusal to appear despite the insistence of the Senate drew the ire of the lawmakers.

Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) observed that while he was not against any truce, he would stand against any person

or agency that attempts to rubbish the National Assembly.

Reiterating that the duty payment verification policy was an unfair one, the lawmaker also cited the ban on rice importation as another policy that was not well thought out and ended up inflicting avoidable hardship on Nigerians.

“Government is not just about making money, it is also about the welfare of the people,” he said.

Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East) said Ali’s refusal to appear was an affront to the Senate, adding that the constitution already prescribes the punishment for such impudence.

Citing Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution, Sekibo moved a motion with a prayer that the Senate should compel Ali to appear today.

While reading the motion for its secondment, the use of the word “invite” instead of “compel” by Saraki elicited shouts of “no” from the senators.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who seconded the motion, emphasised that the matter was not about the Customs CG, or the Senate, but about Nigerians.

“The duty of paying customs duty is to the importer, not to the end user,” Ekweremadu said.

Saraki then put the motion to vote and it was unanimously passed.

According to the Senate President, “This action that we

have taken, in my view, would have been easily avoided if these institutions begin to respect the constitution we are all sworn by and its processes and procedures.

“Nobody is above the law and we must ensure that nobody is above the law. We hope that the CG, Customs will make himself available at 10 a.m. tomorrow and make his case.”

Saraki had earlier informed the lawmakers that he received a letter from Ali after plenary on Tuesday and also met with Ali behind closed doors.

The meeting was facilitated by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Sen. Ita Enang, following the attempt by the presidency to avert the stand-off between the Senate and the Customs CG. But as the Senate was passing its motion compelling Ali to appear today, it caved in to pressure and suspended the contentious onemonth grace period it gave for motor vehicle owners and dealers to pay the duties on uncustomised vehicles.

The ultimatum, which drew flak from several quarters, including the Senate which urged the NCS to suspend the exercise, was an advisory that it initially refused to heed.

The NCS instead stubbornly expanded the payment points while granting a 60 per cent rebate across board on vehicles bought or imported before 2016.

A statement yesterday by

Customs spokesman, Attah, said the NCS was suspending the ultimatum following the “unnecessary tension generated as a result of misconception and misrepresentation of the Nigeria Customs Service”.

The statement, which was a rehash of Ali’s letter to the Senate, added: “While payment of duty on vehicles or indeed any dutiable imported item remains a civic responsibility of every patriotic Nigerian, NCS management has directed that the exercise be put on hold while expressing readiness to engage the Senate Committee on further discussions to bring them on board to understand the importance of the exercise to national security and economy.”

Despite the suspension of the policy, the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) said implementing the exercise as enunciated by the NCS would serve the interest of its members better and save them from unnecessary detentions by the law enforcement agencies, harassment and losses.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the National President of AMDON, Prince Ajibola Adedoyin said the NCS was collaborating with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Federal Road safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force on Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), a move, he said, would eventually block the registration of

all undutied vehicles in the near future.

“As motor dealers who are always at the receiving end when vehicles we sell get impounded

by Customs and the negative consequences on our members, we approached the management of NCS in January 2017 and pleaded for a grace period with some rebate so as so to allow our members to clear all the uncustomised vehicles at their car stands before the new system commences.

“Meanwhile, AMDON is working on automation of all members to eventually interface with the NCS, so that potential vehicle buyers will have the opportunity to verify the authenticity of duty payments before purchasing cars, which will be through AMDON automated verification stickers that come with all the relevant information embedded in the RFID of the sticker,” he said.

He added that the Customs CG was gracious in approving the one-month period and the 60 per cent rebate across board for vehicles imported in 2015 downwards for AMDON members to regularise the documentation on them.

“The NCS felt such opportunity should not be limited to only motor dealers but vehicle owners who may wish to take this opportunity that was made specifically for motor dealers,” he said, urging AMDON members to make maximum use of the opportunity.

one individual is bigger than an institution. We have done our part, we do not pre-empt anything, but there is a danger in saying the DSS is incompetent and incapable of doing its job.

“And I don’t think the president would do that. Nobody can occupy public office that the DSS has not cleared,” Sani said.

Airport

volume.

“Magu was simply trying to pull the wool over our eyes with that stunt. That is why the phantom owner of the N49 million was never caught.

“Otherwise, the EFCC should explain to us how the so-called owner got to know that EFCC operatives were coming to seize the cash and was able to make a quick getaway in a public place like the Kaduna airport.”

AGAIN, SENATE REJECTS MAGU, SAYS HE SHOULD CEASE TO ACT AS EFCC CHAIR that “Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration”.

It read in part: “August 2008, following a search at his residence during the tenure of Farida Waziri (AIG/Rtd.) as the commission’s chairman, some sensitive EFCC documents which were not supposed to be at his disposal were discovered.

“He was subsequently redeployed to the police after days of detention and later suspended from the Force.

“In December 2010, the Police Service Commission found Magu guilty of ‘action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a Police officer’, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.

“Notwithstanding, sequel to the appointment of Ibrahim Lamorde as Chairman of the EFCC in 2011, he made the return of Magu to the EFCC a top priority. Both men had worked together at the commission when Lamorde served as Head of Operations of the agency.

“Magu remained a top official of the commission until he was appointed to succeed Lamorde.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m, at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid for from the commission’s finances but by one Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/Rtd.), a questionable businessman and ally of the subject who has subsequently been arrested by this service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Mohammed enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed to lavishly furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.

“Investigations show that the acting EFCC Chairman regularly embarks on official and private trips through a private carrier, Easyjet, owned by Mohammed.

In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri, alongside Mohammed and the MD of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, who was being investigated by the commission

over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for First Class air travels. On 24th June, 2016, he flew Emirate Airlines’ First Class to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj at the cost of N2,990,196.

This is in spite of Mr. President’s directive to all public servants to fly Economy Class.

“Investigations also revealed that Magu parades a twin personality.

At one level, he is the czar who has no friends, no favourites and is ready to fight corruption to a standstill.

“However, with a key friend in the person of Umar Mohammed (Air Commodore/Rtd.), a controversial businessman, he has betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the present administration.

“Whereas Magu portrays himself as very secretive, he has fostered a mutually beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches ‘clients’ for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns.

“This was facilitated with official secrets divulged by Magu and from which dealings he is believed to have been drawing considerable benefits.

“This was evidenced by the number of official and classified documents he made available to his associates, especially Mohammed.

“After a search of Mohammed’s premises, a forged letter of the Office of the Vice President, dated 20th May, 2016, was recovered. The letter was a fictitious investigation report from Vice President to Mr. President, requesting for approval to commence further probe into a matter allegedly involving Hon. Minister of State Petroleum.

“Attached to the letter were two EFCC letters dated 13th April, 2016, and another 24th March, 2016, addressed to the Vice President being investigation reports on the activities of Emmanuel Kachikwu and his brother Dumebi Kachikwu.

“Similarly recovered during the search were information on assets

and personal details of Kachikwu.

“Also, following the arrest of three former Air Force chiefs by EFCC, namely, Alex Badeh, Umar and Amosu, from whom huge sums of money and property were recovered, Umar and Alex Badeh were arraigned in court.

“It was only after the arrest of Mohammed by this service (DSS) that the EFCC hurriedly arraigned Amosu. Mohammed later confessed that he never wanted Amosu tried, describing him as his former boss and he saw in Magu, a willing accomplice.

“Furthermore, findings revealed that in a bid to settle some personal scores, subject placed one Stanley Inye Lawson on a Security Watch Action, while in actual fact Lawson was working in the interest of the Federal Government.

“However, the action was later expunged following the discovery that Lawson was falsely accused

by Magu for personal reasons.

“The circumstances surrounding Magu’s return to EFCC at the instance of the former chairman, Lamorde, and their close working relationship ever since is a clear indication of his culpability in the allegations of corrupt tendencies of the Lamorde-led EFCC. “To cover his tracks, Magu uses only his police cronies to execute operations. This, coupled with discoveries that such police cronies have acquired a lot of landed property, lends credence to the questions about his integrity.

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

Briefing newsmen yesterday evening, Senate spokesman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), who presented the Senate’s reasons for the rejection, said it was also expected that Magu would no longer act as EFCC boss.

“There are actions that when taken, there are subsequent consequences. There is no provision for acting, but a substantive chairman,” he said, adding that someone who has twice been rejected by the Senate should not be eligible to act.

“Mr. President has respect for constituted authority. No

Magu: I’ll Fight Till the End Despite his rejection by the Senate, Magu said yesterday that whether he was confirmed or not, he would keep fighting corruption until his last day in office.

Speaking with some civil society organisations in Abuja, Magu said the rejection has not changed his priority to fight corruption, reported online news medium, The Cable.

“My priority is to fight corruption. My non-confirmation has not changed anything, I will work until the last day whether confirmation or no confirmation,” Magu said.

“The greatest violation against human rights is crime against the society and the humanity… everybody has a duty and responsibility to fight corruption, and I also have a responsibility.

I assure you that we will fight to finish.”

He said the allegations by the DSS “cannot stand the test of time”.

“You know, you can’t just raise mere allegations without giving the person the opportunity to respond. There is also the issue of fundamental human rights, the right of fair hearing,” he said.

“Up till this time, DSS has not called me, and I am even surprised that the same report is coming back. I doubt the genuineness of that report, but I think we need to identify those who have the interest of this country at heart.”

He said the aim of the anti-graft war was to “recover what got lost before and protect the future of our children”.

“We must all wake up, wherever you find yourself, fight corruption, and anytime you discover that I am corrupt, please expose me,” he said.

N49m Stunt at Kaduna

But even as Magu attempted to cry out over his indictment by the DSS and the breach of his fundamental human rights, a principle he has repeatedly abused in his position as head on the EFCC, sources in the Senate informed THISDAY yesterday that they had discovered that the discovery of N49 million at the Kaduna airport on Tuesday by agents of the commission was a publicity stunt pulled off by the EFCC. According to one source, the N49 million was allegedly planted by officials of the EFCC at the airport exactly one day before Magu’s screening and confirmation by the Senate to give the semblance of an agency head that was competent and one with a wide dragnet.

He said: “We have it on good authority that the N49 million was planted by the EFCC to create the impression that Magu is working and a major crime-bursting czar.

“But it was such as lousy job, because of the manner it was carried it out. For one, why would someone moving cash runaway if it was legitimate? It is not a crime to move about or travel with large volumes of cash and a lot of traders in this country do so.

“Second, even if the person who was travelling with the N49 million was trying to conceal it, he would not have used plain sacks as the money would have been very easy to detect on the scanners at the airport.

“If the person was concealing the N49 million, he would have used suitcases and tried to use clothes or books to cover the cash. Even at that, the scanners at the Kaduna airport, which you should remember is currently the cynosure of all eyes, would have still picked up the money.

“Besides, the fact that all the cash was in fresh mint wraps and in some cases small denominations of N50 notes, showed that the cash was taken out of the CBN by a government agency, because no sensible person would accept that volume of cash from his bank in N50 denominations, as smaller denominations are more difficult to handle and carry due to the

Amendment to EFCC Act Meanwhile, a bill seeking to reduce the power of the president to remove the chairman of the EFCC scaled the second reading yesterday in the House of Representatives.

The bill, an amendment to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission Act, 2004, sponsored

by Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa and three other members of the House, also calls for more stringent ways of removing members and chairman of the commission.

It is also seeking to to establish an asset confiscation and recovery unit as well as a financial investigation and intelligence unit, even as it seeks to strengthen the agency to provide quick recovery procedures for stolen assets, ensure adequate funding, and establish the Economic and Financial Crimes Court to adjudicate over related matters.

The bill also seeks to amend Section 18 of the Act to lengthen the term of sentence for violators to a minimum of 20 years from the present provision of two years and not exceeding three years to serve as deterrence to public office holders.

The bill, which appeared to have the overwhelming support of the House, also provides for a plea bargain that would allow accused persons to enter a plea bargain arrangement by refunding looted funds and having their sentences slashed to not more than two years.

It also proposes that 0.1 per cent of the total value of contracts awarded by the federal government to be credited to the commission’s account in order to improve its funding.

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

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

PDP Crisis: Sheriff, Dickson Abandoned Jonathan’s Peace Plan, Says Makarfi Party fine-tunes alliance with opposition leaders Babangida, Bayelsa gov in closed-door meeting

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has accused the party’s National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, of ignoring an ‘honest peace’ proposal put forward by former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He also said the Bayelsa State Governor and head of the Reconciliation Committee, Hon. Seriake Dickson, went against the resolution reached between Jonathan and PDP governors by going ahead to publicise his committee’s report which recommended a national convention to hold in June.

The former Kaduna State governor said two of the grounds of the caretaker committee’s appeal against the Appeal Court are the opposition to the ruling which stated that the tenures of three national officers will expire by August while that of 18 others is to end in July next year.

Makarfi’s position came on the heels of a call by the PDP Women’s Forum on the leaders of the two factions to stop verbal wars and commit themselves to the peace initiatives being driven by President Jonathan.

Speaking at a meeting of the PDP Northern Elders Forum (NEF) held in Abuja yesterday, Makarfi said the former president had presented to him the resolution reached at a meeting with the governors containing possible ways to end the crisis.

He said one of the highlights of

the peace proposal is that all the parties should obey the Appeal Court judgment by restoring the positions of the national officers of the party as at May 16, 2016.

Another aspect of the resolution is that the national officers will have to resign and agree to a memorandum of understanding on settlement of the dispute which will be deposited with the Supreme Court.

As part of measures to ensure a permanent seal to the peace deal, Makarfi said the proposal stipulates that solicitors of all the organs of the party also sign the document before going before the Supreme Court.

Makarfi said the former president told him to go that he has also reached out to Sheriff and asked him to also go and consult before getting back to him on the peace plan.

“President Jonathan, after meeting with the governors at about 1 a.m., called and told me about the resolution they have reached, which he said would be forwarded to the National Assembly caucus and other organs of the party as part of political solution.

“President Jonathan said he told Sheriff to go and consult, and that after his reply, he will get back to him. Up till now, he has not gotten back to him. What it means is that perhaps, he did not get positive response to Sheriff,” he said.

In his response, Makarfi said he told the former president that the caretaker committee had nothing against his proposal but that it would be presented before the organs and if accepted, the caretaker committee would stand by it.

FG Approves Establishment of Councils to Drive Industrialisation Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday approved the establishment of Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with the aim of driving industrialisation and industrial growth.

Briefing journalists sat the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said the councils whose membership would be drawn from both the public and private sectors would assist the federal government in formulating industrial policies.

Enelamah who was accompanied to the briefing by Ministers of Information and Health, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Professor Isaac Adewole, added that the move was part of federal government’s economic recovery plan.

He said the councils would consist of robust membership with diverse interests to brainstorm on the country’s industrialisation and growth.

He also said part of the plan would be the creation of an enabling environment for industrial growth

which would include the provision of infrastructure and effective power supply.

The minister also said the move was also a demonstration of federal government’s commitment towards the provision of an enabling environment for industries to thrive in partnership with the private sector.

He explained that the Industrial Council would provide the synergy for both the private and public sectors to work together to achieve the objective.

Also briefing the press, Adewole said the federal government also approved the plan to establish Centre for Disease Control (CDC) patterned after the United States Centre for Disease Control to control and guard against outbreak of diseases such as Lassa Fever, Ebola, and the like.

He said whereas the centre had been in operation in Nigeria since 2012, FEC’s approval yesterday was only meant to provide a legal framework to back its operations.

According to him, the council approved a draft bill for the provision of legal framework for the centre, adding that the Ministry of Health would work in collaboration with the National Assembly on initiation and passage of the bill.

“Part of the resolution is that the judgment of the appeal court must be respected to prevent anybody from coming tomorrow to rubbish the party with litigation,” he stated.

Speaking further on the peace plan, Makarfi said: “If everybody will resign, then the solicitors of the organs of the party will now sit down and look at all the legal issues involved and then draw up an MoU that will serve as settlement of parties. This will be deposited at the Supreme Court as the settlement of the crisis.

“When Dickson came to meet me on his committee’s report, I told him ‘you are one of the governors that met with Jonathan, and he spelt out the proposal of peace plan which he communicated to the National Assembly, communicated

to us (caretaker committee) and other organs of the party’.

“And I asked him, ‘are you now removing yourself from that? Why didn’t you table what you have before your colleagues’? I also asked him whether he has taken pains to read the Port Harcourt Appeal Court judgment and he said ‘no’.”

Sheriff’s allies who were at yesterday’s NEF meeting were Senator Saidu Kumo, Senator Ahmed Aruwa and Senator Abubakar Umar Gada.

Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, said the leaders should not abandon Makarfi and his caretaker committee to pursue the cause of safeguarding the party alone but that all should stand by him and support efforts the committee is making to rebuild

the PDP. Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Murktari Shagari, said if the great gathering of leaders in the PDP cannot bring peace back to the party, then they should as well forget their aspiration to lead the country out of its woes.

However, as part of its preparation for the 2019 general election, the party’s Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs met with leaders of some opposition political parties in the country yesterday night to finalise their mode of engagement.

Speaking at the commencement of the meeting, which started at about 8.50p.m., the chairman of the committee, Professor Jerry Gana said the meeting aimed at exploring areas of possible collaboration in

the 2019 polls.

He said yesterday’s meeting was a follow-up to an earlier meeting between the PDP and the concerned political parties.

“We are discussing as friendly political parties on ways we can work together or possibly fuse in 2019 general election.

“The purpose of our gathering is very profound. We met before set up a panel. The purpose of our meeting today is to consider the report of the panel.

“We are to decide whether to cooperate or merge. The number of the PDP leaders present is an indication of how serious we take this issue,” Gana said.

Speaking at the meeting, former Governor of Kaduna State and

Cont’d on page 53

MEETING ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR PDP

Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (left), in a closed-door meeting with Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in his Minna Hilltop residence...yesterday

... Lifts Ban on Kaduna-to-Abuja Helicopters The federal government has rescinded its decision to ban commercial helicopters shuttling between Abuja and Kaduna.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd), had directed regulatory agencies not to allow commercial helicopters make use of Abuja airspace.

Citing security reasons, Monguno had said only flights with permission from the presidency should be allowed to use the airspace.

He said all the passengers making use of the Kaduna International Airport as a result of the repairs of the runway of Abuja airport, should travel either by road or rail.

But yesterday, Minister of State for Aviation, Haidi Sirika, announced that the ban had been lifted and that the procedure for using the airspace would be released before the end of day.

Sirika, according to The Cable,

disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“On the helicopter issue, the national security adviser has the constitutional responsibility vested on him by Mr. President to advise the president on national security matters,” he said.

“Within his wisdom, he sent out letters banning the helicopters operation into the airport but the national security adviser had earlier this morning said that helicopters will of course continue to fly to Abuja airport from wherever.

“The procedure that they will use to approach the airport under landing spot will be advised accordingly before the end of today, which means that helicopters can come into Abuja and out bearing in mind that within the metropolitan city of Abuja, there are no fly zones, and this is very normal in every country.

He thanked Nigerians for cooperating with the government by using the Kaduna airport.

Sirika said one week is out of the six weeks period for the closure, expressing optimism that a lot would have been achieved when the Abuja airport returns to normal operations.

He said negotiations were ongoing for a Nigerian airline to fly to London daily in order to make up for the airlines that have rejected Kaduna.

Sirika said he met with the British ambassador to Nigeria on this issue.

He added that government was still trying to convince the foreign airlines that turned down Kaduna, appealing to them to take a cue from Ethiopian Airlines.

“On international airlines, at least Ethiopian Airlines is coming with its brand new aircraft, the dream liner which is the newest baby in the world of aviation, the boeing 787. It’s fantastic that they landed in Kaduna,” he said.

“The London-Kaduna route was processed without a hitch, and of course we are still talking to other airlines to see reason and begin to come, because that is possible.

“We are also talking to other airlines within Nigeria to see the possibility of going to London in the event where British Airways or Lufthansa may not come.

“We are into negotiations that will be able to fly into London and Kaduna daily just like the British Airways was doing in Abuja.

“I think within the next couple of days we shall conclude and if it is possible we shall announce to Nigerians that there will be flight from Kaduna to London and back. We will be using the advantage of the gap created by British Airways out of Abuja, that is going on. The airline that we can use to go into London and back on daily basis is ready, we shall keep you posted within the next couple of days.”

12

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Justice Ademola, Wife Ask Court to Strike out Charges against Them Judge fixes April 5 for ruling Tobi Soniyi Justice Jude Okeke of the Abuja High Court has fixed April 5 to rule on the no-case submission filed by the Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, and two others standing trial for alleged corruption.

Justice Ademola, his wife, Olabowale, and Joe Agi (SAN), are standing trial on allegation of conspiracy, receipt of gratification and illegal possession of fire arms.

After the prosecution closed its case on February 21, the defendants filed a no-case-submission, stressing that there was no need to enter a defence. Thus, at the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the first defendant (Justice Ademola), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), told the court that since the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case to warrant the first defendant to enter his defence, the court should uphold the no-case submission and strike out the case accordingly.

Taking the charges for which his client is being tried, one after the other, Ikpeazu maintained that there was no evidence to sustain the case.

On the count of acceptance of gratification, the counsel argued that the evidence of Prosecution Witness 16, Babatunde Adepoju, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), had adequately proved otherwise.

Ikpeazu noted that he was the witness that carried out investigation on the defendants, and he had told the court that he could not link the alleged gratification with any case handled by Justice Ademola.

“There must be a link before a witness is called into the witness box to counter the link, but in this case, there was no evidence to warrant the defendant to call his witnesses,” Ikpeazu stated.

He therefore urged the court to hold that there was nothing on which any of the defendants could be called upon to enter defence.

He said: “We are asking that the court notes the evidence of PW 16 and give effects to it.”

Ikpeazu argued that gratification

should not be seen in isolation but must be tied to an act, which according to him, has been dismissed by the evidence of the prosecution.

He argued that the gift of N30 million could only qualify for a gratification if it was offered for inducement or as a reward for an action, but that in the course of witnesses’ account, nobody has succeeded in linking the said amount to any trial presided over by Justice Ademola.

“In other words, the prosecution must establish that the money was not just a gift or consideration, but the fact that it was an inducement or reward to the first defendant for having done something for the givers. It must be related to cases or a case that the first defendant acted upon in the discharge of his duties,” Ikpeazu said.

On the alleged illegal possession of firearms, the counsel recalled the evidence given by PW 16, who testified that the guns were legitimately issued by the appropriate agency and that there were valid licences for the guns, which covered the whole period of 2016.

But Justice Okeke called the attention of the defence to the earlier licence tendered by the DSS, which was expired. He therefore urged him to reconcile the two exhibits.

In his explanation, the counsel recalled a statement issued by the first defendant, whereby he stated that the processofrenewalhadbeenmadeeven though the agency responsible was yet to issue him the licence. He also noted that the same renewed licence was made available to the court during trial and to which the prosecution did not raise any objection.

“If the DSS is relying on Firearms Act and Regulations, then, the PW 16 had destroyed that charge with the tendering of 2016 valid licenses,” he insisted.

In his argument, counsel to Mrs. Ademola, Chief Robert Clerk (SAN), noted that his client was charged with conspiracy, an offence that was not recognised under the Penal Code.

On the statement that she fraudulently enriched the first defendant, the counsel expressed

Tompolo’s Monarch Urges FG to Urgently Implement Demands of the Niger Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri The paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Pere Williams Ogoba, OboroGbaraun II, yesterday tasked the federal government to urgently embark on the implementation of the demands of the Niger Delta people.

He warned that government should not just celebrate the new found relative peace and the high crude oil production in the area now but should also give attention to numerous problems confronting the people of the region.

The monarch, who spoke to his subjects at Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, during a ceremony marking his first coronation anniversary, thanked God for sparing the life of President Muhammadu Buhari and prayed that God will continue to see him through.

He also commended him for sending Vice President Yemi

Osinbajo to engage the people of the region towards finding a lasting solution to the problems of the area.

“The visit of the vice president was an eye opening one as it gave him the opportunity to see things for himself in the region. We are faced with many problems in the region as contained in the various addresses presented to him during the visit.

“The government should not just celebrate the relative peace and the high crude oil production in the area now but also give attention to the numerous problems confronting the people. It is a good thing the president mandated the vice president to lead the peace process in the region,” the monarch added.

Pere Ogoba therefore encouraged Osinbajo to fast track the process by implementing the short and medium term goals as well as draw up plans to develop the Niger Delta region.

surprise that the word ‘conspiracy’ could be attached to a man, who was alleged to have committed an offence.

He added that the prosecution should establish the case or cases for which the money was allegedly paid as inducement.

According to him, no single witness testified that the money given was a bribe, neither did any of them point to any monetary transfer from the accounts of second or third defendants to that of the first defendant. He also told the court that a witness from the DSS admitted not to have interviewed the second defendant but that he was only attracted by the lodgments, which amounted to prosecution based on hearsay rather than proper investigation.

“It is not the act of giving that creates an offence; it is the intention.

In relation to count two therefore, there was nothing testified by the witnesses that could make us to go into defence,” Clerk argued.

He therefore urged the court to strike out the case, discharge and acquit the second defendant.

Counsel to the third defendant (Agi), Jeph Ejinkonye, urged the

court to take another look at the account of prosecution witnesses to see if there was any need for his client to enter defence.

“For there to be a valid charge, there must be prima facie evidence.

What evidence did the prosecution tender in respect of the BMW car?

“The evidence was that the car was bought by Joe Agi. But the PW 16 had testified that he interviewed Ademide Ademola, who regarded Agi as a mentor.

Ademide had told the witness that Agi had promised him a gift if he passed his examination but he did not know it was going to be a car.

“The second ambit of allegation of gratification was the N30 million Agi allegedly paid into Mrs. Ademola’s account. In the charge, they did not link it to any case but during the trial, they tried to link it to Linas.

The defence cannot speculate. It is for the prosecution to establish a prima facie.

“If the N500,000 found to have been offered Justice Ademola by counsel to President Muhammadu Buhari towards Justice Ademola’s daughter’s wedding was not a bribe, why should others given for the same purpose be accepted as bribe?

he asked.

The PW 16, Adepoju had admitted that it would be mere speculation to say that the gift given to the first defendant by President Buhari’s lawyer was a bribe. The same PW 16 had also stated during cross-examination that “in all that I have seen, my initial view on this matter was based on incomplete evidence”.

Based on the above statement by PW 16, Ejinkonye urged the court to uphold the no-case-submission and strike out the case.

But the prosecution counsel, Segun Jegede, opposed the nocase-submission, insisting that the defendants have enough case to answer.

He believed that the witnesses actually established enough prima facie that money was paid by the third defendant into the account of the second defendant in March 2015.

As for establishing a link between the N30million payment and the first defendant, Jegede noted that a witness had already admitted that there was a lodgment of N30million by Agi. For him, it was allegedly three per cent of the N3.2billion from

one of the cases Justice Ademola delivered in favour of Agi’s client.

“That is the link my lord,” Jegede stated.

According to him, the three garnishee orders made in favour of Agi by the first defendant, one of which came a day before a N10million lodgment was made into the account of the second defendant by the third defendant, spoke volume of the alleged gratification.

He argued that Justice Ademola could have instructed that the money be paid into his wife’s account rather than directly into his account.

“No one wakes up in the morning to pay money into another one’s account without any intention,” he added.

As for the issue of conspiracy, which his client said was not recognised in law, Jegede maintained that it was recognised in law as a matter of inference.

On Ben Gubert and Bassey Bassey, who admitted sending the N30million to the Ademola’s family, the counsel stated that the letters brought by the two were dubious, written at complete variance from the questions they were asked by the investigator.

CONDOLENCE VISIT

L-R: Daughter of the late General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.), Mrs. Nike Makinde; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman; son of the deceased, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; and his wife, Angela, when Bala-Usman paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Adebayo in Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday

Six Persons Die in Suicide Attacks in Maiduguri Army, police, NEMA give conflicting accounts Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Six persons were yesterday killed in suicide attacks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

In a statement by the information officer in charge of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s North-east Zonal Office, Mallam Abdulkareem Ibrahim, the attacks happened at about 1.15a.m. yesterday.

He said the attacks were by four teenage girls who had explosive devices strapped on them.

The statement read: “Four female teenage suicide bombers and two other men died (six people) when the four females detonated explosives at Usmanti along Mina Garage Road at about 1.15a.m.”

He added: “Sixteen people who got injured were administered with first aid by rescue workers before being transported to the state

Specialist Hospital and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.”

When THISDAY visited the scene of the incident close to the Police Hospital in Maiduguri, it was gathered that the teenage girls strapped with the explosives poached for victims.

One of the residents of the area, Mustapha Mele, said the two males had opened the doors of their homes for the female teenagers when they knocked on their doors.

He said: “Immediately they opened the doors for them, they detonated the explosive devices which led to their death.”

However, Nigerian Army, Police, and NEMA gave conflicting accounts of suicide bomb attacks.

The army in a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, who gave the time of the attacks as

at about 1.30a.m., said it was by three suicide bombers.

The army spokesman, who did not give details of the age of the suicide bombers, in the statement, said: “At about 1.30a.m. today (Wednesday), three suicide bombers attempted infiltrating Maiduguri metropolis through Molai or Usmanti but were intercepted by vigilant civilians in that community.

“Realising that they had been busted the suicide bombers detonated their suicide vests killing themselves. Regrettably however one civilian died in the explosion and seven others suffered injuries of varying degrees.

“Troops were immediately deployed to cordon off the area and the injured are currently receiving medical attention at the UMTH.” He added that: “These attacks on soft targets are indicative of a drowned Boko Haram group. They

have lost ground and focus, hence the only way to remain relevant is to callously attack soft targets using person borne IEDs and other forms of IED. “We are countering this development with constant patrols and monitoring of the metropolis and other populated areas. We are equally sensitizing the public on the need to remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious moves and persons to security agencies.”

The police gave a different version from the two, disclosing that five persons were killed and seven other persons injured.

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Damien Chukwu, during a press conference, said the suicide attacks were by four persons, who died while detonating explosives that claimed another live.

He said eight persons were injured in the attack.

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Secession Won’t Guarantee Our Peace, Ribadu Tells Ndigbo, Other Secessionist Groups Says, only patriotism, good leadership will David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the attainment of Biafra Republic or other secessionist struggles will not guarantee peace for Ndigbo, or any other group or region canvassing for division.

Ribadu spoke yesterday as a guest lecturer of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, when he delivered the institution’s pre-convocation lecture under the topic: ‘Leadership and challenges of National unity in Nigeria,’ saying the problem of Nigeria is not its heterogeneous nature, but lack of patriotism among the citizens of the country.

The former EFCC chairman stated that the problem of the country is also in its inability to get the right crop of leaders, saying that this leadership inadequacy has contributed to compounding the nation’s problems, from widening the parochial divisions among its citizens to active participation in plundering the nation’s patrimony.

He said: “For years of our existence as a country, we have grappled with several challenges. There is mutual suspicion and ethnic jingoism that has deprived us of reason, sense of justice and fairness. We

laugh and hug in public and plot against each other when we retire to our ethno-religious enclave.

“Clearly, our challenges of nationhood are linked to the inadequacies of some of our leaders at all levels. It is the leaders that chart and navigate the way for the flocks to follow, and it is the leader’s action, inaction and body language that dictate the tune for the dance steps of the public.”

He advised those clamouring for secession as the only solution to their problem to think deeply, saying if the problem of Nigeria were its heterogeneous nature, countries like Somalia and South Sudan which are mostly same religion, culture and tradition would have known peace.

“Exclusive ethnic identities are inventions of our political elites. On the basis of the argument of those who scorn diversity, Somalia ought to be a model country of unity, growth, and development. Almost all its population are Muslims, and speak a language. But what is the reality on ground?

“Let us look at South Sudan. Before it broke away from Sudan, the assumption was that it would know more stability, prosperity and unity after independence in 2011. But the country has continued to suffer ethnic violence and has been in civil war since 2013,”

he stated.

Ribadu, while offering solution to the problems of the country said only the right kind of leaders and belief in the country will help heal it again. He eulogised Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, whom the institution was named after, saying it was in his wisdom that he insisted on the unity of the country.

The former EFCC chairman described him as a man who exemplified the unity of the country, having been born in Zungeru, Niger State (North), of Igbo parents (East), but succeeded in dominating the politics of Lagos (West) for a long time.

“Our continued existence, I make bold to say, therefore, as one indivisible entity, very much depends on

how we decide to be each other’s keeper. We should consciously refuse to give in to the weight of that which divides us.

“Rather, we should celebrate our togetherness, which, I believe far outweigh whatever differences we have. We must resist all temptations by enemies of our collective progress, and resist the influence of hate mongers, be it politicians of religious leaders,” Ribadu said.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, said the preconvocation lecture topic is apt, and no one could best do justice to it than a man of Ribadu’s standing.

He eulogised him as a firm

leader who is known for his stand on matters pertaining to corruption.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been engaged in activities marking its 11th convocation, which is a weeklong event.

The VC had on Tuesday presented prizes to 70 best graduating students of the institution for the 2015/2016 academic year, 39 of which he said are female students.

He said most of the girls were offering courses hitherto thought to be male dominated, and yet were topping their classes.

Ahaneku said: “Some of the girls are even doing courses like engineering, and are also doing well, they are part of the people

we are presenting prizes to today. In Nnamdi Azikiwe University, we have a culture of celebrating excellence. We do this to encourage and spur up other students.

Ahaneku had earlier unveiled former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, as one of the three persons the university would be conferring honourary doctorate degrees on.

He said Nnamani would be honoured for distinguishing himself in office and his role in maintaining peace in Nigeria.

The other two are; Alhaji Shehu Malami, a former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, and Mr. Clement Nwogbo, an entrepreneur with diverse interests in telecommunication and power infrastructure.

Lagos IGR Rose by N33bn, Says NEITI The internally generated revenue (IGR) of Lagos State rose by approximately N33 billion from 2015 to 2016, beating 33 states put together.

According to a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the state recorded an IGR of N301.19 billion, a rise of N32.99 billion in one year.

The total IGR from 33 states of the federation, excluding Delta, Ogun and Rivers States stood at N299 billion — over a billion less than Lagos IGR. Delta, Ogun and Rivers raked in N44.89 billion, N56.30 billion and N82.10 billion respectively.

Like his predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, has at various times committed himself to the generation of IGR in the state.

The NEITI report, which reviewed disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the fourth quarter of 2016, also showed that Lagos received N109 billion in 2016.

The agency, according to The Cable, lamented low revenue generation across 34 states, citing Lagos and Ogun as the only states generating more than what they get from the central.

“IGR is very low in most states and it is only in two states – Lagos and Ogun – that IGR is higher than FAAC allocations. The figure shows that total revenue by itself

cannot fund states budgets,” it said.

NEITI said the three tiers of government shared N5.121 trillion through 2016 — a decline from 2015 figures.

“Total disbursements fell by 14.8 per cent from N6.011 trillion for the year 2015 to N5.121 trillion for the 2016. In Q1 2016, total disbursements were N1.132 trillion as against N1.648 trillion in Q1 2015, a decline of 31.2 per cent in Q1 2016,” NEITI said.

“Total disbursements fell by 26.9% from N1.241 trillion in Q2 2015 to N906 billion in Q2 2016.

There was a further decline in Q3 when total disbursements dropped by 7.8% from N1.887 trillion in 2015 to N1.738 trillion 2016.

“However, total disbursements increased in Q4 by 8.8 per cent from N1.233 trillion in 2015 to N1.343 trillion in 2016.”

The report revealed that “the federal government received a total of N2.08 trillion from the federation account in 2016, which represents a drop of 19.9% of the total N2.6 trillion received in 2015.”

The 2016 budget was for N6.06 trillion, implying that at N2.08 trillion, total FAAC disbursements were only 34.3 percent of the budget.

“Thus, the federal government would have to resort to even higher debts to fund the budget.

The implication of this is that debt service payments, which accounted for 24.3% of the 2016 budget, would increase.”

COURTESY CALL

L-R: Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong; state Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu; Governor Ben Ayade; and Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, shortly after a courtesy call on the governor in his office in Calabar....yesterday

NBC Allays Concerns over Benzoic Acid in Soft Drinks Alike Ejiofor

The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has described as false, the media reports that Fanta and Sprite beverages are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the United Kingdom standards.

NBC’s Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan, said in a statement yesterday that the media reports were not only unfounded but also undermine the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria, which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other regulatory bodies for the country.

The company also cited Lagos High Court judgment delivered on February 15, 2017, in a suit involving Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited and Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo v. NBC and NAFDAC, where the court dismissed all claims against NBC

and held that the company had not breached its duty of care to consumers and that there was no proven case of negligence against it.

“In the same judgment, the court directed NAFDAC to mandate NBC to include a warning on its bottles of Fanta and Sprite that its contents cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same become poisonous if taken with Vitamin C. This order was premised on the fact that the products contain the preservative, benzoic acid.

NBC has since appealed this order,” NBC said.

According to the company, in the subject case, which dates back to 2007, the UK authorities confiscated a consignment of the company’s products shipped to that country by the plaintiff because their benzoic acid levels were not within the UK national level.

The company, however, added that their benzoic acid levels were well within the levels approved by both the national

regulators for Nigeria and the international levels set by CODEX, the joint intergovernmental body responsible for harmonising food standards globally.

NBC further clarified that the UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg/kg, stressing that both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg/kg “which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg/kg when combined with ascorbic acid and 300 mg/ kg without ascorbic acid and also lower than the 600 mg/kg international limit set by CODEX”.

The company also pointed out that both benzoic acid and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by international food safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.

“These two ingredients are also used in combination in some of these products within levels which may differ from one country to another as approved by

the respective national food and drug regulators and in line with the range prescribed by CODEX. The permissible ingredient levels set by countries for their food and beverage products are influenced by a number of factors such as climate, an example being the UK, a temperate region, requiring lower preservative levels unlike tropical countries.”

“Given the fact that the benzoic and ascorbic acid levels in Fanta as well as the benzoic acid level in Sprite produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators and the international level set by CODEX, there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C,” NBC added.

The company assured members of the public of its unwavering commitment to product quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

14

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

COMMENT

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

NIGERIA’S PRIVATE PARADISE Taraba is better experienced than described, writes Jude Malami

T

araba State is a tourist’s delight. I am in a position to say so. Nothing can be more correct about this large and fast developing state in the Nigerian savannah region. There is a lot for the visitor to see and enjoy. Taraba is a treasure home of the captivating appurtenances of old and modern civilisation. They all tell the sweet and pleasant tale of Taraba State – that is, the rich forests, the rivers and their tributaries (one of which provided the very fitting name by which the state is today known), the magical and charming combination of the cold and warm weather, the exceptional gift of the Mambilla Plateau with all its dams and hydro electricity potential as well as the special brand of tea which grows only under the cold but pleasant weather on the highlands. Taraba State stands out tall among the best tourism destinations around the world.

Taraba is also home to what has become popularly known as Nigeria’s Private Paradise – the Gashaka Gumti National Park. The park, the largest in the West African sub region boasts of unique features which have, since its inception, made it a special attraction to tourists. These include its variety of eco-system – Sudan Savannah and rain forest - in addition to its special gift of star animal and bird species in their natural habitat. I was privileged to visit Taraba State recently and what I saw at the Gumti Park and other parts of the state filled me with awe.

The park is blessed with fast flowing rivers which are also very alluring sites. It has, in the recent past, played host to high profile tourists like the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria and many foreign visitors. Researchers from many reputable universities across the globe visit the park frequently to document the fauna and flora that are unique to the park. The park occupies a special place in the heart of Governor Darius Ishaku, and that is because of its immense importance as a means of advertising the state to the global community.

I was told during my visit to the offices of the park in Gashaka that the governor has visited twice since his assumption of duties and has been very helpful in tackling some of the problems facing the establishment. Some of these problems include the invasion of Fulani herdsmen and insecurity generally, especially during the peak of Boko Haram insurgency in the North- east region of Nigeria. A combination of the efforts of the Ishaku administration and the federal government has greatly eased the problem at the park.

The present administration in the state is promoting a policy of opening up the state to the international community. It is a deliberate policy of encouraging people from other countries to visit the state, to see the abundance of its economic potential and to key into the socio-economic development blueprint of the administration. The administration is determined to promote economic activities in the state as part of a strategy to reduce the level of poverty and create employment opportunities. Tourism resources which the state has in abundance are among the most reliable means of attracting foreign visitors and investment.

I was told in most of the places I visited that in the past 20 months, the Ishaku administration has pursued the policy of preparing the state for visitors. First of all, he ensured that the dubious toga of crises that the state has been associated with before he came into office was redeemed.

VISITORS FROM 23 COUNTRIES HAD COME VISITING IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DIRECT FLIGHTS INTO THE JALINGO AIRPORT. THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD LEADING TO GASHAKA FROM JALINGO HAS ALSO GREATLY EASED TRIPS TO THE PARK

Ethno- religious crisis was contained. Fulani invasion and attacks on communities were drastically checkmated. They have become less frequent. Wherever they occur, government comes down heavily at it with its security agencies. The latest cases which occurred in Karim Lamido and Ardo Kola local council areas promptly attracted government’s attention and intervention. A high-powered delegation led by Anthony Jellason, Secretary to the Government of Taraba State, was dispatched to the affected communities by the governor. Jellason used the visit to advise the victims of the attack to be vigilant and to protect themselves against the invaders next time. Government’s attitude of intolerance and prompt reaction to the invasion has helped in reducing the incidents and built confidence of the people in the government as very capable and available to defend and protect them.

It is not difficult to fathom the reason behind the inflexibility of government’s tough attitude to persistent invasion of villages and communities in the state by Fulani herdsmen. The invasion is a disincentive to tourism and other economic activities that government is promoting very vigorously. Mr. Cornelius Ladipo Ojo, director of the Gashaka Gumti Park told me during my visit that Fulani herdsmen invasion had been a major problem of the park but commended Governor Ishaku for the prompt steps he had taken to checkmate the invaders. He also commended Ishaku for reviving the Jalingo Airport which has also resulted in the resumption of direct flights to the state.

Ojo said this development has positively impacted on visits to the park. Visitors from 23 countries had come visiting in the past couple of months, taking advantage of the direct flights into the Jalingo Airport.

The improvement in the condition of the road leading to Gashaka from Jalingo has also greatly eased trips to the park.

The visitor to Taraba cannot but be impressed by the grazing fields that dot both sides of the roads to most towns and villages in the state.

The state has a large population of cows, rams and goats. Ownership of livestock is a yardstick for measuring people’s financial and social standing. If that is the case as I was told during the visit, then Taraba is a state of very many wealthy people. Governor Ishaku gave an insight to the high number of livestock in the state when he told a group of media executives recently in Abuja that Taraba has the capacity to meet the annual beef requirement of the country.

Livestock is big business in Taraba but it is not anywhere close to farming which is the major occupation of most people. Rice, yams, maize, guinea corn, tomato, sugar cane, groundnut, etc., are among the major farm produce in the state. Taraba is a land of both wet and dry season farming. Dangote Sugar Company owns a major sugar cane farm in Lau Local Council area of the state. My visit to the state coincided with the harvest period of 2016 and I observed everywhere I went heaps of bags of freshly harvested farm produce by roadsides waiting to be taken to markets, their owners standing beside them with smiling faces.

Taraba is better experienced than described. The best thing to do is what I did – to take a trip to Taraba State. The roads are good, courtesy of the great job the Ishaku administration has done in the past 20 months. Flights which are now operated three times a week direct into Jalingo make such trips a lot easier and a greater delight.

OBIANO AND THE HIGHEST LAW

I

Willie Obiano, Anambra State Governor, deserves a second term, argues Chuks Iloegbunam

t was Ify Unachukwu of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) who put the question to me. We were at Igbariam in the Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Governor Willie Obiano had just commissioned the first phase of the Lynden Integrated Farms, a sprawling, N15 billion poultry farm set on 75 hectares of land, the largest such agricultural facility in the South East geo-political zone.

Operating optimally, this farm is expected to produce some five million birds a year, and 540,000 high-quality eggs every 24 hours, creating 350,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect ones. With automated feeding and waste disposal processes, maize for the birds’ feeds will be exclusively produced in Anambra State. It is another striking example of the public/ private partnerships of which Governor Obiano’s administration has become the main exponent.

It was against this background of superlative achievements by Governor Obiano that Mrs. Unachukwu asked what advice I had for his traducers, people who daily shower him with howls of execration, brazenly denying his unsurpassed achievements in governance, and irrationally insisting on fixing what isn’t broken? I looked straight into the lens of cine-camera in my front, my interviewer’s microphone nearly touching my lips. “I say to those calumniating Governor Obiano, the folks that claim that white is black, while black is white, to continue,” I responded. “In the fullness of time, the supremacy of truth shall be enthroned.”

My interviewer probably expected me to counsel the deniers of reality on the urgent necessity to back off. I thought differently because, in the Igbo country, it is held that no one advises an adult to flee the sun’s heat. When its darts begin to puncture holes in their

cranium, they would scram!, and seek refuge under some shade. That is precisely what is beginning to happen in Anambra State. There existed a motley collection of naysayers that occupied the media space, hollering and coveting the political power that, in a democracy, should only be available through the people’s mandate. Today, this miserable group has dwindled to something like half a dozen, still vociferous to be sure, but increasingly sounding like a cracked record. This hapless residue of political negativism was administered an overdue coup de grace on February 27, 2017 by the Anambra North Peoples Assembly (ANPA), when it adopted Governor Obiano as its candidate for a second term of office.

This development is especially significant. Many associations and groups – of arganised labour, towns’ unions, students’ bodies, market women and sundry organisations have, at various times, pronounced their endorsement of Governor Obiano for a second four-year term of office. The case of ANPA is, however, unique because it is a broad-based movement composed of stakeholders from the seven local government areas of the Anambra North Senatorial District. ANPA consulted widely. It sat through several sessions. It set up a high-level committee headed by elder statesman Dr. Tim Menakaya, a former Federal Minister of Health, with a mandate to vet and assess the credentials of all gubernatorial aspirants from Anambra North and recommended a sole candidate for the November 18 governorship election. After exhaustively assessing all aspirants, the Menakaya Committee turned in the name of Chief Willie Obiano as the Senatorial District’s choice to fly the gubernatorial flag.

This recommendation was contained in a motion moved by Chief Mike Areh, a political stalwart from

the district, and seconded by Mr. Obinna Emenaka, the member representing Anambra East Constituency in the State Assembly. Dr. Menakaya told newsmen that Chief Obiano’s enviable achievements as Governor made him an obvious choice for a second term, a man fit to continue the direction of Anambra’s affairs for an additional four years. His position was supported by Mr. Gabriel Onyenweife, the APGA member representing Oyi/Ayamelum Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, who said that Governor Obiano had done so well in three years that he deserved a second tenure. It is important to note that the federal legislator’s viewpoint echoed the position of all members of the State House of Assembly from Anambra North who are also staunch ANPA members. It is now left for those still burning in the sun of political delusion to seek shelter under the shadow of reality. It is in their best interest to quickly board the Obiano train before it chugs off the platform and roars in the general direction of a second, well-deserved term. It is, of course, not difficult to explain Chief Obiano’s dramatic success as a governor, for he took to heart the enduring words of Marcus Tullius Cicero who memorably said that, “The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law.” The welfare of Ndi Anambra has been of paramount and uncompromising importance in Governor Obiano’s political and administrative calculations. He made Anambra State the safest in the country. The state, which previously doubled as kidnappers’ fiefdom, has hardly recorded any cases of kidnapping in over two years. This state, which previously depended on imported rice, has become the famous, net producer of the high-quality Anambra Rice. This state which previously looked elsewhere in order to stave off protein deficiency has become the

proud owner of the largest poultry farm in the South East. Further, Anambra’s network of roads is currently among the best in the entire country.

There is no walk of life in which Anambra State is not excelling. It unchangeably leads in NECO and WAEC examinations nationwide. It leads in sporting events nationally and internationally. The icing on the cake is the promptitude with which salaries, pensions and gratuities are paid. That is why, from all corners of the state, the refrain is that Governor Obiano deserves a second term of office to consolidate his remarkable legacy. That is why the few discordant voices still pretending to covet the impending governorship ballot appear like their attire is worn inside out. They must borrow a leaf from elsewhere, because Anambra State, the Light of the Nation, cannot take the back seat in progressive ideas.

Look at Abia State. Governor Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) was Governor for eight years – 1999 to 2007.

He was succeeded by Governor Theodore Orji (Abia Central) who served from 2007 to 2015. The incumbent governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is from Abia South.

Take Enugu State: Governor Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East) was in office from 1999 to 2007. He was succeeded by Governor Sullivan Chime (Enugu West) who was in office from 2007 to 2015. The incumbent Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is from Enugu North. Witness Delta State: Chief James Ibori (Delta Central) was Governor from 1999 to 2007. He was succeeded by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta South) who was governor for eight years – 2007 to 2015. The incumbent Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is from Delta North. Rotation is the practice everywhere. Its other name is Equity.

Mr. Iloegbunam is Governor Obiano’s Director of Media Relations

15

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

EDITORIAL AGAIN, ATIKU ON RESTRUCTURING Atiku is right. It’s time to restructure the federation

I

n restating his call for the restructuring of the federation, former vice -president and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar last week argued that states that were not financially viable should be collapsed into those that were viable. “There is no doubt that many of our states are not viable, and were not viable from the start once you take away the federation allocations from Abuja. We have to find creative ways to make them viable in a changed federal system”, said Atiku.

According to the former vice-president, the restructuring that he has been advocating involved changes to the allocation of powers, responsibilities and resources among the states or zones and between them and the federal government. “We can constitute a body of non-partisan experts to suggest other ideas. But in all, we must devolve more powers and resources from the federal government and de-emphasise federal allocations as the source of sustenance of states. We need to start producing again and collecting taxes to run our governments in a more sustainable way with greater transparency and WE MUST DEVOLVE MORE accountability”, said POWERS AND RESOURCES Atiku.

FROM THE FEDERAL For sure, there are GOVERNMENT AND DEthose who would want EMPHASISE FEDERAL to dismiss Atiku for ALLOCATIONS AS THE many reasons. One, SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE he was vice-president for eight years and he OF STATES never raised this issue.

Two, it is an open secret that he nurses presidential ambition and may have in fact started his campaign.

While these are true, so is the fact he has been consistent on this issue of restructuring since 2010.

Five years ago, at an event organised by Leadership newspapers, Atiku indeed said: “There is indeed too much concentration of power and resources at the centre. And it is stifling our march to true greatness as a nation and threatening our unity because of all the abuses, inefficiencies, corruption and reactive tensions

Letters to the Editor

that it has been generating. There is need, therefore, to review the structure of the Nigerian federation, preferably along the basis of the current six geopolitical zones as regions and the states as provinces. The existing states structure may not suffice, as the states are too weak materially and politically to provide what is needed for good governance.”

H 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, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, 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 DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

is central thesis then, as now, is that the current arrangement leaves too much power and resources in the hands of the federal government and this undermine the ability of the federating units to effectively deliver on social services. And as a first step towards addressing the problem, Atiku advocates that education, health, agriculture and sports should not be within the purview of the centre. He debunked the insinuation that the idea could lead to the country’s break up, and asked, “why should we be talking of federal roads and federal secondary schools?” adding: “National unity should not continue to be confused with unitarism and concentration of power and resources at the federal level.”

It is possible to question the timing and rationale of Atiku’s proposals but we must acknowledge that we have a serious structural problem as most of the current 36 states are too small and too under-resourced to be economically viable and therefore structurally too weak to deliver human development. Most of these states depend almost entirely on allocations from the Federation Accounts, the bulk of which they expend on salaries and other recurrent expenditures. The counter-veiling mechanisms that ensure some level of accountability at the centre are either non-existent or too weak in these fragmented units and the logical result is that the promise of good governance embedded in the theory of decentralisation is delivered almost always in the breach.

When complemented with mechanism for improving accountability, the proposal being pushed by Atiku has the potential for strengthening the structural design for good governance and human development in Nigeria.

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.

AFRICA AND THE DANGER OF XENOPHOBIA

E

xpectedly, the fever of xenophobia in the rainbow nation continues to send shock waves across the African continent. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this creepy event has shaken the foundation of brotherhood in Africa and brought the already tenuous relationship between Nigeria and South Africa into dire straits. Gripping and grisly does not come close to describing video images of xenophobic attacks on social media.

According to South Africa’s police, no fewer than 100 people ransacked shops in Johannesburg overnight in a fresh wave of xenophobia attacks in South African cities. Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in the country against a background of near-record unemployment, with foreigners being accused of criminal activities and taking jobs from locals.

Xenophobia which manifests as a strong feeling of dislike or fear of people from other countries is not new to South Africa. Before democracy came alive in Mandela’s country in 1994, immigrants in South Africa have always had a rough deal in the hands of their host as they have faced discrimination and even violence with the first wave xenophobic attacks occurring in 2008. After that came the 2015 attacks which was said to be purportedly inspired by the utterances of the Zulu king. And when we thought that horror had passed, 2017 with its fresh xenophobia-inspired attacks has proved that the horrendous chapter is not totally over. Suffice to say, xenophobia is different from other crimes because it targets foreigners or outsiders for violent attacks.

Much troubling and disturbing is the fact that much of South Africa’s anti-foreigner sentiment is aimed at Black Africans. The last decade has witnessed attacks on Somali street traders in Cape town, Congolese migrants in Pretoria and Nigerian people in Johannesburg. Even South Africans

deemed ‘too dark’ have been rounded up on the street and treated terribly.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri, Nigeria has lost about 116 of its citizens living in the rainbow nation.

As it is often said, there is no smoke without fire. Unemployment and economic distress may be the motivators for the protesters but is it true that unnecessary envy also plays a part? And it is hard to believe, the rumour in some quarters that some South Africans were chagrined by the competition offered by foreigners as well as the spectacle of Africans who are more successful than they are. As some people have opined, South Africans culture of entitlement coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit and hard work so evident in immigrant communities has become a source of resentment.

This might seem far-fetched.

But there is no denying the fact that local residents in these areas have become increasingly convinced that foreign nationals are to blame for all their socio-economic ills and hardship including poverty, unemployment, poor service delivery, lack of business space and opportunities, crime, prostitution, drugs and even alcohol abuse.

Like him or hate him, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has hit the nail on the head when he lambasted the South African government and leaders for their insincerity. He also berated the youths of the country for displaying immaturity.

At a time when a coalition of Niger Delta militants threaten to blow up 16 major South African investments in Nigeria unless the federal government shuts those companies down within one month, the words of Obasanjo become more poignant.

Jedy Omisore, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

AMERICA’S MILITARY RAPPROCHEMENT WITH NIGERIA

F

rom the reported courtesy call of the commander of the United States African command (Africom) on the Chief of Defence Staff, it is clear that the United States has Nigeria in her palms in doing, according to General Waldhauser, “all that is needed and necessary to make Nigeria succeed in its leadership role in Africa, especially in its untiring effort at wiping terrorism from Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region”. But the Buhari regime must be careful in its embrace with America in order not to derail from the country’s historical stand on the need to develop an African standby force as Africa’s alternative to AFRICOM, which is essentially an American imperialist platform to secure oil and fight Islam. .

The Buhari government must understand that countries depending on the US like Israel, the European Union and Ukraine can’t have military trade with other countries without the permission of America. For example Washington once convinced France not to supply mistrals to Russia.

Likewise any of these countries if the need arises, could suspend arms supply to any other country or even cancel supply contracts with them to please the Americans.

George Umuaku, Ogba, Lagos

16

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

A CALL FOR MEMORANDA FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING BILLS: I.

A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY WATER BOARD (ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.) BILL, 2016 (HB.318)

ii.

A BILL FOR AN ACT TO REGULATE THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER TENANCY AGREEMENTS (REGULATIONS) FOR THE RECOVERY OF PREMISES IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY BILL, 2016 (HB.307)

iii. A BILL FOR AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (FCT) HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.) BILL, 2016 (SB.69) iv. A BILL FOR AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY TRANSPORT AUTHORITY (ESTABLISHMENT, ETC.) BILL, 2016 (HB.91) v.

ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF AREA COUNCILS OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY BILL, 2015 (SB.002)

vi. A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION; AND FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO, 2017 Pursuant to the Resolutions of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory hereby invites Memoranda from all Stakeholders and the General Public to attend a Public Hearing on the above mentioned Bills.

The Hearing is scheduled as follows: Date: Venue: Time:

Thursday, 16th March, 2017 Conference Hall 231, Senate New Wing, 2nd Floor, National Assembly Complex, Abuja 12.00 Noon Prompt

All Memoranda should be submitted in fty (50) copies to the Committee Secretariat in Suite 3.7, Senate Wing (White House), National Assembly Complex, on or before Tuesday, 14th March, 2017.

For further information, please call 08077146111.

Announcer:

Senator Dino Melaye Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT

17

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

21 - 23 MARCH 2017

THE LANDMARK CENTRE, PLOT 2 & 3 WATER CORPORATION ROAD, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS, NIGERIA

21-23 MARCH 2017

THE MOST ESTABLISHED AND ONLY DEDICATED SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY EVENT TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR IN WEST AFRICA

OPENS NEXT WEEK!

PRE-REGISTER ONLINE FOR FREE ENTRY!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Email: Jamie.Pearson@montex.co.uk

www.securexwestafrica.com

50

EXHIBITORS

Incorporating:

35

TOP INDUSTRY SPEAKERS

2500+ VISITORS

Brought to you by:

WACSS WEST AFRICAN

CYBER SECURITY SUMMIT 2017

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) Category of Items: Date of the REOI: Closing Date for receipt of EOI: Reference:

VEHICLES 4/03/2017 24/03/2017 MSION/EOI/2017/001

Description of requirements: Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria (MSION) is inviting an Expression of Interest (EOIs) from eligible suppliers in respect to the provision of four wheel drive vehicles.

QTY 6.

Short Description of Product Full option, Petrol Pick-up Vehicle, 4x4 2016 model, Fabric Interior, Manual Drive.

Potential Suppliers This REOI is addressed to (a) Vehicle Dealers and (b) MSION is particularly interested in identifying competitive sources of supply that can offer a bid tor the vehicle stated above.

For details of the biding document and process please go to the link

https://goo.gl/1mueUz

Signed: For Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria

Country Director

18

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.soniyi@thisdaylive.com 08033146139 SMS ONLY

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Uzoh: Why I want to be Anambra Governor A governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, who turns 54 tomorrow, has unfolded his vision for the state. He spoke with Davidson Iriekpen, saying the time has come to take the state to a higher level in line with the 21st century trends

H

is plans “My folks are widely recognised for their industry, courage and resourcefulness.

These qualities have enabled us survive as a people in the face of daunting existential challenges. It’s worth recalling that at creation on August 27, 1991, by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime Ndi-Anambra had over 75 percent literacy level and boasted extra-ordinary human and material resources. These attributes need to be given a new direction, new discipline and new energy. God has given me the vision to do this,” he speaks reflectively.

“I have identified 10 key sectors that deserve total focus to transform the state. These include security, infrastructural development which is foundation for industrialisation and I will support Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka as critical technology hubs. There will be real agricultural revolution. Deploying a transparent, judicious and efficient management of resources, I will empower our people with skills acquisition, mainstream our judiciary, step-up sports, provide microfinance for SMEs and pursue an integrated development scheme that should fundamentally change the game in Anambra State.”

His motivation “I did not signify my intention to contest the 2017 governorship election in my state lightly. It was a product of deep introspection.

I believe that at this moment of our national history and the rapid changes impacting both the continental and international arena, Anambra needs a deep but temperate personality and thinker to guide its journey. Let me share this with you and many may not know this. The fate of Anambra State has fundamental connections with the fate of Ndigbo and Nigeria at large.”

His view about governance “In the arena of politics the world over, governance, actually good governance, is central to human development and social progression.

The converse leads to retrogression and socio-political stagnation. Look around you to discern the kernel of my position. Good governance has eight major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law.

“It assures that corruption is minimized and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Deficits in these areas give rise to conflict and set back human development.

Deficits in these areas are the reasons for our developmental woes. These concepts I have enunciated actually remain my guiding principle in the political arena. At 54, I cannot change this principled position that is clearly founded on deep conviction.”

View about zoning in the state “The zoning arrangement presupposes that the governorship position in Anambra State be rotated among the three senatorial districts in the state. Recall that at the inception of democracy in 1999, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju from Anambra South senatorial district was elected as governor. He spent a single term of only four years in office, as he was not re-elected for a 2nd term in 2003 on grounds of non-performance.

“Between 2003 and 2014, a period of 11 years, Anambra Central Senatorial District

Relationship with the church “Of all the governorship aspirants in the state, with all humility, I have done so well for both the Catholics and the Anglicans, as well as other religious and non-religious organizations. I have been recognised by the Pope as a Knight of St. Gregory. But of course these are God’s doing, not my power.”

The man, Uzoh He was born to the family of late Chief and Chief (Mrs.) Obi Uzoh of Umunnamehi, Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on March 17, 1963. He is a humble teacher, lawyer, a seasoned administrator, astute entrepreneur and an uncommon philanthropist. His elaborate exposure to these areas of human endeavour has helped nurture his private business enterprises from very humble beginnings to large concerns.

Indeed, the said business which started as a mustard seed commenced in 1987 and has today grown into the conglomerate, Gocuz Group Ltd with six subsidiaries: Gocuz Engineering, Gocuz Oil Services, Gocuz Construction, Gocuz Chambers, Gocuz Finance and Securities and Gocuz Farms Ltd. He is also Chairman, Board of Trustees, Caritas University, Enugu and founder of Obinna Uzoh Foundation.

Uzoh...fully ready for Obiano’s job

held power with Sen. (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze

I have identified 10 key sectors that deserve total focus to transform the state. These include security, infrastructural development which is foundation for industrialisation and I will support Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka as critical technology hubs. There will be real agricultural revolution...

Ngige holding office for a period of about three years and Sir Peter G. Obi, KSS holding office for a consecutive two tenures of 8 years.

Governor Willie Obiano from Anambra North senatorial district has done a first term and not having performed well, the Anambra South Senatorial District should be given the opportunity to complete their truncated secondterm.

“There is currently a preponderance of politicians from the Anambra North senatorial district claiming that the incumbent Governor, Chief (Dr.) Willie M. Obiano has disappointed them with his abysmal performance and should step aside to give another person from Anambra North a chance. However, considering the fact that Anambra Central Senatorial District has had 11 years in power and the North has had a single term of four years with an overwhelming agreement on lack of confidence equity requires that the Anambra South Senatorial District, precisely the Ihiala L.G.A where Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju comes from should be given the opportunity of completing a second term in office.”

Why he quit PDP “Following the impunity and impositions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the formation of a formidable opposition, i.e. the All Progressives Congress (APC), I joined the APC about three years ago. I have remained steadfast and I am happy to have contributed my quota with our leader, Dr. Chris Ngige, other valued stakeholders and members of the party in Anambra State in ensuring the success of the Party at the 2015 general elections. Together, by God’s grace, we will do it in Anambra State so as to make Anambra great again.”

Associations’ membership Uzoh is Member, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Member, Institute of Directors of Nigeria, IOD, Member, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Member, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Member, Nigerian-German Council, Member, Asian-Chamber of Commerce, Member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Member, Ikoyi Club, Member, Lagos Island Club, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Administrators and Fellow, Institute of Cost Management.

Life of philanthropy The businessman has awarded scholarships to many students in primary, secondary, colleges of education, polytechnics and universities across the country. He has also awarded special scholarships to indigenes of Anambra State in Medicine, Law, Accountancy and engineering, et cetera.

He built and donated a 3-storey building for the Law Faculty of Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, built, donated and renovated schools across the country, constructed and equipped several computer and science laboratories in secondary and tertiary institutions in Anambra State and distributed of text books and instructional materials to schools across Anambra State.

He is also involved in establishment of small-scale enterprises for indigenes of Anambra State and involved in road construction/ rehabilitation of rural roads in the state. He has provided boreholes, rural electrification and donated transformers to towns and villages in Anambra State with financial and moral assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations across the country. He singlehandedly built the All Saints Catholic Church, Ihiala for his community, completed the St. Silas Anglican Cathedral, Ihiala and made major financial contributor to the building of churches across the country.

Family life He is married to the love of his life, Chief Barr. (Mrs.) Herietta Obinna Uzoh, for the past 26 years. The marriage is blessed with seven children.

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

INTERVIEW

Yaro: Why Ortom Will Win Again The Benue State Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Abah Yaro, in this interview with George Okoh, was confident about Governor Samuel Ortom’s re-election bid. He also spoke on the plight of former Governor Gabriel Suswam. Excerpts:

F

or about two years now your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been in the saddle of leadership in Benue State, how has it been so far? Do you think the party has been able to meet the expectations of the people?

Yes, we have been able to do that. We are all in Benue here. If you go round you will see for yourself the physical actualisation of the promises made and the dreams this administration came with upon assumption of office. The governor is following the manifesto of the party strictly. What the governor has done so far in his two years in office is highly commendable.

But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is insisting that the ruling APC has failed the people.

What do you expect from an opposition party? I was once an opposition chairman during which period we also made comments that the PDP was doing nothing.

If you look around, all the challenges we are facing today is because the PDP bastardised the economy of this country.

Look at what is happening within the PDP ranks. People are being caught with billions of naira and millions of foreign currencies. That was the kind of government they ran for 16 years. What we met was like a house with a faulty foundation.

So I don’t expect less criticism from the PDP. Look at what is happening to our former governor.

What is happening to him?

Are you not aware that he was arrested by security agencies as head of the militia?

He was found with guns and lots of other things. What was he doing with guns?

People on the social media kept saying that he is a non-violent person. But being in possession of guns is incriminating.

Do you know that you can spring surprises if you have resources to tackle challenges that require financial intervention? If we have enough financial backing the government can clear the backlog of salaries owed workers in a day. But the funds are not there.That is why we are insisting that the funds found to have been looted by the previous administration should be returned

Yaro...still sure of Ortom

Isn’t your party derailing at both the state and national levels?

We are not derailing and I can assure you that we can never derail. The opposition party might say we are derailing. We are not derailing, we are focused and we know where we are going. We will not disappoint the people that voted for us.

The people should be patient. Some say we have spent about two years and we are still asking the people to be patient. But i know very well that we are making steady progress.

Talking about the defection of members of the PDP to the APC, are you not scared that these defectors may be the bane of your party?

Our eyes are open. If they want to infiltrate our party in order to create problems we will not allow that. I used to tell my executives to shine their eyes. Anyone coming from the PDP must queue behind us. That is why we are very careful with the way

we handle political matters.

Your party asks for perseverance and patience, but the reality on ground is that there are no jobs for the youth and workers are not paid salaries as when due, how do you reconcile this with your position as a party?

It a very pathetic situation and it is actually not the fault of the ruling APC. Even when the PDP was in power there where no job opportunities. It is a general thing in the country. The PDP bastardised the economy as if they did not want anyone to survive it. We are talking about the issue of salaries. Benue is not the only state owing salaries. PDP states are also owing salaries. Bayelsa which is an oil rich state is also owing so are several PDP states.

How prepared is your party for the fast approaching 2019 general election?

We know 2019 is coming. Whether we

like it or not it’s not going to be easy but we will certainly win. We know that we have sell outs in or party. And those who might not be fortunate enough to get our tickets might decide to move on, but we know very well that by the grace of God, come 2019 Governor Samuel Ortom will win again because he is doing well.

Governor Ortom leveraged on issues of non payment of salaries, lack of jobs and all that to become governor. How do you intend to convince the people when you have not met their expectations?

Do you know that you can spring surprises if you have resources to tackle challenges that require financial intervention? If we have enough financial backing the government can clear the backlog of salaries owed workers in a day. But the funds are not there.That is why we are insisting that the funds found to have been looted by the previous administration should be returned.

20

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Resisting Modernisation at Lagos Abattoirs As part of efforts to improve the standards, processing and handling of meat consumed in Lagos State, the state government recently embarked on a transformation drive aimed at modernising the abattoirs. Ugo Aliogo reports that some butchers have, however, expressed concern that the effort is a ploy to render them jobless

K

ayode Julius and his friend sat in the makeshift tent, discussing and trading jibes. On his wooden table, large chunks of fresh beef are displayed. Behind him is a raised cemented platform filled with men and young boys butchering cows, while on the other side of the divide are small group of retailers making purchases.

The butchering process is crude and strenuous. The environment is dirty. It is in a state of utter disrepair with open drainage systems and unhygienic atmosphere. The shade where these cows are kept before slaughtering is very untidy and has a strong stench.

Kayode sells beef in Odo-Eran abattoir, Lawanson Local Community Development Association (LCDA) Lagos State. The abattoir also has a food market. Like his comrades in the business; they are aware of the state government’s plans to transform Odo-Eran and other abattoirs to semi-mechanised urban abattoirs, but they don’t know what government's demand from them might be in order to carry out this initiative.

Kayode, who spoke in Yoruba, said: “It is a good thing that the government wants to renovate this place. As you can see, the environment is not clean and healthy, but renovations will make our job cleaner and make us look more modern. We are very happy about this development.”

He also hinted that machines for butchering animals will be brought in to replace the butchers and he believes this will help transform the hygiene and efficiency of the business. “The people who do the killing are professionals, but we all know that machines make things faster, and this will reduce the cost of doing business,” he said.

Mechanisation efforts and concerns of butchers Some of the butchers are worried that if the abattoirs are mechanised, there are fears that it would take many of them out of jobs, while others hint that when machines are used, there are areas of importance in the butchering process that the machines may not give detailed attention to.

A butcher at Oko Oba abattoir, Agege, who pleaded anonymity, said if government adopts the mechanised process, many of the butchers would lose their job, stating that though the mechanised process is very efficient, the manual is better because attention is paid to details such as bone removal.

He said, “If government adopts the mechanised process, it will take many of us out of the job, though we are aware that the manual process is time consuming and

If government adopts the mechanised process, it will take many of us out of the job, though we are aware that the manual process is time consuming and crude, however, I am appealing to government to retain the manual because for me it is preferable

Butchers skinning and dressing slaughtered goats and sheeps at Matori abattoir

crude, however, I am appealing to government to retain the manual because for me it is preferable.”

For many of these butchers who have been in the business for years, switching from manual to mechanised process may not be a jolly ride, due to perceived complexity of the new technology, and lack of operational skills needed.

However, government may not be ignorant of these fears, as measures will be put in place to train and develop the skills of the butchers in various areas. But the challenge here is if government is sincere and determined; to bring on board the right private sector players in its PPP initiative in order to deliver on its promises for the abattoirs, because the Oko Oba abattoir managed by a private agency known as Harmony Services Limited has left too much to be desired in the areas of environmental hygiene, proper management of animal waste, hygiene handling of the wholesale meat and sufficient water supply for the butchers.

Added to these challenges in the abattoir, there is also the issue of high charges on the butchers by the checkers working for Harmony Service Limited. A butcher in Oko Oba, Anointing Olugbenga, said government is supposed to provide enough water for washing the cows as they pay N1,750 to checkers before butchering the cow, adding that they rely on the local water vendors to get water to wash the butchered cow.

He said: “This fee is levied on those butchering the cows on slab, if it is taken out, you pay more money. Government should reduce the money to N1, 250. Added to this, we pay N3,000 for ladder (monies paid to those watching over the cow). Government should speak with these cow watchers to reduce the fee to N2,000. It’s too high for us.”

Olugbenga is not alone in this predicament of high charges, the butcher who preferred anonymity who shared a similar experience urged government to reduce the price, explaining that this is a huge financial burden on the butchers and if nothing is done to address it, the charges would continue.

“We don’t have much sales compared to before, there are a lot of butchers in the business. The high charges are not good enough. We are being extorted heavily and it is not in our best interest. The abattoir has lost its focus,” he said.

Matori Abattori, Mushin At the Matori Abattoir, Mushin Local Government Area, the slaughter slab is housed in two buildings. There is the mechanised section which handles the slaughtering of cows, while the other building handles the skinning and dressing of the sheep and goats.

The butchering process here is slightly different from most abattoirs in the state. The butchers in the abattoir engage in the skinning and dressing the animal after slaughtering. The dressing is done after skinning.

This process is strenuous and time consuming especially because they use razor blades and hot water to carefully shave off only the hair, while the legs, hands, and the thick skin are transferred to a specialised area where it is well cooked to reduce the toughness, and if there are still hairs left either on the legs or hands it’s removed with the aid of sharp knife. The men in this section are very detailed, ensuring that attention is paid to every part of the legs and hands. However, the health safety of the beef is not given priority attention. The environment which this process is carried out is adjacent to a wide and deep gutter with stagnant water.

There is also a huge deposit of cow bones and horns meant for sale in this area.

The Maitori abattoir plays a key role in meeting the meat consumption needs of Mushin and its environs with the butchering of more than 50 cows daily and four standby tanks to supply enough water for the cleaning of the abattoir.

Oko-Oba Abattoir From reliable data, it was gathered that the Oko Oba abattoir is the biggest in Africa, and when placed side by side with the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) and the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) it is bigger in capacity

in meat production.

Going by the data above, there are strong indications that the abattoir sits in a comfortable position to contribute enormously to the wholesale meat consumption needs of the state, revenue generation and employment creation for Lagosians. To put the issues highlighted into proper perspectives, THISDAY spoke with a Secretary-General of one of the Union of butchers in the abattoir, who pleaded anonymity.

The union scribe said 1,500 cows are slaughtered daily and for each cow they pay N1,300 to the private agency managing the facility, adding that a lot of persons are gainfully employed in the abattoir and they have an estimated number of 3,000 butchers in their union.

From THISDAY investigation, it was learnt that there is also a mechanised section in the abattoir, but the work rate in the mechanised section is very low compared with the slaughter slab which produces the large tonnes of meat consumed in the state.

Efforts to get the opinions of the General Manager about the pace of work proved abortive as he declined to talk to the media except there was a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture, Alausa, mandating him to do so.

From the three abattoirs visited, it was observed that large amount of the animal wastes are lost daily, without adequate provisions put in place to convert these wastes into biogas energy. Also, the cow horns and bones which have high commercial value are sometimes sold to buyers or allowed to rot away.

Efforts towards meat exportation The union scribe was optimistic that few years from now, Lagos will become a leading market in wholesome meat export in Africa, especially with the purchase of four tonnes of meat for export by a group of Chinese in the last one year.

He added: “We are making headway because more Chinese are indicating interest. Here, we have about four industrial refrigerating facilities where you can keep meat for months and it

21

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

FEATURES will still be intact. The veterinarian doctors will give the specification and moderate it to a particular temperature level to ensure that nothing happens to it.

“The upgrade is ongoing; they have been able to complete the fence. This will ensure that there will not be leakages and trespassers.

We have an organisation that is coming to sensitise the actual operators (butchers). We have a regulated meat market and whatever you cannot get in the meat market, you cannot elsewhere.

“The government wants to ensure that they regulate people and reduce the number of people that are going into the slaughter slab for hygiene purposes; it will help the butchers and the players. The players are those that we will cut the animal into sizes.

“In this abattoir, we are essentially distributors we are not retailers, however, we have a retail market which is private. We have a large consumer market in Lagos. We supply about 65 per cent of meat consumed in Lagos from this abattoir.

“In terms of hygiene, there are 40 veterinarian doctors who inspect cows. When you bring your animal, you cut it you open for thorough inspection. If they certify as unfit for consumption, they condemn it out rightly, while if they have to condemn the entire animal they condemn it there.”

Government efforts at regulating illegal abattoirs The Monitoring and Enforcement Unit of the state Ministry of Agriculture has been clamping down on illegal abattoir operators.

Recently, 24 butchers were arrested for illegal abattoir operations at Owutu, Ikorodu and in Badagry axis of the state. It was discovered that large chunks of unwholesome meat being processed with dirty stagnant water and live cattle were impounded.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Oluwatoyin Suarau, said the state government has declared zero tolerance on illegal abattoirs/slaughter slabs, illegal transportation of meat and cattle unregistered veterinary premises and stray animals in the state.

The operation in the Badagry axis of the state, affected slaughter slabs on both left and right at Seme J5 Zongo, Iya Afin and Ajara slaughter slabs. The Enforcement Team in company of the State Taskforce also invaded the illegal animal markets at Iberekodo, Limka sheep and goat Market and Toll gate sheep and goat illegal markets.

The commissioner revealed that the task force has the responsibility of monitoring the whole process of meat handling right from the animal markets to the abattoirs, and even transportation, stating that government has significantly addressed the distribution aspect by introducing the Eko Refrigerated Meat Van which is now used to transport meat rather than the former obnoxious meat transportation.

He added: “On cattle movement and trekking government has provided designated vehicles called METROLIVE for the movement of live cattle from one end to the other'. Cattle trekking and transporting of meat and live cattle with illegal vehicles on Lagos roads is prohibited. These steps are aimed at complementing the on-going upgrading of the Lagos abattoir and reformation of the entire red meat value chains towards the delivery of wholesome meat to the people in hygienic environment.”

Use of biogas digesters In implementing the Lagos State development PPP master plan initiative, there is need for government to put in place certain recommendations. According to a research conducted by the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations for Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA), there is need for the introduction of biogas digesters for abattoir effluent treatment.

Biogas digesters are relatively inexpensive; construction costs for a 30 cubic metre digester is approximately US$10 000. They require little maintenance and generate energy (gas to be used for energy requirements at the abattoir) and the solid residues can be used as fertiliser. FAO has promoted this technology and initiated the construction of some prototype biogas digesters in connection with abattoirs, the most advanced installed at the Animal Products Development Center,

A mechanised butchering process at Matori Abattoir, Mushin Local Government Area

A veterinary doctor on inspection

a national meat training centre in Manila, Philippines.

The research said: “Biogas digestion is the breakdown of organic substances that make up almost 100 per cent of the pollutant load of farm or abattoir effluents, primarily to methane gas but also to CO2 (to a minor extent) and traces of other gases. Effluents dumped untreated beyond the walls of a rural abattoir. Lagoon system combined with initial solid screening: This system is not ideal but is used for effluent treatment by an abattoir producing meat for top-quality markets. Through the activity of anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic conditions are created through the construction of air-tight chambers usually submerged in the ground.

“The construction materials used are hollow blocks, cement, sand, gravel, rebars and pipes. The capacity of the digester chamber depends on the volume of effluent to be treated and the retention time; but generally

The government wants to ensure that they regulate people and reduce the number of people that are going into the slaughter slab for hygiene purposes; it will help the butchers and the players

for small- to medium-sized abattoirs it holds 30 cubic meters. When biogas digestion is completed, most organic matter is broken down to methane, CO2.” and water. Remaining solid materials are primarily sludge.”

Conversely, biogas digesters need to be introduced at Oko Oba, and Matori abattoirs for effective treatment of effluent, and energy generation for the abattoirs because there is a large quantity of animal waste that is lost at these two abattoirs daily. For the private sector players who wish to partner with government in the concession plan, there is a need to bring biogas digester module that suits the Nigeria environment with emphasis on quality and building a reliable technical manpower to man the facility.

Upgrade of sanitary standards There is also need to raise the sanitary standards in Lagos abattoirs and increase water supply for the cleaners and the butchers who don’t have adequate water.

The cleaning process carried out at Matori abattoir is very low when compared with international requirements for abattoirs. In maintaining sanitary standards at the abattoir, the APHCA research recommended that the use of common chemical disinfectants such as chlorine-containing compounds aldehydes quaternary ammonium compounds oxygenreleasing substances (peroxide compounds).

The research explained that the chlorine compounds do not affect floor and wall tiles or stainless steel equipment, such as scraping tables. Highly mechanised abattoirs should use quaternary-ammonium compounds or oxygen releasing substances when disinfecting.

Best disinfection results are achieved when intensive dry/wet cleaning precedes chemical disinfection.

Preparation and meat handling There is need for butchers in all abattoirs to

be trained in the areas of hygiene, and meat handling in order to prevent contamination of the raw meat with bacteria. The level of water supply should be improved to assist these butchers with enough water. At Oko Oba abattoir, the standard of hygiene maintained is very low judging with international standards and the status of the abattoir in Africa.

The butchers are carefree in the aspect of meat handling and retailers walk into the abattoir slab where the raw chunks of meat are displayed on the floor. The state government should provide stainless steel basins where chunks of these raw meat butchered are placed into before they are sold to the retailers rather than keeping them on the floor.

Government should build a designated area where the meat retailers make their purchases instead of walking into the slab area.

The sanitary condition of the slaughter slab should be maintained at all costs. At abattoirs with canals, government should ensure that these canals are washed regularly to prevent disease spread such as bacteria to the raw meat and butchers, for instance at Maitori abattoir, some of the butchers carry out the cooking processes near a stagnant canal. This is unhealthy and unethical. There is need for an upgrade in the boiling processes of the cow legs and other parts, at the abattoirs visited they were found using the traditional methods and the boiling utensils are very old and dirty.

Facility for cow horns and bones conversion Government should build facilities which would be used in crushing these cow horns and bones in order to convert them into useful products for the local market and export such as ceramics products, skin belt, skin shoes, combs, animal feeds and other products. The focus should shift from export to manufacturing.

22

IMAGES

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left) and his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, at the 30th convocation ceremony of University of Calabar, Cross State....recently

L-R: Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo; Deputy Managing Director, Africa Diving Services Ltd, Olujide Asa; CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Bismarck Rewane; and Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Babatunde Macaulay; at a client engagement session organized by Stanbic IBTC in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

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

Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye (middle), his wife, ëYemisi (right), receiving the Administrator and Governor of the Year 2016 Award, Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Zonal Station, on behalf of His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA, from renowned journalist, author and publisher, Chief Areoye Oyebola (left), at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State,...recently

Standing behind; Divisional Head, Corporate Services Division, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Felicia Obozuwa(3rd left) and President/Chief Executive Officer, Jakin N.G.O, Bukky Adebiyi with a batch of graduands at FCMB women sponsored youth empowerment for entrepreneurship and employability skills programme graduation ceremony in commemoration of the 2017 International Womenís Day celebration in Lagos...recently

L-R: Sadr, Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Engr. Abdul Waheed Adeoye; Alhaji Salam Yusuf (Baba Ijebu); The Permanent Secretary, Government House, Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Adebiyi; Circuit President Abuja, Dr Lateef Busari; Naib Amir Special Duties, Engr. Ahmed Al-Hassan and Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaíat Nigeria, Dr Mashíhud Adenrele Fashola, at the opening ceremony of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaíat Kwara State Conference Room, Library and Book Shop donated by the family of the late Alhaji Busari and Alhaji Nuhu in IIorin, Kwara state...recently

Head of Channel Marketing PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Mr. Ayodeji Adewale(left) and the Principal Government Senior College Agege, Mrs. Akindipupo Olufunke at the first round of PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge Examination in Lagos...recently

L-R: Members of Arise Women Team, Amaka Chika; Ronke Adeyemi; Chief Executive Officer, Arise Women, Pastor (Mrs) Siju Iluyomade; Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 20, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade; Amina Sanni; and Flora Dania, during the celebration of RCCG Region 20 Redeemer’s Day at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

23

BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

R A T E S 6.5000 18.0655

A S

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

A T

19.9078 23.1318

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

F E B R U A R Y

NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

15.6268 16.8358 15.0170

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

1 0 , 19.5941 21.3470 22.8256

2 0 1 7

EXCHANGE RATE N305.25 US DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes TechPlus 2017 Forum Holds July

BRAINSTORMING ON THE ECONOMY

L-R: Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Dr Demola Sogunle; and Country Risk Analyst, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Kevin Orpen; during a business meeting in Abuja ... recently

Concerns over Slow Takeoff of InfraCos Emma Okonji Information and Communications Technology (ICT) stakeholders in Nigeria have expressed worries over the slow takeoff of the two licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) and the delay by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to license additional five InfraCos, as earlier promised.

The stakeholders are worried that the situation has stalled the deployment of metro fibre optic network across the country, meant to deepen broadband penetration.

Although some of the stakeholders had advised the NCC to consider regional licensing of InfraCos to enable smaller players with small financial

ICT capacity to participate in the bidding process, the NCC, THE sector regulator chose to license InfraCos on zonal basis, using the Open Access Model for the deployment of optic fibre infrastructure broadband network.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pinet Informatics, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, who was among other stakeholders that pushed for regional licensing of InfraCos, said the idea was to increase the number of players that would participate as InfraCos, thereby enhancing faster deployment of broadband infrastructure in the country.

The stakeholders have again called on NCC to consider

regional licensing of InfraCos in the next round of licensing, which they said, was also being delayed by the NCC. The federal government, through the Ministry of Communications Technology, in 2013 published a five year National Broadband Plan (2013 – 2018) intended to ensure the deployment of pervasive and ubiquitous broadband infrastructure nationwide to facilitate the realisation of a fivefold increase in broadband penetration from 6 per cent as at 2012 to 30 per cent in 2018.

Based on the initiative, the NCC grouped the country into seven zones for easy licensing and deployment of metro fibre optic network for broadband penetration across the country.

NCC went ahead to license two InfraCos: MainOne for Lagos zone and IHS for North Central zone, to deploy metro fibre optic network.

Shortly after the licensing of the InfraCos, NCC published a notice on the commencement of the process for the licensing of more InfraCos on Open Access Model for the deployment of optic fibre infrastructure broadband network in the remaining five zones, which include North East, North West, South South, South East and South West.

But till date, the InfraCos for the remaining five zones have not been licensed and the initial two that were licensed have not commenced full rollout of Continued on page 24

Onu: Diversification into Agriculture, Solid Minerals Can’t Take Nigeria Out of Recession Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

ECONOMY

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the diversification of Nigeria’s economy into agriculture and solid minerals are not enough to take the country out of recession.

He therefore stated noted the need to deploy science and technology in an effective and efficient manner, adding that if the country embraces research and innovation, it would remain competitive and the diversification would be sustainable.

The minister made the remark in Abuja at the 4th inter-ministerial planning committee meeting held ahead

of the 2017 Technology and Innovation Expo scheduled for April in Abuja.

According to him, “Nigeria is presently in recession but it is not because we are in a recession that we are concerned.

We are concerned because each time there is a sharp drop in commodity prices, we enter into a recession and we want to put an end to it. We want to make sure that this cycle does not repeat itself after this one, and the only way we can do so is to move our economy from being resource-based, that is, being dependent on commodities which was our economy has been since independence.”

Onu added: “At indepen-

dence, our economy was resource based but at that time we depend on agricultural products. Subsequently, we abandoned agriculture and embraced petroleum products, both crude oil and natural gas are all commodities and one common feature is that these commodities we don’t determine the price.”

He stated that the ministry was determined to making sure that the country break away from the cycle that it presently finds itself, which has however been a common feature since independence.

He continued: “We are determined to make a change, to make our own contribution in a way that our economy will be diversified. Yes! We are working

on agriculture, solid minerals, we are making progress.

“We need to deploy science and technology in a very effective and efficient manner so as to diversify our economy in a sustainable manner. It is very important that the diversification is sustainable, otherwise after some time we will now relapse to what the situation used to be and then the problems would start again.

But if we remain competitive the diversification will be sustainable and for you to be competitive you must embrace research and innovation.”

Furthermore, the minister stressed that the ministry was Continued on page 24

The 2017 edition of West Africa’s largest conference and trade expo, TechPlus 2017, has been slated for July 4th – 8th 2017.

Principal organiser of the event and the Managing Director of Connect Marketing Services, Tunji Adeyinka, has formally announced the appointment of a new General Manager, Mr. Taiwo Oyewole, who will be responsible for driving TechPlus to the next level, and building on the foundation and successes achieved in the last two years.

Speaking further on the July event, Adeyinka revealed that this year’s TechPlus theme, “AnIntelligent Future: from Connectivity to Digital Immersion”, will be exploring advancements with some of the major technology trends of the future: Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Workforce Automation and Digital Disruption. Just like previous editions, TechPlus 2017 will bring together companies and delegates from around the world to showcase how technology is evolving to meet the needs of a digital generation. TechPlus 2017 will hold at Landmark Event Centre on Water Corporation drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Commenting further on plans for the July event, Adeyinka said, “Last year, we hosted over 11,000 delegates. This year, more products, conversations and experiences will be shared with thousands of consumers, trade members and key industry stakeholders. From start-ups to SMEs and Enterprises; everyone is welcome. TechPlus 2017 offers an unrivalled platform for engagement, collaboration and business growth”.

VDT Sponsors e-Insurance Confab

VDT Communications has said it is sponsoring the maiden edition of the eInsurance conference, being organised by Pinet Informatics. The company took the decision to take part in the conference as a Platinum Sponsor which is the highest sponsorship category of the event, owing to the need to further develop and grow the industry and the crucial role VDT is playing by providing her services to a large number of the operators in the Nigerian insurance industry.

The need to further develop the Nigerian Insurance industry is crucial. According to available statistics, in spite of Nigerian population of over 170 million, only a paltry 0.9 per cent uses insurance services.

VDT Communications says it is set to exhibit her corporate and retail services during the conference as well as have her delegates in all the sessions. The company will make a presentation on how the operators can continually leverage on her services to grow their businesses. Furthermore, the MD/CEO of VDT Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi is scheduled to speak as one of the panelists on “Internet Connectivity” in the insurance industry during the conference.

HP Introduces Commercial Desktops

Hewlett Packard (HP) has announced new commercial desktops and all-in-ones as part of its world’s most secure and manageable PC lineup. In addition to the company’s leadership in security, the new HP Elite desktops and AiOs, pack powerful performance and versatile designs that modernize a company’s technology dress code while helping keep devices, data and employees’ identities secure.

Desktops and AiOs account for nearly half of commercial PCs sold, representing a critical technology for businesses and organisations. HP therefore built its new HP EliteDesk 800 Series desktops and HP EliteOne 800 AiO to feature a range of industry and HP firsts, including the newly redesigned EliteOne 800 G3 All-in-One is the first commercial AiO with dual-facing cameras; the all-new HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Tower is world’s most powerful commercial desktop, the world’s most configurable commercial desktop, and is the first VR-certified commercial PC – perfect for companies wanting to future-proof their technology and deliver state-of-the-art capabilities.

“With an estimated population of 180 million people, government and the private sector must build critical infrastructure required to stir up the knowledge-led economy” Managing Director, Rack Centre, Mr. Ayotunde Coker

24

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD CONCERNS OVER SLOW TAKEOFF OF INFRACOS broadband infrastructure, a situation that ICT stakeholders blamed for the poor broadband penetration in the country.

Worried about the slow takeoff of the two licensed InfraCos, and the delay by NCC to license additional five InfraCos, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has equally blamed the entire situation on scarcity of foreign exchange (FX).

Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said unless government addresses the issue of scarce foreign exchange, the already licensed InfraCos would not be able to purchase telecoms equipment for the deployment of broadband infrastructure, since purchases are done in dollar denomination, and this could be the reason why there is delay by NCC to license additional InfraCos. “It appears that the prevailing scarcity of FX has adversely impacted the deployment of metro fibre network, as the earlier licensed InfraCos are yet to make significant progress in the deployment of optic fibre across their respective licensed locations, hence the need for strategic support to the telecommunications service providers by ensuring easy access to FX to import required equipment and undertake the pending projects, as well as fulfill outstanding obligations to foreign vendors without further delay for the continued growth and development of the industry.” Adebayo said.

ONU: DIVERSIFICATION INTO AGRICULTURE, SOLID MINERALS CAN’T TAKE NIGERIA OUT OF RECESSION determined and committed to ensuring that the commercialisation of research findings would be achieved in a sustainable manner through the expo.

Onu emphasised that the expo would bring together inventors, innovators and investors, stressing that “we can no longer afford that all our research findings on our laboratories to waste away on the shelves of our libraries.”

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritme)

NEWS

Govt Policies, Harsh Operating Environment Blamed for Airlines’ Failures in Nigeria Chinedu Eze Aviation industry experts have identified government’s inimical policies and harsh operating environment as major factors responsible for the collapse of airlines in Nigeria.

The industry experts said these factors are responsible for the collapse of over 142 airlines since the year 2000, noting that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had about 150 airlines in its registry in 2000 but most of those airlines had collapsed, leaving only eight.

He said out of that number, only four airlines are currently operating effectively.

A former Managing Director of Bellview Airlines and currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Sabre Network NMC West Africa, Gabriel Olowo said that 30 percent of the failures of the airlines are as a result of mismanagement by the owners and 70percent are as a result of the harsh government policies.

“I have been in the sector since 1973 and I have seen the airlines failing within a space of 10 years they started operations.

So, there is a common factor.

The business of Nigeria Airways was government business. The problem of corporate governance has always been there.

The airline was supposed to be repackaged and become a new carrier but the then president said the government was not buying into the repackaging,” he said.

Olowo who is also the President of Aviation Round Table (ART), a think tank body in the industry, spoke to THISDAY in Lagos yesterday. He recalled that

the second generation airlines such as Okada airline, Hak Air and others aspired to succeed far longer than they did, but they went under because of the heavy burden placed on airlines by Nigeria’s unfavourable policies, which he noted seem to favour carriers than indigenous operators.

He also noted that as far back as 1994, exchange rate was around N22 to a dollar, while Nigerian airlines were selling one hour ticket for Lagos-Abuja or Lagos-Kano at N2,200 and at the exchange

rate of N22, which amounted to $100.

“Lagos-Abuja was $100 value in 1994, which was about 23 years ago. Today exchange rate has moved from N22 to N450. Today, an airline sold ticket for N16,000, which is amounts to $30. This is too cheap because the airline may not generate the revenue to effectively maintain its aircraft.

“Someone in government should raise an alarm. If I am in government, I will shut down the airline, because this is showing you desperation

for cash flow. And they call it promotion. What kind of promotion? Exchange rate will never make you earn the right tariff because people will not be able to buy the ticket.

“So, you decide to reduce the price; meanwhile, your cost is increasing. The airlines in Nigeria currently are not charging the right tariff after 23 years. If people cannot fly, then do not kill them. If I am NCAA Director General, I will shut any airline that charges less than $100,” Olowo said.

Experts have also accused

federal government of giving equal routes to foreign airlines in Nigeria, while domestic airlines cannot reciprocate such routes considering their capacity and fleet number.

Checks show that South African Airways has 53 aircraft, Ethiopian airline has close to 100 but all Nigerian airlines do not have up to 52 aircraft.

Olowo attributed these limitations to scarcity of foreign exchange, which has made most of them abandon many of their aircraft in maintenance facilities abroad.

A BOOST FOR AGRICULTURE

L-R: DMD FirstBank, Gbenga Shobo; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh; MD/CEO First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Adesola Adeduntan; and Representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Ag Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju at the maiden FirstBank Agriculture expo...recently

N377bn Indebtedness: CBN, NCC, 13 Banks Meet with Etisalat Today Emma Okonji The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and the banks, will today, meet with the management of Etisalat to open fresh discussions on a new payment restructuring model that will enable Etisalat resume payment of its indebtedness to 13 consortium of local banks.

The meeting, which is at the instance of NCC, is a follow up of the previous meeting held on Friday last week in Lagos by the same group of mediators.

At the end of the Friday meeting, it was agreed that the mediating group would meet again today (Thursday) to resume talks and find a lasting solution to the issue.

The Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, who confirmed the meeting, said the essence was to open fresh talks on the best way forward. “Yes talks resumed today and we will be discussing new ways on how to address the issue,” Dikko said in a telephone conversation.

In a bid to expand its network and upgrade it to standard, Etisalat, in 2013, took a loan of $1.2 billion (N377 billion) from a consortium of 13 local banks, under a stipulated agreement of refinancing the loan with interest on a quarterly basis. But unfortunately for Etisalat, the devaluation of naira, coupled with the scarcity of dollars,

made it extremely difficult to continue repayment of the loan, which it had already started, since part of the repayment was done in dollar, based on the agreement reached when the loan deal was concluded.

Disturbed by the indebtedness of the telecoms company to the 13 banks, the creditors, last week, threatened to take over the management of Etisalat Nigeria, until they recoup their money. Worried about the ugly consequences, especially the wrong signals that the action of the banks may send to potential investors in the telecoms industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission, on Thursday last week, brokered a meeting between it and the CBN. At the end of Thursday meeting, which was attended by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, it was agreed that the CBN would invite Etisalat and its creditors to a meeting the next day, being Friday, to further discuss and to find a lasting solution to the indebtedness.

True to its words, CBN, on Friday last week, invited Etisalat and its creditors to a meeting that was also attended by the management of NCC. At the Friday’s meeting, reprieve came for Mobile Network Operator, Etisalat, as CBN ordered the 13 banks to stop all plans about taking over the operations of the telecoms

company.

In a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, shortly after the

Friday meeting, Ojobo said the meeting succeeded in halting the attempt by Etisalat’s creditors at bringing it under any

form of take over. Receivership was completely taken off the table in a meeting that was very productive and constructive.

Carlyle Appoints Babade Advisor to sub-Saharan Africa Team Carlyle has bolstered its deal-making and portfolio management in Africa with Dele Babade as advisor to its sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) team.

Babade, who is ex chief executive officer at Ecobank Capital, brings with him both sell-side and buy-side deal-making expertise. Ecobank Capital is the investment banking arm of Togo-based financial services company Ecobank Transnational.

He joined Ecobank in 2010.

Babade will continue to hold a number of external roles, as he advises Carlyle on its Africa platform. He is currently chief executive officer at AfriCapital, a US-based financial advisory firm he set up in 2007. The company provides services across a number of sectors including consumer, telecommunications, financial services and oil & gas.

Prior to AfriCapital, he had been at Citi, where he held a number of roles, including deputy managing director & regional head of corporate finance. He initially joined the firm in 1993, and left in 1998,

returning two years later, in 2000. He departed Citi in 2007.

He had also been investment banking director for Africa at Japan-based financial holding company Nomura. Babade began his career at Midland Montagu – now HSBC Investment Bank, in international and merchant banking in 1988.

Carlyle brings in Babade as it pushes ahead with dealmaking – investing from the Carlyle Sub-Saharan Africa Fund (CSSAF), closed at $698 million in 2014.

The firm has so far closed six deals on the continent, with a seventh deal to be finalised shortly. The fund currently has $454 million, about 65%, of the fund committed to both closed and pipeline deals. Of this $343 million is invested, while the remainder has been reserved.

The SSA team is headed by Eric Kump, managing director and partner – who has been co-heading the Africa team since 2016.

Carlyle earlier this year signed a commitment to back business services company

Global Credit Ratings (GCR), which is based in South Africa.

The deal is yet to be finalised.

Carlyle delivered two deals in 2016, including South Africabased business services and products distributor Amrod.

CMC Networks, a South Africa-based telecommunications services provider, was sealed in 2016, and finalised earlier this year.

Carlyle had closed four deals under previous Africa co-head and managing director Marlon Chigwende who left to found a new investment firm, Arkana Partners, in 2016. He was joined by ex-KKR Africa director Kayode Akinola.

Babade

25

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

The Case for Mobile Termination Rate Review In view of the current flat rate of N3.90/minute for the call termination rate for telecoms operators, which took effective on April 1, 2016, there is need for a review of the rate, given the present economic realities, writes Emma Okonji Since April 1, 2016, telecommunications operators have been operating on a flat call termination rate of N3.90/minute for existing and small/ new entrant operators.

But the rising rate of inflation , which has caused prices of commodities to increase hundred folds, is beginning to affect revenue generation among telecommunication operators who still operate at a fixed call termination rate of N3.90/minute.

The economy officially went into recession last year, a development many economic analysts never envisaged to happen so soon.

The viable sectors that were thought should be instrumental in resuscitating the nation’s ailing economy are also being strangulated by the whirlwind of economic recession. Not even telecommunications sector, which is one of the major sectors contributing a lot to the GDP, is spared.

With the current economic challenges, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are at the receiving end. The subscribers are also affected by the economic hardship. Nigeria’s rising inflation rate, which was put at 18.7 per cent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is making our economy unfriendly for both foreign and local investors.

Interconnection rate Interconnection cost is a major cost component of network service providers. Simply put, interconnection can be defined as the linking of telecommunications networks to enable customers of one network to communicate with customers of another network. Based on the survey of International Telecommunications Union (ITU), interconnection is rated by many countries as the single most important problem in the development of a competitive marketplace for telecommunications.

Telecommunications regulatory agency like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), takes charge of interconnection as a result of its strategic role in drafting policies. It is seen as a strong regulatory tool in stabilising the information and communications technology (ICT) industry by ensuring effective competition, profitability and appreciable quality of telecom services. Under interconnection policy, the NCC uses it to mandate MNOs to provide their network infrastructure for mutual usage. The NCC supervises interconnection because big MNOs can come up with terms that are not favourable to the smaller operators, like denying them access totally, giving the terms that are tedious, degrading the quality of interconnection or setting arbitrarily exorbitant prices.

Interconnect rate, therefore, has to do with sharing of revenues generated via tariffs, when subscribers make use of telecommunications services that go beyond their own individual networks. The NCC, in conjunction with MNOs employ cost based study in other to determine mobile voice termination rate, also known as interconnection rate, for a particular period, which is referred to as a regime.

ITU recommendation International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nation’s specialised agency for information and communications regulation, recommended that in determining interconnection rate, it should be cost-oriented, it should reflect the cost of providing services that is required to unbundle the networks. Unbundling, in clear terms, means the charge or tariff made separately, rather than as part of a package. It is only the part of the network that is connected with interconnection operations of the system that is charged.

Review of interconnect rates In 2003, the NCC had its first intervention in the interconnection rate in the nation’s telecoms industry. Around that period, the full liberalisation of the sector was still at its nascent phase. Therefore, the needed data for a detailed cost study, was not obtainable from the then evolving sector. The regulatory commission deplored international benchmarking to set the termination rates for the country’s

telecommunications industry then.

In 2006, the Commission conducted its first detailed cost study by employing Long Run Incremental Cost Model (LRIC), which was used to determine the cost of terminating services by an efficient operator as the model prevents the MNOs from transferring the cost of inefficiencies to one another and invariably the end users.

Again, interconnection rate was reviewed

in 2009 after a thorough cost study, which brought about a new regime with the adoption of asymmetric regulation on a glide path in recognition of differing costs of terminating services on the network of big operators, small operators and new entrants.

In 2013, the NCC continued with the asymmetrical regulation while the last cost profile of the 2013 regime had a uniform rate of N3.90/ minute for existing small/new entrant operators effective 1st of April, 2016. The NCC is always motivated to conduct this periodic review as a result of dynamic nature of the telecommunications sector, which changes with other economic and technological factors.

“Telecommunications regulatory agency like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), takes charge of interconnection as a result of its strategic role in drafting policies. It is seen as a strong regulatory tool in stabilising the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, by ensuring effective competition, profitability and appreciable quality of telecoms services. Under interconnection policy, the NCC uses it to mandate MNOs to provide their network infrastructure for mutual usage”

International termination rates The international aspect of interconnection rate, is called International Terminal Rate (ITR).

This rate is the mobile voice termination rate charged by telecoms operators across the border.

International termination is required when a customer want to establish an international call, which requires the services of telecommunications infrastructure of MNOs in other countries, which is outside the jurisdiction of the local network. The termination rate of $0.03/minute is the amount the network service providers in the country receive for terminating inbound international traffic.

According to data obtained from website of ITU that compared interconnection rates in African countries after well-articulated survey and research, one of the results of the survey observed that Nigeria has one of the lowest ITR on the continent. The Nigeria’s ITR is put at $0.03/min for international in-bound calls.

Comparing call termination rates The ITR for some African countries, according ITU data are as follows: Kenya-$0.11/ per min; Ghana-$0.21/min; Benin-$0.17/ min; Senegal-$0.30/per min; Togo-$0.31/ min; Ethiopia-$0.20/min; Tanzania-$0.31/ min; Uganda-0.25/min; Zambia-$0.14/min; Rwanda-$0.23/min; Niger-$0.27/min; Chad-$0.50/ min; South Africa-$0.03; Burkina Faso-$0.27/ min; Gambia-$0.70/min; Guinea Bissau-$0.50/ min; Somalia-$0.44/min; Nigeria-$0.03/min; Liberia-$0.38/min; Cameroon-$0.28/min; Angola-$0.20; Egypt-$0.09/min among others.

From the above data, Nigeria has one of the lowest ITR and this has posed a huge revenue loss challenge to MNOs in Nigeria. It has also invariably created enormous loss of hard currency to the country. Infact the low termination rate

has made the network service providers in the country perpetual net payers to their overseas interconnecting partners.

Furthermore, certain changes have emerged in the Nigerian macro-economic situation including double digit inflation rate, high internet rate and foreign exchange fluctuations. In order to avert a major cash flow challenge in the industry, the sector regulator, the NCC quickly carried out a benchmark study and established an interim ITR at N24.40/minute.

Some other economic factors that have made current interconnection rates of N3.90/min and $0.03/min, for National Terminal Rate and ITR, respectively, unsustainable apart from foreign exchange rate, high inflation rate are interest rate and ease of doing business.The devaluation of the naira has worsened the plight of MNOs in the country, since they charge consumers in naira and pay in dollars to foreign MNOs, who terminates their calls in Nigeria. Most of the telecommunications equipment needed for operations and network expansion are imported using foreign exchange.

NCC’s position In other to stem the ugly tide, the telecommunications regulatory agency, the NCC has intervened.

The Commission recently held stakeholders’ forum on cost based study for the determination of mobile voice termination rate for the sector. The essence of the stakeholders forum was to carry along key shareholders in the cost based study, that will herald new determination regime for interconnection rates in the country. The NCC will harness the window provided by the study to properly scrutinize the advent of grey market activities in the telecommunications industry.

Grey market activities include; call refilling, call masking, sim-box and internet-based calls like WhatsApp, Skype, Imo Video calls, and so on, that do not yield revenues to MNOs. The NCC employed the services of world renowned auditing firm—Pricewaterhousecoopers (Pwc) to handle this study. The firm is to among other assignments: carry out an impact assessment on the subsisting interconnect regime; identify shortfalls on the subsisting interconnection rate regime and provide workable solutions; determine if there is need to have different termination rate for national/domestic and international traffic.

The result of the cost based will help the NCC in arriving at the new interconnection rate regime, which will shape the future of the telecommunications industry.

26

T H I S D AY •THURSDAYMARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Onu: Technology Business Outsourcing Key to Wealth Creation

Chairman, National Association of Information Technology Enabled Outsourcing Companies and Managing Director, Interra Networks, David Onu, spoke with journalists on the importance of technology outsourcing for wealth and job creation and the need for collaboration on ICT parks. Emma Okonji brings the excerpts: My own staff refused. They said there are no roads there; and that several other amenities are lacking there. So, you also have to carry along the prospective tenants so that you can also make sure that you are building it to the specifications that will suit them. So, ATV is a project that we hope we can channel some of this new government’s resolve towards the FCT. We have mentioned that particular projects to stakeholders that it is a worthwhile project, that there is a need to see how it can be further supported. So, hopefully, this time around, we might get it right.

The National Association of Outsourcing Companies of Nigeria which you chair recently organised a national conference to boost the prospects of outsourcing in the country. What is your general assessment of the event?

It was a very successful event. We really thank God for His mercies. The turnout was amazing. We had various participants. We had the job seekers. We had government participation. We had private sector participation. It was very well received. The feedback we have been getting about the conference since the event has been tremendous. Some clear actions have come out since then. We are hoping to work with our partners and stakeholders to execute the things that were agreed on at the event.

So, after the event, what next for technology outsourcing in Nigeria?

This is where the journey starts. As they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. The event was our one step start.

We are very happy with the support we received from government; from the office of the Vice President, and the Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Ambassador Dipolu, made it clear that the focus was on the agenda of what government wants to achieve; the idea being that outsourcing is a clear way to create jobs and wealth.

We are also grateful for the support of the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu.

The minister has articulated what he would like to do with this and has actually asked us to see how we can put heads together to articulate a strategic action plan on how to grow the sector over a five-year period.

He has mandated the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to work with us. We are excited about that.

As well, our development partners – the World Bank and others, have all expressed their interest.

The issue has always been having one sort of catalyst to bring everybody together and work towards the objective. What we are trying to achieve is to have a common framework to put this industry forward. This requires a little bit from everybody. So, there is a role that NITDA has to play, and there is a role that the ministry has to play.

There is equally a role that other sectors have to play. Like the financial services – the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry, the regulatory aspect, the Federal Inland Revenue Services. Every sector has a role to play to grow this industry because it is not just an information technology (IT) thing.

What we are hoping to do is to create that framework where everyone can find his own part within that roadmap.

How do you create the framework and the roadmap?

We are not reinventing the wheel. This sector is matured. What we have done is to evaluate what has been done on the supply side in countries like India, Philippians, Ireland, and the demand side, the companies that buy the services like in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and all that. We have taken time to understand how this industry evolved in those markets.

What we have found is that there are some major areas of activities to support this industry. In Nigeria, those key activities are handled by different organisations. In the framework we are developing, we will define the expectations of those key areas and what needs to be done. We will now charge those individual agencies, departments and ministries with what needs to be done.

Onu

Can you give a clearer picture of what needs to be done?

I will give you an example. One of the major things that needed to be done is a legal framework because companies that outsource to you want to know if they have legal recourse in the event of something going wrong. So, there is a need for proper education of the judicial system – not just the judges but also the lawyers. A lot of lawyers in Nigeria today, need training on technology evolution and how to settle disputes in the 21st century that is entirely driven by technology. This means an engagement with the Nigerian Bar Association since it is the body that manages lawyers on the need for them to understand technology and electronic transactions.

What are the investment strategies in relation to incentives?

Nobody just does things for the sake of doing them. Countries have clear investment strategic programmes whereby you invest in a country. There are concessions and there are incentives. Those incentives in Nigeria are managed through different agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) for instance. A tax holiday, for instance, is what is always welcomed by everybody. We need to make sure that we can offer such and offer such under a guideline or a framework that FIRS or anybody that does taxation manages.

How do you manage the issue of poor infrastructure?

The issue of infrastructure has always been raised but the question is what infrastructure do we need. In most countries around the world, these infrastructures are built in special ICT parks or zones. This means in that area, you can provide all the required infrastructure – power and whatever you want to put there and companies can come and take advantage of it. So, we will like to have a design for ICT parks and hand over to those charged with building ICT parks to build according to the plan.

So how do you manage publicity to create

the necessary awareness?

In the issue of publicity, there are two Nigerian agencies charged with publicising Nigeria – the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council. We can work with them to channel advertising to promote Nigeria as it relates to technology.

They can still do what they are doing but we give them the technology framework on how to promote Nigeria. This is our idea of having a framework. You can still do what you are doing in your own agency but it is according to the guidelines to boost the industry. That is what we are putting together.

We hope to have that in the next few weeks and share with government.

You were talking about ICT parks and the one that readily comes to mind is the Abuja Technology Village. What exactly is going on there?

Absolutely fantastic and I will tell you why nothing is happening there. The initiative was very worthwhile – very commendable of Nasir el-Rufai who initiated it – I guess in 2005. I think one of the reasons was that from inception it was seen largely as an FCT project. The project would not survive if it is seen as a project of one single agency.

For an ICT park to work, there are so many components to it. It is not just a physical infrastructure like we talked about incentives.

No matter what infrastructure you put there, it is not going to give any person a tax bridge.

No matter what FCT puts there, it is not going to publicise the place to the persons that need to know about it. It is not going to affect the laws that need to be changed.

So, it is a collective effort.

Actually, there are three ICT parks that are worthy of note – Abuja Technology Village(ATV), Delta ICT Park, and Kano ICT Park. Commendable projects but we need to get away from seeing them as construction projects. There is more to it. That means there are more projects to be brought in. Then, more importantly, the anchor tenants. When AujaTechnology Village was being built, we were told to come and take up residence there.

There is a report that most of the technology spends in Nigeria are not being retained in Nigeria. How does that affect the local industry and how can we change the scenario?

It affects the industry tremendously. On that note, I will like to spare a second and express my deepest regret at the death of Mrs. Florence Seriki, the Managing Director of Omatek, who was one of our board members. I express my regret because she was one of the flag bearers at the forefront of this issue of local content and the need to champion our local technology support.

So the estimate is that in Nigerian government and the private sector – we expend well over a billion dollars every year. The estimate is that 80 per cent or more of that expenditure do not come back because either it is in one software that was purchased abroad or one piece of hardware or equipment from abroad.

Now, we are not asking for protectionism.

Today, we are in a global economy but we do ask for opportunity to showcase what Nigeria has. What we estimated was that if Nigeria is to spend 10 per cent of what is being currently expended collectively abroad on local industry in the area of software, hardware development, support and maintenance, consulting, training, 10 per cent will be about $100 million. If you do the calculation at current exchange rate, you will get N50 billion. Imagine the impact that can have on the local economy – the number of jobs it would create, how much wealth that would be created in the economy, and this is only 10 per cent we are talking about.

Many countries are becoming deliberate and intentional about growing their local technology industry. We don’t do the same.

Nigerians prefer to patronise foreign products at the detriment of local manufacturers. We praise companies like Julius Berger. It is a good construction company. But how do you know that Bayo and Sons will not be a good construction company.

One, if you pay him as you pay Julius Berger, put him under the same supervision, and guideline, he can produce same result.

Remember that it is still Nigerian engineers that in Julius Berger. You find that the Nigerian engineer is not given the same opportunity, and because, he is not given the same opportunity at the same cost, he is not likely to produce the same result.

How best should Nigerian engineers be treated, when it comes to government contract?

We have seen Nigerian companies that have done fantastic work in architecture, in engineering, in technology because they were given an opportunity. We should stop this mind-set of foreign first. As a technology practitioner in Nigeria, I can tell you that there are a lot of talents and there are very few things you get abroad that cannot be home grown. It is just research and development but research and development requires funding and support.

There are certain things to be done technology wise, that government has no need to look outside to get it done. Nigerian engineers should be given the opportunity and the right environment to operate.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

27

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Google Trains One Million Africans in Digital Skills Stories by Emma Okonji Google has announced that it has reached the one million milestone in its digital skills programme for Africa. Google had last April said that it would train as many as one million Africans on digital skills within a year. The company has kept to its promise.

“We have reached our target early, and we have committed ourselves to train even more Africans in digital skills in the

coming year,” Google said on Tuesday.

In addition, Google is extending its commitment to the digital skills programme by assisting local communities further in several ways. First, Google will provide offline versions of its online training materials to reach individuals and businesses in low access areas where it is unable to hold physical training sessions.

Second, Google will provide offline versions of the content

in languages like Hausa, Swahili and IsiZulu.

The digital skills programme offers 89 courses through the online https://digitalskills. withgoogle.com/ portal, and Google works with 14 training partners covering more than 20 countries to offer face to face training. The programme will also be addressing needs for small business owners, who are looking to better understand how to take advantage of the web across Africa. Google will

add web-focused skills training for SMEs across Africa as part of this initiative.

Speaking on the development, Google Nigeria Country Manager, Juliet EhimuanChiazor, said: “The Web is a driver of economic growth, and is transforming society as a whole. People must be equipped, through training and reskilling to make use of the tools, and take advantage of it for entrepreneurship, employment and e-inclusion.”

According to her, their goal with this and previous web training initiatives is to enable more people across the continent better understand how to leverage the web tools for growth, to give them access to better employment and/or the skills to start their own businesses.

“A digitally skilled Africa is good for everyone - for our economy, for entrepreneurs and individuals. And yes, good for internet companies like Google,” she said.

Growth Engine and Brand Lead, sub-Saharan Africa, Bunmi Banjo, said: “Having one million digitally skilled young people in Africa is good for everyone. If young people have the right skills, they will build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.”

“As we expand this initiative to reach more local areas across the continent, we hope to see more impact in everyday lives of Africans,” Banjo added.

Report Suggests Ways to Address Cyber Security Threats The 2016 Nigeria Cyber Security Report has suggested various ways and what should be the priority for Nigeria in order to ameliorate the threats associated with cyber security, which cost Nigerian businesses $550 million in 2016. The report, which many Nigerians in both the public and private sector believe will address the issue of cyber security in Nigeria and across most African countries, was published by Kenya based Serianu in collaboration with Nigeria’s Demadiur Systems, with contributions from various cyber security experts across Nigeria. Analysing the report recently at a cyber security forum in Lagos, the President of Demadiur Systems, Mr. Ikechuchu Nnamani, said since more than half, which is about 56.3 per cent of Nigerian businesses remain exposed to cyber-attacks, the possible ways through which Nigeria can reduce the menace is to fortify public and private ICT infrastructure and services.

Other modalities that could be adopted, according to him, include enhancing the security competencies of technology users and ICT security practitioners, developing a vibrant ICT security ecosystem with a focus on people, process and technology that must be

localised.

“Cyber Security is a huge threat to businesses in Nigeria.

For us to tame it, we must develop a vibrant ICT security ecosystem and work closely with international counterparts and also encourage cross border collaboration with Africans and global partners,” Nnamani said.

The report also noted that it is evident that attackers are performing more targeted attacks against specific members in organisations, stressing that it is crucial for organisations to develop and implement a security awareness training programme, which could be done in-house or outsourced to qualified service providers.

Meanwhile, for private sector organisations, the report stated that with the numerous attacks occurring as a result of patches and susceptibility to malware, it is critical for local organisations to focus on developing vulnerability and patch management programme with their institutions.

“In this era where the threat landscape is evolving and threat vector increasing by the day, there is a need for maintaining an ongoing awareness of information security, vulnerabilities and threats to support organisational risk management decisions,” he said.

MTN Splashes Cash Prizes on Subscribers MTN Nigeria has released cash prizes worth millions of naira for its subscribers that participated in the just concluded promo, tagged ‘Yafun Yafun Promo’ Stephen Enekwenchi, Joseph Awolope, Abdulhamid Maigadi, Nasiru Aliyu Luggah and Femi Owolabi, were the star prize winners of N2 million each for their participation in the SMS-based game promo. Ten other subscribers also emerged winners in the N300,000 and N100, 000 category while household items like Generating sets, iPhones, Samsung Galaxy A7, Samsung 40 inched LED Television, were presented and winning prizes to some other subscribers.

For 42 years old Femi Owolabi, one of the N2 million winners, it was a much-needed bailout for his dying business venture. The Ekiti-born entrepreneur commended MTN for providing the platform for subscribers to better their living.

“I am very grateful to

MTN for this prize money.

I didn’t even see it coming but trust me when I say it is a life-saver especially as my business has been slow.

I am definitely investing this money to bring my business back to life. Thank you MTN ” he enthused.

Speaking on the promo during the prize presentation, MTN’s Senior Manager, Customer Relations, Lagos and South West, Mr. Sonny Onyegbula said one of the major reasons for introducing the reward scheme is to help Nigerians through the economic downtime being faced in the country.

“MTN Yafun Yafun is a reward scheme that we have introduced to reward our subscribers for some brain work and particularly assist them through this economic downtime through prize winnings. Today, we have made new millionaires and improve standard of living with these household items. This is in line with our mandate of enriching lives,” he said.

KADUNA AIRPORT OPENS FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

L-R: CEO Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Assistant Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs, Alhaji Muhammed Ahmed, Minister of Internal Affairs, Alhaji Abdulrahman Danbazau, introducing the new Departure and Arrival Immigration cards to the media and the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, during an inspection tour of Kaduna International Airport, as it opens for operations ...recently

Cisco Celebrates Women with Technology Skills Leader in information technology (IT) and networking, Cisco last week had its 5th annual Women of Impact Conference (WOI) , where it celebrated women with IT skills.

The event, which coincided with International Women’s Day was themed, “It’s Time.

Collaborate. Lead. Inspire.”

The Nigerian edition of the conference took place at Cisco’s Victoria Island Lagos office, where several eminent women, business leaders and entrepreneurs from the region shared their experiences.

The WOI conference, which has been a staple at Cisco for several years is devoted to the professional development of women. The conference takes place simultaneously across all Cisco offices around the world and is designed for women in IT, with the aim of uniting women all over the world, giving them a place to network, motivate and co-develop one another.

The conference is a free global event that is open to all Cisco employees to help women in the IT field gain practical knowledge to help their careers.

This year, over 10,000 Cisco employees, partners, and customers from over 30 countries attended the conference via telepresence. At the end, women were expected to emerge with an expanded network of allies to support them in the future, ideas for collaboration, and a

new empowerment to lead and chase the career of their dreams.

Invited as a speaker for the Nigerian edition of the conference was Ms. Funke Opeke the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Main One, a telecommunications solutions provider that built West Africa’s first privately owned, submarine cable system interconnecting Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Seixal, Portugal in 2010.

Main One has grown to become the leading provider of wholesale and enterprise connectivity and data center services across the region and the company has played a major role in changing West Africa’s Internet landscape.

Also invited to speak was Ms. Temi Giwa-Tubosun, Nigerian-American health manager and founder/CEO of Life Bank, a social enterprise using technology and smart logistics to match blood to patients.

She was named in 2014 by the BBC as one of the 100 Women changing the world.

Giwa-Tubosun expressed her appreciation to cisco saying, “I do my work each day thinking about women and what I can do to impact their lives and not a lot of IT and networking organisations in Nigeria celebrate women or even recognise international women’s day, but Cisco has continually shown its commitment to women and the value they provide in the technology industry.”

IIM Forum to Address Economic Recovery, Growth in Nigeria The Institute of Information Management (IIM) is set to provide support for the successful implementation of the national economic recovery and growth programme recently released by the federal government.

The institute hopes to achieve this through various stakeholders engagement at the forthcoming 2017 annual lecture, induction and award ceremony in Lagos.

The event is also expected to recognise and honour different stakeholders, including past and present public office holders, captains of industries including leaders in different sectors of the economy.

Speaking on lecture theme, President and Chairman Board of Directors/Governing Council at IIM – Africa, Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole, said the event would highlight the role of Information Management in supporting and ensuring adequate implementation of the recently released Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) by the federal government, which is expected to lead to the growth of the nation’s economy by 2.19 per cent in 2017 and seven per cent by the end of the planned period in 2020.

“The conference is not only timely but also essential at this point in time for a sustainable and competitive economy and economic transformation with emphasis on improving both public and private sector efficiency, which can only be

guaranteed by ensuring proper management and access to information,” Oyewole said.

“In addition, successful implementation of the economic recovery and growth plan will grossly depend and thrive only on timely, accurate and strategically relevant information. There would be need for private and public sectors to embrace information management and analytics to improve productivity and enable innovation,” he added.

According to him, there would be a tremendous economic potential that can be unlocked by using the increasing volumes and diversity of real-time information to make better decisions in a wide variety of sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing to retail to public administration as the economic recovery and growth plan seeks to give attention to macroeconomic stability, economic growth and diversification, competitiveness and business environment, governance and security.

“Promoting access to information in government and other institutions will play a vital role in maximising the proceeds of the economic recovery and growth plan. It will enables government agencies and third parties to create innovative products and services using datasets and their outcomes, that are generated in the course of providing public services or conducting research,” he said.

28

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

P&G Leads by Example with CSR Initiatives In this report, Khululiwe Mabaso highlights how Procter and Gamble, one of the leading lights in corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, through its unique and quality products has taken CSR to the next level Traditionally, businesses operate without so much demand from the society, but in recent times such trend has changed. Businesses now need to deliberately create goodwill between them and the society through Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an area of growing importance across businesses around the world.

Organisations are expected to be socially responsible and also act beyond their objectives of profit maximization. By engaging in corporate social activities, organisations are perceived to be socially responsible, and this enhances their reputation and credibility beyond the environment in which they operate.

Hence, it has become a necessary business practice.

Corporate social responsibility is often positioned to play an active role in helping organizations achieve their goals of becoming a socially and environmentally responsible organisation.

It is seen as a commitment undertaken by an organization which is likely to reduce negative impacts and enhance positive impacts on society and the environment.

As the concept of corporate social responsibility has evolved and become more widely recognised; organizations are striving to create

more innovative ways to infuse social activities into their goals and objectives. Corporate social responsibility has been classified into more categories such as ethics, employee diversity, environmental sustainability, and philanthropy.

The relationship between organisations and the society has witnessed enormous changes recently, as businesses have transformed from being profit oriented only, to being socially accountable to the society.

One of the leading light in corporate social responsibility in Nigeria at the moment is Procter and Gamble, a multinational consumer goods company that offers products in more than 180 countries. The conglomerate which recently won the SERA Awards, an award given to organisations who have set themselves apart through corporate social responsibility is very well perceived as an organisation who isn’t purely driven by profit but as one who understands the value of giving back to the society.

Their CSR activities have contributed immensely to the attainment of socio-economic, environmental and sustainable development in Nigeria. For example its Always School Programs educate millions of girls annually on feminine hygiene and puberty, and provide them with Always sanitary towels. In the same vein, the P&G’s Hospital Program”

gives women access to healthcare facilities while the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water program provides safe drinking water to millions of Nigerian children in order to reduce the incidence of childhood death caused by drinking unsafe water.

Corporate social responsibility may mean different things to different organisations.

However, for Procter and Gamble, it is a way of improving lives through their unique and quality products. According to the Managing Director of P&G Nigeria, Mr George Nassar, the company being aware of the need to contribute positively to the society, strives to use its expertise and products to solve social, environmental and economic problems.

“We have succeeded in making corporate social responsibility a part of our corporate culture and this has materialised into a long standing record of effective implementation across all fields such as education, health, environment, and philanthropy, among others. Corporate social responsibility at Procter and Gamble is not a task, but an attitude engrained in every area of the company’s business,” he said.

Procter and Gamble, he said, takes into consideration the sustainable impact of its actions and seeks opportunities to further add value to the society. “Our social activities are

built to focus on areas of social improvement that will result in measurable differences in the future, creating opportunities for the society,” he added.

He highlighted Procter and Gamble’s corporate social responsibility as ranging from good and safe working environment of the employees, to high quality products and services for the community.

He noted that a number of variables have contributed in sustaining corporate social responsibility of organisations to the society. Globalization is one factor that has imposed remarkable demands on businesses worldwide to be socially responsible, which in turn enhances their global image. Another factor is the rising power of consumers has made businesses like P&G to become more aware of the negative impact their actions and activities may cause to the society, hence, the idea of corporate social responsibility.

“Every day presents an opportunity to us at Procter and Gamble to improve and change lives around the world and to show commitment to the communities we operate in through our corporate social responsibility initiatives,” Nassar said.

- Mabaso – Associate Director, Corporate Social Responsibility from Procter and Gamble

NIPC Beams Spotlight on Automotive Sector to Boost Employment From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Executive Secretary Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Ms. Yewande Sadiku has identified the automotive sector as a priority sector that can impact on the domestic employment.

She made this assertion yesterday at the interactive forum on investment promotion with commercial attachés of foreign embassies in Nigeria.

The forum, organised in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to promote the Nigeria Automotive Components Investors’ Conference in Lagos on June 13-14, was attended by commercial attachés of US, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Switzerland, Mexico and Argentina missions in Nigeria.

According to Sadiku, the automotive sector is a low hanging fruit that has the capacity to drive the commission’s strategy for 2017 and promote development initiatives.

“We consider the sector as

a priority and one that have a big impact on government and drive investment initiatives” she said.

The Nigeria Automotive Components Investors’ Conference is the highest level of convergence of federal government with leading global vehicles and automotive components manufacturers where Nigeria’s policy direction as an emerging automotive industry will be discussed.

The conference, to be attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, will promote investments in that sector.

Nigeria is deemed as Africa’s next frontier for the automotive industry with experts estimating that the country has a potential market for one million new cars per annum.

While local production is currently at about 15 per cent of installed capacity, the country, up till 2015, imported 400,000 vehicles (new and used) valued at $4.2billion.

Sadiku, who appealed to the diplomats to attract investors from their countries, added that to drive its automotive

business objectives, Nigeria’s would restrict itself to handful of major countries with historical ties that also share

trading relations with it.

“We want countries that will manufacture in Nigeria for export,” Sadiku said,

adding that NIPC has since 2016 established the One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) featuring 27 government

agencies to facilitate and improve visa processing for travellers on business visit to Nigeria.

SHOWCASING LOCAL CAPACITY

L-R: Managing Director of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), Dr. Amy Jadesimi; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Kesiye Wabote; and the CEO Samsung Heavy Industry (SHI)-Nigeria, Mr. Changwan Kim; on inspection of the progress of work at the $3.8 billion Egina FPSO integration site at the LADOL base in Apapa pilotage area...recently

Court Issues Warrant against Turkish Airlines for Violation of CPC Act Raheem Akingbolu A federal high court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant against Turkish Airlines and two of its principal officers for their failure to appear before it in a criminal suit filed against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the breach of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Act. According to a statement issued by the Council, Justice B.O. Quadri of the Federal High Court 10 issued the bench warrant on Tuesday against the

airline and two of its principal officers, Liker Ayci and Rasak Shobowale, the airline’s Board Chairman and Commercial Manager respectively because of their failure to appear in Court at the resumed hearing of the case.

The airline and the other two accused persons had at the last hearing of the case on February 9, 2017 failed to appear in court for the case, prompting the presiding judge to issue a criminal summons for them to appear on Tuesday (March 14, 2017).

Issuing the bench warrant yesterday, Justice Quadri ordered that they be brought before his court on April 17, 2017, which is the next adjourned date for the arraignment of the accused persons.

The Federal Government has dragged the Turkish Airlines before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged criminal violation of the enabling law of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and for impunity.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of

Nigeria (SAN), filed a threecount charge against the airline and the two principal officers for failing to produce relevant documents under Section 18 of the CPC Act, Cap C25, Laws of the Federation.

The prosecution came on the heels of the consistent refusal of Turkish Airlines to respond to lawful requests of CPC for a full situation report on the airline’s alleged shoddy treatment of passengers of Flight 623 from Instanbul to Abuja on 25th and 31st of December 2015 and 9th of January 2016 ,

which prompted the Council to approach the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for the prosecution of the airline.

According to the charge list with number FHC/ABJ/ CR/147/21, the Federal Government alleged that the three accused persons between the 20th December 2015 and March 2016 “without sufficient cause refused to provide the Consumer Protection Council documents on Turkish Airlines’ policy on delayed baggage”, thereby committing an offence

punishable under section 18 of the CPC Act. The accused persons were also arraigned before the court for allegedly neglecting, without sufficient cause, to attend and testify before CPC on the number of passengers aboard Turkish Airlines Flight 623 from Instanbul to Abuja on 25th and 31st of December 2015 as well as 9th of January 2016, who were affected by its untimely delivery of baggage, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 18 of the CPC’s enabling law.

9 T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

29

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Giving MSMEs a Boost

As part of efforts to support the growth of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, a group known as After School Graduate Development Centre, recently launched a programme to create one million jobs in the country, write Ugo Aliogo and Gloria Onoja Since the oil boom of 1970, the Nigeria economy has remained undiversified and there have been heavy dependence on oil revenue, which accounts for about 75 percent of government revenues and about 96 percent of the country’s export earnings. The huge financial fortunes realised during the oil boom made government to abandon the agricultural sector, which exported a substantial share of the world’s cocoa, palm oil, groundnut, cotton, hides and skin, rubber and other solid minerals.

The MSMEs sector is another critical sector, which government has not actively developed its potential especially in the areas of improving the ease of doing business, providing the necessary business enablers and supporting entrepreneurs with micro-credit supports.

Though there have been some government led interventions over the years, but they were not sustained over a long period, and at some points they are truncated. Globally, Micro-Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are regarded as backbones of any economy. The MSMEs play pivotal roles in economic transformation in any nation and they contribute up to 90 percent to employment generation.

The World Bank stated that MSMEs are the largest employers in many low-income countries, yet their viability can be threatened by a lack of access to such risk-management tools as savings, insurance and credit. Their growth is often stifled by restricted access to credit, equity and payments services.

MSMEs account for a significant share of employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) around the world, but, when they have limited access to finance, the economy suffers a series of negative consequences: Economic and social opportunities are restricted, enterprise creation and growth are restrained, households and enterprises are more vulnerable to threats, and payments are costlier and less safe.

The sector in Nigeria is bedevilled with several challenges such as undercapitalisation, difficulty in accessing bank credits, corruption, lack of research and technical expertise. Therefore there is an urgent need for government to properly develop the potential of the sector through active involvement and collaboration with the private sector in order to address the unemployment challenges facing the country, while also focusing on positioning the sector for increased growth and contribution to the GDP of the nation.

The task of growing of the sector should not be left only to the government; the private sector has a role to play in building capacities of young entrepreneurs through training, financial and technical supports. As part of its commitment to drive this initiative, a group known as After School Graduate Development Centre (AGDC) recently launched a programme to create 1 million jobs in the country.

Objective of the Initiative The initiative, which is known as the Youth Ignite Project (under the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) Microenterprise Finance Program) seeks to address unemployment challenges by supporting micro-enterprises through the provision of a single digit interest loan, training and business advisory. The main objective of the project is to create new jobs through entrepreneurship by supporting 1 million entrepreneurs over the next five years to create 5 million jobs. The initiative is mainly for young people with creative ideas between the ages of 18 and 35.

Loan value Entrepreneurs upon meeting the required criteria and judges’ review would have access to start or grow their businesses with a seed loan of N 200,000 (two hundred Thousand Naira).There is also N500, 000 scale up loan for successful businesses with prove of concept (through the amount of jobs created, revenue generated, etc.).

The loan cycle has a three months moratorium + nine months repayment.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Lagos recently, the Director of AGDC, Funmi Adeyemi, said shortlisted applicants qualify to access funding up to N200, 000 and another

Acting MD of BoI, Waheed Olagunju

N500, 000 upon proving their concept, adding that all selected applicants are required to attend a business boot camp to refine their business strategy. She also noted that successful entrepreneurs automatically become part of a network to facilitate information and resource sharing, peer feedback, and continuous exchange, “interested entrepreneurs should visit www.youthignite. ng.” Adeyemi further stated that the focus is basically to get as many unemployed young Nigerians out of the unemployment market and get them to start viable businesses, noting that the country has an industrious population with the intellect.

“It is basically for young people to start thinking, come up with ideas and if it is very bankable and reasonable we will invite you for the training where you have the idea on how to move forward and then you can have access to the money that is available. It started with the pilot we did with the Lagos State government which we did for two years before we stopped but now it is across the nation,” she explained.

She explained that as part of efforts to drive the initiative across the country, they are hoping to work with various States, adding that it is easier to partner with the State Governments since BoI is providing the training though not paying for the training, and they are partnering with these various states who will pay for the training, “we are now partnering with Ogun and Oyo states in different areas to develop the potentials of their youths.”

She added: “We worked with the Ogun state in February to do a two days summit just trying to expose young people to different things they can do in Ogun State. The state Governor was present with the young people and also talking to professionals to open their paradigms to see the opportunities they can achieve, while providing them money in line with the support of together of BoI to start their own businesses. We hope to also partner with as many states as possible to help the young people to be the best they can be.

“In the short term, we want to try and get many young people on board so that they too can get to employ one or two people to move everything forward and then after a few years the business will expand and more people will come in. We just want to start a rebound effect of people growing and businesses expanding.

Working with Lagos State wasn’t bad. Lagos state is one of the most dynamic states in terms of getting people out of employment market.

“They are very committed promoting employability, entrepreneurship and the government has taken aide 25 billion all in the bid to get create more jobs and take people out of the unemployment market. Lagos is a forerunner.

First Bank Plc has always been a great supporter

Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

of all these initiative.

“The Lagos Ignite, which we had with the Lagos State government gave us a chance to experiment our idea and to see ways to improve in order to make it for more effective and help people. What we are saying is that you need to prove your ideas first because this is an initiative which is on a national scale, therefore the focus will be centered on what is possible and viable is different across the different regions in Nigeria.

“As a nation, we need to tap into that for the benefit of the whole country and if we challenge the minds of these young people with knowledge because knowledge is key. If we do not give them the right knowledge and guidance, they will waste the money, due to the lack of knowledge which is not at their disposal.

“It is a combination of all the factors and relying on BoI to help us get people into a positive value addition track and by proving what they can do with the little they can start with first. We have options to move to higher tracks because within the portfolio of BoI and with the support that First Bank is offering.”

BoI’s Role The Acting Managing Director of the BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, said that with increased investment in the sector, it can be positioned to become a strong foreign exchange earner for the economy, while urging government continuously invest in potentially viable projects in order to drive growth and impact positively on the economy.

He also noted that MSMEs can also export and added that some of the entrepreneurs they trained under the Graduate Entrepreneurship Funds (GEF) produced shoes and clothes that were of export standards. He stated that as Development Financial Institution (DFI) they would continue to support the sector, through capacity building, training and making the single digit, highly concessional financing available to them.

Olagunju explained that in the year under review, they are going to carry out another study to measure the impacts they have made across board in terms of the investments and funds invested in different sectors of the economy, micro small medium large enterprises and also projects financed by women and the locations of those projects.

“So that by the end of the year, we should be able to come with the statistics and the contributions that have been made by these projects to national development by way of increase in capacity utilisation of the manufacturing sector and then job creation, exports and foreign exchange generated by our projects,” he noted.

The BoI Acting MD further stated that they are leveraging the experience built up in Lagos to

see how they can help highly successful youths across the country, noting that they would continue to undertake any initiative that would stimulate production despite the current recession facing the country.

He added: “In the course of speech I made reference to GEF Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF). It is the first foray into youth entrepreneurship financing which was launched in 2016 with the members of the National Youth Service Council (NYSC). It was highly successful. Therefore, we also launched the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme (YES) in March Last year. It is on the feedback received from EDCs and participants, we are now fine-tuning some terms and conditions of YES. “We cannot convert YES into SURE-P because it is federal government based initiative. While YES is a BoI lending programme and it is predicted on the credit policy of the BoI which is anchored on the guidelines of the central bank of Nigeria.

BoI is a CBN licensed retailed development finance institution. We continue to tweak the terms and conditions of our youth programme including YES-P without violating the guidelines of the Central Bank and the credit of the BoI.” First Bank Support The Chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, said the investment of the bank in this project is to support nation building, adding that as a bank they are focused in supporting the transformation of the lives of those that they are very critical to nation building, “we are building a new generation of businesses that would be our customers of the future.”

She explained that until there is an all-inclusive development, which would involve converting the minds, and strength of a large part of the population into real value, the country may not witness meaningful growth “and that is what projects like this would do and our goal is to actively start a process.”

Awosika added: “So First Bank creating next generation of entrepreneurs is critical to our growth and critical to the growth of the economy so helping to create them now and working them through so that they can have a better chance to grow at the right pace or grow sustainably is a good thing. So we are taking a long term view here.

“For us is not just about them to sign up for an account, but about working with AGDC, BoI to create the next generation of entrepreneurs that are rightfully empowered and supporting them through to where they become the great entrepreneurs of our nation, some of them will fail, but so what the ones that fail will learn lessons for them to succeed somewhere else so we will not have lost completely and the ones that succeeds represents so much opportunity.

30

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

CONSUMER

How Nigerian Media Buying Agencies are Faring At the beginning, the carving out of media buying agencies from the general advertising business was seen as a step towards widening the scope of the business. Today, the decision has given birth to a robust sub-sector, as top media buying agencies are now in the realm of billion naira billings. Raheem Akingbolu reports

COO, Media Perspective, Jude Odia

Some times in the early nineties, an agency chief executive was said to have suspended one of his top hands for what he described as “dereliction of duty.” The top hand in question was said to have failed to prepare both media plan and public relations support for a new big campaign they were planning to launch on behalf of a client. They were supposed to present the final proposals to the client for approval before the campaign was to break. But the inability of the staff to meet the deadline given by the client nearly cost them the business.

Fast forward 2013, a clear twenty years after, there exists a different scenario in the conduct of the business of marketing communications.

Today, the days when one outfit prepares the creative material, plan its exposure in the name of media planning, organises public relations support for the campaign seems to have gone and gone for good.

In the last ten years, the client has had to deal with different ‘agencies’ with specialisation in these areas. Now there exists in the market outfits whose sole business is media planning and buying and the same vein, there are PR firms whose main business is helping organistions sending their corporate messages across to their targets via third party channels. They also help organise media presence and engagement for brands and also help shore up the image of both brands and corporate outfits.

However, if there is any area where the Media Buying agencies are winning the largest part of the business, it lies in the volume of ad placement on regular basis, which cannot be compared to the little the creative agencies would get after developing a concept.

Top media buying agencies: MediaReach OMD: A top player in the marketing communications space, mediaReach OMD is an independent media specialist with a record of good performance on many local and international accounts. The agency which currently handles Union Bank, Airtel and Promasidor, has also contributed well to the knowledge base of the industry through

MD, Starcom Media, Ayo Kupoluyi

the annual publication of Mediafacts – a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa.

Last year, the agency struck a new deal with Google Global Services Nigeria Limited

Now there exists in the market outfits whose sole business is media planning and buying and the same vein, there are PR firms whose main business is helping organistions sending their corporate messages across to their targets via third party channels. They also help organise media presence and engagement for brands and also help shore up the image of both brands and corporate outfits

on brand marketing. The agreement, which was consummated at an event in Lagos and christened “Google Day”, was expected to see the two companies collaborate on survival strategies for different brands in the face of stiff competition not only in Nigeria but across the world.

Media Perspectives: Obviously one of the leading media buying agencies in Nigeria, if the yardstick for judgement is based on volume of business, billings and ability to rejuvenate brands. Media Perspectives, a member of the Troyka group, started playing in the big league from day one in 2005 when it opened shop with the media buying and planning businesses of Nigerian Breweries, Indomie and Zain, as Airtel was then known. By 2009, the agency witnessed a huge expansion with blue chip accounts like PG, Nokia and Hennessy.

However, the agency’s biggest breakthrough in recent time was in 2012, when it won the MTN Account, which is unarguably the largest buyer of media space and airtime in West and Central Africa. Through referral, it added accounts from SMG: Coca-Cola and Samsung as well as winning local accounts like Jumia, E.J Gallo, Jovago and Kaymu between 2014 and 2015. Along the line, Media Perspectives sealed a global partnership with Starcom MediaVest Group, reputed to be the World’s No 1 media group and became its Nigerian Agency.

To achieve its targeted result, Media Perspective is believed to always deploy insight -driven media planning by defining marketing problems, probing challenges among others.

Perhaps the secret of the agency’s success lies in the strength of its network. As at today, its global partner –Starcom is in 78 markets, with 129 offices across the world. Africa has three regional hubs; Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal.

According to a source close to the agency, it currently manages $39.2b in media investments Starcom Media Nigeria: Another leading media buying agency, Starcom Media commenced business in 2000. Currently, it operates from two offices located in Ikeja, Lagos. Outside the shores of the Nigerian market, the leading media

specialist company has affiliate partners across key markets in Africa to cater for its clients’ brands and other marketing responsibilities.

This fact indicates that the agency follows its clients into new markets to fully explore marketing potential for brands in its portfolio. It prides itself as a media communications company that seamlessly connects consumers and brands through research based planning.

Inspired by a vision to be the “foremost media specialist in the country” Starcom deploys superior talents and systems to impact clients’ business, using global standards.

The agency’s impressive clientele features respected multinational corporations and successful indigenous companies. These include Nigerian Breweries and Nestle.

All Season Mediacom: One of the subsidiaries of the Troyka Group, All Season Mediacom is another reputable media buying agency with its hands on topnotch accounts like Etisalat and Intel. With the equity partnership between Troyka and Publicis, the next few years may be busier for the agency as more businesses may come its way.

Media Fuse: In no distant future, Media Fuse stands a good chance of making it big in Nigerian marketing communication space as a result of its recent alignment with Dentsu Aegis Network.

The network in a fresh determination to play big in Nigeria’s alluring market, bought into Media Fuse two years ago with a promise to use its huge economic potentials to impact on the local media buying agency. Dentsu Aegis Network is a global player with operations in 110 countries. The relationship between the two marketing communication firms now gives birth to a new firm – Media Fuse Dentsu Aegis Network. It currently handles Guinness and Peakmilk accounts.

Other media buying agencies that are doing well in the market are Media Share and PHD. In particular, the future of PHD is bright; being a member of the Ominicom group that recently won the global account of the MTN group. The account consolidation may automatically give the MTN account in Nigeria to PHD.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

31

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Danbatta:ARegulatorWorkingfortheNational Good Jamilu Yusuf discusses the various measures put in place by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta to ensure telecom consumers get value for their money The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta since his appointment eighteen months ago has taken steps which show clearly what he is serious about improving the quality of service and ensuring consumer satisfaction.

Not many can contest his credentials today as a bold and independent minded regulator that is focused on executing the mandate of the commission for the public good with the consumer being at the center of his overall strategy.

To underscore the importance of the consumer, the Danbatta-led management of the NCC has declared 2017 as the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer. The official campaign for this initiative was flagged off this week on Wednesday with the theme “Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust”. The campaign is part of the NCC’s overarching plan to protect the consumer from being exploited by strong service providers. It also aims to empower them with the capacity to demand for their rights to quality service and knowledge to seek remedies as appropriate.

Specifically, the campaign will embark on a nationwide general awareness consumer awareness on quality of service issues. It will also expose consumers to smart services and initiatives that NCC has come up with to empower them in their relationship with service providers. Some of these services include the Do Not Disturb (DND) initiative which is already in use. With it, consumers can stop telecom operators from sending unsolicited text messages to their phones by simply texting ‘STOP’ to 2442. Another one is the NCC toll free line – 622. Using this hotline code, consumers can escalate service related issues to the Commission directly in cases where service providers fail to resolve their complaints.

In addition, the NCC also plans to pro-actively engage the support and commitment of network operators towards meeting set targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on Quality of Services especially as it affects drop calls.

The flag off of the campaign is only the latest in the series of actions which highlight the importance that the NCC under Danbatta’s leadership places on quality of service. Early this month, the Commission in an interactive session on Quality of Service Delivery with telecom service operators and other stakeholders declared for the first time in the history of NCC, a state of emergency on the Quality of Service (QoS). The commission warned operators on the persisting poor quality of service and instructed them to take quick actions to fix the issues that are identified as being clearly within their control.

Beyond putting pressure on service providers to improve quality of service, the NCC acknowledges that there are some factors that are clearly outside their control and is helping with the relevant interventions to resolve them.

One of the factors include operators’ inability to access foreign exchange to keep their operations running smoothly. The NCC has engaged the CBN Governor and extracted a promise that it will be fixed. The NCC is also collaborating with operators to resolve other factors such as incessant fibre cuts; community issues; as well as the high cost of diesel to power base stations which impinge on quality of service.

The NCC policy of engagement, understanding and collaboration where necessary has been applauded by the operators because it makes things a lot clearer for all parties concerned.

The NCC makes it clear what its priorities are and what the expectations are from the market. Market players in turn are also given the close opportunity to state what their challenges are. And there is a stakeholder ownership of the problem and concerted efforts made to resolve. This really is the way to work and ensure progress.

Danbatta

Danbatta’s decisive, firm but fair style of leadership of the NCC is forcing big telecom operators who had before now taken the country for granted to have more respect for the Nigerian market, the Nigerian state as well as the Nigerian consumer of their services. This is a good development that will help to keep the communications sector not only on the path of consistent growth, increased contribution to the economy but also to make the players more aware of their contractual obligations both to the country as well as the millions of subscribers who drive the growth.

Danbatta’s has brought to define NCC’s agenda marks a good break from the rather soft and conciliatory stance of some past leaderships of the institution.

Regulatory agencies are by creation supposed to have an arm’s length relationship with those they regulate over

To say the obvious, the tone of a leader of a regulatory agency matters a lot in all climes. It matters even more in a country such as Nigeria, where institutions, processes and systems that ensure things are done right are often weak and prone to abuse by ill-motivated staff.

It is against this background that the perception that Danbatta, the chief telecoms regulator is all about the interest of the country and the consumer and therefore cannot be bought or pocketed by big telecom operators is so vital.

The historic imposition of a N1.04 trillion fine on MTN for failure to de-activate unregistered lines and insistence despite organized local and international political pressure that the multi-national telecoms giant pays stands out as the most high profile example of this new regulatory regime.

While there have been a lot of arguments for and against the size and appropriateness of the fine, it is not possible to write off the institutional symbolism of what the NCC under his leadership did on the market. The action was unarguably a strong and effective signal which put all operators – big and small - on notice that the era of operator impunity is over.

It remains an unprecedented bold announcement to all stakeholders that there is a new sheriff in town and it is no longer business as usual.

The action went a long way in re-casting the hitherto negative image of the NCC as a toothless bulldog to that of a tough and decisive regulator who in pursuit of the public good is not afraid to take on errant operators no matter how high profile or connected. Even though the fine has been negotiated and reduced to N330bn to be paid in three years based on some conditions, the message from the Chief Telecoms regulator is not lost on players within the telecoms industry.

The strong patriotic regulatory style that Danbatta’s has brought to define NCC’s agenda marks a good break from the rather soft and conciliatory stance of some past leaderships of the institution. Regulatory agencies are by creation supposed to have an arm’s length relationship with those they regulate over. This is to avoid regulatory capture which undermines their capacity to make sound and fair decisions.

On the one hand, regulators are supposed to protect consumers from regulated firms with

market powers by ensuring that these firms are not abusing such power.

Sadly, such has been the case in recent times.

We have had a situation where regulators became protectors of the regulated, rather than of the public and consumer interest. Beneath the consistent growth numbers recorded by the communications sector over the years in terms of contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), job creation, economic development etc, there actually was a systemic elitist conspiracy between the regulator and operators. The conspiracy served the interests of the operators and their collaborators in the NCC while shortchanging industry standards and consumer interests.

In fact, the conspiracy successfully put consumer satisfaction and quality of service at the bottom of the ladder in the scale of regulatory priorities. Unconfirmed speculations were rife that some NCC officials in key offices responsible for monitoring quality of service and sanctioning operators for non-compliance were actually on the payroll of high profile operators. Danbatta’s tough and patriotic regulatory stance is helping to neutralize this elitist conspiracy. And if sustained will help to break it up completely.

Overall, Danbatta’s consumer focus has introduced a practical and more functional aspect to telecoms regulation that emphasizes consumer empowerment and protection as an important component the regulatory agenda.

This is what it ought to be because empowering and protecting consumers is central to the notion of competition which regulators try to foster.

Consumers should be given an effective and powerful voice within the regulatory system because of the central role that they play in the service value chain. Danbatta’s consumer centric re-alignment of the NCC agenda is therefore very re-assuring. It is good for the country and gives practical significance of the much touted growth of the very critical sector of the economy and therefore deserves the support of all stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians. It is time for the consumer to be celebrated and Danbatta has made history for making 2017 the showcase for the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.

- Jamilu is a public affairs analyst and publisher of Murya Magazine

32

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Olam Nigeria: Enhancing Domestic Food Security Abimbola Akosile looks at the efforts of rice production giant, Olam Nigeria, to enhance food security and local sufficiency in agricultural production, in a bid to help the country realise the global Sustainable Development Goals on hunger and poverty, among others

N

igeria, which is in the West Africa region, is Africa’s most populous country and its economy was recently rebased as Africa’s largest economy.

One of its major challenges is providing adequate food security for its more than 170 citizens.

Aside the crucial need for a viable alternative to declining crude oil revenue, the need to assuage the local food demand of the huge populace was one of the main reasons why the Federal Government has decided to prioritise agriculture under current administration.

The need to feed so many millions and achieve sufficiency in local production of food has been a topical issue and there are several vital interventions by both government and the private sector to make this a reality; in line with the first goals of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which involve eradicating poverty and hunger in the world.

According to Tim Christophersen, Senior Programme Officer, Forests and Climate Change at UNEP, agriculture plays a key and direct role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2) to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

However, to meet the world’s future food security needs, he stressed the need to make sure agriculture is also central to strategies to address other SDGs on poverty, water, biodiversity, sustainable cities, sustainable energy, and climate change.

To him, a new paradigm of inclusive agriculture green growth is needed, and this can be achieved through four actions: considering agriculture a key contributor to multiple SDGs, not just SDG 2 on zero hunger, building cross-sector coalitions, transforming the financial systems, and advancing research and education.

Christophersen is of the belief that through these four steps, the world can not only feed the 9 billion world population, but also do so in ways that sustain global ecosystems, empower local communities and build more resilient cities.

Olam Intervention Nigeria, according to reports, has imported nearly 17 million tonnes of rice over the past five years. The nation imported 2.3 million tonnes in 2016, while demand in the same year was 5.2 million tonnes. Rice accounted for 1.26 per cent of the entire budget for 2017.

In response to government calls for local players to help feed the 170 million Nigerians, Olam, a multi-national agribusiness, set up a rice farm in 2012.

Olam’s farm in Rukubi village in Nasarawa State is one of the largest rice farms in Nigeria and although it grows 50,000 tonnes each year, which is just a small fraction of the country’s demand.

According to statistics provided by the Vice President Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria, Mr. Ade Adefeko, an Olam rice project is also located at Ondorie, Nasarawa State, about 265km south east of Abuja, on the banks of the River Benue.

The project, he noted, commenced on July 1, 2010 and land development started in January, 2012. The project, from inception till Dec 15, 2016, has reportedly gulped N20 billion, while the total area of the farm is 12,920 hectares.

The current area under cultivation in the Olam rice project is 4,351 hectares.

The Olam rice farm currently employs 1,044 persons (594 regular, 450 seasonal); the mill also hires 959 employees (81 regular, 878 seasonal), while 90 per cent of the workers are from local communities around the farm to boost employment. The current number of outgrowers is 4,003, while the target number of outgrowers by 2018 is 16,000.

Olam is developing a 10,000 hectare fully irrigated paddy farm on greenfield site in Ondorie, Nasarawa State. The farm is expected to yield 10 MT per hectare (over two annual crop cycles), based on four varieties of highyield rice tested with the West African Rice

Olam Nigeria rice farm at Rukubi, Nasarawa State Development Association 4,450 hectares are already under cultivation, with a further 3,000 hectares on target for 2017/18.

Integrating Processing At the heart of the Olam rice farm is a mechanised rice milling facility, which incorporates Satake milling technology and Italian par boiling technology. This is expected to provide 67,500 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice per annum to the domestic market.

The ‘nucleus’ model combines the quality control of a large scale commercial farm with the cost and scalability benefits of smallholder ‘outgrower’ networks. The rice-growing communities in Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna States are supported by Olam with group formation, training and all agri-inputs on credit in order to improve their own paddy yields and revenues with assured buy back system.

The major stakeholders in these Olam initiatives include the Federal Government of Nigeria, CBN, IFAD, and USAID MARKETS. Also, 4,003 farmers including women are currently

engaged in the programme with an area of 5563 ha, with a target of 16,000 by 2018, ultimately supplying 30 – 40 per cent of the mill’s capacity.

Olam buys paddy from all producing states, controls quality and hires transport to factory.

Helping Communities Olam has expressed commitment to the next generation through providing school buildings, materials and scholarships for students in the host communities and beyond. It is also connecting communities through development of 54km of roads between surrounding villages and ensuring access to clean water and electricity through provision of bore wells and solar lamps.

Local Sufficiency According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Nigeria imported 2.3 million tonnes in 2016, about half of the country’s estimated requirements.

However, reports note that most farmers in Nigeria are small scale and struggle to get

the financing they need to improve farming methods and boost their yield.

According to reports, the agriculture minister claims that Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice production by the end of the year 2017.

However, critics of government policy not only point to a lack of spending on agriculture, but also to an under-investment in the entire value-chain for rice.

According to analysts, Nigeria has the capacity to produce what it needs and that it can use the agricultural sector to leap into a new industrial age. This, they noted, will only strengthen Nigeria’s evolution on to the international stage as a strong, rapidly growing, and sustainable economy.

To them, it is not a matter of whether Nigeria can feed itself; it is a matter of when Nigeria will feed itself. As Nigeria moves to realise the development goals on eradication of poverty and hunger, it is hoped that other players will replicate the success of Olam’s rice farm to further enhance local food security. That is a worthwhile goal.

RANDOM THOTS Contrasting Tales Recently on March 8, the Federal Government closed down the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja for runway repairs, a project which is expected to last for six weeks, with huge logistics hurdles and resultant huge diversion of air and passenger traffic to fortunate nearby Kaduna Airport. However, at the same time ironically, a major civil engineering project has been taking place since last November at Glasgow International airport while most of Scotland was asleep.

According to a BBC report, the runway at Glasgow airport has been resurfaced using the latest asphalt

technology. This is the only runway at Glasgow, which is one of Scotland’s busiest airports and handles almost 100,000 aircraft movements a year.

According to the BBC report, there’s been minimal disruption because they’ve been doing it piece by piece in the middle of the night.

The airport must be ready to reopen at 06:00. Since last November, night by night, 120m at a time, this small army has been lifting off the runway’s surface and laying a new, hi-tech one, according to the report.

Other work has also been taking place overnight, including replacing more than 200 runway and taxiway lights.

Most of it has been done with minimal disruption, indeed without passengers noticing.

The Glasgow project is focused on making it fit for the next decade and it looks like a meticulously organised operation because it has been well over three years in the planning. Nigeria, which is far larger than Scotland and has several airports around the country, would do well to learn from the Glasgow scenario. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, with minimum fuss, if only the authorities are open to new lessons.

That is the beauty of it....not so?

-Abimbola Akosile

33

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOpMENT/ISSUESINBOx

Nigerian Governors; main custodians of security votes

To Curb Corruption, Should Security Vote be Scrapped?

Although the current administration identified corruption and insecurity as two major development challenges facing Nigeria, there have been strident calls for the scrapping of the security vote allocated to top public office holders including governors, on the grounds that the funds are largely unaccounted for and prone to abuse and corruption. This call was echoed by a top government official who wanted the security vote replaced by contingency vote which can be appropriated and accounted for. In your own view, to curb corruption, should the security vote be scrapped in Nigeria?

Abimbola Akosile * Yes, security vote must be scrapped urgently to curb corruption and insecurity challenges in Nigeria, irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Such public funds were diverted and arbitrarily mis-managed by public office holders, governors and such fraudulent opportunists at the corridors of power inspite of biting abject poverty.

Invest such funds on contingency vote which can be appropriated and accounted for. Why waste electorate’s scarce monies on rich office holders, when the poor masses can hardly afford potable water, shelter, food, clothing and such vital social infrastructure we so badly crave? It’s misplacement of priority and must be corrected now. God bless Nigeria.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos * Definitely. It is the black hole through which governors and other elected officials siphon resources and the amount is indeterminate.

- Mr. Chukwudi Nwabuko, London, United Kingdom * Security votes scrapping has been long overdue and serve no purpose at all for those who collect it. After it has been scrapped, I want the Federal Government to set up a special committee to monitor how state governors utilise the monthly fund allocated them by the Federal Revenue Mobilisation Committee.

It is a known fact that when such monies are received, that is the time for their vacations abroad, to return when that of the next month is due. The federal government should not allow a few greedy individuals among the governors to tarnish the image of government.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * No, sir. But I think it should be made accountable. Occupiers of offices where security votes apply should be able to account for the money and state in very clear terms what the money was spent for and on.

- Mr. Duru Nnamdi, Abuja * Issues of security are always taken seriously by serious nations, and no amount of fund expended on enhancing their security architecture, especially in developed climes that is ever considered a waste. Ours should not be an exception. As much as one does

THE FEEDBACK Scrap security vote:

8

Don’t scrap the vote:

1

Others:

4

Radical tip:

Scrapping overdue!

Total no of respondents:

13

Male:

10

Female:

3

Highest location:

Lagos (5)

not approve of recklessness and abuse of the usually huge security vote by those entrusted with such; it is important for the public to exercise restraint and not be too quick in generalised condemnation of our governors on the matter. Also, most of the donations that our governors roll out in humanitarian crisis situations to support victims usually come from such votes. To ensure accountability, the National Assembly should consider a bill for setting up the ‘National Security Commission’ which will be domiciled in the presidency, and will be statutorily empowered with the responsibility of superintending security funding at all levels of government.

- Ambassador Rufus B. Aiyenigba, AFP DirectorGeneral, Pro-Nigeria Group (P-NG), Abuja * The security vote is long overdue for scrapping, including constituency project allowances enjoyed by top public office holders as beneficiaries. Some use it as an avenue to siphon the treasury, while other citizens die in abject poverty, hunger, with pensioners not paid their genuine pension, neither are workers paid their monthly emoluments when due e.t.c.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * Scrapping security vote isn’t the panacea actually. The governors that desire to pilfer funds will pilfer funds. Have we not seen instances of governors collecting bailout funds for salaries yet these governors go right ahead to spend the funds on other things? I think the solution lies in doing more of the ‘Ibori’

thing - get more convictions either home or abroad and others will become wary of stealing.

Deterrent is the key and all monies - security votes or not - will be safe.

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, Apo, Abuja * I think it (security vote) should be scrapped because it encourages corruption and if not then it should be seriously monitored.

- Mrs. Busola Babalola, Lagos State * Yes, security votes must summarily be scrapped urgently. There is no genuine accountability as scarce public funds unfortunately keep wasting through artificial drain pipes in government, causing deadly economic quagmire. Security challenge and quandary have soared negatively over time, especially in 2016 even as security vote is upwardly reviewed time after time. The funds were diverted and unaccounted for all along. It is better replaced by contingency vote that can be appropriated and accounted for, rather than allow for such public funds’ wastage.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * In Nigeria, even if security votes are scrapped, more ingenious ways to siphon money will be quickly devised. What we need is the political will to make anti-corruption agencies as well as our criminal justice system effective. With Osinbajo (Acting President) in charge for just a month, we have had one high profile conviction for corruption.

We also need the right people to begin to participate in politics.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Whether the security vote is allocated or scrapped, our top public office holders are committed and seasoned at devising new ways of misappropriating national funds without batting an eyelid. Adopting the contingency vote option could make a huge difference.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * Security vote money for some political leaders is not a necessity because it is not impacting the lives of the citizens they are governing; rather, it is for their own selfish interest. Security vote money is just wastage of tax-payers money meant for infrastructural development, but the never-do-well leaders

would take it as an advantage. The law that allows security vote money to be given to some political leaders like governors should be removed (repealed) now. It is encouraging corruption in governance. Nigerians should rise up and say no, for security vote money is fraud. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * I sincerely think the security vote should be scrapped. That is the biggest source or looting for the public office holders. Since they have been collecting the allocation, security has not improved in Nigeria. Let them look for another source of loot; enough is enough!

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: Can Nigeria Truly Regain Her Devt Momentum?

Opinions differ on when Nigeria actually derailed from her previously steady development process, especially when the country’s progress is compared to that of some contemporary nations like Brazil, Malaysia, and India, which have all become manufacturing giants with favourable trade balances. As Nigeria battles poverty and economic recession, the fear is that she may never catch up with her contemporaries, rebased economy notwithstanding. To you, can Nigeria truly regain her development momentum, and if yes, what will it take to achieve this goal? please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (March 16 & Monday, March 20) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@ gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@ thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/ or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306.

Collated responses will be published on Thursday, March 23

34

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

From hobby to vocation; carpentry to sustain livelihood

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

Experts, Stakeholders Advocate Improved Private, Public Sector Taxation Policies Abimbola Akosile and Blessing Abah Experts and other stakeholders have called for improved policies and practices of government and the private sector, resulting in reduction of poverty and extreme inequality through more effective and efficient management of Nigeria’s tremendous resources and increased citizen participation.

This call, among others, was the major focus of a one-day awareness forum organised in Lagos recently by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with Oxfam, with emphasis on the Financing for Development Project backed by both organisations.

Part of activities on the project include to conduct a research on private sector taxation policies and practice; analyse findings in the light of compliance to national taxation laws; identify private sector that can potentially increase tax revenue, analysis of taxation and wages policies of identified organisation and report findings that reduces tax avoidance and increase

tax revenue in the country.

Representing the Country Director of ActionAid, Mr. Tunde Aremu in a welcome address said, “the vision of this project is to deal with the issue of poverty in relation to creating good roads, hospitals, and the question is where is the money? That leads us to tax issues and the concern of private sectors in Nigeria”.

“We should look into companies not paying tax, the issue of concern of private sectors and look into the research objectives that will bring development into our country”, Aremu added.

The Governance Programmes Manager of ActionAid, Mr. Obo Effanga said, “Tax is one of those funds that we can’t afford to waste. There should be tax on private and public sector, so that the finances and resources generated can bring about development in the country.”

Chief Mark Anthony Dike, (FCTI), whose research was used for the project, said, “The brief is to determine the wages and tax policies of selected companies in

Nigeria, to identify gaps in the extant laws that could enhance revenue for Development and also examine companies with ability to increase tax revenue”.

“Tax has a fundamental issue in developing public goods and services like hospital, roads, water, and electricity for good governance. Having a thousand people that will pay per kobo is so far better than having just few big companies or individuals that avoid tax. After earning an income at least one per cent of the money should be set aside for tax in order to bring constant development in the country.

“Nigeria is a country that could pass as the land of milk and honey. Several missed opportunities at bringing about sustainable development, corruption is a product of so many factors including difficult economic conditions and government owes citizens obligation to maximise their welfare; and to do this, funds need to be transferred from individuals and businesses to government”, Dike added.

While giving a keynote presentation on the concern and demand of private sectors for increased tax compliance, Chris Kaka said “tax administration in Nigeria is submerged in corruption, lacking adequate accountability and transparency with characteristic poor records of collection and remittance. Also the state of infrastructure does not reflect the extant tax revenue collection.

As part of the concern for private sectors, Kaka said, “Corporate social responsibility actions are not given adequate consideration in tax liability assessment under the current tax regime, with misapplication of tax revenues - bankable and unbankable.

Tax assessment recommendation based on annual income as against monthly income should not increase aggregate tax liability, while production related tariffs are currently strong disincentive for the real sector growth and capacity to generate jobs”.

“Our demand as private sectors is that, there is the urgent need for both States

and Federal Government to harmonise the extant tax regimes in order to reduced incidences of multiple taxation that is currently a disincentive to tax payment by private sector operators. Tax policy collection should be applied to increase consumer capacity to sustainably increase consumer demand which will stimulate private sector capacity utilisation and revenue generation at competitive rate. A thirty-day remittance of tax collection from the date of collection is considered most appropriate”, he further said.

Representing the FIRS Director, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ngene spoke on the essence of tax collection and its advantages to the county as part of the public sector.

He said, “Tax is essential to control inflation especially the demand pull inflation, to discourage harmful products, redistribution of income permanent source of revenue to the government, to provide government services, fire services, medical services, infrastructural facilities, transportation, provide

public goods, Military, law enforcement officers, free education/Medicare, finance national security and external aggression as social responsibilities”.

Dike, in his recommendations, said, “PAYE remittances should be made 10 days after the salaries are actually paid.

Companies, as agents of collection for government, need to be encouraged; technology should be allowed to play its role in receipts collection and maintenance of company’s payer I.D. and employee Personal Identification Number on their platform. Informal sector size mirrors the economic conditions of the country”.

Speaking at the forum on ways to encourage tax and corporate social responsibility on the parts of private sector and encourage the public sector as well in Nigeria to bring about constant development were various representatives from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG), BUDGIT, KEBETKACHE and STREPFIN.

WFP Reaches 1m People in North-east Nigeria, to Scale up, Says Mohammed Abimbola Akosile The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed, has said the World Food Programme (WFP) is reaching more than one million people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in North-east Nigeria despite limited funding.

Briefing the Security Council

on the Lake Chad Basin in New York, USA recently, Mohammed said despite the considerable contribution of the recent Oslo Donor Conference, demands outstrip resources.

“WFP is reaching more than one million people in North-east Nigeria, and is expanding its efforts. UNICEF has assisted four million people with basic health care and safe water.

But, despite the considerable contribution of the recent Oslo Donor Conference, demands outstrip resources.

“As the Deputy SecretaryGeneral, as an African and as a Nigerian, I truly welcome the Council’s visit to the Lake Chad Basin to witness first-hand the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency. Even more so that, as a child, I

grew up in Maiduguri and know that terrorists are not born but created by a set of circumstances,” she said.

Mohammed, however, urged all humanitarian actors to ensure that women play key roles in food distribution and management internally displace persons (IDP) camps.

“We must also ensure that women have key roles in the

response -- from food distribution and camp management to all efforts to counter violent extremism, restore state authority and build peace,” she said.

Mohammed told the Security Council that UN is focused on six main pillars of engagement: political; humanitarian assistance; human rights; recovery and development; justice, law enforcement and the financing

of terrorism; and technical support to the regional Multinational Joint Task Force.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

35

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It is true, I am a man, but we need all men to stand up for women’s empowerment.

Our world needs more women leaders. And our world needs more men standing up for gender equality. We are all better off when we open doors of opportunity for women and girls: in classrooms and boardrooms, in military ranks and at peace talks, in all aspects of productive life” - UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES SPEAKING AT THE SIXTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN (CSW) IN NEW YORK, USA GIZ, EU Collaborate to Re-train Artisans in Plateau As APIN donates to 16 hospitals Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Sahara Group Unveils Nigeria Starts With Me Campaign to Boost SDGs Abimbola Akosile Executive Director and Co-Founder Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, has said the creativity, capacity, tenacity and resilience of Nigerian youths can make a difference in enhancing development across the nation if adequately harnessed.

Cole made the submission while speaking to newsmen recently in Abuja on Sahara’s new initiative tagged #NigeriaStartsWithMe. According to Cole, the #NigeriaStartsWithMe initiative seeks to rally young people to own major stakes in the transformation of Nigeria by coming up with practical ideas that key into the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He explained that the campaign would challenge and inspire young people to resist activities that relegate them to being mere stooges for selfish individuals /organisations or being hired to perpetrate sundry illegal activities.

“It is designed to create a shift in the nature of ongoing conversation about Nigeria from the clutch of social media trolls to practical solutions that would ignite creativity, innovation and a sense of patriotism in Nigerian youths,” he stated.

Cole urged Nigerian youths across the globe to amplify their voices by contributing to the conversation #NigeriaStartsWithMe: How I can help transform Nigeria, using the 17 SDGs as reference point.

“Nigerian youths sometimes spend time on the social media to give traction to issues that stoke the embers of hatred and division. At Sahara, we believe that the creative energies of our youths should be channeled into causes that can transform Nigeria. We are calling on Nigerian youths all over the world to make a difference by contributing to the conversation on Twitter using the #NigeriaStartsWithMe.”

L:R: Executive Director and Co-Founder, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole; CEO, West and Central Africa, GE Oil & Gas, Doyin Akinyanju, and CEO, Channels TV, John Momoh, during the launch of Sahara Group’s #NigeriaStartsWithMe initiative in Abuja…recently Cole said youths desiring to contribute more than “140 characters” that Twitter allows can visit the company’s website, www.sahara-group. com to send a 150-word article on the subject.

“We earnestly believe the project would reduce anti-Nigeria narrative, promote the adoption of creative developmental projects and encourage an unwavering #NigeriaStartsWithMe disposition amongst more youths,” he added.

Although the initiative has been designed to run all through the month of March 2017 only, Sahara Group hopes that it would inspire a sustained impact on “young Nigerians and all Nigerians across the globe.”

At the end of the project, a compilation of the contributions will be published and distributed to the Presidency/MDAs/Global

Development Agencies, the academia, Media and other stakeholders.

The contributions will also be circulated and shared across various online portals to elicit positive conversations and actions that will sustain ongoing initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria.

Sahara Group has over the years continued to empower young people to reach for their dreams. Last year, Sahara Foundation partnered ace Movie Producer, Kunle Afolayan to discover young film makers that will help amplify the Nigerian story of creativity and resilience through the experience of entrepreneurs.

The project received over 150 entries, with the overall winner currently undergoing a six-month mentorship programme with Afolayan.

Against the backdrop of incidents of collapsed building and other mishaps in recent times resulting from shoddy construction jobs by untrained artisans, gesellschaft für internationale zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and European Union (EU) have begun re-training of artisans in Plateau state, to adequately equipping them to deliver optimally on their jobs.

Graduating the first batch of 160 trainees, who were given certificates and complete safety kits, the team leader for Value Chain Development, GIZ, Mr. Chistoph Pannhausen said the training became important not only to ensure that artisans were at home with their job lines, but also to deepen economic development for peace and stability in Plateau.

Artisans Job Centre portal was equally lunched at the occasion to enable clients that desire quality jobs have easy access to the re-trained artisans.

Lauding the efforts of GIZ, the Plateau state government disclosed that it was working towards engaging only re-trained artisans to execute its construction projects to avoid rampant incidents of collapsed building structures in the state.

Governor Simon Lalong, who was represented by the Director General of the state Microfinance Development Agency, Mr. Haggai Haruna Gutap, recognised GIZ immense contributions to the development of the state, adding that the state will continue to partner GIZ and EU in their undertakings.

While presenting certificates to the artisans, the Governor urged them to apply the right attitude to the knowledge they acquired from the training, and reiterated that “the trained artisans should be in the first line of government consideration in its choice of engagements in the execution of projects in the state.

Also contributing, state coordinator of EU Project-2, Mrs. Hauwa Mankilik said the training was also a way of diversifying the economy of the state as clients from the state would no longer have go outside to engage competent hands. The Job Centre portal operator, Mr. Everest Miri, said the portal and office would afford clients the opportunity to get and engage only re-trained and tested artisans, who can deliver quality jobs within expected time frame.

Leaders of the Nigerian Institute of Architecture (NIA) and Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), and indeed the resource Architects and Builders that trained the artisans were all on ground to identify with the laudable job done by the GIZ. Meanwhile, APIN Public Health Initiatives donated 35 computers and their accessories to 16 different hospitals in Plateau state to enable them collect and keep adequate data for medical records.

This is even as the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr. William Stuart Symington has commended the feat recorded

by APIN in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention.

The materials distributed were received on behalf of the state government by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kuden Kamshak, who applauded APIN for always supporting the state’s health facilities.

36

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Nigeria’s Slow Drive to Exclusive Breastfeeding Despite the enormous benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, not many mothers consider it necessary for their babies. Martins Ifijeh writes on why it is important and should be embraced by mothers and the society

M

any Nigerian parents consider it a fulfillment to give their children the best things in life, which often come at a high cost, like vacation, good education, nice shelter, sense of protection, and even good meal. But majority of them have forgotten that the best things they can ever give their children does not come at any cost. It is free of charge and represents the foundation other ‘good things’ can thrive on.

It is simply exclusive breastfeeding.

Unfortunately only about 17 per cent of Nigerian nursing mothers give their children exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, while only 11 per cent breastfeed exclusively beyond the sixth month, even though it is the cheapest, natural and most important meal any mother can give to her child for varying benefits.

For instance, a manager in one of the new generation banks in Baruwa, Ipaja Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mrs. Toye (surname withheld), has a child of five months old.

She is by any standard among the middle class Nigerians who can afford almost anything for her child.

She believes her son will grow up to be a medical doctor one day, and will travel round the world as part of the needed exposure any parent should give his or her child.

Toye and her husband will take their son to a good school in Lagos and will make sure he wears the best clothes and shoes.

They will also probably give him other good things of life as a child.

But sadly, she has stopped exclusive breastfeeding for him since she resumed work two months ago. She did not include that as one of the good things her son must enjoy from her parenting.

“Three months after maternity leave, I could not cope with giving him exclusive breast milk because of the demand of work. I now give him formula in addition to breast milk. I think he also likes the formula as well, hence making my decision even easier,” she said, during a chat with THISDAY. While it is most likely that Toye has stocked her home with various types of formula because she could afford them, and may have probably bought several expensive things for her baby for his comfort in order to show how much of love she has for the growing child, the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes the best love Toye could give her five-month-old son was to offer him exclusive breastfeeding.

Reason? WHO says for a child under six months of age to get the necessary brain development needed to live through life and become successful in future, both in academics, level of income earned, socially, psychologically, and also importantly healthwise, he or she should be given exclusive breast milk for at least the first six months of life, while breastfeeding continues afterwards till the child reaches his or her first one thousand days of life, in addition to formula.

Experts say adding formula after six months of exclusive breastfeeding was because breast milk will no longer be enough to quench the child’s appetite as well as the needed nutrients for healthy growth.

They however insisted breastfeeding should continue for the first one thousand days of life along with the supplements.

Unlike Toye, who could afford certain basic necessities for her son despite unfortunately not breastfeeding him for optimal brain development, a nursing mother, Kemi, who is poor and

A mother and child

lives on less than a dollar per day in Lagos with her husband and two other children, is not taking advantage of the God-given free breast milk for her daughter.

She says immediately after childbirth she fell ill and was unable to breastfeed for a while, hence the need to introduce him to supplements.

“Since then, even when I became well, he was already used to the formula, hence there was no need for me to re-introduce him to it.”

Kemi often struggle daily to buy supplements, meanwhile she has abundance of breast milk for her two month-old-son, but has refused to use it because of an age long local belief that most adults were not breast fed exclusively, hence it doesn’t matter.

A nutritionist with Nutrition Evaluation Rehabilitation Centre, Benin, Mrs. Faith Olaoluwa, says while Toye is no doubt showing love to her son the best way she feels she can, the child’s brain may not be developed enough to reach its full potentials to become the best medical doctor the parents would wish him to be, because an exclusive breastfeeding of at least six months of life is required to achieving that.

She said it was unfair that Toye and Kemi’s were depriving their babies of the magic nutrition regime for under three.

She says every parent wants their children to grow old and become a plus to the society, but that the most reliable way to achieving it was to prepare a foundation where the child’s brain would be developed enough to

be able to take in other learnings the parents hoped would be in line with preparing them for future endeavours.

According to a major series on breastfeeding, published by The Lancet recently, children who are exclusively breastfeed do better in school, and as such would be able to become whatever they want since passing examinations is not a problem.

The report says such category of children are less likely to be overweight or obese, and less prone to diabetes later in life, adding that nearly half of all diarrhea diseases and one third of all respiratory infections in children in low and middle- income countries could be prevented with increased rates of breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 800 000 lives every year, with the majority being children under six months,” the report say, adding that, “children who are breastfed are less likely to suffer cancer, hypertension and several other health issues.”

The findings from WHO and partners estimate that global economic losses from lower cognition associated with not breastfeeding reached more than US$ 300 billion in 2012, equivalent to 0.49 per cent of the world’s gross national income. Boosting breastfeeding rates for infants below six months of age to 90 per cent in Brazil, China, and the United States of America, and to 45 per cent in the United Kingdom would cut treatment costs of common childhood illnesses, such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and asthma, and save healthcare systems at least US$ 2.45

billion in the United States, US$ 29.5 million in the United Kingdom, US$ 223.6 million in China, and US$ 6.0 million in Brazil.

A Programme Director, Nutrition, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, (NICHD), Dr. Daniel Raiten believes the first step to the global dream of achieving equal opportunities for children to fulfill their potential was exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

Raiten, who spoke during a meeting with the three winners of the Early Childhood Development Reporting Contest in Washington DC recently, said there should be increased awareness on the need for parents and the society to pay more attention to early childhood development, especially in the first 1,000 days.

But despite the enormous benefits, why don’t Nigerians practise exclusive breastfeeding, WHO provides a guide.

It suggests most women with inadequate lactation were majorly culprits, because even when they eventually start lactating, they do not consider it good enough to try out exclusive breastfeeding with their babies.

Others, it said include demand for work outside theme; ill health, fear of infecting their newborn with HIV, myths about sagging breast, among others.

As the awareness campaign continue to show the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, it is believed that very soon parents and the society will know that the best thing they can give their babies is free. It is exclusive breastfeeding.

37

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

HEALTH CSOs Push for Effective UNFPA Urges the Global Community to Invest in Maternal Health Primary Health System in Abia Martins Ifijeh

Emmanuel Ugwu, Umuahia To ensure sustainable protection of all Abians, especially the vulnerable, from avoidable diseases and deaths, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have joined hands to campaign for Abia government to revive the primary healthcare system in Abia State.

To this end the groups led by the Dr. Ejike Oji Community Development Foundation (DEOCDF), want the government of Abia State to adopt and implement the primary healthcare under one roof (PHCUOR) initiative of the federal government.

Efforts aimed at bringing primary healthcare under one roof is in line with the provisions of the National Health Act and state governmrnts are encouraged to key into the programme, which only Jigawa State is said to have fully implemented among all the 36 states.

Specifically, the CSOs said that Abia government should hasten up and grant financial autonomy to the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) with its own board that would harness the resources of all relevant sectors and stakeholders to deliver the highest quality primary healthcare services to Abia citizens.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had last year set up a high powered state PHCUOR Repositioning/Transition committee headed by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu with the Health Commissioner, Dr. John Ahukanna as co-chair.

The committee was charged with recommendations for the complete achievement of PHCUOR in the state in line with the Law establishing the state PHCDA. However the CSOs are worried that 12 months after it was set up the committee has not come up with any report thereby delaying the implementation of PHCUOR and endangering the lives of Abia citizens through exposure to diseases.

Speaking at a media roundtable organised by the CSOs at Ovim in Isuikwuato Local Government the president/ CEO of DEOCGF, Oji said that the CSOs and its media partners have a big task of “convincing our government to know the importance of primary health care.”

He lamented that despite the fact the primary health care is the bedrock of effective health care system political leaders have been paying lip service to the issue of revitalising the primary health system which serves over 80 percent of the nation’s population.

Cedar Hospital, AGPMPN Raises Awareness on Kidney Disease, Obesity Martins Ifijeh Nigerians have been urged to engage in exercises more frequently in order live a healthy life and as well maintain a healthy kidney.

This was disclosed by a Professor of Medicine, Honorary Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, Professor Fatiu Arogundade, to mark the World Kidney Day themed ‘Kidney Disease and Obesity’ at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos, recently.

The World Kidney Day is an annual event organised

by Cedar Group Hospitals in collaboration with Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Amuwo-Odofin/ Ojo branch.

The Professor of Medicine, noted that over 191 million amongst the world population are affected with kidney diseases irrespective of the stages. Arogundade went further to say that in treating kidney diseases, the transplant therapy is the most effective.

“Not everybody who has Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can afford the treatment but kidney transplant is the most cost effective therapy that can sustain a life for lengthy years,” he said. In another perspective, the Nephrologist, said obesity has become a global epidemic in which body fat affects human health.

“Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent

that it may have negative effect on health.”

Arogundade further highlighted the major causes of obesity. “Excessive food intake, lack of physical activities, genetic susceptibility and genes, endocrine disorders, drugs and medications and lastly mental illness.”

He noted that as an individual grows older, there will be possibilities of getting obese, adding that humans should engage in jogging, swimming, brisk-walking, amongst other exercises. Also, Chief Operations Officer, Cedar Group Hospitals, Dr. Chukwuma Ogubor, said the purpose of celebrating the World Kidney Day was to raise awareness about issues.

“Kidney is what we all hear about, but not well detailed, so the World Kidney Day celebration which comes up annually in March to be precise is aimed at raising awareness and promoting wellness, knowing the causes and preventive measures.”

A participant, Kehinde Arowolo, said the platform served as a mind opener adding that it has enlightened him about kidney related issues He said further that as a professional in the medicine field, faced with varieties of questions, with facts and figures detailed, he can make counselling on kidney patients.

However, this year’s World Kidney Day is tagged ‘walk for our health’ which is celebrated round the globe.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called on African countries and international communities to invest in young people and maternal health.

This admonition was made by the UNFPAs Deputy Resident Representative, Eugene Kongnyuy, during the unveiling of its regional ambassador for maternal health in person of veteran actress Stephanie Linus at Eko Hotel and Suites.

Kongnyuy, disclosed that there were needs for high public advocates to put in efforts so as to promote rights

of young people and maternal health in order to reach their full potential.

He added that mortality and violence against women has become a widespread activity in the West and Central African region. “Maternal mortality, violence against women and girls, including harmful practices like female genital mutilation, gender inequality and economic disenfranchisement, such as girls not going to school are widespread in the region” Kongnyuy, stated that countries in this region has one of the highest maternal mortality figures in the world

and highest in Africa.

He said “the maternal mortality ratio in West and Central Africa region for example, is one of the highest in the world, with countries like Chad and Sierra Leone averaging close to 1000 deaths per 100,000 live births or Nigeria with 576 deaths per 100,000 live births and accounts for the highest absolute number of maternal mortality in Africa and over 10 per cent of the global maternal death burden.”

The Deputy Resident Representative noted that the region in perspective is home to 111 women who die on a daily basis from pregnancy related

issues adding that the female gender fundamental human rights are not upheld.

The doctor said that if actions are not taken in ensuring a bright future for the young people and maternal health, it will slow down the pace of development in the regions.

“The costs of not taking actions now on these critical issues means that poverty eradication efforts will be undermined, economic growth slowed, inequalities sustained and countries will miss out on a vast source of human capital needed to take a sustainable development forward in the 21st century.”

BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL

L-R: Power Oil Health Camp official, Ms Olamide Anifowose; National Coordinator, POHC, Mr. Opeyemi Awojobi; Public Relations Manager, POHC, Ms.Omotayo Azeez; and First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, checking her pulse during the flagging off ceremony of the partnership between Power Oil Health Camp and Edo Women for Agric (EWA) project at the 2017 International Women’s Day event in Edo State... recently

FG Inaugurates Inter-agency 12,753 Benefit from Lagos PHC Revitalisation Supply Medical Mission Programme Chain Committee Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has inaugurated Inter-Agency Primary Health Care Revitalisation Supply Chain Committee and also inaugurated health centre power kits to coordinate logistics in the supply chain and distribution of drugs and other health commodities in the health sector. In his remarks during the inauguration, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the committee would work with the existing structure of the national product supply chain management programme and Nigeria supply chain integration project. He noted that the PHC supply chain committee would serve as the implementation arm for PHC revitalisation agenda in the health sector. He pointed out that the committee would have a joint secretariat for smooth and efficient operations of the National Supply Chain Management Programme and Logistic Unit of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. He said the terms of reference for the PHC Revitalisation Supply Chain Committee would among others, guide and

advice government on PHC supply chain strengthening issues including procurement, storage, distribution and monitoring of commodities as well as make recommendations to government on the best ways to ensure affordable pricing for PHC commodities.

He emphasised that the membership of the committee was carefully selected to cover all relevant officials and organisations that were critical to the mandate of the committee, adding that the committee would have the responsibility of achieving the desired harmony in logistics for the PHC revitalisation agenda in the health sector.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Chairman of the Inter-Agency PHC Revitalisation Supply Chain Committee, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, assured that the committee would ensure improvement in the overall health outcomes and accelerate achievement towards Universal Health Coverage in the country.

Martins Ifijeh No fewer than 12,753 residents of Ojo, Oto-Awori and Iba Local Government and Local Council Development Areas as well as Badagry, Badagry-West and Olorunda Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State have benefited from the first and second phase of the on-going Lagos Health Mission programme; a medical intervention sponsored by the State government to provide free healthcare services to residents of Lagos across the 20 Local Governments Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.

Residents of the areas were screened and managed for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Common ailments, eye diseases and dental problems were managed. The programme also offered antenatal care services as well as family planning services to persons of reproductive age. HIV screening and counseling sessions were part of the health package. Statistics obtained from the first phase

of the health mission carried out recently at the Ojo Town Hall for Ojo, Oto-Awori and Iba Local Government and LCDAs showed that 4119 people were attended to as General OutPatients for common ailments and complaints, hypertension and diabetes screening and management, 358 others were also seen and attended to at the Dental Unit, 930 people were screened and treated at the Eye unit and 458 others screened and counseled at the HIV unit.

Statistics from the second phase of the health mission carried out between Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th March, 2017 at the Badagry Local Government secretariat for Badagry, Badagry-West and Olorunda Local Government and LCDAs indicated that 4442 people were attended to as General OutPatients for common ailments and complaints, hypertension and diabetes screening and management, 404 others were also seen and attended to at the Dental Unit, 1715 people were screened and treated at the Eye unit and the rest were screened and counseled at the HIV unit.

38

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

HEALTH MATTERS

goketakinrogunde@gmail.com

S

HEALTH

By Goke T. Akinrogunde 07036777348; 07029126776

Stroke: Assess your Risk Factors Depression Depression has also been linked to a higher risk for having a stroke and lower survival rates after one.

troke is medically refer to as cerebrovascular ‘accident’, because of the sudden way it occurs; it affects more than a million people every year (on a worldwide basis), and the incidence appears to be increasing.

The rate of death from stroke, however, appears to be decreasing in more developed nations and in places where appropriate hospital care and early intervention are available.

Migraine and Associated Risk Factors Studies have found that migraine or severe headache is a risk factor for stroke in both men and women, especially before age 50. In fact, migraine is associated with about 19% of all strokes. However, it should be pointed out that many people have migraines, and their risk is still low, 2.7% for women and 4.6% for men, according to one study.

Who is at risk?

In general, people with stroke are likely to have more than one risk factor. The various risk factors are outlined below:

Infections Reports have indicated for some time that certain bacteria and viruses may play a role in atherosclerosis and heart disease, generally by provoking an inflammatory response in the arteries. These two conditions are known culprits which can lead to stroke in the last analysis.

Age and Gender Older Adults: People most at risk for stroke are older adults, particularly those with high blood pressure, who are sedentary, overweight, smoke, or have diabetes.

Younger Adults: Younger people are not immune; about 28% of stroke victims are under 65. Stroke in younger people affect men and women equally.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) High blood pressure or hypertension contributes to 70 per cent of all stroke. In fact, researchers have estimated that almost half of stroke could be averted by controlling blood pressure.

Smoking People who smoke a pack (i.e. 20 sticks of cigarette) or more a day have almost two and a half times the risk for stroke as nonsmokers.

Quitting significantly reduces the risk. It’s been shown from research studies that former smokers had the same risk as people who had never smoked.

Diabetes and Insulin Resistance Diabetes is a strong risk factor for ischemic stroke, perhaps because of accompanying risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. Studies have also implicated insulin resistance, which usually occurs in people with non-insulin dependent diabetes (these are individuals who control their blood sugar with oral hypoglycemic drugs) as an independent factor in the development of atherosclerosis and stroke.

In this condition, insulin levels are normal to high, but the body is unable to use the insulin normally to metabolize blood sugar.

The body compensates by raising the level of insulin (hyperinsulinemia), which can, in turn, increase the risk for blood clots and reduce HDL levels (the beneficial form of cholesterol).

Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyles Obesity is associated with stroke, most likely because being overweight reflects the presence

Stroke is preventable

of other risk factors, including insulin resistance and diabetes, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Weight that is centered around the abdomen (the so-called apple shape) has a greater association with stroke, as it does for heart disease, than weight distributed around hips (pear-shape).

Homocysteine and Vitamin B Deficiencies Abnormally high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which occur with deficiencies of vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid, are strongly linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Some experts believe that homocysteine is a major risk factor for stroke, second only to high blood pressure. Homocysteine appears to be toxic to the cells lining arteries and contribute to blood clotting.

Alcohol Heavy alcohol use, particularly a recent history of drinking, is associated with a higher risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Studies have indicated, however, that mild to moderate alcohol use (one to seven drinks a week) is associated with a significantly lower risk for ischemic stroke.

Coffee Studies suggest that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day could increase the risk of stroke in older men with hypertension. Coffee does not however appear to pose a danger for men with normal blood pressure.

Drug Abuse Drug abuse, particularly with cocaine and

increasingly methamphetamine (an amphetamine), is a major factor in the incidence of stroke in young adults. Steroids used for body building also increase the risk.

Genetic and Inborn Factors Genetics may be responsible for many of the causes of stroke. Studies indicate that a family history of stroke, particularly in one’s father, is a strong risk factor for stroke.

Sleep apnea It which may contribute to the narrowing of the carotid artery, appears to increase the risk for stroke by three- to six-fold.

Pregnancy This carries a very small risk for stroke, mostly in women with pregnancy related high blood pressure and in those with cesarean delivery.

Sickle-cell Disease People with sickle-cell anemia are at risk for stroke at a young age.

Heart Disease and its Treatments Heart disease and stroke are closely tied for many reasons: They often have common risk factors, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

The risk of stroke is increased during surgical procedures involving the coronary arteries, including coronary bypass operations, angioplasty, and coronary atherectomy.

Thrombolytic (clot-busting) and other anticlotting drugs used for treatment of heart attacks also slightly increase the risk for hemorrhagic stroke.

A heart attack itself increases the risk for a stroke; the danger is highest in the first few days after an attack but it is still not very great. Those at higher risk are older people and patients who also have congestive heart failure.

Medications Over-the-counter decongestants (these are the common anti-catarrh drugs) contain ingredients that increase the risk of stroke, particularly in people with other risk factors.

Stress In some people, prolonged or frequent mental stress causes an exaggerated increase in blood pressure; over time, this effect has been linked to thickening of the carotid arteries – the vessels that takes blood from the heart to the neck and brain, this thicken can contribute to stroke occurring.

Lifestyle changes By and large, these risk factors are cumulative in a number of cases, In other words, those having more than one risk factor are more likely to develop stroke than those with isolated risk.

Ultimately, the public health message-in-chief is the need to indulge in changing those stoke-related risk factors enumerated above, particularly the modifiable ones.

Timing Like heart attack and sudden cardiac death, stroke appears to be more common in the morning hours, perhaps due to a temporary rise in blood pressure at that time. Various studies point to a higher risk of stroke on weekends, Mondays, and holidays.

Height Shorter people have a higher risk than taller individuals.

Inside the Hospital Dr. Ogunbgo’s Poser: Who’s Playing with Fire?

I met a delightful woman this week. At 60 and seemingly educated she came with a breast lump to see a neurosurgeon. ‘Not my business,’ I cried I deal only in brain and spine, but, I know a man who can help for she needs a breast surgeon and a good one at that!

Alas, ‘what is the issue,’ I asked and she proceeded to show me a lump in the breast, bulging through the skin but, a mile off the nipple on the left side How did this happen?

And is it painful? ‘No pain’, she said But it’s been with her a little while. Indeed she has seen a doctor who sent her for a mammogram But, the doctor has since left town

Now she has me to ask. Pray do show me the mammogram result, and yes she did. A lump or two in the breast, a distance from the nipple.

Then she gave me a low blow, saying she had been seeing a pastor who massaged and rubbed the lump.

And lo, it’s shifted from one part to another!mThen she gave me an uppercut Said the pastor advised her! On no account must she have surgery, It would cut the nerve to the breast And kill her instantly!

I felt like killing her myself for such abject stupidity. Believing a foolish man of God who is playing with her breast and toying with her life. For my friend was so sure! On

looking at the mammogram, that she may have breast cancer Urgent surgery a must! But, first we have to beg the foolish pastor to see it in his dreams.

That surgery a must! Okay, what would you say/do. If this was your mum. Or a close relative. Even just a friend. Who is playing with fire?

Dr Biodun Ogungbo, renowned Abuja-based Neurosurgeon raised the poser in a Doctors’ blog (Dokilink).

From this columnist viewpoint, I think the patient is playing with fire. Breast cancer, a possible progression from a breast lump is one of the most virulent cancers in women.

The earlier breast cancer is detected the

better, especially before it wakes up like a roaring tiger - spreading to near-by tissues and distant organs from the primary site.

In light of the foregoing, the earlier a case of breast cancer presented for treatment the better.

The aforementioned case of a pastor directing the follower not to seek medical treating is not a peculiarity; for pecuniary reasons, these faith leaders apparently see medical patronage as a rival domain where their adherents must be dissuaded from patronising.

Anyhow, the patients suffer for their ‘hard faith’ and apparent stupidity, as it often appeared glaring in most cases.

39

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

HEALTH

Women Should be Vigilant on Breast Health and Disease Adaku Efuribe Health promotion is very important for enhancing the well-being of women across the globe. The 8th of March this year was celebrated as International Women’s Day. I wish to encourage all women to be body vigilant and engage in self-care.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries where the majority of cases are diagnosed in late stages.

So far the only breast cancer screening method that has proved to be effective is mammography screening. Mammography screening is very costly and is cost-effective and feasible in countries with good health infrastructure that can afford long-term organised population-based screening programmes. Low-cost screening approaches, such as clinical breast examination, could be implemented in limited resource settings when the necessary evidence from ongoing studies becomes available.

Between 30-50 per cent of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. National policies and programmes should be implemented to raise awareness, to reduce exposure to cancer risk factors and to ensure that people are provided with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcome and survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.

Women seem to focus much attention on the mundane things regarding their breasts rather than the most important aspect i.e.

Health.

My focus as a clinician when it comes to breasts is breast health, I am more concerned that young women do not have the time to undertake BSE, while some do not have the basic information on how to undertake a BSE. Routine BSE can help early detection of abnormalities on our breasts.

When you notice an unusual thing about your breast re-shape, lump, discharge from nipple etc, you need to seek urgent medical intervention.

Our breasts perform different roles such as provide sexual pleasure, deliver life-sustaining milk to our babies, we need to keep them healthy.

According to Harvard Health, “Some women are completely comfortable with their breasts,

Regular self breast examination can help detect lump early

others aren’t.

They worry that their breasts are too big or too small, sit too high or hang too low, are lopsided, or aren’t as firm as they once were. Regardless of size or shape, all women want healthy breasts for a lifetime.

“Five ways to keep breasts healthy include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcohol (no more than one drink a day), not smoking, and regularly performing breast self-exams.

Among younger women, common breast problems include fibrocystic breast disease, a noncancerous condition characterised by breast pain, cysts, and lumps); and fibroadenomas, small bumps of fibrous and glandular tissue that can be painful.

Breast cancer can often be successfully treated, especially if it is detected early. That’s why women are urged to check their breasts at home and to have routine mammograms beginning at age 50 (or earlier for women at high risk for developing breast cancer).”

Below are five steps to breast self examination. (www.breastcancer.org/symptom) Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Here’s what you should look for: Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color, Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling, If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of

the skin, A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out), Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling Step 2:Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3:While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4:Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women.

Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

I would encourage every woman to be body vigilant and practice self care, if you notice any abnormalities or anything unusual about your breast, seek medical intervention in good time.

You can practice BSE on a monthly basis; it is worthwhile to do this routinely, probably on a suitable day monthly.

Efuribe is a Nigerian-British Clinical Pharmacist/Independent Prescriber. She is a Health Promotion Ambassador and advocates for better healthcare systems for all

Health Experts Team up with Pfizer to St. Nicholas Hospital Marks World Combat Pneumococcal Disorders Kidney Day Rebecca Ejiforma Worried by the rising incidence of pneumococcal diseases among children aged five and below, and adults in the country, medical experts in Nigeria have urged for universal and routine immunisation within the populace in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by these disorders.

Speaking in Lagos recently during the First West African Vaccine Summit and launch of Nimenrix vaccine organised

by Pfizer Nigeria, the experts noted that vaccination was the most effective way of managing pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases, which occurs most frequently in infants, young children and teenagers and older persons aged 65 and above.

According to a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Paediatrician, College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Adejumoke Ayede, the number one risk factor is age due to lack of serum bactericidal antibodies.

“Others are defects in host defence. Patients with

deficiency of components, weak immune system, such as long-term therapy with corticosteroids in patients with nephrotic syndrome, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic inflammatory disease that has protean, hepatic failure or respiratory tract infections, such as the flu, may suffer from the disease.”

She listed environmental factors such as crowded living areas like dormitories, barracks, day care; climatic conditions, such as low humidity, smoking, and contact with patients; poor hygiene and bad nutrition among others as responsible for the disease.

Meanwhile, acknowledging that the importance of disease prevention is paramount, Professor of Medicine at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife, Gregory Erhabor, suggested that if one rested, drank plenty of water and juices to keep the body hydrated, increased intake of Vitamin A and C, washed hands to prevent germs spread, and cover the mouth while sneezing or coughing - the chances of knocking off the diseases are

high.

He further urged everyone to maintain a clean environment. “Meningitis is spread by airborne droplet infection or direct contact with respiratory secretion or saliva through coughing, kissing or sharing a glass or eating and drinking utensil. Children’s immunity should not be compromised.”

From his words: “In 2008, an estimated 177, 000 under five children died from pneumonia in Nigeria alone. The African Meningitis Belt, which extends from Senegal in the West to Ethiopia in the East, has the highest annual incidence of IMD worldwide with super imposed frequent epidemics occurring every eight to 12 years.”

Accordingly, the Director Corporate Affairs Nigeria and East African Region, Pfizer, Mrs. Margret Olele, said the firm was passionate about research and development (R and D), and was working to bring the benefits of vaccines into previously unexplored areas where successes could be recorded, help usher in a new era of vaccine innovation, prevent and treat diseases.

Warns Nigerians against risk factors Martins Ifijeh Children have been warned to monitor their weight gains as they may not live up to their parents’ age if obesity in youngsters continues to rise.

Obesity and overweight has been identified as a potent risk factor for the development of kidney diseases and as well reduces human lifespan.

This was disclosed by Consultant Physician/Nephrologist, Dr. Ebun Bamgboye at the celebration of the World Kidney Day by St. Nicholas Hospital.

The World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Federation of Kidney Foundation and the International Society of Nephrology with this year’s celebration themed: ‘Kidney Disease and Obesity’.

Bamgboye said that over 600 million out of the world population were obese adding that obesity increases the

possibility of hypertension and diabetes.

“This year’s world kidney day focuses on obesity because it is believed that over 600 million people are obessed and many of those who know that know that happens in children.”

The Nephrologist noted that individuals affected by obesity have an 83 per cent increased risk of having Chronic Kidney Disease compared to those with healthy weight.

He went further to say that kidney failure is 10 per cent of the world population while in the black race is 20 per cent more which connotes that one of every five has kidney failure.

“Worldwide, they say kidney failure is like about 10 per cent of the population but in our own (black) environment, it’s closer to 20 per cent that is frightening because it feels like one out of every five individuals can have kidney failure.”

Bamgboye disclosed that kidney affected patients are often times young within the age bracket of 30-40 years not helping them to be productive.

“The people that get it (kidney failure) generally tend to be quite young. You find them in their 30s and their 40s. These are people that are at the peak, when they should be working to sustain their families that’s when this scourge inflicts them,” he said.

The Nephrologist also highlighted the major causes of kidney failure such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic infections like hepatitis C and HIV adding that individuals are prone to have it.

Bamgboye, however advised that if obesity is recognised as a problem and adequate exercise is put into practice as well as food consciousness, the kidney will be healthy and there will be nothing like its failure.

40

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

World Bank Decries Hunger in North-eastern Nigeria, Kenya, Others Obinna Chima The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has decried the devastating level of food insecurity in north-eastern Nigeria, some other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen “Famine is a stain on our collective conscience. Millions of lives are at risk and more will die if we do not act quickly and decisively,” Kim said in a statement obtained on the Bank’s website.

We are mobilising an immediate response for Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Our first priority is to work with partners to make sure that families have access to food and water. We are working toward a financial package of more than $1.6 billion to build social protection systems, strengthen community resilience, and maintain service delivery to the most vulnerable.

“This includes existing operations of over $870 million that will help communities threatened by famine. I am also working with our Board of Directors to secure the approval of new operations amounting to $770 million, funded substantially through IDA’s Crisis Response Window,”

he stated.

A famine means that a significant part of the population has no access to basic food, suffers from severe malnutrition, and death from hunger reaches unprecedented levels. Children under five are disproportionately affected. A famine can affect the well-being of a whole generation. Famine was officially declared on February 20 in South Sudan, impacting approximately 100,000 people, and according to the World Bank, there is a credible risk of other famines in Yemen, north-east Nigeria, and other countries.

Ongoing conflicts and civil insecurity are further intensifying the food insecurity of millions of people across the region, and there is already widespread displacement and other cross-border spillovers.

For instance, food insecurity in Somalia and famine in South Sudan are accelerating the flow of refugees into Ethiopia and Uganda.

The UN estimates that about 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are on the “tipping point” of famine. Drought conditions also extend to Uganda and parts of Tanzania. The last famine was declared in 2011 in Somalia

during which 260,000 people died.

To this end, Kim said the multilateral institution was in solidarity with people now threatened by famine.

Furthermore, the statement explained that the World Bank Group would help respond to the immediate needs of the current famine, adding that “we must recognise that famine will have lasting impacts on people’s health, ability to learn, and earn a living. So we will also continue to work with communities to reclaim their livelihoods and build resilience to future shocks.”

It further said the multilateral agency was coordinating closely with the UN and other partners in all areas of response.

“We know that resolution to this acute crisis will not be possible without all humanitarian and development actors working together. We call on the international community to respond robustly and quickly to the UN global appeal for resources for the famine. To prevent crises in the future, we must invest in addressing the root causes and drivers of fragility today and help countries build institutional and societal resilience.”

GTBank Owed $138m by Etisalat Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) is exposed to Etisalat Nigeria to the tune of N42 billion ($138 million) via a secured loan.

According to Reuters, the Chief Executive Officer, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, who disclosed this, said the debt would be restructured.

The Nigerian affiliate of Abu Dhabi-listed telecoms company, Etisalat is currently in talks with 13 Nigerian banks to renegotiate the terms of a $1.2 billion loan it took out four years ago after missing a payment. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have since waded into the matter. At the current official rate, the loan without interest stands at N377 billion.

The Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko had explained that the company missed payments due to the economic downturn in Nigeria, a currency devaluation and dollar shortages on the country’s interbank market.

Emirates Telecommunications Group (Etisalat) owns a 40 percent stake in its Nigerian affiliate, which accounted for around 3.7 per cent of the group’s revenue in 2013. Etisalat Nigeria signed a $1.2 billion medium-term facility with 13 Nigerian banks in 2013, which it used to refinance an existing $650 million loan and fund a modernisation of its network.

Dikko said the business

performed well last year and it was still in profit at the level of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, while loan repayments had been up to date “until recently.”

In addition, Agbaje yesterday said GTBank was not looking to refinance its Eurobond due next year because it does not see opportunities to grow its dollar loan book.

The GTBank boss said the bank expected naira loans to grow 10 percent this year, down from 15.8 percent last year, largely due to currency devaluation.

He said the bank expected a N168 billion pre-tax profit for 2017, up from N165 billion the previous year.

Leasing Operators Laud FG’s Economic Recovery Plan The Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) has applauded the federal government on the recent unveiling of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.

The association in a statement, described the ERGP, which contains plan to take the economy out of the current recession, as indeed timely and reflects government’s proactive measures to tackle the current economic challenges and grow the economy. The association noted that the policy to increase export earnings and government revenues by an additional N800 billion ($2.63 billion) a year, was welcome idea, saying this would further enhance the country’s foreign exchange reserves as well as stabilise the naira.

In the agriculture sector, it noted that government’s policy for self-sufficiency in rice and wheat by 2018 and 2019 or 2020 respectively, as well as being

a net exporter of rice, cashew nuts, groundnuts, cassava and vegetable oil by 2020, would further boost our food security plans.

“On the overall, federal government’s expectation to grow the economy by 2.19 per cent this year is highly commendable as this has the capacity to set us on the pathway of growth and recovery,” it added.

The association further emphasised that, “equipment leasing plays a strategic role in economic development, and would be very relevant in the achievement of these set out policy initiatives. Specifically, leasing will play an important role in the economic recovery process by, enhancing the activities of the value chain in all sectors of the economy, thereby facilitating employment generation and wealth creation.”

According to ELAN, “leas-

ing has been used globally by developing countries to enhance growth and development including the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which is the engine of growth of any economy.

No doubt, the provision of capital assets is crucial to the success of any productive venture, and in our peculiar circumstances, it is imperative that reasonable access to credit is at least guaranteed. A major way of achieving this is through equipment leasing, a financing option that can be utilised for the purpose of enhancing capital formation.”

For instance, it stated that the agricultural sector and export promotion can give players the unhindered access to the requisite farm machineries such as tractors, ploughs for mechanised farming, which would in turn lead to enhanced yield and as well creating more jobs.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

DECEMBER 2016 Broad Money (M2)

23,840,392.42

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,520,166.67

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,820,415.90

---- Demand Deposits

9,699,750.76

-- Quasi Money

12,320,225.75

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,353,504.03

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,486,888.39

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,774,684.47

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,595,579.89

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,436,917.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,841,337.90

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,374,718.08

--Other Assets Net

-12,483,409.58

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,837,322.41

--Currency in Circulation

2,179,174.28

--Banks Reserves

3,318,344.71 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 14%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY 14, MARCH 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $48.63 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $49.00 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

41

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Suicide Bomber Strikes Damascus Justice Building, Killing 30 A suicide bomber detonated his explosives’ vest inside the main judicial building in the Syrian capital on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people and wounding many others, state media said.

The official news agency, SANA, said another suicide explosion struck a restaurant in Rabweh district of Damascus, leading to an unknown number of casualties.

The bombing inside the Justice Palace, located near the famous and crowded Hamidiyeh market in Damascus, was the latest in a spate of deadly explosions and suicide attacks targeting government-controlled areas in Syria and its capital.

It came as Syrians mark the sixth anniversary of the country’s bitter civil war, which has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions of others. The conflict began in March 2011 as a popular uprising against President Bashar Assad’s rule but quickly descended into a full-blown civil war. The chaos allowed al-Qaida and later the Islamic State group to gain a foothold in the war-torn nation.

The recent attacks have struck

at highly symbolic targets, and may mark the start of a new insurgency campaign by al-Qaida-linked militants to try and counter recent military advances by Assad’s forces, backed by Russia and Iran.

According to Damascus police chief Mohammad Kheir Ismail, the Justice Palace attacker struck in the early afternoon — at 1.20 p.m.

A man wearing a military uniform and carrying a shotgun and grenades arrived at the entrance to the palace, the police chief told state TV. The guards stopped the man, took away his arms and asked to search him. At that point, the man hurled himself inside the building and detonated his explosives, the chief said.

Syria’s attorney general, Ahmad al-Sayed, who was in the building just a few meters away from the explosion, confirmed that account to state TV, saying that when the security guards tried to arrest the man, he threw himself inside the palace and blew himself up. He said 30 people were killed and 45 others wounded.

“This is a dirty action as

people who enter the palace are innocent,” he said, noting that the timing of the explosion was planned to kill the largest number of lawyers, judges and other people who were there at the time.

Ambulances rushed to the scene to transfer casualties to hospital.

In the second attack, in Rabweh district, SANA said a suicide bomber blew himself

up in a restaurant, killing several people. The Ikhbariyeh TV channel said the attacker was being chased by security agents when he rushed into a restaurant and detonated his explosives’ vest. There was no immediate claim for that attack either.

Wednesday’s bombings followed twin attacks on Saturday near holy shrines frequented by Shiites in

Damascus that killed at least 40 people.

On Feb. 25, insurgents stormed into heavily guarded security offices in Syria’s central city of Homs, clashed with government troops and then blew themselves up, killing a senior officer and at least 31 others.

The high profile attacks were claimed by an al-Qaida-linked insurgent coalition known as the

Levant Liberation Committee, formerly known as the Nusra Front.

There was no immediate claim for Wednesday’s bombing, which came during a new round of peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana. Syria’s armed opposition boycotted those talks due to what they say are ongoing government military offensives across the country.

521 Nigerian Migrants, Others Die at Sea, Says UN Ejiofor Alike A total of 521 migrants from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia, who attempted to travel to Italy have died at sea in 2017, while 19,567 others arrived by sea to Italy during the same period, the United Nations migration agency has said.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the migration agency of the UN, said in a statement yesterday that so far in 2017, 19,567 migrants arrived by sea to Italy.

According to the agency, after the latest shipwreck this past weekend, 521 have died at sea – 50 more compared to the same period in 2016.

The report noted that the majority of these migrants are from Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia – same as in 2016.

Some of the migrants who make it to Europe and share their ordeal with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)), reveal that their journey was far more dangerous than expected.

Many are unaware of

the dangers and risks of migrating with the assistance of smugglers, not only at sea or in the desert, but also in transit countries like Libya.

Recalling the life-threatening risks along their journey is often very distressing and in many instances, most migrants wish to forget and move forward with their lives and therefore tend not to share their experience with peers who are still back home.

IOM has launched a campaign to inform Nigerian migrants by hosting online press conference.

The Aware Migrants campaign aims to inform migrants from 15 countries – mostly in West Africa plus Tunisia and Egypt – about the dangers of migrating irregularly across the Sahara desert, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea. The campaign is launched in the target countries of transit and origin in Africa with social media, TV and radio spots.

Flavio Di Giacomo and Shiraz Jerbi, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean - the UN Migration Agency hosted an online press conference yesterday.

42

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

MARKET NEWS

TradingValue Rises 133% as Market Sustains Positive Trend Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie The value of trading at the stock market surged 133 per cent yesterday as investors staked N2.164 billion on 233.777 million shares in 3,196 deals, up from N928.5 million invested in 227.757 million shares in 32,543 deals the previous day.

The market also maintained its uptick as the bulls sustained

their hold, driving the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) higher by 0.07 per cent to close at 25,301.23.

Having opened on weak note on Monday, the market rebounded on Tuesday following activities of bargain hunters, who swooped on bellwether stocks. Hence, the NSE ASI went up by 0.59 p cent on Tuesday.

The bullish trend was sustained yesterday, although marginally.

However, investors committed more funds to equities.

Commenting on the performance, analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, said: “Market activities in the Nigerian bourse somewhat mirrored that of the previous day as there were renewed buy sentiments towards counters trading at attractive prices. We expect this trend to be sustained however, we do not rule out profit-taking activities

at the end of the week.”

Yesterday’s positive trend was influenced by gains recorded in the shares of Zenith Bank (+2.8 per cent), Unilever (+4.9 per cent ) and Stanbic (+2.8 per cent) which offset the impact of decline in GTBank (-0.6 per cent), Nestle(-0.7 per cent) and ETI (-2.0 per cent).

However, the price gainers’ table was led by African Prudential Registrars Plc and

Continental Reinsurance Plc with 8.1 apiece. Continental Reinsurance Plc had on Tuesday reported its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2016, showing improved performance.

The company recorded gross premium written of N22.406 billion, up from N19.738 billion, while net insurance premium stood at N21.843 billion, compared with N18.195 billion in

2015. Net insurance benefits and claims were N21.42 billion, up from N16.1 billion in 2015.

But underwriting profit dipped to N414 million, from N2 billion in 2015. Interest income rose to N1.5 billion, while foreign exchange gain soared from N467 million in 2015 to N4.1 billion in 2015.

Impairment costs equally rose from N492 million to N1.788 billion in 2016.

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

E XC H A N G E

43

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Transcorp Hotels Shareholders Commend Performance, Approve Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of Transcop Hotels Plc have commended the management and staff of the company for recording an improved performance in the financial year ended December 2016. The shareholders, who gave the commendation at the 3rd annual general meeting (AGM) of the company held in Abuja yesterday, also unanimously approved the board’s recommendation of a final dividend of 40 kobo per

share.

For instance, the Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie, expressed appreciation to the company’s board and management for paying dividend at a period when the country’s economy is in dire straits, leading to significant drop in hotel occupancy. He said: “At a time when a lot of companies prefer to cut dividend with a ready excuse in the current state of the economy, we are delighted that our company has paid dividend

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

which will go a long way in meeting our financial needs.”

Also speaking, another shareholder Alhaji Muktar Muktar hailed Transcorp for what he termed a stellar financial performance amid a challenging period and the dividend payout which he said was equally laudable.

“Transcorp has not rested on its oars and has continued to shine brightly delivering world class service to an ever growing clientele of top notch guests across the world. Little wonder it has

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 14-Mar-2017, unless otherwise stated.

consistently won numerous awards and most recently bagged a long list of honors in 2016 that will make even its competitors go green with envy,” he said.

In his address, Chairman of the company, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor attributed the improved to the company’s reinvention of its offerings, keeping with service excellence. He noted that the company was relentless in maintaining market leadership in its flagship property, closing the year with an occupancy rate of 60 per cent well ahead

of competition.

Reviewing the 2016 results, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo said that the company recorded a 10 per cent growth in gross revenue at N15billion as against N13.4bn in 2015. This, according, to him was largely driven by key events including visits by very high profile guests, many foreign heads of government and representatives of consulates.

Ozigbo disclosed that profit before tax was N5.2billion as

against N5.5bn while the profit after tax rose by 17 per cent to N4billion compared to N3.5billion in the previous year.

“Our major priorities now is creating value for our stakeholders, improving customer service for our guests and maximizing shareholder value, and we believe very strongly that the foundation that we are laying, by the current upgrade and refurbishment of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and repositioning of Transcorp Hotels Calabar are certain to yield very positive results,” he said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 128.11 128.55 0.85% Nigeria International Debt Fund 220.49 221.14 2.42% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.69 0.70 -0.78% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.76% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 12.19 12.55 -1.29% ARM Discovery Fund 287.28 295.94 0.04% ARM Ethical Fund 22.07 22.74 -1.21% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.86% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 105.90 106.65 0.78% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.50% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Nigeria Global Investment Fund 2.21 2.27 1.82% Paramount Equity Fund 9.31 9.55 -0.53% Women's Investment Fund 86.36 88.58 2.09% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.67% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,126.18 1,127.33 3.28% FBN Heritage Fund 111.28 112.02 -0.28% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.66% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $106.99 $107.69 2.83% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $106.68 $107.38 3.23% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 112.74 114.21 0.06% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 0.95 0.96 1.60% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.65 2.65 2.98% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,185.79 2,210.77 -1.07% Coral Income Fund 2,183.61 2,183.61 3.77% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.16% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.86% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.70 1.71 0.81% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.74%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.01 1.03 2.28% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,023.78 1,023.78 2.08% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.56 9.65 -1.00% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.89% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.09 1.11 3.39% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.43 10.47 0.24% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.39% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 110.86 111.69 8.85% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.27 1.27 1.95% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 1,838.43 1,848.15 0.38% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 154.76 154.76 0.52% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.75 0.76 -1.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 191.73 191.73 2.59% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 127.92 129.56 -1.48% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.60% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,385.53 7,475.42 -2.58% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.16 1.17 11.39% United Capital Bond Fund 1.28 1.28 15.78% United Capital Equity Fund 0.64 0.66 0.71% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.13 1.13 11.45% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.69 9.87 0.73% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.12 11.22 1.92% Zenith Income Fund 17.27 17.27 4.53%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 125.23

1.01% 1.02%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.93 72.10

8.03 73.44

-9.63% -4.86%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.42 5.29 11.44 12.57 124.79

2.46 5.37 11.54 12.77 126.79

-11.79% -24.61% -4.59% -21.06% -3.89%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Court Bars APC from Fielding Candidate in Anambra Central Senatorial Election Tobi Soniyi in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has dashed the hopes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a candidate in the Anambra Central senatorial district election as it dismissed a suit brought by Sharon Ikeazor seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept her as a substitute to Dr. Chris Ngige.

Ikeazor had dragged the INEC before Justice Anwuli Chikere, asking the court to compel the electoral umpire to accept her as the candidate of the party in place of Ngige who had withdrawn from the election.

However, delivering judgment on the matter on Tuesday in Abuja, Justice Chikere held that the time for political parties to nominate candidates for elective position in respect of the 2015 elections had elapsed.

The judge held: “The time for the nomination, withdrawal or substitution of candidates for the court-ordered election in Anambra Central senatorial district has elapsed.

“As decided by the Court of Appeal in the case of Labour Party against INEC, there is no room for fresh candidates in a court-ordered election.”

Consequently, the judge dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

The Supreme Court had on February 10 put to rest the legal battle that had denied the people of Anambra Central senatorial district representation at the upper chamber of the National Assembly as it dismissed an appeal filed by Senator Uche Ekwunife challenging the nullification of her election for the district.

The Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal Division in Enugu had nullified the election that produced Ekwunife who was a candidate of the PDP in the said poll and ordered the conduct of a fresh poll to fill the vacancy.

However, dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ekwunife approached the Supreme Court to set aside the verdict.

But delivering judgment in the dispute last month, a five man panel of the apex court headed by Justice Tanko Mohammed, held that it had no jurisdiction to entertain matters emanating from the conduct of National Assembly elections.

In the lead judgment that was handed down by Justice Amina Augie, the court had affirmed the position of the respondent in the suit, Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who was Ekwenife’s challenger at the lower courts.

Justice Augie had held that Appeal Court was the terminal point of all disputes over National Assembly polls, adding that the apex court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine Ekwenife’s appeal in respect of the Anambra Central senatorial election dispute.

“Looking closely at the wordings of Section 246 (3), it is clear that the decision of the Court of Appeal is final. This, the decision, therefore has no business climbing or driving to this court for adjudication because this court is completely bereft of jurisdiction to entertain here and determine any such appeal from the lower court. “Once the court below delivers its judgment on a National Assembly Election Petition, the judgment is final and this court has no jurisdiction to hear any appeals related there to

OgbehVisits Sympli, Pledges FG’s Support for Local Food Producers The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has pledged the federal government’s support of local food producers to meet the growing challenge of feeding the nation.

Ogbeh gave the assurance in Lagos after his familiarisation visit to the production facilities of Sympli, pioneers of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) fruits and vegetables in Nigeria.

The IQF technology helps to deliver farm-fresh products in readyto-cook state through a process that involves peeling, chopping and fresh-freezing local foods and vegetables to retain all the flavour, texture and natural goodness of the foods. This not only reduces food preparation time by at least 40per cent, it also reduces post-harvest loss of foods and vegetables by about 40 per cent.

The minister noted that value addition in the agricultural sector, as exemplified by Sympli, would help to meet the challenge of feeding the people, which has been exacerbated by the country’s ‘exploding population.’

“I am very happy to see this type of innovative thinking in Nigeria; what Sympli is doing is revolutionary and this kind of value addition is exactly what we need at a time that government is working seriously at addressing the food issue in the country,”

Ogbeh said.

While acknowledging inadequate financing, high interest rates, constant power outages and double taxation as some of several challenges that beset food producers in Nigeria, Ogbeh commended the long-term commitment of the PRIMLAKS Group, producers of the Sympli brand, to creating value in the food chain, saying: “We are very happy with what we have seen here and really congratulate PRIMLAKS Group for their many years of resilience and commitment to Nigeria’s growth. We pledge our support as a government because what they are doing is what we want to see,” adding, “We shall intensify efforts at supporting local food producers and we are hoping that we can keep the interest rates low in the Bank of Agriculture, which we are restructuring.”

He lauded Sympli as an ‘innovative contribution’ to encourage the consumption of Nigerian foods at home and in the Diaspora and enjoined consumers to patronise the products.

“I like the taste of this, it’s still fresh; I’m sure all Nigerians will be excited about Sympli. The convenience is necessary as people get very busy. Keep working at it; we’ll give you our support and we’ll use the Diaspora Office to see how we can propagate this.”

no matter how cleverly framed,” Justice Augie said.

She further declared that Umeh’s preliminary objections to Ekwenife’s appeal succeeded, saying, “this court lacks jurisdiction. This appeal is struck out.”

Meanwhile, Umeh, the APGA flagbearer for the election while reacting to the judgment appealed to the INEC to hasten up the conduct of the Anambra Central senatorial rerun poll.

Umeh said: “The INEC has nothing holding it anymore from going ahead to conduct

the Anambra Central senatorial election going by the judgement by the Federal High Court Abuja which dismissed the suit by Sharon Ikeazor seeking to compel INEC to accept her as a substitute to Ngige for Anambra Central re-run election which is consistent with the law and the firm position of INEC on the matter all along.

“The Supreme Court judgment of February 10, 2017 has completely removed the PDP from the election as it affirmed that the decision of the court of Appeal, Enugu Division on December 7, 2015 in respect

of the Anambra Central senatorial election is final forever.

“The Court of Appeal had on December 7, 2015 nullified the election and ordered a fresh election upon disqualifying the PDP candidate Hon. Uche Ekwunife on the grounds on invalid sponsorship by the PDP in the election.

“So there is no other case that INEC can wait for before fixing the date of the election. The status of the APC has been defined by the court judgment yesterday as there is no change of candidate permissible in the fresh election.

“So the position now is that 14 out of 15 political parties that took part in the March 28, 2015 election with their previously nominated candidates are qualified to go for the re-run election. Only PDP is out of the election by the combined effects of the Court of Appeal judgments of December 7, 2015, the Supreme Court judgment of February 10, 2017 on the Anambra Central senatorial poll and the Supreme Court judgement of February 13, 2009 between Labour Party and INEC.”

YOUR MAJESTY, I AM LOYAL

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (left), and Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, when the former vice-president paid a courtesy call on the monarch at his palace in Warri, Delta State ....Tuesday.

Afenifere Alleges Sectional Arrests in Aftermath of Yoruba-Hausa Clash in Ife Kaduna assures Yorubas, other non-indigenes of safety Shola Oyeyipo in Lagosand John Shiklam in Kaduna Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has expressed displeasure with the arrests of mainly Yoruba people following the clash between members of the Hausa community and their Yoruba host in Ile Ife. Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who is also an indigene of Ife, yesterday in statement titled: ‘Ife Crisis: The Hounding After and Yoruba Stand’, said the pattern of the arrest was sectional.

He also lamented that apart from the fact that the recent fracas was sparked by some persons of northern extraction, the activities of some individuals is having telling effects on the social fibre of Ife people.

“We are equally miffed that security operatives sectionally mobilised have moved to Ife after the incident to carry out one-sided mass arrests of Yoruba people who are mostly notables and could never have participated in any riot.

“As at the time of making this statement, all of those so indiscriminately arrested have either been taken to either the state police command in Osogbo or Force Headquarters in Abuja. The people arrested are either community leaders or members of the vigilante who assisted in rescuing members of the Arewa community and took them to either the police or the palace.

Nobody has been arrested so far

on the Arewa side,” Odumakin alleged.

He gave the names of those he said were indiscriminately arrested as: the Alapoje of Alapoje, Oba Ademola Ademiluyi; an undergraduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Alhaji Yekini Saka; Oshowade Lukman, Adigun Osuolale, Eludoyin Francis, Sakiru Jimoh, Seye Akinyobo and Samson Makinde.

Others on the list are Adelegan Kehinde, Isaac Omisanmi, Peter Omisope, Daniel Olanrewaju, Isaac Adefisan, Monday Adejumo and someone whose name was simply given as Dele aka DBamson.

“We seriously object to a onesided arrest in a clash between two groups in this undue deployment of federal influence along fault lines.

But we are further disturbed that people who are arrested for an offence allegedly committed in Ife are being bundled to Abuja for nothing but sheer intimidation.

What information can Abuja gather on a fight in Ife? Can you charge anybody in an Abuja court for a crime allegedly committed in Ife? Since the answers to the above questions are in the negative, we demand that all those taken to Abuja be returned to Osun State immediately.

Explaining how the trouble began, Odumakin emphasised that for well over 80 years since Arewa people have stayed in the

ancient city of Ife, they have never come under attacks of any sort, even during serious disturbances between the local communities.

According to him, “Our investigations and eyewitness reports indicated there was a serious provocation which bordered on assault on a Yoruba woman by a member of the Arewa community which attracted reaction from the husband of the assaulted woman and his friends around 8p.m. March 7, 2017. The Ife traditional authorities alerted the police immediately to step into the matter. The Area Commander however failed to act on the community request. An Osun State police would have been more responsive if Nigeria were to run a proper federation.

“The fight resumed on the morning of March 8.The first casualty killed by members of Arewa community goes by the name Busuyi Kayode a.k.a Aperin. His corpse was put in a wheel barrow. The next was Elijah Balogun who was killed by the stray bullet of Special Anti-robbery Squad (SAS) policemen with a vehicle marked 109.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government yesterday assured Yorubas and other non-indigenes resident in the state of their security.

The government also warned that anyone caught circulating video clips and pictures purported to be the corpses of Hausas killed in the recent clash between Yoruba

and Hausa in Ile-Ife, Osun State, would be arrested and prosecuted.

The government had earlier issued a similar warning two days ago following the circulation of gory images and calls for reprisals, especially on the social media.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of Yoruba, Igbo and other community leaders at the Government House Kaduna, the acting governor, Barnabas Bantex, said the state government was determined to ensure peace and stability in the state.

He assured that security measures had been put in place to ensure peace stability and urged the non indigenes to be calm and go about their normal activities.

The meeting was summoned to douse the growing tension in the state arising from the Ife clash.

Bantex noted: “Already, the unfortunate incidents in that part of the country have been contained and taken care of, so the government would not watch enemies of peace capitalising on the situation to cause problems in Kaduna State using images and videos calling for reprisals.

“People circulating images and calling for reprisals are enemies of peaceful society, and all citizens must say no to them.”

Also commenting on the killings in some parts of southern Kaduna, Bantex said the killings are purely criminality and banditry and not a Christians versus Muslims as widely believed.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

45

46

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

47

48

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

49

50

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

51

52

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Edo, Borno, C’River Top List of States with Highest Air Fares Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Edo, Borno and Cross River States topped the list of states with the highest air fare in February, according to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

While Edo State led the pack with N40,000, Borno State, an average air fare is N35,878, and Cross River State N35,758.

States with the lowest air fare in the month under review were Kano, N25,227.56; Kaduna, N23,308.48, and Katsina N21,000.

However, average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey dropped by 0.24 per cent month-on-month and increased by 27.34 per cent year-on-year to N30,718.10 in February 2017, from N30,793.43 in January.

The Transport Fare Watch report for February 2017 released yesterday by the NBS covered bus journey within the city per drop constant route; bus journey intercity, state route, charge per person; air fare charge for specified routes single journey; journey by motorcycle (okada) per drop; and water way passenger transport.

Average fare paid by commuters for bus journey within the city increased by 0.01 per cent monthon-month and by 50.42 per cent year-on-year to N122.85 in February

2017 from N122.83 in January 2017.

States with the highest bus journey fare within city in January were Abuja (N257.50), Cross River (N223.33) and Adamawa N200 while states with lowest bus journey fare within city in February 2017 were Borno (N68.75), Yobe (N60) and Plateau (N78.57).

Average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journey dropped by 1.31 per cent month-on-month and increased by 26.00 per cent year-on-year to N1,411.87 in February 2017 from N1430.63 in January 2017.

States with highest bus journey within city were Abuja (N4,566.67), Adamawa (N3,350.00) and Niger (N2,337.50) while states with lowest bus journey fare within city in February 2017 were Kano (N850.00), Ebonyi (N750) & Abia (N683.33).

Average fare paid by commuters for journey by motorcycle per drop dropped by 0.31 per cent month-on-month and increased by 24.53 per cent year-on-year to N93.93 in February 2017 from N94.22 in January 2017.

States with highest journey fare by motorcycle per drop were Rivers (N152.50), Abia (N151.25) and Edo (N150.83) while states with lowest journey fare by motorcycle per drop in February were Ekiti (N53.67), Zamfara (N54.09) and Niger (N58.00).

Nigeria, S’Africa Denounce Xenophobia, Move to Bolster Relations James Emejo in Abuja Both the Nigerian and South African Governments have denounced any form of criminality regardless of whom it is targeted at, especially in view of prevailing global economic situation which has resulted in the competition for scarce resources.

The formal denouncement yesterday was the fallout of a meeting of high level delegations of lawmakers from parliament of the Republic of South Africa and the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held at the South African parliament in Cape Town.

The parties had met to discuss matters of mutual interest and means to consolidate diplomatic relations between the two legislatures.

The delegations from the two sister legislative bodies were led by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Lechesa Tsenoli, and his Nigerian counterpart, the leader of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Hon. Feni Gbaja biamila.

The crucial meeting followed recent tensions between certain members of some communities and some foreign nationals in South Africa, a matter which featured prominently in the discussion particularly with regards to its impact on Nigerian nationals concerned.

The deliberations was characterised by frank, robust but cordial engagement, accordingly to joint statement signed by spokesperson of South African Parliament, Moloto Mothapo, and his Nigerian counterpart, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje.

Notably, the parties admitted that both legislative institutions had not paid sufficient attention to strengthening diplomatic relationships at the legislature level to forestall recent and previous unfortunate clashes between local and foreign nationals that affected Nigerian nationals, particularly the Nigerian businesses.

Nevertheless, both institutions committed to work collaboratively to continuously bolster existing relations and present a united front particularly in the context of economic challenges and rising global competition.

They also agreed to further engage on issues of mutual interest within the ambit of their constitutional powers.

Both countries had enjoyed close diplomatic relations bound by strong history. The people of Nigeria provided unwavering support and solidarity to the people of South Africa to unseat the last bastion of colonialism in Africa and usher in freedom and democracy.

Last year, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa was invited to address the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2013 the then President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Jonathan addressed the joint sitting the South African Parliament, an indication of the strong ties enjoyed by the two countries.

It was recognised that South Africans are generally a welcoming people, a fact that is evidenced by a great number of South African communities which continue to live side by side and peacefully with their foreign counterparts.

Average fare paid by passengers for water way passenger transport dropped by 3.84 per cent monthon-month and increased by 19.29

per cent year-on-year to N569.68 in February 2017 from N592.68 in January 2017.

States with highest fare by

water way passenger transport in February 2017 were Bayelsa (N1,933.33), Delta (N1,633.33) and Cross River (N1,700.00) while states

with lowest fare by water way passenger transport in February 2017 were Kebbi (N220.00), Gombe (N150.00) and Borno (N117.89).

WORK IN PROGRESS

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma ( SAN); and Deputy Chief RegistrarofFederalHighCourt,PortHarcourt,MaimunatBolajoko,duringthegovernor’s inspectionoftheongoingconstructionoftheFederalHighCourt Complexbeingfundedbythestategovernment...yesterday

Yobe Upgrades Education Sector with N3bn Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Yobe State Government has made a giant stride in repositioning the state’s education sector by spending N3billion in the last couple of months.

The state is appraised as one of the most disadvantaged states in education in the country.

This has necessitated why the state government is spending massively in the sector in order to bridge the gap.

Disclosing the amount in the education sector in the last couple of months in a statement, the Director of Press Affairs to the state Governor, Mallam Abdullahi Bego, said over N3 billion was spent in various education-related expenses, including the rehabilitation and expansion of three secondary schools, feeding of students in boarding schools, payment of fees for students writing the West African School Certificate Examination (WASC).

The fund also covers payment for special remedial programme for Yobe students in the University of

Maiduguri as well as fees for Yobe students in various Nigeria-Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in Mamudo, Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja, among others.

Bego revealed that the governor “gave approval for the various payments as part of his determination to bring quality education within the reach of Yobe students.”

He said: “A breakdown of the funds spent by the government in the recent period shows that around N1.3 billion was committed to renovating, expanding and upgrading Government Secondary Schools Fika, Gwio-Kura and Yunusari, N408,867,650 was spent in the feeding of boarding school students during the last academic term and N188,932,300 is being spent in the current (ongoing) academic term.”

Bego said: “The state government has also made a 50 percent down payment to WASC for the 2017 WASC exams; a condition that must be met for any state government to have its students participate in the year’s WASC examinations.

“The remaining 50 per cent will

be paid during the year as Yobe students sit for the exams.”

He added that: “Under a special arrangement with the University of Maiduguri, Yobe students undertake a remedial programme each year to enable them fully qualify for admission to various courses in the university. A total sum of N52,565,000 was therefore paid by the government for up to 5,000 students to participate in this year’s remedial programme.”

He said: “The Gaidam administration also spent N971,598,000 as fees for the 2016/2017 session for Yobe students enrolled in the Nigeria-Tulip International Colleges (formerly Nigeria-Turkish International Colleges) in Mamudo, Kano, Kaduna and Abuja campuses.

“The state government has also paid N27,732,250 in registration, examinations and upkeep of Yobe students admitted under a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into Fountain University, Osogbo.”

The governor’s spokesman said his boss has also granted approval for a monthly standing payment of

N18.7 million for the purchase of cows to be slaughtered and used for boarding school students across the state.

He added: “The public may also note that the governor has approved N33 million for the drilling of boreholes for potable water supply in the three secondary schools currently being upgraded by the government (in Yunusari, Gwio-Kura and Fika towns).

“As the upgrade of the three secondary schools nears completion, the governor has ordered a process for the supply of laboratory equipment, classroom and staff room furniture, beddings, library books, and other essential supplies for the schools to move forward.”

He added that: “In keeping with the governor’s promise, all these items will be provided to the three affected schools within the next few weeks,” while assuring “parents, students and teachers that his administration will continue to give the educational development of the state the highest possible attention.”

Persecution: CAN Suspends Global Day of Mourning for Killed Members Forced to cancel due to ‘security concerns’ Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has formally suspended its special day set aside to mourn the thousands of Christians killed, especially in the northern part of the country for their faith.

The CAN General Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake, announced this decision in a statement yesterday, saying it was due to “security concerns.”

“CAN wishes to inform all Christians, both at home and abroad, that based on credible reports of concern, it has decided to suspend the Christian Day of Mourning formerly scheduled to take place globally on March 19, 2017,” Asake stated.

He said the President of CAN took cognisance of the preparations that various Christian groups have made to participate in the program which was designed, in all honesty

and sincerity, to mourn the death of thousands of Christians murdered by religious insurgents.

The statement from the National Secretariat of CAN stated that the suspension of the programme was due to “misunderstanding, misinterpretation and subsequent security concerns.”

According to the General Secretary, Nigerian Christian assemblies are urged to have a normal Sunday Worship on March

19, 2017 but suspend any action on the Day of Mourning.

“Nevertheless, Christians should be careful and watchful. Further communication shall be issued

by CAN in due course,” Asake stressed.

He, however, urged all members to remain steadfast and resolute in the Grace of God that Nigeria shall overcome the present distress and peace shall prevail all over the nation.

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

53

NEWSEXTRA

UNICEF Scales up Intervention in Malnutrition by 400% in North-east Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) yesterday revealed that it has scaling up its support plan for children suffering from malnutrition in the North-east by 400 per cent.

UNICEF had enrolled 12,000 children in its malnutrition treatment plan, but has decided to increase the number to 48,000.

Speaking in Maiduguri, Borno State, after leading a team to the state to assess the success of intervention in humanitarian

crisis in the state, the Deputy Executive Director, Programmes and Emergencies of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Mr. Omar Abdi, revealed that the agency has scaled up its treatment to about 48,000 children suffering from malnutrition at all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the state and the North-east sub region of Nigeria.

Abdi also disclosed that UNICEF has mapped out support for the education of children at the IDPs camps and rehabilitation centers towards improving the standard of children’s education especially

the girl child.

The UNICEF deputy executive director who addressed a press conference after concluding a twoday visit to the state, said he was in the state to assess the emergency situations of children at IDPs camps and other rehabilitation centres as well as discuss with the security agencies, development and other humanitarian partners including the state government and other stakeholders in the management of the IDP camps.

He said from the visits and discussions held with all the relevant authorities involved in humanitarian activities and support to the children and IDPs, UNICEF has decided to increase support to the state government in the areas of girl-child education and make available to school age students educational facilities and training materials.

Abdi said the team noted during their visit that there was inadequate space, instructional materials and

teaching personnel.

He said UNICEF would also provide support to the Nigerian military to continue to provide adequate security for lives and property of the children and IDPs at the camps and other rehabilitation centres.

The UNICEF deputy director said the UN would further support the government in education, security and environmental sanitation towards effective

service delivery to children at the camps and centres.

Abdi said UNICEF was highly concerned about the provision of nutritional food to the children including the orphans.

He said plans were underway to identify the children and orphans with their immediate and extended families for the purpose of their upbringing, education, security and maintenance among others based on the cultural norms and values of the African communities.

House Mandates FG to Reconstitute Board of Investment Tribunal James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday mandated the federal government to expedite action on the reconstitution of the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) membership.

The federal government had in July 2015 dissolved the boards of ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs) including the IST. Although some agencies have since had their boards reconstituted, that of the IST remains vacant, a situation that has prevented the tribunal from sitting and adjudicating on about 51 pending cases.

The House further reached a resolution to mandate the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant MDAs to work out short-term solutions that would enable the IST function before the

reconstitution of its board.

The motion, which was introduced by Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen (Kogi PDP) earned support from members. Tajudeen said prior to the dissolution of its board, the tribunal had since 2007 adjudicated on matters with cumulative monetary worth of about N400 billion which had helped stabilise the market and economy in general.

He said the failure to reconstitute the board had further impugned on the credibility and integrity of the tribunal because capital market operators now doubt its relevance while its confidence has gradually eroded.

He also said the resuscitation of the tribunal was critical for bringing back foreign investors as well as deepening market penetration.

Members also carpeted the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who oversees the tribunalfor not facilitating the reconstitution of the board of IST.

Tinubu Mourns Onukaba Former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has lamented that with the demise of former Managing Director of Daily Times, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, the media has lost one of its best and brightest.

He also said with Onukaba’s demise, the community of creative writers has been robbed of one of its leading dramatists while the rank of progressives has been depleted.

In a special tribute to the late Onukaba, the All Progressives Congress National Leader said the late foremost journalist was full of life and “ever bristling with ideas.”

The tribute, which was personally signed by Tinubu, and titled: ‘Onukaba: Never in the Past Tense,’ read: “Since I was apprised of the heart-rending news of the sudden and unexpected demise of my very good friend and associate, Onukaba, I have been unable to bring myself to conceive of him in the past tense. Onukaba was so full of life, ever bristling with ideas.

“Following the recent Day of Tributes and Eighth Day Fidau Prayers held in his honour by his professional colleagues and friends in Lagos and Abuja respectively, I find myself unable to live in continued self-denial.

“Indeed, Onukaba died, in very painfully sad circumstances, on Sunday March 5, 2017, four days before his 57th birthday.

“I had known Onukaba over the years, since the early days of his most illustrious journalism

career. Our relationship, however, grew stronger with the advent of democratic rule in 1999.

“As Governor of Lagos State, operating from the Government House in Alausa, Onukaba who served as Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, was a shouting distance down the road in his Agidingbi office.

Our paths crossed regularly as he sought to breathe a new lease of life into the nation’s foremost newspaper conglomerate.

“He kept in touch even after our exits from government and we usually shared views on his political project in his bid to lead Kogi State.

“The tragic demise of Onukaba, leaves a humongous lacuna not only in his biological family, but in the minds and psyche of all of us who knew him and interacted with him in his brief but eventful life.

“The media has lost one of its best and brightest; the community of creative writers, where he was a luminous figure, has been robbed of one of its frontline dramatists; the rank of progressives has been depleted by the exit of this unyielding optimist.

“With the outpouring of grief and pledges of support for his young family and legacy, I am reassured that Onukaba, will not die in our minds and in our thoughts.

“May God forgive him his sins and grant his soul peaceful repose, Amen.”

PRODUCT PROMOTION

L-R: Nigerian Dental Association President, Dr. Bode Ijarogbe; Oral Care Category Lead, Unilever Nigeria, Ibironke Ugbaja; Marketing Director, Foods, Ghana Nigeria, Unilever, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe; Marketing Director, Home Care, Ghana Nigeria, Unilever, Bunmi Adeniba, and Vice President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Funmi Asiwaju, during the Pepsodent Oral Health Walk in Lagos...yesterday

Kano Sets Aside Grazing Reserves for Herdsmen Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Government has identified five locations within the state to serve as grazing reserves, as part of efforts to address the recurring clashes between herdsmen and farmers, the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has revealed.

Ganduje stated this yesterday while receiving the newly elected officials of the state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) who visited him at the Government House.

He said the government decided to settle the herdsmen in model locations to facilitate

modern cattle breeding techniques, which are more profit yielding, noting that it was no longer safe and economically rewarding for herdsmen to wander from the northern part of the country to other areas in search for pasture.

“In those days, it was quite easy for one to move about a herd of about 20 – 50 cattle from home to areas near streams to allow the animals to feed.

Nowadays, people, obviously from outside the country move about with about 500-1,000 cattle in search of pasture, leading to clashes with farmers,” he lamented.

The governor, therefore,

promised that the state government would provide boreholes, pasture and other facilities in the proposed reserves to change the nomadic and seemingly disadvantageous lifestyle of the herdsmen.

To help in transforming the living condition of the herdsmen, the governor recalled that 60 Fulani youth were sponsored by the government for training in artificial insemination in Turkey to improve the value chains of beef and dairy, in line with international best practices.

He tasked the new officials of the state branch of MACBAN to network with other Fulani NGOs like Tabital Fulaaku,

assist the government to obtain data on indigenous herdsman and to collaborate with the office of the Senior SpecialAssistant to the governor on Nomadic Education, to make life better for their members.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Husaini Umar Ganduje, and the Secretary, Zubairu Imam, thanked the government for establishing a model settlement for herdsmen in Kiru Local Government Area and requested it to give priority attention to the issue of grazing reserves for the herdsmen and mobility for the association.

PDP CRISIS: SHERIFF, DICKSON ABANDONED JONATHAN’S PEACE PLAN, SAYS MAKARFI leader of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe, said: “We are here because we are convinced that the situation of the nation is worse in every indication.

“We have to do something.

We can’t just sit there and do nothing. We are here in spite of our belonging to different political parties to see what we can do to salvage our country. “ The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, represented

by Mr. Korode Duyile, said: “I can assure you that Falae is interested in the discussion.

We are prepared and ready to

join others to form a formidable party that will wrestle power from the ruling party.”

Other parties in attendance as at 9.15p.m. when meeting went into a close door session include the Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party.

The meeting was attended by chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Markarfi, Senator Jonah Jang, former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, among others.

Before he began, some of the party leaders objected to the presence of the media in an event they considered an exploratory one.

Some of them like the leaders of Labour Party and PPA stormed out of the in protest.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson,s and former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), yesterday met behind closed doors in Minna, the Niger State capital.

It wasn’t clear why the governor, who also heads the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Reconciliation Committee met with the influential power broker, but they both reportedly agreed not to allow a third party into the discussions.

Dickson, who did not speak with journalists after the meeting which

lasted about one hour, was said to have driven off with his entourage immediately the meeting ended.

A reliable source who was close to the meeting, but declined to be named, explained that the 60-minute meeting took place at the ex-Nigerian leader’s hilltop mansion in Minna, the country home of former military ruler.

Dickson was said to have met alone with Babangida in his private study, away from the prying eyes of aides of both politicians.

“The governor, after an hour, came out of the meeting and did not disclose the purpose of the visit, but instead, got into his car and zoomed off,” the source said.

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017 • T H I S D AY

54

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Police Arrest Muslim Cleric, Teenager over Ritual Murder of Three-year-old Boy Chiemelie Ezeobi Barely weeks after he returned safely from surgery, three-year-old Chiagozie Okereke, was yesterday murdered by a Muslim cleric, one Kazeem Alimson, popularly known as Alfa, for ritual purposes.

The heartbreaking incident, which occurred at White Sand area of Isheri-Oshun, Lagos, also saw the police arrest a teenager, 15-year-old Simon Kanu, who confessed he was been paid N500 by the Alfa, to bring the child.

Explaining how her son got missing and later died, his

distraught mother, Mrs. Chinasa Okereke, said, the bizarre incident has stolen her joy.

She said: “At about 7pm yesterday (Tuesday), I brought my children out to bathe. When I finished bathing the younger one, I went inside to get a wrapper to strap him, to enable me bathe the other child.

“But on getting outside, I didn’t see my baby again. The sister said he went into my neighbour’s house but I didn’t see him there and when I asked, they said he went out with Simon.

“I called my son’s name but

DHQ to Strengthen Security on Classified Military Institutions, Documents Paul Obi in Abuja Following the increasing cases of leaks, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday said it would strengthen its security on military institutions and intelligence documents among the armed forces.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, stated this in Abuja while inaugurating the Admiralty Printing Press set up by the Nigerian Navy.

According to Olonisakin, the printing press “is significant because it is truly historic for the unique operational and economic implications it holds.

“It is an option of choice for its appropriateness to strengthen the security of the process of producing classified documents and other military materials required for operations and training.”

He explained that with the establishment of the printing press, “it is also envisaged that it would enhance the proficiency and professionalism among those personnel with relevant background who would be deployed to man it.

“Its commercial prospects from the part of the services that could be offered to the

public and the employment openings it offers are tangibles of great corporate social responsibility and supportive of civil-military relation,” Olonisakin said.

The CDS maintained that “it is certain that these improvements have been positively impactful on the operation effectiveness and efficiency of the Navy.”

Speaking, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, added that the objective for setting up the printing press was to “exercise considerable control over the classified materials in view of their strategic value.

“The incentives for the pursuit and completion of this infrastructure are many folds. First, it is another way for the Nigerian Navy to heed the Commander-in-Chief’s call for the Armed Forces to strive hard on development of local capacity for their needs.”

Ibas further stated that the printing press would help the Navy save cost and assist in national development and employment efforts.

The Admiralty Printing Press is located at the Mogadishu Cantoment, Asokoro District, Abuja and would be opened to the general public.

Frozen Account: Ozekhome to Know Fate April 12 Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on April 12, rule on Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN)’s application seeking to unfreeze his account.

Ozekhome’s Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, with a balance of N75million, was on February 7 frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the orders of Justice Anka.

The judge fixed the date yesterday after hearing argument on whether or not to unfreeze the account from EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo and Ozekhome.

Justifying its action in freezing Ozekhome’s account, EFCC alleged that the money, which was paid to Ozekhome as legal fee by the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was part of the N2.26billion arms

procurement fund, which a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), allegedly looted.

The EFCC claimed to have traced N1.22bn out of the N2.26billion Dasuki loot to Fayose.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Dasuki routed the money to Fayose through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

But Ozekhome in his attempt to unfreeze his account, argued that the EFCC suppressed facts to obtain the freezing order and urged Justice Anka to lift the freezing order.

The SAN contended that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional, had no legal justification, and was a gross violation of sections 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

there was no response. Later, we saw Simon that night, I asked him about the whereabouts of my son and he said he did not see him.

“It was yesterday that I learnt that Simon took my son to where he was strangled with his shirt and stoned to death. He was my third child. I feel so hurt. My heart is broken. I need justice.”

The case was reported to the police yesterday morning, consequent upon which Simon, his guardian and other occupants of the building were arrested.

During interrogation, Simon owned up that he was given N500 to lure the missing child to where the Alfa was waiting for him.

He disclosed that he took him and the child to an uncompleted building where he was murdered under his watch.

In an interview with THISDAY, the primary six pupil said: “I went to site with them and I saw how Alfa killed Chigozie. He tied him up and was making incantation

before hitting him with a stone three times.

“He said he will kill me if I tell anybody. He also showed me his knife tied with red cloth and he said he will kill me with it if I told anybody.”

However, on his part, the Muslim cleric denied the allegation, claiming that he was not a ritualist but a cultist.

He said: “I was in my house sleeping when I heard people shouting. When I came out, I saw some policemen and when I asked, I was told that they saw a dead child.

“I went back inside, and 30 minutes later, the police came back and arrested me. I don’t know the boy (Simon) and I have never spoken to him, so I don’t understand why he will accuse me of such.”

At this point, the teenager interjected and said, “You are lying. When you asked me this question, he gave me sign with his

eyes not to talk. I saw him when he used the stone to hit Chiagozie until he died.”

From the Isheri Oshun Police Division where the case was lodged, THISDAY was directed to the scene of the accident at White Sand.

On getting to the scene, residents had already besieged Akogun Street, the residence of the deceased and the teenage suspect.

At the scene were the Divisional Police Officer of Isheri Oshun, Emeodi Camillus and his men, who were on ground to douse the agitation of the crowd.

But for the intervention of the police, the angry residents would have executed jungle justice on the Alfa.

In an interview afterwards, the DPO said, “Simon lured the little boy from the house and handed him over to the ritualist. He escorted the boy till they entered into the man’s car.

“He later came back home that night and all attempts to

get him to talk proved abortive, as he claimed he left him where they were playing.

“When the police became involved, I directed that all the persons involved be arrested, including the boy. It was after he was picked up he then confessed.

“He led us to the Alfa and we arrested him. We took him to search his house and the environs.

We found the boy dead in the uncompleted building.”

“He said they tied his hand and leg with red clothes and while muttering incantations, stoned the deceased three times before he left.

“We are digging some areas in the Alfa’s house to see if we can unearth any more bodies because Simon had told us of the stories of how the Alfa shows him dead bodies and cut parts.

“Also, when we searched his house, we saw some exhibits that has to do with rituals like red clothes and others. Investigation will reveal all.”

EMPOWERMENT

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku (third right), presenting a saloon start-up kit to a beneficiary, who is one of the graduands of the skills acquisition programme of the state government in Jalingo.....yesterday

FG Urged to Prosecute Foreigners Peddling Sub-standard Products Crusoe Osagie The federal government has been called upon to ensure that it diligently prosecutes organisations and individuals, including foreigners, who have made the violation of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Act their means of amassing illicit wealth.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General of Plateau State, Prof. Dakas C. J.Dakas, who made the call, said all agencies of government with powers to prosecute must rise to their responsibilities and ensure that such economic saboteurs are brought to book.

Speaking at the SON 2017 management retreat in Lagos, Dakas said such action would

send the right signal to the different quarters as to the seriousness of the government to protect its citizens and economy from dubious businessmen.

He said since nobody is above the law, those found to have erred regarding products counterfeiting should be brought to book since Nigerians in other countries are not placed above the laws of those countries.

“There are Nigerians all over the world and some of them are in Chinese prisons and elsewhere and here you find that when foreigners are involved, you don’t really accord the necessary investigations and prosecution. In some cases, the sense of urgency required in sending the message to these foreigners that they are not above the law and can not trample on Nigerian laws and get away with it is not there,” he said.

Dakas who was also served as Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) said the law was indeed a welcome development in the light of the fact that sub-standardisation had become a major problem in the country, adding that it constitutes a great risk to life and economy of Nigeria. He said with the new SON Act, that those who fake products would know that it was no longer business as usual, as punitive sanctions awaited them.

He made reference to the recent haul of substandard tyres valued at about N5billion in Lagos, saying the damage would have been colossal had SON not intercepted the products.

“So, it is a milestone that the law had been amended. There may however be areas to look into again,” he added.

Dakas also expressed the hope that the National Assembly would continue to work in concert with the SON to ensuring that the problem of substandard products was effectively contained in the country.

He, however, bemoaned what he described as politicisation and rivalry going amongst the agencies rather than collaboration.

He said collaboration is important for success as no critical agency of the federal government could actually work in isolation.

“So, my expectation is that instead of inter-agency rivalry, there should be more inter-agency collaboration. There is a lot of room for everyone and I think it is for all of us to stay in the bigger picture because of the fact that whatever we are doing, we are doing so on behalf of the Nigerian public,” he said.

55

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2017

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CAF ELECTIONS…

Ahmad Battles Hayatou for the Soul of African Football Pinnick full of confidence to unseat Anjorin of Benin Republic

Duro Ikhazuagbe in Addis Ababa Never in the 60 years history of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has any election ever elicited any anxiety like what is about to be witnessed here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning.

Unlike any other election into the Executive Committee of CAF, this is the very first time that incumbent President, Issa Hayatou, is facing the biggest challenge since 1988 when he was first elected.

Things have fallen apart in Hayatou’s hitherto close-knit football family to lead to the revolve that is about to strip him of the coveted position he loves with his life. A former confidant and supporter of the Cameroonian, Ahmad Ahmad who is president of the Madagascar Football Federation is the anointed rallying point for all those chorusing that Hayatou’s 29 years vice-like grip on African football must end today. It therefore is no surprise that the election of a new executive committee is the Number One item on the agenda of the 39th General Assembly of CAF here in the Ethiopian capital city.

All through Monday till last night when most delegates from the 54-member federations that make up CAF started arriving here, it has been horse-trading and caucus meetings from one hotel room to another.

The only country not present here is Eritrea who is absent because of political skirmish that bars her from entering Ethiopia. Of course, sources from the Hayatou camp told THISDAY that there is uneasy calm in the caucus as nobody is sure how the election is going to turn out.

“Ordinarily if it was in the past, we have no need to worry about what will happen.

But the feelers we are getting from the Ahmad camp is that they have infiltrated some of our loyalists. As things are now going into Thursday’s

election, I can say things are almost 50-50 now,” revealed the source who is a top insider in the Hayatou camp.

Interestingly, the same slogan of change that brought Hayatou to office as a wide-eye 41-year old football administrator in 1988 is what the opposition has also adopted to get him out of office. The opposition is insisting that there is nothing new to expect from the former Cameroonian basketball player.

Though they admitted that Hayatou has contributed greatly to the African game through many reforms and hosting of global competitions like the first World Cup in the continent, they want African football to be on the same page as those of other confederations. They want to see a new direction offered by youth and vibrancy.

However, if Hayatou succeeds in getting elected today, he would have succeeded in entering record books as the only sports administrator globally to have equaled the 33-year reign of former Frenchman, Jules Rimet who was FIFA president between 1921 and 1954. By 2021 when Hayatou’s tenure will end, he will be 76 years old, six years more than the 70 prescribed by CAF Statutes before he changed it in 2013 to satiate his interest to perpetuate his reign in office.

Despite the frenzy over the Hayatou versus Ahmad contest, most Nigerians are looking beyond the Presidential Election. They are concerned with how NFF President, Amaju Pinnick is going to achieve his ambition of getting into the CAF Executive Committee where the likes of Ibrahim Galadima and Aminu Maigari failed. They want to see how the former Delta Sports Commission chairman can succeed despite the challenges placed on his way by the supervising Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports headed by Solomon Dalung. Pinnick is hopping to

Incumbent, Hayatou upstage Moucharaf Anjorin of Benin Republic who is a core Hayatou loyalist. The West B Zone seat is one of the most anticipated contests at this election here as both Galadima and Maigari lost to this Beninoise who has his family roots in Abeokuta.

With no visible support of any kind for Pinnick from Dalung’s ministry, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, is here, leading a strong support base that also include; NFF Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, NFF Executive Committee member Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi. Also in Addis Ababa is the President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Chief Solomon Ogba who is from Pinnick’s Delta State.

THISDAY further learnt that Pinnick received another in a series of goodwill

Challenger, Ahmad messages from the President of the Nigeria Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Also of interest to African football followers is the contest between FIFA Council member Lydia Nsekera (Burundi) and Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone) for the only female seat on the CAF Executive Committee.

In the West A Zone, incumbent Amadou Diakite of Mali is challenged

by Liberia’s Musa Bility.

Chad’s Adoum Djibrine is unopposed in the Central Zone, but incumbent Magdi Shams El Din (Sudan), Juneidi Basha Tilmo (Ethiopia), Suleiman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti) and Moses Magogo (Uganda) will vie for the single seat in Central East Zone.

In the North Zone, incumbent Mohamed Raouraoua (Algeria) faces Anwar El Tashani (Libya) and Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco).

In the Southern zone, respected South African administrator Danny Jordaan (chief organiser of the 2010 FIFA World Cup) will slug it out with incumbent 1st Vice President Suketu Patel (Seychelles), Rui Eduardo da Costa (Angola) and Frans Mbidi (Namibia) for two seats.

For the African representatives on the FIFA Council, Ghana’s Kwesi Nyantakyi will battle Leodegar Tenga of Tanzania for the Anglophone seat, with Ivorian Augustin Sidy Diallo and DR Congo’s Omari Constant Selemani gunning for the Francophone seat.

CAF sources told reporters here in Addis Ababa that Tunisia’s Tarek Bouchamaoui will take the FIFA Council seat for the Arabic/ Portuguese/Spanish category, with his opponent Hani Abo Rida of Egypt having been moved to the Open Category.

Following the withdrawals of Jordaan and South Sudan’s Chabur Goc Alei from the Open Category, it is a smooth sail for Abo Rida, Guinea’s Almamy Kabele Camara and Burundi’s Lydia Nsekera, the only female candidate.

CAF PRESIDENCY IN HISTORY Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem (Egypt) – 1957 – 1958 Abdel Aziz Mostafa (Egypt) - 1958 – 1968 Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan) - 1968 – 1972 Ydnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia) - 1972 – 1987 Abdel Halim Mohamed (Sudan) - 1987 – 1988 (acting capacity) Issa Hayatou (Cameroon) - 1988 – Till date

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Atletico 0-0 Leverkusen Monaco 3-1 Man City

Delta / Zenith Bank Principal’s Cup kicks off in Asaba All is set for the official kick-off of the Delta State Principal’s Cup football competition sponsored by Zenith Bank plc.

The competition which has been grounded for many years has been revived by the bank and will be competed for by all the over 1,200 private secondary schools and 446 public government

secondary schools in the state.

On Monday, the preliminaries of the developmental competition started in all the 25 Local Governments in the state but today Zappa Mixed Secondary School and Okwe Secondary School (both in Asaba) will vie for honours in the official

opening ceremony slated for St. Patrick College, Asaba The CEO of Hideaplux Limited, Warri, the organisers of the event, Tony Pemu, told newsmen on Wednesday that with the support of Zenith Bank, everything has been put in place for an eventful take off of the competition.

Commissioner for basic and Secondary Education in

Delta State, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, is expected to be the chief host just as Zenith Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, is a special guest at the event.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is also being expected along with other top government functionaries in the state for the kick-off. Many people in the state are excite that

this competition is back because this is where talents are discovered,” Pemu said.

Basic Education Commissioner, Ebie stressed that the competition was a good opportunity to re-engineer education and sports and to further stress the importance of discipline to the young ones.

Ebie said: “We take

education and sports seriously in the state. This is a football tournament but from time to time, we will be talking to all the participants on the importance of morals.

“Let me also assure that we are going to provide world-class entertainment with this event even though the event is a junior competition.”

Thursday, March 16, 2017

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

N

MISSILE Sabi Abdullahi to Hameed Ali “By not wearing the (Customs) uniform, it is a disservice; people are there in uniform but their head is not wearing his. If he knows he cannot wear a uniform twice, he should have declined the appointment” – Senator Sabi Abdullahi to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) who has refused to wear Customs uniform on grounds that he cannot wear another uniform as a retired army officer.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Buhari and the Next Conversation A

gainst the Run of Play’ brings into sharp focus the centrifugal forces that took Nigeria to the brink in the 2015 election. Thoughtful, intelligent and rigorous, this book trains an unerring eye on recent history, and calls us to remember. In this story of politics marked by intrigue, ambition, tragedy and farce, shines through a nation’s miraculous ability to remake itself---Molara Wood, Writer & Journalist. ================================= When I set out almost two years ago to interrogate how and why President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 general election, I was more interested in the nuggets of insight that would be useful for the future of our democracy than just revisiting the past. My interactions with many of the principal political actors between 2010 and 2015 have proved to be very productive in that direction. But what makes the effort even more poignant is the timing, especially given the experience of the last two months, following the extended vacation in the United Kingdom of President Muhammadu Buhari, which ended as a medical expedition.

Incidentally, I missed the opportunity of an interaction with President Buhari because he left for London before my appointment with him. But I spoke to other people who matter within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and many of their governors from the North. On the other side, I also had extensive interview sessions with Presidents Jonathan and Obasanjo as well as several other political actors of recent years. As it would happen, I signed off on the copy last Saturday so it could go to press, 24 hours after President Buhari returned to Nigeria with hints that he would need further medicals abroad in the coming weeks.

Although each of the actors interviewed for the book, “Against The Run of Play: How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria” spoke from their own perspective, it is easy to glimpse from their narratives the political dynamics at play in the weeks and months before the 2015 general elections. In the final analysis, there are several lessons to draw, not only for the beneficiaries of Jonathan’s defeat who are now travelling on the same hard road, but also for those who seek to understand the pitfalls of power within the context of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious African country.

Meanwhile, the book will be unveiled in Lagos on 28th April by former Cross River State Governor, Mr Donald Duke at a public presentation that will be chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Copies will go on sale immediately after the event, including online. My hope is that the book will serve as a catalyst for the much-needed national conversation on the governing process in our country, the place of ideas in an environment such as ours and the role of political parties in offering the electorate real choices in the process preceding the emergence of leaders at all levels.

It must be said that President Buhari has been a model when it comes to fidelity to the

Buhari Constitution and the rule of law in the way he has managed his office when he needed to travel out of the country. But now that he is back home and has resumed work, it is expected that there will be speculations in the coming weeks about whether or not he will seek re-election in 2019 and what his decision, one way or another, means for his party and the country.

Ordinarily, there should be no problem with that. Even while political science is not the same as astrology, there is always a pre-occupation with the future. That has always been the case even in the old societies of kings and priests in the history books. What is peculiar about Nigeria is that we have become a nation in perpetual transition such that what ordinarily should be a means has unwittingly become the end.

In our own case, most of the discussions among the political elite often centre on where the next president should come from rather than on what such a candidate has to offer the people.

Yet, we are at a most critical period in the history of our country when we can no longer afford to play the same old politics that is devoid of ideas. Right now, millions of our children are out of school; there are reports of famine in a section of the country that has been ravaged by insurgency; the national currency has for months been on a freefall; many states cannot pay the salaries of their workers just as private companies are closing down with the few still in business laying off most of their workers. All these at a time many of our emigrant citizens are being deported back home to a situation of seeming hopelessness, leading to an upsurge in violent crimes across the country.

While these challenges may not be peculiar to Nigeria, because we have allowed individual ambitions to overpower the system, they are hardly the issues that preoccupy the minds of those who seek power and those who seek to replace them.

Indeed, if Nigerians were in any doubt that what we have is pseudo-democracy--in which

those in political offices as well as those who seek to replace them spend most of their time scheming for power rather than on how to better the lot of the ordinary people--former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida laid that to rest last Saturday. He regaled his audience of visiting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders with tales of how a cabal of former retired generals became the “military wing” and the guardian angels of the party right from its formation in 1998, with the sole aim of being in power for 60 years.

By that logic, the raison d’etre of PDP was not to advance the interests of the Nigerian people but simply to stay in power, essentially so that its leaders could also retain their privileges. Unfortunately, we are well aware that this has been the story of Nigeria, even before Babangida’s Freudian slip. The sad bit is that the situation is not better in the ruling APC that came to power not only by exposing the ineptitude of the previous administration but also by selling to Nigerians their “cut and paste” promises that were easily disowned by President Buhari the moment he was elected. That explains why even to fill important vacancies has become a problem. But it is not their fault.

As I stated in my coming book, Jonathan started out as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State before the misfortune of his then boss (late DSP Alamieyeseigha) catapulted him to the governorship seat. In similar fashion, he moved from being Vice President to Acting President and finally to becoming the President. So, his route to power, in the Nigerian folklore, has more to do with his first name, Goodluck, than by any conscious effort or preparation. In the same token, Buhari’s emergence can be traced to three principal factors. One, he was a major beneficiary of the geo-political consensus that defines the presidency of Nigeria. Two, he had a fanatical support base in a section of the North that needed no campaign to mobilise. Three, tired of the inability of the incumbent to meet popular expectations even in simple matters, many Nigerians were ready to try any alternative.

What that suggests clearly is that Nigerian leaders most often arrive their duty posts more by accident (and luck) than by any vision nurtured by ideas or ideals.

However, we cannot continue to practice a democracy in which politicians get to power not on the basis of how they would solve the existential problems of the people but rather as a mere replacement for a failed incumbent, or an attempt to appease a presumably cheated region. That is why I hope that in the weeks and months to come,

we will be able to move the conversation about the future of our country beyond the mundane to the serious issues of our national well-being. It is also my hope that the political parties will begin to take themselves more seriously.

In a recent online piece titled, “Nigeria: Who is thinking?” http://jimidisu.com/ nigeria-who-is-thinking-by-ayodele-adio/, Mr Ayodele Alao raised salient issues about the inability of our leaders to take full responsibility for our challenges by beginning to think strategically. “The Asians, Europeans and even the Americans are rethinking their educational curricula, with a strong emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) because they realise that future jobs are dependent on people who hold strong skills in these areas”, argued Alao who could not but take a dig at elected public officers who spend most of their time arranging marriages for some jobless men!

I concede the fact that democracy thrives in an atmosphere in which politicians respond to the challenges of their society by offering practical policies and programmes, including on social issues like marriage.

But that should come only after ensuring that such people are productively engaged, so that they can add value to themselves and the society. The challenge with Nigeria is that members of the political elite, still suffused with oil money to share every month, are yet to come to terms that our country is living on borrowed time and that this is the time to think outside the box for solutions to what ails us.

There is so much to do and we need all critical stakeholders to join this conversation.

In a milieu where politics has been reduced to a drama of where aspirant comes from and what religion he professes and not necessarily what such aspirant can offer the people, the civil society and the media have a big role to play in moderating discussions so as to instill a measure of accountability in the process. To paraphrase a famous quote of Babangida, during his elastic transition to civil rule in the eighties and early nineties, it is time our leaders stopped serving Nigerians yesterday’s food in glistering new plates.

NOTE: Interested bookshops and sales outlets for “Against The Run of Play” should direct all their inquiries by email to info@kachifo.com or call 08077364217.

Meanwhile, I have also uploaded on my web portal, olusegunadeniyi.com, materials from the 2001 series of The Verdict, for the pleasure of my readers.

Tope Shonubi @ 50 A simple man with an uncommon loyalty to friendship, Tope Shonubi of Sahara Energy was 50 yesterday; and quite like him, there was no ceremony beyond a brief thanksgiving service at Syrian Mosque in Ikoyi, Lagos. But to properly mark his new

age, Tope is devoting his energy towards catering for children of the less privileged to which he is calling on the goodwill of friends, http://www.childrenoffortitude. com/topeat50wishlist. To Tope, Igba odun, ojo kan!

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com