Tuesday 28th March 2017

Analysts Hail CBN’s Naira Defence as Rate for PTA, Others is Adjusted to N360/$ Caution central bank on maturing FX forwards, oil price volatility Bank pumps another $185m into market

Obinna Chima Financial market analysts have welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lower the

naira exchange rate for retail invisibles such as business and personal travel allowances, school fees and medical fees to N360 to the dollar, from the N375.

Describing the move as a show of strength by the central bank and its capacity to defend the naira, they however cautioned the Bank to be conscious of its maturing

obligations and potential risks in the global market, especially volatile crude oil prices.

Desirous of alleviating the pains of retail foreign exchange consumers, the CBN directed

all banks to immediately begin the sale of FX for business and personal travel allowances, and tuition and medical fees to customers at not more than N360 to the dollar.

The CBN, in a note, explained that it would sell to commercial banks at N357 to the dollar, adding that banks Continued on page 10

Obasanjo’s Wife Files Suit in Lagos Court to Stop Son’s Wedding... Page 10 Tuesday 28 March, 2017 Vol 22. No 8013. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

NGF: Melrose was Duly Engaged for Paris Club Refunds Consultant says its relationship with forum was professional, legal

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

CELEBRATING NIGERIA’S BEST

L-R: Executive Producer of the movie 76, Prince Tonye Princewill; Nollywood actor and cast member of 76, Ramsey Nouah; Nollywood actress and cast member of 76, Rita Dominic; BAFTA award-winner for Best British Short Animation Film, Yinka Edwards; and 76 Co-executive producer, Adonai Owiriwa; during an evening with Edwards to celebrate his BAFTA award, held in Lagos... recently kunle ogunfuyi

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has confirmed that Melrose General Services Limited was one of the consultants that was duly engaged and documented to facilitate the recovery and Continued on page 8

Saraki Appears Before Ethics C’ttee, Clears Self of Seized Range Rover Dealer reveals Oando imported vehicle, clearing documents were fake VC confirms Melaye graduated from ABU in 2000 Ndume: I raised issues to protect integrity of Senate

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki yesterday submitted himself to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over allegations that a bullet

proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to him was impounded by the Nigerian Customs Service

(NCS) for bearing fake customs clearance papers.

The committee chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo

East) heard that the vehicle clearance documents were discovered to be fake after the dealer, Lanre Shittu Group,

presented the papers given to it by the importer, Oando Nigeria Plc, to the Customs Service.

MRS Oil: We Never Expropriated NNPC’s Products... Page 36

The vehicle was imported into the country in September 2015 by Oando Nigeria Plc which consigned it to the motor dealer, Lanre Shittu Group, in October 2016 Continued on page 8

2

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

3

4

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

PA R E B T DN’ L U ES. O G H N S LLE ING A K H N C A A Y B R D A I LY D Y R YO U EVE

With Access Bank alternative channels; Fund Transfers, Bill Payments and Balance Enquiries become easier.

Get on Access E-channel Platforms. #AvoidTheQueues MOBILE BANKING . ONLINE BANKING . CARDS . *901# . PAYWITHCAPTURE . ACCESS MONEY . PAYME

T OF

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

5

6

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

He started a maize farm in 1993 Today he exports grain across the world

We support the people who see a million opportunities where others don’t We have long understood the importance of agribusiness. That is why we have been providing advisory services and financial support to the visionaries writing the story of tomorrow’s economy.

For more information visit: sme.firstbanknigeria.com

7

8

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT SARAKI APPEARS BEFORE ETHICS C’TTEE, CLEARS SELF OF SEIZED RANGE ROVER from whom the National Assembly purchased the vehicle in January 2017, the committee heard.

This is just as the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, confirmed that Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), formerly Daniel Jonah Melaye, did indeed graduate from the Geography Department of the institution, with a third class degree in 2000.

Saraki and Melaye were compelled to appear before the committee, following a point of order raised by former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, citing Orders 14 and 15 of the Senate Standing Rules and referring to the allegations raised by an online news medium.

The medium had reported that the face off between the Senate and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) was borne out of revenge for the seizure of the N298 million vehicle for which only N8 million was paid as customs duty instead of N74 million.

The medium also reported that Melaye did not obtain a first degree from ABU as he claimed, prompting the Senate to direct its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the allegations.

Saraki, who walked into the hearing at 2.52 p.m., explained that he had nothing to do with the importation of the vehicle, as he was neither an importer nor a clearing agent.

“This is not true, those that said it know it is not true.

Customs knows it is not true, because we all know that all treated vehicles have end-user certificates and there it states clearly who the importer is.

“These documents are available and there is no document anywhere that shows my name. So I want to state categorically that this

is not true and it is important that I come here and clear my name and put this matter to rest,” Saraki said.

He added that the “ridiculous” allegations were intended to blackmail the Senate for its stance on the anti-people retrospective vehicle customs duty verification policy.

“We raised the issue of the policy that is anti-people in the interest of Nigerians. This policy really had no value at all and that was why this motion came up, we debated it in the interest of Nigerians.

“Unfortunately, those who want to fight back went and thought there was something to blackmail us with,” Saraki added.

The Senate President stated that he decided to submit himself to the committee’s processes in a bid to strengthen democratic institutions.

“It is a great day for our democracy for me to come before you as the President of the Senate. We must protect this institution. As members, we will come and go, but we must protect this institution.

“To ridicule an institution of this magnitude is not something we should take lightly and that is why I have taken the time to be here.

“Today it is me, but tomorrow it will be another person. I think it is part of the sacrifice we are making in the work that we are doing that we have these kind of cases that do not hold water.

“We must protect this institution because this is the only thing we can leave. The difference between military rule and democracy is the parliament.

“For as long as the parliament is weak, our democracy can never be strong,” Saraki added.

He took his leave at 3.05 p.m. to allow the committee take submissions from the importer, the dealer and the

Customs Service.

The importer of the impounded vehicle, Mr. Tokunbo Akindele, disclosed that the vehicle was imported

by Oando, which he said he worked for in September 2015 and the vehicle was consigned to the dealer, Lanre Shittu Group, after the company decided it no longer had use for it due to the delay in its delivery.

Akindele told the committee that Oando had engaged the services of US-based Hizmark Inc. to buy, armour, ship and clear the vehicle.

“We made all payments to Hizmark Inc. for the acquisition, armoury, shipping and clearing. In the processing of the car, we did not receive any documentation from the National Assembly, nor was the National Assembly involved in the clearing of the car,” he disclosed.

Akindele added that Oando only discovered that the clearing

documents given to the firm were fake, following the interception of the vehicle as it was being driven from Abuja to Lagos by the driver engaged

by Lanre Shittu Group.

Akindele maintained that the SUV does not belong to the Senate President.

The chief executive of Lanre Shittu Group, Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu also said that the vehicle was consigned by his company in October 2016.

According to him, “After the consignment of the vehicle from Wale Tinubu, the Group Executive Director of Oando said that the vehicle came late, so they were not able to use it for the purpose they ordered it.

“And being that we have been doing business with Oando for more than two decades, they approached me on how we could help to sell the vehicle, but I said that we did not have a buyer at the time.”

He explained further that

the National Assembly later advertised for the purchase of a vehicle, following which his company submitted a bid for the contract to supply the car and won.

“When the interception happened in January, we contacted Oando and they sent the papers to us, which we sent to the Customs Service which then declared the papers fake.

“There was never a time we supplied a vehicle to Dr. Bukola Saraki as a person,” he added.

Officials of the NCS were absent from the hearing, but the committee adjourned till 4 p.m. tomorrow to take the agency’s submission on the matter.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of ABU informed the committee that Melaye graduated in 2000 in the third semester of the 1998/99 academic session.

Garba appeared before the committee to shed light on the certificate scandal regarding Melaye.

“From the records of ABU, Zaria, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, who was at that time Daniel Jonah Melaye, graduated with a Third Class degree of the Bachelor of Arts in Geography in the year 2000 and by this, he is a graduate of the university.

“On my honour, I reaffirm that Senator Dino Melaye graduated as Daniel Jonah Melaye during the third semester of the 1998/1999 academic session with a Third Class degree in Geography, that is a Bachelor of Arts in Geography,” Garba said.

Melaye, in his submission, explained that he applied to the court for a change of name from Daniel Jonah Melaye due to the popularity of his name as Dino Melaye.

“My name as an undergraduate was Daniel Jonah Melaye. Jonah is actually my father’s name, so that is Continued on page 10

FOCUS ON AVIATION SECTOR

L-R: President Aviation Round Table, Mr. Gbenga Olowo; Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the Aviation Round Table, held in Lagos… yesterday

NGF: MELROSE WAS DULY ENGAGED FOR PARIS CLUB REFUNDS disbursement of the Paris Club refunds, saying the consultant was also paid an amount commensurate to the services it provided, among other numerous consultants that were involved in the process.

The NGF also maintained its earlier position that it had done nothing illegal as far as the disbursement of the Paris Club refunds to states and the consultants were concerned, adding that the forum got all the necessary approvals to act in the manner it did.

In a statement issued yesterday by the NGF and signed by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazque B. Barkindo, the forum also added that it was not in the NGF’s purview to determine how Melrose or other consultants disbursed or utilised the consultancy fees paid to them.

Accordingly, the forum advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to drag it into how its suppliers, lawyers, contractors and consultants spent their legitimate incomes and revenues.

According to the NGF, “Our attention has been drawn to publications in the media, which are believed to have emanated from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about a purported report the anti-graft agency submitted to President

Muhammadu Buhari on March 10, 2016.

“The report is said to have indicted the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and imputed illegal dealings in the disbursement of the Paris Club refund payment to states of the federation as handled by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

“The NGF will not want to repeatedly join issues with the EFCC on the disbursement of the first tranche of the Paris Club refunds, particularly after its officials have been interrogated by the anticorruption agency and we provided all the necessary and required details and documents regarding the disbursement to states, including harmonising the number of consultants and payments made to them.”

The statement said that while the NGF was not willing to be dragged into the controversy, the forum secretariat was still being inundated with claims from many other consultants from all over the country who had earlier been engaged and promised commissions by the respective states.

It described the misinformation in the media about the disbursement and insinuations, which have been made concerning some governors, as outright mischief.

“We will like to state that the approval for the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club refunds by

President Muhammadu Buhari is indicative of his confidence in the NGF in the manner it handled the disbursement of the first tranche of the funds,” NGF added.

“The NGF would like to once again place it on the record that it played an altruistic and patriotic role in ensuring that it aided, as directed, approved and authorised by the presidency, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Debt Management Office (DMO), and all other necessary agencies of government, the disbursement of the funds to entities and individuals lawfully entitled to it,” it said.

The forum further stated that all approvals, authorisations, terms of engagements and disbursement were properly documented and are verifiable by anyone, including the general public.

The statement from the NGF came on the heels of another one by Melrose General Services, which stated that its relationship with the forum was profession and legal.

A statement issued by the senior associate/chief operating officer of Melrose, Mr. O. Amobi, said yesterday that it was a highly reputable firm consisting of partners who are experienced bankers and professionals in their field.

It said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in some

select media arising from a deliberately leaked information from the EFCC top hierarchy wherein our company, Melrose General Services Limited, has been alleged to be involved in some financial impropriety.

“In view of this report and wrong conclusions which may be made, we found it expedient to state the facts of the matter as follows: • Melrose General Services Limited, a subsidiary of Melrose Capital, is a highly reputable firm consisting of partners who are experienced bankers and professionals in their fields. Our firm has handled various mandates in the areas of financial advisory (including capital raising – debt and equity), corporate restructuring, IT and enterprise risk management advisory and consulting.

• Following a proposal we submitted to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) last year, our firm was duly engaged by the NGF to carry out a legitimate service leading to a refund of foreign loan over-deductions made by the states. The details, purposes, award and contractual terms of our engagement are properly documented. Also, the process of execution of this contract was duly documented and approved by the federal government.

Subsequent benefit was received by the states under the first tranche of release. All the relevant

documents have been made available to the EFCC. • Having performed and executed the terms of agreement, Melrose was duly paid the agreed consultancy fee structured purely on a success basis. This effort eventually gave rise to the refunds made to the states.

• It is worthy of note that at no time was our firm paid N19 billion as being alleged in the report given to the media by the EFCC. • All our bank transfers and transactions are supported by proper documentation, copies of which we have made available to the EFCC. • We wish to especially alert our clients, local and foreign partners that the relationship between Melrose and NGF is purely a contractual relationship which meets every global best practice. As of today, we are still engaged as consultants to NGF and there has never been a time the forum raised any complaints about our services.

• We remain a highly professional and law abiding financial and risk management firm and refuse to be dragged into the present politics between the Senate and EFCC. • Our Managing Partner, Mr. Robert Mbonu, as a senior banker, excelled in all the financial institutions he worked. At the Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), a bank that was

owned by the Saraki family, his role as the acting managing director of the bank, over 13 years ago, led to its successful and banking industry acclaimed resolution, restructuring and handover.

“Finally, since our firm, executed the NGF verification mandate under a consortium with other consultants, we hereby wish to be excluded from the present unwarranted media attention.

“This is because there is no logical explanation that can be given to this act of singling out our firm,” it concluded.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN SEVEN-UP 3.99 80.00 UNILEVER 1.60 33.90 TRANSEXPRESS 0.04 0.95 PZ CUSSON 0.60 14.59 AIICO 0.02 0.57 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN CHAMPBREW 0.12 2.28 FIDELITYBANK 0.04 0.77 LIVESTOCK 0.03 0.68 TRANSCORP 0.03 0.71 LAFARGE 1.11 39.90 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N740.00 Volume: 561.481 million shares Value: N2.472 billion Deals: 3,032 As at yesterday 27/03/17 See details on Page 31

% 5.2 4.9 4.4 4.2 3.6 % 5.0 4.9 4.2 4.0 2.7

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

9

10

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

Obasanjo’s Wife Files Suit in Lagos Court to Stop Son’s Wedding Mrs Ta wo Obasan o w fe of former Pres dent O usegun Obasan o yesterday fi ed a su t at an Ike a H gh Court seek ng to stop the wedd ng of her son O u onwo Obasan o schedu ed for May 11 Ex-Pres dent Obasan o and the father of the br de S r Kess ngton Adebutu promoter of Prem er Lotto known as “Baba I ebu” are respondents to the su t Mrs Obasan o who s the tw n s ster of Ch ef Kenny Mart ns former Coord nator of the Po ce Equ pment Fund s seek ng a postponement of the wedd ng of her son to Tope Adebutu schedu ed for May 11 and May 12 She wants the wedd ng to be fixed for a date after June 1 O u onwo and Tope had an e aborate ntroduct on on December 17 2016 w th the soc a med a awash w th photographs of the event Mrs Obasan o among others s seek ng a court dec arat on that as the mother of the groom she has the r ght to take part n the de berat ons dec s ons and act v t es ead ng to the forthcom ng ceremony Accord ng to her wedd ng nv tat ons have been sent out and she has been exc uded from the preparat ons for the ceremon es Mrs Obasan o who once reverted to

NEWS Sirika Promises to Resign If Deadline is

Adebutu and Obasan o to sh ft the wedd ng to a date after June 1 after she had appea ed to Adebutu and Mrs Rosemary Dacosta the mother of the br de Tope Adebutu the br de-to-be as we as her brother Kenny Mart ns Just ce Lateefa Okunnu has fixed Apr 10 for hear ng of the su t

“I served n Po ce Co ege Kaduna and by the grace of God that year I won the Nat ona Pr ze of the DG and t s on record and ver fiab e and I beg to tender my d scharge cert ficate from NYSC ” he sa d H s d scharge cert ficate read that he served between Ju y 9 2000 and Ju y 8 2001 Me aye respond ng to quer es from the comm ttee d sc osed that he swore an affidav t to dec are h s or g na statement of resu ts m ss ng not h s cert ficate “As I speak to you I have not co ected my or g na cert ficate What I dec ared m ss ng was the or g na statement of resu ts Cert ficate co ect on s at your own w and I have used the statement for NYSC to app y for any th ng s nce then ” Me aye sa d In between tak ng subm ss ons from Sarak and Me aye the comm ttee heard from Ndume who ns sted that he requested that both ssues be nvest gated to protect the ntegr ty of the Senate The former Senate Leader a so noted that h s act on shou d not be m sconstrued as pet t on ng the Senate or the comm ttee

but a po nt of pr v ege to protect the nst tut on “I d d not know the ssue wou d generate nterest ke th s They sa d D no does not have a cert ficate he shou d show the cert ficate s mp e “It s not persona As a eader f there s anyth ng that affects the Senate we shou d ra se t The who e pub c s say ng D no does not have a cert ficate and now th s c ears pub c percept on ” he sa d When asked by the Deputy Cha rman of the Comm ttee Senator Ibn Ba a Na A ah (Kebb South) f he was sat sfied w th the presentat ons made ABU v ce chance or and Senator Me aye Ndume sa d he was sat sfied w th the c ar ficat on by both part es “These are matters that cannot be swept under the carpet Let me emphas se that I d d not br ng th s matter up to be sat sfied but because I wanted to protect the ntegr ty of the Senate “D no was here he presented h s cert ficate the VC who s the fina author ty n th s matter says he graduated then the pub c can make the r udgment ” Ndume sa d

But we expect the CBN to now push through w th qu d ty” he added n a phone nterv ew Ezun however expressed reservat ons about how much support the CBN wou d be ab e to g ve the na ra say ng “When the externa reserves beg n to drop t wou d ra se a red flag ” The ch ef execut ve of F nanc a Der vat ves L m ted Mr B smarck Rewane who a so we comed the reva uat on of the rate for PTA and others sa d matur ng FX forwards shou d a so be of concern to the CBN “We must remember that the FX forward contracts wou d start matur ng as from tomorrow (Tuesday) Forward contracts are posted-dated cheques and when they start matur ng s when we wou d start see ng the effects of the ntervent on on the reserves “I th nk f for anyth ng we shou d be us ng th s opportun ty to find a fa r va ue for the na ra because o pr ces have come down and forward contracts are matur ng ” Rewane sa d Accord ng to h m by ad ust ng the rate for such nv s b es “the CBN s ust subs d s ng N ger ans” “Th s cou d ead to a cr s s of fa se expectat ons Rather than move the rate up what I expected the CBN to do was

to open up the market remove a the restr ct ons and you w see that the currency w find ts rea va ue “So first of a t s a good move but t s better to be caut ous y opt m st c rather than gett ng carr ed away” Rewane stated The ch ef execut ve of Cowry Asset Management L m ted Mr Johnson Chukwu who a so we comed the ad ustment of the na ra for reta nv s b e sa d t was a demonstrat on of the CBN s capac ty to defend the na ra “I th nk before the CBN came out w th th s t must have measured ts capac ty to support the na ra Luck y for the CBN there s t ght na ra qu d ty n the market and that does not encourage specu at ve act v t es “Peop e do not have cash to buy do ars to ho d anymore and that has supported the na ra The key th ng s that as the CBN cont nues to pump do ar qu d ty t wou d force more peop e ho d ng do ar pos t ons to se and that wou d defin te y he p the market “For now a ot of peop e ho d ng do ars are ook ng for ways to ex t ” Chukwu sa d The na ra traded at between N385 and N390 to the do ar at some para e market po nts n Lagos yesterday

TUESDAY MARCH

28, 2017 • T

Sirika Promis News Editor Davidson Iriekpe n es Abuja Airpor to Resign If Deadline is Not Met t Reopening House c’ttee unim for press Email davidso

n.iriekpen@this

daylive.com,

H I S D AY

08111813081

ed with level FG debunks repor of work at airpo ts on extension rt Chinedu Eze of work to 18 in Lagos, James Emejo andKasim why it became weeks Sumaina in Abuja do the job now.expedient that we despite We are claims

going to by the project meet the deadline.

Whatever work managers that 40 per I’m saying that The Minister that would be cent work of I had been carried done is the work will have concern that Senator Hadi State for Aviation, done On concerns not be completed Sirik, a has said without closing going to be Nevertheless, out so far. over a possible but they will resign his down the appointment he runway,” he said. reports that led members the chairman, who completed.keep saying it will be extension of the closure federal governmen if the it had extended timeline, of the committee The minister on an oversight the committee the t fails to meet chairman said:”That’s rehabilitation work also said that the six-weeks “What we’ve why we’ve come function to the runway on the Abuja the seen is the so that they will airport runway to 18 aspect but we rehabilitation deadline for the it was was shut down at the time airport, said it was concerned weeks, even are concerned civil know Nigerians are of the runway done as it reassured the work may that the mechanical, about concerned. the Nnamdi Azikiwe of Meteorolog because the Nigerian air not ical Agency (NIMET) by the scheduled be completed the lightening particularly around wouldn’t want any extension We the work would travellers that International Airport, Abuja. not exceed the we want them six weeks. gave the projection and original of the runway.”

Nkeiruka to give us six weeks plan. of On The minister made this known the year “and we haverainfall for worry that further expressed insteadthe alleged resurfacing work job on the agreement we’vea perfect The yesterday during though the agreement to do the made.” against assurance was coming of total work before Meanwhile, signed with the the rains set the Site a backdrop of said: “That’s rehabilitation, she Yemi Aviation Round a meeting with contractors in.”

In reports on the Ayelesun, said:”W Engineer, some media, his was point: Table (ART) total reconstructio for it’s a total they Lagos. not THISDAY in the Ministerintroductory speech, resurfacing but said on both the runway e’re working federal , that the they appeared n of the runway, we of government when and taxiway.

Sirika said the come to be carrying Mohammed Information, Lai a mere out to explainto the board, they’ve We closed the runway on February works at the airport has extended , said the meeting, resurfacing work. in the first threelevel of work done which 8 and use that to 18 weeks. to us the level was organised weeks It It noted was day since implementation to remove all also noticed runway was at his instance, that though of electrical the was aimed that work closed signed. Of course, to what they started materials on site and work aware of the hardship it was 2017, has shown on March 8, informationat correcting the false had not started on the currently taxiway. on February we’ve being faced by that the work The making the would be completed 9. Now, air travellers, rounds shortly legislator told journalists to what agreement theythe papers whole milling that the deadline at the given is completed the that if did not shut down adding date (April 19, Nkeiruka added:”Wesigned.” asphalt while of the runway for the completion there’s after the inspection that the 2017). rehabilitation still a lot do concerns from have gone work has started. We’ve for repairs, it would have airport He explained had one way beyond 40 percent what we’ve or the other, that the Kaduna been extended.

She said: “I have be done. on the seen airport was chosen shut in terms He regretted from what I have my concerns whetherground. We’ve the issue of of the overall work. “ The Deputy down itself. as alternative to Abuja airport Director, Press/ seen it’s total reconstructio the runway that since 30 years work He also promised was built, no is divided into because the resurfacing. that the efforts Public Affairs, Ministry airports around because the other work n or were major three phases But being made to Abuja, including was of be explained those things will entire airports in Minna, complete the Transportation (Aviation), Mr. the patchworks done on it, except and they’re on the first phase through the work before James books. the scheduled A. Odaudu, informed THISDAY do not provide Jos, and Makurdi degenerated; that was why it from a layman’s angle, which and They said they’ll start the lightening date. adequate security that the report I am, of the so and safety messures did not emanate runway by Wednesday the closure of badly and needed However, the from the airport to but it was federal government the ministry and at Kaduna airport .” yesterday no point did the federal governmen that has dual it was fully rehabilitated ensure debunked carriageway . media such In his t disclosed to information. road could easily Abuja, which President opening speech, the of ART, Gbenga within the periodbe rehabilitated said Olowo, the nation’s the airport in Abuja would has not advanced aviation industry be closed. in He also noted He regretted the last 40 years that while the Minna airport that while is closer to Abuja, international airlines the road is a single are generating lane, filled with huge revenues from their potholes and Nigerian along undulating operations, Nigerian topography and airlines have only eight per hills, adding cent of the market, it is insecure, unsafe comparedthat which has started dwindling Kaduna. to that many Nigerian airlinesnow Besides, he said dwindling. are immediate plan while there was “In Kaduna-Abuja to rehabilitate the weekly 2000, there were 12,000 seats on the Nigerian plan to rebuild road, there was no it became the Minna-Abu 30,000 in 2012. routes; road. ja the number In 2015, of seats increased The minister added that he knew 48,000, but Nigerian airlines to that the Abuja only contributing are airport runway eight bad even before was to this market. But they per cent minister, noting he became the that are losing small segment that closing down the airport became of the market because there was no other inevitable when with they are now lying prostrate what is happening a thorough, efficientalternative to do Air,” to Arik Olowo said. rehabilitation.

“I knew the Meanwhile, before I became runway was bad Committee the Chairman, House shown to me the minister. It was Onyejeocha on Aviation, Hon. when It was a similar I was a senator. expressed Nkeiruka, yesterday Port Harcourt experience with of work frustration at the level airport runway runway became . The runway so far carried out on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki of the Nnamdi Committee in. The airport so bad that it caved Internationa (left), and Azikwe president on Ethics, Privileges was l Airport Abuja, and Public Senator Dino Malaye, years. We cannot closed for two weeks and cleared with three into its closure fake papers and Petitions to clarify the when the senate president Abuja airport afford to close the rehabilitation to allow for issue of and Melaye appeared certifiate scandal for two year; work respectively inSport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that is before the Senate The committee’s on the runway.

Abuja....yesterday purportedly owned concerns came by the senate

DEFENDING THEIR

Former Gov Ngilari Gets Bail for Medical Treatment Abroa Daji Sani in d Yola

INTEGRITY

Buhari Appr oves Establish ment of Nava Lake Chad l Base

Omololu Ogunmad

Julius Atoi

in

e

The court also in Abuja an operational A Yola High while travelling, ruled that Ngilari Court base in Lake must Chad would

by Justice Nathanpresided over court the way for go a long way of his whereaboutsinform the President legitimate economic Musa has consolidating granted bail in activities. otherwise it would lead the security situation to activities being Buhari yesterday Muhammadu in the to contempt of of Adamawa former Governor perpetrated in area and consequently court. establishmen approved “We The bail the application boost situation are glad that the security region.

Ngilari, who State, Bala James supported t of operational the its economic activities. was convicted in the maritime base Ibas further disclosed by an affidavit was for the Nigeria Navy sentenced to “The president environment and Chad in the Lake five years in and medical documents how he briefed the president approved the has remained favourable with establishment prison the recently. to allow legitimate on of former governor’sdeposed by security the intention to boost for the navy in an operational base place,” economic activities to take partnership with some navy’s in the strategic Ruling on the wife, Mrs. Hanatu Ngilari. the Lake Chad regional Ibas stated. zone. and internationa The president basically filed by Obed bail application area l bodies with However, Commenting Wadzani, counsel the intention when he received gave the approval Lake to help provide security there. on the to the former to build Chad is a strategic THISD the Chief of Naval operations in he said naval and state Attorney General issue, the Staff, Vice • TUESDAY location that foster intelligence capacity recent times provides deteriorating governor on hisAY Commissio Admiral (AG) and health, sharing at the Presidential Ibok-Ete Ibas, for four the transportation means gone beyond merely policinghad and the president ner MARCH for Justice,28, 2017 it was constitution the judge said Sanga, charged nations. maritime environmen Village, Abuja. the keep doing Bala Fielding questions whatever will him to former governor al to grant the black described the ruling as “The Nigerian t, pointing out that a journalists promote market judgment, after the meeting,from there is to help in navy’s presence also beenthe Nigeria navy had Nigeria’s prosperity.

He said the bail. vowing who to proceed on consolidating “I also hinted him Ibas the security part and parcel said he was at appeal. must provide former governor on military on the of the ongoing of exercise Also Villa that two sureties joint task force, that the navy would deposit who counsel reacting on the judgment, the president on security to brief economic activitiesarea and facilitate operation including is conducting situation presence with other partners to pick up. The Lafiya occupancy (C two certificates of the AG to Ngilari, Wadzani, said in the maritime sector, added Lafiya Dole Dole. within the of region that to hasten of the navy there will help worth N50 millionOs) of properties with was at liberty to disagree the approval was significant for the military’sis the platform partners.and other internationa the developmen the ruling, adding because Lake Chad is each before the court. a strategic location the community,” Ibas t efforts of Boko Haram combat against capacity It is aimed at buildingl that the court duly followed said. insurgency in and intelligence the provisions which serves as the link The of the 1999 Constitution the sharing. to four pleasurenaval chief also expressed North-east. other countries.

“The Nigeria’s . new maritime over what he He also said strategy sees According to described our activities him, establishing favourable maritime environment as Nigerian navy the presence of the just going beyond maritime in the Gulf of Guinea the country which in environment he said had paved had been highly instrumenta We have been part of the various. the drastic reduction l to of notorious joint task forces including the Lafiya Dole.

FEEDING FAT

I

The SGF must

f any proof was between the ever needed of a tragic mismatch reports of imminen the North-ea t starvation st in the nation has and the proven resources that committed to region, it is in relief efforts the proposed in the Presidential 2017 budget Committee of the on the tive (PCNI).

From the emergencNorth-east Initiaof warehous y construction es in the six (N1.188 billion), North-eastern states and publicity to strategic communications, (N100 media million), to consultanmillion), to donor conferenc cy (N370 e (N250 IDPs bio-data (N385 million), million), to capturing of public address to commun systems (N100 ications and (N32.68 million), million) to online dashboar to advocacy visits interventions d and (N55 including “drafting million) to sundry othermatrix of subheads, of letters”, it the displaced is clear that people is not the welfare of those who the overridin g consideration of prepared the understand budget. We what also proposed N8.4 the committee intends fail to to do with the billion for “military Instructively, equipment”. the scandal the money meant of the to care for the mismanagement of internally displaced ANYONE ENGAGE persons (IDPs) D IN THE DIVERS ION the North-ea in FUNDS EARMAROF THE st has for months KED been a TO AMELIO matter of grave RATE THE DEHUM interest. Aside public ANISING CONDITIONS fact that the the challenge HAS COMMIT OF THE IDPS of livelihood TED A CRIME in AGAINST HUMAN affected areas the SHOULD FACE ITY AND many are dying(where of hunger and daily WRATH OF THETHE FULL want) LAW is real and requires there are reports a that even the hands-on approach, provided are little resources being looted officials of this by some unconsci being administration. onable Last week, the Federation (SGF), Secretary to the Governm ent of the Mr. Babachir indicted by Lawal, who the to exploit the Senate allegedly for using was earlier poor his position could not honour victims of insurgen cy, wrote that their invitation he on account of a legal

Letters to the Editor

I

t is quite unfortunat e that at the Hajj Commissio time the National n of Nigeria foundation (NAHCON s for and competing excellent Hajj manageme) has laid solid some Nigerians with world best practices,nt in Nigeria calling for ment in its relegation there are still to a departNigerians take the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Why joy in fighting there is any federal governmenwhat is good for the do some operations country? t agency that and has stabilised If for the nation, has yielded national its and internation NAHCON should be fingered Recently, there al repute are some as one. in the name of probe over distractions from some the nation quarters operationa and the Nigerian l matters that pray the hallowed will save pilgrims huge sums of money. chambers of manipulate the National d to cause Assembly are I harm to the the benefit not plans being of the put in place There are greater pilgrims in the forthcomin achievements g Hajj exercise. for commission. every year The 2016 achieveme recorded the challenges nts have already by the for opportunit 2017 Hajj. That thrown up ies is why distractionfor a better outing ultimately s at this moment during the discourage d. should be No one needs to be reminded pilgrims underwen of the difficulties t every year of NAHCON Nigerian in 2007 through during Hajj before of former president, the birth its 2006 of God, humanity Chief Olusegun Act and during the era Obasanjo. For and Nigeria, NAHCON the sake has to be collectivelythis call to scrap or merge meaning Nigerians. fought to a The Ministry standstill by wellof Foreign Affairs should stop

Mrs. Taiwo Obasanjo her ma den name after the break up w th the former pres dent sa d she a so rece ved prophes es and warn ngs from men of God caut on ng that O u onwo her son who turns 34 on June 1 shou d not do or be nvo ved n any e aborate ce ebrat on before h s b rthday The woman wants the court to compe

12

NEWS

Not Met for Abuja Airport Reopening The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirik, a has said he will resign his appointment if the federal government fails to meet the six-weeks deadline for the rehabilitation of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Page 12

If any proof was ever needed of a tragic mismatch between the reports of imminent starvation in the Northeast and the proven resources that the nation has committed to relief efforts in the region, it is in the proposed 2017 budget of the PresidentialCommitteeontheNortheast Initia- tive (PCNI).

Page 15

ANALYSTS HA L CBN S NA RA DEFENCE AS RATE FOR PTA OTHERS S ADJUSTED TO N360/$ were expected to post the new rates n the bank ng ha s of the r branches mmed ate y In ne w th the new d rect ve the act ng D rector Corporate Commun cat ons CBN Mr Isaac Okorafor sa d the Bank w send exam ners to commerc a banks to ensure the new rates are mp emented “Banks are proh b ted from se ng FX funds meant for nv s b es to BDCs ” he added The CBN a so ntervened n the FX market w th $185 m on A breakdown showed that t offered $85 m on to banks at the rate of N357/$1 for onward sa e to reta end-users at not more than N360/$1 for nv s b es wh e $100 m on was so d to author sed dea ers n the nterbank w ndow to meet the requests of who esa e customers React ng to the d rect ve on the sa e of FX for reta nv s b es an ana yst at Ecobank N ger a L m ted Mr Kun e Ezun descr bed t as a show of strength by the CBN “It a so shows that they are w nn ng the batt e I now th nk that when the CBN ta ked about creat ng an exchange rate convergence t was actua y referr ng to the rate for nv s b es “So what the CBN has done s to show ts capac ty to defend the na ra

Two-Minute Briefing

EDITORIAL Feeding Fat on North-east Misery

SARAK APPEARS BEFORE ETH CS C TTEE CLEARS SELF OF SE ZED RANGE ROVER what I have t on my un vers ty cert ficate “But because I am now popu ar y known as D no I app ed to the court and asked that I needed an affidav t for a change of name before my adm ss on and I subm tted t to ABU ” Me aye to d the comm ttee He a so tendered severa documents nc ud ng h s secondary schoo cert ficate adm ss on etter n 1994 to study Geography at ABU statement of resu t from ABU dent ty cards from the schoo and h s F rst Degree thes s and the thes s for h s first Master s degree n the same nst tut on n Internat ona Affa rs and D p omacy Me aye who s current y study ng for another Master s n Law Enforcement and Cr m na Just ce n ABU a so tendered h s SSCE resu t “Where I have C5 n CRS A3 n Agr cu ture C6 n Econom cs C6 n Geography C6 n B o ogy and a Cred t n Eng sh After my graduat on for the Ahmadu Be o Un vers ty the schoo sent my name to the NYSC for the mandatory serv ce and I part c pated n the one year NYSC

STARTERS

POLITICS Kogi’s Contentious Screening Exercise

EDIT

15

ORIAL ON NORTH -EAST MISE

explain the framew ork being used

to spend money

RY

by the PCNI

action he instituted . He was refusing countable for to be held acthe money meant of our society. for the most But following vulnerable 24 hours later a to say he would backlash, he wrote back another date. honour their invitation at While we condemn the recourse being exhibited by some officials to lawlessness branch of governm ent, the SGF in the executive the president must be compelle to explain the d work being used to spend implementation frame- by directly under money by the been inundate his control and supervisi PCNI that is on. “We have d by reports and funds meant of diversion and the scandal for the rehabilitation of materials of the IDPs had led to ment for the country” said international embarras sthe House Hon Sani Zorro, of Represen chair of tatives committe alleged diversion e investiga of funds and IDPs. materials meant ting for the he theatre of this it very importan scandal (the North-ea st) makes t for the Buhari to take the allegation administration s serious enough to get to to want has come under the root of it. In recent times, Nigeria on account of embarrassing internatio nal attention the threat of in the area. It starvation in the is international bad enough that so much IDP camps relief resources national pledged in aid have been committe and of our fellow d or Haram crisis. citizens affected So by the Boko resources have far, reports of rampant abuse of these the president largely gone unattended to, even when himself recently On a recent called for an investigation.

Borno State, visit to the IDPs camps in the on the Human United Nations Special Maiduguri, Rapporteur Professor BeyaniRights of internally displaced Chaloka, spoke persons, and want in not only many of the camps but the of deprivation officials are using fact the IDPs, includingthose situations to exploit that some Anyone engaged demanding for sexual and abuse gratifications. in the criminal funds earmarke diversion conditions of d to ameliorate the dehuman of the the ising humanity and IDPs has committed a crime against should face the full wrath of the law.

T

Letters in response to specific readers may TO OUR READERS send such letters publications in THISDAY opinions on topical along with their should be brief local, national 1000 words).

(150-200 words) and internatiocontact details to opinion@ They should and straight be sent to opinion@nal issues provided thisdayliv to the point.

Interested thisdaylive.com they are well-writt e.com. We also welcome en and should comments and along with the also not be longer email address than (950and phone numbers of the writer. making this call. the pilgrimage It is needless because ministry shouldbody was under it, the throughout the period story was all rather work member woes. with

on the board The the NAHCON of the since it has Or was the a ministry not commission. assembly which, aware of the hearing before I am sure underwen act by the national t public scrutiny the hallowed it underwent first, second and chambers? and third reading with the explanatio Or was the ns of the architectsministry not convinced at whom are still of the act, with the reasonsalive today? Or was some of the ministry given by the not satisfied Republic for then president creating the of the Federal in any way commission? failed Or has the Nigerian pilgrims in executing its mandate commission, of “serving The commissio diligently? the no option than n which was born out of dire to deliver on necessity has its

One big problem successvice administrations in Kogi State have had to deal with is the issue of over-bloated civil service. It has put considerable pressure on the state's meager financial resources.

Page 16

FEATURES Residents Res dentsofSo of Soliyi y Commun Community tyGroan Groan

FEATURES R dn G d k

S

over Gridlock If the Lagos State government fails I to act fast before April this year, the residents of Soliyi, a densely populated community Kosofe Local popu atedcommun ty innKosofeLoca Government Area of the state, wou would GovernmentAreaofthestate d have been successfully cut off from the state.

Page 18

BUSINESS Report: Customs Responsible for 82%

T H I S D AY

• TUESDAY, MARCH 28

C mmun

O

RLD of Ports Charges A study by a leading accounting firm, AkintolaWilliams Deloitte, has shown that the Nigeria Cus- toms Service (NCS) processes are responsible for about 82.1 per cent of the charges Report: Custom incurred by consignees. s Responsibl Charges e for 82% of Por ts Page 21 A BOOST FOR

R A T E S

15.3333 17.0332

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

A S

A T

21 Group Busine ss Editor ChikaA Email: chika.a manzenwachuk manze-Nwachuku wu@thisdayliv e.com 08033294157, 08057161321

M A R C H

NITTY

20.1621 23.1621

1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

13.0970 15.7898 19.6644

AGRICULTURE

2 4 ,

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

19.5941 21.3470 22.8256

2 0 1 7

EXCHANGE RATE N305.50 US DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes

Total Tasks

L-R: DMD, FirstBank , Gbenga Shobo; Limited and Minister Subsidiar Managing Director, ies, Adesola Adedunta of Agriculture and Rural Developm Bank of Industry, n; and ent, Audu Ogbeh; Waheed Olagunjua representative of the MD/CEO Minister at the maiden FirstBank Agricultuof Industry, Trade and , First Bank of Nigeria Investment and re expo...recently acting

Children on In line with Road Safety strategy, Totalthe Group’s corporate social Nigeria Plc to educate African has been rolling responsibility for several years. school children about out initiatives of such initiative The Road Safety Cubes road safety rules s aimed Campaign is of age 6 to one 12, from road at protecting the Nigerian road signs child, and proper accidents by educatin g them on behavior on to school. the road while It is currently going Federal Road being implemented in partnership Safety Corps state traffic (FRSC) of Nigeria with the authorities. and local According to the “Total Nigeria Managing Director, Mr. accidents and Plc is fully committe Jean-Philippe Torres, d to reducing its associate petroleum products d risks road distribution as our major channel “This is because of is via road at Total, safety in our core comes first andtransportation”. values,” he is fundamen added.

The rollout tal of in 2013 with this campaign nationwi the donation de was kick in Saint Georges started of 13 Primary Schools,safety cubes for children Since then Falomo in Ikoyi, the schools in Lagos,campaign has been implemented Lagos. and Kano states. Port-Harcourt and most in other recently in Kaduna

Nigerdock Ranke

d Among Best Indigenous energy services 100 Firms emerged the company the Best 100 only one in its markets , Nigerdock, has companies to Jobberma to work for to be listed among n’s latest ranking. in Nigeria, according Nigerdock was ranked of compani 87th on the es recently released of labour in adjudged and recognise Nigeria. d as best employelist In the Jobberma rs ECON OMY A study by a Shell, Chevron, n ranking, oil and gas leading accounting include Shipping firm, Akintola Companies, 16th, 21st and ExxonMobil, and Total companies such as According to Williams Deloitte, Nigerian Ports the accountin emerged in 36th positions has shown that Authority (NPA), may apply where the firm, Jobberma the 5th, g its respectiv the Terminal value Nigeria CusConsignee n ‘Best 100 chain ely. The fails to return Operators, toms Service companies identifying, Clearing (NCS) processes of a 20-foot containeranalysis Companies the container To Work For’ 3rd Annual recognizing are responsib s and Haulage on time. laden focused with cargo Nigeria, as and le rated by employecelebrating top employe on per cent of the for about 82.1 ($100,000) worth N44.42million Services providers.

“Upon arrival Commen rs in imported into It said Shipping ting on Jobberma es and professio of container at by consignee charges incurred from nals.

Compani Group Corporat the Nigeria the China, revealed Nigeria are responsib n’s ranking, s. port, Joy Okebalam Specifically, le for 13.8 per es the Consignees that about N6.5millio company earned e Affairs Director, pay Terminal a Jagal, noted firm blamed the accounting to clear n would be required of the port cost (N897,00cent Handling Charges, the recogniti leadership, that the the on due 0); charges, storage excellence, doing business high cost of container and transport the Terminal Operators 1.8 delivery accountability to its core values of an unparalle per (N117,000); at the nation’s out of the port. led seaports on Customs 82.1 cent customs examinatcharges and development. focus on its employe and dynamism and It said the ion charges per to the es and their government NCS and other N5.3milli of this amount, about cent (N5.3million); Transpor Terminal Operator “While we capacity agencies. ers 1.1 per cent on (represen t- addition, are This was contained ting 82.1 (N71,500) per cent) the Consigne s. In our state-of-th positioned to deliver es also work class in an Import is paid to the NCS as Clearing Agents (N78,000 and pay the relevant industry report services at free zone, we e-art facility, within a fully ).

The report added: customs always give import duty. integrated industrial Private Partnershtitled “Public Import Duty, Comprehensive continual developm “The value priority to safety, “Consign chain of a Supervision ip (PPP) an anchor typical container for logistics services ees pay well-being and ent of our workforc Scheme committed for diversify as (CISS), ECOWAS to get the to goods out of the Nigeria ing eralisatio Trade Lib- terminal operations developing their health, safety, livinge. We are above all the economy begins with the shipment n Scheme their capacity, Container Terminal : Lagos Port “Consignees terminal. environment of the goods ” she said.

Development (ETLS), through a and s Concesof the clearing pay for services sion as a Case shipping line Surcharge and Value Added Sinopec’s 2016 agents (where to the applicabl host country. it released over Study” which Tax. The e).

Profit China Consigne The Large firm further pays the freight Petroleu weekend. companies Rises 44% e noted charges for the are directly responsib other actors that 2016 net m and Chemical Corp in the value that shipping as well as le for clearing their chain deposit the ($6.74 billion) profit rose 44 percent on Sunday reported goods.” fees. Demurrag container performances from a year earlier to 46.4 billion yuan e charges on Continued The state-own in refining and chemica the back of strong on page 22 ls. fourth quarter ed company, known as 9.9 billion yuannet profit jump to 17.25Sinopec Corp, saw billion yuan to the Shangha in the third quarter, from it said in a statement For 2015, Asia’si Stock Exchange.

Chineme Okafor largest refiner 28 32.3 billion reported total in Abuja yuan. net profit of Sinopec said The Nigeria ENERG Y percent to that in 2016, oil and gas Liquefied Natural SPAs for the 431.29 million production Gas Limited three trains figures on NLNG versus 471.91 barrels of oil fell 8.6 (NLNG) has were and million a year closed that equivalent 2017’ which almost expired, “The company dis- was recently United Kingdom Crude oil productio it (BOE), earlier. is finalising released, the its existing customer through of completin is on the verge for the its strategy for SPAs BOE as near-dec n was down 13.2 g the Free s and spot percent T H I S D AY • strategies for its commercial soon trains 1, 2, and 3, would re-marketing of LNG ade low oil on Board (FOB). costly wells, volumes re-marketing expire, but prices forced to 303.5 million TUESDAY, MARCH 28, for Trains 1, while LNG started the volumes for It added in the 2017 the closures 2, and 3 whose Refinery throughp natural gas rose document that processes to firm has SPAs are nearing of 4.3 percent. through whose Sales its three trains the to 235.5 million ut fell 0.4 percent volumes in re-market It further stated:expiration.” (MSAs) Master Sale Agreements compared Agreements and Purchase LNG tonnes, or about the global with several “Activities market. The are also ongoing companies, 4.71 million with 2015 volumes have soon expire. (SPAs) would explained document bpd. been delivered ing of volumes for the market- to receiving that currently, Although it for NLNG manages 16 facilities did not give Train 7 project.” the proposed South long term expiration timeline the Korea, Taiwan,in Japan, Buyers of volumes for the SPAs SPAs, executed with 10 LNG China, India, of the three buyers three trains, it however on a Delivered Ex-Ship in the ArgentinBrazil, Kuwait, and trains “And stated that it with expiring (DES) many a, thus retaining has also initiated basis with buyers activities for that include include Enel, gas Natural, SPAs position as a its to me, we areare already saying Enel, Gas major player the not seeing LNG volumes marketing of Engie, Natural Fenosa, Botas, Gas Natural, Engie Global GALP the global LNG in anythin that LNG, industry. and GALP would g Botas. yet; Gas Natural, come from its proposed Currently, the how come they NLNG say you are going Train-7 project, Endesa, ENI, Iberdrla, Similarly, which is currently Shell recession following the recent six-train complex of 22 has a International to be our awaiting saviour from Trading metric tonnes final investmen in global oil prices, LNG per annum (mtpa) t decision (FID).a East Ltd, and Total Middle the company fortunes of oil”the dwindling According to Gas and nameplate has in recent stated that it capacity, its ‘facts and Power Ltd. production and 5mtpa According LNG cargoes times delivered Gas Minister of solid to it, while Liquids (NGLs) Natural to the Far East, the Middle production East, South and Steel DevelopMinerals hose who reside America, Chika Amanze-

PROPERTY Apapa Shuts Down as FG Repairs

n

2017

BUSINESSW

NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

G

Nwachuku

NLNG to ReAgreements market Expiring Sale s, Purchase

Bridge hose who reside or work in Apapa live in constant fear that if the environment remained chaotic as it is, then someday the impending disaster would happen.They are taking mea- sures that the government has shied from over the years, for political reasons...

Page 28

INTERNATIONAL Hamas Eases Gaza Lockdown amid

PROPERTY & ENVIRONM ENT Apapa Shuts

Down as FG Repairs Bridg e

The rate at whic increased since h businesses are reloc to leave town the beginning of this ating from Apapa, host of the nation’s year. Unlike territory to the, most residents of the once some main life-threatening -serene encla business owners, who sea ports, has ve have vowe were trailers and tanke d not to cede compelled rs. or on some Reports Benn ment, work in Apapa columns is their precious Continued Dr. Kayode Fayemi yet completed. on page 22 ett Oghifo live in constant Any time fromto be the inward now fear that

T

bound if e n v i ro n m the be closed to trafficlane would e n t weeks to enable the for eight as it is, thenremained chaotic carryout contractors someday the similar repair impending work.

Apapa residents’ happen. Theydisaster would reaction...

Worried by recent developsures that the are taking mea- ments shied from government has man, in Apapa, the Chairover Apapa GRA political reasons, the years, for Associatio Residents by barricading n, Brig-Gen themselves Ayo-vaug E O in and preventin menacing g audience han Rtd sought truck drivers invading the from Federal with officials of the streets where Ministry of live with their they site Works on at the weekend families. It gruesome experience is given a and was work for those who need to repair of the schedule for the bridge and not even the be in Apapa, and in roads Apapa. leisure industry is spared.

“Accordin The flip side, Ministry of g to the Federal though, is that there is an upsurge major repair Works schedule, in boat rides works commence and booming on The Marine ferry business.

Executives Beach bridge d 4th March outbound now use boats on travel to and fro Apapa. to lane hitherto closed lane. The is an interesting This to be is expected reopened experienc for some but on 29th March. e Duration of repairs have phobia for others who will be 24 days. and closure water, it is for large body of traumatic, particu- will“Thereafter, the inbound larly because lane be they share busy bay the to 22nd closed from 29th March with ocean Regardless, liners. closuresApril. These repairs will be repeated and convenient this is the only 23rd way of entering on April to 2nd and leaving June and 2nd June to 13th Apapa. There July for outbound is another and inbound option lanes from the Outer of crossing The Chairman respectively.”

Marina Apapa but this avenue into ers in Apapa said stakeholdat 6PM and closes of heaved a sigh relief on weekendsits not available heavy when Julius Berger’s and holidays. road repairs equipment moved into Rehabilitat site Wharf Road... ion of Marine work on the to commence Beach Bridge Entering and in Apapa expansion jointsbridge, which for the country through the exiting Apapa up, have loosened and cash cow with Ijora-Wharf axis has never road negative ditches created having for the state. and Housing, being an easy impact “It was expected task, but has Fashola, who Mr. Babatunde would “On inquiry, on traffic flow. arrangeme reached disgraceful that meet with parliament proportions it was revealed nts would havesound going work inspected on- approval. that ary artisans at the Bridge been in Apapa particularly in recent times, out the repairs to be carried made for alternativ The road is and other constructio when viewed strategic will because it the fact that from Inclusive be very minimal. for the outbound e route the Federalon Saturday, said helps to evacuate professionals. n the port and of parts of the through Leventis journey committed Government earns billions the government to He lauded that bridge Naval be repaired the to completin was a state like Lagos.is critical to to and via are the exit Sea Port at of Naira from the Malu/Mo artisans and President g road the end of this into route Dockyard road. This projects across the “In terms of bil road from nation. road. which This major is still full cargo delivery professional bodiesof other Some of Apapa, and of gorges road and had been in construction link Bridge closed for big enough to swallow government the projects the is cargo evacuation that at the Police the almost 20 years sector for the road role significant is attending These cars.

Command their Area of the and often in its impact in driving to it will (Leventis Bridge) inbound and a section A journey create traffic snarl. in the South-west, and developm the nation’s help to divert have suffered he said included outbound of five minutes road ent. traffic may reconstructhe rehabilitation and away from within The road, a neglect for years. some affected by fire outbreak take Two hours.

He said governme the state. dual carriagew We are hopeful tion of Wharf years ago. nt would “Rainy season back up is in such “This ay, Tin Road; that in 2017 Can Island/Ow little. A lot is too a terrible state, has we with an training of artisans takes will-powe oronshoki will gain some more traction.” it to the local, had been written This project should havebegun. Expressway; economic programm Fashola said Truck taken state and Federal off in Novembe Recently, the r to drive on it. governme e. the ongoing “There must be an r 2016 and Apapa; Lagos-Iba Park in road projects nts in the past completed economic programm the road, is gettingbridge, unlike state dan Exacross pressway before on the e the and that attention because some form of have of Apapa. The residents of the rainy season the advent Sagamu ; and the Mosimi/ was to develop the country gramme is the infrastruc pronation’s road. but perhaps infrastructure sent emissaries it developed for a big hole, tural and improve renewal that puts He said, “We to the Thethe bureaucratic chicanery. local a everybod are currently commerce as well those dead sure sign that all The and state governme residents and as bring the to work from the architects y weight heavy nts. holders GRA Residents nation other stake working on the Lagos-Iba vehicles exert duty had will be in expressway; dan with out of recession in line those who really build.” to held meetingsAssociation of hardship for a lot the Apapa President Buhari’s was beginningon it constantly Commissio The minister, through Creek with road vision.

According who paid ner for Environmethe months. Within the next four can Road to Tin About three to have effect. but to him, “We courtesy visit on Island, Mile concerted nt, all to no avail. weeks ago, Lagos State Governor the outward 2, Oshodi, have to fulfill Mr. President The three purposeful effort, plan and Oworonsoki organs bound lane mandate to to Kirikiri. ’s said the Akinwunmi Ambode and tract closed to was service are only paying lip schedule, the powers get this economy Confederal governme had already traffic and to the wellbeing be can make that started in the out of recession and intends to would up be reopened nt life a lot easier last administration assist and set it on keep of this the path of temporarily power initiative, Lagos State’s tomorrow part of Lagos. in Apapa.” inclusive was no sufficient but there where Ironically, since repair especially in money trickles growth the rural work to NNPC Apapa is second only “We have madefund for it. the areas. most vulnerabl down to in revenue generation FG’s position.. some subFashola said, stantial recomme e people.”

He said the Minister of . ndations in other responsibi “We have no federal Power, Works 2017 (appropriation) government’s infrastruct lity than and fully those ural renewal sist each state, develop to asrecommen hope- commitment own pace. at its was dations give job opportuniconceived to is not in Federal government competition ty to various with any state.”

Laleye Dipo in Minna the new law known in Mashegu Niger state TUESDAY the headquar Governor, MARCH environm ters Abubakar Alhaji local 28, of • T H ent Sani Bello government Mashegu 2017 I S Dand AY ensure trees chairmen has nounced a area of the lasted their lifespan five-year jail an- state on Saturday, before and officials or a minimum term added that felled and avoid desertificabeing ministry of of the fine of N500,000 such a convict would He announce agriculture tion. extra “The law banning for anyone to be d also be expected vigilant and caught felling the felling bring culprits additional 7.5 KVA that an ary School illegally. trees to replaceto plant 30 new trees of trees is still in force, to book. Governor generator Mokwa, Governor anyone was caught contraven each Bello expressed Bello, who would be given to the Governor Bello, The governor tree felled. town complement sadness will be punished ing the law 25 on a midterm tour of who made the existing to quality and quantity at the local governme the saying law is designedsaid, “This new one, 33 The governor.” to protect the also at Mokwa nt areas, was regularthe gesture would ensure served the students, of food therefore directed local supply of electricity town, where saying “the manageme government he decried the lack of potable would power equipmen that has failed in nt of this school water supply its responsibi t in the and town’s water in the town. lity,” works. directed the email:fore At the Governme immediat igndesk@thisdayliv nt Second- assessment and renovatio e Hamas authorities e.com of the college. n partially in reopened the the Palestinian crossing between enclave, said. the Gaza Strip Anyone Strip, closed the crossing Monday, after and Israel on enter Gaza,would be allowed to Sunday after on from a a blaming Israel pistol equipped following the one-day closure but those the statement said, assassination of the for with assassinatio silencer, police one restricted leaving would remain of the group’s in Gaza said. a chants of “revenge” and senior officials. n of one of its top commander to senior politicians, Hamas did not “death inside s. sick, women “From Monday the give details as to to Israel”. the coastal Travel the reason for of all ages, morning, travel through Ismail Haniya, to Israel’s military enclave due closing the crossing, and Strip is into and out of the Gaza the Beit Hanoun families of prisoners. until though heavily restricted recently place blockade, in head of there was speculation [Erez] crossing

by Israeli Men and boys for the last will be permitted that Yahya Hamas in Gaza, and who have an authorities - part of a crippling authorities were seeking temporarily for sole crossing withdecade. Gaza’s Sinwar, who blockade in place to prevent him some categories,” Israeli permit to leave a statement from the Strip the since 2007 - but those responsible for the as leader, led the replaced remained largely Egypt has also would be killing Hamas-implemented from leaving. closed in recent spokesman for Iyad al-Bozum, a 15 and restricted to those under The Erez crossing procession. years. closure was seen as a the interior ministry over 45. is the Israel has not rare Three commented on passageway between Gaza only Hamas, which Mazen Faqha, measure. runs the Gaza and offensiveslarge-scale Israeli Israel through 38, who was the shooting. which people shot dead by in the past According to Syria Fighter may years cross. unknown eight Hamas, on Friday outside gunmen formed have left s Take Contro Gaza’s The cells for the Faqha his home l of IS-held in Gaza City. group’s Shalom)Karm Abu Salem (Kerem sanitation, energy and medical Airbase Near Hamas officials military wing in the blamed his killing occupied remained crossing with Israel facilities severely damaged.

Raqqa West Bank The United fully open over intelligence agency on the Israeli he was cities of Tubas, where Nations has weekend, as the warned born, and A US-backed Mossad and it only permits its “collaborato that due to Faqha’s funeral Jenin. passage of commericia the reconstruc lagging rs”.

Kurdish and force of Syrian established Arab fighters He was killed tion drew thousands on Saturday l goods. has northern the umbrella group in A vast majority taken control efforts by hampered four bullets of of an Islamic

by Israel’s blockade Hamas Syria in October of the supporters into Stateheld airbase west 2015. the streets with two million Palestinians nearly and heavy levels Since then, of destruction, living in the Gaza Strip group’s strongholdof the jihadist have seized its 50,000 fighters remain sealed Gaza may become “uninhabitab about 6,000 sq of Raqqa.

The Syrian Democratic by 2020. le” km (2,300 sq miles) of territory with Forces (SDF) and a monitoring group the help of coalition air strikes and said Tabqa airbase special forces personnel.

Sunday evening. had fallen on Although the coalition estimates US helicopters that about 60% airlifted fighters of the hundreds of fighters behind are Arabs, the SDF’s lines at the start IS is led by force last Wednesday of the assault Protectionthe Kurdish Popular .

Units (YPG) The airbase’s capture militia.

This has caused is seen as trouble for the a significant step in the campaign US with a major ally, Turkey’s to drive IS militants out of Raqqa. government. It considers the The SDF is YPG an extension of the Kurdistan seize the nearbyalso aiming to Workers’ and the Tabqa town of Tabqa banned Party (PKK), which is in dam, which US-led multinationa the a terrorist Turkey and is designated group by the US denied damaging l coalition has and EU. In response, the US has pledged What is the SDF?in air strikes. to support only Arab groups Kurdish, Arab, within the SDF, and Armenian militias Turkmen and YPG fightersofficials stressed that opposed to IS were not involved in the Tabqa airlift.

Illegal Fellin g of

with Eagles Watford striker Isaac Success is determined to help Nigeria qualify for determ nedtohe pN ger aqua fyfor the 2018World Cup after making hiss the2018Wor dCupaftermakngh senior debut for the Super Eagles.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute onThursday as Nigeria drew 1-1 with Senegal in a friendly in London. Page 39

Jail Term

INTERNATIONA

Manhunt Hamas authorities partially reopened the crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Monday, after a one-day closure following the assassination of one of the group’s top commanders. “From Monday morning, travel through the Beit Hanoun [Erez]... Page 33

SPORTS Isaac saacSuccessA Success Aims msforWor for WorlddCupG Cup Glory ory

Trees now Attra cts Five-Year

L Hamas Eases Gaza Lockdow n amid Manh unt

Russia Protes ts Leader Alexei Navalny Jailed for 15 days

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has provoking violence.

Alexei Navalny been days for resisting jailed for 15 (left) calling for Some young people nationwide protests police orders during mass protests to attend, a presidential were paid over alleged governmen on Sunday. spokesman Mr Navalny t corruption was one of said. hundreds of Mr Navalny people who later repeated were accusations detained across French of corruption connection with the country in Prime Minister against strike Guiana faced a nationwide the rallies.

Monday over in the territory Dmitry The court in of a quarter-millio crime The allegations Medvedev. economic n aid or intervention difficulties, amid and people before Monday’s were the fined him the Moscow earlier main reason protests strike minimum 20,000 in Guiana, as behind Sunday’s that have paralyzed by some 27 unions, general the concerns roubles ($350) of a penitentiary, the French protests, which of overseas voters territory in South for organising expected to hit public services banned protests. the of demonstrat drew thousands America, meet demands a new court to across Guiana. suddenly entered the spotlight ors nationwide, flights and a rocket launchhalted However, the the race after having in in the restive and security needs Responding to Collective of including and prompted a U.S. territory. been largely Kremlin accused the protests, the Vladivostok in St Petersburg, travel warning. Brothers, the group largely 500 ignored.

French Guiana As behind the , Novosibirsk tensions the opposition protests, of encouraging mounted, Prime The government , has been demanding Karam said on senator Antoine lawbreaking and and several other cities, Tomsk Minister Bernard minister for BFM-TV that that the French as well announced population has the Cazeneuve government send overseas holdings called as Moscow. a minister to negotiate for calm despite been plans Monday, and said grave problems, ignored with them. level ministerial to send a highThe unrest is that the governmenton RTL radio 50 percent such as Hurricane Makes a reminder week’s end aimed mission before the deep unemployment among economic, social of made progress on mission has young people ‘Largest addressing anger at signing a pact racial divides demands from and 30 percent and Undeveloped’ the population of between France’s fishermen and farmers. the cost of living over high crime, mainland lacking drinking However, water Oil Find in UK she and and said former the “conditions quality the colonies from and electricity of health care for dialogue Waters Caribbean are not met” for in their An oil exploration and homes. her to visit services. Protests other social that remain to the South Pacific herself what it has describedfirm has made two billion have already French today. as demonstrato Guiana Protests disrupted have been recovered. blocked roads to Some rs demand. as the “largest territories use the undeveloped The launch neighboring minister, the Hurricane euro last week of planned discovery” of Brazil and Suriname, currency, stood Ericka discovered and they an Ariane oil in wells UK waters. at the French prime Bareigts, 5 rocket from which sit about oil in two many businesses and shuttered imported all depend heavily on the space center minister’s side as 30km apart. goods and policy Hurricane Energy and schools.

The decisions send he announced his plans to in Kourou carrying a South The French governmen made in Paris. said one they company believes the billion barrels Korean the ministerial satellite and a Brazilian oil already t found forms has of recoverable mission.

Candidates sent an satellite. part of could be contained oil same giant Air for France’s he stressed that solutions But field. Drilling the mission to try to emergency two-round cannot SundayFrance canceled all flights Greater Lancaster within the Halifax quell tensions presidential election be found “amid disorder.” at the and Monday prospect found Area, 60 miles starting next month The of the “ambitious pact” a column of because (97km) west oil-bearing rock have urged of Shetland. of at least 1,156m. the agriculture sector,includes aid to regional strike. Flights from The company It has been airlines to Cayenne the construction production in 2019.hopes to begin significant” described as “very Friday were canceled. on in an independen Hurricane’s chief Dr Robert Trice, analysis. t described the executive officer, Operations had find as “exciting times”. budget and safety to stop for reasons, but He said: “This Hurricane President Donald significant moment is a highly for further Energy plans to return expected to unveil Trump is successes appraisal. for Hurricane. and efficiencies “We believe a new Shares rose 6% for our in early trading aimed at overhauling the US unit customers, who are Lancaster Areathat the Greater after the federal he added. the citizens,” said. bureaucracy, and Halifax announcem is a single hydrocarbon He headed said for ent.

In the the the by new office would “deconstruction past year, their son-in-law Jared his Technology making it the largestaccumulation, risen five-fold. value has of the Kushner. administrative and data are allow him to apply his “ahead The Washington expected state” drew schedule, under of discovery on the undeveloped Hurricane budget mentality” considerable attention. reported the move,Post, which has Apple to be a key area, with to his government.

After the CEO Tim Cooke Shelf (UKCS).” UK Continental its efforts Energy has focussed describes failure last Office the Friday Mr The Kushner, 36, and is a property Microsoft founder of Innovation significantly larger discovery is neglected on what it believes are in Congress to by Republicans Bill Gates said team” of former as a “Swat be working pass a healthcare to executive investor and media bill, find in recent than the average known geological formations with the private-sector who is married Mr executives. years, which as In a statement to White House. Trump’s daughter to Mr now Trump has said he will has basement naturally fractured been about 25 the Washington turn his efforts million barrels.

It will have sweeping Ivanka. reservoirs.

Post, President to passing a He already However, it tax reform plan.

Trump These occur in powers a series of drilling to reform government procedures, unit would fulfil said the new on foreign advises the president of the size of is still a fifth blocks Republicans did relations, and key campaign the report says. west of Shetland, the Forties field, promises. is said to requisite not secure the have been influential which contains votes, so did about five billion Hurricane has apparently which Mr Kushner told in helping “Governme President Trump not barrels - of which named the choose staff for vote to the House floor. put a approximately after RAF aircraft, also including that the “government newspaper hindered our nt stagnation has his campaign should be run ability to properly Typhoon, Whirlwind A group of and in function, often conservative and Warwick. like a great American company”.

Top White House government. lawmakers, creating widespread “Our hope is that Bannon is expectedstrategist Steve was amongthe Freedom Caucus, we can achieve congestion and leading to cost those to overruns and delays,” Mr Trump formal role within the have no their own party’s who opposed new group. bill. They said Mr Bannon’s previous calls that it did not reverse Obamacare regulations. enough

Strikes to Hit French Guian a As

Tensions Paraly se

Territory

Trump Sonin-law Jared Kushner to Lead Overhaul US Federal

TUESDAYSPO RTS Am

M

W

m

C G

w

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

11

12

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Sirika Promises to Resign If Deadline is Not Met for Abuja Airport Reopening House c’ttee unimpressed with level of work at airport FG debunks reports on extension of work to 18 weeks

Chinedu Eze in Lagos, James Emejo andKasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirik, a has said he will resign his appointment if the federal government fails to meet the six-weeks deadline for the rehabilitation of the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The minister made this known yesterday during a meeting with Aviation Round Table (ART) in Lagos.

Sirika said the level of work done in the first three weeks since the runway was closed on March 8, 2017, has shown that the work would be completed at the given date (April 19, 2017).

He explained that the Kaduna airport was chosen as alternative to Abuja airport because the other airports around Abuja, including the airports in Minna, Jos, and Makurdi do not provide adequate security and safety messures but it was Kaduna airport that has dual carriageway to Abuja, which road could easily be rehabilitated within the period the airport in Abuja would be closed.

He also noted that while the Minna airport is closer to Abuja, the road is a single lane, filled with potholes and along undulating topography and hills, adding that it is insecure, unsafe compared to Kaduna.

Besides, he said while there was immediate plan to rehabilitate the Kaduna-Abuja road, there was no plan to rebuild the Minna-Abuja road.

The minister added that he knew that the Abuja airport runway was bad even before he became the minister, noting that closing down the airport became inevitable when there was no other alternative to do a thorough, efficient rehabilitation.

“I knew the runway was bad before I became the minister. It was shown to me when I was a senator.

It was a similar experience with Port Harcourt airport runway. The runway became so bad that it caved in. The airport was closed for two years. We cannot afford to close the Abuja airport for two year; that is

why it became expedient that we do the job now. We are going to meet the deadline. Whatever work that would be done is going to be done without closing down the runway,” he said.

The minister also said that the runway was shut down at the time it was done because the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) gave the projection of rainfall for the year “and we have to do the work before the rains set in.”

In his introductory speech, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the meeting, which was organised at his instance, was aimed at correcting the false information making the rounds that the deadline for the completion of the runway rehabilitation had been extended.

He regretted that since 30 years the runway was built, no major work was done on it, except patchworks; that was why it degenerated so badly and needed the closure of the airport to ensure it was fully rehabilitated.

In his opening speech, the President of ART, Gbenga Olowo, said the nation’s aviation industry has not advanced in the last 40 years He regretted that while international airlines are generating huge revenues from their Nigerian operations, Nigerian airlines have only eight per cent of the market, which has started dwindling now that many Nigerian airlines are dwindling.

“In 2000, there were 12,000 weekly seats on the Nigerian routes; it became 30,000 in 2012. In 2015, the number of seats increased to 48,000, but Nigerian airlines are only contributing eight per cent to this market. But they are losing that small segment of the market because they are now lying prostrate with what is happening to Arik Air,” Olowo said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Onyejeocha Nkeiruka, yesterday expressed frustration at the level of work so far carried out on the runway of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, three weeks into its closure to allow for rehabilitation work on the runway.

The committee’s concerns came

Former Gov Ngilari Gets Bail for Medical Treatment Abroad Daji Sani in Yola A Yola High Court presided over

by Justice Nathan Musa has granted bail to former Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari, who was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison recently.

Ruling on the bail application filed by Obed Wadzani, counsel to the former governor on his deteriorating health, the judge said it was constitutional to grant the former governor bail.

He said the former governor must provide two sureties who would deposit two certificates of occupancy (C of Os) of properties worth N50 million each before the court.

The court also ruled that Ngilari while travelling, must inform the court of his whereabouts otherwise it would lead to contempt of court.

The bail application was supported by an affidavit and medical documents deposed by the former governor’s wife, Mrs. Hanatu Ngilari.

Commenting on the issue, the state Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Bala Sanga, described the ruling as a black market judgment, vowing to proceed on appeal.

Also reacting on the judgment, counsel to Ngilari, Wadzani, said the AG was at liberty to disagree with the ruling, adding that the court duly followed the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

despite claims by the project managers that 40 per cent work had been carried out so far.

Nevertheless, the chairman, who led members of the committee on an oversight function to the airport, said it was concerned that the work may not be completed by the scheduled six weeks.

Nkeiruka further expressed worry that though the agreement signed with the contractors was for total reconstruction of the runway, they appeared to be carrying out a mere resurfacing work.

It was also noticed that work had not started on the taxiway.

The legislator told journalists shortly after the inspection that there’s still a lot do be done.

She said: “I have my concerns from what I have seen because the work is divided into three phases and they’re on the first phase and from a layman’s angle, which I am,

I’m saying that I have concern that the work will not be completed but they keep saying it will be completed.

“What we’ve seen is the civil aspect but we are concerned about the mechanical, particularly around the lightening of the runway.”

On the alleged resurfacing work instead of total rehabilitation, she said: “That’s the point: they said it’s a total resurfacing but when we come to the board, they’ve to explain to us the level of implementation to what they signed. Of course, we’ve the papers to what agreement they signed.”

Nkeiruka added:”We have concerns from what we’ve seen on the ground. We’ve the issue of whether it’s total reconstruction or resurfacing. But those things will be explained through the books.

They said they’ll start the lightening of the runway by Wednesday.”

On concerns over a possible extension of the closure timeline, the committee chairman said:”That’s why we’ve come so that they will know Nigerians are concerned. We wouldn’t want any extension and we want them to give us a perfect job on the agreement we’ve made.”

Meanwhile, the Site Engineer, Yemi Ayelesun, said:”We’re working on both the runway and taxiway.

We closed the runway on February 8 and use that day to remove all electrical materials on site and work started on February 9. Now, the whole milling is completed while asphalt work has started. We’ve gone beyond 40 percent in terms of the overall work. “ He also promised that the efforts were being made to complete the entire work before the scheduled date.

However, the federal government yesterday debunked media

reports that it had extended the rehabilitation work on the Abuja airport runway to 18 weeks, even as it reassured air travellers that the work would not exceed the original six weeks plan.

The assurance was coming against a backdrop of reports on some media, not THISDAY, that the federal government has extended works at the airport to 18 weeks.

It noted that though it was aware of the hardship currently being faced by air travellers, adding that if did not shut down the airport for repairs, it would have one way or the other, shut down itself.

The Deputy Director, Press/ Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation (Aviation), Mr. James A. Odaudu, informed THISDAY that the report did not emanate from the ministry and at no point did the federal government disclosed such information.

DEFENDING THEIR INTEGRITY

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (left), and Senator Dino Malaye, when the senate president and Melaye appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to clarify the issue of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) purportedly owned by the senate president and cleared with fake papers and certifiate scandal respectively in Abuja....yesterday Julius Atoi

Buhari Approves Establishment of Naval Base in Lake Chad Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the establishment of operational base for the Nigeria Navy in the Lake Chad with the intention to boost security in the strategic zone.

The president gave the approval when he received the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, at the Presidential Village, Abuja.

Fielding questions from journalists after the meeting, Ibas who said he was at the Villa to brief the president on security situation in the maritime sector, added that the approval was significant because Lake Chad is a strategic location which serves as the link to four other countries.

According to him, establishing

an operational base in Lake Chad would go a long way in consolidating the security situation in the area and consequently boost its economic activities.

“The president approved the establishment of an operational base for the navy in the Lake Chad area basically to help provide security there.

Lake Chad is a strategic location that provides the transportation means for four nations.

“The Nigerian navy’s presence there is to help in consolidating on the security of that area and facilitate economic activities to pick up. The presence of the navy there will help to hasten the development efforts of the community,” Ibas said.

The naval chief also expressed pleasure over what he described as favourable maritime environment in the country which he said had paved

the way for legitimate economic activities.

“We are glad that the security situation in the maritime environment has remained favourable to allow legitimate economic activities to take place,” Ibas stated.

However, he said naval operations in recent times had gone beyond merely policing the maritime environment, pointing out that the Nigeria navy had also been part and parcel of military joint task force, including operation Lafiya Dole.

Lafiya Dole is the platform for the military’s combat against Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.

He also said the presence of the Nigerian navy in the Gulf of Guinea had been highly instrumental to the drastic reduction of notorious

activities being perpetrated in the region.

Ibas further disclosed how he briefed the president on navy’s partnership with some regional and international bodies with the intention to build capacity and foster intelligence sharing and the president charged him to keep doing whatever will promote Nigeria’s prosperity.

“I also hinted him on the ongoing exercise that the navy is conducting with other partners within the region and other international partners. It is aimed at building capacity and intelligence sharing.

“The Nigeria’s new maritime strategy sees our activities going just beyond maritime environment.

We have been part of the various joint task forces including the Lafiya Dole.

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Oshiomhole: Nigeria Needs WMD to Wipe out Corruption

Magu bemoans multi-agency rivalry Ex-gov, Ozekhome clash over media trial of suspects

Paul Obi in Abuja Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said Nigeria’s fight against corruption would remain a complete lip service until the government deploy sophisticated mechanism to tame the monster, stating that the country needs Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMB) to wipe out corruption and persons associated with graft out of the country.

Oshiomhole spoke as the guest speaker at the first National AntiCorruption Stakeholders’ Summit organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Karu, Abuja, with the theme: ‘Building National Anti-Corruption Consensus in a Multi-Agency Environment.’

This came as the EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, decried the rivalry among anti-graft agencies, stating: “We are all witnesses to the fact that individualistic approach has not taken us anywhere.

“Rather than tame corruption, the monster has become daring while those who should tame it are sometimes busy engaging in turf war. We cannot continue to allow our corporate and individual interests to pull us in different directions, while the wellbeing of our fellow citizens takes the

back seat.”

But according to Oshiomhole, there was no way any serious nation can fight corruption without casualties, arguing that the Nigerian society now operates with obvious disdain for merit, thereby entrenching the act of corruption in nearly all strata of the society.

Oshiomhole said: “How can we win the fight against corruption without casualties? There has to be collaboration among anti-corruption agencies, all the agencies involved in the fight against corruption must have to share intelligence.”

The former governor explained that it would be difficult to rid the nation of corruption given that it now has a “generation that has never earned anything based on merit; never known merit in their lives and have always been assisted by an uncle or aunty.

He also decried the level of corruption perpetuated in the telecommunications and electricity sectors while regulatory agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) look the other way.

Conversely, a human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozokhome (SAN), differed with Oshiomhole, warning that media trial has the potential of derailing the nation’s

fight against corruption.

Ozokhome argued that “on media trail, I am a lawyer and human rights activist; I take very seriously issues of rule of law. I do not believe in media trial. For example, a suspect is being investigated by the EFCC, tomorrow, it is in the pages of a particular newspaper and to the statement made by that suspect.

“But that suspect may never be tried, even if he is arraigned and tried, he may never be found guilty, but you have destroyed his image; his reputation beforehand.

So we should run away from that, it is not good. The other thing is: respect court orders. If you do not respect court orders,

the international community will never respect us.”

He further charged the EFCC to desist from the lopsided prosecution of only selected persons, while ignoring persons within the present government.

On multi-agencies’ rivalry, Ozokhome called for collaboration, stating that the complexities associated with anti-graft agencies in the war against corruption remains a great obstacle in ridding Nigeria of corruption.

Also, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, warned the EFCC to expedite action in rendering account of all the recovered funds

in its custody.

Utazi said: “For instance, the records of seized assets, moveable and immoveable ought to be made available. Records of status of cases being handled by the commission, recovered moneys, forfeiture orders obtained, all are pending.

“All these ought to be made available by the EFCC headquarters to the legislature. It is very important that while we are doing our job, especially an important agency like this, we must ensure that people have to continued trust and believe, and when someone say, let me look at your records, there would not be issues,” the Senator added.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on

Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Hon. Kayode Oladele, also cautioned the EFCC to refrain from over reliance on the police force in carrying out its duty while leaving its main staff redundant.

Oladele said: “We are talking about inter-agency; we are not talking about bringing one agency to dominate the other agency. The reason why we have established EFCC is to ensure that the bureaucracy of the police is taken away, we can no longer the police again. We have to speak truth to ourselves. People that are working here must have career progression.”

Jonathan Debunks Allegations of Certificate Scandal Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has debunked report which included him as one of the prominent Nigerians to be linked with certificate scandal.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan dismissed the claim as lies, stressing that he had “never been linked to any doubt, scandal or controversy concerning his academic qualifications.”

Below is the full text of the statement: “Our attention has

been drawn to a story by a national newspaper of March 26 edition where Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was mentioned as one of the ‘prominent Nigerians with certificate scandals.’

“We really don’t know where this is coming from, but we wish to remain unambiguous in our assertion that this is obvious falsehood, since the former president has never been linked to any doubt, scandal or controversy concerning his academic qualifications.

“We are not aware of any probe, allegation or litigation relating to

his very well known academic qualifications. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that president Jonathan’s educational records can easily be traced to St Michael’s Primary School, Oloibiri and Mater Dei High School, lmiringi, where he obtained his first school leaving certificate (FSLC) and General Certificate of Education (GCE), Ordinary Level respectively, as well as the University of Port Harcourt, where he received his Bachelor of Science, Master and

Doctoral degrees. Luckily, many of President Jonathan’s classmates from primary school through the university are still alive and are traceable.

“It is therefore obvious that there is no justification for this abstruse association, as there is nothing linking the former president to the story.

“Again, we advise media organisations to always crosscheck their facts in order to avoid falling for the convenient choice of publishing false information.”

14

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

COMMENT

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

DOES NIGERIA NEED THE SENATE? No, it doesn’t, argues Charles Onunaiju

F

ollowing massive floods that devastated Senegal in 2012 and created national emergency, the joint session of the parliament (House of Representatives and Senate) voted by overwhelming majority to abolish the 100-member upper house or the Senate. The 100 senators who have fought hard to be retained were massively outvoted in the joint session of the parliament.

President Macky Sall hailed the vote and said that the budgetary allocation for the senate would be diverted to contain the devastation caused by the massive flooding. Critics claimed that the move that abolished the Senegalese senate was a ploy by the ruling coalition to weaken the opposition, composed mainly of former president Abdouloye Wade’s party which is domiciled mostly in the Senate.

In spite of the allegations on the reasons for the abolition of the 100-member senate, it struck a deep chord with ordinary Senegalese who yearned for reforms of political institutions, which would make more funds available for citizens’ welfare and development rather than pay for the fancies of the political elite.

Nigeria, by far is in a national emergency, worse than flooding and therefore, sustaining the political luxury of an upper legislative chamber, with its huge budget, flies in the face of any serious effort to tackle the myriad of our national emergencies.

The challenge to rebuild the war-ravaged North-east, clean-up the Niger Delta, and make life more meaningful for its long suffering people, fix Nigeria’s dilapidated infrastructure, requires huge budget outlay that can hardly contain the excess political burden of multiple legislative chambers, especially a second and upper chamber whose relevance is vitiated by its excessive grand-standing and perennial horse-trading.

There is virtually no function of a legislative branch of government that a unicameral or a single legislative body cannot adequately discharge. The practical utility of law-making is to capture the fundamentals of the prevailing social mood, tackle existential needs of society, devise rules of intercourse in which needs, moods and public goods seamlessly interact to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of citizens. Political institutions as laws or even constitutions don’t exist in social void. The only context in which they have reasons to exist is the social imperatives of sustaining a congenial order that balances the needs of society with a commensurate obligation to reproduce and re-create itself. Therefore, political institutions must find justification in the social need of society before its relevance can be accommodated in the structural framework of the political process.

Nigeria’s second legislative chamber or the senate has in no

THE CHALLENGE TO REBUILD THE WARRAVAGED NORTH-EAST, CLEAN-UP THE NIGER DELTA AND MAKE LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL FOR ITS LONG SUFFERING PEOPLE, FIX NIGERIA’S DILAPIDATED INFRASTRUCTURE, REQUIRES HUGE BUDGET OUTLAY THAT CAN HARDLY CONTAIN THE EXCESS POLITICAL BURDEN OF MULTIPLE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS

appreciable context of our contemporary social necessity and limited means any political relevance that is impactful on the broad mass of the people.

A single chamber legislature is more purposeful and focused on making socially relevant laws. The upper chamber of Nigerian legislature had become a distraction to the cause of our national effort to evolve a socially-sensitive political process that reflects the need of the broad mass of the people. The fundamentals of constitutional democracy take from the cumulative of social sensitive and cultural variables that coalesce to form the political infrastructure of a constitution. A constitution that is at variance or inconsistent with the existential values of a people is neither constitutional nor democratic. Constitution is less, of the sacredness of the document than the social mood it captures and the values it upholds.

A constitution like ours, padded with the definitions of the means of governance is in critical material terms, dysfunctional at best. Over-burdened with the mechanics of power, it leaves citizens vulnerable and gasping for breath over the excruciating weight of useless institutions and structures that cater for the pulsating egos of freewheeling elite. The Nigerian senate represents politically misappropriated constitutional intentions, a costly material tribute to political frivolity, with unbearable social costs on Nigerians.

The grand-standing of the senate in the recent cases of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Mr. Hammed Ali of the Nigerian Customs brings to focus the vain character of a chamber that is supposed to be imbued with wisdom. How could what Mr. Hammed Ali wear matter more than what he is doing? If Mr. Magu strikes fear in the heart of the corrupt, how does where he live or how he travels be a matter for legislative debate, a matter that would have been done enormous justice to in numerous motor parks, beer parlours and even ladies hair dressing saloons? To pay a legislative chamber that debates how public office holders should dress, travel and live is an unnecessary burden on our lean treasury and a national shame.

As the Senegalese did, the Presidency should take advantage of any joint seating of the national assembly to introduce a bill to rid Nigeria of the unhealthy incubus of the senate, scrap it and save Nigeria the political luxury of its numerous distractions. The practice of democracy or any form of government is a serious affair because the lives and well-being of the generality of the people is at stake and therefore, the luxury of legislative grandstanding cannot continue to be tolerated as the quality of life for many Nigerians continue to plunge to sub-human levels.

Onunaiju is a journalist based in Abuja

THICK AND THIN OF A MAVERICK ACTOR

L

Adewale Adeoye argues that Ayo Fayose, Ekiti State Governor, may find it difficult to have his way in the 2018 elections

ike an epic battle between a lion and a tiger, Nigerians are anxious for the 2018 elections in Ekiti, a small but significant ancestral state. Since 2003, Ekiti has seen a star actor on the national stage.

Sitting like an incubus is Ayo Fayose, 49. His opponent know this: elections with Fayose is like the fight between a professional boxer who adheres to conventions and a notorious chief thug of the ghetto whose rules are drawn from the barbaric, riotous instinct of a swamp dwelling brute.

The 2018 battle has started. An array of arrows is fashioned against him, he insists his shield is awesome. Daily, Fayose continues to develop fresh wits to counter the flood of attacks. He has turned the state TV and radio into maverick propaganda tools, boasting that he will humiliate his opponents in the next rumble in the jungle. What are the sources of his strength? Let us admit, he has strategies and tactics ignored at the peril of his adversaries. He came to power in a swooping whirlwind in 2003.

His stay was marked by deadening controversies leading to his impeachment and exit in 2006. His reemergence in 2014 as the governor in a disputed poll where he “won” all the 16 Local governments remains the most shocking in the state’s electoral history. If his first coming was like the swoop of a falcon, his second coming was like the swift precision of the hawk. I have had opportunity of “spying” at one of his pre-election rallies. Fayose is an orator, captivating and a maestro of red district vocabulary. When he launches tirade of attacks with his cynical remarks, he would then convert his rhetoric into captivating songs to the rapturous trance of his faithful. His policies are shrewd, designed to court personal favour. In a poor state, this draws fanatical loyalists. His development projects target one thing: sustaining the euphoria of the public. He understands the facts and figures of elections; he invests only where his political gains are immense. He plays on the sociology of immediate needs, the desperate passion and poor judgment of the uneducated among the voters.

He feigns to be the ally of the common man.

He drinks paraga with them, shares his jokes, dances in the market and above all, exploits public ignorance to the brim. He sets up pictures he takes with the downtrodden to create the impression he is at home.

His imaginative power and ability to sway the audience is real. For instance, he was in my town during the 2014 elections. As soon as he entered the palace, he crashed his height in prostration.

The new palace was being built. He immediately offered to supply the tiles which he did the second day. Such is his ability to feast on the momentary feelings of his hosts. He holds out flashy pecks and takes the advantage of poor people rushing to his given point. Fayose came at a time moral values have been perverted, owing partly to years of military rule that fueled the poverty of ideas. Instead of lifting the ethnical status, he concentrated on deepening the rot which he then maximises to huge electoral harvests. For instance, he tells the people anyone can be the state governor, even the starkest of the illiterates. This drums blind support for him from the fanatical and often violent dregs of the society who have come to see educated people as a threat.

His Machiavellian tactics includes relishing in the misery of the people; he builds himself in a fortress and holds carrot sticks, throws out crumbs, leaving the people with the false inkling that he is their eternal saviour. He does not believe in institutions, for there lay checks and balance; he deliberately kills his political party’s structure, holds forth the powers and privileges of his aides, making them perpetually at his mercy. He holds out baits and forlorn hope, keeping his supporters in unending expectations tied to him. He has the rare gift of leading an undisciplined multitude which his opponents, used to decent political culture, will find tasking. He instils fear in his aides and commands them to his sovereignty. He ensures none of his aides is particularly in means huge enough to either challenge or truncate him.

His officials are placed in positions that make

them subservient to his command and phantom generosity. His propaganda machine is immense, turning every tiny issue into electoral advantage.

Fayose has an edge in his cult-like control of the House of Assembly. He runs an idolatry political industry. Two years plus, no force has been able to polarise the State House of Assembly; he once described himself as the Speaker, adorning military attire. Before the 2014 election, he made only one request from the State PDP, that he should be allowed to pick the 26 House of Assembly aspirants.

He did. In screening each, he asked each to write “IMPEACHMENT”. Those that could not spell the word passed the text. He was once impeached, so, that became the ghost that continued to haunt him.

He cannot contest in 2018, but having a rookie is as crucial to his escape from the looming haunt.

Fayose will be put to a difficult position, which will make him fight desperately. Not grounded in any ideology, he could offer a political trade-bybarter. In this case, to surrender his machine to the formidable opposition, if for instance, he would be considered a Senatorial candidate.

Even when he leaves in 2018, the new governor will still need to contend for two years, with his yes-men and zombies in the parliament. He also has the advantage of feeding on the divisions within the APC. There is no single opposition figure against him, with each APC aspirant building personal political fiefdom as against forging a collective opposition before the main battle. It is an old war tactic, that a divided army becomes easy prey. Fayose is also fueling the crack in the leadership of the APC at the national level, with a faction already seeing him as a potential ally that should be preserved for the 2019 battle.

He is a man of deception, a critical element in warfare. He feigns disorder, when under attack; he positions himself as weak in order to seek public sympathy. He concentrates on projects that catch public eyes even when they are ephemeral. However, in spite of his claim to certain advantages, the 2018 battle certainly will be the most fierce he had ever fought. For many reasons, he is at a weaker

point compared with his past energy. The fact is that Fayose had never won any election without the brutal and vicious onslaught of the federal government. His greatest advantages remain the federal might and unimpeded access to illicit funds. These two elements now face the greatest threats. In the past, his victories were propelled by arm-twisting and intimidating tactics, arrests of opponents, seizure of funds meant for campaigns, bravado, etc. In all the elections he had “won”, instilling fear through barbaric force has been his trademark. In 2018, Fayose will be contesting without his traditional hegemonic backer. He will also contend with his encircled situation, with Ekiti being the only PDP state in the entire South West. With the prying anti-corruption hawks, his campaign funds will be depleted. With complete manipulation of the security forces out of his way, he will contend, for the first time, on a turf he is unfamiliar with. In his despotic calculation of not building formidable individuals, he left the battle and his fate only on his palms, making him easy target. He is said to have a nasty temper with a rash instinct. The opposition had explored this, drawing him out to make volatile statements that produced fatal enemies even up north. Vengeance is an old art in politics. 2018 won’t be an exception.

Also, Mr Fayose has been trumpeting from the gallery with his scathing brickbat against Northern establishment raising the prospect of his contending with authority vengeance.

Realising how difficult his defeat might be, opposition continues to plot his impeachment before the 2018 election. However, one of the worst steps would be for the APC to throw into the ring, a fighter whose tactics are already known to the belt holder, by picking a former governor of the state to run in 2018. This will show the party is at wits end. Apart from leaving the electorate in a quagmire, it will also portray the political parties as being the same in form and content, without offering the people a qualitative, inspiring choice.

Adeoye, a multiple award winning journalist is an indigene of Ekiti State

15

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

EDITORIAL FEEDING FAT ON NORTH-EAST MISERY

I

The SGF must explain the framework being used to spend money by the PCNI

f any proof was ever needed of a tragic mismatch between the reports of imminent starvation in the North-east and the proven resources that the nation has committed to relief efforts in the region, it is in the proposed 2017 budget of the Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI). From the emergency construction of warehouses in the six North-eastern states (N1.188 billion), to strategic communications, media and publicity (N100 million), to donor conference (N250 million), to consultancy (N370 million), to capturing of IDPs bio-data (N385 million), to communications and public address systems (N100 million) to advocacy visits (N32.68 million), to online dashboard and matrix of interventions (N55 million) to sundry other subheads, including “drafting of letters”, it is clear that the welfare of the displaced people is not the overriding consideration of those who prepared the budget. We also fail to understand what the committee intends to do with the proposed N8.4 billion for “military equipment”.

Instructively, the scandal of the mismanagement of the money meant to care for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in ANYONE ENGAGED IN the North-east has THE DIVERSION OF THE for months been a FUNDS EARMARKED matter of grave public TO AMELIORATE interest. Aside the THE DEHUMANISING fact that the challenge CONDITIONS OF THE IDPS of livelihood in the HAS COMMITTED A CRIME affected areas (where AGAINST HUMANITY AND many are dying daily of hunger and want) SHOULD FACE THE FULL is real and requires a WRATH OF THE LAW hands-on approach, there are reports that even the little resources being provided are being looted by some unconscionable officials of this administration.

Last week, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, who was earlier indicted by the Senate allegedly for using his position to exploit the poor victims of insurgency, wrote that he could not honour their invitation on account of a legal

Letters to the Editor

I

action he instituted. He was refusing to be held accountable for the money meant for the most vulnerable of our society. But following a backlash, he wrote back 24 hours later to say he would honour their invitation at another date.

While we condemn the recourse to lawlessness being exhibited by some officials in the executive branch of government, the SGF must be compelled by the president to explain the implementation framework being used to spend money by the PCNI that is directly under his control and supervision. “We have been inundated by reports of diversion of materials and funds meant for the rehabilitation of the IDPs and the scandal had led to international embarrassment for the country” said Hon Sani Zorro, chair of the House of Representatives committee investigating alleged diversion of funds and materials meant for the IDPs.

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

T

he theatre of this scandal (the North-east) makes it very important for the Buhari administration to take the allegations serious enough to want to get to the root of it. In recent times, Nigeria has come under embarrassing international attention on account of the threat of starvation in the IDP camps in the area. It is bad enough that so much national and international relief resources have been committed or pledged in aid of our fellow citizens affected by the Boko Haram crisis. So far, reports of rampant abuse of these resources have largely gone unattended to, even when the president himself recently called for an investigation.

On a recent visit to the IDPs camps in Maiduguri, Borno State, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of internally displaced persons, Professor Beyani Chaloka, spoke not only of deprivation and want in many of the camps but the fact that some officials are using those situations to exploit and abuse the IDPs, including demanding for sexual gratifications.

Anyone engaged in the criminal diversion of the funds earmarked to ameliorate the dehumanising conditions of the IDPs has committed a crime against humanity and should face the full wrath of the law.

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.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NAHCON’S RELEGATION AND PROBE

t is quite unfortunate that at the time the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has laid solid foundations for excellent Hajj management in Nigeria and competing with world best practices, there are still some Nigerians calling for its relegation to a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Why do some Nigerians take joy in fighting what is good for the country? If there is any federal government agency that has stabilised its operations and has yielded national and international repute for the nation, NAHCON should be fingered as one.

Recently, there are some distractions from some quarters in the name of probe over operational matters that will save the nation and the Nigerian pilgrims huge sums of money. I pray the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly are not manipulated to cause harm to the plans being put in place for the benefit of the pilgrims in the forthcoming Hajj exercise.

There are greater achievements every year recorded by the commission. The 2016 achievements have already thrown up the challenges for opportunities for a better outing during the 2017 Hajj. That is why distractions at this moment should be ultimately discouraged.

No one needs to be reminded of the difficulties Nigerian pilgrims underwent every year during Hajj before the birth of NAHCON in 2007 through its 2006 Act and during the era of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. For the sake of God, humanity and Nigeria, this call to scrap or merge NAHCON has to be collectively fought to a standstill by wellmeaning Nigerians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should stop

making this call. It is needless because throughout the period the pilgrimage body was under it, the story was all woes. The ministry should rather work with the NAHCON since it has a member on the board of the commission.

Or was the ministry not aware of the act by the national assembly which, I am sure underwent public scrutiny and hearing before it underwent first, second and third reading at the hallowed chambers? Or was the ministry not convinced with the explanations of the architects of the act, some of whom are still alive today? Or was the ministry not satisfied with the reasons given by the then president of the Federal Republic for creating the commission? Or has the commission, in any way failed in executing its mandate of “serving the Nigerian pilgrims diligently?

The commission which was born out of dire necessity has no option than to deliver on its mandate. This is because NAHCON is one of the most supervised agencies of the federal government. And fortunately, it is delivering. Every action taken by the commission is approved by the Presidency under the office of the Secretary to the Government of The Federation. The Senate committee on Foreign Affairs led by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and the House committee on Foreign Affairs and Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship and Hajj Affairs, Hon. Abdullahi Balarabe-Salame screen every bit of NAHCON’s activity. Sen. Sunmonu on many occasions has expressed satisfaction with the operations of the commission.

In many of the stakeholders’ meetings, she openly commended the commission for ensuring transparency and commitment in

its activities.

These supervisions by these three organs of the federal government do not end in Nigeria. Both committees of the National Assembly, office of the SGF as well as other related committees continue their role while in Saudi. On this note, I think the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim has every reason to defend her ministry, though her appeal to members of the House of Representatives committee on Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship and Hajj Affairs, led by its chairman, Abdullahi Salame, who visited her was misplaced. I think she could not have made this plea if she considered the painful experiences Nigeria underwent throughout the years pilgrims’ affairs and management were a mere department in the ministry. Nonetheless, there is no way NAHCON can operate without the support of the ministry considering what she described as diplomatic cycle.

All major stakeholders are not happy with the call by the ministry. The leaderships of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN), chairmen and executive secretaries of state pilgrims’ welfare boards, commissions and agencies have condemned any move to pull back pilgrimage affairs to the ministry. President of AHOUN, Alhaji Abdulfattah Abdulmajeed, while speaking at a workshop on Hajj in Abuja strongly opposed the ministry’s stand. He carpeted any such suggestion because, “It was not only out of tune, but totally unacceptable.”

Muhammad Ajah, Abuja

16

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

POLITICS

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

EXECUTIVE BRIEFING

Kogi’s Contentious Screening Exercise The screening exercise embarked upon by the Kogi State Government for its public sector workers is revealing,Yekini Jimoh writes

O

ne big problem successive administrations in Kogi State have had to deal with is the issue of over-bloated civil service. It has put considerable pressure on the state’s meager financial resources.

The current government is not insulated from the crisis either. The administration described the civil service it inherited from the previous administrations as a “cesspit of corruption” and one which was not “adequately trained and motivated to serve the people of the state”.

However, in the bid to correct the anomaly, the state government under the new administration of Yahaya Bello constituted a screening committee headed by a former State Security Adviser, General Paul Okutimoh (rtd). Last year February, the committee started sitting.

To address the concern of organised labour, the governor changed the headship of the committee and gave labour the chance to lead the committee.

That action did not only demonstrate the respect Bello has for the labour community, it also gave credibility to the screening.

Also, the state government went ahead to set up a review committee which exposed a lot of fraud in the system. For instance, some people were discovered to have used their late sisters’ or brothers’ certificates to join the civil service.

Some over aged persons were found to have remained in service when they were supposed to have quit. This discovery raised the question ‘If people that are 72 years old refuse to leave the service, when will the youths have their chance of serving their fatherland?’

In Kogi State civil service, it was discovered that people printed fake certificates to get jobs and promotion. Some others work in Kaduna and yet draw salaries from Kogi State while some civil servants were diverting government funds.

After the exercise and those culpable were Bello...fishing out the bad eggs

There are problems associated with the staff screening in the state, but it did not start on January 27 , 2016 when Alhaji Yahaya Bello came on board.These problems did not start with the immediate past governor, Captain Idris Wada, neither did it start with former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. It all started from the day when Kogi State was created from Benue and Kwara States in August 27, 1991

identified, the governor gave a directive for the payment of all workers that were cleared to be paid.

The former Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Chief Clarence Olafemi while speaking with THISDAY on the issue, said: “There are problems associated with the staff screening in the state, but it did not start on January 27 , 2016 when Alhaji Yahaya Bello came on board.

“These problems did not start with the immediate past governor, Captain Idris Wada, neither did it start with former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. It all started from the day when Kogi State was created from Benue and Kwara States in August 27, 1991.

“At that time people were directed to go back to their state and people moved to form the new civil service in Kogi State without proper documentation. People had to go back and started perfecting their documents through forgery to justify the grade they claimed to belong.

“There was no data base. The problems started from the merger of Benue and Kwara civil service . The system was highly polluted, criminal things were done as people who are not even civil servants came with claims that they were in the service.

“Some claimed level 12, but with no evidence and there was no transfer of files from both states to authenticate genuine staff. Some people even conjured certificates, conjured promotion, degree certificates were being used

by some people who have never gone to the four walls of a university.

“They did all of these without having it in mind that a day of reckoning may come.

This uncivilised behaviour led to what came to be known as over bloated civil service in the state and there was no administration that did not feel the negative impacts of this problem.”

Olafemi, who was former acting governor in Kogi State, said when he was in office the problem was identified and that it was what gave birth to crisis ridden Sally Tibot screening exercise during the tenure of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

According to him, the concept of the screening then was to clear all the mess, but Sally Tibot was behaving like emperor and the House of Assembly then passed a bill that she must leave the state within 24 hours, “little did we know that the dead body we claimed to have buried, the legs are still out side,” he added.

“We could have cautioned the woman who handled the screening exercise may be she could have succeeded in reducing the mess by 50 percent.

“Also, during the tenure of the immediate past administration of Idris Wada another screening committee was inaugurated. It was headed by a Permanent Secretary as at that time, Mrs Deborah Ogunmola . The committee did a fantastic job and submitted its report to the governor but there was no executive courage to implement the committee

recommendations.

“All of these added together to the extent that when Governor Bello took over he needed to spend over 80 percent of the monthly allocation in servicing less than 10 percent population of the state who are civil servants. I learnt that due to the porous nature of the state civil service, one person takes the salaries of fifteen people”, he lamented.

During the exercise, a staff of the Kogi State Pension Board, Mr. Atabor John Momoh, was arrested by security agents for allegedly defrauding the state to the tune of N4.3 million naira, funds meant for payment of pensioners allowance.

It was gathered that the Kogi State Staff Screening Committee, while reviewing Momoh’s bank statement, discovered that he allegedly diverted funds meant for payment of pensioners allowance into his personal account.

According to the committee, Mr. Momoh who was identified to have huge cash inflow in his account in the last screening exercise, is in charge of reconciliation of failed payment in the State Pension Board.

According to the Director General of Media and Publicity to Governor Bello, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, “This exercise is about the people in many ways. A secondary school certificate holder who is employed as a Medical Officer and placed on Grade Level 13 is a risk to the society.

“A person who replaced a dead worker who had been trained to handle certain specialised jobs will surely be incapable of functioning effectively. A compromised civil service is detrimental to growth and development.

“This exercise is the way to go. It is for the people. It is in the interest of the state.

Previous administrations shied away from it and the state suffered for it. We should applaud the political will of the governor to do this for the good people of Kogi State.

“Some pensioners who are yet to be paid will be attended to and every verified worker of the state will receive his or her arrears.

The people must join hands with government to cleanse the system and free funds for development”.

Fanwo said government is concerned about the plight of cleared workers who were yet to be paid, saying government would work to ensure they were paid as soon as possible.

When the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress marked the one year anniversary of the screening exercise, the Chairman, Comrade Onu Edoka and other members of the union commended the governor for the exercise.

The union leader while speaking during a visit to the governor said the screening exercise had positive impact on workers in the state even though some people were yet to be paid.

According to him, the exercise has changed the attitude of workers. He said henceforth no workers in the state would allow money to be paid into his or her account without due process.

Edoka noted that those conniving to defraud the state of millions of naira through workers and pensioners salary would automatically have s change of heart to avoid embarrassment.

He however urged the governor to kindly pay workers and pensioners that had been cleared so that they could meet up with their responsibilities, which is the general view among the people of the state who believe that now that the exercise has ended the government should pay workers that have been screened by the committee so that workers can meet up with the responsibilities.

While it is not clear how much the state government has saved as a result of the exercise, the government now has a chance to weed out fraudulent workers.

17

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCY 28, 2017

POLITICS

Rivers APC in Disarray Following the loss of the governorship and subsequent rerun elections to the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State is in disarray, as many of its members are now leaving for the PDP in droves, Davidson Iriekpen reports

W

ith the 2019 general election two years away, one of the states where the Peoples Democratic Party is likely to retain its seat with ease is Rivers State where members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently leaving the party in droves to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Investigation reveals that since the December 10, 2016 rerun legislative elections, not less than 60,000 APC members have left the party for the PDP. Many analysts believe that with elections fast approaching, it would be difficult for the opposition in the state to secure a victory.

At the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, about 200 former councillors elected on the platform of the APC in 2015, announced plans to leave the party for the PDP. Already, they have agreed among themselves to withdraw the cases they filed against PDP. At a meeting attended by over 150 APC councillorship candidates they expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of the party in the state and the lacklustre manner their leaders had handled the court matter which they said had suffered several setbacks in the past two years.

Disappointed over what he described as weak leadership of the party, one of the councillors said they have had enough. He said: “How can we call ourselves chairmen and councillors while others are occupying positions and enjoying the perquisite of office? We must tell ourselves the truth. It is better we withdraw the case in court and face reality. The party leaders who got jobs in Abuja and Lagos seem to be representing themselves. They have left us to fend for ourselves.”

According to him, it is time for them to take their destiny into their hands.

Last week, it was alleged that seven members of the APC in the House of Representatives met with the leadership of the PDP in the state to discuss what would be their fate should they decide to join the party. The APC lawmakers, who are concerned about their future have realized that their return to the House would depend on how far they support their state governor.

Investigation has also revealed that some APC members in the state House of Assembly are warming up to leave the party for the PDP to retain their seats in the assembly.

Apart from a number of former commissioners, special assistants, local government chairmen and other officials who have left the APC for the PDP in recent times, the decision of a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh to abandon the party and move to the PDP is seen as a major blow to APC in Rivers.

Emeh, who had served the state in various capacities including two times as commissioner under former Governor Peter Odili’s administration, is generally described as a political engine room and a strategist.

Before leaving APC, the leadership of PDP in the state was said to have mounted enormous pressure on the Ikwerre-born chartered accountant and lawyer to come back to the party described as his political home. No doubt the exit of Emeh will have serious implications for APC in the state given his enormous political experience.

Since his defection, Emeh’s Port Harcourt residence has become a Mecca of sorts with lot of politicians, their followers and groups coming in on daily basis to congratulate him for taken the right decision. Last week, several groups from Ahoada-East, Abual/Odual, Emohua, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, as well as non-indigenes called on him, pledging their support for the administration of Governor

Obuah......welcomes APC members to PDP

Nyesom Wike and the PDP. Penultimate week, the coordinator of the Dakuku Peterside Campaign Organisation in Okrika, Dagogo Spencer and his supporters left the APC for the PDP. He said that they moved to the PDP because they were tired of the cock and bull story of the leaders and the infighting that has become the stock in trade of APC in the state.

Receiving the new comers, Emeh thanked them for the decision to embrace the PDP saying that the decision was timely. The former Chief of Staff also described Wike as an astute politician who has a large heart, so large that it could accommodate all, both

Apart from a number of former commissioners, special assistants, local government chairmen and other officials who have left the APC for the PDP in recent times, the decision of a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh to abandon the party and move to the PDP is seen as a major blow to APC in Rivers

old and new.

Earlier in the month, former members of APC in Ward 6 of the Emohua Local Government Area of the state visited Emeh, announcing their exit from the party and declaring for the PDP. Speaking on the occasion, the leader of the delegation and until his defection, Auditor of the APC in the local government, Emmanuel Egburuwhuo, said they were neglected. He said they had suffered in silence in their former party and were contemplating leaving before they heard of the defection of Emeh, and that the decision of the seasoned politician to join PDP inspired them to take similar decision.

Soon after, another group of former APC members from Ogbakiri Wards 1 and 2 were also at Emeh’s house to announce their decision to follow him to the PDP. The leader of the group, Monday Bekweri Owhonda, who claimed to have worked closely with an immediate past commissioner from the area, said they visited Emeh to let him know that they had also left APC, the same way he left, lamenting that “there is no change in the APC.” Responding Emeh told his guests that he left the APC because the party was not organised and lacked focus, He assured them that Wike would accommodate them.

Last month, members of the APC in Rumuokparali, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state defected to PDP. To truly show that they have left APC for good, they burnt a casket engraved with APC logo and handed over their brooms to the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah.

Also recently, Obuah was in Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area, the home of the Minister of Transportation and former governor, Rotimi Amaechi to receive hundreds of members of the APC. While welcoming the new members from the APC to the PDP, the party chairman congratulated them for taken the bold step despite intimidation from Athekame leadership of APC. He reiterated that the PDP umbrella was large enough to accommodate both regular and returning

members of the party even as he assured them of equal opportunity and treatment.

He advised those still remaining in APC to have and take steps towards joining the Wike in giving the people of the state a new lease of life. PDP, he said, was willing to forgive and re-admit any genuinely repentant APC leader and members ready to help build a better state.

When THISDAY sought to know why people are leaving the APC in droves, a source said members were fed up with the attitude of the party leaders in the state. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the leaders of the party were disconnected from their followers.

“How do you expect us to cope with leaders who are either in Abuja, Lagos or Singapore, leaving us to suffer? As we speak, we don’t know where the chairman of the party in the state is. We heard that he resumes and closes in one of the federal government agencies in Lagos and leaving us in the doldrums here. We have to take our destiny in our own hands,” the source said.

Another APC member said the party’s fortune already bad would become worse in the future.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that APC is in this mess but I have no doubt that it will become very grave because, if you look around, you will find that the party is made up of inexperienced men and women, while the experienced politicians are all in the PDP. That ordinarily should not have been a problem if not for the myopic and ‘dog eat dog’ situation in APC.” However, a top APC leader in the state dismissed the defectors, describing them as people with no character, credibility and integrity. The APC stalwart who did not want his name in print, said the party before 2019 would recover from all it has suffered. He described Emeh as mole in the party.

“It was good Emeh left the party. He was a mole in the APC. We didn’t need him again in the party. He is a good radiance to bad rubbish,” he said.

18

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Residents of Soliyi Community Groan over Gridlock Residents of Soliyi, a densely populated community in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, are living a nightmare due to the gridlock on the only access road into the community caused by construction by Deeper Life Bible Church. Peter Uzoho who visited the community, reports that the state government should as a matter of emergency come to the rescue of the residents

I

f the Lagos State government fails to act fast before April this year, the residents of Soliyi, a densely populated community in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state, would have been successfully cut off from the state.

Come April, the Deeper Life Bible Church is expected to complete and put to use its edifice currently under construction on Ayodele Okeowo Street, the only access road to the community. At the moment, life has not been easy for the people residing in the community.

The residents are stuck in traffic for hours on this Ayodele Okeowo Street on a daily basis. And if by April, no prompt action is taken to construct alternative access roads in the community, the pains they are currently going through would have heightened and will definitely become catastrophic.

With over 500,000 population comprising mostly career men and women working in public and private organisations, as well as traders, Soliyi has two communities making it up, namely: Soliyi 1 and Soliyi 2. It is bound to the North by Gbagada General Hospital and to the South by a canal separating the community from Ogudu. Its neighbouring communities are: Araromi and Ifako. Soliyi has about six estates occupied by the middle class in the community namely: Peace Estate, Josodat, Shedaii, Medina, Asa, and Sosanya Estates. The community houses the Gospel Apostolic Church; St. Gerald Catholic Church, and the Deeper Life Bible Church (both its National Headquarters and two other branches), which are contributing to the difficulty being experienced by residents of the community. Also located in the community, are the Chevron Staff Club, Chevron Hospital and Library. It was learnt that the company assisted the community to build the Ayodele Okeowo Street. With a population of this magnitude, the only access road available to the residents has now been taken over by the structures being constructed by the Deeper Life Bible Church. Motorists, commercial motorcyclists and even pedestrians complain about the level of uneasiness when coming in and out of the community. The daily log-jam on Ayodele Okeowo Street has resulted to some residents packing out of the community for not being able to cope with the difficult situation.

“It’s always like this every morning when we’re trying to get out of here to go to work,” Mr. Wale Adeyemi, a resident of the community told THISDAY. “There is always traffic here caused by this structure being set up by Deeper Life Bible Church.

So government needs to create more roads in this community to ease the traffic here,” Adeyemi said.

At about 8:30a.m., Mr. Elvis and his little children going to school were still stuck in the hellish traffic. According to him, they had been in traffic since 7a.m. “We’re actually suffering in this area. Coming in the evening is terrible; going out in the morning is worrisome. You can imagine I’m taking the kids to school and since 7a.m. we’ve been on this road, and it’s almost 8:30a.m. now. We’re going through stress here. We beg the government to come and help us create alternative roads so that we don’t continue suffering like this,” hesaid. Osan Mudashiru, a commercial motorcyclist operating in the area who lamented about the traffic congestion on the road, said the situation had led to a drop in his daily earnings. “When trucks bringing materials for the church park here, there will be no way to pass again, everywhere will

Motorists trapped on Ayodele Okeowo Street, Soliyi

be blocked. I don’t like what is happening here. We want Lagos State government to come and help us out.”

For Mrs. Margaret Gbamboye, government has not been fair to the community.

She argued that the state government has given alternative access roads to neighbouring communities such as Ifako and Araromi but doesn’t deem it fit to give them their own.

“They should come and give us our own as they’ve given others. They should not block us out of civilisation,” she appealed.

The community coordinator, Soliyi 1, Mr. Moses Eniayewu, while explaining the predicament of the community, said the car park being constructed by Deeper Life Bible Church which he said was planned to

We’re actually suffering in this area. Coming in the evening is terrible; going out in the morning is worrisome. You can imagine I’m taking the kids to school and since 7a.m. we’ve been on this road, and it’s almost 8:30a.m. now. We’re going through stress here. We beg the government to come and help us create alternative roads so that we don’t continue suffering like this

accommodate 700 buses, 2,500 cars and 30,000 worshippers by the church would further compound the problem of the community.

“Now where will they empty them? Our own argument is that they will still empty all of these at Ayodele Okeowo junction, and when they empty them at the junction the whole place will be jam-packed. There will be no exit and entrance for us. Apart from the vehicular traffic, there is also going to be human traffic. So there is going to be a total blockade,” Eniayewu explained. He noted that in the 80s, the community had similar problem leading to the church’s relocation to Ayobo before they came back to their present location. He said the grouse of the community was not over the state government’s approval for the church to build but that the same government that gave them approval to build ought to have considered its imlication on the people residing in the community.

“What we’re now asking the government to do is that they should come and construct two other access roads in the community so that when there is gridlock like this, people can be able to move out and move through those access roads rather than being trapped on one road. For the past seven years we have been talking about this. What have we done?

What is our offence that the government has not thought it needful to come to Soliyi to alleviate our suffering?” he queried.

Also lamenting over the state of neglect of his community by the state government, the Baale of Soliyi 2, High Chief Solomon Olamiju, said the community which had been in existence for over 40 years has been going through hell. “For over 40 years there has been no government presence-no hospital, no road, no police station, no market and we have been supporting successive governments.”

He said the edifice being constructed by Deeper Life Bible Church, would cut the community off from Lagos. According to him, residents of the community go through hell on a daily basis in traffic as they spend minimum of 45 minutes to get in and out of the community due to lack of alternative access roads.

“We’ve written to the government; we’ve written to all the appropriate agencies, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency; and the Lagos Ministry of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs. They’ve invited us, we visited them and we’ve shown them alternative routes that can alleviate the suffering of my people. But up till today nothing has been done by the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a petition dated February 28, 2017 addressed to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode by the community, on “the untold hardship and great inconvenience to people of Soliyi community in Kosofe Local Government and likely threat to peace of the area” made available to THISDAY, the community informed the governor that the only available inlet and outlet (Ayodele Okeowo Street) cannot accommodate the influx of people and vehicles that will be caused by the church. It said even the on-going construction of a flyover bridge by the church from Diya Street to link Ayodele Okeowo Street cannot and would not solve the total grinding of traffic to a complete halt in the community anytime the church was opened for worship, It noted that the whole community will be completely locked down as it was the case in the 1980s before the church relocated to Ayobo, Ipaja then.

In the petition, the community informed the governor that the only solution to the problem will be the construction of two other alternative exit roads for the community. “We propose construction of a link road between Sab Ojewale Street, Soliyi and Mende, Maryland. construction of a bridge to link Aderemi Akeju Street with Yetunde Brown Street at Ifako, Gbagada.

“The above proposals were made to the leadership of Deeper Life Bible Church after two extensive tours of the community and neighborhood with them but they claimed that the church could not afford to carry out the constructions. The church then pledged to reconstruct two other roads within the community that is Ogundare Awise that houses a branch of the church and Fred Omojole Streets. Regrettably however, the

19

• T H I S D AY TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

FEATURES

The giant auditorium proposed to accommodate 30,000 worshippers of the Deeper Life Bible Church

church has not done anything on the two roads since the commitment was made two years ago.”

Through the petition, the community said it had informed all organs of the state government including the governor and the leaders of the local government area about its predicament.

The petition partly read: “Sir, in response to our petition dated September 2, 2016, you directed the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government to look into the matter. A meeting called by him was not honoured by the church. The ministry arranged a visit to our community for an on-the-spot assessment of our predicament in January 2017. The team was led by a Director in the ministry. They were taken round. They took pictures of the proposed outlets and the construction work at the church but nothing was heard thereafter.

“Also, you recently directed the General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to look into this matter.

It is regrettable to note that the agreement reached at a meeting chaired

by Hon. Sabi (the GM) on January 10, 2017 has not been honoured by the church.

“We have tried our very best to suppress the annoyance, grievances and possible

We’ve written to the government; we’ve written to all the appropriate agencies, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency; and the Lagos Ministry of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs.

They’ve invited us, we visited them and we’ve shown them alternative routes that can alleviate the suffering of my people.

But up till today nothing has been done by the government

The car park being constructed by the Deeper Life Bible Church proposed to contain 700 buses and 2,500 cars

A resident of Soliyi community baring her mind on the horrible traffic on the Ayodele Okeowo Street

The proposed bridge to link Adeyemi Akeju Street, Soliyi with Yetunde Brown Street at Ifako,Gbagada

The proposed exit route between Sab Ojewale Street, Soliyi and Mende,Maryland

outburst and or revolt of our youths up till now but honestly we do not seem to have that persuasive power to restraint them any longer. Even adults and elders in the community are equally aggrieved.

We are now witnessing increasing relocation of tenants from the community for fear of

a predictable catastrophic traffic chaos in the community.

“As a man of his words, we count on your promise that our government is an inclusive one but it appears bvious that our community has been neglected because there have been no visible efforts made despite all efforts to draw

attention of relevant agencies of government to our predicament. Sir, notwithstanding that we were your host during the electioneering campaign, the community also contributed to the success of your great party at the polls and we have also been supporting the government as good citizens of the state.”

20

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

28.03.2017

THE ENEMY WITHIN: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

Ronke Shonde, allegedly beaten to death by her husband, Lekan Shonde

2/DASHBOARD

28.03.2017

Need for Arbitrator(s) to Confine Decision to the Agreement of Parties PAGE 4

Kogi Chief Judge Orders Accelerated Hearing of Criminal Cases to Decongest Courts PAGE 5

Ankeli Calls for Speedy Passage of National Disability Bill into Law PAGE 5

QUOTABLES

No Development Without Rule of Law, Babalakin, Falana, Sanusi Concur at Sofola Lecture Some of the Senators who are shouting "crucify him, crucify him", are likely to be Senators that are either being prosecuted by EFCC, or are likely to, or in the process of impeding being investigated – Paul Anababa, SAN

PAGE 6

‘Law is Only for Serious Minded People’ PAGE 6

There is no provision for Acting Chairman of EFCC under the law. If you look at the law, Section 2 of the EFCC Act, it does not talk about Acting Chairman.

– Isaac Anumudu, Legal Practitioner, Abuja

The Legal and Moral Implications of Hameed Ali Not Wearing Customs Uniform PAGE 7

COLUMNIST ADERINSOLA FAGBURE Aderinsola Fagbure is a keen writer having written her first article which was published by the junior section of a national daily, at the age of five. She is a graduate of Igbinedion University Okada and has just completed a Master’s degree in Corporate Law at the University College London. Her column, “In black and white” discusses the need for innovation on the Nigerian legal scene particularly in the fields of Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance and Energy Law.

‘Nigerian Lawyers Must Upgrade to World Class Standards’ PAGE 11

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE EDITOR JUDE IGBANOI DEPUTY EDITOR AKINWALE AKINTUNDE REPORTER TUNDE BUSARI GROUP HEAD OCHI OGBUAKU II ART DIRECTOR

/3

APC: The Attraction of the Ugly Bride

D Decamping

ecamping, also known as Party Switching, Defecting and Cross-Carpeting, is not a new phenomenon. In the United States of America, in the 19th Century, it was a common occurrence. It simply means switching your allegiance from one political party to another.

There could be several reasons for decamping, for instance, if a person’s political beliefs and views are no longer in consonance of that of the party, or to be able to gain power and influence, or simply to position yourself to stand a better chance to be elected on a surer political platform.

The Republican Party was formed in 1854 by a massive defection of Northern Democrats, Northern Members of the Whig, American and Free Soil Parties, while the Democrats arose from many Southern Whig Party defectors.

More recently, Ronald Reagan who later became the 40th President of the USA, defected from the Democratic to the Republican Party in 1962.

Hillary Clinton left the Republican Party for the Democrats in 1968, while President Donald Trump left the Republican Party in 1999 to become an Independent in order to be a candidate for the Presidential elections. He returned and was subsequently elected as President of the USA, on the Republican platform in 2016.

No Political Ideology in Nigeria In Nigeria, there exists no political ideology.

Politicians believe in nothing; only to get elected at any cost; so decamping is common and easy.

Usually, in Nigeria, what informs a person’s decision as to which political party to join, is the likelihood of winning elections and securing ‘juicy’ political appointments. It has absolutely nothing to do with beliefs, or whether they are conservatives, or liberals, or progressives and so on.

Since the advent of democracy in 1999, for example, in Lagos State, you stood a better chance of winning elections by being member of AD, later AC, and now APC (of course, with the blessing of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu), though the 2015 elections ushered in a few PDP surprises. Your political beliefs are an irrelevant non-issue.

Constitutional Provision Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2010) (Constitution) sets out the grounds whereby a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, can defect from one political party to another. It provides that such a defector shall vacate his/her seat in either of the 2 Houses, if the defection to the other political party occurs before the expiration period for which he/she was elected. There is however, a proviso that, if the defection is a result of a division within the political party that sponsored him/her to the position, or his/her former party or faction of the broken party merges with another political party, he/she does not need to vacate the seat.

Defectors I recall when the present Governor of Sokoto

Governor Aminu Tambuwal

State, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, defected from PDP to APC in October, 2014, the Court declared at the time that PDP was not divided. Yet, he was not made to vacate his seat in accordance with Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. There was a mad rush to APC around that time. I don’t recall anyone losing their seats.

In the past 3 months or so, Senator Yele Omogunwa, Senator Nelson Effiong and Honourable Hassan Saleh, have all defected from PDP to APC, obviously using Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution and the Makarfi/ Modu Sheriff saga as their reason.

Sinking Ship Of course, we all know that the bottom line is that, Nigerian politicians do not like a sinking ship! They all saw that it was highly unlikely that PDP would win the elections with Goodluck Jonathan, and that the party had lost its grip and power. PDP seems to be in a downward spiral, and it is unlikely that these politicians can win the next elections on the PDP platform. Shi ke nan! (that’s that). It has nothing to do with any purported division.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Nigerian Politicians are Guided by Self-Interest Now that Nigeria seems to be drifting towards

almost a one-party State, as most of the other political parties do not have any significant grip on the electorate, it is sad that we seem to be reverting to business as usual. Why didn’t the defectors go and join KOWA or Labour Party? Why APC? With the numerous hourly complaints from Nigerians as to the state of the nation and their suffering on almost all dimensions, you would imagine that if these defectors really wanted to make a difference and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, they would join political parties with better intentions than APC or form theirs. But no. Since APC is now the majority party, they are all running there, simply because of their own personal interests.

It is indeed worrisome that, at the end of the day, it will be the Nigerian people that will continue to suffer with these charlatans in power.

Role of the Courts The courts should rise up. By now, Section 68(1)(g) should have been fully clarified with judicial precedent. The court should have set down proper conditions that constitute what it means for a party to be divided and so on, so that politicians cannot just jump from one party to the other at will, simply for their own benefit, and to the detriment of Nigerians, without facing any consequences.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

THE ADVOCATE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com

"IN NIGERIA, THERE EXISTS NO POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. POLITICIANS BELIEVE IN NOTHING; ONLY TO GET ELECTED AT ANY COST; SO DECAMPING IS COMMON AND EASY"

Dear Editor Re: Imprisonment in Nigeria: A Fate Worse than Death My dear learned friend – Onikepo, Good day to you and all yours.

I hereby extend to you copious congratulations upon your position as the current Anchor of the law column: “THE ADVOCATE” in “THISDAY Weekly Pull-Out-LAWYER”. I wish you an outstanding tenure. It is quite fascinating that THISDAY has reserved that particular segment for brilliant female lawyers!

Your predecessors and your goodself demonstrate literary competence in your articles. I say “Well done” to all of you.

I enjoy reading your articles. Your articulation of “Imprisonment in Nigeria: A fate worse than death” is a poignant master-piece. Your incisive prose and the “stomach-turning pictures of human beings packed together like sardines and lying half-naked on the floor were traumatising. My heart still aches whenever I see or remember the photographs.

No God’s creature, be it in Nigeria, or in Madagascar, or anywhere else, should be so tortured. I hope the authorities are reading and taking action. Meanwhile, I recommend that you keep the inhumane and horrific situation in focus in your writings.

Now, to some cheerful news – I am delighted to inform you that I will be 85 years old on Wednesday the 29th day of March, 2017. Deo Volente. I plan to present two books on that day at The Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan at 10 a.m. The titles of the books are:

• My Autograph – Reaching for the Stars – Updated Edition, and • Selected Essays Issues and Papers on Law and Societal Issues. You are hereby invited to the event.

I pause to commend you on your smart and professional appearance in your photograph – a correct example to others – juniors and not so junior colleagues alike, as to what a lawyer should look like.

In closing, I forward herewith my Tribute to our late learned colleague, Chief Dele Aiku, SAN at the special court Session in his honour on the 15th day of February, 2017. “Resquiescat in pace”. Please, publish.

I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to my celebration. Kindly, use my publisher’s e-mail by which this letter is being sent to you.

With renewed felicitations and personal and professional compliments, I remain, Yours fondly, Chief ‘Folake Solanke SAN, OON, CON (PIP). B.A., Dip.Ed., FNIALS, LL.D (h.c D.Litt(h.c.), D.Lit. (h.c.), D. Litt. (h.c.)

Good morning Ma, How are you? Thank you very much for your email.

Firstly, I congratulate you on your 85th Birthday. My prayer for you continues to be "ki emi yin tun bo gun si, pelu ara li le ati alafia, ninu ayo, idunnu, anito ati aniseku loruko Jesu. Ami". Happy Birthday Ma. I must say that you are still so beautiful and charming at 85.

For me, you will always be an inspiration, the one and only 'Lady SAN', no matter how many other females attain the rank.

Therefore Ma, you can imagine how elated I was, when I received your email yesterday. Your stamp of approval, not only on my performance as The Advocate (and the performances of my predecessors), but on my being appropriately dressed as a legal practitioner (and showing good example to others, as regards being properly attired), coming from you, convinced me that indeed, I am on the right path. Thank you.

We shall, God willing, attend your Book Presentation on March 29th, 2017.

We shall feature your Eulogy to the late Chief Bandele Aiku, SAN. Permit me to also publish your email to me in my column. The world must see our accolade, coming from a person like you, whom I hold in such high esteem.

Thank you again Ma. Much love and Best Personal Regards, Onikepo Braithwaite The Advocate Editor, ThisDay Lawyer Dear Editor, It is with a deep sense of admiration and respect that I write you Ma'm, concerning your column dated 28-2-2017 on the state of Nigerian Prisons. This has been a heavy burden on my soul and shoulders. The dilapidated state of our prisons. Within my reach, I have tried so hard to correct this menace alongside other vices that make my heart bleed, which include Jungle justice, oppression of transport workers and petty traders by men of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) cum Local Councils. Reading through your column I can depict the Christ-like nature in you Ma'm, your concern as a true patriot.

Having confronted these liabilities in the society which led to my arrest sometime ago, I was told that since I am not educated and without money, I would rot in jail. This experience propelled me and I have now chosen a name for my NGO which is yet to be registered due to the huge amount involved.

But it feels so good to know there is someone so passionate about the welfare of others, despite your pedigree. I doff my hat for you Ma'm and for also extending a hand of help to your two clients who were allegedly engaged in exam malpractice. Can't the Authorities be charged because they caused his death?

Williams Keshi Dear Mr Keshi, Thank you for your encouraging email. I do hope the Authorities will do something about the disgusting state of the prisons.

As for my client who died as a result of his incarceration, I suppose his family could have sued. But Nigerians tend not to take action against the Authorities in cases like this. They simply wax lyrical and philosophical, saying that the occurrence is the will of God. I know several people whose houses were burnt down because of NEPA and their power surges, including houses belonging to lawyers. Not one of them sued NEPA or PHCN or whatever it is called these days, or held it responsible.

This is the reason why our Authorities act with impunity, doing things that are below acceptable standards. There is no accountability.

Hopefully, things will change one day!

Editor

4/LAW REPORT

28.03.2017

Need for Arbitrator(s) to Confine Decision to the Agreement of Parties

S Facts

ometime in 1999, a certain Mr. Danny Bufkin, an American citizen and an expatriate with the Respondent who was seconded to the Appellant through a Service Contract dated 1st November 1995, was abducted by unknown armed men during the course of his duties in Rivers State. Mr. Bufkin was in the custody of his abductors for several days, and was only released upon payment of a ransom by the Respondent. After his release, Mr. Bufkin instituted legal proceedings against the Respondent before a United States District Court on the grounds of negligence. Pursuant to Clause 10 of the Service Contract which provided that the Appellant was to indemnify the Respondent against all liabilities, including Attorney’s fees, arising out of injury to any person including employees of the Appellant, the Respondent requested that the Appellant and its Underwriters (Zurich American Insurance Group) defend the suit and provide indemnification and insurance coverage to the Respondent.

The underwriters, however, refused to provide defence, indemnification and insurance coverage. Consequently, the Respondent and its designated affiliated companies and the Appellant, negotiated a settlement agreement with Mr. Bufkin in the sum of $325,000 (Three Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars).

This agreement was without prejudice to the rights and obligations of parties under the contract. The Appellant paid the sum of $150,000 while the Respondent paid the balance sum of $175,000 to Mr. Bufkin.

Thereafter, relying on the contractual indemnity provisions in the Service Contract, the Respondent demanded from the Appellant a refund of the sum of $175,000 incurred in settling Mr. Bufkin’s claim, as well as the sum of $232,249.66 which was incurred in Attorney’s fees in respect of the suit instituted by Mr. Bufkin. The Appellant failed to settle the amount, relying on the exclusion of liability clause in the contract, which provided that the indemnity will not apply where it is void, unenforceable under an applicable law in effect, or where the loss or injury in question arose from the active negligence or wilful conduct of an Indemnitee and it is not contributed to by any act or omission of the Appellant. Subsequently, a dispute arose further, to which the Respondent filed a Notice of Arbitration referring the dispute to a Sole Arbitrator for resolution. At the conclusion, the Arbitrator awarded to the Respondent the sum of $175,000 incurred in settling Mr. Bufkin’s claim, interest thereon and the costs of the Arbitration. The Arbitrator also held that, under the contract, the Respondent was entitled to payment of Attorney’s fees; however, he refused to award the sum of $232,249.66 claimed by the Respondent as the Attorney’s fees incurred in defending Mr. Bufkin’s suit, on the basis of lack of evidence in proof of its payment.

Dissatisfied, the Respondent filed an Originating Summons at the High Court of Lagos State for an order setting aside that part of the award refusing the claim for the Attorney’s fees. The complaint of the Respondent before the trial Court was that the Arbitrator misconducted himself by going outside the agreed issues before him, raised the issue of proof of payment of Attorney’s fees suo motu without inviting parties to address him on the issue, and relied on grounds not canvassed by any of the parties in refusing the Respondent’s claim for Attorney’s fees. The trial Court found that the Arbitrator indeed, misconducted himself and remitted the matter to the Arbitrator for a reconsideration of the part of the award complained about.

Dissatisfied with this decision, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal which also affirmed the decision of the trial Court. Still dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a further appeal before the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination The Appellant distilled a sole issue for determination, which was adopted by the Court, as follows: Was the Court of Appeal right to affirm the decision of the trial Court to the effect that it was misconduct on the part of the Arbitrator to have raised and determined suo motu, the question of who paid the

had joined issues on the Respondent’s assertion that it incurred reasonable Attorney’s fees in defending Mr. Bufkin’s claim and the resultant question was, did the Respondent substantially prove the assertion? He argued that the Arbitrator did not raise any issue suo motu without reference to the parties, so as to justify the decision remitting the award to the Arbitrator.

Arguing the case of the Respondent, Counsel submitted that the decision of the lower Court was unassailable, as the Respondent was able to satisfy the Court that the issue of proof of payment was outside the scope of issues placed before the Arbitrator, and that the Arbitrator raised the issue suo motu without putting the parties on notice. By way of Reply on Points of Law, Counsel for the Appellant referred the Court to the relief sought by the Respondent, which was for the Appellant to pay the amount it claimed to have incurred as legal fees. He argued that the implication is that the Arbitrator did not go outside the case in his finding on the reimbursement of Attorney’s fees.

Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday the 24th day of February, 2017 Before Their Lordships Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Kumai Bayang Aka'ahs Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Chima Centus Nweze Ejembi Eko Justices, Supreme Court SC.185/2010 Between Total Engineering Services Team Inc............... Appellant And Chevron Nigeria Limited .............Respondent Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC

Attorney’s fees in defence of Mr. Bufkin’s claims in the United States of America, and if not, were the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal not in error to have remitted part of the award to the Arbitrator for reconsideration.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant contended that the parties

".....THERE IS A NEED FOR ARBITRATORS TO ACT WITHIN THE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES, AND WHEN ARBITRATOR VEERS OFF THE TRACK, THE NECESSITY OF THE COURT AS WAS DONE IN THE CASE IN HAND, IS TO RIGHT THE WRONG"

Court’s Rationale and Judgement Deciding the narrow issue of whether the Arbitrator went outside his mandate in raising the issue of who paid the Attorney’s fees, the Courts below agreed that the issue was raised suo motu by the Arbitrator, because same was neither pleaded nor raised as an issue for determination or argued in the brief of argument. Guided by the above facts, the Supreme Court examined what a Court or Tribunal or an Arbitrator as in this case, should do when he seeks to raise an issue suo motu.

The case of KRAUS THOMPSON ORGANISATION LTD. v UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR (2004) 9 NWLR (Pt. 879) 631 was called in aid, where it was held that - “when an issue is not placed before the Court, such Court has no business whatsoever to deal with it, as a decision of a Court of law must not be founded on any ground in respect of which it has neither received argument from or on behalf of the parties before it, nor even raised by or for the parties or either of them.”

Relying on its decision in BAKER MARINE LTD. v CHEVRON NIGERIA LTD (2000) 12 NWLR (Pt. 681) 393 at 406, the Court held that there is a need for Arbitrators to act within the agreement of the parties, and when Arbitrator veers off the track, the necessity of the Court as was done in the case in hand, is to right the wrong. By the provisions of Section 29(2) and 30 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Cap A18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, failure of an Arbitrator to comply with the terms of an arbitration agreement amounts to misconduct on his part, and the consequence is that, the Court has powers to set aside the award and remit or return the award published to the Arbitrator for the error to be corrected either on the existing facts or further facts.

The Court reasoned that the appeal raised the issue of fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the need to uphold the principle that a judicial body ought at all times, to decide upon points only canvassed before it and if it has to raise any point suo motu, there is a mandatory injunction which impels that judicial body to give a hearing to the parties, especially the one who would be adversely affected, such as the Respondent in this instance. Failure to adhere to this time tested guiding principle rendered the act of the Arbitrator a misconduct necessitating and justifying the Court setting aside that part of the award tainted with the anomaly.

Based on the foregoing, the Supreme Court found no basis for interfering with the concurrent findings of fact of the trial Court and Court of Appeal.

Appeal was dismissed with costs N250,000.00 awarded in favour of the Respondent.

Representation: Adewale Atake Esq., with Chidiebere Ejiofor Esq. and Solomon Babajide Esq. for the Appellant.

Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour (Mrs.) with Anthony Onwaeze Esq. for the Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited (Publishers of Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR))

28.03.2017

NEWS/5

Ankeli Calls for Speedy Passage of National Disability Bill into Law Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

FOUNDERS' DAY LECTURE L-R: Guest Speaker, Hon. Justice Otieno-Odek, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Deji Adekunle, Chairperson of the event, Professor Isabella Okagbue and former Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Epiphany Azinge SAN at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Founders' Day Lecture held recently

Kogi Chief Judge Orders Accelerated Hearing of Criminal Cases to Decongest Courts

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

For the next couple of weeks, all the divisions of the high court of justice of Kogi State, will be sitting across the state, to attend to only criminal cases before them.

This declaration followed an order by the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Nasiru Ajanah who has set aside two weeks for Assizes in the High Court of the State.

The Chief Judge who gave the order pursuant to Section 67 of the High Court Law (Cap 48), said that when all the divisions of the High Court of Justice in the State, are strictly dedicating hearings to only criminal matters in a process that will last up to the 31st of March, 2017, the ultimate aim of decongest-

ing the courts and speedily dispensing justice, would have been served.

He had earlier noted during an interactive session with stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice in the State, that the essence of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 was to enable accused persons access justice without delay. He pointed out that, it was in that direction that the Kogi State Judiciary was determined to bring justice to the door step of the citizens.

He therefore, urged all relevant agencies in the administration of criminal justice in the State, to brace up to take the advantage of the window provided by the Assizes to bring succor to the many awaiting trial inmates

in the State.

While particularly mentioning that the Nigerian Prisons Service deserves the support of all concerned agencies, he said its officials need to be helped to facilitate the appearance of accused persons in courts.

He noted that the objectives of the Assizes would be defeated, if accused persons were not brought to courts.

The stakeholders meeting, which had representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Prisons Service, Nigeria Police, the NBA and the Legal Aid Council in attendance, was also used by the Chief Judge to encourage the Legal Aid Council to continue offering free legal aid services to indigent accused persons

standing trial, without legal representation.

He urged all litigants in the state to take advantage of the two weeks opportunity, while assuring all that, the judiciary would constantly develop options that would not only relieve the court system of congestion, but would always take cognisance of the fact that the prison facilities across the State were already overstretched, and the situation warrants urgent and proactive attention allround the year.

It is the second time that the High Court of Kogi State is declaring Assizes in the first quarter of the year 2017, in order to clear the courts of criminal cases bordering on armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, culpable homicide etc.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters (SSAP), Dr Samuel Ankeli, has called for the passage and signing of the National Disability Bill and establishment of the National Disability Rights Commission.

Ankeli stated this during his visit to the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garuba Abari.

He said the purpose of his visit was for collaboration with the NOA, in order to have a more disability friendly society in Nigeria.

According to him, his office is saddled with the sole

responsibility of assisting the President on all matters relating to the welfare and well being of over 25 million Nigerians, living with various forms of disability.

He said that the President was very passionate about the rights and well being of people living with disability.

In his reaction, the DG, National Orientation Agency, commended Ankeli for a well deserved appointment.

While welcoming the team to his office, he said that the document the SSAP presented to the Agency, was a working document that would guide his office on the issues of disabilities

Kwara State Commits to Assist NICN in Speedy Dispensation of Justice Hameed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has pledged his administration's commitment to assisting the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in facilitating speedy dispensation of industrial related cases and promote industrial harmony in the State.

Ahmed made the pledge when he received the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo at Government House, Ilorin over the weekend.

Ahmed who also expressed determination to partnering with the Judiciary and other federal agencies, identified justice as a major ingredient for economic growth and development of the society.

According to the governor, the support for the Industrial

Court in the State would save lawyers and litigants from travelling to other states to seek redress.

Governor Ahmed promised that his government would not relent in creating a conducive environment for the delivery of quality services to the people of the State.

Earlier, the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo had sought the support of the State Government in establishing a permanent National Industrial Court in Ilorin.

Justice Adejumo assured the Governor that once the facility is put in place, the court would be established in the State to save Lawyers and Litigants from travelling to National Industrial Court in Akure, Ondo or Ibadan in Oyo State, to seek redress.

Alleged Copyright Infringement: Firm Demands N2bn from Etisalat, Threatens to Sue

Akinwale Akintunde

A leading telecoms firm, Etisalat, has been threatened with a law suit, should it fail to pay a N2 billion compensation demanded by a mobile finance technology firm, V-Exchange Ltd, for an alleged infringement on its product's copyright.

V-Exchange which specialises in providing instant finance solutions to individuals and corporate entities via intelligent data driven platform, claimed that the 'Kwik Cash' loan service which Etisalat offers to its customers, is a stolen product.

Making the demand through its counsel, Ubani and Co, at a media conference last Thursday, the firm maintained that on November 23, 2016, its Executives had a meeting

with the representatives of Etisalat regarding their product, 'Kwik Cash' and for the purposes of partnering with the same for mutual commercial benefits.

Co-founder of V-Exchange, Samuel Ajiboyede, said that at the meeting, the loan service product was showcased to Etisalat officials, who upon being impressed by the demonstration asked to be furnished with more details.

Ajiboyede said he was advised by Etisalat officials to obtain the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC Short Code, being the only thing remaining for a deal to be sealed between the two entities.

He stated that subsequently, he requested for a Memorandum of Understanding from Etisalat, to enable his company acquire a Value Added Service (VAS) licence

to get the Short Code approval from NCC, but that the request was never accented to.

The company co-founder said he was however, shocked when he heard that Etisalat had gone ahead to launch the instant loan service without his company's approval.

Also speaking at the media briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mrs Kemi Ayinde noted that well wishers had called to congratulate her on the successful launch of the product, not knowing that her firm was not involved with the launch.

This publication was cited in a letter written by the law firm of Ubani and Co to the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, dated January 10, 2017 demanding N2billion as compensation

for the alleged copyright infringement.

The letter reads in part: '' Our client has tested your product on several customers of your company, and confirmed that the said product was the exact product for which it has exclusive right".

That this abysmal unlawful conduct of your company as highlighted above, has infringed our client's products for which a copyright subsisted, despite the caveat by known owners being 'our client', that no part of this shall be reproduced or copied in any material form with its prior authorisation. ''Moreover it is arguable that the product reproduced in writing by your company, were exact replicas of our client's products which were earlier in time, protected by the copyright law.

"In conclusion let it be

stated that aside from the civil action for infringement of our client's copyright, we shall be constrained to simultaneously instigate and initiate a criminal action with its attendant legal consequences against your company, for exploiting our client's copyright as provided by the act.

"Therefore your company is hereby warned very sternly, to refrain forthwith, from further infringement of our client's products by itself or through its agents or privies and monetary restitution in the sums demanded above, of its unlawful exploitation of our client's products which copyright subsisted in order to mitigate the loss thus far."

In its response to the demand for compensation, Etisalat via a letter dated February 21, 2017

acknowledged having had discussions with V-Exchange over its product, but denied infringement of any patent belonging to the firm.

The letter signed by Vincent Eromosele, Etisalat Head, Legal Operations and Litigation and Chimeka Garricks, Manager, Legal Services claimed that 'Kwik Cash' is owned and operated by an undisclosed financial institution, and that Etisalat followed due process in acquiring the right to use the product on its network.

Etisalat further claimed that Kwik Cash service was already in existence and operational, prior to its meeting with V-Exchange.

The telecoms firm in the letter denied any infringement on V-Exchange's purported patent, and insisted it cannot pay compensation for infringement.

6/

28.03.2017

No Development Without Rule of Law, Babalakin, Falana, Sanusi Concur at Sofola Lecture Jude Igbanoi

Any nation, which truly desires genuine development, can only ignore the rule of law to its detriment.

This was the consensus by most of the discussants at the 10th year memorial lecture in honour of the late legal icon, Mr. Kehinde Sofola, SAN CON, which held last Thursday at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

In the Keynote Lecture delivered by Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN titled 'The Role of the Legal Profession in Nation Building: The Nigerian Context', he raised posers as to where Nigeria lost it as a nation in its political, social, legal and economic evolution, positing that the intervention of the military in Nigeria’s political history, can best be described as disastrous to the legal profession.

He painted a glowing picture of what the Bar and the Bench was like in the 50s and 60s and what it is now, concluding that it has become imperative for Nigeria to put in place measures to bring back a strong, virile and reliable legal profession.

Citing an example with the proposed appointment of Justices directly from the Bar to the appellate Bench, Babalakin advised that such move should be jettisoned, as it would demoralise those already in the Judiciary, building their careers and looking forward to being elevated.

He further spoke on the needless contention over the jurisdictions of the states and Federal High Court, which he said has impacted negatively on the nation’s justice delivery.

Dr Babalakin also pointed out that the present situation where over 60% of the judgements decided at the trial courts, are based on procedural rules and not on substantive law, is sad for the country.

One of the ways he suggested that the nation’s legal profession could be pulled out of the doldrums, is to ensure that Nigeria’s legal education must be got right, saying that "the study of law may be serious, but poor quality of lecturers and funding remains a major hindrance".

On judicial appointments, Babalakin maintained that this should be based on merit and not on federal character.

In citing the example of the United States of America, he said all the judges of their Supreme Court are adjunct professors of law at nearby universities, a testimony to the level and quality of their education.

His assessment of the judiciary however, is that there is no difference between an incompetent judge and a corrupt judge, because according to him the effects on the society are the same.

He further suggested that must be delays in court proceedings, unnecessary adjournments must be discouraged, and that discipline of judicial officers should be transparently done.

Chairman of the occasion, Emir of Kano,

Muhammadu Sanusi 11, in his opening remarks expressed his strong view that democracy is all about the rule of law, and that merit should never be sacrificed on the altar of federal character.

One of the discussants of Dr. Babalakin’s paper was Prof Isabella Okagbue, who expressed the fact that the Nigerian legal profession itself resists reforms unconsciously.

In taking a critical look at legal practice in Nigeria, she said Nigerian lawyers encounter huge challenges which their counterparts in developed countries are not exposed to, including insecurity.

She lamented the state of Nigeria’s infrastructure and public institutions, which she said are deteriorating and challenged Nigerians to imbibe the culture and practice of holding their leaders accountable.

She concluded by advocating that the Nigerian Bar Association must ensure that corrupt lawyers are permanently barred from practice.

In his own contribution, Dr. Mohammed Junaid submitted that contrary to the widely held view, democracy does not guarantee development.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in his characteristic boldness praised the courage of Hon Justice Jinadu, who defied the military and resigned from the Lagos State High Court, in the face of intimidation and impunity by the military in the 80s.

Falana pointed out that the impunity which the brave Nigerian Bar fought against during

the military era, is very much alive today, where the National Assembly has continued to be a law unto itself.

Citing Section 88 of the Constitution, he said that the National Assembly just doesn’t have the power to summon government functionaries to appear before it. And that if the ongoing charade at the Senate is allowed to continue, the nation’s law makers would soon be summoning everybody to appear before it, for the flimsiest excuse. On the way forward, Mr Falana suggested that the government and its functionaries must demonstrate fidelity to the rule of law, giving examples of America and South Africa where their Presidents promptly obey court orders.

He further advocated a ban on stay of proceedings in court, to ensure that cases are held timeously and expeditiously.

Mr. Kehinde Sofola, SAN CON, in whose memory the lecture was held was born in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State on March 10, 1924.

He attended schools in Sagamu and Abeokuta before proceeding to study Law in England and was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn on February 9, 1954 along side great personalities like the former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher .

On his return, he was enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in September, 1954. With a glowing legal career, the late Sofola sat on the board of many organisations, including banks, corporations and the National Judicial Council and he passed on in 2007.

Nospetco Investors Protest Delayed Case at Supreme Court, Seek CJN's Intervention Akinwale Akintunde A group of investors in Nospecto Oil and Gas Ltd, numbering about 13,000, have decried the continuous delay in the hearing of their case, which, they claimed, has been pending before the Supreme Court for over five years.

The group staged a protest to the Television Continental office in Lagos last weekend, calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, to intervene in their case and direct

the expeditious hearing of the case.

Speaking during the protest, the National President of the group, Prince Emmanuel Matiluko, said it has been eleven agonising and painful years that they have been trying to collect their money back from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), having confirmed that the money is in its custody, but awaiting awaiting the court order to release it.

Matiluko noted that majority of the aggrieved investors were retirees, adding that, some had

fallen sick and some had died, over the course of the five years that they had been awaiting the verdict of the apex court.

According to him, the case stemmed from the investors’ failed move to secure their investments in Nospecto Oil and Gas. He said that the case was first taken before the Securities and Exchange Commission, which made a decision in their favour in 2008.

According to him, there were also two subsequent pronouncements of the Investment and Securities Tribunal, in which the oil company was categorised as ‘Wonder Bank’, which operated

illegally and engaged in a financial scheme, without the approval of SEC. Matiluko said it was following this,7 that the investors filed a case seeking to secure the release of their funds, which the Central Bank of Nigeria had confiscated from Nospecto Oil and Gas. He said though the case was decided in favour of the investors, the displeased respondents lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal and the case later proceeded to the Supreme Court.

"We are Nospetco Investors Forum, we are

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Legal Personality of the Week Unini Chioma Omalicha

‘Law is Only for Serious Minded People’ aspect of it was that, when I got to the court, I discovered that my case was not on the cause list, and that particular Judge only entertained cases that were on the cause list.

I am Unini Chioma Omalicha, from Anambra State. I am a lawyer and a law blogger. One of the Editors of Thenigerialawyer.com. I graduated from Anambra state University (ANSU) now called Odumegwu Ojukwu University and was called to the Nigerian Bar on November, 2012. During my National Youth Service Corps, I served with Shendam Local Government Council, in their department of State Ministry of Justice. I obtained Executive Masters Certificate in Project Management. I lectured at Plateau State Polytechnic, Shendam.

I also lectured at Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Consultancy Unit, Lafia, Nasarawa State. I started my law practice with T.T Chahur and Co, Save the World Chambers in 2014, where I started law blog. The dream of disseminating information to lawyers for them to be abreast with happenings both at the National and local branches of Nigerian Bar Association drove me into starting Thenigerialawyer blog.

Have you had any challenges in your career as a lawyer and if so, what were the main challenges?

Sure! Challenges are bound to happen to any one, whether you are a lawyer or not. Challenges are a part of life. I cannot forget my first day in court as a fresh wig. I appeared before a High Court, Justice Danjuma of blessed memory in Jos, Plateau State. I had a bail application to move, I did not know when my case was mentioned, because I was busy looking into the jotter where I wrote down the procedure for moving the motion.

Another challenge, which is my most difficult, Is my ability to combine law practice, blogging, family life and social life. The blogging business

What was your most memorable experience?

I've had several memorable experiences.

The most memorable of them, is the day thenigerialawyer.com was launched as a blog.

Also, getting my office set. It is a dream come true. It is also memorable for me each day when I receive calls or mail for one thing or the other for the blog.

Unini Chioma Omalicha

requires a lot of time, patience and consistence, based on this I pay more attention to the blog than practice.

What was your worst day as a lawyer?

That was the day I traveled to one of the villages in Nasarawa State for a matter. On the way, my car broke down. Getting someone to fix the car was very annoying and frustrating, because there was no mechanic close to where the car had broken down. The most unfortunate

Who has been most influential in your life?

The people that have influenced me most are my sweet parents and my wonderful husband.

My parents have been there both academically and morally. Without them, I would not have become a lawyer. My husband has also played a greater role in influencing me. He has been the source of my strength, my inspiration and very supportive, especially on Thenigerialawyer.

Why did you become a lawyer?

The legal profession is seen and regarded as one of the noble professions in the world, if not the most noble. And every family likes to have a lawyer, whether it is the choice of the child or not, some parents will encourage their children to become one. As for me when I was a child, I never wanted to be a lawyer, but seeing one of my uncles who is a lawyer and doing well in the profession, I developed an interest for it. My father saw the interest and encouraged me. He always said "this is

a prestigious profession, give in your best to become one of them".

What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?

Law is an amazing profession, though it is not made for every body. In fact, it’s not for the unserious minded people. And when it’s not a good fit for you, the downside is awful.

Mismatched lawyers are miserable. So my advice for those who want to be lawyers, is that they have to work hard , be determined, believe in yourself , be optimistic and honest. If you’re still in school, stick it out. Suck it up and graduate, and then come up with a new game plan for your career. And if you’ve graduated? There is a life after law, and you can use everything you've acquired. I've done it and its working for me. Some of my classmates have turned their law degrees into a law job of their choice.

If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen?

I knew I was going to be lawyer. So I never had thought for another career.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

One of inevitable and constant aspects of life is change, which is part of human activity. Everyone in life aspires to move higher in every sphere of life. I am not an exception to this ideology.

I am focused on success, long term stability, commitment to seeing that thenigerialawyer. com is taken to a higher level. With hard work, determination and God on my side, my prayer to achieve my goals, will fall into place. So in the next 10 years I should be in places where I will make a difference.

28.03.2017

/7

The Legal and Moral Implications of Hameed Ali Not Wearing Customs Uniform The Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service Rtd Col. Hameed Ali failed to appear before the Senate last Wednesday, as the recent saga between him and the Senate on his refusal to wear the Customs Uniform continues. Learned Senior Advocate, Mike Ozekhome discusses the reasons why he believes Col Ali should indeed, wear the Customs Uniform, and offers advice on the way forward

I

cannot fathom why people in government wear this unusual air of arrogance, superiority, haughtiness, hubris and egotism. They simply see themselves as God’s gift to mankind. They believe Nigerians should even be grateful and beholden to them, genuflecting, for even “accepting” to govern them, why is this so? I always wonder.

Hameed Ibrahim Ali is a retired Nigerian Army Colonel and current Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 27th August, 2015. Col. Ali had served as Military Administrator of Kaduna State during General Sani Abacha’s despotic military junta.

Upon retirement, he became Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a northern pressure group. He was a stringent supporter of PMB in his bid for the 2015 Presidency. It was therefore, no surprise that he was one of PMB’s first appointees in an overtly lopsided appointment template that saw one part of the country seizing over 70% of all appointments, to the utter consternation and bewilderment of the other parts.

What is in a Uniform?

The present hubbub, bedlam and uproar generated by Ali in his defiant refusal to wear Customs uniform to the 109-member distinguished Senate is as pompous, cocky, narcissistic, as it is vainglorious. What is in a uniform? Oh, EVERYTHING! Merriam-Webster defines uniform as a “dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification; broadly : distinctive or characteristic clothing”.

Virtually all professionals wear uniform: Lawyers, Judges, Doctors, Engineers, Nurses, Capital Market operators, Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Customs, Fire Service, Civil Defence, Prison Wardens, Traffic Wardens (“yellow fever”), Immigration Officers, FRSC, Boys Scouts, Girls Guild, Knights, Priests, Reverend Sisters, Bishops, Pope, Imams, Traditional Rulers, School children, Students, Graduands, even Masquerades and Native Doctors; just name it.

Even if wearing Customs uniform was not legally compulsory, wearing uniform instills in the wearer and his peers, a unique sense of identity, security, pride, unity, belonging, responsibility, espirit de corps and team work.

The beauty and crave for lawyers uniform made me lose one full academic year at the then University of Ife (now OAU), to enable me read law, as I had to downgrade myself from 300 level (English Department), to 200 level (Law). The greatest attractions which I had for this self-immolation were simply two: the first was the lawyers’ uniform (wig, gown, bib and collar); the second was to use law as an instrument of socio-economic and political engineering (apologies, Prof Dean Roscoe Pound).

Some Nigerians can be very funny. They dance to situations and live in self-denial when their interests (usually selfish), are involved. That is how I view the opinions of some lawyers and Analysts goading Ali on over a simple norm. When the DSS invaded revered Justices and Judges’ homes last October, terrorised and elasticated DSS’s well defined and circumscribed functions, which have to do with preservation of internal security, to a ridiculous level, to include fighting corruption, even in our matrimonial bedrooms; because corruption amounted to internal insecurity! These same Nigerians later somersaulted, like Esan Egbabonalimhi acrobats, as soon as Magu’s rejection as Executive Chairman of the EFCC, by the Senate, came up. They turned against the same DSS, wondering what business it has with corruption matters. Such people suddenly discovered the hallowed provisions on fundamental rights.

Wearing Uniform: The Legal Regime The law governing Nigerian Customs is the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA), Cap w 45, LFN, 2004. Although CEMA

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (Rtd) Col. Hameed Ali

"WILL IT NOT BE A GROTESQUE AND BIZARRE SCENE TO BEHOLD FULLY UNIFORMED DCGS, ACGS, COMPTROLLERS AND OTHER RANK AND FILE, STANDING AT ATTENTION, AND TAKING MANDATORY SALUTE BEFORE A ‘BABANRIGA’, OR ‘SOKOTOAND-BUBA’-WEARING HAMEED ALI?" is silent as to whether it is mandatory for the Comptroller General of Custom (CG) to wear uniform, however, the Customs and Excise Preventive Service Regulations made pursuant to CEMA, make specific reference to uniform. Regulation 31 provides that clothing and equipment of Customs Officers shall be of such pattern and worn in such manner as the Board shall determine.

Interestingly, CEMA defines ‘officer’ to mean: “any person employed in the NCS, or for the time being performing duties in relation to Customs or Excise". Under Sections 4 and 5 of the Act, the power to act on behalf of and subject to the Government of the Federation in all Customs matters, is vested in the Board of the NCS, of which the CG is Vice Chairman, while the Minister of Finance, is Chairman.

Since, Regulation 31 provides that: “clothing shall be of such pattern and worn by officers as the Board shall determine”, it follows, as the night follows the day, that a community reading of the Act and the Regulations, clearly show that the CG is an “officer” of the Service, whether career, or political. He must therefore, comply with the provisions of both the Act and the Regulations, by wearing the uniform of Customs, as a ParaMilitary Agency that even handles weapons. Not to wear the uniform is to blatantly undermine the very laws and foundation of his appointment, by disobeying the Rules and Regulations governing the appointment.

Similarly, Section 8 of the Act provides that for the purpose

NOSPETCO INVESTORS PROTEST DELAYED CASE AT SUPREME COURT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 victims of Wonder Banks Scam, whereby our hard earned life investments were invested at Nospetco Oil and Gas Ltd. "We are mostly retirees, cutting across the length and breadth of Nigeria. We were deceived to invest in Nospetco Oil and Gas Ltd., which was later found out to be scam.

"Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) thereafter got the account of Nospetco Ltd frozen and money so received was kept with CBN by SEC. "It has been eleven agonising and painful years, that we have been trying to collect our money back from CBN. When we approached CBN, the bank confirmed that the money was in its custody, but it awaiting the order of the court to release our money to us.

"In fact, SEC has stopped coming to court, because they believed it was an act of injustice that our money has not been released

to us by CBN. "Our lawyer, Mr. Debo Adeleke won the case for us at Investment & Security Tribunal (IST). He equally won the case at the Court of Appeal, as well as Federal High Court, Lagos.

"Right now our case has been at Supreme Court since 2002.

This is the reason why we are protesting, because the investors are dying daily. Most of us are octogenarians suffering from all sort of illness.

"We hereby, plead and passionately too, that the President, the Vice President, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, should come to our rescue for the speedy trial of this case at the Supreme court.

"The case is about five years now at the Supreme Court with only eight adjournments. Please, help us, we are dying daily", Matiluko stated.

of enforcing the CEMA Laws, all officers shall have the same powers, authorities and privileges as are given by law to Police officers. Everyone knows that part of the paraphernalia of the “powers, authorities and privileges” of Police officers is wearing uniform. Ali cannot eat his cake and have it. He cannot wield the awesome powers and influence as Customs CEO on Customs’ guidelines, policy and operational matters, yet refuse to wear the uniform that approximates the symbol of such authority.

His case is one of “volenti non fit injuria”. See OBIORA v OSELE (1989) 1NWLR (Pt.97)179; ARIORI v ELEMO (1983)1 SC 13; EGBE v ADEFARASIN (1987) 1NWLR (Pt. 471)1. One who consents to an injury or a situation cannot complain. He is completely estopped from refusing to wear the very uniform that showcases his rank (CG), as he is not a “Sole Administrator”. See ONWU v NKA(1996) 7SCNJ 240; UDE v KWARA (1993)2NWLR(Pt.278) 638.

Sure, Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution give the Senate oversight functions over public officers’ conduct, corruption matters, waste and inefficiency in the administration or execution of laws within its legislative competence. CEMA and its Regulations are such laws.

The Moral and Psychological Aspects of Wearing Uniform Aside the legal regime which insists on uniform, morality, convention, psychology, leadership by example and respect for the institution of the Customs, which plays a pivotal role in every economic sector of Nigeria, ought to be impacted fully on subordinate officers.

Precedent of Non-Career Officers that Wore Official Uniform It is simply not correct as argued by some, that a uniformed man does not wear uniform twice. There is a trailer-load of precedent of non-career officers, taken from outside the Customs Service and other para-military organisations, that proudly adorned official uniform, after such military or para-military service.

Veterinary Doctor, Haliru Mohammed Bello, erstwhile Minister of Communications and Defence and former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, was appointed CG by IBB in 1988, as the first CG of Customs and Excise Department, which was then under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He wore CG Customs uniform, with pride, éclat and dignity, throughout his six-year sojourn.

When General Ango of the Army was appointed in 1994, not as a career CG, but as “Sole Administrator”, he proudly wore his Military uniform, until 1999, when he was replaced by A.A. Mustapha, a career officer.

Some time ago, retired Major-General Haladu Hananiya, very far superior to Hameed Ali, wore customs uniform with pride and dignity, as Corps Marshall of the FRSC. When OBJ merged FRSC with the Police, Hananiya was removed. On being elected President, late Umaru Yar’adua demerged the two entities, and Hananiya was returned to continue with his uniform- loving job.

Colonel Emeka Okoro, same rank as Hameed Ali, upon retirement from the Army, was appointed the Sergeant-At-Arms of the NASS and proudly wore the uniform of the Sergeant –At- Arms.

Retired Major Argungu was appointed FCT Head of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO). He gallantly wore VIO uniform. Dr John Ade Abolurin, erstwhile Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, adorned the Corps uniform with panache.

Osita Chidoka, former Aviation Minister, glamourised the uniform of Corps Marshal of the FRSC. Danjuma Garba, the former FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer for Lagos, was later made the Head, VIO, FCT. In both positions, he proudly wore the uniform of each office.

Mrs Roli Bode-George, a non-career officer of NDLEA, gleefully wore NDLEA Uniform as Head.

PMB and GEJ, during presidential campaigns adorned the peculiar cultural dresses (uniform) of different ethnic groups across Nigeria. They knew the symbolism of uniform.

Will it not be a grotesque and bizarre scene to behold fully uniformed DCGs, ACGs, Comptrollers and other rank and file, standing at attention, and taking mandatory salute before a ‘Babanriga’, or ‘Sokoto-and-Buba’- wearing Hameed Ali? Would Ali have the moral authority to discipline an officer not properly dressed in uniform?

Hameed Ali has Options My humble advice to Ali is to embrace one of three options: Firstly, obey the Senate, wear the uniform. Secondly, as the overall Head and CEO of the Customs, assisted by six DCG’s, do as the Romans do, when in Rome: wear the uniform voluntarily, even without Senate intervention. Finally, if Ali is not proud of, or comfortable with the Service, promptly resign: do not wear the uniform. It is true, the aphorism: if you do not like the heat, do not enter the kitchen; if you do not want to get wet, do not jump into the river.

Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Legal Practitioner, Lagos

8/COVER

28.03.2017

28.03.2017

COVER/9

The Enemy Within: Domestic Violence in Nigeria Call it Spousal Abuse or Gender Violence, the incidents of domestic violence in Nigeria are not only on the increase, but the issue is sadly, not getting adequate attention from Government and relevant agencies. In the past few years, many lives have been lost or maimed, through domestic abuse. The Executive Director of Project Alert Against Violence, Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma analyses the underlying causes and effects of this hydra-headed monster, and proffers possible solutions

W

What is Domestic Violence? ith the possible exception of a few (maybe 5% or less), the wedding day is a joyous day.

In Nigeria it is a big occasion notwithstanding the social and economic status of the families involved.

Every member of the two families has a role to play in making that day (be it traditional or court/church wedding) a day to remember. Violence and death is far away from the minds of the people as they eat, drink and dance. At least not death at each other’s hands, even though they made the vows: “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.’’

No man or woman would think or want to believe that he or she is getting married to the ENEMY; or even starting a relationship with the ENEMY. But unfortunately, that is what some relationships and marriages have become. People are living, dining, relating and sleeping with the enemy. Domestic violence is also referred to as a crime of passion; spousal violence; violence in intimacy; and family violence.

In Nigeria, domestic violence cannot be defined exclusively to be violence between husband and wife. This is because of the extended family system we operate. Thus, domestic violence in Nigeria, is violence that occurs in the private sphere, amongst people with a familial relationship. These include husband/wife; parents/children; in- laws/wife/husband; uncles/aunties/ nephews/nieces; boyfriend/girlfriend; etc.

Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological in nature.

It is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviours that one partner uses against a current or former intimate partner; or family members on other family members. It commonly happens in relationships where the abuser and the victim are currently or were previously dating, living together, married or divorced. Domestic violence is purposeful behaviour. It is the use of abusive behaviour or violence to control the victim using fear and intimidation.

Though victims of domestic violence can be male or female, majority of the victims are women and young girls (especially in cases of child defilement in the home).

How does it start? When does it start? What triggers it?

These are some of the questions often asked about domestic violence. In many abusive relationships, the physical and sexual violence does not begin until after the relationship is well established, and for many women, their first experience of physical violence will be during pregnancy. However, perpetrators of abuse and violence are often initially very controlling and dominating over their partners during courtship, and often times ladies mistakenly interprete this as petty jealousy or consider it sign of true love for them. That is why you hear ladies especially say “he loves me, that is why he is angry with me; that is why he wants me around him all the time; that is why he checks my phone etc’’.

From a controlling behaviour, it progresses to verbal abuse, to physical, then sexual and psychological.

Domestic violence is a gender issue, and should be understood in the context of social structure and inequality between men and women in the society, and not just the dynamics of individual relationships. Male violence towards women results from patriarchal norms in our society, where men believe they are superior to women and that it is their innate right to dominate. Sex role stereotypes, homophobic attitudes among men, and cultural traditions that devalue women, are all elements of this culture of violence. Religion is also used – manipulated and misinterpreted to further subjugate women and batter them into submission. Thus, the major trigger of domestic violence is patriarchy – a system that preaches male superiority over women; whereby a little boy of 5 years old is considered greater than his 21 year old sister, has more say and commands more respect. A system that preaches that a woman is incomplete without a man, and as such, an abusive man is better than no man.

Domestic violence as indeed other forms of gender-based violence, knows no boundaries, as it affects all categories of women/young girls – rich/poor; old/young; literate/illiterate; Christian/ Muslim; and people from various ethnic backgrounds. It is also grossly under reported, as to a very large extent, it is socially accepted and there even exist laws that permit a man to reasonably chastise his wife (Penal Code of Northern Nigeria) Titilayo Arowolo Late Titilayo Arowolo, was a 29 year old professional banker who got married to Akolade Arowolo, and they had a little baby girl. Though just married for less than two years, Titi was abused several times by her husband, as colleagues testified that she often came to work with injuries on her face, hands etc. She always covered up and never told her colleagues the truth about the sources of her injuries, out of shame and of course, wanting to be a ‘’good wife who doesn’t expose her husband”. Titi however, told her family, as she ran home to her father (her mother had passed on) several times. The last time was two months before her death at Akolade’s hands. She stayed with her father for over a month until Akolade, using the Bible and religious intermediaries, lured her back home, where he stabbed her to death in 2011.

Other Cases In the same vain, Ronke Shonde, a banker, and a mother of two, was found dead in her Lagos home early last year (2016), allegedly beaten to death by her husband Lekan Shonde, who fled the scene, but was later arrested by the police.

In Ibadan, in the same 2016, Yewande Fatoki-Oyediran, a female lawyer in Ibadan, stabbed and killed her husband Oyelowo Oyediran.

Recently in Makurdi, a young Air Force male recruit by name Kalu shot and killed his girlfriend (also an Air Force recruit) by name Shola. According to reports, he shot her because he found out that she was double-dating.

This year, a Lagos driver, Shakiru Bello, was arrested for allegedly killing his wife, Sherifat, and cutting her remains into pieces to escape the wrath of her father, Akeem Atanda, and to avoid being prosecuted for her death. Shakiru added that after hiding her remains in different

by family members, known, loved and trusted by these children. These include biological fathers, adopted fathers, uncles, cousins and other relatives.

Project Alert’s Response to Domestic & Sexual Violence In responding to domestic violence issues in Nigeria, Project Alert adopted a three pronged approach. These are: Research & Documentation, Human Rights Education and Support Services. At Project Alert, all interventions introduced are first preceded by research – a needs assessment. Recommendations that come out from research, are what inform practical intervention strategies. For instance, very early in the existence of the organisation in 2001, it conducted a national study on violence against women in Nigeria to establish the prevalence, forms, and consequences of gender-based violence. The report titled Beyond Boundaries: Violence Against Women in Nigeria, established a huge prevalence rate of domestic violence especially, and recommended that shelters be set up as transit homes for abused women. This informed Project Alert setting up the first shelter for abused women in Nigeria, known as Sophia’s Place. The shelter has till date temporarily accommodated over 600 women/children.

The Human Rights Education programme of Project Alert, is the advocacy arm of the organisation. Under

the programme we plan and carry out various sensitisation and awareness creation activities to raise public awareness on the issue and call for change.

Our advocacy projects include: Male Involvement Project; School Based Advocacy Project; Faith-Based Advocacy; and Legislative Advocacy.

Under the Support Services Programme of the organisation, we render legal aid to female victims of violence and their families; counselling; shelter; medical assistance; and empowerment of survivors.

Challenges Facing Victims of Domestic Violence In responding to female victims of violence, it is important that focus should not only be on the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator, but also on the many needs of the survivor. These needs include counselling, legal aid, medical assistance, shelter, care for children etc. Challenges facing victims of domestic violence are myriad and include the following: • Fear of secondary victimisation (blame and shame) by friends, family members etc. When a victim is contemplating disclosing her victimisation, she is concerned about what people would say and do. Will they blame her; will they believe her; will they ridicule her; will she be ostracised by members of her church society etc?

• Inadequate structures and poor response by institutions. The criminal

Project Alert Executive Director, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma

uncompleted buildings in Lagos, he fled to Ibadan, Oyo State. They had been married for 6 years before parting ways last year (2016) and Sherifat had gone asking for money for the upkeep of their three children, when Shakiru attacked and killed her.

Emotional & Psychological Impact of Domestic Violence The impact of domestic violence is not always physical, and it is not in all cases, that it leads to death. In a lot of cases, it causes emotional and psychological injuries to its victims, and by so doing, it reduces the quality of their lives. Victims of domestic violence live with so much emotional pain, that they often shut down emotionally. This is an understandable, but damaging, defence mechanism.

Often victims of domestic violence have a flat, expressionless appearance. They feel little or nothing, which can in turn, set them up for more abuse. Over the course of time, this can lead to clinical depression. Traumatic experiences of domestic violence alters the bodies of the victims inside out, particularly their brains, nervous system, and hormones.

This can result in nightmares, panic

attacks, flashbacks (similar to nightmares, but they take place when one is awake), insomnia, and chronic fatigue. Many victims of domestic violence, particularly those who experience chronic abuse, experience these traumatic symptoms over a long period of time and develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome).

Domestic Violence & Children The impact of domestic violence on

"IN MANY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, THE PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER THE RELATIONSHIP IS WELL ESTABLISHED, AND FOR MANY WOMEN, THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL BE DURING PREGNANCY"

children is huge, but often ignored or underestimated. Children in homes where domestic violence occurs either witness it or are victims themselves.

Children witness domestic violence

by SEEING actual incidents of physical and/or sexual abuse; HEARING threats or fighting noises from across the hall way or in another room; OBSERVING the aftermath of physical and/or sexual abuse such as blood, bruises, torn clothes, broken household items etc. Also children may be AWARE of tension in the home through their mother’s fearful actions on hearing the car of the abuser pull up the driveway or park in the compound.

Children are also direct victims of violence, when couples during a fight sometimes hit the child; or take out their aggression on the child physically and verbally. Children are also victims of sexual abuse in the home. In a study titled Sexual Epidemic in Nigeria: A Silent Epidemic, released recently by Project Alert on Violence Against Women, an NGO that advocates for zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women and children (especially the girl child), 77 % of sexual assault victims in Nigeria are children. 50% of this occurs in the home

Ivie Edobor, a domestic violence victim, whose leg was shattered by her husband, John Edobor, receiving financial support from Project Alert Executive Director, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma

"EVERY ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN NIGERIA, IS AT RISK OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE IN THE HOME. THE ENEMY IS WITHIN justice system as it is today, is not friendly to female victims of violence. Starting from the police station, the victim is burdened with funding the quest for justice. She has to provide ALL logistics needed to carry out investigations and prosecution of the perpetrator, starting from communication, transportation, photocopies etc. A lot of financial demands are made, which makes some victims give up and “leave it to GOD’’.

• Lack of family support. This is yet another challenge female victims of domestic violence face. Nigeria being a patriarchal society, in some cultures the female is actually mortgaged for the benefit of the family. What this means is that, in marrying her off to a wealthy man for instance, who helps in catering for other family members, such as paying their house rents, school fees of her siblings etc, they will never support her crying out and seeking help in cases of abuse. Instead, she would be blamed for not being patient; not keeping quiet; and not trying her best.

• Financial dependency and care of children. A woman who has more than two children and no means of livelihood, is less likely to cry out and seek help.

This is because she is wondering how she will care for the children. Saying no to domestic violence and wanting out of an abusive relationship, should under normal conditions, not mean being punished with children, for the woman to care for and feed alone. But in most cases in Nigeria, that is what a lot of abusive men do. They not only “punish” the mother economically, but also the children. Firstly, the period between when the woman decided to leave the home, and when she goes to court (if she is financially able to do so), and gets judgement can take almost two years. During this time, some men “play GOD’’, and refuse to give money for maintenance of the children and even school fees.

• Religious manipulation and misinterpretation is yet another challenge. The religious books – the Bible & Koran – are often manipulated and misinterpreted using cultural and traditional lenses, to further batter women into submission. Often times, the root causes of the acts of violence are not addressed or are deliberately swept under the carpet, which in turn gives room for further abuse. Abused women are made to feel guilty of even contemplating a separation by the use of statements such as, “God does not like divorce”. However, God does not condone violence of any kind in the family.

As a nation and a people, we can no longer afford to live in denial that domestic violence is real, and is destroying lives and relationships. Every one in three women and girls in Nigeria, is at risk of physical, sexual, emotional and psychological violence in the home. The enemy is within. We need to take action urgently, in order to curb this social menace that has assumed epidemic proportions. The home should not be a battle front, so also should a woman or girl’s body not be a battle field.

10/IMAGES

28.03.2017

The 10th Memorial Lecture held in honour of the late Mr Kehinde Sofola, SAN, CON, took place last Thursday, March 23rd, 2017, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event was chaired by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, CON, while Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, delivered the keynote lecture titled "The Role of the Legal Profession in Nation Building: The Nigerian Context".

Below are some of the personalities who attended the event.. photos: Kolawole Alli

L-R: Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, Mr. Kayode Sofola and His Excellency, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki

L-R: Mr. Idowu Sofola, SAN; Alhaja Idowu Sofola and Hon. Folabi Sofola

L-R: Chief Femi Olopade, former Lagos State 1st Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Alhaji Femi Okunnu SAN

L-R: Professor Isabella Okagbue, Dr. Olatokunbo Sofola and Hon. Justice Bimbo Obaseki-Adejumo

L-R: Mr. Kayode Sofola, his wife, Mrs. Darling Sofola, Mrs. Ayo Sofola Asolo

Onikepo Braithwaite, Editor, This Day Lawyer (left) and Mr. Albert Okumagba

Mrs. Ayo Obe (left) and Ego Mbagwu

Mr. Mustapha Ogunsakin (left) and Mr. Dele Adesina SAN

Lady Maiden Alex Ibru and Mr. Kolapo Lawson

Shade Ogundare with her colleagues

Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie and Professor Isabella Okagbue

L-R: Mr. Abubakar Sulu Gambari Mr. Babajide, Koku, SAN and Mr. Olumide Akpata

28.03.2017

COVER 2/11

‘NIGERIAN LAWYERS MUST UPGRADE TO WORLD CLASS STANDARDS’

Mr. Osayaba Giwa-Osagie

12/COVER 2

28.03.2017

Mr. Osayaba Giwa-Osagie PHOTOS: Kolawole Alli

‘Nigerian Lawyers Must Upgrade to World Class Standards’ A truly unique law event is about to take place in Nigeria. For the very first time, the country will play host to some of the top-notch law firms in Africa, as it hosts the Lex Africa Alliance Conference on April 7, 2017 in Lagos. Osayaba Giwa-Osagie has the rare privilege of being the sole representative of Nigeria in Lex Africa Alliance. Last week, he told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi about the core objectives of the umbrella body of 26 African law firms from 26 African countries, and why Nigeria is hosting the conference at this time

H

ow does Lex Africa Alliance (LAA) work between the different member countries? For example, if a Nigerian came to your firm to inquire about setting up a business in one of your member countries, how would such a person be able to utilise the services of LAA? Lex Africa is an alliance of reputable law firms across Africa. By coming to a Lex Africa member, the member will be able to direct the client to a member firm in the country it intends to do business in. We have a secretariat located in the premises of Werksmans Attorney in Johannesburg, South Africa. If clients require services of a competent law firm in any member country, the Secretariat will refer them to the member firm.

LAA was established about 24 years ago, as the first and largest alliance of legal expertise, to deliver the best services possible to clients in their business activities in Africa. Why did LAA believe that there was a need for this type of alliance? Kindly, shed more light on what LAA represents, its core objectives, why its holding its Conference in Nigeria this time, and how many Nigerian law firms are members? How well would you say that LAA has been able to achieve its objectives so far?

The Founding members saw the need to develop a network focused on providing access to excellent, proficient and

reputable lawyers, expanding the benefits of investing in the continent and also to strengthen the relationship between African countries through cross-border interactions between African lawyers.

Lex Africa Alliance represents a one-stop shop for finding the best Law Firms, delivering exceptional legal services on the continent of Africa. Our core objective is to collaborate with member firms to drive business growth in Africa through the best legal practice, by attracting, developing and promoting world-class professional skills for the continuing success of our network and the broader African continent.

Giwa-Osagie & Co. is the only Nigerian member in the network and was voted at the last AGM held in Mauritius, to host the 2017 AGM.

"LEX AFRICA ALLIANCE REPRESENTS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR FINDING THE BEST LAW FIRMS, DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL SERVICES ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA"

Lex Africa has made a significant mark in the African Legal Sector. We have been able to reduce the risk factor involved in doing business in Africa, through our team of dedicated Law firms and our published business guides.

Members of Lex Africa have been well ranked in various practice areas by a) Chambers and Partners “115” rankings; b) IFLR 1000 “103” rankings and c) Legal 500 “29” rankings.

Unlike other organisations, LAA seems somewhat closed and restricted. How many law firms per member state are permitted to join LAA? How can lawyers, especially the young and upcoming, who do not work in any of the member firms, tap into whatever benefits LAA may have to offer?

The Constitution of the Lex Africa Alliance only permits one Law firm per member country.

Our mission includes developing and promoting world-class professional skills in the Continent. To that end, as part of the services we render, we author articles, papers and guides on different legal subject matters based on the laws of the African Countries, for the purpose of contributing to the body of knowledge of young African lawyers on the continent. These materials are available for free and easily accessible to lawyers on the continent.

What is your opinion about law firms in Nigeria merging to create mega law firms like we have in UK CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

28.03.2017

COVER 2/13

‘NIGERIAN LAWYERS MUST UPGRADE TO WORLD CLASS STANDARDS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 and USA? Do you think that this sort of thing can work in Nigeria?

Was can have law firms merging to become mega firms in Nigeria. To become a mega firm in Nigeria, the laws on partnerships like the Partnership Law of Lagos State 2009, must be complied with. The partners coming together should be men and women of integrity, so they do not run into problems or ethical issues. However, what may be a mega firm in Nigeria, may not qualify as a mega firm in the United Kingdom or United States because of the number of lawyers and partners which the mega firms in those countries have.

LAA’s Annual General Meeting/ Conference will take place for the first time in Lagos, Nigeria on April 7, 2017.

One of the main topics for discussion at the conference is ‘Business Investment Environment in Nigeria and Investment in other Countries’. How would you rate the business environment in Nigeria presently?

How does it compare to say, Angola, a fellow African oil producing country?

Nigeria has a larger economy compared to Angola. Nigeria boasts of a robust business environment which continually attracts foreign investment.

The Nigerian government continually passes legislation and makes policies, to ease the process of doing business in Nigeria. Just recently, the Federal Government reviewed some policies relating to procurement of visas by investors, ease of registering a business in Nigeria, ease of import and export, etc. which were some of the areas identified as those in which investors had experienced difficulties over the years.

I cannot comment in any detailed way on the situation in Angola, except that its judicial system appears to be more complex than that of Nigeria. However, I believe that in due course, they will also introduce good world class policies. We also have some common problems such as corruption.

It seems that foreign investors these days may prefer to do business in c o u n t r i e s l i k e Ghana or South Africa for example, as opposed to Nigeria, because many have complained, not only about Nigeria’s high level of corruption, our inconsistent foreign exchange policy and the decline in the value of the Naira, difficulty in repatriating money to foreign investors' home countries, but the ease of doing business in Nigeria. What do you think that Government can do about these issues, in order to make the business environment in Nigeria more attractive and to promote foreign direct investment in Nigeria?

I believe that the government is tackling the issue of corruption very seriously by the

high number of cases on corruption being tried across the country. The government is also trying to implement some policies that will make it more difficult for people to engage in corrupt practices. For instance, the Treasury Single Account introduced by the President. The fight against corruption is an ongoing process to which all Nigerians are expected to participate by conducting their affairs in an honest manner.

Until recently, the Government had inconsistent foreign exchange policies, caused mainly by shortage of Dollars and a drastic drop in the price of crude oil. However, the price of crude oil has increased from about $25 per barrel last year to over $50 per barrel now. Also, in the past one month, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the amount of dollars available for sale through the bank for customers. We are hopeful that the Naira will strengthen against other foreign currencies soon.

The difficulty in repatriating money to foreign investor’s home is a direct result of the drop in the supply of Dollars accruing to the Federal Government from the sale of crude oil. We suffered a drop from over a $100 per barrel to about $25, so the Government had to prioritise the sectors where the CBN would make Dollars available to customers.

From all available projections, the price of crude oil is likely to increase and Dollars in circulation is also likely to increase. We must all remember that these things we complain about did not occur when the price of oil was over $100 per barrel.

Regarding the ease of doing business in Nigeria, the Federal Government has commenced the process of improving the business environment of the country through the set-up of a committee - The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with the objective of improving the scope of investment opportunities in Nigeria and also carrying out a review of the existing policies, with the aim of identifying its weaknesses. Areas such as the import and export of goods; procurement of Nigerian Visa, transparency and efficiency of agencies and parastatals of government have been areas in which investors have experienced some problems in the past. Some reforms such as simplifying the business registration process at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), issuance of Tax identification numbers online and a simplified visa procurement process, have been recommended by PEBEC, and are being implemented.

In recent times, Investors have shown more confidence in Nigerian economic policies.

This is evident from the recent Nigeria Euro bond of $1 Billion which was oversubscribed.

Certainly, the Nigerian Government is committed to ensuring that Investors perceive Nigeria once again, as the preferred country for business.

What is the LAA doing to promote business in Nigeria?

Lex Africa has an annual Business Guide publication which is distributed by Giwa-Osagie to different business sectors. The Business Guide contains information and statistics on how to conduct business activities in member nations. This is valuable information to an investor in Nigeria, considering an expansion of his/her business to other African countries.

You are aware of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa against foreigners including Nigerians. How do you think that our Government should resolve this issue and protect our people and their businesses in South Africa? Is there any role for LAA to play in the resolution of this issue, since both Nigeria and South Africa are members of LAA and some of the main actors in the saga?

Recently, some members of the House of Representatives met with their South African counterparts in Cape Town and the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Interior also met with their counterparts in Pretoria. They came up with many commendable decisions e.g. the establishment of a multi-sectoral mechanism between the two countries to meet quarterly to exchange information on prevailing developments, and act as an early warning system on various issues including security. The mechanism allows foreigners in South Africa to have a platform where they can report any security issue observed in their locality and get an immediate response.

I believe that with their recommendations and the clear desire by citizens and leaders of both countries on the need to live and work together in harmony, the issue should be resolved in a permanent manner very soon. In addition, it is the role of the professionals including lawyers in both countries, to preach the need to live together in peace and harmony, without resorting to violence or engaging in criminal activities. The issues are complex but they can be resolved.

It does appear in the past few years that foreign law firms have been surreptitiously encroaching on the Nigerian legal industry, using local law firms as fronts.

What in your view, should be done, as a matter of urgency, to stem this tide before Nigerian lawyers lose their earnings to foreign lawyers?

Yes, it seems like this is the new trend.

The foreign law firms usually set up an African desk in their offices abroad, with a bid to obtain work from foreign clients in need of legal services in Nigeria, rather than allow such clients approach the local lawyers directly. However, they lack the local knowledge to operate in the Nigerian market and therefore, require the local lawyers.

Our lawyers have sufficient expertise and skills to protect the market. It is up to the Nigerian lawyers to protect the Nigerian legal market by maintaining a world class professional standard in their practice, sufficient to compete with lawyers from other parts of the world. It is also important for local lawyers to seek more international exposure to directly approach the foreign clients on Nigeria related legal work.

Do you share the view being expressed by some lawyers that Nigeria is over -lawyered? There are over 140,000 lawyers and 8,000 more are being called to the Bar every year.

In a country of over 180 Million people, I do not think that 140,000 lawyers is an excessive number. You must consider that not every lawyer is actually practicing the profession. Also, law is a very vast profession, and some areas of law are currently not adequately explored e.g. entertainment law, competition law, intellectual property etc. In the mega law firms abroad, you find a law firm with over 1000 lawyers, specialising in different areas of law. We can be required for the various fields of law.

In the face of the economic reality in these challenging recession times, what is your advice to lawyers with regard to staying afloat until the tide blows over?

Many have complained that work is shrinking and clientele declining.

I would advice lawyers to work harder and cut down operating costs. Lawyers need to

"THE FOREIGN LAW FIRMS USUALLY SET UP AN AFRICAN DESK IN THEIR OFFICES ABROAD, WITH A BID TO OBTAIN WORK FROM FOREIGN CLIENTS IN NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES IN NIGERIA, RATHER THAN ALLOW SUCH CLIENTS APPROACH THE LOCAL LAWYERS DIRECTLY" be more creative and consider establishing alliances with other law firms, when they have jobs that they may not be able to handle alone. They should also use the opportunity of the recession to specialise.

Apart from Lagos which has for over a decade, now created divisions in its Judiciary, including Lands, Probate, Criminal, Fast track etc, no other State Judiciary has these types of divisions.

What is your advice to such States?

The creation of divisions is a good innovation which makes room for specialisation within the legal profession, as it is done in many developed countries. I would encourage any State that has not followed the example in Lagos to do so immediately, and also ensure that Judges starting from the Customary, Magistrate Courts up, are well paid promptly and regularly. The government should also, review salaries of Judges to ensure that they are decent, and also make adequate provisions for their retirement.

Are there any positive practices that you have learnt from some of your LAA member states, either in their court systems or commercial practices, that you believe that we could include in our own legal system, to improve it? Kindly, share a few with us.

Nigeria remains the pacesetter in Africa, and has one of the leading legal systems in Africa. Compared to other African countries, our legal system has greatly advanced.

However, the fast track procedure in our court system is a good innovation. The repeal and modernisation of our laws is a welcome development, and the creation and adoption of the front loading of court processes is also a welcome development.

14/

28.03.2017

IN BLACK AND WHITE ADERINSOLA FAGBURE

afagbure@yahoo.com

Mr. Promoter - Getting It Right

I

once met a company promoter who had hit a road block while seeking for new investors into his expanding business. He believed he had a good brand and a relatively attractive corporate governance structure, having invited experienced technocrats to serve on the company board. When control was in the hands of this businessman and his family members, they had adhered to accounting principles with finances being adequately managed. The company had entered into franchise agreements with some of the world famous brands within its industry. The concern had little or no debt and everything seemed good, but investors kept rejecting the offers being made. After knocking on a few doors, one investment adviser explained to him that, he needed more than a good brand. He sought the view of a few professionals, and was advised that he needed a well-articulated IM. What is an IM, he thought aloud?

Definition of an Information Memorandum IM is an acronym for the term Information Memorandum. In a nutshell, an information memorandum is some kind of prospectus.

It is essentially a thorough Business Plan addressed to prospective investors. It is a legal document that a company presents to potential investors, to explain the objectives, risks, and investment terms surrounding a funding round. This includes financial statements, detailed projections, management biographies and their strengths, company capital structure, summary of industry, structure of the deal and events relating to it. This document is confidential and should be marked as such. The Business Model disclosure should indicate the factors that drive revenue and determine profitability, the assets and liabilities required to enhance performance and the competitive advantage enjoyed by a business. From the investor’s viewpoint, the dividend policy and funding strategy must be tabled. The capital model will have a bearing on the ploughing back of profit. In drafting the document, one needs to put himself in the shoes of the investor.

Most keen investors do not have the luxury of time. They are usually busy and often multi-task because they have their fingers in too many pies. They are not going to sit down with a glass of wine and read it

"GENERALLY, PROMOTERS SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR AND IF POSSIBLE, AVOID INVESTMENT SHARKS, LITIGATION-READY INVESTORS, COACHING INVESTORS, AS WELL AS FEE EARNING INVESTORS. SHARK INVESTORS TEND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN ENTREPRENEUR’S LACK OF FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE AND OFTEN WANT TO TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS" cover to cover, but may refer to it when a question pops in their head or when they need their memory jogged about something of particular interest.

Put Your House in Order In looking out for investors, the business owner must put his house in order. This means that the outfit must be registered as a legal entity and the capital structure must be clearly stated cum structured to accommodate outsiders. All relevant compliance and regulatory requirements must be known and taken care of. Prospecting for investors is similar to searching for a spouse! The pitch or opportunity to meet

with the investor, is a date of some sort and affords both parties the opportunity to decide whether a successful business relationship can be kickstarted. The two players are expected to have some criteria, which should serve as the foundation for the relationship.

Different Types of Investors Entrepreneurs should understand that there are various types of investors, including Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists & Private Equity Investors, Banks (Commercial, Investment and Specialised), as well as High Net Worth Individuals. Angel investors are hardly known in these parts, because

very few people are prepared to take risks with start-ups. They are described as affluent individuals who provide capital for a start-up business, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.

As the investor sizes up the business promoter, so also should the entrepreneur know what he wants out of the opportunity.

Generally, promoters should watch out for and if possible, avoid investment sharks, litigation-ready investors, coaching Investors, as well as fee earning investors. Shark Investors tend to take advantage of an entrepreneur’s lack of financial experience and often want to take over the business. Big-dreaming and enthusiastic entrepreneurs eagerly take money from them, without carefully going through the terms of the deal. They simply want their returns and control over the company.

It is best to steer clear of litigious investors, who try to exploit entrepreneurs by intimidation, threats and lawsuits. They know that start-up firms usually lack the financial muscle to fight them, and hence, threaten to institute actions at the flimsiest excuse.

It is advisable to check the track record of investors before approaching them.

Coaching investors also act like they know all the ropes of the business, and seek to take over the day to day running of the enterprise. Though it is helpful for businesses to benefit from professional advice, it is equally important to maintain a reasonable distance from them.

Elements that Investors Look For Investors always expect a good return on investment. They watch out for businesses with a structured board, competent management team, financial track record, good employee relationships. Accountability and corporate governance are prioritised, because no one is interested in dealing with a businessman who will buy a luxury car or go on a world cruise, when capital is pumped in. The reputation of an establishment lies in the hands of employees. Investors may do well to interview members of staff. Record keeping is essential, particularly when inviting outsiders. The role of financial and legal advisers in the investment process cannot be over-emphasised.

The entrepreneur I spoke about, soon realised this, and consulted these professionals in his bid to raise new capital, having made a few mistakes.

Court Asked to Wind-Up Oil Firm over $3.2m Debt Akinwale Akintunde A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has been asked to wind-up an oil firm, Emerald Energy Resources Limited, operator of OML 14 (formerly OPL 229), as a result of its inability to pay a debt of $3.2 million owed an oil and gas firm, ICS Energy Limited.

ICS Energy Limited, in suit No: FHC/L/ CP/1466/16 filed through its lawyer, Chief Emeka Okwuosa of the Chancery Associates, before Justice Ayotunde Faji, is asking the court for an order to wind up Emerald Energy Resources Limited in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Specifically, ICS Energy Limited is asking the court to appoint liquidators to supervise the winding up process in order to pay the petitioner the sum of $3,288, 600 00 (three million, two hundred and eighty-eight thousand, six hundred U.S. Dollars), being the outstanding balance due to the petitioner for successfully sourcing and facilitating the payment by Diamond Bank PLC, of signature bonus of $11,000,000.00 (eleven million U.S

Dollars) in respect of OPL 229, on behalf of the respondent, with interest at 22 percent per annum from September 16, 2015 until full payment and to others or creditor(s) as may be entitled by their respective claim(s).

The petition is supported with a 24 paragraphed affidavit, which stated that on January 12, 2000, the respondent engaged the services of the petitioner as a consultant to source and facilitate the payment of $11,000,000.00 signature bonus on OPL 229, on behalf of the respondent.

According to ICS Energy Limited, on August 10, 2001 Diamond Bank PLC granted and provided the $11,000,000.00. Thereafter, the respondent agreed to pay to the petitioner the sum of $8,000,000.00 which was later discounted to $4,000,000.00 by mutual agreement between both parties, culminating in the settlement agreement of June 20, 2004 between the petitioner and the respondent.

But the petitioner claimed that the respondent has thus far paid it the sum of $686,400.00 (six hundred and eighty six thousand, four hundred U. S. Dollars), while the balance is unpaid till date, as confirmed by the respondent in their inventory list of payment to the petitioner dated August 15, 2016.

Notwithstanding all entreaties and pleas, the respondent through its solicitors in a letter dated September 5, 2016 made a proposal to the petitioner, to make a good faith payment of $250,000,00(two hundred and fifty thousand U. S. Dollars) in five instalments hereunder stated towards and in part liquidation of its indebtedness of $3, 313,600.00 to the petitioner, under the settlement agreement of June 20, 2004, the respondent could only pay one instalment and has reneged on the other outstanding instalments due under the good faith payment of its total outstanding indebtedness of $3,288,600.00 to the petitioner.

However, the respondent in a notice of preliminary objection, asked the court for an order dismissing the suit in its entirety and any further order (s) the court may deem appropriate to make in the circumstances.

The respondent argued that no payment liability has arisen under the settlement agreement dated June 20, 2004 upon which the alleged debt of the $3,288,600 in the instant proceedings is hinged.

The respondent stated that the debt is disputed by it and indeed, the petitioner itself is not certain as to the amounts alleg-

edly being owed, and that the letters dated September 16, 2015, July 1, 2016, July 4, 2016 and September 30, 2016 present conflicting sums without any one of them demanding the debt which is claimed in these proceedings.

Furthermore, the statutory notices are incompetent being contrary to section 409 (a) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 (as amended) and consequently, incapable of sustaining these proceedings. > The petitioner however, in a counter affidavit in opposition to the respondent's notice of preliminary objection, stated that those letters do not contain conflicting sums with respect to the respondent's indebtedness to the petitioner, and that the sums were never challenged or controverted by the respondent.

It stated that the account reconciliation meeting of August 15, 2016 was to enable parties adequately reconcile their account to ascertain the respondent's exact outstanding indebtedness of $3,313, 600 to the petitioner, and both parties agreed on the said sums ($3, 313, 600) to be paid, which the respondent reneged, hence, the petition.

Justice Faji has fixed May 4, 2017 for hearing of the petition.

28.03.2017

THE LIGHTER SIDE/15

LEGAL HUMOUR

An airliner was having engine trouble, and the pilot instructed the cabin crew to have the passengers take their seats and get prepared for an emergency landing.

A few minutes later, the pilot asked the flight attendants if everyone was buckled in and ready.

"All set back here, Captain," came the reply, "except one lawyer who is still going around passing out business cards."

••• When the man in the street says: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the lawyer writes: "Insofar as manifestations of functional deficiencies are agreedbyanyandallconcernedpartiestobeimperceivable, and are so stipulated, it is incumbent upon said heretofore mentioned parties to exercise the deferment of otherwise pertinent maintenance procedures."

•••

We Hold Your Brief JUDE IGBANOI jude.igbanoi@thisdaylive.com

Dear Counsel, I believe that your explanation on this issue would help clear the air on this highly vexatious incident.

A few days ago, I was amongst the numerous members of a trade union which went on a symbolic solidarity procession, in front of the premises of a printing company. Many of our union members in the company, were unlaw- fully relieved of their jobs. The authorities didn’t seem to pay any attention to our several calls to reinstate them. We therefore, went on a peaceful procession to press home our call.

But unexpectedly, some of our officials were rounded up by the police, and detained for three days. They were charged to the Magistrate Court and told that they violated the Public Order Act. We are rallying round our leaders in this matter, but what is your advice, are we make further plans on what to do?

Comrade D.O., Lagos Dear Comrade D.O., The Public Order Act has in recent times, turned out to be one of the most contentious laws in our statute books. There are still a number of cases before the courts on the clear and proper interpretation of the Act. But as it stands today, it does appear that for any assemblage of that nature to be lawful, a police permit is required.

Public Order Act, Chapter 382 Laws of the

Federation of Nigeria ‘Section 2. states that ‘Any police officer of the rank of Inspector or above may stop any assembly, meeting or procession for which no licence has been issued or which violates any conditions of the licence issued under section 1 of this Act, and may order any such assembly, meeting or procession which has been prohibited or which violates any such conditions as aforesaid to disperse immediately.’

Also, S.3. states thus: ‘Any assembly, meeting or procession which - (a) takes place without a licence issued under section 1 of this Act; or (b) violates any condition of any licence granted under section 1 as aforementioned; or (c) neglects to obey any order given under section 2 of this Act, shall be deemed to be an unlawful assembly, and all persons taking part in such assembly, meeting or procession, and in the case of an assembly, meeting or procession for which no licence has been issued, all persons taking part in the convening, collecting or directing of the assembly, meeting or procession, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment.’

Human Rights Activists have filed many suits in the different hierarchies of the Nigerian Courts, challeng- ing this law. The numerous Human Rights lawyers in Nigeria would gladly take up this matter on your behalf, absolutely for free.

In the USA, everything that is not prohibited by law is permitted.

In Germany, everything that is not permitted by law is prohibited.

In Russia, everything is prohibited, even if permitted by law.

In France, everything is permitted, even if prohibited by law.

In Switzerland, everything that is not prohibited by law is obligatory.

••• A junior partner in a firm was sent to a far-away state to represent a long-term client accused of robbery. After days of trial, the case was won, the client was acquitted and released. Excited about his success, the attorney telegraphed the firm: "Justice prevailed."

Theseniorpartnerrepliedinhaste:"Appealimmediately."

••• A witness to an automobile accident was testifying. The lawyer asked him, "Did you actually see the accident?"

The witness: "Yes, sir."

The lawyer: "How far away were you when the accident happened?"

The witness: "Thirty-one feet, six and one quarter inches."

The lawyer (thinking he'd trap the witness): "Well, sir, will you tell the jury how you knew it was exactly that distance?"

The witness: "Because when the accident happened I took out a tape and measured it. I knew some annoying lawyer would ask me that question."

••• An old man was on his death bed. He wanted badly to take some of his money with him. He called his priest, his doctor and his lawyer to his bedside. "Here's $30,000 cash to be held by each of you. I trust you to put this in my coffin when I die so I can take all my money with me."

At the funeral, each man put an envelope in the coffin.

Riding away in a limousine, the priest suddenly broke into tears and confessed, "I had only put $20,000 into the envelope because I needed $10,000 for a new baptistery."

"Well, since we're confiding in each other," said the doctor, "I only put $10,000 in the envelope because we needed a new machine at the hospital which cost $20,000."

The lawyer was aghast. "I'm ashamed of both of you," he exclaimed. "I want it known that when I put my envelope in that coffin, it held my personal cheque for the full $30,000."

FIDA Challenges CJN on War Against Corruption in the Judiciary Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) at the weekend called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, not to relent in the present war against corruption particularly in the Judiciary.

The Chairperson of Kwara State branch of FIDA, Hajia Salmat Iyabo Mohammed who made the call in Ilorin, Kwara State, said that, “If the war is eventually won, the credibility which the Judiciary commanded in the past, would be regained".

Hajia Mohammed also urged the Chief Justice of the Federation to ensure that only credible, hard working, knowledgeable and transparent judicial officers are appointed as judges in either State High Courts, Appeal or Supreme Courts, so as not to doubt, embarrass or put the Judiciary in disputes.

The chairperson of FIDA said members of the association are fully in support of the ongoing cleansing in the

Nigerian Judiciary, but cautioned against intimidating or exposing senior judicial officers to public embarrassment.

She explained that, “Anybody facing trial is still innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law hence, the need to handle such suspects with due judicial process”.

The legal practitioner who appealed to judicial officers to put in more effort in the discharge of their duties, described Hon. Justice Onnoghen as a man of honour and a judicial officer that has proven himself to be corruption-free.

The chairperson urged him to maintain the status quo ante and appealed to others in the judiciary to emulate him.

Answering another question, the FIDA chairperson suggested that a stiffer penalty and accelerated hearing should be passed on anybody found and confirmed guilty of rape.

She lamented that there are now rampant cases of female to female, male to male and even father to daughter rape cases, which she described as most disheartening

and embarrassing.

Hajia Mohammed enjoined mothers to take proper care of their female children in particular, and condemned the idea of keeping female children in the custody of male house helps or even uncles.

The FIDA chairperson who is the Director, Legal Services in Ilorin West local government council of the State, blamed today's rampant cases of broken homes to the worsening economic situation in the country, and lack of deep understanding between partners before going into marriages.

She announced that the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of FIDA would hold in Ilorin in April this year, adding that, the event would equally coincide with the State FIDA Law Week and launching of the Women Center.

She also commended the support of the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, to the association.

16/

28.03.2017

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (Rtd) Col. Hameed Ali, in APC Uniform

21

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28 2017

BUSINESSWORLD NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

R A T E S 15.3333 17.0332

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

A S 20.1621 23.1621

A T

NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

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

M A R C H 13.0970 15.7898 19.6644

2 4 ,

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

19.5941 21.3470 22.8256

2 0 1 7

EXCHANGE RATE N305.50 US DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Total Tasks Children on Road Safety

In line with the Group’s corporate social responsibility strategy, Total Nigeria Plc has been rolling out initiatives to educate African school children about road safety rules for several years. The Road Safety Cubes Campaign is one of such initiatives aimed at protecting the Nigerian child, of age 6 to 12, from road accidents by educating them on road signs and proper behavior on the road while going to school.

It is currently being implemented in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of Nigeria and local state traffic authorities.

According to the Managing Director, Mr. Jean-Philippe Torres, “Total Nigeria Plc is fully committed to reducing road accidents and its associated risks as our major channel of petroleum products distribution is via road transportation”.

“This is because at Total, safety comes first and is fundamental in our core values,” he added.

The rollout of this campaign nationwide was kick started in 2013 with the donation of 13 safety cubes for children in Saint Georges Primary Schools, Falomo in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Since then the campaign has been implemented in other schools in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and most recently in Kaduna and Kano states.

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 a representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju at the maiden FirstBank Agriculture expo...recently

Report: Customs Responsible for 82% of Ports Charges Chika Amanze-Nwachuku A study by a leading accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deloitte, has shown that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) processes are responsible for about 82.1 per cent of the charges incurred by consignees.

Specifically, the accounting firm blamed the high cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports on the NCS and other government agencies.

This was contained in an industry report titled “Public Private Partnership (PPP) as an anchor for diversifying the Nigeria economy: Lagos Container Terminals Concession as a Case Study” which it released over weekend.

ECONOMY According to the accounting firm, its value chain analysis of a 20-foot container laden with cargo worth N44.42million ($100,000) imported into Nigeria from China, revealed that about N6.5million would be required to clear and transport the container out of the port.

It said of this amount, about N5.3million (representing 82.1 per cent) is paid to the NCS as Import Duty, Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), Port Development Surcharge and Value Added Tax. The firm further noted that other actors in the value chain

include Shipping Companies, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Terminal Operators, Clearing Companies and Haulage Services providers.

It said Shipping Companies are responsible for 13.8 per cent of the port cost (N897,000); Terminal Operators 1.8 per cent (N117,000); Customs 82.1 per cent (N5.3million); Transporters 1.1 per cent (N71,500) and Clearing Agents (N78,000).

The report added: “The value chain of a typical container terminal operations begins with the shipment of the goods through a shipping line to the host country. The Consignee pays the freight charges for the shipping as well as the container deposit fees. Demurrage charges

may apply where the Consignee fails to return the containers on time.

“Upon arrival of the container at the Nigeria port, the Consignees pay Terminal Handling Charges, storage charges, delivery charges and customs examination charges to the Terminal Operators. In addition, the Consignees also pay the relevant customs import duty. “Consignees pay for logistics services to get the goods out of the terminal.

“Consignees pay for services of the clearing agents (where applicable). Large companies are directly responsible for clearing their goods.”

Continued on page 22

NLNG to Re-market Expiring Sales, Purchase Agreements Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has disclosed that it is on the verge of completing its commercial strategies for re-marketing LNG volumes for its three trains whose Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) would soon expire.

Although it did not give the expiration timeline for the SPAs of the three trains, it however stated that it has also initiated activities for the marketing of LNG volumes that would come from its proposed Train-7 project, which is currently awaiting a final investment decision (FID).

According to its ‘facts and

ENERGY figures on NLNG 2017’ which was recently released, the SPAs for the trains 1, 2, and 3, would soon expire, but the firm has started processes to re-market the volumes in the global LNG market. The document explained that currently, NLNG manages 16 long term LNG SPAs, executed with 10 buyers on a Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) basis with buyers that include Enel, Gas Natural Fenosa, Botas, Engie, GALP Gas Natural, Endesa, ENI, Iberdrla, Shell International Trading Middle East Ltd, and Total Gas and Power Ltd. According to it, while the

SPAs for the three trains were almost expired, “The company is finalising its strategy for the re-marketing of LNG volumes for Trains 1, 2, and 3 whose SPAs are nearing expiration.”

It further stated: “Activities are also ongoing for the marketing of volumes for the proposed Train 7 project.”

Buyers of volumes in the three trains with expiring SPAs include Enel, gas Natural, GALP Gas Natural, Engie Global LNG, and Botas.

Similarly, following the recent recession in global oil prices, the company stated that it has in recent times delivered LNG cargoes to the Far East, Middle East, South America,

and United Kingdom through its existing customers and spot Free on Board (FOB).

It added in the document that through Master Sale Agreements (MSAs) with several companies, volumes have been delivered to receiving facilities in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, India, Brazil, Kuwait, and Argentina, thus retaining its position as a major player in the global LNG industry.

Currently, the NLNG has a six-train complex of 22 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) LNG nameplate production capacity, and 5mtpa Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) production Continued on page 22

Nigerdock Ranked Among Best 100 Firms

Indigenous energy services company, Nigerdock, has emerged the only one in its markets to be listed among the Best 100 companies to work for in Nigeria, according to Jobberman’s latest ranking.

Nigerdock was ranked 87th on the recently released list of companies adjudged and recognised as best employers of labour in Nigeria.

In the Jobberman ranking, oil and gas companies such as Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Total emerged in the 5th, 16th, 21st and 36th positions respectively. The 3rd Annual Jobberman ‘Best 100 companies To Work For’ focused on identifying, recognizing and celebrating top employers in Nigeria, as rated by employees and professionals.

Commenting on Jobberman’s ranking, Joy Okebalama Group Corporate Affairs Director, Jagal, noted that the company earned the recognition due to its core values of leadership, excellence, accountability and dynamism and an unparalleled focus on its employees and their capacity development.

“While we are positioned to deliver work class services at our state-of-the-art facility, within a fully integrated industrial free zone, we always give priority to safety, well-being and continual development of our workforce. We are above all committed to their health, safety, living environment and developing their capacity,” she said.

Sinopec’s 2016 Profit Rises 44%

China Petroleum and Chemical Corp on Sunday reported that 2016 net profit rose 44 percent to 46.4 billion yuan ($6.74 billion) from a year earlier on the back of strong performances in refining and chemicals.

The state-owned company, known as Sinopec Corp, saw fourth quarter net profit jump to 17.25 billion yuan from 9.9 billion yuan in the third quarter, it said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

For 2015, Asia’s largest refiner reported total net profit of 32.3 billion yuan.

Sinopec said that in 2016, oil and gas production fell 8.6 percent to 431.29 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), versus 471.91 million a year earlier.

Crude oil production was down 13.2 percent to 303.5 million BOE as near-decade low oil prices forced the closures of costly wells, while natural gas rose 4.3 percent.

Refinery throughput fell 0.4 percent compared with 2015 to 235.5 million tonnes, or about 4.71 million bpd.

“And many are already saying to me, we are not seeing anything yet; how come they say you are going to be our saviour from the dwindling fortunes of oil” Minister of solid Minerals and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

22

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD REPORT: CUSTOMS RESPONSIBLE FOR 82% OF PORTS CHARGES

Notwithstanding their huge investment and meager earnings, the report stated that Terminal Operators bear the burden of most of the challenges at the port.

“Terminal Operators face huge challenges in the area of storage as the terminals are used as “cheap storage warehouse alternatives” by cargo owners.

“The current policy provides for a free 3 days storage after which a charge of N900 is applied per day and regulated by the NPA. Importers take advantage of the low storage charges offered by the Terminal Operators to store their imported goods at the terminal as opposed to a site warehousing facilities that charge as much as N60,000 per day,” it stated.

Furthermore, it noted that before the port reform and concession of 2006, the Nigerian port system faced major challenges which made it highly inefficient. “The average ship waiting time before berthing was 21 days, vessel turnaround time was five days while dwell time for cargo was as high as over 30 days. The ports had poor infrastructure (roads, rail, quay, buildings, equipment, and yard) and were heavily congested leading to insecurity and pilferage, delays in cargo clearance and inefficiencies in cargo handling largely due to manual processes.

“As a result of the challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2006, concessioned the ports to 25 Terminals Operators over a 25-year license period.

NLNG TO RE-MARKET EXPIRING SALES, PURCHASE AGREEMENTS

capacity, with which it said it can deliver up to 300 cargoes of its products annually.

The document also stated that Trains 1 and 2 which are referred to as its base projects were financed by its shareholders with $3.6 billion, while Train 3 referred to as expansion project was financed with $1.8 billion.

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 (Maritime) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Obinna Chima (Money Mkt) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Cap Mkt)

NEWS

Restiveness, Poor Contract Execution Stall Clean-up of Rivers Community Ejiofor Alike The Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI) has alleged that the cleanup of the Bodo community in Rivers State was stalled by the community, which shut down the clean-up process, as well as the poor performance of the project contractor, Mr. Kay Holtzman.

BMI said in a statement at the weekend that the body was established under the auspices of a former Dutch Ambassador who, until 2015 co-chaired the mediation process to deliver the clean-up of Bodo.

According to the statement, which was signed by BMI’s Chairperson, Inemo Samiama, the mediation is between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Bodo community with representatives from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Rivers State Government, the Dutch Embassy and a coalition of NGOs in the Niger Delta - National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spill in the Niger Delta (NACGOND).

The statement added that BMI strives for clean-up of the Bodo community to international standards and the purpose of the Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT) under the BMI was to form judgments on the best remedial methods applicable to each grid at individual sites.

“A preliminary SCAT (Pre-SCAT) mission (which is basically a reconnaissance visit to have a visual assessment of the impacted area) was car-

ried out from 4th to 15th May 2015. The main SCAT mission (which included taking sediment samples from the impacted area for laboratory analysis of the hydrocarbon compound) was carried out from 3rd August to 25th August 2015. It is important to note that the area covered by the SCAT included areas impacted by the 2007/2008 spills caused by equipment failure as well as areas impacted by artisanal refining activities,” BMI explained.

BMI further revealed that the results of the pre-SCAT

and main SCAT were issued by the SCAT team leader, Dr. Erich Gundlach, in June 2015 for the pre-SCAT and in September 2015 for the main SCAT. According to the statement, the SCAT results confirmed areas of pollution and the need for clean-up.

“These results did not raise new concerns because they were not different from existing observations from earlier reports. At a meeting held on 18th July 2016 with members of the Bodo Community, the BMI chair discussed

R-L: Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank Plc, Fela Ibidapo; Divisional Head, Private Wealth Management of the bank, Osepiribo Ben-Willie; Big Brother Naija’s housemate, Offiong Edet Anthony and Media Sales Executives at Multichoice ; during TTT’s visit to Heritage Bank’s Corporate Communication in Victoria Island Lagos…recently

To expand lending to 3.8m farmers by 2026 The Managing Director of the Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr. Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed has commended the federal government for making agriculture one of the six priority sectors of focus in the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

According to Abdulhameed, the decision was a right one because agriculture has unrivalled capacity in job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.

The NIRSAL MD/CEO made the remark in a paper titled “Powering Nigerian Agriculture Through Innovative Financing: The NIRSAL Edge” at the BusinessDay Agribusiness & Food Security Summit 2017.

The NIRSAL MD asserted that the Buhari administration’s strong emphasis on agriculture is very evident in the series of practical programmes and initiatives of the government, citing government’s support for agencies such as NIRSAL as underscoring this clear commitment.

In his words: “It is

pollution was known, people were already aware they had to stay out of polluted areas - but rather emphasized the need for clean-up. SCAT is a cradle to grave process. It was to continue throughout the duration of the project to monitor and evaluate progress. Sadly, the clean-up process was shut down by Bodo community members two weeks after the report was released, because these community members wanted to receive money rather than have their Bodo community cleaned-up,” said BMI.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE

ERGP: NIRSAL Commends FG for Making Agriculture Top Priority Sector Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

the observations in the SCAT report and emphasized that the only possible way to mitigate against continued exposure to the negative consequences of the polluted environment was to immediately commence the clean- up and remediation exercise,” BMI added.

It added that the SCAT results were worrisome but not surprising, as they confirmed that the degree of oil contamination in the Bodo Creek was high.

“This, however, did not warrant immediate emergency measures - the extent of the

heartwarming indeed that the Federal Government is going beyond the much talked about potentials of agriculture to actually demonstrating, through practical policies and initiatives that it is committed to transforming agriculture for the good and progress of the country.”

Expressing NIRSAL’s readiness to play its part in the realisation of the economic recovery plans, Abdulhameed listed key NIRSAL plans for 2017 as: Leveraging its balance sheet to facilitate N60billion in fresh commercial bank lending; executing the $300 million African Development Bank’s Youth Enable Program and operationalising the $500m Mechanisation Partnership with the Brazilian Government amongst others.

NIRSAL’s broad objective is to increase lending to 3.8 million farmers by 2026(?) through cooperatives and value chains. It also plans to reduce the break-even interest rate to agribusiness borrowers from 22% to between 7.5% and 10.5%.

Abdulhameed stated that NIRSAL’s readiness is a tribute to the farsighted vision of

President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership of the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the active support of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

He stated that the current economic context and the changing global economy demand that the country moves with greater urgency to fix Nigerian agriculture.

According to Mr. Abdulhameed, NIRSAL is a key part of the government’s multi-pronged strategy to move agriculture beyond potential to significant progress.

Specifically, he stated that NIRSAL’s role is to help solve the longstanding problem of inadequate financing of the agricultural sector by leveraging its $500 million fund to incentivise lending to the sector.

He pointed out that NIRSAL does this by ‘de-risking’ the agricultural financing value chain, building long-term capabilities and institutionalizing agricultural lending through risk sharing with banks, technical capacity building as well as the provision of incentives to encourage bank lending.

OPEC, Non-OPECMullExtending Output Cut By Six Months Ejiofor Alike The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) yesterday agreed to review whether a global deal to curb oil output should be extended by six months.

JMMC convened in Kuwait City for its second meeting yesterday where it announced that, based on the report of the Joint OPEC and non-OPEC Technical Committee (JTC) for the month of February 2017, OPEC and participating nonOPEC countries have continued their progress towards full conformity with their voluntary adjustments in production.

According to a statement by OPEC, the agreement to cut 1.8 million barrels per day, which came into effect on January 1, 2017, is for six months and is extendable for an additional six months, depending on the status of supply and demand, including global inventories.

“The JMMC expressed its satisfaction with the progress made towards full conformity with the voluntary production adjustments and encouraged all participating countries to press on towards 100 per cent conformity. As at February 2017, the OPEC and participating

non-OPEC countries achieved a conformity level of 94 per cent, an increase of 8 per centage points over the January 2017 performance. This demonstrates the willingness of all participating countries to continue their cooperation,” said the statement.

The statement added that JMMC noted that certain factors, such as low seasonal demand, refinery maintenance, and rising non-OPEC supply, have slowed down the positive impact of the production adjustments on inventory drawdowns.

The meeting also observed the liquidation of positions by financial players in the market.

“However, it was felt that the end of the refinery maintenance season and a noticeable slowdown in the US stock-build, as well as the reduction in floating storage, will support the positive efforts undertaken to achieve stability in the market,” the group said.

JMMC said it also requested that the JTC with the OPEC Secretariat review the oil market conditions and revert to the JMMC in April 2017 regarding the extension of the voluntary production adjustments as stipulated in the Declaration of Cooperation, in order to ensure market stability.

23

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

As NNPC Goes after Old Debts With the recent push to recover monies owed it from business transactions, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) may have started its business accountability drive as ensconced in the 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA) it launched in February, writes Chineme Okafor

NNPC Towers In February, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru had announced that the corporation would implement a lead policy framework tagged: ‘the 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA),’ which was aimed at institutionalising efficiency, profitability and growth in the day-to-day activities of the corporation.

Baru stated then that going forward, the corporation would strive to manage the resources entrusted in its care by the federal government, with the expectation that tangible values from its operations would be derived and delivered to the country.

He explained that through the BUFA framework, which has 12 key focal points, the NNPC would work to ensure that all its assets are properly secured, new business models developed to grant business autonomy to its various units, and challenging issues around the Joint Ventures Cash Calls eventually settled for good.

He also noted that ramping up crude oil production and reserves growth in the country’s oil fields would be pursued within the BUFA framework, while the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) would be strengthened as the corporation’s cash cow.

Gas development for both domestic and export markets, upgrade of the corporation’s existing refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt, opening up of business opportunities to expand in-country refining of oil, foray into renewable energy and frontier exploration, as well as revamp of the country’s oil and gas infrastructure would according Baru be part of the pursuits of the BUFA framework.

Additionally, the GMD highlighted the corporation’s pursuit of profitable ventures and common services, as well as pushing the borders of professionalism and accountability in the corporation’s business engagements, as the other aspects of the BUFA framework which his management would stick with to reposition the NNPC for all round profitability.

At the launch of the preliminary work of the committee he had set up in December 2016 to develop the framework, Baru directed the corporation’s Chief Operating Officers (COOs), to start immediate implementation of the BUFA plan, and equally asked them to revert to the top management in outstanding situations that required further intervention.

He noted then that the BUFA would be

reviewed jointly by the top management and the committees that developed it, after which its full implementation will kick-off with the expectation that its impact would be far-reaching and remarkable in the corporation’s future operational outlooks.

BUFA implementation Though reforms in the operations of the NNPC was started by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who as a former head of the corporation initiated turnaround steps to make the various subsidiaries of the NNPC profitable and semiautonomous, they were however strengthened with the BUFA, which Baru set up.

In addition to sustaining the monthly

Though one of the downstream operator – MRS, has reportedly refunded the corporation what it took from it, the NNPC said the other firm - Capital Oil, was yet to refund it 82 million litres of petrol valued at N11 billion, which it allegedly sold without its permission

publication of the financial status of the various subsidiaries of NNPC, thus, keeping the subsidiaries in touch with accountability, the corporation also reportedly began to review its past business transactions with its various partners to reconcile outstanding differences.

As part of the business transactions reviews for accountability, the NNPC announced last week that three oil marketing firms - Aiteo Energy Resource Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas Limited and Televaras Group of Companies, had agreed to refund to it over $184 million recorded against them as under-delivered petroleum products in the various crude oil swap transactions they entered with it.

The corporation said in a statement by its Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja, that the three oil companies were found to be indebted to the corporation when a reconciliation of transactions executed during the defunct crude for product swap regime was done by the parties.

Quoting Baru, the statement stated that the reconciliatory exercise which yielded the $184 million refund from the firms was part of an ongoing extensive reconciliation process with them and investigation into the execution of the swap deals.

Under the defunct swap programme, it was alleged that its procurement and management was opaque. The NNPC exchanged a huge chunk of the 445,000 barrels per day (bd) crude oil it got for domestic refining with the oil marketing firms for refined products.

Similarly, the swap programme attracted calls for investigation of its management which the House of Representatives heeded to with its investigation of the operation in 2016.

In addition to that, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) stated in its audit of the transactions, that during its operations, Nigeria lost $518 million on the back of the inefficiencies identified with them.

NEITI also explained in its audit that while the swap deal resulted to a loss of $211.88 million to the corporation, it also lost $306.16 million to the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs).

The crude-for-products exchange arrangement which the corporation investigated its management and got concerned firms to repay it $184 million, was however replaced in 2016 with a new arrangement referred to

as Direct-Sale–Direct-Purchase (DSDP).

Under the DSDP, all the cost elements of middlemen are eliminated and the corporation given the latitude to take control of the crude oil transaction it enters into through competitive bids.

Baru however said on the development: “We have engaged them and positively too, so far Aiteo has been very cooperative and we had extensive reconciliation across all our chains of businesses where they are involved.

In the case of Televaras, they have agreed to make tranche payment of $10 million while Ontario has also agreed to come to the table with our team and present their repayment schedule.”

He equally added that Ontario has already pledged to repay $17 million. He thus thanked the company for its cooperation so far, and added that the ongoing recovery process was geared towards ensuring probity and accountability in the operations of the NNPC in line with current reforms in the industry.

Throughput agreement reforms Another area that may have attracted the BUFA framework was the management of NNPC’s throughput transactions which it indicated a fortnight ago that it would review its management with third parties in the downstream sector to curtail repeated breaches and losses to it.

This decision as stated by the corporation was based on its discovery and disclosure that two downstream oil operators had breached the various throughput agreements it had with them and sold about 130 million litres of petrol it kept in their storage facilities as strategic reserves.

The NNPC stated that it would in addition to investigating the recent breach, also set up new modalities to guide its engagement of throughput partners, as well as take punitive actions against parties involved in the anomaly.

Though one of the downstream operator – MRS, has reportedly refunded the corporation what it took from it, the NNPC said the other firm - Capital Oil, was yet to refund it 82 million litres of petrol valued at N11 billion which it allegedly sold without its permission.

Baru, however stated that the NNPC under his leadership would recover the outstanding stock of its missing petrol in Capital Oil Depot.

24

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

To a Patriot

at

...

The Chairman, Mrs Aderinola Disu, the en re Board of Directors, Execu ve Management and Staff of LASACO Assurance Plc wish

Many Happy Returns of today and many more years of service to humanity.

25

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Civil Society Group Decries Slow Pace of Implementation of ‘7 Big Wins’ Ejiofor Alike The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a non-governmental organisation, has decried the slow pace of implementation of the federal government’s “Short and Medium Term Priorities to grow Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry 2015–2019”, better known as the “7 Big Wins”.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) said in a recent statement that there were indications of a lag in implementation.

“For instance, under the first Big Win, Policy and Regulation, the section on Fiscal Reform Policy proposes to collaborate with National Assembly to conclude and pass the Petroleum Industry Reform Bill and Petroleum Fiscal Reform Bill by December 2016. We are at the end of the first quarter of 2017 and there are still appear to be no clear paths to the passage of any legislation.” He explained.

He also noted that under the section on National Oil Policy, there is the commitment to develop policies and ap-

plicable legislation to underpin reforms by the near term end of 2016.

“Again, this is obviously past the time without perceptible or tangible outcomes. We recall that CISLAC was at the forefront of advocating that this administration provide for Nigerians, a clear direction for reforms in the sector with which her performance can be measured by 2019.

Consequently, the release of the document was applauded as it was comprehensive with priorities, implementation strategies and key performance indicators with timelines. It is therefore disheartening that not much has been done beyond the presidential launch,” he added.

CISLAC argued that much of what is needed to meet these specific commitments does not require funds, adding that the absence of a budget for 2017 cannot be an excuse for the non-implementation of the reforms enunciated in the document.

“The process of drafting a Petroleum Industry Legislation which has been in the works for over 10 years should not take

so long and does not require so much funding. The passage of the law was indeed a campaign promise of this government before the 2015 elections and is therefore, not anything new.

We are worried that in spite of government’s acknowledgement of the huge resources lost by the uncertainty in the sector due to non-passage of the PIGB, there is still foot-dragging on

this matter This is in spite of the fact that the NASS has provided leadership and inspiration by processing a Bill which has gone through a public hearing,” he explained.

He urged the executive arm through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to expedite the process of implementing the 7 Big Wins so that results can be achieved within the

prescribed timelines.

“The reform proposal must not be allowed to end up as another beautiful document not worth more than its flamboyant and colourful packaging.

If change will indeed begin with the government, it should be demonstrated by her doing things differently and this should include implementing policies she has made for

herself,” he added.

He restated the commitment of CISLAC to continue to work with all Nigerians to demand accountability from this government to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in the extractive sector, so that revenues from natural resources will translate into improved welfare for our citizens.

PoliceArraignThreeforAllegedly Stealing Electricity from Abuja Disco Stories Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Police in Abuja have arraigned three middle-aged men, Messrs. Yarfado Mohammed, Adewale Joshua, and Kayode Babatunde before an Area Court sitting in Karshi, Abuja Municipal Area Council for allegedly consuming electricity worth 4,040 kilowatts and valued at N108, 952.80 illegally from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (Disco).

In their submission, the police said the action was an offence according to Section 286 (2) of the Penal Code.

The police informed the presiding Judge, Justice Aliyu Ibrahim, that the defendants bypassed the various electricity meters installed at their residential homes by Abuja Disco, thus denying the Disco revenue from their consumption of electricity supplied to them.

The prosecuting counsel, Mahmud Lawal, alleged that the defendants consumed 2760 kilowatts, 864 kilowatts, and 396 kilowatts respectively in the process, and thereby charged them for electricity theft, an offence he noted was punishable under Section 286 (2) of the Penal Code.

According to Lawal in a statement from the Head of Public Relations and Media of Abuja Disco, Ahmed Shekarau, the First Information Report (FIR) from the police dated February 2, 2017, stated that, “at about 14.00hrs, reports came to us at Jikwoyi Police Station that you, Yarfado Mohammed (M) of Plot 6, Opposite Shopping Plaza, Army Estate Kurudu, Abuja criminally by-passed electricity from the meter and used electricity valued N67,680 dishonestly by avoiding payment through the system;

and you Adewale Joshua (M) of Ogoni Figoro Plaza, Angwan Gede, Abuja Municipal used the same method and used electricity valued at N31,650 dishonestly by avoiding payment through the meter system, and you Kayode Babatunde (M) of the same address dishonestly and criminally bypassed the electricity from the meter and used the same electricity valued at N9,622.80 dishonestly avoiding payment through the meter; you hereby commit the above offence.”

The statement also noted that the defendants through their counsel, Ibolu Augustine, pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested for their bail on liberal terms in accordance with Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Sections 158, 160, 161, and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. It explained that the judge however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100, 000 each and two sureties each of who must be of reputable character in like sum and adjourned the case to April 14, 2017 for further hearing.

Also in a related development, the Disco has moved to curtail plans by youths in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to protest claims of repeated poor electricity supply to the town. The engagement, it said followed a planned protest by youths for improved power supply in the town. It noted that six of its top officials from the headquarters in Abuja met with the youths at the palace of the paramount ruler of the town, the Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Maikarfi III, and gave reasons for the seeming poor supply which it said was from the national grid.

MERITORIOUS AWARD

L-R: Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), and Leadership Public Service Person of the Year 2016 Awardee Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Chairman Leadership Group Limited. Sam Nda-Isaiah and Founding/CEO, Sun Trust Bank, Mohammed Jibril, during the Leadership conference and award night, in Abuja ...recently

NNPC Revives 11 Fertilizer Plants from Phosphate Supply Deal with Morocco The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that 11 fertiliser blending plants in Nigeria have been revived into production with the signing of a phosphate supply deal between Nigeria and Morocco.

The corporation also stated that so far, 1.3 million tonnes of fertiliser have been produced from these plants, while about 50, 000 jobs have been added from their production revival.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said this recently when he played host to the National Coordinator of The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD-Nigeria), Princess Gloria Akobundu, in Abuja.

Baru explained that the phosphate supply MoU between the two countries was targeted at rejuvenating Nigeria’s agricultural outputs by making fertiliser accessible and affordable to farmers in the country.

He noted that the deal was beginning to yield positive results, and that with the arrival of the first consignment from Morocco, Nigeria has also obtained a generous credit term of 90 days from Morocco which he said was planning to bring in more phosphate cargoes that will fit the various blending plants

in the country.

“The Moroccans have already supplied a cargo of phosphate which has been delivered to various blending plants across the country. Already, eleven blending plants have come into production because of the supply.

“I am happy to inform you that this development has translated to the creation of about 50, 000 jobs and led to the production of about 1.3 million tonnes of fertiliser in the country,” said Baru.

He said that aside been a huge boost to the Nigerian agricultural sector and the economy, the phosphate supply deal with Morocco would boost bilateral relationship between it and Nigeria, in line with NEPAD’s objective of promoting regional economic partnerships and integration.

He told the visiting NEPAD officials that the NNPC has started the process of restructuring its operations to become a commerciallyviable world-class oil and gas company operating on the principles of transparency, openness and accountability.

Baru equally stated that the NNPC was still committed to the accomplishment of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project (TSGP) which it had in the past engaged the NEPAD on its implementation.

In her remarks, Akobundu

stated that the NEPAD team was at the corporation’s headquarters to seek for areas of collaboration in promoting regional integration in Africa.

She said: “As NEPAD, we are mandated to identify and work with strategic partners to facilitate, monitor and promote the implementation of

developmental projects across the continent.”

The NEPAD was established by the African Union (AU) in 2001 and charged with campaigning for poverty eradication, sustainable economic growth, mutual integration of Africa, and empowerment of Africa’s women.

Gbadamosi Joins IIPELP Advisory Council The International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP) has appointed Mr. Gbolahan Gbadamosi as a member of the Institute’s Advisory Council.

In a letter by the Founder/ President of IIPELP, who is also visiting Prof. Energy Law and Policy, Niyi Ayoola- Daniels, notifying Gbadamosi of the appointment, he said, “it is great pleasure that we write to inform you of your appointment to serve on the Advisory Board of IIPELP (Media & Legal Strategy-National and International). We have followed your distinguished career with pride and feel pleased to appoint you to serve IILPELP in this capacity.”

Ayoola- Daniels added that “while looking forward to the benefit of sharing your wealth of knowledge and experience on this Board, do accept the

assurance of our highest regards” Gbadamosi, who is the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former Judicial Editor of the Guardian Newspaper has since accepted the appointment.

He is a media partner of an International Bar Association (IBA) since 2002, a member of IBA Media Law and Freedom of Expression (MLFOE) and the First Chairman, NBA Lawyers in the Media (LIM).

Gbadamosi

26

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Bamigboye: Safety Management is the Core of Business Survival In this interview with Crusoe Osagie, the Director, Safety, Health & Environment, Nigerite Limited, John Bamigboye says the company believes that adopting an effective safety management model is the key to business survival. Excerpts: You are soon to celebrate two years without any accident at Nigerite, how did you achieve this and why is it important?

For starters, I like to place on record that although working without accidents at Nigerite for two years is an outstanding achievement, we plan to take the accomplishment far beyond two years. We want to keep the record going and ultimately set an outstanding record.

There is no amount of financial growth, innovation and business expansion and profitability that can be equated to the safety of wellbeing of the people carrying out the industrial and business activities. As a matter of fact a single accident can wipe out the good profit that the business may have made for the past 10 years.

What financial value is appropriate or equivalent to the life of one human being, I doubt if this can be quantified. This is the reason therefore why we place high premium on safety in our organisation. Our profitability and business success only has value to us when our people, the community where we operate and the environment are safe and intact What does the term SafeStart depict?

SafeStart is a behavioral change safety approach. It works with the state of mind, since the way we behave or act depends on our state of mind. Frustrations and or fatigued minds are more prone to errors and such errors may lead to accidents that may either be fatal or minor. SafeStart trains the mind and ultimately affects behaviors in work place.

Why the introduction of SafeStart in Nigeria at this time?

For many years back, our safety slogan has been ‘Safety Our Culture’ . We have been trying to adapt to it, but it is definitely not easy. For instance, when the Federal Road Safety Corp made the use of safety belts compulsory in Nigeria, it was very difficult to implement. Nigerians only put on their belts when they see a road safety official, but gradually, it became a part of us. Meanwhile, Nigerite when you close by 9pm and on your way home, you will see our staff putting on their safety belts without being told. Now it is very rare to see someone drive in Nigeria without safety belts, because we now feel uncomfortable without it. In Nigerite, we have put so many things in place to make our workers and machines safe. What we have been doing in recent time is to carry out a risk assessment to make our old machines comply with the new norms. We have done quite a lot in safety management and now SafeStart will affect the behavior to safety. We can put all the safety mechanisms in place, but the behavior of the end users is important. So going forward, ETEX our parent body located in over 40 countries, have made safety their priority. The first objective of everybody in ETEX group is to check the frequency rate of accidents. This has become priority from directors to the floor least staff. In Nigeria, ETEX group selected Nigerite Lagos and EMENITE in Enugu along with four other companies to undergo the first phase of safestart. They believe in us because they know that we have this approach of doing things the right way, so if they succeed with us, they are going to succeed with others. The first success of safestart has to do with the management’s commitment and in Nigerite, we have the management’s commitment, because the Chief Operating Officer and the Managing Director are both committed. Safestart has to do with a behavioural-based safety approach. It has to do with our state of mind, because the way we behave has to do with our state of mind. If you are frustrated, you will commit errors, if you are fatigued, you will commit errors, but there is a way we change all these things that will not let people commit errors

Bamigboye that will lead to death or injuries. We have minor and major injuries and these, happen every day. So this company has developed the theory behind reducing these errors.

What would you consider some of the benefits of the initiative?

Safe start is about reducing errors that can lead to injuries. There are many benefits such

If you deliver goods to long distances and record no accidents, it is a lot of savings.

God forbid we record any fatality during production or anywhere on our premises; the government will close us down till after their investigation, so it is a lot of savings and return on investments

as cost reduction. We have worked on state of mind to reduce our errors.

How much have you invested in safety management over the years?

I cannot say specifically that this is how much we have expended over the years on safety, but as a company, we do not spare any cost on safety.

Any plan to involve communities, companies on safety awareness campaign?

We are involved in many safety management competitions through NECA, which is Nigeria Employer Consultative Association where we compete every year and have won an ambulance free of charge for being safety compliant. We were involved in a safety competition last year when we came third after Guinness and Nigeria Breweries, and we are ready to compete with them. In terms of environment, we came first last year, we do not relent and we are also proactive and upcoming. At the same time, we support so many corporate social responsibility activities.

We go to school, communities, local government to raise awareness and support for green awareness initiative. We intend to take it to our families, but we have to start with building the foundation with our workers and later to our contractors. We have been involved in many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. This will not be a difficult exercise for us at all. We have a very good relationship with the State Government through Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and other regulatory agencies in the country.

We are always working in synergy with them and have already built relationships. So carrying it forward is going to be very easy for us.

How have you fared investing in safety management in this harsh business environment?

There is a relationship between safety and return on investments. When you are safety conscious, you save a lot of money. Two years ago we made an investment that is worth

billions of naira to successfully offload an autoclave from its container. Any mistake with the offloading would have caused our company shutting down. So doing something in a safe way is a lot of savings for the company.

If you deliver goods to long distances and record no accidents, it is a lot of savings.

God forbid we record any fatality during production or anywhere on our premises; the government will close us down till after their investigation, so it is a lot of savings and return on investments. If we work on our habits, there are so many things we can achieve. During our production runs, if there are less rejects, it will translate to savings for us. We have started working on our mindset to achieve all of this and we believe that the SafeStart initiative is a paradigm shift.

What more should customers expect in 2017?

Customers are assured of best quality goods at reasonable costs. We have started looking inwards to reduce our cost of production. The first target we have been given in this 2017 is cost reduction and to work on our five S. This is a project we just recently started with the aim of maintaining a clean environment.

It is to ensure that whatever we do, we sort, we shine and standardize our operations so that any time you come to our environment it remains the same. It is a big project and we believe we are going to make a success of it.

What are your efforts in sourcing raw materials locally?

We have started that a long time ago, most of our raw materials were basically imported, but the new products we are doing now, the raw materials are heavily sourced locally.

We had benchmarked and also done lots of research in the past to make sure that our raw materials are locally sourced. We set up an innovation committee which is always looking every time to see how we can locally source our raw materials. We are on the right course to achieving a greater increase in local content.

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

27

28

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Apapa Shuts Down as FG Repairs Bridge The rate at which businesses are relocating from Apapa, host of the nation’s main sea ports, has increased since the beginning of this year. Unlike some business owners, who were compelled to leave town, most residents of the once-serene enclave have vowed not to cede their precious territory to the life-threatening trailers and tankers. Reports Bennett Oghifo

T

hose who reside or work in Apapa live in constant fear that if the e n v i ro n m e n t remained chaotic as it is, then someday the impending disaster would happen. They are taking measures that the government has shied from over the years, for political reasons, by barricading themselves in and preventing menacing truck drivers from invading the streets where they live with their families. It is gruesome experience for those who need to be in Apapa, and not even the leisure industry is spared.

The flip side, though, is that there is an upsurge in boat rides and booming ferry business.

Executives now use boats to travel to and fro Apapa. This is an interesting experience for some but for others who have phobia for large body of water, it is traumatic, particularly because they share the busy bay with ocean liners.

Regardless, this is the only convenient way of entering and leaving Apapa. There is another option of crossing from the Outer Marina into Apapa but this avenue closes at 6PM and its not available on weekends and holidays.

Wharf Road...

Entering and exiting Apapa through the Ijora-Wharf road axis has never being an easy task, but has reached disgraceful proportions in recent times, particularly when viewed from the fact that the government earns billions of Naira from the Sea Port at the end of this road.

This major road and the link Bridge at the Police Area Command (Leventis Bridge) have suffered neglect for years.

The road, a dual carriageway, is in such a terrible state, it takes will-power to drive on it.

Recently, the bridge, unlike the road, is getting some form of attention because it developed a big hole, a sure sign that all those dead weight heavy duty vehicles exert on it constantly was beginning to have effect.

About three weeks ago, the outward bound lane was closed to traffic and would be reopened temporarily tomorrow since repair work

on some columns is yet to be completed. Any time from now the inward bound lane would be closed to traffic for eight weeks to enable the contractors carryout similar repair work.

Apapa residents’ reaction...

Worried by recent developments in Apapa, the Chairman, Apapa GRA Residents Association, Brig-Gen E O Ayo-vaughan Rtd sought audience with officials of the Federal Ministry of Works on site at the weekend and was given a work schedule for the repair of the bridge and roads in Apapa.

“According to the Federal Ministry of Works schedule, major repair works commenced on The Marine Beach bridge on 4th March outbound lane. The lane hitherto closed is expected to be reopened on 29th March.

Duration of repairs and closure will be 24 days.

“Thereafter, the inbound lane will be closed from 29th March to 22nd April. These repairs and closures will be repeated on 23rd April to 2nd June and 2nd June to 13th July for outbound and inbound lanes respectively.”

The Chairman said stakeholders in Apapa heaved a sigh of relief when Julius Berger’s heavy road repairs equipment moved into site to commence work on the bridge, which expansion joints have loosened up, with ditches created having negative impact on traffic flow.

“On inquiry, it was revealed that the repairs to be carried out will be very minimal.

Inclusive of parts of the bridge to be repaired are the exit into Malu/Mobil road from Apapa, which had been closed for almost 20 years and a section of the inbound and outbound road affected by fire outbreak some years ago. “This is too little. A lot had been written to the local, state and Federal governments in the past on the state of Apapa. The residents have sent emissaries to the local and state governments.

The GRA Residents Association had held meetings with the Commissioner for Environment, but all to no avail. The three organs are only paying lip service to the wellbeing and up keep of this part of Lagos.

Ironically, Apapa is second only to NNPC in revenue generation

Rehabilitation of Marine Beach Bridge in Apapa

for the country and cash cow for the state.

“It was expected that sound arrangements would have been made for alternative route for the outbound journey through Leventis and via Naval Dockyard road. This route is still full of gorges big enough to swallow cars.

These often create traffic snarl.

A journey of five minutes may take Two hours.

“Rainy season has begun.

This project should have taken off in November 2016 and completed before the advent of the rainy season but perhaps for the bureaucratic chicanery.

The residents and other stake holders will be in for a lot of hardship in the next four months. With concerted and purposeful effort, plan and schedule, the powers that be can make life a lot easier in Apapa.”

FG’s position...

Minister of Power, Works

and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who inspected ongoing work at the Bridge in Apapa on Saturday, said the Federal Government was committed to completing road projects across the nation.

Some of the projects the government is attending to in the South-west, he said included the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Wharf Road; Tin Can Island/Oworonshoki Expressway; Truck Park in Apapa; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; and the Mosimi/ Sagamu road.

He said, “We are currently working on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway; the Apapa road through Creek Road to Tin can Island, Mile 2, Oshodi, Oworonsoki to Kirikiri. Contract had already started in the last administration but there was no sufficient fund for it.

“We have made some substantial recommendations in 2017 (appropriation) and hopefully those recommendations

would meet with parliamentary approval. The road is strategic because it helps to evacuate the port and that is critical to a state like Lagos.

“In terms of cargo delivery and cargo evacuation that road is significant in its impact and it will help to divert traffic away from within the state.

We are hopeful that in 2017 we will gain some more traction.”

Fashola said the ongoing road projects across the country was to develop the nation’s infrastructure and improve commerce as well as bring the nation out of recession in line with President Buhari’s vision.

According to him, “We have to fulfill Mr. President’s mandate to get this economy out of recession and set it on the path of inclusive growth where money trickles down to the most vulnerable people.”

He said the federal government’s infrastructural renewal commitment was conceived to give job opportunity to various

artisans and other construction professionals.

He lauded the President to artisans and of other professional bodies in the construction sector for their role in driving the nation’s development.

He said government would back up training of artisans with an economic programme.

“There must be an economic programme and that programme is the infrastructural renewal that puts everybody to work from the architects to those who really build.”

The minister, who paid courtesy visit on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the federal government intends to assist Lagos State’s power initiative, especially in the rural areas.

Fashola said, “We have no other responsibility than to assist each state, develop at its own pace. Federal government is not in competition with any state.”

He announced that an additional 7.5 KVA generator would be given to the town to complement the existing one, saying the gesture would ensure regular supply of electricity that would power equipment in the town’s water works.

At the Government Second-

ary School Mokwa, Governor Bello expressed sadness at the quality and quantity of food served the students, saying “the management of this school has failed in its responsibility,” and directed the immediate assessment and renovation of the college.

Illegal Felling of Trees now Attracts Five-Year Jail Term Laleye Dipo in Minna Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has announced a five-year jail term or a minimum fine of N500,000 for anyone caught felling trees illegally.

Governor Bello, who made

the new law known in Mashegu the headquarters of Mashegu local government area of the state on Saturday, added that such a convict would also be expected to plant 30 new trees to replace each tree felled.

The governor said, “This new law is designed to protect the

environment and ensure trees lasted their lifespan before being felled and avoid desertification.

“The law banning the felling of trees is still in force, anyone caught contravening the law will be punished.”

The governor therefore directed local government

chairmen and officials of the ministry of agriculture to be extra vigilant and bring culprits to book. Governor Bello, who was on a midterm tour of the 25 local government areas, was also at Mokwa town, where he decried the lack of potable water supply in the town.

29

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Akeredolu Mobilises OSARMCO on Infrastructural Development James Sowole in Akure Within a month of being sworn in as the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has mobilised the State Agency for Road Maintenance and Construction (OSARMCO) to commence work in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Within four weeks, roads works have been done in major towns in the three senatorial districts, just as works have commenced on the internal and access roads of Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) in Okitipupa in the southern part of the state.

As at the time of filling this report, work was moving at an appreciable pace while quality is given consideration.

The walkways were already being cast while kerbs are also being constructed just as the

components of the car park are being put in place.

The construction of the OSUTECH road came just one week after the Deputy Governor, Chief Agboola Ajayi visited the site of the project which was initiated close to 10 years ago by the administration of Governor Olusegun Agagu.

During the visit, the Deputy Governor assured that the administration of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu would take urgent actions to put in place structures and processes that would make the dream of the institution a reality.

Similarly in the Central Senatorial District, reconstruction of the road linking IlaraMokin with Ikota in Ifedore Local Government Area is in progress with a promise to ensure that the project is delivered in good time.

Grading of the road has been achieved up to the

Smokin Hills Golf Course area while priming, as well as asphalting has advanced appreciably.

The road, when eventually completed to Ikota will enable road users from Ilesa and Ibadan attempting to link Orita-Obele area of the state capital and Ijare, as well as other neighbouring towns to avoid the FUTA area thereby reducing traffic challenges in the area drastically.

According to the Chairman of OSARMCO, Mr Kehinde Osikoya, the first phase of Ilara-Mokin-Ikota road would

be completed soon while the second phase is expected to follow in due course.

In another development, about 2.5 kilometers of township roads are being constructed in Owo in the Northern Senatorial District.

This is a stretch of the road from the Nigerian Prisons at the GRA to other adjoining streets in the neighbourhood which include Feso Ajanaku Street, Olabanji Sajiyan Street, Victor Obayanju Avenue and Olanrewaju Olateru-Olagbegi Street.

The project has also reached

appreciable level as a large percentage of drainage construction has been executed and also filling with laterite is in progress with the officials of the Ondo State Agency For Road Maintenance and Construction assuring that the project would be delivered in good time.

One of the Landlords in the area, Chief Babajide Adefila, who spoke with our correspondent, described the intervention as a sign of a government that was prepared to justify the confidence reposed in it and called on

the people to give adequate support to the administration.

In the same vein, a school proprietor in the area, Dr. Phillips Oteruku expressed hope that the step taken by Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu would go a long way in changing the orientation of not only the residents but also the road users in the area and therefore commended the step taken by the governor to hit the ground running.

Meanwhile, Osinkoya said the agency would deliver according to the mandate given to it by the state government.

Mechanical Engineers Give Start-up Capital to Innovative Students Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) has presented start-up fund to some engineering students with innovative technological projects.

NIMechE, an arm of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), made the cash presentation to beneficiaries of its ongoing Technological Challenge Competition for 10 tertiary institutions nationwide, which began in January.

Engineering students in the 10 institutions were mandated to come up with projects that proffered solution to some engineering problems in the nation. Recently in Lagos, six of the 10 institutions were chosen for cash rewards, while the prototype of their inventions would be financed by NIMechE and their co-sponsors.

Among the beneficiaries was a team from the University of Lagos, which designed a machine known as ‘Okele Mixer’ that would tackle challenges in preparing African moulded meals globally.

A member of the team, Mr. Olalekan Oluwapelumi, who demonstrated how the machine works said, “We felt that since there are machines that can mixe coffee, we can fabricate the same for making Amala, pounded yam, garri and other moulded meals?

“We have designed this machine to be able to alternate between making different meals by adjustments of some buttons,” he said. Other students from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology and the Olabisi Onabanjo University, who designed garri sieving, cassava grating, cassava planter, and windmill turbine machines, respectively, also made their presentations.

Five out of the six qualified schools were present. Mrs Funmi Akingbagbohun, Lagos Branch Chairman of NIMechE,

in her opening speech, stressed the need to move beyond classroom theory to proffering practical engineering solutions to everyday problems.

“We have inaugurated this challenge in agriculture, automation, power supply and renewable energy, to take engineering from theory to providing practical solutions.

“Mechanical engineers are pace setters and we are setting the pace for Nigeria,” she said.

Akingbagbohun explained that a team would support the students to move their innovations from prototype to the reality stage of the projects.

While delivering a lecture, Mrs. Edith Alagbe, a senior researcher from the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi stressed the need to take agriculture beyond peasant farming.

Alagbe said that an interaction between agriculture and other sectors had the answers to technological revolution and advancement in the nation.

“Innovations must come from various sectors and this programme is timely with collective support.

“We must learn the culture of interdependence to be able to surmount the technological challenges in the agricultural sector with simple machines,’’ she said. Mr. Jude Abalaka, Managing Director, Tranos Contracting Ltd, in his lecture, urged the Federal Government to embrace renewable energy, to tackle the problem of power generation in the nation.

Abalaka said that there was no adequate awareness on various forms of renewable energy in the nation and urged government to adopt policies that would enhance power generation.

Earlier, Miss Jane Usifoh, Project Manager, IBLF Global, co-sponsors of the programme, in her keynote address, urged engineering students to take up the challenge of transforming the nation.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State (pointing); and the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Fidelis Nweze with security operatives inspecting the ongoing construction of Okawu bridge in Onicha Local Government Area… recently

FG Commends Lafarge Law to Protect Landed Africa’s Industrial Power Property Owners Soon in Delta Generation Efforts Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, has called on Lafarge Africa, a leading construction solutions provider in Nigeria to support the government’s drive towards ensuring adequate power generation and distribution, particularly in industrial hubs.

Fayemi made the request during a recent working visit to Lafarge Africa’s Ewekoro cement plant while responding to the company’s efforts at generating sufficient power for its operations across the country through the use of biomass.

He commended the company for recycling palm kernel shells, which are waste material, as biomass to generate power for the kilns used in making cement.

According to the Minister, the use of biomass is “saving money that would have been used to buy fuel and foreign exchange.” Power generated from the biomass plant generates half of the energy used in firing the kilns.

“But they will get to 100%” the Minister said, adding that an “environment-friendly production site is something to take away from Lafarge Africa here in Ogun state and I hope there are lessons to take on board. That is not to say that coal should not be

used because we have coal in Nigeria that will also save us foreign exchange.”

He stated further said that power generation for existing and new factories was critical.

“Power is an essential need for us in Nigeria, we are desperately in need of adding more generation of power in order to fuel all these plants that are developing, and Ogun state is a major destination for industries, they are so many industries that are setting up here, Ogun state ranks first in terms of siting of new plants.

“Every day, you have a new company here and you want to ensure that there is enough power for those companies that are setting up here, whether it’s biomass, coal or natural gas on renewable energy, you what to ensure that you have enough power to use. So, for us, we are impressed with what we have seen and we want to support Lafarge Africa to expand its operations,” the Minister said.

Responding, Michel Puchercos, Country CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, noted that the effects of the slowdown in the economy prompted the company to seek an alternative means to generate energy for its Ewekoro and other plants.

He said, “We realised last year that dollars was scarce and energy was scarce in Nigeria.

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba In line with measures by the Delta State Government to encourage investors and developers in communities across the state, the State Executive Council has given the nod for a law to prohibit the forceful entry and illegal occupation of public and private landed property to be sent to the state legislature for due consideration and passage.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, disclosed this after the state executive council meeting in Asaba on Tuesday.

Ukah noted that the bill would, on passage, also prohibit violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to public and private landed property in Delta State and “for purposes connected therewith to ensure sanity and encourage investors and developers in the state.”

Moreover, the commissioner disclosed that the council approved the reconstruction of Bonsaac Road and the construction of Pat Kanayo Okonta/Amaechi Uzuegbu/ part of Nze Francis/Onwa Nwachinemelu Streets in Asaba, the state capital.

He further said that relief was in sight particularly for residents living on and along the badly rundown Direct

Labour Agency (DLA)/Jesus Saves road as the body approved “the continuation and completion of the construction of the storm-water control measures in Direct Labour Agency (DLA)/Jesus Saves corridor in Asaba.”

He said that other road projects approved by the council include the reconstruction of Ovwian Main Road, Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area; the construction of Oporoza Palace Road in Oporoza Warri South-West Local Government Area; and, the rehabilitation of NPA By-Pass Road from the New Port to the old port gates in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area.

The continuation of the reconstruction of Amai/Ezionum/Abbi Road which is the completion of Phase 111 of the project covering a distance of 3.75 km between Ezionum and Abbi in Ukwuani and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas, the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Nsukwa/EjemeAniogor/Agbor-Alidinma/ Owa-Alidinma/Ndemili Road in Aniocha South, Ndokwa West, Ika South and Ika North East Local Government Areas and the construction of Okurekpo/Okunoh-Okpara/ Okoruah/Onumane/Samagidi Road in Ethiope East Local Government Area were also approved.

30

T H I S D AY •TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG Approves CBN’s Financial Education Curriculum Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government, has approved the financial education curriculum of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which was designed to provide primary and secondary school students with basic knowledge on finance.

The approval was given by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The financial education curriculum of the CBN is embedded in a deliberate effort by the apex bank to ensure that all Nigerian school children tap from a robust financial education that imbues them with the ability to make informed financial decisions The Director, Consumer Protection Department, CBN, Umma Dutse, who spoke in Abuja, Monday at an event to commemorate the global money week, said financial education would enable the students participate effectively in the financial market.

Dutse, who was represented at the event by the Head, Consumer Education, CBN, Khadijah Kasim, said the

curriculum which has already received the approval of the NERDC would be launched in September in all schools across the country.

The financial education objective of the CBN, she said, was informed by the conviction that it was better to impact the younger population by teaching them about savings, investments and financial concepts from their formative years rather than when they grow older.

“Since we commenced the implementation of the National Financial Literacy Framework, we have together with our stakeholders delivered financial education programmes across various targets group of the population.

“The CBN, in collaboration with the NERDC and other stakeholders has developed the financial education curriculum for the basic and senior secondary system.

“We are very happy to inform Nigerians that we have developed a financial education curriculum which we are hopeful will be launched in September 2017 and schools

across the country are going to start teaching financial education.

“The beauty of it is that every child from basic to junior secondary schools to senior secondary school will need financial education whether its mathematics, English, physics and social studies, you must have financial education,” she stated. According to her, the apex bank would continue to promote a sound financial system through the repositioning of the financial sector for greater impact on Nigeria’s growth.

An integral part of the repositioning, she added, was in the area of consumer protection aimed at ensuring that customers are treated fairly in all dealings with the financial services providers.

This year’s global money week, the brainchild of the Child and Youth Finance has at its theme “Learn, save and earn.”

A major highlight of the programme yesterday was a five kilometre walk by CBN officials with students from Junior Secondary School, Jikwoyi, Abuja.

AMCON Recovers N682bn from Debtors in Six Years Nume Ekeghe with agency report The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) said it had recovered N681.5 billion over the past six years from debtors in the form of cash, properties and shares.

AMCON was set up in 2010 to absorb banking sectorwide non-performing loans in exchange for government

bonds, after the central bank rescued nine weak lenders from collapse in 2009.

According to Reuters, pressure has been building up again, with loan books - nearly half of them in dollars - hammered by shrinkage in the economy, a sinking currency and acute foreign exchange shortages - all consequences of the slump in oil prices.

The “bad bank” said it has

around N1.7 trillion worth of assets under litigations.

In February AMCON took over the day-to-day running of Arik Air in an attempt to rescue the country’s largest airline, which was placed in receivership after it failed to pay workers or creditors Last week AMCON sold its 100 per cent stake in Keystone Bank to a consortium of local investors.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS 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)

Pension Liabilities in Niger Hit N10 Billion Laleye Dipo in Minna Niger state is reported to be owing its retirees over N10 billion in unpaid pensions and gratuities.

It was gathered that N8 billion of the amount was for those that left the service between 2007 and 2016 under the Contributory Pension Scheme while N2.06 billion was for retirees under the old pension scheme.

Niger State Head of Service, Alhaji Yabagi Sule and the Director General Niger State Pension Board Alhaji Usman T. Ahmed made the disclosure in separate addresses at the open-

ing of a two-day workshop for management and staff of the state pension board.

The Head of Service (HOS), who was represented by the permanent secretary Human resources Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, however said that the N8 billion was domiciled with the National Pension Commission.

The HOS described the contributory pension scheme “as very germaine in the whole pension business because it touches on the lives of retirees,” adding that the “misconception about the CPS is as a result of lack of training,” which he said the workshop was designed to

arrest. He hinted that a new pension law that would ensure regular payment of pension and gratuities was in the offing but did not elaborate.

The Director General of the Pension Board Alhaji Usman Tinau Ahmed said over 1000 retirees had been paid over N1 billion while another batch of 569 retirees would be “ paid any moment from now”.

In addition, the director general said “state and local government pensioners have been receiving their monthly pensions promptly because the governor has instructed that it should be a first line charge.”

Sterling Bank Obtains $15m Islamic Finance Facility Sterling Bank Plc has attracted a $15 million facility from the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD). The bank said the feat was in recognition of its contribution to the growth of Islamic banking in Nigeria and Africa barely four years after it commenced operations and its ability to use non-interest banking contracts to structure transactions in the most unique manner.

The facility was secured by the non-interest banking unit

of the bank.

The ICD is a multilateral development financial institution and a part of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group.

The bank had in 2014 and 2015 also received a line of US$25 million from the International Islamic Finance Trade Corporation (ITFC) and US$30 million from the ICD. Both institutions are members of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. In the same vein, the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) has approved an array of innovative non-interest financial instruments in 2016 which will keep the franchise ahead of industry performance. ICD was established in November 1999 to support the economic development of its member countries through the provision of finance for private sector projects, promoting competition and entrepreneurship, providing advisory services to the governments and private companies and encouraging cross border investments.

(MILLION NAIRA)

DECEMBER 2016

-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

MONEY MARKET INDICATORS (%) December 2016 Inter-Bank Call Rate

10.39

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.96

Savings Deposit Rate

4.18

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.53

3 Months Deposit Rate

8.80

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.23

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.76

Prime Lending rate

17.09

Maximum Lending Rate

28.55

• Monetary Policy Rate - 14%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT FRIDAY 24, MARCH 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $48.26 a barrel on Friday, compared with $48.35 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).

32

T H I S D AY •TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Index Rises 0.12% as Trading Resumes on Positive Note Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Trading at nation’s stock market resumed on a positive note yesterday as investors reacted to some improved earnings results reported by companies. The market had slipped into the bear’s territory last week, declining by 0.77 per cent on profit taking among other factors.

But the negative sentiments were reversed yesterday, leading to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index to appreciate 0.12 per cent and closed at 25,485.17. Buy interest in Unilever Nigeria, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc supported the positive performance. The three companies last week released their audited results for the year ended December

31, 2016, showing improved bottom-lines.

For instance, Stanbic IBTC’s profit after tax (PAT) jumped by 51 per cent to N28.5 billion, fromN18.9 billion in 2015. UBA grew its The PAT by 21 per cent from N59.6 billion to N72.6 billion, while Unilever’s PAT soared by 157 per cent from N1.19 billion to N3.07 billion in 2016. Besides, the companies recommended dividends for

their various shareholders.

Apparently reacting to the improved performance, investors increased demand for the equities at the stock market, leading to growth in their prices.

Unilever appreciated by 5.0 per cent, while UBA and Stanbic IBTC garnered 2.0 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively. In all, 17 stocks advanced compared to 12 stocks that declined.

However, Lafarge Africa Plc, which rode on the back of its 2016 results to gain 13 per cent last week, began this week on bearish note as some investors moved in to lock in part of the gains. As a result, Lafarge Africa went down by 2.7 per cent and contributed to the fall in NSE Industrial Goods Index, which shed 1.1 per cent.

All other sectors closed in the green led by the NSE Consumer Goods Index with 0.5 per cent on the back of gains in SevenUp Bottling Company Plc (+5.3 per cent) and Unilever (+5.0 per cent). In the same vein, the NSE Insurance Index and NSE Banking Index appreciated by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent in that order. The NSE Oil & Gas Index recorded a marginal gain of 0.01 per cent.

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

50

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

BUSINESS/MARKETNEWS F M D Q

D A I LY

Q U OTAT I O N S

L I S T

( D Q L )

A S

AT

1 3 / 2 / 2 0 1 5

B O N D S F E D E R A L Rating/Agency

ISSUER

FEDERAL NA

GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

DESCRIPTION 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

G O V E R N M E N T

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 434.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 206.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

ISSUER

FMBN

***LCRM

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.19 1.50 2.20 2.45 2.55 3.29 4.37 4.69 6.95 9.08 13.79 14.27 14.77 15.44 19.43

13.59 17.35 16.01 16.11 16.13 16.71 17.32 17.45 16.67 16.70 14.97 14.79 14.61 15.75 16.02

12.78 17.22 15.92 16.03 16.05 16.57 17.22 17.33 16.59 16.62 14.92 14.73 14.53 15.67 15.96

98.20 94.50 98.30 87.70 86.29 85.19 96.00 67.41 98.85 88.50 100.11 86.42 63.38 67.00 77.00

98.35 94.65 98.45 87.85 86.44 85.49 96.30 67.71 99.15 88.80 100.41 86.72 63.68 67.30 77.30

4,855.63

A G E N C Y Rating/Agency

B O N D S

Outstanding Maturity Date Value (N’bn)

Description

B O N D S

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/ TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015

24-May-10

0.00

24.56

24-May-15

0.27

2.63

16.39

95.64

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

03-Apr-12

17.25

2.70

03-Apr-17

1.13

2.27

20.21

97.19

0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016

09-Dec-11

0.00/16.00

112.22

08-Dec-16

1.82

2.00

18.72

95.89

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017

20-Apr-12

0.00/16.50

116.70

19-Apr-17

2.18

1.00

17.24

95.92

0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50

66.49

06-Jul-17

2.39

1.00

17.14

92.73

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

322.97

S U B - N A T I O N A L

B O N D S

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.55

4.44

18.75

96.87

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.38

3.23

17.05

98.54

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.90

4.46

21.75

93.99

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.90

3.48

20.79

95.83

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.18

1.00

17.24

87.26

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.44

1.00

18.50

94.31

A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

EDO *DELTA NIGER

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11

14.00 14.00 14.00

25.00 34.14 9.00

31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18

2.88 2.05 2.06

1.79 1.80 1.00

18.18 18.10 17.29

90.89 93.49 94.69

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.25

1.00

17.20

95.25

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.25

4.78

20.98

88.43

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.45

1.00

17.11

96.99

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.69

1.00

17.23

96.53

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.77

1.00

18.42

87.84

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

26.62

12-Dec-19

2.75

2.74

19.02

91.49

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.30

1.00

17.71

93.09

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.79

1.00

17.98

84.21

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.88

1.94

18.88

86.49

A/Agusto

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.54

1.44

18.34

90.77

A-/GCR

*NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.57

1.95

18.87

90.72

0.26

4.88

18.63

97.94

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

460.91

C O R P O R A T E Nil

µNGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

B O N D S

10.00

5.00

17-Aug-15

A-/Agusto

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.57

1.00

15.47

98.14

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.65

2.63

17.79

97.79

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.63

1.00

18.14

92.99

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.70

1.34

18.32

94.21

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.63

1.00

17.19

91.38

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.65

1.88

18.98

99.39

Nil

*DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.65

3.48

20.57

94.13

A-/DataPro†;BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/ GCR A/Agusto;A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/ GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/ GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.82

5.20

21.93

94.73

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.82

5.06

21.79

92.21

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.61

1.00

17.95

89.78

*LA CASERA

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.93

2.29

18.77

95.48

17-Feb-19

2.01

6.11

22.43

93.61

Nil

*DANA#{r}

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.88

2.16

18.54

94.54

A+/Agusto;A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.75

2.76

19.76

84.82

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

17.41

74.79

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.63

1.00

17.41

80.86

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.00

1.00

17.47

83.58

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

18.43

78.53

*CHELLARAMS#

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.41

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

135.24

S U P R A N A T I O N A L AAA/S&P IFC Aaa/Moody's; AfDB AAA/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

B O N D

24.95

46

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

BUSINESS/MARKETNEWS

ARM-Harith Infrastructure Fund Raises $91m

Empire Trust MFB Commences Operations

Goddy Egene

Obinna Chima

ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment Ltd (ARMHIIL), a Joint Venture between Asset & Resource Management Company Ltd (ARM) and Harith General Partners (Pty) Ltd (Harith) of South Africa, has announced first close of the indigenously developed and managed ARM-Harith Infrastructure Fund (ARMHIF) floated by ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment Ltd (ARMHIIL), which is a joint venture between Asset & Resource (ARM) Management Company Limited, Nigeria and Harith General Partners (Pty) Ltd (Harith) of South Africa, raised $91 million during the first close of the indigenously developed and managed fund.

A pioneering $250 million closed-ended specialist PE Infrastructure Fund, ARMHIF is structured in line with

international best practice and core investment focus is on transportation, energy, and utilities in West Africa, and primarily Nigeria.

The fund managers said a statement last Friday that total commitments stood at $91 million. According to them, ARM, the lead sponsor and main investor in ARMHIF, committed S$25 million to the fund. Harith, the co-sponsor committed a matching $25 million. The African Development Bank (AfDB), playing a key role as catalyst for investment by the limited partners in the fund, committed $20 million. Nigerian Pension Funds, Chevron CPFA, Progress Trust CPFA, and Total E&P CPFA, also made commitments to the fund.

The Managing Director/ CEO, ARMHIIL, Opuiyo Oforiokuma, ARMHIF is the first in a series of infrastructure funds that they plan to raise over time, providing much

F M D Q

D A I LY

needed long term equity capital for funding infrastructure in Nigeria and West Africa.

“We see viable investment opportunities in our pipeline and believe good returns can be generated through our selective and skillful deployment of capital to infrastructure projects. ARMHIF is a new and investible infrastructure product for Sub-Saharan Africa, and is suitable for local and international investors alike.

Having a AAA-rated international organisation like the AfDB in our investor group, and Nigerian pension funds gaining infrastructure exposure for the first time via our Fund, is a solid start,” Oforiokuma said.

Speaking in the vein, CEO of Harith Gereral Partners, Tshepo Mahloele, said that he was proud to be associated with ARM in its mission to contribute to the broader development of West Africa and Nigeria in particular.

The management of Empire Trust Microfinance Bank (ETMB) at the weekend officially commenced operations in Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the financial institution in Lagos, its Managing Director, Mr. Seun Durojaye said the emergence of the bank was a product of eight years study of the sub-sector, having been involved in other forms of businesses revolving around micro and small enterprises’ financing.

He said: “In our target areas, we know many of the people are bank shy, but with our model and mass marketing strategy, we would rave up the market and provide access to finance our customers with ease.

“We are in partnership with Stanbic IBTC Bank for now, in the area of correspondent banking. The agreement is that

Q U OTAT I O N S F G N

L I S T

attract new customers as it set to be among the market leaders in the sub-sector.

According to him, in the next five years, the bank would become a national financial institution; starting with a target of national licence in the three years from now and spreading the branch network to the six geopolitical zones, adding that its product offering on hand are capable of helping it achieve the goal.

On his part, the Chairman of the bank, Mr. Gbenga Dairo assured stakeholders and customers that management and staff members of the bank would grow beyond its current size.

“Our vision is to be a bank that provides exceptional services to our customers and the board of directors have given management the task of ensuring that customers’ needs and expectations are always met,” Dairo added.

every customer of our bank can withdraw money from their account and as well put money in their account in any of the 300 branches of the bank.”

According to the ETMB boss, all customers of the bank are immediately given a MasterCard, such that wherever they are in Nigeria and outside the country, they would be able to conduct transactions without going to the bank.

“This is important because people believe that once you put your money in microfinance bank, you should forget about it since they have only one or two branches where you can make transactions and that does not apply to us, especially for those who go to other states to conduct their business and may not want to carry their cash around,” he said.

He pointed out that although the operating environment is tough, its model would help

( D Q L )

C O N T I N U E D

E U R O B O N D S Prices & Yields

Rating/Agency

Issuer

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P FGN BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($’mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 6.38 JUL 12, 2023

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10

6.75 5.13 6.38

500.00 500.00 500.00 1,500.00

28-Jan-21 12-Jul-18 12-Jul-23

7.33 6.51 7.61

7.12 6.11 7.40

97.24 95.82 92.45

98.21 97.01 93.64

01-Feb-16 19-May-16 25-Jul-17 02-May-18 08-Nov-18 08-Apr-19 22-Apr-19 21-May-19 07-Aug-20 09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21 14-Aug-21

127.98 6.96 11.34 14.16 11.64 41.43 11.27 16.15 13.39 25.98 14.61 13.86 10.99

127.98 6.96 11.34 13.22 10.56 41.43 11.27 14.85 13.39 25.98 13.97 13.86 10.20

45.00 100.63 91.50 81.63 83.32 40.50 83.63 77.79 80.00 43.50 78.38 75.00 89.13

45.00 100.63 91.50 83.75 86.24 40.50 83.63 81.22 80.00 43.50 80.63 75.00 92.50

C O R P O R A T E B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 8.75 May 21, 2019 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/S&P ECOBANK NIG. LTD 8.75 AUG 14, 2021 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VOLUME

T R E A S U R Y DTM 13 20 27 34 41 48 55 62 69 76 83 90 97 111 118 132 139 153 160 167 174 202 293 307 328 342 356

Maturities 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 4-Feb-16

01-Feb-11 19-May-11 25-Jul-12 09-May-13 08-Nov-13 08-Apr-12 22-Apr-14 21-May-14 07-Aug-13 09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14 14-Aug-14

450.00 500.00 350.00 300.00 400.00 300.00 500.00 200.00 300.00 360.00 400.00 450.00 250.00

4,760.00

F I X I N G S

B I L L S

Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount(%) 13.80 13.55 12.82 12.57 12.80 12.55 13.16 12.91 12.98 12.73 13.96 13.71 15.50 15.25 13.79 13.54 15.55 15.30 13.67 13.42 12.55 12.30 13.08 12.83 15.00 14.75 15.20 14.95 15.20 14.95 16.00 15.75 15.50 15.25 12.84 12.59 14.95 14.70 15.15 14.90 12.85 12.60 15.10 14.85 12.40 12.15 15.00 14.75 16.00 15.75 14.45 14.20 16.00 15.75

E U R O B O N D S 11.50 7.50 7.25 6.88 6.00 10.25 6.25 8.75 8.25 6.63 9.25 8.00 8.75

Bid Yield(%) 13.87 12.91 12.92 13.32 13.17 14.22 15.87 14.12 16.02 14.07 12.92 13.52 15.62 15.94 15.99 16.98 16.47 13.57 16.00 16.28 13.69 16.48 13.77 17.17 18.69 16.71 18.96

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.”

NIBOR Tenor

Rates

O/N 1M 3M 6M

76.5833 15.9765 17.1772 17.9082 NITTY

Tenor 1M 2M 3M 6M 9M 12M

Rates 13.0796 14.0998 14.2442 14.4273 14.6954 19.0936

NIFEX Current Price ($/N) BID($/N) OFFER ($/N)

M O N E Y

201.3333 201.4333

M K T

Tenor

Closing Rate

OBB O/N

76.67 80.17

R E P O Tenor

Closing Rate

Call 1M 3M 6M

85.00 90.00 95.00 98.00

F O R E X

( S P O T

Tenor Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M 1Y

&

F O R W A R D S )

Bid ($/N) 199.00 204.32 204.63 205.39 206.77 208.15 212.90 223.02

N O T E ** : Benchmark * : Amortising Bond µ : Convertible Bond # : Floating Rate Bond NA: Applicable ***: Deferred Coupon Bonds †: Bond Rating Expired

{r} :Issuer in receivership AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management NAHCO: Nigerian Avaition Handling Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO: West Africa Portland Cement Company

Offer ($/N) 199.10 204.43 204.79 205.89 207.86 209.78 216.12 229.08

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC.

No. of Deals 21 7 28 No. of Deals 9 9 37

Current Price 29.02 30.5 Current Price 1.6

Quantity Traded 214,470 15,136 229,606 Quantity Traded 54,710 54,710 284,316

Value Traded 6,118,008.70 470,794.72 6,588,803.42 Value Traded 87,958.70 87,958.70 6,676,762.12

No. of Deals 1 153 25 179 179

Current Price 0.96 1.81 26.48

Quantity Traded 800 15,897,539 168,773 16,067,112 16,067,112

Value Traded 736 28,880,042.50 4,479,769.21 33,360,547.71 33,360,547.71

No. of Deals 9 9 No. of Deals 17 17 26

Current Price 38.81

Quantity Traded 20,300 20,300 Quantity Traded 47,658 47,658 67,958

Value Traded 749,395.00 749,395.00 Value Traded 325,759.45 325,759.45 1,075,154.45

No. of Deals 4 4 No. of Deals 12 83 3 116 214 No. of Deals 17 17 No. of Deals 12 23 88 28 151 No. of Deals 21 42 63 No. of Deals 7 2 9 No. of Deals 35 42 77 535

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000 Quantity Traded 328,100 297,453 15,900 8,938,088 9,579,541 Quantity Traded 6,842 6,842 Quantity Traded 17,907 73,395 1,288,340 2,418,589 3,798,231 Quantity Traded 38,749 304,610 343,359 Quantity Traded 20,900 13,500 34,400 Quantity Traded 508,660 372,366 881,026 14,693,399

Value Traded 25,000.00 25,000.00 Value Traded 1,358,784.00 36,953,070.74 249,495.00 1,264,674,274.58 1,303,235,624.32 Value Traded 1,349,215.80 1,349,215.80 Value Traded 44,237.06 488,919.50 27,241,523.28 16,948,258.99 44,722,938.83 Value Traded 763,471.65 253,158,701.81 253,922,173.46 Value Traded 106,257.00 11,885.00 118,142.00 Value Traded 12,280,143.58 14,403,116.88 26,683,260.46 1,630,056,354.87

Quantity Traded 12,748,219 236,127 3,273,580 2,319,164 20,349,986 2,981,858 309,388 28,540,652 299,075 753,475 3,875,172 75,686,696 Quantity Traded 103,000 2,710,500 18,453,500 8,000 4,800 979,251 350,000 2,000 358,000 22,969,051 Quantity Traded 95,300 95,300 Quantity Traded 34,000 34,000 Quantity Traded 251,397 5,045,000 10,544,815 10,960,359 1,231,315 28,032,886 126,817,933

Value Traded 59,983,231.95 621,724.27 59,454,717.13 3,259,514.96 474,012,702.83 5,929,197.47 612,612.30 101,580,170.64 1,685,138.40 1,024,726.00 3,623,453.66 711,787,189.61 Value Traded 91,110.00 2,579,975.00 9,226,750.00 20,520.00 2,400.00 685,723.21 175,000.00 1,000.00 179,000.00 12,961,478.21 Value Traded 93,500.00 93,500.00 Value Traded 17,000.00 17,000.00 Value Traded 658,593.95 21,185,750.00 21,278,197.20 207,715,699.63 1,615,894.95 252,454,135.73 977,313,303.55

Quantity Traded 9,560 9,560 Quantity Traded 44,000 103,960 108,845

Value Traded 15,774.00 15,774.00 Value Traded 24,730.00 353,462.90 3,986,886.80

No. of Deals 167 20 72 52 228 39 31 204 20 6 31 870 No. of Deals 5 5 3 2 1 9 1 1 6 33 No. of Deals 3 3 No. of Deals 3 3 No. of Deals 24 4 76 22 41 167 1,076 No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 5 9 13

Current Price 7.03

Current Price 4.35 125 16 136.85 Current Price 196 Current Price 2.55 6.92 21.16 7 Current Price 20.15 825.01 Current Price 5.33 0.92 Current Price 24 38.68

Current Price 4.6 2.62 18.6 1.42 23.09 1.99 2.05 3.5 5.8 1.36 0.97 Current Price 0.85 1 0.5 2.65 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 Current Price 0.98 Current Price 0.5 Current Price 2.65 4.2 1.96 18.91 1.32

Current Price 1.73 Current Price 0.56 3.41 38.2

MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Property Management Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

5 1 33 35

1.18 1.03

148,000 900 405,705 415,265

175,360.00 900 4,541,339.70 4,557,113.70

No. of Deals 1 1 1

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000 20,000

Value Traded 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00

No. of Deals 9 16 6 3 1 2 32 69 No. of Deals 1 1 70

Current Price 23 9.77 38 7.93 0.5 3.37 96.01

Quantity Traded 19,672 1,051,839 2,350 17,500 250 10,000 1,319,083 2,420,694 Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000 2,422,694

Value Traded 437,562.40 9,504,976.40 89,547.65 140,000.00 125 34,130.00 126,494,566.72 136,700,908.17 Value Traded 3,200.00 3,200.00 136,704,108.17

No. of Deals 127 127 No. of Deals 4 1 43 2 22 72 No. of Deals 10 10 209

Current Price 6.01

Quantity Traded 5,830,869 5,830,869 Quantity Traded 2,200 7,000 110,662 377 32,340 152,579 Quantity Traded 4,634 4,634 5,988,082

Value Traded 35,044,142.69 35,044,142.69 Value Traded 57,288.00 11,830.00 31,544,246.42 55,155.10 4,687,850.58 36,356,370.10 Value Traded 1,066,595.40 1,066,595.40 72,467,108.19

Quantity Traded 501,144 501,144 Quantity Traded 41,066 6,400 47,466 Quantity Traded 315,800 1,000 833 317,633 Quantity Traded 117,500 117,500 Quantity Traded 190,937 190,937 Quantity Traded 50 50 1,174,730 167,951,489

Value Traded 265,583.44 265,583.44 Value Traded 176,583.80 7,628.00 184,211.80 Value Traded 205,270.00 2,190.00 4,539.85 211,999.85 Value Traded 58,750.00 58,750.00 Value Traded 766,503.90 766,503.90 Value Traded 145 145 1,487,193.99 2,863,707,646.75

Current Price 1.68

Current Price 27.41 1.61 290 154 150.01 Current Price 230.04

No. of Deals 4 4 No. of Deals 3 3 6 No. of Deals 6 2 1 9 No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 11 11 No. of Deals 1 1 32 2,200

Current Price 0.53

No. of Deals 1 1 1

Current Price 0.98

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 5,100.00 5,100.00 5,100.00

No. of Deals 3 3 3 4

Current Price 1.2

Quantity Traded 482,000 482,000 482,000 487,000

Value Traded 554,280.00 554,280.00 554,280.00 559,380.00

No. of Deals 196 196 No. of Deals 335 335 531

Current Price 17.6

Quantity Traded 21,927,068 21,927,068 Quantity Traded 15,346,582 15,346,582 37,273,650

Value Traded 383,409,061.87 383,409,061.87 Value Traded 79,828,325.23 79,828,325.23 463,237,387.10

No. of Deals 38 38 38 569 2,773

Current Price 163.03

Quantity Traded 306,347 306,347 306,347 37,579,997 206,018,486

Value Traded 50,069,934.72 50,069,934.72 50,069,934.72 513,307,321.82 3,377,574,348.57

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1 4 1 9 9 9

Current Price 9.44 2,193.00 3.08 7.47 13.34 21.03

Quantity Traded 10 52 10 10 40 10 132 132 132

Value Traded 94.4 114,036.00 30.8 74.7 533.9 210.3 114,980.10 114,980.10 114,980.10

Current Price 4.3 1.14 Current Price 0.65 2.3 5.73 Current Price 0.5 Current Price 4.02 Current Price 3.05

Current Price 5.1

31

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

PROPERTY NEWS

Umahi Orders Contractor Back Lagos Champions Policy on Wetlands The Lagos State Government dress the Permanent Secretary, that wetlands are being deto N3.98bn Water Project Site graded at an alarming rate.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has directed Ganza Engineering Ltd, the company handling the N3.98bn Ukawu water scheme in Okawu, Onicha L.G.A to immediately return to site.

Umahi, who gave the order while inspecting the water project, awarded by the immediate past administration in April 2008,expressed disappointment with the quality of work and the speed of the contractor in handling the project.

“Tell Ganza to return to work immediately. We will schedule a meeting with the contractor for Friday”, he told the site Engineer by the bank of Ukawu River.

It will be recalled that the Ukawu water project was initiated by the former governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi, together with Oferekpe water scheme. While Oferekpe water project was completed without reticulating water to serve Ebonyi people, the Ukawu water project which had a completion period of two years, has remained a ghost of itself. It was gathered that the contractor which had received N2bn payment requested that additional N4bn be paid by the state government to enable his company continue work on the project.

Governor Umahi, who was visibly unhappy on seeing the poor quality, sat down on a concrete deck up the water scheme looking at the contract details and shaking his head intermittently.

He inspected the project companied by the Commissioner for works, Engr.

Fidelis Nweze, Senior technical Assistant to the governor on projects, Engr. Oka Uchechi, chairman of Onicha LGA, Mrs Elizabeth Onwe and other top government functionaries.

Umahi had earlier inspected Hilltop/Nwofe/Agbaja Road, Presco flyover, Akanu Ibiam round about flyover, among other projects.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Government has said it would renovate the palace of the former Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Akanu Ibiam within a year or build a new palace in two years Umahi also promised to commence the rehabilitation of bad portions of the AfikpoUnwana Road within the next couple of weeks.

Umahi, who extolled the leadership qualities and pioneering role Dr. Ibiam played in the creation of Ebonyi State, said his administration would continue to accord him the highest honour.

has blazed the trail in the development of a policy on wetland conservation, protection and management in the State.

The Policy on wetland was developed to establish an effective and efficient legal frame work, improve scientific information and knowledge base on Lagos wetlands as well as strengthen institutional capacity on conservation and management of wetlands amongst others.

The draft policy document which had gone through different levels of considerations, was presented for review at a one-day “Stakeholders’ Meeting on Policy Formulation on Wetland Conservation and Management in Lagos State” held at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference hall, Ikeja, recently. In his welcome ad-

Ministry of the Environment, Engr. Adeyemi Saliu Abidemi, who was represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Mrs. Adeola Olatokun, highlighted the importance of wetland to human existence and the need for the restoration of degraded wetlands through conservation and preservation.

“Wetlands are among the most biologically rich ecosystems on earth and are critically important to human existence. Wetlands contribute to the state and the communities where they exist as sources of water, food, medicine, handcrafts and shelter. Wetlands serve as refuge for animals and provide abode for cultural, recreational and tourist activities.

Despite these huge benefits to mankind, current global and local trends have shown

In Lagos state for instance, a study carried out by Nigeria Environment Study Action Team (NEST) in 2011 shows that 91% of wetlands in Lagos has been taken over by various man-made factors.

This is made worse by the relatively small land area available in Lagos and the need to provide shelter for the burgeoning population,” he said. He stated that due to the compelling need to rescue the wetlands from abuse as well as preserve their bio-diversity, the State Government was taking the initiative to develop a draft policy on wetland management.

Prof. Dele Olowokudejo of the Department of Botany, University of Lagos, who lead the review, said that Government recognized that wetland

resources were being adversely affected by the process of urban development, owing to the rapid expansion of Lagos State, hence the development of the policy.

He further informed participants that the draft policy comprised fourteen policy statements which would serve as guiding principles for wetland in the state, adding that the review of the document was to accommodate comments and more inputs from stakeholders’ as well as build ownership.

Other participants among whom were retire Permanent Secretaries, Non-Governmental organisations, Sole Administrators of LGAs and LCDAs and environmentalists’, applauded the initiative of the State Government and urged for the incorporation of monitoring and inter-agency collaboration into the policy.

FHA to Build Houses for Nigerians in Diaspora in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Prof. Mohammed AlAmin, had said arrangement had been concluded through the Nigerians in Diaspora Housing Programme (NIDHOP) scheme to build houses for Nigerians in diaspora in Abuja, Benin City Edo State and Lagos.

Al-Amin, made the disclosure at the inauguration of the Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for the agency in Abuja.

He said attempts by Nigerians in diaspora and several others working in foreign mission to buy land or own their houses through relatives have ended most times in crisis.

He said: “With this in mind we though of facilitating the ownership of houses for Nigerians in diaspora to be easier and more secured way in which the FHA articulated what is called the Nigerians in Diaspora Housing Programme (NIDHOP). “As you are aware, we have quite a large number of Nigerians living in different continents of the globe and most of them did not leave the country and not to come back.

“They have gone to work and will some day come back to continue their life in the country. It is a normal thing for those in diasporans to try to secure houses so that when they come back to their countries of origin, they can have houses of their own.

“Apart from articulating this

concept, we went to have the first the pilot project called FHA-Diaspora City. This will be located located in Abuja, Lagos and Benin City.”

According to him, the FHA- Diaspora city will be designed to accommodate those in diaspora in bungalow apartments, luxury accommodation and block of flats as they do have abroad, adding that the houses will be designed to suit their taste.

“Apart from the intention to help these very important Nigerians in owning their houses back here at home, the second objective of the programme is to attract foreign exchange for the Nigerian economy.

“In 2013, alone, the amount of remittances collected from Nigerians into the country is $21 billion. Now, imagine what an investment of $21 billion will do to the economy.

“So in order to encourage Nigerians living abroad to send more money into the economy, this programme is also put in place.

“So, it two-inched purpose: the first is for housing provision while the other is for reinvigorating the economy.”

The CEO said. The MD, said the first pilot scheme of the project will commence soon along airport expressway in Abuja with 1500 houses made up of block of flats, bungalows and duplexes. He said depending on the demand, FHA will expand the scheme to Lagos, Enugu and other parts of the country, until everyone Nigerian in diaspora have a befitting accommodation.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi (seated), scrutinising details of the Ukawu Water project in Okawu, Onicha Local Government Area. With him are; the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Fidelis Nweze and Senior Technical Assistant on Projects, Oka Uchechi (right)... recently

Toll Gates and Proper Highway Maintenance Mark Neboh As the name goes, Toll Gates are structures created at the entrance and exit point of highways to facilitate the collection of the fee charged the vehicles that use the highway. The money collected at these points on the long run serves the government to recuperate a percentage of the cost of constructing the highway. On the short run, it provides some of the fund needed to carry out proper maintenance of the highway and related infrastructure.

The structure of Toll Gates had always been present on our roads until the OBJ Government decided to abolish this very important arrangement.

Certainly there must have been some cogent reasons that motivated the abolition but some positive minded Nigerians feel that what ever error would have been better corrected and the structure repositioned for improved services and increased yields.

Some go further to argue that it has become a clear case of the punishment being more injurious to our nation than

the error itself.

We must be truthful to ourselves to realize that in this period of reduced income from crude oil sales, we have to source funds outside the government coffers to fund some categories of our pressing infrastructure needs.

That many of our major and minor highways require complete rehabilitation is a plain truth.

Looking at the problem from a bigger picture, the solution can come up if the government takes the bold step to initiate serious dialogue with major road construction companies in Nigeria to get their input on the way out of the deadlock. For instance, a bargain where the road construction companies administer the toll collection and remit an agreed percentage of the proceeds to the government on a long term contract could spur them to agree to take up the road rehabilitation and maintenance task. Under this well defined legally binding agreement, the Federal Ministry of Works and the qualified Construction Companies will delineate

rehabilitation and maintenance project modality and targets; agree on time limits and project supervising modality.

If this arrangement is rightly designed by specialists in the subject and implemented with deserved sincerity (corruption loopholes firmly blocked) will definitely yield the positive results that will encourage State Governments to apply the system to better their state road infrastructure.

Road accidents occur regularly on our highways across the country and in most of the cases the bad road condition happens to be a major contributing factor.

Bringing back a restructured Toll Gates infrastructure will help reduce accidents on our roads as well as yield a fraction of the much needed revenue to the government.

Other benefits include improved control of robbery and other misconducts on the highway through the positioning of appropriate technology and equipment at strategic positions.

Swift response to road accident victims will definitely

bring about corresponding decrease in avoidable loss of life. The establishment of better vehicle maintenance workshops, modern day truck parks and vehicle towing responses are some of the numerous benefits that this reinvention of the Toll Gate structure will introduce as the structure matures.

The re-invention will create new jobs as well as uplift the quality of our road netwoks to modern standard to correctly serve the needs of movement of persons and goods across the country with ease and by extention progress economic activities to the benefit of all.

In consideration of the necessity for improved road networks, our citizens are pleading with the present administration to consider these and various other genuine advantages too numerous to mention here and bring back Toll Gates on our highways.

Mark Neboh (Geom – Italy) Italiann Language Interpreter and Author of the scam novel: The Godfathers of Scam.

Email: mcneboh@gmail.com

32

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

MARKET NEWS

PZ Cussons Records N1.6bn Profit in Nine Months Goddy Egene

Shareholders of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc should expect an improved performance for the year ending May 30, 2017, going by the nine months results ended February 28, 2017.

The household and person care products maker, posted a revenue of N57.1 billion, up 13 per cent from N50.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2016.

Cost of sales stood at N37.9 billion, up from N37 billion in

2016, while gross profit rose by 40.4 per cent to N19.2 billion, from N13.7 billion in 2016.

Operational expenses were N11.1 billion, up marginally from N10.9 billion. Profit before tax was N2.4 billion in 2017, up from N2.1 billion in 2016. Profit after tax was flat N1.6 billion.

However, market analysts said the performance indicates stability in the profitability of the company, compared with a loss of N288 million posted in the first half ended November 30, 2016.

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

Analysts at FBN Quest said the third quarter (Q3) is PZ’s most impressive results in a while. “While sales grew by 19 per cent to N23.8 billion, the highest quarterly revenue in recent times, both PBT and PBT advanced by over 100 per cent. Although the comparable results in Q3 2016 were weak, the results indicate that PZ is on a recovery path, following some improvement in fx liquidity,” the analysts said.

According to them, strategies introduced by the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 23-Mar-2017, unless otherwise stated.

company to improve top-line seem to be paying off, coupled with the impact of increased sales due to seasonality.

“Also, a gross margin expansion of 820bps to 32.5 per cent more than offset a N1.2 billion fx loss to lead to a PBT of N2.8 billion during the quarter. We suspect the company is still benefitting from using old raw materials purchased at historical prices, like in the prior quarter,” they added.

PZ Cussons paid a

dividend of 50 kobo last year.

Speaking to the shareholders at the annual general meeting, Chairman of P Z Cussons, Chief Kolawole Jamodu said despite the deteriorating operating environment, the company had remained focused and managed to deliver a steady performance for the period to grow shareholder value.

He said there are future prospects for the company given that the presently economic predicament is transient. ”We regard current

economic challenges as transitory and we remain excited about the future of the company. Our confidence has been emboldened by positive policy changes being adopted by the government such as the new foreign exchange regime that has been introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Our brands remain strong and popular with consumers, which leaves us well placed to hold our market and exploit any emerging opportunities,” Jamodu 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 128.32 128.81 1.03% Nigeria International Debt Fund 221.17 221.87 2.75% 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 0.70 0.71 -0.28% 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 18.10% 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 12.43 12.80 0.65% ARM Discovery Fund 291.98 300.78 1.67% ARM Ethical Fund 22.28 22.95 -0.29% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.87% 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 105.81 106.55 0.69% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.97% 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 2.15 2.20 -1.14% Paramount Equity Fund 9.38 9.62 0.21% Women's Investment Fund 86.56 88.78 2.32% 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 18.55% 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 1,134.43 1,135.62 4.04% FBN Heritage Fund 112.19 112.93 0.54% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.37% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $107.07 $107.78 2.91% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $106.78 $107.50 3.34% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 112.72 114.17 0.03% 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 2.66 2.66 3.41% 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 2,216.74 2,242.59 0.34% Coral Income Fund 2,193.11 2,193.11 4.22% 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 16.63% 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 1.72 1.24% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.58%

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 1.02 1.03 2.84% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,027.67 1,027.67 2.47% 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 9.69 9.76 0.21% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.58% 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 1.08 1.10 2.97% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.44 10.48 0.32% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.14% 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 111.29 112.12 9.27% 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 2.35% 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 1,846.20 1,855.91 0.80% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 155.77 155.77 1.18% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.76 0.76 -1.30% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 192.64 192.64 3.08% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 128.61 130.25 -0.95% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.61% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,371.75 7,450.82 -2.83% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.14 1.15 8.14% United Capital Bond Fund 1.28 1.28 16.01% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.66 -0.50% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.15 1.15 11.35% 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 9.94 10.14 3.32% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.22 11.33 2.83% Zenith Income Fund 17.35 17.35 5.02%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 125.38

1.01% 1.14%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.99 72.29

8.09 73.64

-8.95% -4.61%

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

2.74 6.23 11.70 15.53 128.12

2.78 6.31 11.80 15.73 130.12

-0.36% -11.32% -2.46% -2.62% -1.34%

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.

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

33

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Hamas Eases Gaza Lockdown amid Manhunt Hamas authorities partially reopened the crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Monday, after a one-day closure following the assassination of one of the group’s top commanders.

“From Monday morning, travel through the Beit Hanoun [Erez] crossing will be permitted temporarily for some categories,” a statement from Iyad al-Bozum, a spokesman for the interior ministry in the Palestinian enclave, said.

Anyone would be allowed to enter Gaza, the statement said, but those leaving would remain restricted to senior politicians, the sick, women of all ages, and families of prisoners.

Men and boys who have an Israeli permit to leave the Strip

would be restricted to those under 15 and over 45.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, closed the crossing on Sunday after blaming Israel for the assassination of one of its senior officials.

Travel into and out of the Gaza Strip is heavily restricted by Israeli authorities - part of a crippling blockade in place since 2007 - but the Hamas-implemented closure was seen as a rare measure.

Mazen Faqha, 38, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Friday outside his home in Gaza City. Hamas officials blamed his killing on the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and its “collaborators”.

He was killed by four bullets

Russia Protests Leader Alexei Navalny Jailed for 15 days Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been jailed for 15 days for resisting police orders during mass protests on Sunday.

Mr Navalny was one of hundreds of people who were detained across the country in connection with the rallies.

The court in Moscow earlier fined him the minimum 20,000 roubles ($350) for organising the banned protests.

Responding to the protests, the Kremlin accused the opposition of encouraging lawbreaking and

provoking violence.

Some young people were paid to attend, a presidential spokesman said.

Mr Navalny later repeated accusations of corruption against Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The allegations were the main reason behind Sunday’s protests, which drew thousands of demonstrators nationwide, including in St Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and several other cities, as well as Moscow.

from a pistol equipped with a silencer, police in Gaza said.

Hamas did not give details as to the reason for closing the crossing, though there was speculation that authorities were seeking to prevent those responsible for the killing from leaving. Israel has not commented on the shooting.

According to Hamas, Faqha formed cells for the group’s military wing in the occupied West Bank

cities of Tubas, where he was born, and Jenin.

Faqha’s funeral on Saturday drew thousands of Hamas supporters into the streets with chants of “revenge” and “death to Israel”. Ismail Haniya, until recently head of Hamas in Gaza, and Yahya Sinwar, who replaced him as leader, led the procession.

The Erez crossing is the only passageway between Gaza and

Israel through which people may cross. The Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing with Israel remained fully open over the weekend, as it only permits the passage of commericial goods.

A vast majority of the nearly two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip remain sealed inside the coastal enclave due to Israel’s military blockade, in place for the last decade. Gaza’s sole crossing

with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years.

Three large-scale Israeli offensives in the past eight years have left Gaza’s sanitation, energy and medical facilities severely damaged. The United Nations has warned that due to lagging reconstruction efforts hampered

by Israel’s blockade and heavy levels of destruction, Gaza may become “uninhabitable” by 2020.

Strikes to Hit French Guiana As Tensions Paralyse Territory French Guiana faced a nationwide strike Monday over crime and economic difficulties, amid protests that have paralyzed the French territory in South America, halted flights and a rocket launch and prompted a U.S. travel warning.

As tensions mounted, Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced plans to send a highlevel ministerial mission before week’s end aimed at signing a pact addressing anger over high crime, the cost of living and the quality of health care and other social services. Protests have already blocked roads to neighboring Brazil and Suriname, and shuttered many businesses and schools.

The French government has already sent an emergency mission to try to quell tensions

in the territory of a quarter-million people before Monday’s general strike by some 27 unions, expected to hit public services across Guiana.

However, the Collective of 500 Brothers, the group largely behind the protests, has been demanding that the French government send a minister to negotiate with them.

The unrest is a reminder of the deep economic, social and racial divides between France’s mainland and former colonies from the Caribbean to the South Pacific that remain French today. Some territories use the euro currency, and they all depend heavily on imported goods and policy decisions made in Paris.

Candidates for France’s two-round presidential election starting next month have urged

aid or intervention in Guiana, as the concerns of overseas voters suddenly entered the spotlight in the race after having been largely ignored.

The government minister for overseas holdings called for calm Monday, and said on RTL radio that the government mission has made progress on demands from fishermen and farmers.

However, she said “conditions for dialogue are not met” for her to visit Guiana herself as demonstrators demand.

The minister, Ericka Bareigts, stood at the French prime minister’s side as he announced his plans to send the ministerial mission. But he stressed that solutions cannot be found “amid disorder.” The “ambitious pact” includes aid to the agriculture

sector, the construction of a penitentiary, a new court to meet demands and security needs in the restive territory.

French Guiana senator Antoine Karam said on BFM-TV that the population has been ignored despite grave problems, such as 50 percent unemployment among young people and 30 percent of the population lacking drinking water and electricity in their homes.

Protests disrupted the planned launch last week of an Ariane 5 rocket from the space center in Kourou carrying a South Korean satellite and a Brazilian satellite.

Air France canceled all flights Sunday and Monday because of the strike. Flights from regional airlines to Cayenne on Friday were canceled.

34

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

T H I S D AY TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

35

36

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

MRS Oil: We Never Expropriated NNPC’s Products Ejiofor Alike MRS Oil and Gas Limited has described as false, malicious and unfounded, the allegation that it expropriated petroleum products kept in its terminal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on throughput arrangement, saying the allegation was a misrepresentation of the workings and processes of the downstream operations.

MRS in a statement yesterday said it was unfortunate that the national oil firm has chosen to repeatedly distort facts and malign the integrity of the company.

The company clarified that it entered into a throughput

agreement with NNPC Retail on November 30, 2016, which stipulated that products would be stored in the company’s tanks comingled with products belonging to the company and any other client of MRS. According to the company, the agreement also stipulated that the products would be delivered to NNPC or any of its designates within seven days of demand.

In line with this agreement, MRS disclosed that NNPC Retail brought a vessel named ‘MT Undine’ with 40,637,355Litres, or 29,000 metric tonnes, which berth at the company’s terminal on December 8, 2016, adding that 19 days after vessel discharge, no one from NNPC came to MRS to request to load out the products.

Customs Seals Residence of Kano Senator, Seizes 11Vehicles The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) compliance task force has sealed off the residence of a senator from Kano state after seizing 13 vehicles allegedly hidden there.

Bala Dole, task force zonal commander, made this known yesterday, revealing that the vehicles were 12 new Toyota Hilux and one Land Cruiser Jeep.

Dole, who declined to name the senator, said the vehicles were trailed from Maigatari in Jigawa, following an intelligence report.

According to The Cable, he said 210 other vehicles were seized, alongside other items, including foodstuff worth N269.5 million in Kano and Jigawa States, within eight months.

“Based on the intelligence report, the vehicles were 30 in number but we were able to trail 13 of

them 12 of which were hidden in the senator’s compound,” he said.

“We sealed the house and retrieved the vehicles and they are now in our custody.”

He said the other items the task force confiscated during special operations include; 9,757 bags of rice, 2,916 of foreign supergetti, 2,770 cartons of foreign vegetable oil and 999 cartons of macaroni.

Dole said others were; 889 veils of second hand clothes, 50 used school bags, 110 cartons of new foreign shoes, 956 bags of mosquito coil and six fairly used cars.

“The total value of the seizure made by the task force since it was established in July 2016, excluding the 13 senator’s vehicles, is N269.5 million,” he said.

“We are yet to determine the cost of the 13 vehicles belonging to the senator.”

Sokoto May Close Schools as Death Toll Hits 23 over Meningitis Outbreak Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto Following the death toll as a result of meningitis outbreak which has killed 23 people in Sokoto State, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Balarabe Kakale, yesterday said the state government is contemplating closing some public and private schools in the state.

Kakale, who made the confirmation during the ongoing sensitisation campaign in DangeShuni Local Government Area of the state, said government would have no other option than to close the schools temporarily if the problem persists.

He maintained that the present administration was determined to do what ever it takes to enhance the well being of the people. ‘’This is to save more lives of the people of the state, although the cases are reducing, while the people are now reporting the suspected cases to the healt facilities.

“We are hereby again, calling on the people of the state that the cases of meningitis should not be linked to witchcraft or sorcery.

“Rather, all suspected cases should be reported to the hospitals as the state government had stocked adequate drugs and medicament for the free treatment of the patients,” he said.

He stated that the deaths were

recorded in the seven worst hit local government areas of Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/Shuni and Tureta.

Kakale said the state government had on March 20 deployed 15 medical teams, comprising over 150 medical personnel.

According to him, they were deployed across the 23 local governments of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with free drugs, as well as medicament.

‘They had so far treated 400 mixed cases of severe malaria and meningitis across the seven top-hit local governments. ‘’Out of the 400 cases, 56 were confirmed in the laboratories to be cases of meningitis, out of which additional fatalities were recorded.

“These 16 additional deaths excluded the seven deaths earlier recorded in parts of Gada Local Government,” he stressed.

Kakale pointed out that thousands of other cases were treated at the primary health centres in the state by the respective local government areas.

The commissioner therefore, urged parents in the state to ensure that their children were fully immunised against polio and the six child killer diseases that include tuberculosis, whopping cough, measles, meningitis, among others.

MRS further stated that it was constrained to send an email to NNPC demanding that they come and load out their products because it had other vessels waiting to berth and were incurring demurrage.

“On December 30, 2016, nearly a month after the vessel discharged in our facility, NNPC officials, bowing to our pressure, finally appeared to familiarise themselves with our loading procedure. Between the December 30, 2016 to February 14, 2017, NNPC only managed to load out 10,616,685 million litres, which was an average of eight trucks per day, as against our daily load out of 300 trucks. We continued to demand that they come and load their products to free up our storage tanks,” MRS explained.

On the February 4, 2017, MRS said it received an email from NNPC Retail, saying they had

loaned their products to PPMC and as such should be allowed to load their remaining products.

It, however, noted that PPMC, which is another subsidiary of NNPC, also has throughput agreement with MRS and was also loading within the same period.

According to the oil and gas firm, between February 4, when it received the email from NNPC Retail and February 15, PPMC loaded 11,178,000 litres.

“At this point we had two vessels, Mt Lilac Victoria with 60,000mts and Mt STI Milwakee with 20,000mts of petrol. The vessel, Mt Sti Milwakee was a PPMC vessel carrying our 20,000mts of PMS. This vessel berthed at MRS terminal on February 17 to discharge her full cargo. Immediately after she berth, PPMC asked that the vessel be pulled out, without regards to the

fact that all statutory payments in respect of this cargo had been made. All efforts to get PPMC to allow the vessel to discharge was refused and PPMC insisted that vessel be pulled out,” MRS explained.

The company said this singular action took three days, as all required approvals had to be obtained from the relevant authorities to allow a vessel to sail with full products on board.

“Notwithstanding the delay, the next vessel with 30,000mts berth the same day the PPMC vessel was pulled out and commenced discharge immediately. 24 hours after discharge commenced, we had filled up a tank and started loading out of that tank. Both PPMC and NNPC retail were therefore loaded within 6 days from when we stocked out and this is well within the

contractually allowable period of 7days. This clearly shows that contrary to the claim by NNPC, MRS never expropriated NNPC products,” MRS added.

MRS further argued that if NNPC Retail had presented trucks for loading when their product came in, the company could have loaded them within a week, stressing that it was their failure to present trucks for loading that led to the three months’ period it took to load out their products.

The company maintained that NNPC has completed loading their products and have exceeded with over three million liters of MRS products.

“We would have demanded this excess; however, we know that these deficits and surplus products hold is usual in the throughput process,” the company added.

INSIDE CAMP ZERO

L-R: Senator Binta Masi Garba; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai; Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali (rtd); Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, all listening to the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu, inside the Sambisa Forest at the opening of the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship in Borno State....yesterday

Aregbesola Inaugurates Commission of Inquiry into Ife Clash Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has again reiterated the commitment of his adminis tration to promote communal peace in the state, just as he called for cooperation with security agencies in the process of unraveling those behind the March 8 mayhem in Ile-Ife. The governor stated this after inaugurating a five-man judicial commission of inquiry into the disturbance of public peace in Ile-Ife recently.

Members of the commission who have been given four weeks to present their report are: Justice M.A Adeigbe who is the chairman; Mrs. Bose Dawodu DCP (rtd); Ismail Ajibade, the state Commissioner of Police, the state Director of DSS and Mr. Bisi Babalola, who will act as the secretary of the commission.

The governor charged the commission to investigate and determine the causes of the disturbance, identify the perpetrators, the extent of involvement and determine the extent of injury suffered by any individual or group.

They were also mandated to recommend appropriate civil or

criminal action to be taken against the perpetrators, make appropriate suggestions to the state government towards the prevention of future occurrence and also recommend appropriate monetary sum as compensation (s) for damages or injuries that may have been suffered by any individual or group of individuals in respect to matters received by it.

According to the governor, “You have four weeks to carry out this assignment. The report that small arms and light weapons were deployed freely during the crisis was disturbing and frightening.

“It has implication for security of lives and property as well as potential for more conflicts beyond the immediate theatre of war, if not nipped in the bud.

“I want you to look into this.

The sources and the current location of these arms and their custodians should be investigated and determined.

They should all be recovered.

“There are also reports that cultists who have no regard for human lives were recruited for the mayhem for a fee. This is most disheartening. Please investigate this and unearth the roles they

played and let the law be applied without fear or favour.

“I charge this commission to be courageous and fearless.

Undertake this assignment with all seriousness and the fear of God. You should pursue the truth without fear.

“We want justice for all. Like Martin Luther King Jr once said: ‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’, to the victims and the perpetrators alike, as I wish you success on this crucial assignment.”

The governor warned against pre-empting the outcome of on going investigation, saying it would be prejudicial to the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, as he however expressed confidence that the crisis is not an inter-ethnic, inter religious or inter regional one Aregbesola described the mayhem as “just an ugly development, a breach of public peace, masterminded by hoodlums and criminals which resulted in the loss of lives and property.”

He said the opinion of those fanning the embers of discord between the Hausa and Yoruba people should be disregarded, stressing that it is unwise and wicked for anybody to describe

the violence in the Sabo area of Ile-Ife as a religious or tribal war.

The governor said: “The police and other law enforcement agencies have assured us that the rule of law will be strictly adhered. We owe them support and the need for patience until the final outcome, since investigation into the matter has begun.

“Secondly, Yoruba people are OMOLUABI; very loving, fair-minded, justice-seeking, hospitable and accommodating to a fault. This is why other people flock to us, likewise, the Hausa community in Ile-Ife and other parts of the state.”

In his response, Chairman of the judicial commission of enquiry, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, who thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the people of the state, promised that the commission would discharge its job without fear or favour.

“Your excellency, I assure you that we will not let you and the people of the state down; we will carry out this task you have given us to the best of our ability.

“Me and my team will ensure that the perpetrators of the sad event which occurred at Ife are brought to book.”

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

37

NEWSEXTRA

Whistleblower Accuses Shell of Concealing Data on Nigerian Oil Spills Oil Firm: community denies contractors access to sites Ejiofor Alike with agency reports A whistleblower and former Project Director of the Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI), Mr. Kay Holtzman, has accused Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)

of concealing data on the health effects of two major oil spills on Nigerian communities.

But a Shell Nigeria spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, said the company accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo and

Lagos to Enact Law Regulating Domestic Workers, Guards Unveils safety corps, pledges rewards for volunteers Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said his administration had prepared an executive bill, which when enacted, would regulate domestic workers and guards, citing growing security threats they pose to the state and its residents.

The governor said if eventually enacted, the bill would bring to an end the incidents of child abuse or underage workers, who he said are largely undocumented and pose a grave threat to the security of lives, private property and public installations in the state.

He disclosed this at the unveiling of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps at Agege Stadium, noting that the corps was not designed to rival the Nigeria Police, but to complement its efforts, especially in the area of intelligence gathering.

He inaugurated the corps alongside the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, her immediate predecessor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, among others.

Beyond unveiling the corps, Ambode explained the importance of strengthening security in the state, which he said, necessitated the initiation of an executive bill “to regulate the employment of domestic workers and security guards henceforth.”

He explained that the bill “will prescribe regulations for these set of workers and other details to monitor their activities. There is no room for child abuse or under-aged workers.

“It has been discovered that domestic workers are largely

undocumented and pose a grave security threat in the state.

The recruiting agencies must be licensed and regulated henceforth.

Our safety is now non-negotiable,” the governor said.

On the safety corps, Ambode said it became imperative to establish it “to enhance security all over our dear state. The corps is designed to provide a second layer of policing in order to ensure our state and communities are more secure.”

The government noted that the corps is a vital part of our continuing security and justice sector reforms, which he said, was structured “to fighting crime in the state.”

He acknowledged the supportive role of the Nigeria Police, though explained the necessity of the corps due to what he ascribed “to huge population and unique challenges, the Nigeria Police needs our support to complement their efforts especially in areas of community policing.”

He said the corps initiative “has created at least 7,000 jobs for officers of the corps, artisans and other support staff. Job creation is at the heart of economic prosperity and we remain fully committed to a more prosperous Lagos for our citizens.

“Special hotlines have also been created direct to the Executive Secretary and senior management of the agency for easy communication with our communities in the event of any crime. “Any valuable information given to the corps will attract handsome rewards from the state government. I therefore call on all Lagos residents to join hands with us to say a final NO to crime in our state.”

Fire at INEC, Office of Chairman’s Aide Affected Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja There was a fire outbreak at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja yesterday.

The National Commissioner of INEC (South-west), Chairman of Committee of Voter Education and Publicity, Solomon Soyebi, confirmed the incident to journalists in a text message.

He said: “There was a fire outbreak in INEC in the office of the Personal Assistant to the Chairman.

It was caused by an electrical fault from an air conditioner. It has been

brought under control by men of the fire service,” he said.

Another official of the commission and the Director in the Voter Education and Publicity Department, Mr. Osaze Uzzi, who witnessed the fire incident, told THISDAY that the fire started from a spark from an air conditioner in the office of the Personal Assistant to the Chairman.

He said the fire only burnt the curtain in the office but was put out before it could do severe damage.

According to him, the men of the fire service Unit of the commission acted swiftly to put out the fire within five minutes.

was fully committed to ensuring clean-up but that since 2015, the Bodo community of Rivers State has failed to permit access by contractors appointed to carry out the clean-up.

Holtzman, who was hired by Shell as BMI’s project director, disclosed that thousands of Nigerians are exposed to health challenges as a result of the disruption of the clean-up of Bodo community in Ogoniland.

BMI was established under the auspices of a former Dutch Ambassador who, until 2015 co-chaired the mediation process to deliver the clean-up of Bodo, which was impacted by the worst oil spills in the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas production.

In a letter seen by the Independent of UK, Holtzmann said data gathered in the Bodo community, which was devastated by two huge oil spills in 2008 and 2009, showed levels of pollution were “astonishingly high”.

He also accused the company of refusing to make the findings public.

“The results from the laboratory were astonishingly high, actually the soil in the mangroves is literally soaked with hydrocarbons.

Whoever is walking in the creeks cannot avoid contact with toxic substances. Although the locals are accustomed to their environment they are exposed to hazards and especially negative long term effects on their health are unpredictable,” said the letter.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the executive director of the UNEP, Eric Solheim, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria and Shell.

Shell had accepted liability for the 2008 and 2009 oil spills, and in 2015, agreed to pay £55m to the Bodo community for losses caused by the spills.

UNEP had in 2011 published a damning report anticipating that it would take up to 30 years to clean the Niger Delta from oil spills, caused by theft and operational failures.

A partner at law firm, Leigh Day, who is representing the Bodo Community, Daniel Leader, told the Independent that “the Bodo

Community was subjected to two devastating oil spills due to faults on Shell’s pipelines in 2008”.

“This letter shows that even those who were employed by Shell are deeply concerned by their behaviour and their lack of transparency,” Leader said.

But Okolobo alleged that the members of the Bodo community had prevented contractors access to the impacted sites since 2015 and had also initiated several court actions in Nigeria against SPDC, seeking injunctions restraining Shell from carrying out any clean-up and remediation work in the Bodo creek.

“The environmental assessment was conducted under the auspices of the BMI and accordingly, all questions relating to his work are best directed to the BMI. SPDC remains fully committed to ensuring clean-up takes place and will continue to work with the BMI to implement a remediation plan for Bodo area,” Okolobo added.

Chairperson of BMI, Inemo Samiama, to whom Holtzman addressed the letter, said in a

statement that BMI had carried out Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT) as recommended by the UNEP representative in the BMI, Dr. David Little, so as to form judgments on the best remedial methods applicable to each grid at individual sites.

According to Samiama, the results of the pre-SCAT and main SCAT as issued by the SCAT team leader, Dr. Erich Gundlach, had confirmed areas of pollution and the need for clean-up but the results did not raise new concerns because they were not different from existing observations from earlier reports.

Samiama added that the SCAT results were worrisome but not surprising, stressing that they confirmed that the degree of oil contamination in the Bodo Creek was high.

“This, however, did not warrant immediate emergency measures - the extent of the pollution was known, people were already aware they had to stay out of polluted areas - but rather emphasise the need for clean-up,” Samiama said.

ADDRESSING SECURITY CONCERNS IN LAGOS

L-R; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; and Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, during the inauguration of Lagos Neigbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) in Lagos....yesterday Abiodun Ajala

FG Bans Importation of Packaged Tomato Paste Raises tariff on concentrate from 5%-50% Nume Ekeghe and Nosa Alekhuogie The federal government, though the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, yesterday banned the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate, and increased the tariff on importation of tomato concentrate among others from five to 50 per cent in order to revive the tomato sector.

According to operators, the value of imported tomato paste in Nigeria is about $170 million and $50 million spent on triple tomato concentrate.

In a document obtained by THISDAY yesterday from the Federal Ministry of Industry

and trade and investment titled: ‘Implementation of the tomato sector policy’ which was signed by the Director, Industry Development of the ministry, Mr. Adewale Bakare, stated that such action would revive the sector, create jobs and preserve foreign exchange.

The document stated: “As you are aware, government has overtime engaged tomato industry stakeholders on ways to deepen the industry and particularly, encourage the use of locally produced tomato fruits across the value chain. It is in that regard that I am directed to bring to your notice the decision of the government towards boosting production and attracting investments into the tomato sector.

“These include ‘classification of greenhouse equipment as agricultural equipment to attract zero per cent import duty. Ban on the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate put up for retailing and others Ban on tomato prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid and others.

“Increase in the tariff on the tomato concentrate and other concentrates (HS Code 2002.90.11.000) from five percent to 50 percent and additional levy of $1,500 per metric tons with the objective of increasing the current tariff from five percent to 50 percent (35percent +5 percent+10 percent) and an additional levy of US$1,500 metric ton. Restriction

on the importation of tomato concentrates to the seaports to address abuse of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation scheme (ETLS) and inclusion of tomato production and processing in the list of industries eligible for investment incentives administered by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).”

It further stated that “It is expected that the foregoing measures which are situated within the overall road map for the development of the industry, will create jobs, save foreign exchange and create capacity for export of tomato concentrate and paste to ECOWAS sub –region and beyond.”

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 • T H I S D AY

38

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Customs Seizes N242.6m Drugs, Ali Accuses Officers of Aiding Smugglers To partner customs agents on war against corruption Eromosele Abiodun The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday announced that it intercepted trucks loaded with smuggled drugs worth over N242,688,000.

The drugs identified as Tramadol Hydrochoride tablets in the range of 225mg/200 mg were seized along-Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Apapa Road.

The Comptroller General of the Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), who stated this while conducting journalists around the warehouse where the seized drugs were kept.

Ali said the drugs were concealed in a total of 5,056 cartons, parked in two trucks on two units of 40-feet containers.

Ali who decried the high rate of smuggling despite the service’s effort to check the menace, said some officers are aiding smugglers.

He disclosed that the drugs are prohibited and not good for consumption without prescription.

He added that investigations are ongoing to unravel the involvement of customs personnel in the clearing of the consignment.

He further said the importers and the customs operative who colluded with them to allow the

dangerous drug to enter the country are yet to be arrested. ‘’This drug is prohibited and not good for consumption without prescription. A lot of women and youths now take it to relieve stress, but it is harmful to health if taken outside medical guidance, ‘’Ali said.

He said the customs will intensify its battle against smuggling and continue to prevent prohibited items from entering the Nigerian markets to safeguard the economy and health of Nigerians.

Ali who earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), urged them to form a synergy against smuggling and corruption in the maritime sector.

The meetings, which were part of Ali’s renewed strategic engagement with stakeholders culminated in the launching of an anti-smuggling sticker by ANLCA and assurances of support from NAGAFF. Ali said his office is ready to strengthen a synergy that will prevent smuggling and enhance government revenue while fighting corruption in the sector.

Ali urged all stakeholders to be

bold to report vices like corruption while assuring that there will be no hiding place for any customs officer found culpable.

He advised agents and freight forwarders to avoid cutting coners in a bid to make profit as some allegations of corruption against customs officers have agents collaborators who seek to profit from them. ‘’We must be bold enough to fight corruption. If an officer insists you must give him money, let us know. We must be the one to ensure that all the bad elements among us are exposed ‘’It gladdens my heart that

NAGAFF and ANLCA have form a synergy with us. That will give Nigeria Customs the encouragement to do better.”

President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, condemned the multiplicity of customs functions and interference with other agencies like the police, which according to him disrupts trade.

ANLCA also requested for a new clearance procedure that will eliminate frequent alerts and blocking of licenses .

Acting President of NAGAFF, Increase Uche sued for professionalism, enabling legislation to promote customs function and

entrenching international best practices.

Uche said, ‘’We are also aware that the CG has earlier today visited the headquarters of our sister association ANLCA. Let me announce to the CG that these two leading associations in the total logistics supply chain are now synergizing to bring about sustainability and support that would accelerate the growth of our national economy, which we feel will further help to ease the actualization of your mandate as directed by Mr. President. ‘’Our interest in the success of your major task of trade facilitation,

we have before now, made so many correspondences to your office including our last letter in which we requested that you host a delegation of NAGAFF in your office. ‘’The need to sustain the long standing mutual relationship and the strategic partnership which has existed between NAGAFF and the NCS cannot be over emphasized.

Today that dream is being actualized. ‘’This is basically in our efforts at carrying out our public policy advocacy role which we have been known for since over 18years of the establishment of our great association.’’

Herdsmen Invade Prison Farm Centre in Benue, Kill Inmate The Nigerian Prisons Service in benue State yesterday confirmed that herdsmen invaded its Jato-Aka Farm Centre and killed an inmate, one Tersoo Agidi.

The state Public Relations Officer for the prisons service, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that the incident took place on Saturday at the farm centre.

Nwanchor said the invasion was not a failed jail break attempt.

“This is a new farm centre established in January, 2017. The herdsmen invaded the place, destroyed property, shot and killed one Tersoo Agidi, an inmate.

“We have evacuated all the remaining inmates from the farm centre to Gboko, pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We are not taking anything for granted. My Controller of Prison is on top of the issue, and all relevant security operatives in the state have been notified,” Nwanchor said.

The PRO said the service was investigating the invasion to ascertain the remote cause, noting that no arrest had been made so far.

Nwanchor said the service had tightened security in and around all its facilities in the state, assuring that there was no cause for alarm.

Two Businessmen Kidnapped in Sokoto Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped two businessmen in Giyawa town of Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

THISDAY checks yesterday revealed that the duo were kidnapped on Sunday night.

It was gathered that the family of the abducted businessmen had been thrown into agony as a result of the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer and Superintendent of Police, Sokoto State Police Command,Al-Mustapha Sani, confirmed the incident to THISDAY in Sokoto yesterday.

According to him, it was the family of the businessmen that informed the Area Commander in the area as soon as the incident occurred.

Sani gave the names of the abducted businessmen as Alhaji

Labbo Giyawa and Alhaji Murtala Dantata.

The PPRO disclosed that the command had swung into action by deploying detectives to the area.

He said the Command was making frantic efforts with a view to securing the release of the victims.

“They were abducted by some gun-wielding gunmen, while they were reportedly sleeping in the frontage of their various houses. ‘’ They were said to have been taken to an unknown destination, but, the police is suspecting that they were being held captive in the nearby Gundumi forest.’’

“We have already sent detectives to the area so as to rescue the victims. I am optimistic that by God’s grade, they will be released soon,” Sani added.

The PPRO however, added that the kidnappers were yet to establish communication with either their families or the police.

NEIGBOURHOOD OFFICERS

Members of the newly inaugurated Lagos Neigbourhood Safety Corps at the ceremony in Lagos .....yesterday

Abiodun Ajala

Ogun Police Arrest Man for Beheading 72-year-old Woman Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bimbo Oyeyemi, yesterday disclosed that the Command arrested one Mr. Adeoye Ikugbayibe, for allegedly beheading one 72 years old woman, Mrs. Funmilayo Shada.

Oyeyemi also disclosed that Ikugbayibe who is 23 years was arrested following a report by the son of the deceased, Ekundayo Shada, who lodged a complain at Abigi Divisional

Headquarters, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

The PPRO, said upon receiving the complain from Ekundayo, the DPO of Abigi Division, Komolafe Omoniyi, led detectives to the scene, combed the surrounding bush and finally got the suspect arrested.

While narrating the incident, Oyeyemi said Ekundayo explained that the incident happened on his way to the farm to meet his mother who had gone earlier, when he met

Adeoye holding a polythene bag.

He said as soon as the suspect sighted him, he dropped the bag and ran into the bush. Suspecting a foul play, Ekundayo ran home to check his mother but could not find her. He later came back to check the bag dropped by the suspect only for him to discover the severed head and wrist of his mother in the bag.

However, On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime claiming he had been having a running battle with

the deceased over a portion of land.

Meanwhile, the severed head and the remains of the deceased has since been deposited in the mortuary while the machete used by the suspect was also recovered.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, ordered that the suspect be transferred to homicide section of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID) for further investigation.

Bandits Raid General Hospital in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Workers at the General Hospital, Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State are now living in great fear following series of attack launched against the hospital by men of the underworld.

Reports said the frequency and relative ease with which the bandits invade the hospital has reached freighting dimension.

Eyewitness accounts claimed that the hoodlums made their

nocturnal attacks on the Bomadi hospital four times last week alone, carting away valuables and cash belonging to both workers and patients on admission.

THISDAYlearnt that the hoodlums severally broke into the doctor’s house, making away with foodstuff including, quite recently, a bag of rice belonging to an NYSC member.

A generator belonging to a nurse was also reportedly taken away by the hoodlums who ransacked her apartment while subjecting patients to horrifying experience by removing their personal effects, including bags,

cash and telephones.

A reliable source stressed that fear had gripped the entire hospital workforce especially those on night duty as security in the hospital, which is located far from the town centre, was anything but tight.

“These boys come into the hospital at night when the patients are sleeping, they move from room to room of workers living inside the hospital armed with cutlass and other dangerous weapons.

They enter the hospital wards and remove patients valuables and money.

“From last Friday to this last weekend, they attacked the hospital four times. They used to come before now but the frequency nowadays has put much fear in the people working here. We need protection from the police and the community”, a worker said on condition of anonymity.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relation Officers, Mr. Andrew Chiamaka, quoted the divisional police officers in the area as denying that the hospital was “under siege of robbers”as was being rumoured.

39

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Isaac Success Aims for World Cup Glory with Eagles Watford striker Isaac Success is determined to help Nigeria qualify for the 2018 World Cup after making his senior debut for the Super Eagles.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute on Thursday as Nigeria drew 1-1 with Senegal in a friendly in London.

“It was a dream come true for me. I thank God for being here representing my country,” he told BBC Sport.

“The energy is there, the mindset of bringing success to Nigeria and to Africa at the World Cup is there.”

He replaced Moses Simon on the hour mark of the match played at Barnet’s Stadium in north London to finally make his senior debut after missing several other call-ups due to injury.

“I am happy now, I am fit, I am very sharp now and looking forward to the opportunity again,” he added.

But he will have to wait for a second cap after Nigeria’s proposed friendly yesterday against Burkina Faso was cancelled after several of the Stallions players failed to get visas to enter the UK.

Success was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Under-17 World Cup in 2013 and is excited to be part of a new generation of players for the Super Eagles.

“These young boys, and

I am one of them, they are really hungry to do something,” he said.

“We want to do something different, something the fans have not seen in a long time. Success is guaranteed

because now they have Success in the team.”

Three-time African champions Nigeria failed to qualify for the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles are currently top of their group for 2018 World Cup qualifying having won both their opening games so far and are ahead of Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria.

Zenith Bank/Delta Principal’s Cup: LG Winners to Emerge Thursday Local government winners will on Thursday emerge at the ongoing Zenith Bank-sponsored Delta State Principal’s Cup. The competition which started on March 16 with Okwe Secondary School defeating Zappa Mixed Secondary School 1-0 in the opening match, has thrown up great talents in the state.

According to the organisers, a winner each will emerge from the 25 local governments of the state and will be grouped into eight where the quarterfinalists will emerge.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Delta State, Chiedu Ebie, has promised the best of football with the best school emerging champions at the final already scheduled for May 27 to coincide with the Children’s Day celebration.

Ebie also said mechanism

has been put in place to detect any mercenary from the schools so has to have a worthy champion.

“Apart from working with the schools competing in the competition, we have a group of technical/verification committee that would be on the lookout for any student that is above the stipulated age of 16,” he said.

“This is a formative competition and we cannot afford to mess it up by allowing for mercenaries to compete for schools. Any school(s) caught in any act of malpractices would be expelled from the competition.”

Reiterating the statement of the commissioner, the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said schools should not be involved in act that will destroy the legacy of the competition.

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE...

Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Moses Ekpo (left), handing out the overall winners trophy to Captain of Oruk Anam LGA, Peter Etim, at the closing ceremony of Akwa Ibom State Youth Sports Festival last Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo

Obaseki Announces N1m Winning Bonus for Bendel Insurance FC Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has announced a winning bonus of N1 million for Bendel Insurance Football Club.

Besides, the governor who promised to support the club both financially and morally said the bonus would enable

them compete favourably and secure promotion to the elite division at the end of the current season of the Nigerian National League.

The governor gave this assurance at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium where he watched the Insurers defeat visiting Papilo FC of Owerri 2-1 at the weekend.

Governor Obaseki, accompanied by his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie at the stadium, commended coach Roland Ewere and his team for an impressive outing, which saw them cart away all three points.

He also announced a winning

bonus of N1 million for the club.

Obaseki said that his administration is ready to do everything necessary to encourage the state-owned club to regain its premiership status.

He however urged them to be ready to play their parts also by working hard to win every game in order to secure promotion to the elite division.

Marylove Edward and Matthew Abamu secured wins in their opening matches to give Nigeria a bright start at the 2017 ITF/CAT African Junior Championship which served off yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Third-seeded Edward, who is the only female member of the five-man team, defeated Hoziane Kitambala of Kenya 6-4, 6-0 in the girls’ 14 and under to enhance her chances of progressing to the knockout stage while Abamu triumphed over Forkane Lebdi of Algeria 6-3, 7-5 to also take a step at securing passage from the

preliminary stage.

“I’m very happy, I played so well. I know there are tougher games ahead but its good I won my first game,” said the 11-year-old who was beaten in her debut match at the AJC last year in Pretoria.

Edward will face unseeded Niangadou Coumba of Burkina Faso today while Abamu keeps a date with Taona Mhwandagara of Zimbabwe.

However, it was not all rosy for Nigeria as Michael Osewa fell 6-0, 6-2 to thirdseed, Soufiane El Mesbahi of Morocco.

Osewa, the 12th seed, is

the most experienced of the Nigerian players losing in the final last year to Damien Laporte of the Seychelles in the boys’ 14 and under.

However, making his debut in the 16 and under category, he was puzzled all through the match by the firepower of the North African who sealed a comfortable win in about 50 minutes. Osewa will play Kenya’s Keean Shah today.

“The Moroccan boy was very good. He has been playing in the category for almost two years and his class was high for Osewa to contain. We are looking forward to his next

match tomorrow (today) and hopefully, he will get back to winning ways; remember it was the same experience for him last year where he lost his first match but made it to the final,” Nigeria’s junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale recalled.

Michael Ayoola and David Dawariye are the two other Nigerians in the tournament featuring over 120 players about 30 countries and they will begin their preliminary matches on a tough note against top seed, Youcef Rihane of Algeria and Mehdi Benchekroun of Morocco today.

Arsenal Golf Club Hosts Nigeria’s First Four Club Caddies Competition ITF/CAT JuniorTennis: Marylove,Abamu Win, Osewa Beaten Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Arsenal Golf Club, Obinze, Owerri, at the weekend hosted Nigeria’s inaugural Four-club Caddies Competition.

The tournament, which featured 60 caddies, drawn from different clubs across Nigeria, was organised by the West Africa Golf Tour Academy.

Imo State Deputy Government, Prince Eze Madumere, performed the ceremonial tee off.

The competition was a highly demanding mental test that placed tough risk and reward decision-making on the fledging golfers.

For the 18-hole event, the players’ choices were limited to only four clubs in their bags as against the conventional rule which permitted a golfer to stock 14 clubs in the golf bag.

The tournament put together to uncover young talents, also intended to provide the pathway for talented caddies, who eventually will aspire

to become professional golf players.

In view of the pressure of club selection placed on the players, many of them had to think about which irons, wedges and woods were to be picked along the mandatory putter.

Many caddies whose ages ranged from between 12 to 25, participated at the competition which the organisers said will now be held twice every month.

The West Africa Golf Tour Academy was opened two weeks ago at Arsenal Golf Club with the objective of developing the game of golf in Nigeria.

The Tour also dedicated a driving range in the Academy for public use. The range will support the growth of the game by allowing youths and other starters to learn and hone their golfing skills.

The competition was covered by SuperSport, the official broadcast partner of the West Africa Golf Tour.

LMC Chairman Loses Eldest Brother Chairman of League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko, has lost his eldest brother, Professor Inuwa Dikko.

According to family sources, Professor Inuwa died Monday morning in Zaria after some early morning discomfort that

saw him visit his doctor and later passed on in the clinic.

In his 70’s, the late professor was a respected scholar and had served as the Director General Library Board and was also a former Chief Librarian at Ahmadu Bello University,

Zaria.

Until his death, the promoter of liberal Islamic teachings was also a great sportsman and served as the patron of the Sardauna Fives Club.

In his tribute, the LMC Chairman described his late

brother as “an embodiment of tradition, culture, education and westernisation all in one”.

The remains of the late scholar has since been laid to rest same morning of March 27 in Zaria according to Muslim rights.

TR

Tuesday March 28, 2017

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE APC to Ali, Lawal

“The party will not support any member of the party, any appointed official of government to disrespect the National Assembly because we recognise that the National Assembly is the very meaning of our democracy” – National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi clarifying the party’s position on the face-off between the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (rtd), Secretary to Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal with the Senate urging them to respect the legislature and honour its invitations to appear before it for scrutiny.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Nigeria’s Angry Children of Suicide abati1990@gmail.com

I

nce wrote about Nigeria’s “children of anger”, but the country seems to have progressed from anger to clinical depression, resulting in a rise not merely in social aggressiveness, but a determination by certain individuals to escape from it all. The percentage of Nigerians seeking escape through suicide nonetheless remains small relative to the size of the population, but the sharp increase in the number and frequency of reported suicides in the last two years alone speaks to a certain dysfunctionality requiring closer inquiry.

Suicide is an act of self-destruction, an escape from the self, an act of self-defeat.

Whether the suicide is anomic or fatalistic, due to loss of job, broken relationships, dis-inhibition, economic deprivation, environmental factors, disability or psychosis, it usually arises from an awareness of the inadequacy of the self. What Germans call “weltschmerz”, that is, a discrepancy between personal expectations and the reality of personal space, which for many may result in anger, aggressiveness, a feeling of rejection, isolation, inadequacy and ultimately a revolt against the self.

It is often assumed that poverty is synonymous with this resolve to deconstruct the self but the highest suicide rates are actually found in countries with wealth, and better environment, and all ten of the most popular spots for suicide in the world are in developed countries. What is certain however regardless of the place and time, is that human beings decide to abbreviate their own mortality when they resolve that they can no longer live with the discrepancy between what they are and what they would like to be, or what they have been and what they have suddenly become or what they expect and what happens to them eventually, all of this basically in the context of the imagined stigma, shame, disgrace or disappointment.

What is instructive in our own circumstance, however, is that suicide has always been frowned upon in our society: It is forbidden by law, religion, society and tradition, to the extent that in local communities, persons who commit suicide are not given any decent burial, they are thrown into the evil forest to serve as a deterrence to others, and the affected family is stigmatized. It is for this reason perhaps that suicide cases used to be very few in our land. Besides, Nigerians are known for their optimism and resilience.

We were once described as one of the happiest people on earth, and one Dictionary describes a segment of our population, the Yoruba as the “fun-loving people of the South West part of Nigeria.” Nigerians love life so much they describe virtually every funeral as a “celebration of life” and every life, including the poorest is advertised in funeral posters as “a life well spent.” The cemetery is seen as a desolate, lonely, outside corner of the social space where no one is in a hurry to go. But all that has changed; or appears to be changing, for in the last two years, suicide seems to have become fashionable among seemingly ordinary folks.

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole I use the phrase “seemingly ordinary folks” advisedly, because the other kind of suicide that is known to Nigerians remains even surprising, and I refer here to the terrorism, religious fundamentalism-inspired suicide attempts of the likes of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and Boko Haram agents.

When the news broke in 2009, that the former had been uncovered as a suicide bomber, Nigerians were shocked. The reaction then was that it was impossible for a Nigerian to willingly decide to die for, of all reasons, ideological or religious reasons. We were soon proven wrong when Boko Haram began to deploy both male and female, mature and teenage, suicide bombers who turned Nigeria into an extension of the killing fields of al-Qaeda. This trend continues, with the hope within the larger society, that it is something that would end someday.

What the emerging literature shows is that the conditions for every suicide vary in time and space, but in Nigeria, the reported cases point to too many cases of self-deconstruction on the basis of economic deprivation, loss of status, debt, helplessness. The responsibility of government is to ensure the security and welfare of the people. There has been a great failing in this regard, with the people driven further below their perceived reality, which reinforces the causative principle earlier defined. Some of the recently reported cases are as follows: a man ended it all because he could not give his wife “chop-money”, another woman chose to die because she could not pay off her debts, in one week in Lagos, a doctor, two women and an elderly man chose the Lagoon as their death-spot.

With the way the Lagos Lagoon has suddenly become a popular spot for suicide in Nigeria, it may well in due course, become one of the most popular suicide spots in the world.

It is noteworthy, if I must say so, that the ten most popular suicide spots on earth are associated with the sea, and bridges, with perhaps the sole exception of the Aokigahara Forest-Mount Fuji in Japan

where suicide rate is as high as 100 per year. The Japanese may tolerate suicide and consider it supernatural, but here in Nigeria, it is a growing trend that should be discouraged. Some priests have said the Lagos Lagoon is angry and that is why it has been attracting persons to jump into it: if indeed whatever spirit that controls the Lagoon is hungry, the Oba of Lagos and his chiefs should hurry up and feed that spirit with whatever it eats. I assume that this would be a more useful venture than the partisan declaration by the Oba of Lagos that nobody should contest against the incumbent Lagos State Governor in 2019! But how about the other unreported causes of suicide, far away from the Lagoon? This is where the dilemma lies and where our constructive social theory, and the admissibility of every piece of evidence, empirical and customary, meets a brick-wall.

As a country, society and government, we would always have to deal with deviant behaviour, into which category suicide – the ultimate act of violence and rebellion against self and society falls in this particular context, what is crucial is society’s level of preparedness to reduce the scope and range. In Nigeria, we are not prepared at all. When people fall into depression in other countries, they visit counselors and psychiatrists. In Nigeria, a prominent leader once dismissed psychology as a useless course that should be removed from the curriculum. Graduates of psychology end up doing something else, or they end up offering pro bono counseling on social media like my in-law, Joro Olumofin, but with people dying for no just reasons and jumping into the river or hanging themselves or killing their spouses and family members, this is a country in urgent need of professional counselors. Psychiatry is another relevant discipline that has been utterly neglected.

I once gave a keynote address at the Psychiatric Hospital, Aro in Abeokuta and I was again Keynote Speaker at the 100thanniversary of Psychiatry in Nigeria.

Nothing has changed since then. We don’t have enough psychiatric doctors or hospitals in Nigeria. The few psychiatric hospitals are poorly funded, psychiatric doctors are poorly treated, the discipline is disregarded, and yet this is a country of psychotic cases at all levels, the more serious cases are in government, making decisions that create more problems of bipolar disorder in the larger society. Nigeria is a victim, like many other developing countries, of a one-sided embrace of globalization and its gains and evils. People watch TV and they are socialized into a new form of thinking that is disconnected with local values and culture. They become anti-heroes in the process. Suicide or attempted suicide has not fetched any one or any family any kind of honour in our society.

Given this sociology, greater attention needs to be paid to the increasing incidence of suicide, in the North and the South particularly, with the most vulnerable

states properly identified and strategic intervention measures put in place. A preliminary observation indicates that the most affected persons in the North are radical Islamic extremists used as pawns by the Boko Haram, while in the 10 most affected states in the South, the cause is basically existential. This observation is based on reported cases, but with the increasing frequency, it is safe to hazard a guess that there are many more unreported cases, which may provide additional or different sociological conclusions.

Whatever the case may be, this rise of despair in the country needs to be managed.

Suicide prevention hotlines have been announced, but the thought of suicide should be discouraged in the first place, through better governance, opportunities for professional counseling, and better management of mental health. Most Nigerians don’t even know who to go to, or talk to when they are depressed! And if they know, they don’t want their private secrets to be known. When the suicide succeeds or fails, the relatives are in need of help: they will need counseling, to deal with the frustration and the shame.

I believe that suicide-related problems can be fixed. The challenge is to convert the people’s pessimism into optimism through people-centred governance and to deliver the much-expected, much-trumpeted change in their circumstances. Disappointment leads to frustration, to anger, to despondency, to losses, to despair and ultimately to self-destruction for the weak-hearted. But suicide is not a solution. And to those who doubt this, Teebliz, Tiwa Savage’s husband is a living testimony. Not too long ago, he wanted to jump into the Lagoon. He said his wife, the award- winning singer, had disappointed him. He accused her of many better-unmentioned-again-things. He could not take it anymore and he wanted to self-destruct.

His suicide attempt was more or less televised, because it was everywhere on social media - it is not every suicide that is so televised- eventually he was prevented from taking the plunge, and he raved and ranted afterwards and then went quiet. Months later, he has been shown taking photographs with the same woman for whom he wanted to play a Romeo without a Juliet. In their most recent outings, they have been shown with their son, Jamil who looks like his father’s twin, and last weekend, the boy had his Christening at a church in Lekki.

Teebliz has been pictured bonding with his son and beaming with fatherly pride.

If he had jumped into the Lagoon when he wanted to do so, he would have been long dead and forgotten. But Teebliz looks much happier now, and deep within him, he must be grateful to the persons who did not allow him to jump. He must be particularly happy seeing his son growing up into a fine young kid. There is nothing in this life that cannot be fixed and there lies the futility of suicide.

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