Thursday 11TH May 2017

Shell Commences Trans-Forcados Pipeline Testing Oil price rebounds to $50 as US inventories drop

Ejiofor Alike with agency reports After months of repairs, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has started

testing the Trans-Forcados crude export pipeline for a potential restart, with the Astro Perseus crude tanker expected to load the first cargo by the weekend.

The pipeline has been largely shut since it was bombed by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in February 2016.

The pipeline resumed

exports in October 2016 after it was repaired but was shutdown in November after the militants bombed the subsea facility for the second time.

Before the militant attacks, the Forcados stream accounted for between 200,000 and 240,000 barrels per day.

But following the repeated attacks on the Forcados

pipeline, companies that fed crude into the Forcados stream have been working around the long-term pipeline outage, Continued on page 8

Moody’s Assigns Stable Outlook on Nigerian Banking Sector.... Page 10 Thursday 11 May, 2017 Vol 22. No 8057. Price: N250

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Kano Assembly Constitutes Committee to Probe Sanusi Cleric arraigned for insulting emir

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State House of Assembly has set up an eight-man committee to investigate the allegations levelled against the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II bordering on his purported misconduct and alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Kano

Emirate Council.

The Speaker of the state assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, who presided over plenary yesterday, constituted the panel following a point of order raised by the member representing Nasarawa constituency, Ibrahim Ahmad Gama.

Continued on page 9

Lai Mohammed: Controversy over Buhari's Handover Letter Needless Distraction

FEC approves negotiations for LagosKano, PH-Maiduguri rail lines concession Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday dismissed the controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the National Assembly, in which he stated that VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo would “co-ordinate government

activities” in his absence.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was presided over by Osinbajo, the Minister of Information and Continued on page 9

Tinubu: Jonathan Spent Huge Amount of Money to Defeat Ambode in 2015... Page 11

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (right) presents the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington with an INEC plaque, when the latter visited the commission’s headquarters in Abuja… yesterday

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Soludo: CBN’s FX Policy Requires More Work Says multiple exchange rate regime must be eliminated

Obinna Chima and Nosa Alekhuogie A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said that despite the stability achieved in the foreign exchange (FX) market, the CBN still has a lot of work to do in order to restore confidence in the system, including eliminating the multiple exchange rate regime.

Soludo, who is the founder of the African Heritage Institution, said this yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the 8th annual pan-Africa investor conference organised by Renaissance Capital in Lagos. His address focused on Nigeria’s FX policy.

The central bank increased dollar sales to banks since February, effectively curbing FX shortages, which contributed to the first annual contraction in the country’s economy in more than two decades and limited trading by the country’s lenders.

Owing to the interventions, the naira has appreciated to around N385-N390 to the dollar at the moment, compared with the N525 to the dollar, prior to the CBN’s aggressive forays in

the market.

But Soludo stressed the need for the central bank to eliminate the multiple exchange rate regime, saying it was causing distortions in the economy.

Elaborating on recent efforts by the CBN to improve liquidity in the FX market, Soludo said: “That is one step forward. But what is one step in getting to a long destination? Why do you have these multiple FX windows and creating all the distortions all over the place?

“Stop the multiple currency practice today. It doesn’t take much to get it done and that is where we need to be.

“Of course, they’ve taken some steps forward relative to where they were yesterday.

But relative to where you ought to be, you are still a far long way off to get there and the system will continue to haemorrhage until we get it right.

“We need to eliminate the multiple exchange rate practice. While I applaud them by saying it is one step forward, but you’ve still got some other 99 steps more to go.”

The former CBN governor however acknowledged that there have been some “bright

spots” in the quest to lift the economy out of recession, especially with the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

But he pointed out that the ERGP still has the challenge of coherence, robustness and implementation.

“I hope that a big lesson has been learnt, and my point here is that with all its defects, there is no credible substitute to a sound macroeconomic framework for an economy such as Nigeria.

“In a foreign exchange management system where you have a dominant supplier such as the central bank, it requires more than a casual knowledge of the macroeconomy,” he added.

According to Soludo, the CBN must always be seen to maintain its instrument of autonomy while being accountable.

He also argued that there seems to be some form of disarray in terms of the management of the economy.

The economist stressed the need for an “urgent framework for macrocoordination, especially between the fiscal, monetary, FX and commercial policies.

“The CBN cannot overextend itself into commercial

policies and quasi-fiscal operations, nor can we expect the central bank to credibly operate in a normal way when you have fiscal dominance.

“It requires all of them to come together, especially at this point in time. If the fiscal angle is broke and the monetary side has its challenges, you must have all these people sit down so that we can begin to restore confidence. You can’t fool the market for too long,” he said.

While speaking on the battle against FX speculators, Soludo said speculators are much wiser, adding that they (speculators) “know the size of your reserves, they know the size of your short-term liabilities and they know how many bullets you have to fight. So, they will wait for you”.

Nevertheless, he held the view that the medium-term outlook for the Nigerian economy could still be relatively buoyant, adding that the long-term prospect for the country remains very strong provided the fiscal and monetary authorities can get certain fundamentals right.

He reiterated that while the drop in oil prices and decline in output led to shocks in the economy, the

policy response in the past two years aggravated the slide, thus precipitating the recession.

“The collateral damage of the past errors would still linger for a while. So when you take 100 steps backwards and you only take 15 forward, everybody applauds, which is progress, even though you are short of where you started.

“But the confidence and credibility will take time to build. So, the effects of the damaged confidence would take quite a while to rebuild.

“Let me say that on the current regime on FX and monetary policies, my view is that if it continues, the so called recovery would remain tepid and sluggish because of the fiscal dominance, escalating debts and partly because of the exchange rate conundrum.

“The fiscal resources that are earned in dollars are often converted into the local currency at N305 to a dollar, whereas the domestic price level has adjusted closer to the parallel market rate.

“So this fiscal gap that would continue. Of course, the government wants to borrow to fill the gap; then it becomes a vicious cycle of escalating debt overhang.

“There is a high probability that the future servicing of that debt would be at a higher FX rate and with some price to be paid. Multiple FX practices would remain if we continue with this regime, domestic prices would continue to overshoot and the real effective exchange rate would remain overvalued, which would be contrary to the advertised goal of diversifying the economy and attaining competitiveness,” he added.

He also urged the CBN to remove the ban on 41 items from accessing FX from the interbank market, saying higher tariffs and trade policies should be used to discourage the importation and consumption of such goods.

In his presentation, the Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital, Charles Robertson, expressed optimism that Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business policy would lead to improvements in the next 12 months.

He advised the government to push for policies that would lead to the industrialisation of the economy, just as he bemoaned the slow efforts at resolving the challenges in the power sector.

the Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, after the governor had said God was punishing people in his state for their sins through the meningitis outbreak. Of the six northern states that recorded meningitis cases, Zamfara was the worst hit.

Even though Yari fired back at the emir, the Kano Emirate Council, which Sanusi chairs by virtue of his position, has come under the search light of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

When word got out that the council was being investigated, it issued a statement clarifying that contrary to the allegation that it had misappropriated N6 billion, it had spent N4.3 billion since the enthronement of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

It said when Sanusi ascended the throne in 2014, it had the sum of N1 billion in its coffers.

Sanusi, who was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has also

defended his lifestyle, which has been criticised for being ostentatious and flamboyant.

He said the two Rolls Royce he uses were given to him as gifts, while his friends in the banking sector provided the private jets he uses for his trips.

In another development, the police yesterday arraigned a renowned cleric, Sheik Nasiru Bazallah before a senior Kano Magistrate’s Court for allegedly insulting the Emir of Kano with the intent of breaching the peace in the state.

The prosecution alleged that the cleric tried to incite disturbances and defamed the traditional ruler, alleging that the cleric acted contrary to Section 114, 392 and 399 of the Penal Code.

The charges against the cleric stated that on May 8, 2017, Emir Sanusi lodged a direct complaint to the Kano State Commissioner of Police alleging that the accused on March 20, 2017, acted in a manner that defamed his

character.

He further alleged that the Islamic scholar criminally gathered his followers at Goron Dutse quarters, where he made statements to incite disturbances, defamed the character of the emir and impugned his integrity.

When he was read the charges, the accused pleaded not guilty and applied to the court to grant him bail.

The prosecution, which was represented by Police Inspector Haziel Ledapwa informed the court that police investigation was still in progress.

The presiding magistrate, Hassan Ahmed Fagge, in his ruling admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties.

The sureties must be directors of a ministry.

7 million barrels in June, a source told Reuters, as part of the OPEC’s deal to reduce production.

Aramco had previously maintained supplies to important Asian customers.

But questions remain about the effectiveness of OPEC-led cuts, with OPEC member Libya saying production now exceeded 800,000 barrels per day for the first time since 2014 and could rise to 1.2 million bpd later this year.

Nigeria, which along with Libya is exempt from OPEC cuts, is also expected to see a jump in output soon as Shell reopens the Trans-Forcados oil export pipeline after tests.

However, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said recently that Nigeria would voluntarily join the cuts if its production reached 1.8 million bpd.

Crude oil prices surged after the OPEC deal, but have come under pressure in recent weeks as U.S. production surged, undermining OPEC-led efforts to balance supply with demand.

Brent and U.S. light crude closed at their second lowest levels since November 29, 2016 the day before OPEC announced it would cut output in the first half of 2017.

KANO ASSEMBLY CONSTITUTES COMMITTEE TO PROBE SANUSI The lawmaker alleged that Sanusi had spread false information on the trip of the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to China recently to hold discussions on a light rail project in the state.

Gama also insisted that the statement attributed to the emir was capable of tarnishing the governor’s image, the state government and that of the assembly.

“The emir during his speech in Kaduna, alleged that the Kano State governor and his entourage, including me as the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, wasted one month in China seeking for a loan to construct the light rail project.

“The emir’s statement was not true, we spent only four days in China, and our visit was to find out the capacity of the company to handle the rail project.

“His allegation has brought a lot of insults to my person, the state government and the House of Assembly by the

general public in and outside the state,” he said.

He also took a swipe at the Emir of Kano for sending his daughter to represent him at a function organised by the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in Abuja, describing it as inimical to the tradition of the Emirate Council.

“There are many responsible Emirate Council members who could have represented him at the programme. This is the first time we are seeing such in the history of the traditional home,” he added.

According to Gama, the mode of dressing by the Emir’s daughter during the programme also caused embarrassment to the Emirate Council and the tradition of Kano people, because she failed to wear the “full traditional regalia”.

He also accused Sanusi of introducing religious views that are contrary to the teachings of Islam, saying such things were capable of undermining the religion.

Gama further accused

Emir Sanusi of getting involved in political issues, the misappropriation of the Emirate Council’s funds and making statements against President Muhammadu Buhari.

After making his case, the Kano Assembly set up a committee to investigate the allegations. The committee was given two weeks to report back to the assembly.

The eight-member committee will be headed by the Chief Whip of the House, Alhaji Labaran Abdul.

Outspoken Sanusi has come under fire in recent weeks for criticising northern leaders and the establishment in the region for holding on to conservative Islamic values, which he said has stunted development in the region.

He has also advocated against child marriage and counselled against Muslim men marrying more than a wife when their finances cannot support a polygamous set up.

He was also critical of

SHELL COMMENCES TRANS-FORCADOS PIPELINE TESTING exporting oil via barges at the Warri refinery, but this has been limited to roughly 20,000 bpd.

One of the companies, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, said it planned to bypass the Trans-Forcados pipeline with the Amukpe-Escravos pipeline, which is scheduled for completion this year.

In the oil markets, the price of crude rose to $50 a barrel yesterday, following the biggest one-week drop in United States inventories so far this year, and after Iraq and Algeria joined Saudi Arabia in supporting an extension of supply

cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Reuters reported that concerns about rising output from the U.S., Libya and Nigeria continue to weigh on crude oil markets, even though analysts have questioned the sharp rebound, following the release of U.S. government figures.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. crude inventories fell by 5.2 million barrels last week, more than the 1.8 million-barrel slide that was predicted.

With the drop in U.S.

inventories, global benchmark Brent crude was up $1.34 at $50.07 per barrel, while US light crude oil was $1.43 higher at $47.30 a barrel.

Also supporting prices were comments from Algeria’s energy minister yesterday that Algeria and Iraq will favour extending global supply cuts when OPEC meets later this month.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, Khalid al-Falih said he expected the output deal to be extended to the end of the year or possibly longer.

State-owned Saudi Aramco will also reduce oil supplies to Asian customers by about

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN OANDO 0.88 9.57 NAHCO 0.30 3.32 FIDSON 0.07 1.05 DIAMONDBANK 0.18 0.92 TRANSCORP 0.10 1.15 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN LAFARGE 2.42 46.08 NEWREST ASL 0.24 4.73 JAIZBANK 0.05 1.00 CAVERTON 0.04 0.89 A.G LEVENTIS 0.03 0.69 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N798.00 Volume: 584.119 million shares Value: N5.651 billion Deals: 5,121 As at yesterday 10/05/17 See details on Page 41

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

Parents of Chibok Schoolgirls Face Wait to be Reunited

STARTERS

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Moody’s Assigns Stable Outlook on

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Nigerian Banking Sector Moody’s Investors Service has maintained its stable outlook on the Nigerian banking system, reflecting the rating agency’s view that acute foreigncurrency shortages in the country will gradually ease.

Page 10

EDITORIAL Research and The Universities

E ghty-two N ger an schoo g r s who were re eased from Boko Haram capt v ty after more than three years face a wa t to be reun ted w th the r fam es a Ch bok town e der sa d yesterday Yakubu Nkek head of the Abducted Ch bok G r s Parents group sa d parents of the g r s wou d on y be ab e to see the r daughters once government approva was g ven “Th s may take some t me as the g r s are now undergo ng med ca and menta eva uat on to ensure they are n the best of cond t on ” he to d AFP “We don t m nd wa t ng… The r hea th and we be ng s paramount to us and such eva uat on takes t me espec a y w th such a huge number of g r s ” The 82 were re eased on Saturday after months of ta ks n exchange for a number of suspected Is am st m tant fighters n government custody A tota of 276 g r s were se zed n Apr 2014 from the Government Secondary Schoo n Ch bok Borno State tr gger ng g oba condemnat on

F fty-seven escaped n the hours that fo owed and of the 219 who rema ned hostages 21 were re eased n a dea ast October and three others have been found Nkek sa d he had met the 82 nc ud ng h s n ece whom he sa d was “ n good cond t on and n h gh sp r ts” He sa d he estab shed that a of those re eased were from the Ch bok schoo Photographs of the g r s have been sent to the remote town n Borno and surround ng v ages for the r parents to ver fy the r dent t es On Saturday one of the re eased g r s was seen on crutches and another w th her arm n a s ng Nkek sa d seven of the 21 students freed prev ous y had shrapne wounds wh ch needed surg ca treatment “T me s requ red to hea such wounds The 82 g r s w not be d fferent They w undergo the same procedure ” he added Pres dency spokesman Garba Shehu gave an nd cat on of the potent a d fficu t es fac ng those who were freed by d sc os ng

that one g r had refused to eave She dec ned to be part of the re ease dea because she had marr ed a Boko Haram fighter Ana ysts sa d t was ke y others may have deve oped sympath es for the r captors over t me Thousands of women and young g r s have been abducted n the e ght-year nsurgency wh ch has eft at east 20 000 peop e dead and d sp aced more than 2 6 m on others Maus Segun from Human R ghts Watch n N ger a sa d the re eased g r s were ke y to have to dea w th ssues such as the r abduct on the effects of confl ct and pro onged so at on “Address ng the psycho og ca effects of capt v ty and the ent re confl ct tse f s one that the N ger an government and severa human tar an organ sat ons have strugg ed w th ” she sa d “The n t a assessment s that ex st ng serv ces have reached on y a few peop e In add t on there are concerns about the qua ty and effect veness of what has been offered ”

LA MOHAMMED CONTROVERSY OVER BUHAR S HANDOVER LETTER NEEDLESS D STRACT ON Cu ture Mr La Mohammed descr bed the react on as a need ess d stract on add ng that the operat ve phrase n the etter was “ n comp ance w th Sect on 145 (1)” of the 1999 Const tut on He po nted out that once the phrase was n the etter any other words that were nc uded were not of paramount mportance “I th nk t s a need ess controversy and ust a d stract on The operat ve sentence s n comp ance w th Sect on 145 sub-sect on (1) so any other words are rre evant ” Mohammed sa d After the Senate Pres dent Dr Buko a Sarak read the etter on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday announc ng Buhar s fo ow-up med ca tr p to the Un ted K ngdom Senator Mao Ohuanbuwa (Ab a North) had ra sed a po nt of order quest on ng the use of the words “co-ord nate act v t es of government” as aga nst “d scharge the funct ons of my office” wh ch the pres dent had used n h s January 18 etter when he embarked on a s m ar tr p Ohuanbuwa was of the v ew that the anguage n the etter had mp ed that the fu re ns of power were not handed over to Os nba o However Os nba o n response to a tweet on Tuesday seek ng to know f Buhar had offic a y handed over to h m on h s Tw tter hand e @ProfOs nba o confirmed that power was handed over to h m by the pres dent Irrespect ve the word ng of the pres dent s etter has generated heated debate among N ger ans espec a y on the

soc a med a w th many conc ud ng that the reword ng of the etter was de berate and po t ca y mot vated Dur ng the br efing yesterday the M n ster of Trade and Investment Dr Okechukwu Ene amah a so to d State House correspondents that FEC approved a memorandum seek ng to estab sh the N ger an Office for Trade Negot at ons The m n ster who sa d the memo was approved because trade s “pervas ve” and nvo ves a ot of negot at ons added that the government had found that trade act v t es are n t ated by var ous m n str es departments and agenc es (MDAs) of government w th nsuffic ent co-ord nat on Th s he exp a ned has un ntended consequences and costs for N ger a He sa d the office wou d be “headed by a ch ef negot ator of ambassador a rank who w then work w th both the econom c management team and the cab net” Ene amah sted the ob ect ves of the office to nc ude co-ord nat ng var ous trade d scuss ons and negot at ons that w ho d and to ach eve coherence n the country s po c es so that po c es w pu trade together In h s br efing the M n ster of Hea th Prof Isaac Adewo e sa d counc a so approved a memorandum author s ng the ntroduct on of a new ye ow card w th advanced secur ty features The m n ster sa d the new card had become necessary n v ew of cha enges surround ng the current ye ow card not ng that “ t cou d be ssued by anybody

and those who d d not even rece ve the vacc nat on cou d a so get a card s gned for them” However he sa d the new card un ke the current one cannot be counterfe ted “Us ng a card reader we can a so document your vacc nat on status So we know whether you have been genu ne y vacc nated or not and as soon as we start the ro out we w et the N ger an commun ty know about the date of commencement “We w a so et them know that w th the card they are ho d ng they are assured that t w be recogn sed abroad We w a so et N ger ans know when we w phase out the o d one ” Adewo e sa d A so the M n ster of Transportat on Rot m Amaech sa d two memoranda were approved by FEC for h s m n stry to commence negot at ons on an Out ne Bus ness Case (OBC) for the concess on and construct on of the ra nes that was subm tted by Genera E ectr c (GE) “The transact on adv sors w now commence negot at ons w th GE to conc ude the concess ons for the narrow gauge ne wh ch starts from Lagos-KanoFuntua-Kaura-Namoda and then from Port Harcourt-Ma dugur wh ch nc udes Aba-Umuah a-Enugu-Markud -Jos-Bauch Gombe-Ma dugur “The next memo that was approved has to do w th the consu tant that w superv se the construct on of the LagosIbadan ra ne and when we award the Kano-Kaduna ra ne the same consu tant has a so been approved ” Amaech stated

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units starved of funds. of many of our tertiary institutions are This appalling prompted some situation in the continent undoubtedly 15 African universitie including University s from eight of Lagos, countries, alliance at the African Higher Ibadan and OAU, to launch Senegal. The African ResearchEducation Summit in Dakar,an as the group Universiti is called said it would build es Alliance (ARUA) excellence as indigenou a vital and exert control precondition for the continent s research over “to develop its future.” of other research The alliance university consortium shares the aims such as the League s around the of European world the Group of Eight in Australia. Research Universities and strengthening These institution research and s advocate education. The postgraduate training in higher initiative got from the African powerful support at its launch African leaders Union Commission even as we hope that would buy into the idea and support it. he intention, according to Dr. Max Price University and of Cape Town the first chair together our distinctive fields of ARUA, is to “bring complementary of and coordinat expertise to achieve research and ed programm training, including es of ment priorities of the African addressing the key developcontinent.”

Universities and decades because industries have been collaborating for the key driver of mutual benefits while knowledge remains of growth and of a global knowledg developm e economy has ent. Indeed, the rise partnerships intensified strategic between the academia and developed world the industries in the research to hone since most of the big companie their competitiv s about 50 per e edge. Accordingneed good cent of research to reports, comes from funding in the industries in universities the developed Therefore, if world. the prevailing knowledgAfrican continent wants to compete in e economy, its that the research the policymakers departments must ensure equately and regularly funded. of the universities are adtheir attractiven Industries must also enhance projects that ess by going beyond the traditional funding contribute little advancement or of the country. nothing to the socio-econ of resources in research. That They should invest some omic of their is the prevailing social challenges in only way of tackling many growth. addition to driving economic

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Letters in response to specific publicatio readers may TO OUR READERS ns in THISDAY opinions on send such letters along should topical local, 1000 words). national and with their contact details be brief (150-200 words) and internatio They should to opinion@ straight to the be sent to opinion@nal issues provided thisdayliv point. Intereste thisdaylive.com they are well-writt e.com. We also welcome en and should along with the comments andd also not be longer email address than (950and phone numbers of the writer.

POLITICS

T H I S D AY

• THURSDAY,

MAY 11, 2017

Group Politic s Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.so niyi@thisday live.com 0803314613 9 SMS ONLY

PERS

Danu: Corru O N A L I T Y I N T E R V I E W Be Exposed pt People in Buhari’s Go vt Will A

die-hard supp the president’ orter of President Muh ammadu Buha s administration campaign, Nasiru Halladu ri who serve Kuni Tyessi but was optimistic that the Danu admitted that there d as deputy director of who presents are the excerpts: law would soon catch up a few bad eggs in the with them. He spoke to

Several years transition from after independence and military to remains underdev civilian, Nigeria eloped. Where it wrong? did we get It is a matter of leadership and third reasons . The on his cabinet, are centred first, second With the right on leadership about a cabal going by what his wife . searching and kind of leaders when alleged we keep pushing, and Obviously, and the hijacking of his people the opportuni giving the right I team? his administr believe he has full grasp ty to serve, will be history. our problem of appointments?ation. Who is doing the for will come The change we are new Who is occupying looking of the Command in the process. in full force and now the office Nigeria is changing we are was not around, er-in-Chief? Even when he for good. who asked to act? Who Prof. Osinbajo Are you saying gave him that the present Nigeria is the full backing? hardship is the only country economic part play politics the right track? of the process of being with even religion.where people on the Command For the past So Buhari is er-in-Chief of 16-20 and I stop the armed forces kind of leadershipyears, we have had there. a mixed leaders. Nigeria’s . there were good and bad When will situation can that of a man Nigerian youths be likened to of tomorrow become leaders married out and woman accepting as the of to country get love, but before have grey-haire they have to d men as our continues to marriage, go I also used leaders? understanding. through different phases to after some time,think the way you think in and if God After marriage, reality of but I realised sets not all about will give birthblesses the union, the sentiments. that leadership is woman to their first the people.

It’s about choice process is accompani If baby of constitution you are 100 years old ed with pains, and the physical and and the allows you discomfort, to rule, you to contest and others. The hormonal change and are free lead because end several However, Nigerians it is with the birth of the process which climaxes were looking your right. and someone to the family of a baby brings happiness for a saviour who would the track records come forgotten. We and the experience of everybody and look at is soon have gone the aspirants as a nation . Among all through so that and we will much in APC, Buhari contested for the primaries still if we don’t was the oldest, want temporary go through more but he look at this was also the no solutions. If government, most experienc doubt, I challenge has long-term you will see you Danu...Buhari is anybody in ed and doing well that it solutions. Starting Nigeria to integrity. He issue of insecurity fault his from biggest state was one time governor just the North-eas which had ravaged the of the country. of the You cannot not operation of Petroleum in Nigeria, one time Minister t but almost , crocodile smile tell me that the benefit every part chairman and one time GOC, one time in the South-eas has one time PTF t. You cannot not worked to pass of the doubt. At least Haram has it’s too early all these, you cannot Head of State. Despite judgemen not been defeated say that Boko to find even one percent from carry out theirt. They should be allowed station that belongs by at least 95 filling where we are to him. investigations. overthrown, the world, three-four years coming All over there were no Even when he was ago. The insecure from some profession investigation takes against him. corruption charges is the most time. They environment als I vulnerable President is and must be given time. are his co-contest challenge anybody amongst and we saw and we were someone who ers who Mr. records. here must belives that military and how barracks owned He contested has his kind of track people in by the the do that which is right other places three the fourth.

Even the Inspector and believes rule of law. were He believes times and won in youths General of attacked. of these things That is why you see so much in attacked in of the country.

Police was some an his the will have delays Is Rotimi Amaechi are used to old man? What how the United own headquarters. because doing things about Hadi Nations headquart We saw things as usual but we about Minister disarray and Sirika? What have changed. ers was in of now, how nobody the There has to Lokpobiri? Suleiman Niger Delta, Heineken investigation seen the barricades was safe. be a Adamu even in Abuja, We have of informatio and besides, we have proper and several some security freedom of them? So of Water Resources n. The picture and the jobs he can you All of these outfits had to block their how is one out of a were the fear thousand. Howhave painted Going but cannot force anyone only give roads. and insecurity by the of Boko Haram other operations? How about to about convicted their that all the constitution, he will makedo it. chiefs and civil campaigns of . Buhari’s promise during tools service is sure servants which I followed his in their made available.needed for you to succeed nook and cranny accounts which who have bi llions So the young of the countryhim to every not along in this we all know was abreast are carried governme does with the situation was that he that belong to them? Is it President Buhari look at the manifesto nt and even when and was committed planted the of the you monies in to fighting and country or bank accounts? it. He said we their houses promised the youths , the N5,000 that was securing It is time for and unemploy been criticised This administrwould work on the economy. anti-corruption us to ed was by many who ation battled come. Nigeriansserious. It is real, changetake government cannot things in its opined that with so first the need to understan has happening live up there has been year of administration. many this is the best today? Things to it, but what is d that There opportunity Today, and successful are EFCC which for our country getting there operations is change of of the President’ is the need for us is no drama attitude everywhe better. in the police people keeping but to pray for re. Is it force or military?

Mr millions of real and with success s health and for his homes. Civil Their dignity success. His is back and security cuts accross servants, servicedollars in their it is all has geopolitica terms improved Supreme Court the success of infrastruc chiefs and top . Is it in of all in Nigeria l zones and Jonathan ture? The Yar’adua because the in our life time. judges are being prosecuted administra success of Nigeria and beyond roles and the success saying nobody We have a leadership but he has tion played their notable determine of every other that taken it to way you look is above the law. Whicheveis with a populatio African countrys Everybody is doing the next level. at it, everybody n approachi now, corruption ng 200 million. is competition. Thehis/her best because there is being carefulr Religion has never been -wise and president is of the present our problem never It is simply the leader and will change and because we you know why? going be. Checkout the corruption example. he is leading that is not corrupt have on whether by in the oil and and looting and it’s So we are in a phase and will not a president or constructi for even his real. So join of change gas sector, compromise on the train. will never see and lands, or whatever, surrounded son. He is a good president that the loot you by good people. be bad ones There might church or mosque becausewas shared in the As an APC chieftain, what is to the figures. People the law will but it’s just a matter it of time, both throw numbersis a matter of legislativimbroglio between your reaction catch up with Muslims them. around and e arm of governme executive and I will not say and they all and Christians are fully involved Do you subscribe nt? that have pastors to the view what is happeningit is an ego problem and imams being used that EFCC is Corruption has been because for sinister between the legitimised around. government we don’t even So far, with motives? two arms of such that happens everywher know the difference the level of world. Simply a corrupt person performance current chairman, e all over the between of the and upright we should and nothing put, it is democracy in person. give him the action agree. APC more. Both must disagree Do you think will deliver the president to has a firm grasp delivering our promises.and we are already their constitutio Both arms know nal duties.

We have a leadership that is sayin is above the g nobody Whichever law. way you look at it, every is being caref body corruption ul now, you know -wise and why? It is simply becau have a presi se we is not corru dent that pt will not comp and for even his romise son. He is a good presi dent surrounde d by good people. There be bad ones might just a matte but it’s the law will r of time, with them catch up

FEATURES Raising Role Models

FEATURES

On a cool morning in May, as early as 9a.m, studentsofLagosStateMode students of Lagos State Model 9am College, Badore, innthehundreds the hundreds, ffiled Co ege Badore ed into the school ha hall innthe theirrchecksand checks and ntotheschoo white uniforms.

Each of them wielded wh teun forms Eachofthemw e ded a book. Insight: Nuggets of Excellence abook ns ght NuggetsofExce ence forTeenagers by Maryam Popoola.

Page 20

BUSINESS FG to Review National Broadband

• T H I S D AY

Davidson Iriekpe

daylive.com,

lenders, risks persist

ers in the education last week at sector a workshop on university-industry linkages. Education Minister, Mallam in his opening Adamu Adamu, remarks said start investing that time and resourcesAfrican universities should which could in technolog boost The primary the productivity of industriesical research objective of the . according to Adamu, “should university –industry linkage, tion of technolog be the applicabil areas of interest ical research and developm ity and adopinstead ent in the agreed works with minimal of producing many intellectual or no impact innovation or on company efficiency and productivity, medium scale the expansion businesses”. of the small The acting Vice-Cha the Obafemi and Awolowo University ncellor of Elujoba, who , Ile-Ife, Professor hosted Anthony increasing research the session, said commitm ent towards facilitating universityand intellectual outputs as well as -industry linkages were crucial IF THE CONTIN ENT actualisation to the WANTS TO of COMPETE projection that the IN THE PREVAI Africa would be the LING KNOWLEDGE continent of the future.

But the ITS POLICY ECONOMY, second most MAKERS populated MUST ENSURE continent THAT THE in the world RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS could only boast less OF THE UNIVER than one per cent SITIES ARE contributi FUNDED on to global research output.

Nigeria exemplifie Unfortunately, s this dismal the universitie situation. In s to research. Thein the country, little or no virtually all attention is paid little fund often the public universitie budgeted for research in matters, industries s is hardly accounted too hardly contribute for. To worsen ironically help to research and in cases, industry stifling the climate for innovatio involvement n. In most to endowme nt of profession in universities is often restricted construction al chairs in some of tions of some hostels or office blocks and disciplines, laboratory equipmen perhaps donat. That then explains why

Govt Will Be Exposed Several years after independence and transition from military to civilian, Nigeria remains underdeveloped.

Where did we get it wrong?

It is a matter of leadership.The first, second and third reasons are centred on leadership. Page 18

R

n R

M d

O

Plan in 2018 Unsatisfied with the implementation process of Nigerian National Broadband Plan, whichhasafiveyearlongevity period, the federal government has said it will review the plan by the end of 2018, when its longevity period will elapse.

Page 23

HEALTH Reddington Hospital Redefines

tive results by

Obinna Chima

News Editor

n.iriekpen@this

risk-weighted assets Moody’s Investors in foreign currency.denominated “We maintain Service has maintained its that ratios “Moody’s also sees the banks’ vulnerable to even modest are earnings, which the Nigerian stable outlook on loan-loss benefitted from shocks the provisioning reflecting the banking system, their weakening for some banks. Year-end revaluation net gains. Funding remained tight despite CARs and view that acute rating agency’s agency profitability. The rating declined due to the twin pressures liquidity risks the expect expects return inflated risk-weighte continue to authorities’ attempts to normalise of banks to remain shortages in foreign-currency to decline on assets the foreign-exc d assets (due be high. Loans/deposits the hange interbank despite still modest creditprofitable ratios market. have been gradually ease. country will in 2017, to around one per cent to the revaluation of rising US dollar growth and forecast from 1.3 per assets) and excessive,” Fitch but are not further asset-quality But just like cent rising “For 2017, we Fitch, Moody’s, end of 2016 on account at the charges, althoughimpairment deterioration, added. believe there another internation They noted but at a slower of high partially be a slight provisioning will this was costs al rating offset by strong concern in the that the primary operating easing on the banks’ The big question is whether pace. agency, held per cent of gross at around three the retained to industry relates will there environment loans. risks in the countryview that loan FC liquidity, reflecting but be improvement in FC liquidity, “System-w which it stated some early-stage improveme would remain this to a large ide high. extent depends on the macro-econo income will likely pre-provision nts remain robust, mic front. We on factors beyond the Moody’s stated however, at banks’ control,” Fitch this in around fourof report titled: stated.

‘Banking Systema average total assets, Outlook: Nigeria.’Wi supported by high yields th oil prices on governmen and economic securities t recovering in activity gradually foreign and profits on open Nigeria, we expect currency positions,” banks’ dollar the liquidity pressures agency added. to gradually Finally, Moody’s outlook period,”ease over our there considered to be a high Vice President and Senior Analyst probability of the Nigerian Akin Majekodun at Moody’s, supporting government banks “However, mi said. given the significantin case of need, quality to worsenwe expect asset of a consequences bank outlook period, slightly over the payments collapse to both the as historically oil prices, currency low economy. system and the wider and economic depreciation Meanwhile, contraction experienced positive financial despite the in to generate new 2016 continue 2016 results for posted loans in 2017,” nonperforming notwithstan by Nigerian banks he ding the turbulent The rating agencyadded. operating conditions, anticipated that Nigeria’s global rating agency, Fitch real Ratings, believes Product (GDP) Gross Domestic significant that growth of financial per cent in 2017 and four 2.5 beyond the reportedrisks persist cent in 2018, per figures.

Fitch after contraction last a 1.5 per cent banks’ in its assessment of the 2016 earnings March 2017. year, as noted in yesterday, obtained pointed out The revival will that the healthy 2016 net income by governmen be supported lifted was by expand non-oilt measures to gains large one-off revaluation after Nigeria sectors and its commitme allowed currency to devalue in June. its infrastructure nt to fund large It also projects as well by a partial as also madestated that the banks rebound in higher United global dollar oil prices from States core lows income (in last year, terms) it stated. naira and booked Risks to asset sizeable foreign-cur likely to remain quality are income, rency (FC) trading Acting President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo Abuja....yesterday which offset high, with nonperform (left), receiving rising impairment ing former Vice President, charges. likely to rise loans (NPLs) “While the banks’ Namadi Sambo, to between and 16 per performance 14 ratios improved on a courtesy cent, call to the the in the year, we cent at end-2016. from 14 per note State House in that however, reach They should, earnings a substantial part of State House were non-recurrin write-offs, loan a peak as will g and be difficult to restructurings, repeat. Sector and the strengtheni ng economy impaired loan ratios increased takes effect. sharply but Damilola Oyedele this “Nigerian given the extentwas expected in Abuja highway was have sufficient banks should macro-econ of Nigeria’s capital The omic to federal absorb Bi-Courtney in concessioned to Babalakin expected losses, government “Asset-quality challenges.

2009 under a though Moody’s have agreed may and the Chairman Build, expects system-wid to enter a funding Operate and Transfer have been even metrics would agreement deal, but was of Motorways Asset Limited, and Motorways e tangible worse if not revoked in 2012, common equity in a Public-Priva are expected high levels for allegedly because Mr. Abdulrasaq Oyinloye. merge their to te the company decline slightly (TCE) to only particularlyof restructured loans, Partnership (PPP) deal current Adeosun declined violated some to 14.1 per cent into a new company concessions Courtney Highways with Bi- of the to terms with of adjusted risk-weight to speak agreement. sector. Low the troubled oil ensure which would Limited to journalists be a special reserve coverage ed assets and the timely construction by year-end Yesterday’s meeting purpose vehicle but sources after the meeting, the high 2018 from 14.7 for and behind project. which held told THISDAY cent at the end per add to levels of FC lending rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibada closed the that federal doors, of our expressway project.

The concerns about and had in governmen n attendance shift is primarily 2016. The slight banks’ t and the government would provide the Senate the the Senate President, long-term due to increased The issue was new company agreed that loan-loss provisions expressway Capital buffers financial health. discussion with financial the instruments the crux of Dr. Bukola Saraki, Minister must be completed and the continue Finance, Mrs. effect of further , through at a of as soon Kemi Adeosun, raise the necessary which it can expected naira weak despite relatively to be evening in the meeting yesterday Chairman, as possible. depreciation National reported capital high “We also expect Senate on the balance “The underliningfunds. adequacy ratios where it was also Assembly, on Appropria Committee expressway of (CARs). that the tion, Senator the new agreement objective of Motorways Assets agreed that Danjuma must in such a mannerbe completed that Limited would Goje, and his be part of the quality work is to ensure Finance be counterpart, that PPP arrangemen it is will road a model for Senator John for the expressway which is said done on the t Enoh. developmen infrastructu It also had to in attendance The reconstructi. t in this country,”ral the nation’s economy be central to T H I S D AY and that the on of the the Chairman of Bi-Courtne , source said. a work is completed in Highways Omololu Ogunmade • THURSDAY MAY y Another source the shortest Limited, Dr. 11, 2017 time possible. in Abuja added Wale the He had first new agreement, that under would sign Very soon, all parties For the first a formal agreement Bi-Courtney for a national visited the Villa time this deal,” the on function when office in May since he left he attended source said.

Vice-President 2015, former anniversary the independence Two Nigerians of October 1, yesterday paidNamadi Sambo have been 2016.

Answering questions from in the Western Cape shot dead was shot in a to his successora formal visit journalists night province of South Africa. and acting after the meeting, at Strand Area club by gunmen treatment.”

President, Prof.

Sambo of Cape Town Mike Ibitoye, The incidents Sunday.” in his office. Yemi Osinbajo, Osinbajo,said he had visited last been reported Chairman of have the killing Nigeria the his successor, to the police “The assailants Sambo, who the national secretariat and Town, of two Nigerians in Cape on a disclosedUnion in South Africa, escaped after met Osinbajo mere familiarisation Western Cape shooting and this to News behind closed-door, the he said. of the union” tour.

Province the He Agency victim South Africa.” of died before the Presidentia was entering had explained further that he Nigeria (NAN) via telephone of being rushed to Thechairmansaid the opted to visit l Villa for Cape Town. from “The second time Ibitoye also said hospital.” the shootings had themotivebehind province union’s chapter in the since he left the the acting president’sOsinbajo as He said the deceased not been ascertained, is handling the Chimezie Oranusi, the second victim, adding office the but paying predecessor matter while were shot a courtesy visit way it is customary that 26, the by the from national police yet-to-be-ide Oba had commenced town investigation.

Osinbajo for body has reported ntified assailants. in Anambra State, was of a the first time. to former president incident to the “Mr. Ernest shot with a friend in to also visit Nigerian Missionthe the incumbent Adetola Olubajo, native of Nkpor, Ughakwesili, 42, Town. a car at Delst area of Cape in pres secretary of the South Africa. union, said the Government AreaIdemili North Local “We urge Nigerians national secretariat ow can the link “The friend is of Anambra State, had received in South Africa to the report of and is still in the a South African killings. and industries between universities the also appealremain law abiding. We hospital receiving be strengthe to the federal government “We have received ned Nigeria? That a report about to continue to protect the was the question in welfare of our people engaged the here,” Ibitoye attention of critical that said. the research stakehold

y attention was drawn to an article the ongoing published on crisis at the National Open of Nigeria. As University a tion of higher student of that prestigious learning, I could instituhappier that after what seems not have been current like an eternity, attention of the public and situation at NOUN is finally the especially experts Mr Ahmed getting the Abdullahi in describe t his well-written in the education sector.

18 piece did his best to

POLITICS Danu: Corrupt People in Buhari’s

THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

Email davidso

SamboVisits Osinbajo

ow can the link between universities and industries be strengthened in Nigeria?That was the question that engaged the attention of critical stakeholders in the education sector last week at a workshop on university-industry linkages..

Page 15

Freed Ch bok g r s w th Pres dent Muhammadu Buhar (centre) h s Ch ef of Staff Abba Kyar and M n ster of nformat on La Mohammed

NEWS

Moody’s As sig Nigerian Ba ns Stable Outlook on nking Secto r Fitch: Despite posi

T H I S D AY

• THURSDAY,

MAY 11, 2017

BUSINESSW NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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Quick Takes

ACCI Appoin

BUSINESS COLL ABORATION

R-L: Managing Jude Monye Director, Heritage Bank and Chief Financial Plc, Ifie Sekibo; facility in Ikeja, CEO of Triton Lagos...recently Officer, Vijay Mastakar Aqua Group, , during the Raju bank’s managem Samtani; Executive ent visit to Triton Director of Heritage Bank, Aqua Africa Limited (TAAL)

FG to Review Stories by Emma

Okonji

National Broa dband

Plan in 2018

ts Ekechukwu

DG

The Board of Abuja Chamber has appointe of Commerc d e and Industry effective May, Chijioke Ekechukwu as its new Director (ACCI), Ekechukwu, 2nd 2017.

General who holds a BSC in Economic and MSC in Finance, extensive leadersh is an entrepre s; MBA in Management neurial executive ip experien His work career ce. with Ltd, Ikoyi Lagos,spans over 25 years, from Manager, Equity Senior Officer, CitizensCashdata Services Bank Ltd; Assistant Vice Bank Ltd; Senior Manager, OceanicBranch President, and Group FCMB Bank; Plc; Head, Before joining Public Sector, Bank and Regional Director Bristol Group ACCI, he was the GroupPHB. and schools. with core business in Managing Director of investments, He is a Director property Following the in First Generation Mortgage Bank reorganisation comes with Ltd. of the a Ekechukwu track record of success chamber, Ekechukwu, is Risk Managema fellow of the Chartere in multiple areas.

Consultants; ent of Nigeria, fellow, d Institute of Loan and Institute (Chartered); Member, Nigeria Institute of Management and a Past of Managem He has attended Presiden ent many professio t of Rotary Club of abroad; and Abuja. nal courses he is married both locally with children. and

Glo Contin

ues Didact

ic Series

Globacom has continued to series, Professo run its didactic Unsatisfied ICT televisio with the impletakes viewers r Johnbull. The latest cent penetrati mentation process episode of n drama of high moral on an interesting voyage the series the current on target, given broadban of Nigerian plan that is designed National statistics, which to make on the significan broadband Broadband d not only The episode standards. said, showed he tous, available which has a Plan, ubiquice aptly titled some significan to all but also accessibl five year longevity Nigerians. The responsible “No Help” encapsul t period, the e and broadband growth level in the for plan is a five federal governme ates country’s affordable. are unwilling the dearth of help in broadband year has said it will the society the factors Giving some penetration. and why many review the nt 2013 to 2018, but plan from The first airingto be their brothers’ keepers.

Accordin clues on by the end how of 2018, whenplan will be reviewed hopefully it “broadba g to International was at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday him, boost government plans longevity period its of next by nd to on NTA Network, broadband the repeat on DSTV Chanel 251 and year. By next the end to technolo is the enabler in NTA growth Minister of will elapse. will edition will gy developm year we the run on Friday NTA on StarTimes, while stations. Cast ent governmcountry, Shittu said tions, Adebayo Communica- and review the broadband plan of any nation. The at 8.30 p.m. in the setting ent come issue of the sitcom and on the has Shittu, broadband up with new made the with Alliance opened talks accessibil lead characterof pure satire, the consciensame plan disclosure who that will catchup played by a in the series, ce of interview in with modern key to technology ity is the Internet (A4AI)for Affordable veteran of Nollywoo Professor Johnbull, with THISDAan technology trends,” developthe conseque to collabora d, Kanayo O. in Lagos, with it in making Shittu told ment. So government nces te of Kanayo, said the reviewY THISDAY. paying Announcing wants Nigerians stresses would be necessary the new episodegood with evil. to come together internet affordabbroadband Analysing statement in order the plan further, and ensure that in Lagos, Globacom le to all to finetune that “No Help” the its broadband Nigerians. unpleasant said in a with global contents, in line of minister said the target is accessible and experiences is an episode which dramatis Shittu added: technology 30 per cent affordab many good in the hands to all Nigerian ’’This governes the trends.

He also said Samaritans broadban of s. Governm le ment had long timeframe would penetration have suffered Sadly enough, people who lack natural ent it that consider as enshrine d is encouraging private be consider sense of gratitude in the it has no business ed ed d investme act of ingratitudit is the society that sector business. certain parametin achieving target plan was even a suffers ultimatel nt in broadban . in e, no matter low order All that the for Nigeria, others from ers in the d in reviewed broadban to make it governconsideri rendering help how little, is capable of y as any the clamour accessible ment needs do is to would have d plan, in for ubiquito ng and affordable,” Shittu order to speed provide the enabling appreciated and assistance even dissuading broadband us Nigerian to those who assured environment such help.” access penetration up broadband s.

ICT-led industry for He however by Nigerians. in ESET Wins He however businesses to “We have the country. thrive. expressed IT Security optimism a broadban that the existing explained some We have been having that the Product Award d would financial intervent broadband ESET, leading surpass the country infrastructure through ions European 30 per would in the the Universa -based IT security selected by l Service be improved country Nigerians as to make in online voting the top product company, has been organise for internet Continued Reading its security on page 24 citation at thed by the Beacon of ICT Awards.

Nigeria Communi award venue, Nwogbo, said: cationsWeek, organiser the Editor-in-Chief of proven and “ESET is a clear leader in s of the award, Mr. Ken tested informati the Nigerian testament to market with on security the growth ESET’s talent, innovatio solutions. It is indeed a The Managing of n and its commitm industry in the information and communi ent Centre, a Tier Director of Rack Africa.” cation technologto CEO of Arit Data Centre, 111 Collocation ECON OMY y of Mr. Ronke OkeremiAfrica, ESET’s partner Furthermore, has called on Tunde Coker, fast company in he said: ’’What steadily built , said: “ESET’s business the region, we deliver I S Dgrowing population AY all levels to governments atT H and at Rack Centre, Gross Domestic in Africa has rate sets adopt technolog this THURSDAY, MAY11, this is now for more than a decade Product (GDP) Nigeria on been in order to increasingly size, is not y Nigerian is a challenge for the 2017 a global bridge the recognized and we are proud that Our thanks margin that wide to grow government. We need because of our technolog map 10 countriesamong Africa’s top goes to our by with high GDP valued users the public. top ESET technolo GDP beyond ferings and y ofthe country’s exists between low capita, insisted and to the talent its current the quality per level and technolog Gross Domestic We are definitel gy.” of our adoption services. that technolog behind Product (GDP) y is the designs Currently we have y y delighted by governm of ESET protectiv and its huge enabler.” four to see growth population certified and ent at He added: e technology in the popularit size. this speaks all levels could change enterpris volume ’’There here, both Coker, who e security of the y narrative. is need for the us to in corporat made as well smartphones, data services kind of quality chat with THISDAYthe call in a close drive the country’s GDP 36 GDP per capital ” Okeremi added.as personal compute e and that we offer.’’ to the gap. If Coker , said there is a country’s rs and was need to Acting bridge the existing that as a nation, we do not do departmecalled on ministries, gross domestic product Featur gap between our populatio divided by its populatio nts and es Editor Charle will the agencies n, which is and its populatiocountry’s GDP GDPcontinue to grow while n (MDAs) of governm about how Email: charle s Ajunwa the continues to n size, using technology as s.ajunwa@thi be static. So consider hosting their ent to available to much money is we need a an enabling an individu data in the Nigeria, as sdaylive.com catalyst to boost Nigeria’s factor drive al in country.

GDP growth that will of hosting against the practice “NIPOST is make it more economy and Nigerian According local data endowed of the thereby abroad, with huge potentia economy.

According productive. increasing internatio Monetary to International We need to ls but bogged nal Seychelles Fund (IMF) report, drive big data traffic at the detrimen population to him, “The growth size is growing , an island t of local traffic and bureaucraticdown by fast, but the establishment encourage the value that will add economic records the smallest nation that and limited bottlenecks of not commen GDP growth is 111 to the Nigerian in any of Africa’s population capacitie Data Centres certified Tier surate with system. s Coker for experime independent to drive GDP who the growth.’’ state, nting and situation wherefrowned on the capita has the highest GDP thriving business per of any African models” is Africa’s largestNigeria, which economy, economy by Postmaster Continued General, on page 24 Adebisi

Expect Call s for Tech nology Ado Nigeria’s Low ption to Boo GDP st

HEAL

TH & LIFEST YLE Healthcare in Nigeria Reddington Hospital Re Nigeria defines Healt While Nigeria continues to grapple hcare in with poor health system that has caused many of its citizens to access W care in foreign countries like the Unite States, United Kingdom andTurkey, there seems to be a ray of hope, as private healthcare providers like Reddington Hospital Group.

Page 36 With the estab inauguration lishment of Maxi of Grays Card Specialty Hosp Reddingto italAdegbu iolog a few yi mon way to stopn Hospital Group, Mar y Centre and Brea ths ping medical st and Gynago and the recent tins Ifijeh tourism in ae Centre the countrywrites that Nigeria may by hile Nigeria just be on the grapple withcontinues to its system that poor health has caused

many of its access care citizens to countries likein foreign States, United the Kingdom seems to be and Turkey, Unite a there providers like ray of hope, as private healthcare Reddingto filling the gaps in the n Hospital Group are of giving Nigerians country with state-of-the-art the aim just as it is in healthcare Few months many developed nations. ago, the hospital lished the group estabMaxi Specialty a one stop medical facilityCentre in Lagos, Ear, Nose for dental and Throat care, treatment, (ENT) treatment, endoscopy, eye dialysis, EEG, Sleep studios, audiology physiotherapy, sleep managem ent, among , speech therapy, The establishm others. ent followed resolve to the group’s provide tertiary healthcare primary, secondary and in many specialtie one roof. A first of its s under kind in Nigeria.

But in expanding its healthcare the country, frontiers for Reddington, recently, the has again establishe Breast and d the Grays Cardiology Gynae Centre and everything woman, and Centre to carter for to cardiovas everything that cular system The Breast respectively.relates inaugurated and Gynae Centre, which Mrs. Dolapo by the Vice-President’s was wife, is said to be Osinbajo Monday last week, throughout dedicated to caring for women all stages of life.

The Chief Executive Hospital Group, Officer, Reddingt Dr. Yemi Onabowa on idea behind le, said the L-R: Minister of State was to offer the establishment of for Health, Dr. Osagie the Centre Onabowale and CEO, Reddington the Ehanire; Consultant and personali most advanced, comprehe Hospital Group, sed Cardiologis nsive care available, all-round Dr. Adeyemi in areas of t and Clinical services in Onabowale and give breast cancer, Director, Grays , during the advanced gynaecological Cardiology inauguratio breast care, among others. Reddingt fibroid, gynaecolo care, primary Centre, Dr. n of Grays gy, centre specialties O. Usim; on has taken Cardiology care, and other step to address such named, The Centre in Lagos...rec wife of the CEO, a bold this. We should ear, eye, nose as cardiology, general Grays Cardiolog suit and help Mrs. ently all follow Ikeja, which was inaugurat y Centre in women,” he and throat care to surgery, “Doctors and women in need of healthcar of State for standard of Nigerian added. health workers Health, Dr. ed by the Minister healthcare e.

He said in they fight The Centre, Osagie Ehanire. sion to deliver delivery, with are like for according tradition of keeping with the Reddingt soldiers, they us so we can live. soldiers, full-fledg The hospital’s first world medical a misto Onabowa being the front ed cardiolog But like need equipmen on The Reddingt breakthroughs service. pioneering runner in medical y facility with le, is a quality t to work with. of improving achievements in healthcare on Hospital a vision patients’ chances Centre boasts in Nigeria, the Breast and survival, bettering delivery is team has fulfilled the awards and Gynae this by providing world of healthy evidenced won. support never of cutting edge technolog the quality in helping class by giving many breakthro The Reddington facilities of their care, more our women,” before seen needed people the Hospital’s include a ughs in and including in West Africa. ical On his they need she said. tools and education 3D to the first digital healthcare in Nigeria (3D Mammog Digital Breast Tomosyn “They Centre, Dr.part, the Medical Director in themselv prevent cardiovascular facility cardiac catheterisa es and their of the ethical disease stent in Nigeria, the Ultrasound raphy), a 3D Automati thesis serves as Nnamdi Iwuala, said first angioplas tion loved ones a model for System (3D and operation the c Breast facility affordabl in an the Breast Streotaxic ty and to ABUS), the future healthcar e manner.

He said out first closure be performed in Nigeria, of women’s Biopsy System a 3D Digital women’s e, by weaving of the deep 3D MRI with of a hole together cardiovas child using (3D Stereo), understan health in the heart 1.5 Tesla GE non-surgical ding “Of note Explorer Technolog a and innovativ services, robust client all-round set high cular diseases and in a modern technolog the passion of among others,” standards education e technolog y.

Ultrasound about the 3D Automati the in the medical to “With our came the need ies.

CEO added. y, On his part, System (3D philosoph industry, to improved ABUS) is its c Breast sionate Ehanire set the bar and respectfuy of providing compas- that will cut acrosscreate a centre of excellence ability to detect anticipated higher, in thatsaid the Centre has cannot be l care, the multidisciplinary journey small cancers routine, to seen on a it goes beyond Centre will which has now birthed that of life with our women through services, bring state-of-th mammogram women. It the Centre. the Grays Cardiolog and interventi - from puberty is believed every stage alone in e-art diagnosti on capacity an integral ABUS will and golden through menopau y proud c “The Grays to Nigeria. part of medical that services become years, as we Cardiology “We are se in collabora detection of the best comprehe that would strive to give only in the breast cancer.” practice for the have been them cardiology tion with a Centre is launched nsive healthcare “Other novel he said. team of indigenou advanced top hospitals of technologfound available,” experts, Professors countries, Gynae Centre equipment of the On her part, s here, in a USA-base can be rendered ically of cardiology Breast and is the Vascular the d the wife of for Uterine right “The Centre cardiology group.” Adding , and visa, airfarecountry, without need the Governor Artery Embolisat Embolisation Suite Ondo State, Mrs. for passport, will offer or other hurdles of invasive copy, Optical Betty Akeredol that; survived breast ion, Digital “However, Imaging Technolog and interventiservices covering Colpos- on and expenses. u, cancer 20 Cancer Screening Nigerian women years ago, who diagnostic procedure onal procedure non- population there is more to be , Digital Bone y for Cervical on done. called intensive of 170 million s, heart known and a 4D to do self s, cardiac rehabilita their breasts Densitometry, people and With a Gynaecol needs of coronary often, adding examination heart the (with 4D transvagin ogy Ultrasoun tion, are way to beat that the best care educationcare, telemetry services, invited to Nigeria, other entreprenwelld System cancer was al ultrasoun Also on-site come eurs “I was , amongst early While noting in, invited to d capability others.” expand. Alongand Reddington is ). detectionable to defeat cancer detection. day surgery is a state-of-the-art only cardiolog that the facility represents Apollo Hospital because of theatre . the early y centre in and breast and other mini gynaecolo for you take Do not say it is just chain in India,pattern of the the mainland the consider developin surgeries,” it for granted a lump. If said Reddington has gical grow he , he can No wonder recorded g a model I ask you to it will of firsts and into cancer also provide the Vice-Presidadded. in which you would continueseveral numbers cells and then continue to her Dolapo Osinbajo, services to the time you ent’s of wife, subsidise healthcare. indigent spread. to set pace may Mrs. may described facility that in corporated by your paying patients, patients, the Centre He said the be too late.” be ready for treatment By will first as a social responsib , it and girls in Nigeria. save the lives of as your She called Also, in his Angiographydigital Cardiac Catheteris women and on the hospital address, the ility. been designed Adding that the ation the Suite (among first) in Medical Director Centre has make the facility affordable management new Centre, to address many other to HospitalNigeria was launched health of Dr. Soe Nigerian not only all of so that an average assurances the woman,

by Reddingto in 2009. “The round Centre. woman can access that the latestMoe Aung, gave his psycholog but their emotiona n in cardiolog equipmen Suite’s state-of-th and afford ical medical technolog y will be l, the Nigeria, t allowed many e-art expertise Mrs. Osinbajo,and physical needs.

In the same y used to provide saving hundreds pioneering firsts who inaugurat vein, just said, “there in world-cla to ensure that all the of life that are many women ed the facility, inauguration of the Breastfour days after the would have been patients receive ss medical otherwise in Victoria care.

“The Reddingt lost. who need The various Island, Lagos, and Gynae Centre help Group establishm on Hospital,

by Reddingt ents of specialty opened another Reddington Hospital hospital of the flagship centres first of its kind Group, has the Reddington healthcare on are obviously defining Healthcar cardiac system. Will the maintained since inception continuou e the governme other professional nt and well-mean stakeholders, sly take and qualitativ a clue from this, so that ing Nigerians e health sector can the country’s attain its rightful place?

INTERNATIONAL Trump Defends Comey Firing, Says

Both Parties Will Thank Him President DonaldTrump defended his firing of FBI Director James Comey, asserting in a flurry of tweetsWednesday that Republicans and Democrats “will be thanking me.”Trump did not mention any effect the firing might have on the probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia.

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Trump

Trump Defend s Comey Firin g, Says Both Parties Will Thank Him

President Donald Trump defended his firing of Democrats likened FBI Comey, asserting Director James ouster Comey’s While Comey tweets Wednesday in a flurry of Nixon’s to President Richard has drawn anger and Democrats that Republicans Massacre” “Saturday Night from Democrats since he the email investigation reopened and renewed me.” Trump did “will be thanking for calls in the closing the appointme effect the firing not mention any prosecutor, nt of a special days of last year’s campaign, didn’t buy that they and some the probe into might have on also justification for questioned the Republicans firing. Several contacts between his his 2016 campaign move.

Republican In a flurry of tweets, Trump them in raising alarms s joined Instead, Trump and Russia. said of how it Comey had could affect tweeted he’ll name a replacement that confidence of almost “lost the coordinatio probes into possible “who in Washington will do a far n between everyone better job, bringing Trump ,” adding: “When associates and Russia back the spirit things calm and prestige the 2016 presidentia to influence the FBI.” of thanking down, they will be l election. me!”

In one of the strongest Nevertheless, In his statements

by Republicans firing throws Tuesday’s abrupt Comey brief letter Tuesday , Sen. Richard to of North into question , Trump said Burr Carolina, future of the the investigatio the necessary to restore firing was Senate intelligence chairman of the the Trump campaign’ n into and “public committee, trust confidence “I am troubled said, s possible connections by the timing administration ” in the FBI. The reasoning and paired immediately to Russia and with a scathing review the letter terminationof Director Comey’s raised of an underhand suspicions Attorney .”

by Deputy General ed effort to “His dismissal stymie a probe further confuses of how ComeyRod Rosenstein an already that the administra has shadowed investigatio handled the difficult investigation the committee,” n into Democrat by outset. Trump tion from the Hillary Burr Clinton’s email Senate Democraticsaid. investigations has ridiculed the including practices, Leader Chuck as “a hoax” Schumer told T his decision denied any campaign and news rump to hold a conference announcin thoughtdumping in a phone call he with the Russians. involvement findings Comeywasamistake. g its and releasing “derogatory OnWednesday,Trumplabeledthe information” minority leader Senate about Clinton. “‘Cryin’ Chuck Schumer.’”

South Kore a’s Moon Jae-in Sworn in,Vowi Address North ng

SPORTS Moses: Conte Revived My

Career with the Wing-back Role Chelsea’ Che seasV sVictor ctorMoseshascred Moses has credited ted manager Antonio Conte for reviving managerAnton oConteforrev v ng his career at Stamford Bridge by converting him into a wing-back during their Premier League title charge this season.

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South Korea’s new President Moon seen Jae-in has been the sworn address the economy in, vowing to angry US and Pyongyang trade rhetoric as in the right and relations with the North circumstances.” another nuclear speculation about He added that test as president. in his first speech he would have Mr Moon has grows. “serious negotiation also vowed He said that unify to s” with willing to visit he would even be from a divided country reeling the US and China over the a corruption Pyongyang under controver the right circumstan saw his predecessoscandal, which anti-miss sial deployment of r, Park Geunile system Mr Moon took ces.

Thaad. his oath of office hye, impeached.

In in Seoul’s his first In his inaugurati National Assembly key building a day on speech, appointments, Mr Moon said President after his decisive Moon named he would win.

The former human Lee rights lawyer everything I can to build “do the current governorNak-yon, and son of North of South Korean refugees on the Korean peninsula”peace Jeolla Province, is known for .

“If needed his prime minister, to the post of I will fly Tensions on the liberal views. and Washington immediately,” to who played a key role Suh Hoon, remain high and Korean peninsula said. in preparing he the two “I will also recent weeks have inter-Korea go to Beijing and Tokyo and summits in even Pyongyang the 2000s, to head Intelligence Service. the National

IS Conflict: US Unacceptable Arming Syrian Kurds – Turkey

THURSDAYSP ORTS

Turkey’s deputy prime minister says the US decision to supply group by the US. weapons to The battling IslamicKurdish fighters KurdishPKK insurgency to secure miles) of northern Syria over the State militants autonomy past two years Syria is “unaccepta in killed thousands in Turkey has US-led coalitionwith the help of ble”.

Arming the Popular Washington of people. military advisers. air strikes and Protection Units (YPG) essential to the says the YPG is would “not On operation to capture beneficial”, Nurettin Tuesday, be Pentagon spokeswoman Canikli told the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

A Haber TV. The YPG leads announced that Dana White Ankara says the Syrian Democratic Trump had givenPresident Donald Forces (SDF), extension of the the YPG is an alliance his authorisatio an Party (PKK), Kurdistan Workers’ militias of Kurdish and Arab to “equip Kurdish elements n designated a of terrorist from that has driven IS militants the Syrian Democratic Forces as about 6,000 sq km (2,300 sq necessary to ensure a clear victory” over IS in Raqqa.

Moses Con e Ca ee w h he Rev ved My W ng back Ro e

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

Moody’s Assigns Stable Outlook on Nigerian Banking Sector Fitch: Despite positive results by lenders, risks persist

Obinna Chima Moody’s Investors Service has maintained its stable outlook on the Nigerian banking system, reflecting the rating agency’s view that acute foreign-currency shortages in the country will gradually ease.

But just like Fitch, Moody’s, another international rating agency, held the view that loan risks in the country would remain high.

Moody’s stated this in a report titled: ‘Banking System Outlook: Nigeria.’With oil prices and economic activity gradually recovering in Nigeria, we expect banks’ dollar liquidity pressures to gradually ease over our outlook period,” Vice President and Senior Analyst at Moody’s, Akin Majekodunmi said.

“However, we expect asset quality to worsen slightly over the outlook period, as historically low oil prices, currency depreciation and economic contraction experienced in 2016 continue to generate new nonperforming loans in 2017,” he added.

The rating agency anticipated that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 2.5 per cent in 2017 and four per cent in 2018, after a 1.5 per cent contraction last year, as noted in March 2017.

The revival will be supported by government measures to expand non-oil sectors and its commitment to fund large infrastructure projects as well as by a partial rebound in global oil prices from lows last year, it stated.

Risks to asset quality are likely to remain high, with nonperforming loans (NPLs) likely to rise to between 14 and 16 per cent, from 14 per cent at end-2016. They should, however, reach a peak as write-offs, loan restructurings, and the strengthening economy takes effect.

“Nigerian banks should have sufficient capital to absorb expected losses, though Moody’s expects system-wide tangible common equity (TCE) to only decline slightly to 14.1 per cent of adjusted risk-weighted assets by year-end 2018 from 14.7 per cent at the end of 2016. The slight shift is primarily due to increased loan-loss provisions and the effect of further expected naira depreciation on the balance of

risk-weighted assets denominated in foreign currency.

“Moody’s also sees the banks’ loan-loss provisioning weakening their net profitability. The rating agency expects return on assets to decline to around one per cent in 2017, from 1.3 per cent at the end of 2016 on account of high provisioning costs at around three per cent of gross loans.

“System-wide pre-provision income will likely remain robust, however, at around fourof average total assets, supported by high yields on government securities and profits on open foreign currency positions,” the agency added.

Finally, Moody’s considered there to be a high probability of the Nigerian government supporting banks in case of need, given the significant consequences of a bank collapse to both the payments system and the wider economy.

Meanwhile, despite the positive financial results for 2016 posted by Nigerian banks notwithstanding the turbulent operating conditions, global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, believes that significant financial risks persist beyond the reported figures.

Fitch in its assessment of the banks’ 2016 earnings obtained yesterday, pointed out that the healthy 2016 net income was lifted by large one-off revaluation gains after Nigeria allowed its currency to devalue in June.

It also stated that the banks also made higher United States dollar core income (in naira terms) and booked sizeable foreign-currency (FC) trading income, which offset rising impairment charges.

“While the banks’ performance ratios improved in the year, we note that a substantial part of earnings were non-recurring and will be difficult to repeat. Sector impaired loan ratios increased sharply but this was expected given the extent of Nigeria’s macro-economic challenges.

“Asset-quality metrics would have been even worse if not for high levels of restructured loans, particularly to the troubled oil sector. Low reserve coverage and high levels of FC lending add to our concerns about the banks’ long-term financial health.

Capital buffers continue to be weak despite relatively high reported capital adequacy ratios (CARs).

SamboVisits Osinbajo Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja For the first time since he left office in May 2015, former Vice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday paid a formal visit to his successor and acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in his office.

Sambo, who met Osinbajo behind closed-door, was entering the Presidential Villa for the second time since he left office but paying a courtesy visit to Osinbajo for the first time.

He had first visited the Villa for a national function when he attended the independence anniversary of October 1, 2016.

Answering questions from journalists after the meeting, Sambo said he had visited Osinbajo, his successor, on a mere familiarisation tour.

He explained further that he had opted to visit Osinbajo as the acting president’s predecessor the way it is customary of a former president to also visit the incumbent pres

“We maintain that ratios are vulnerable to even modest shocks for some banks. Year-end CARs declined due to the twin pressures of inflated risk-weighted assets (due to the revaluation of US dollar assets) and rising impairment charges, although this was partially offset by strong retained

earnings, which benefitted from the revaluation gains. Funding and liquidity risks continue to be high. Loans/deposits ratios have been rising but are not excessive,” Fitch added.

They noted that the primary concern in the industry relates to FC liquidity, which it stated

remained tight despite the authorities’ attempts to normalise the foreign-exchange interbank market.

“For 2017, we believe there will be a slight easing on the banks’ operating environment reflecting some early-stage improvements on the macro-economic front. We

expect banks to remain profitable despite still modest credit growth and forecast further asset-quality deterioration, but at a slower pace.

The big question is whether there will be improvement in FC liquidity, but this to a large extent depends on factors beyond the banks’ control,” Fitch stated.

I CAME TO SEE HOW YOU ARE COPING

Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (left), receiving former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, on a courtesy call to the the State House in Abuja....yesterday State House

FG Considers Partnering Bi-Courtney on Construction of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The federal government may have agreed to enter a funding agreement in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal with BiCourtney Highways Limited to ensure the timely construction and rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway project.

The issue was the crux of discussion at a meeting yesterday evening in the National Assembly, where it was also agreed that Motorways Assets Limited would be part of the PPP arrangement for the expressway.

The reconstruction of the

highway was concessioned to Bi-Courtney in 2009 under a Build, Operate and Transfer deal, but was revoked in 2012, allegedly because the company violated some terms of the agreement.

Yesterday’s meeting which held behind closed doors, and had in attendance the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, and his Finance counterpart, Senator John Enoh.

It also had in attendance, the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Highways Limited, Dr. Wale

Babalakin and the Chairman of Motorways Asset Limited, Mr. Abdulrasaq Oyinloye.

Adeosun declined to speak with journalists after the meeting, but sources told THISDAY that the federal government and the Senate agreed that the expressway must be completed as soon as possible.

“We also expect that the expressway must be completed in such a manner that it will be a model for infrastructural development in this country,” a source said.

Another source added that under the new agreement, Bi-Courtney

and Motorways are expected to merge their current concessions into a new company which would be a special purpose vehicle for the project.

The government would provide the new company with financial instruments, through which it can raise the necessary funds.

“The underlining objective of the new agreement is to ensure that quality work is done on the road which is said to be central to the nation’s economy and that the work is completed in the shortest time possible. Very soon, all parties would sign a formal agreement on this deal,” the source said.

Two Nigerians Shot Dead in South Africa Two Nigerians have been shot dead in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Mike Ibitoye, Chairman of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via telephone from Cape Town.

He said the deceased were shot by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

“Mr. Ernest Ughakwesili, 42, native of Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State,

was shot in a night club by gunmen at Strand Area of Cape Town last Sunday.”

“The assailants escaped after the shooting and the victim died before being rushed to the hospital.”

Ibitoye also said the second victim, Chimezie Oranusi, 26, from Oba town in Anambra State, was shot with a friend in a car at Delst area of Cape Town.

“The friend is a South African and is still in the hospital receiving

treatment.” The incidents have been reported to the police and the national secretariat of the union” he said.

Thechairmansaidthemotivebehind the shootings had not been ascertained, adding that the police had commenced investigation.

Adetola Olubajo, secretary of the union, said the national secretariat had received the report of the killings.

“We have received a report about

the killing of two Nigerians in Cape Town, Western Cape Province of South Africa.”

“The union’s chapter in the province is handling the matter while the national body has reported the incident to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.

“We urge Nigerians in South Africa to remain law abiding. We also appeal to the federal government to continue to protect the welfare of our people here,” Ibitoye said.

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Tinubu: Jonathan Spent Huge Amount of Money to Defeat Ambode in 2015 Gboyega Akinsanmi The national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan spent huge amount of money to stop Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, from being elected in the 2015 elections.

Despite Jonathan’s sustained struggle to take over the state, Tinubu acknowledged that party members stood by Ambode and the APC during the election.

He described the period as the most challenging since he left his flourishing career in a multinational oil company for active politics.

He gave an account of how Jonathan struggled to take over the state at a stakeholders’ meeting he addressed at the APC secretariat, Ogba alongside Ambode, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the party Chairman, Chief Oladele

Ajomale, among others.

The party convened the stakeholders’ meeting, which was the first of its kind since the 2015 elections were concluded to chart a new path for the local government election scheduled to hold on July 22 and resolve all issues that might give rise to disaffection and internal rift ahead the electoral process.

At the meeting the party faithful attended across the state, the national leader specifically, commended all party members for supporting Ambode in the 2015 election, noting that the candidates of the party for the forthcoming local government elections should also be supported.

He said the 2015 elections were the most challenging, recalling how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Jonathan moved “to take over the state by all means including spending huge cash, but the APC members resolutely stood their ground and ensured the victory of the party.”

With the support of the people, the national leader said Ambode won the election and had not let the APC down in any way, thereby citing the governor’s sterling performance.

Tinubu said Ambode “has not let us down. He is doing a fantastic job, in an environment where there is economic recession is a big challenge. Initially, they said he might not be able to do it, but he is doing it and doing it perfectly. He has a very good team of performers. It takes a leader to lead a team to victory and a leader to think and dream. He thinks and performs and he is doing a great job, we are very proud of him.”

On the council elections, the national leader urged party members to accept the decision, which he said, had been taken by the party leaders at the state and local government levels with respect to the forthcoming election.

He said 18 chairmen, who were promised automatic ticket for their efforts in the party and the state, would be allowed to return, while all sole administrators who took over from executive secretaries of 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas would not be allowed to contest.

Also, the national leader urged party leaders and members in all the 57 councils to give special concession to youths and women and party leaders in Surulere to give peace a chance and drop all forms of public disorder.

However, he said the party would not disallow members, especially executive secretaries from pursuing his/her aspiration, noting that doing such would amount “to denying them their rights having left office more than a year ago.

It is just like saying Ambode or senators and other party leaders should not be allowed second term.

Also at the meeting, Ambode charged all party members in the state “to ensure that the party wins all available elective positions in the forthcoming council elections.”

He said it was important for the party to come out top in the elections, adding that it would go a long way to ensure that the state continues to make steady progress.

The governor attributed his success in the 2015 governorship elections to the dedication of party members and chieftains of the party, especially the national leader, thereby charging them to rally round the party yet again to ensure victory for the APC in the polls.

“Almost two years after, we have caused to thank God. I am able to look back that the confidence you give me two years ago and all of you working together to make sure I defeated the PDP candidate was no small feat. I have come here not only to attend this meeting but to

say a big thank you to all of you.

“I want to thank you for being the first set of people that believed in me and thereafter God has been so gracious, he has not allowed me to disappoint u. I want to say a big thank you to Tinubu, the state APC Chairmen and Exco members for supporting that course.

“If there is any party remaining in Nigeria today, that party is manifested in all the good things coming out of Lagos State. Why are we here?

We are here to count our blessings and renew the course of unity to move forward as one great party.

“I want to implore all of us, whatever it is that would have transpired, it is very clear that the next council elections is all in your hands; just the same way we have done in the last two years. My call to all members of our great party is that all 57 councils must be won by APC without exception,” Ambode said.

$1.2bn Loan Negotiation with Banks Ongoing, Says Etisalat Emma Okonji Etisalat Nigeria has said the negotiation between it and the 13 local banks that loaned it $1.2 billion for network expansion, is still ongoing.

The telecoms company also said the negotiation had been successful so far.

The Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko, who made the disclosure, refuted report, which claimed that the negotiation had reached a deadlock.

According to the report, the banks were under pressure to avoid loan-loss provisions, and were pushing to finalise the debt restructuring before next month’s half-yearly audit, hence both parties could not reach an agreement on the renegotiation, when the Etisalat met with the banks in London on April 28, led by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

But in a statement signed by Dikko, he said: “The attention of Etisalat Nigeria has been drawn to news reports credited to some unofficial sources claiming that the on-going discussions with our bankers have become stalled or reached a deadlock.

“Etisalat Nigeria wishes to state without equivocation that discussions are not only ongoing with our bankers, but good progress has been made so far. We are optimistic that an agreement will be reached shortly and this will be communicated through the appropriate channels of the involved stakeholders. We appeal to our media partners who have indeed been critical to the success of our business over the years, to await the official communication of the outcome of the ongoing discussions and not lend their credible platforms to speculative and presumptive analysis of the discussions,” Dikko said.

According to him, “As a business, our immediate focus is to ensure that we not only sustain a positive performance, we are also in a position to continue to grow the business, deliver excellent customer service and increase value to our stakeholders which includes our bankers.”

He assured Etisalat’s esteemed customers, service providers and other relevant stakeholders that the telecoms company would continue to operate normally while the discussions are on-going.

Army Appoints New Commanders, Staff Officers to Formations, Units Paul Obi in Abuja In its efforts to re-strategise in view of the current security challenges in the country, the Nigerian Army has posted 147 officers to Operation Lafiya Dole, some of its divisions, formations and training schools.

In a posting released by the Office of the Military Secretary (Army), last week, Major General RO Yusuf, Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, is now the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, while Major General A Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, will move to Army Headquarters as Chief of Logistics (COLOG).

In the same vein, Major General AM Dikko has been posted from the Office of the National Security Adviser to 1 Division as GOC, while Major General I Attahiru is now the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

According to Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, “Major General Leo Irabor will now move to Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as the Field Commander.

Major General PJ Dauke has been posted from 3 Division to 81 Division as GOC and Brigadier General BI Ahanotu will be Acting GOC 3 Division.

“The erstwhile Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Brigadier General IM Cont’d on pg 12

THE PROGRESSIVES

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); and National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the APC stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the local government elections at party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos....yesterday

Finally, Senate C’ttee Begins Screening of 27 RECs Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Over six weeks after their nominations were not first mentioned on the floor of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday finally commenced the screening of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) nominated

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The nominations were transmitted to the Senate in a letter read on March 23,2017, which was dated February 27, 2017, but the commencement of the screening processes suffered delayed, after the lawmakers suspended it for two weeks.

The suspension was to protest the president’s inaction on the rejection of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, despite his rejection twice by the Senate.

The process for the RECs confirmation finally got underway Wednesday afternoon after plenary

session.

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, formally presented the nominees to the lawmakers, and appealed for a fast track of the process.

“The states have been vacant for a long time, if this is not addressed urgently, we may have a constitutional crises on our hands,” he said.

Enang assured the committee that President Buhari ensured due diligence before nominating the candidates.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, called for collaboration with the nominees if they are confirmed, to ensure the desired change in INEC. He added that the Senate was committed to contributing towards a free, fair and credible polls that would “reflect the will of the people, and not the will of a few big men.”

The nominee from Abia State, Prof. Godswill Obioma, while fielding questions from the committee members, expressed

commitment to adhere to the code of conduct and ethics required of a REC. He added that his relationship with the governor of the state where he is posted, if confirmed, would be guided by law, without any bias.

“We have to be independent of any partisan relationship, ensure equity, transparency and honesty, adhere to constitutional provisions regarding INEC and its Act,” he said.

Obioma, while speaking on the introduction of the card reader in the 2015 general election, said the technology can be improved on to ensure it remains credible.

Adamawa State nominee, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, suggested that the lawmakers should stay in touch with their constituents, and be transparent in their activities, as a way of redeeming its negative image in the eyes of the Nigerian public.

He was responding to a question

by Senator Ali Wakili (Bauchi South) on how the National Assembly

can improve its image.

“Some National Assembly members are not really visiting their constituencies the way it should be. The activities of the members should be more opened,” Abdullahi said.

Senator Abdullahi Gumel (Jigawa North West) however disagreed that lawmakers do not visit their constituencies often.

“Eighty to 85 per cent of the lawmakers go to their constituencies but unfortunately the demands of people are too much because of the absence of the local government. The jobs of the local government have been taken over. Some time, they (lawmakers) have to shy away until they have alert in their pockets,” he explained.

The committee screened six others and adjourned to continue today.

THISDAY however, gathered that the eight nominees for reappointment have petitions against them from the states where they serve as RECs.

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THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

National Assembly Accuses BPP of Corruption, Agency for Probe House insists gas flaring must end by 2020 Urges FG to pay compensation, rebuild LGAs destroyed by B’ Haram in Yobe Damilola Oyedele and James Emejo in Abuja The National Assembly has accused the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) of engaging in underhand dealings in the issuance of certificates of “No Objection” for contracts awarded by procurement entities and failing to conduct the mandatory post-procurement audit of procurement entities.

While the Senate has mandated its Committee on Public Procurement to investigate allegations that officials of the BPP are corruptly enriching themselves and abusing the agency’s powers to issue the certificates for their own personal gains, the House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Public Procurement and Anti-Corruption to investigate an allegation that the BPP has failed to exercise its powers on public procurement processes and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

The Senate resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored yesterday by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) who noted that the BPP has also failed to submit its report to the National Assembly bi-annually.

Melaye said the powers of the BPP are aimed at ensuring that the requirements of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) are complied with, and that government gets value for contracts awarded within relevant threshold, while unfortunately, procurement is responsible for 70 percent of corruption crimes.

“It was observed that such gross abuses and violation of Public Procurement Act, 2007 have been exacerbated by the recent increase in arbitrary nomination of procuring entities of winners for tendering processes, and where the procurement entity declines, the processes are interjected and frustrated in bad faith for conflicting reasons.”

“Monumental corruption is going on in the BPP. That is where we have the contracts that are supposed to be awarded at N20 million, but awarded at N200 million. It is then approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). This certificate of no objection is not more than the investigation that is supposed to be conducted internally by BPP,” he added.

The lawmaker added that if urgent steps are not taken to address proven infractions, the BPP would endanger the public procurement

system in the country.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) lamented that the system has become so corrupt that even civil servants execute contracts for the government.

“If there is any word that has become a household word in Nigeria, it is either corruption or anti-corruption. We have seen civil servants become contractors. The Senate should bring out practical solutions to clean up the system.

We are creating a society that is enchanted. It is impossible for the country to achieve any enviable height, if the country continues in this form of corruption,” he said.

The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, agreed with Sani’s submission of civil servants as contractors.

He added that 70 per cent of recoveries made in the anticorruption war led by the executive, are made from same executive arm of government.

“Over 70 per cent of what is said to have been recovered, were recovered from those in the executive arm of government.

Whether we like it not, the civil servants are the contractors. For the two years of aggressive fight against corruption, what can we do to reduce corruption?” asked.

Presiding, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu directed the committee to submit its report in five weeks.

In the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere sponsored a motion on the need to investigate the failure of BPP to exert its influence in procurement processes leading to alleged abuses.

Consequently, the House referenced a widespread breach of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 by the MDAs without any proven corrective measures taken or sanctions imposed by the procurement agency, a situation which it said renders BPP’s existence a waste on the finances of government.

The House also yesterday passed a resolution mandating the House Committees on Gas Resources and Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to interface with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on government’s policies and regulatory rules towards ensuring the actualisation of the 2020 exit timeline for gas flaring in the

country.

The committee has eight weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

Also, at the plenary yesterday, the House further passed a motion urging the federal government to pay compensation to owners of properties destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency and re-build the five local government areas destroyed by the sect in Yobe State.

Meanwhile, in a motion moved

by Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma on the need to stop gas flaring which is harmful to both economy and the environment, the House noted that the country currently ranks among the largest gas flaring nations in the world and emits over $ 4 billion worth of gas annually.

It also regretted that going by the 2014 report of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the federal government had in 2008 in its fiscal regime for the petroleum sector, set a penalty of $3.5 per 1000 SCF of gas flared by oil companies.

But “the companies have refused to comply with the directive,” the House stated.

Among other things, the lawmakers expressed concern that lack of political will on the part of the government to enforce the laws on gas flaring was capable of thwarting government’s projected exit date of 2020 to end gas flaring, given the proximity of the timeline.

They argued that there might be need for increased fines and penalties to achieve the exit date.

Doubts have also been cast by industry players that government officials are not taking aggressive steps required to actualise the 2020 exit date.

Also, in a motion by Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan in need to appreciate the federal government on the defeat of Boko Haram terrorists and seek compensation and rebuilding of communities destroyed by the terrorists, the House further passed a resolution urging President Buhari to pay a visit to Yobe State as this would go a long way in pacifying the people.

It further mandated the Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees and Initiatives on the North East to embark on a tour of destroyed communities and government properties in Yobe State and report back in four weeks for further legislative action.

ARMY APPOINTS NEW COMMANDERS, STAFF OFFICERS TO FORMATIONS, UNITS Yusuf, will be the Acting GOC 7 Division and Brigadier General SO Olabanji, the Commandant of Amphibious Training School Calabar, is now the Acting GOC 8 Task Force Division. The GOC 81 Division, Major General EB Oyefolu, is now the Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre

(NATRAC), Kontagora, while Brigadier General MG Ali, has been moved to Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Buni Yadi as Commandant.”

Usman explained that “Brigadier General IM Obot is Brigade Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, while Brigadier

General AO Quadri will move from the Office of the Chief of Army Staff to 25 Task Force Brigade as Commander.

“Also those affected in the new posting include some Commanders and Staff Officers at the Defence, Army Headquarters and Brigades.”

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

COMMENT

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

WANTED: SPECIAL TRIBUNALS

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The president should urgently constitute special criminal tribunals to try notorious cases of corruption, writes Tola Adeniyi

he clamour for special tribunals to speed up trials for our hardened criminals which include thieving governors, looting legislators, armed robbers, ritual murderers, kidnappers and fraudsters has been more compelling now than when I first wrote this piece in October of 2015.

The fight against corruption is one major area in which all Nigerians find agreement. Everybody talks of corruption, and everybody condemns it, but nobody is ready to admit that almost all Nigerians are guilty of this devouring cankerworm. Everywhere around us, even from our homes, schools and colleges, Iledis, Synagogues, Churches, Mosques and such other places of organised worship, factories, banks and other financial houses is infested with the plague of corruption.

Experts are also in total agreement that corruption is the greatest bane of our society and has been the greatest main stumbling block to our progress and development as a country. All facilities that ought to have been provided by our successive governments were denied actualisation because the funds earmarked for their provision got consumed by greed and avarice.

For years every successive government had paid lip service to quenching corruption and stamping out the epidemic from our land. But no major success had ever been achieved. At best such efforts had been selective and self-serving.

Three major factors had been fingered as creating stumbling blocks to fighting corruption in Nigeria. The first is its pervasive nature. Agents set up to fight corruption quickly and easily end up corrupted. The second is the lack of political will to confront corruption headlong and give it a devastating blow. The third factor which perhaps is the summation of the other two is the outdated criminal laws the country is operating. For example, the time most of the laws enacted to wage war against stealing of public funds were made nobody ever imagined that any human being would ever be crazy enough to steal one billion naira! It was simply unimaginable. So if the law to fight stealing demands say two-year jail term or an option of fine, a man who has cornered N5 billion would be eager to suffer prison inconvenience for two years or simply sneeze up a negligible fraction of his loot.

There was a particular attempt at fighting corruption worth mentioning. There was a particular ruler who persuaded himself that the best way to cripple his enemies and opponents was to set up a witch hunting machinery and police it with a willing tool to do the hatchet job. A man known for his theatricalities and zany humour, and believed by the whole world except by himself, that he is Nigeria’s godfather and grandmaster of corruption, instituted a so-called Empowered Fraud to Cage Competitors. To date EFCC lacks credibility and respect. The agency has been wobbling in the courts for close to eight years in some cases and has been unable to conclude or convict nearly all the unfortunate governors who were in the Czar’s black book.

Now is the time for decisive action.

President Muhammadu Buhari globally respected for his zero tolerance for corruption should seize the bull by the horn and set up a different approach to shaming corruption once and for all. The president should as a matter of urgency explore all lawful and legal means to constitute special criminal tribunals to try the notorious cases aforementioned; these are looting of government treasury, money laundering, misdemeanour by banks’ chief executives, armed robbery, ritual murder, kidnapping and other violent crimes that take human lives in their wake.

This columnist does not care if the president transforms to a dictator

THE TIME MOST OF THE LAWS ENACTED TO WAGE WAR AGAINST STEALING OF PUBLIC FUNDS WERE MADE NOBODY EVER IMAGINED THAT ANY HUMAN BEING WOULD EVER BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO STEAL ONE BILLION NAIRA

in this realm. There is no other way corruption can be killed in this country except through draconian laws.

All pending cases of corruption especially those dating back eight years or longer should be transferred to the about to be constituted special criminal tribunal and must be concluded within 30 days. There are ex-governors whose charges have been amended more than 10 times simply because the EFCC presumed them guilty as dictated by their pipers paymaster. Let such former governors be quickly tried and those found guilty to be heavily punished while those being traumatised by frivolous charges be restored to their peace of mine and reputation.

Let Nigeria not listen to the globalisation apostles who would be quick to condemn our approach to cure our leprosy. Every country, every society, every community creates and applies laws that fit their peculiar maladies. When promiscuity was the most disturbing culture among the Hebrews and Arabs, the Semitic peoples, they applied stoning to death as the appropriate punishment for adultery, rape and other sexual offences. When stealing became predominant amongst the Arabs, their society came up with amputation as the considered punishment. The United States of America concluded that judicial murder that is death sentence was the most befitting punishment for murderers, just as the Chinese applied the death penalty for corruption.

The special criminal tribunals should be headed by our most reputable retired Judges whose pedigrees are irreproachable. How I wish Justices Oputa and Esho were alive!

Reputable individuals like General Williams and well known anti-corruption campaigners must be engaged in the act of cleansing this damned country.

In addition to the establishment of special criminal tribunals, the federal government must bring back civics into the school curriculum, and must be taught from Primary 1. We can no longer rely on the established commercialised religions and their get-rich-quick preaching to instil the needed morals into our young ones. And a culture that says you can steal, plunder, and commit murder and rape with assurances that such huge crimes are already forgiven the moment you confess to your equally corrupt pastor is not suitable or applicable to Africa. Our mythology does not believe that sins committed in 2015 had already been paid for in ransom by some god fifty thousand years ago!

Unfortunately and regrettably, the cultures that came to Africa to sell such bogus lies instil maximum punishments for all misdemeanours including the death penalty and also have the largest number of prison yards! For us in Yoruba country, death penalty is the prescribed prize for stealing as Sango and Ayelela will strike you dead the moment you breach the moral code….until some pink skin told us our morality was barbaric.

The National Orientation Agency is doing a good job, but the government must go further to embark on serious ethical revolution to address the perverted minds of people stealing money their sixth generation cannot exhaust even if they lived for 1000 years! Why should any person, even the most deranged lunatic steal 30 billion dollars?

The impunity and recklessness of the political, business, and traditional elite must be stopped. And a fearsome deterrent must happen. National bleeding must stop.

Chief Adeniyi was a former managing director of Daily Times

AMBODE’S CLEANER LAGOS INITIATIVE

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Taiwo Ogundipe writes that the initiative is aimed at securing the health of Lagosians

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode is not letting up in dishing out from time to time new ideas, innovations and projects since he assumed the mantle of leadership in Lagos. One of his latest is the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

He has done this through a review of the state’s environmental law. The legal instrument tagged Environmental Management and Protection Bill was signed into law by the governor on March 1, 2017. The governor commended the state House of Assembly for sinking their differences in the overall interest of the state to align and pass the bill.

After appending his signature, the governor expressed optimism that the law would go a long way in securing the public health safety of residents, especially children. Ambode during the signing ceremony recalled how his administration, in its early days, decided to overhaul the state’s environmental, waste management and handling practices and also to harmonise all existing environmental laws.

The governor stated the old sanitation law, as bequeathed to his administration, needed to be reworked in line with Lagos’ mega city status. According to him, since the provisions of the inherited environmental laws were outdated and no longer applicable to modern-day realities, the government swung into action and came up with a model that would have sanitation as its centre piece.

In the governor’s words: “It was necessary to make investor-friendly laws that attract the type of

capital we need to advance our development agenda and achieve our sustainability goals. We believe it is worth the risk involved in changing the legislative framework if the reward is a healthier and cleaner Lagos for our children – our future.”

The governor also described the initiative as a creative solution to the seemingly intractable refuse problem confronting the state.

Ambode also went personal in explaining the driving force behind the initiative: “Cleaner Lagos Initiative is borne out of my experience as a Lagosian.

I have lived in Lagos for over 50 years. When you are coming into Lagos from Ibadan, the first thing you see on the right side is the dump site. Should I sit and continue to watch? The answer is no. “Even for imagination sake, that thing can work; all I need is players and team members. The city is very dirty. It is not healthy and so our total wellbeing and health is defined by our health status and our productivity.

“I think by now people should know that I am a dreamer and I want the people to dream along with me. This is like a vision. I have been given the opportunity to process something and improve on it and I don’t want to misuse it.”

The law, when operational, will drive the adoption of innovative technology to tackle existing environmental problems in the state. Under the new dispensation, the commercial sector would be serviced by licensed waste managers.

A consortium of environmental service providers, among them some globally-acclaimed waste manage-

ment companies, will provide waste collection, processing and disposal services for residential property under a long-term concession arrangement.

The consortium will be expected to deploy a large multi-dimensional fleet of over 20 landfill and Transfer Loading Station (TLS) management vehicles, 590 rear-end loader compactors, 140 operational vehicles and about electronically-tracked 900,000-litre bins that would be monitored by Public Utilities Monitoring Assurance Unit (PUMAU) of the Environment Ministry.

The new initiative has generated a lot of apprehension among PSP operators who believe they will be run out of business in the face of the new development. The governor, showing empathy, addressed this fear. He stated: “We will make their business bankable and then push them to commercial refuse.

So, they can go to companies around and collect their money directly.

“With that, the PSP operators that really do not have enough capital will be able to employ more people and be bankable. They can go to the bank and say ‘I have this quantum of business every month so, give me a particular amount to buy new equipment.”

The governor insisted that the initiative would give equal attention to all parts of Lagos State from Ikoyi to Ayobo, adding that the consortium “will divide refuse collection into layers and make the existing PSP operators bankable to carry out the job of commercial refuse collection while the consortium tackles collection of domestic refuse across the state.”

Ambode said under the initiative, the people would need to pay their public utility levy once in a year and their refuse would be collected every day, adding “the template we are using is that every ward will employ 100 street sweepers which translates to 27,500 people that will be kitted the same way all over the state. Lagos State will invest in equipment just like in London and have a zero tolerance for dirt on our streets.”

The governor also pointed out that “It was necessary to make investor-friendly laws that attract the type of capital we need to advance our development agenda and achieve our sustainability goals. We believe it is worth the risk involved in changing the legislative framework if the reward is a healthier and cleaner Lagos for our children – our future.”

Governor Ambode also added that aside the fact that the initiative would create at least 27,500 jobs, the Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) who would be engaged will receive several incentives including tax reliefs and healthcare, life, injury and accident insurance benefits all aimed at tackling the issue of poverty and the chronic unemployment crisis.

“Everyone from the cart pushers to the existing PSPs and casual workers at the dumpsites have been considered in the plan and will be accommodated within the new environmental regime. In addition, we are extending opportunities to everyone along the value chain by working to create vocational training in the related areas through LASTVEB,” he said.

Ogundipe wrote from Lagos

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EDITORIAL RESEARCH AND THE UNIVERSITIES

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There is urgent need to invest in research in the universities

ow can the link between universities and industries be strengthened in Nigeria? That was the question that engaged the attention of critical stakeholders in the education sector last week at a workshop on university-industry linkages. Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in his opening remarks said that African universities should start investing time and resources in technological research which could boost the productivity of industries.

The primary objective of the university –industry linkage, according to Adamu, “should be the applicability and adoption of technological research and development in the agreed areas of interest instead of producing many intellectual works with minimal or no impact on company productivity, innovation or efficiency and the expansion of the small and medium scale businesses”. The acting Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba, who hosted the session, said commitment towards increasing research and intellectual outputs as well as facilitating university-industry linkages were crucial to the actualisation of the IF THE CONTINENT projection that Africa WANTS TO COMPETE would be the continent IN THE PREVAILING of the future. But the KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, second most populated ITS POLICYMAKERS continent in the world MUST ENSURE THAT THE could only boast less RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS than one per cent OF THE UNIVERSITIES ARE contribution to global research output.

FUNDED Unfortunately, Nigeria exemplifies this dismal situation. In virtually all the universities in the country, little or no attention is paid to research. The little fund often budgeted for research in the public universities is hardly accounted for. To worsen matters, industries too hardly contribute to research and ironically help in stifling the climate for innovation. In most cases, industry involvement in universities is often restricted to endowment of professional chairs in some disciplines, construction of hostels or office blocks and perhaps donations of some laboratory equipment. That then explains why

Letters to the Editor

the research units of many of our tertiary institutions are starved of funds.

This appalling situation in the continent undoubtedly prompted some 15 African universities from eight countries, including University of Lagos, Ibadan and OAU, to launch an alliance at the African Higher Education Summit in Dakar, Senegal. The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) as the group is called said it would build indigenous research excellence as a vital precondition for the continent “to develop and exert control over its future.” The alliance shares the aims of other research university consortiums around the world such as the League of European Research Universities and the Group of Eight in Australia. These institutions advocate strengthening research and postgraduate training in higher education. The initiative got powerful support at its launch from the African Union Commission even as we hope that African leaders would buy into the idea and support it.

T T H I S DAY

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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

he intention, according to Dr. Max Price of Cape Town University and the first chair of ARUA, is to “bring together our distinctive fields of expertise to achieve complementary and coordinated programmes of research and training, including addressing the key development priorities of the African continent.”

Universities and industries have been collaborating for decades because of mutual benefits while knowledge remains the key driver of growth and development. Indeed, the rise of a global knowledge economy has intensified strategic partnerships between the academia and the industries in the developed world since most of the big companies need good research to hone their competitive edge. According to reports, about 50 per cent of research funding in the universities comes from industries in the developed world.

Therefore, if the African continent wants to compete in the prevailing knowledge economy, its policymakers must ensure that the research departments of the universities are adequately and regularly funded. Industries must also enhance their attractiveness by going beyond the traditional funding of projects that contribute little or nothing to the socio-economic advancement of the country. They should invest some of their resources in research. That is the only way of tackling many prevailing social challenges in addition to driving economic growth.

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.

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY AND FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP

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y attention was drawn to an article published on the ongoing crisis at the National Open University of Nigeria. As a student of that prestigious institution of higher learning, I could not have been happier that after what seems like an eternity, the current situation at NOUN is finally getting the attention of the public and especially experts in the education sector.

Mr Ahmed Abdullahi in his well-written piece did his best to describe the ordeal currently being endured by all students and staff of the National Open University as a result of the actions and inactions of our Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu since his appointment a little over a year ago. But the situation is even worse than Mr. Ahmed managed to portray in his column. NOUN is sinking as we speak and if nothing is done by the federal government and all stakeholders to rescue the institution, Nigeria’s only open and distance learning university will be history in no time.

To be clear, while the bulk of the mess we are dealing with as students revolves around the VC’s decision to abruptly close the school’s registration and iLearn platform, the issues go even deeper.

These platforms are the lifeline of our institution, it is the gateway, the channel through which we the students connect with our lecturers and through which NOUN itself connects to the world. That lifeline, that gateway, no longer exists as we speak. Professor Adamu in his wisdom decided to shut it down without providing any adequate alternative.

The implication of this abrupt closure of the portal and iLearn platform by the VC is that all NOUN students can no longer pay their school fees online, or register for courses online, or get tutorials and other learning materials, access past exam questions, submit assignments and reports, or access results from past sessions and semesters. NOUN has essentially been stripped of everything that makes it an open and distance learning institution and we the students are paying heavily for that.

It’s like after travelling a long distance by road through a car for several times, we are suddenly being asked to ride camels. We are made to understand that the school management lost all student data in the database when the platforms were shut down. So as we speak the school management cannot authoritatively say who is a student or not. Imagine being born in the age of mobile phones and 4G internet and someone asks you to hire a town crier to broadcast a message to global audience. So many students also have their school fees trapped inside the old portals and are now being asked to pay new fees.

It goes beyond shutting down the e-learning and registration portal and throwing the school into darkness, technology-wise. The VC has shown favouritism and displayed tribal sentiments in conducting the affairs of the school. Some senior officers have been demoted to lower positions and their juniors placed above them. We are also made to understand that some staff fringe benefits are being withheld and the video recording allowance of our facilitators are not being paid.

Essentially nothing is working in NOUN right now. Our study centres no longer have internet connectivity. The erstwhile smooth school academic calendar has been disrupted as a result of these and many more issues, all directly or indirectly tied to questionable decisions and policies introduced by Professor Adamu. There is a distinct lack of transparency in the administration of the school, policies are announced out of thin air without any consultation with students or staff.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu also have their fair share of the blame in the chaos that is engulfing NOUN. The issues surrounding his appointment as Vice Chancellor last year apart, the President and Education Minister owe Nigerians a duty by virtue of their respective positions to uphold the integrity of one of the most important higher institutions in the country. The fact that the president and the minister have been onlookers in this crisis at NOUN for a year now despite several appeals to intervene by the students and staff makes them complicit.

As students of the National Open University, our demands are simple. NOUN was a perfectly functional institution before Professor Adamu became the VC, the least we ask of him is to keep it that way and not make it worse. We implore the VC to rethink some of his decisions that have crippled our institution and immediately reinstate the former well-functioning portals so all students can carry on with their education without further disruptions.

Patrick Omoregie, Lagos

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POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Danu: Corrupt People in Buhari’s Govt Will Be Exposed A die-hard supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari who served as deputy director of the president’s campaign, Nasiru Halladu Danu admitted that there are a few bad eggs in the administration but was optimistic that the law would soon catch up with them. He spoke to Kuni Tyessi who presents the excerpts: Several years after independence and transition from military to civilian, Nigeria remains underdeveloped. Where did we get it wrong?

It is a matter of leadership. The first, second and third reasons are centred on leadership.

With the right kind of leaders when we keep searching and pushing, and giving the right people the opportunity to serve, our problem will be history. The change we are looking for will come in full force and now we are in the process. Nigeria is changing for good.

on his cabinet, going by what his wife alleged about a cabal and the hijacking of his team?

Obviously, I believe he has full grasp of his administration. Who is doing the new appointments? Who is occupying the office of the Commander-in-Chief? Even when he was not around, who asked Prof. Osinbajo to act? Who gave him the full backing?

Nigeria is the only country where people play politics with even religion. So Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and I stop there.

Are you saying that the present economic hardship is part of the process of being on the right track?

For the past 16-20 years, we have had a mixed kind of leadership. there were good and bad leaders. Nigeria’s situation can be likened to that of a man and woman accepting to get married out of love, but before marriage, they have to go through different phases of understanding. After marriage, reality sets in and if God blesses the union, the woman will give birth to their first baby and the process is accompanied with pains, discomfort, physical and hormonal change and several others. The end of the process which climaxes with the birth of a baby brings happiness to the family and the experience is soon forgotten. We have gone through so much as a nation and we will still go through more if we don’t want temporary solutions. If you look at this government, you will see that it has long-term solutions. Starting from the issue of insecurity which had ravaged not just the North-east but almost every part

When will Nigerian youths become leaders of tomorrow as the country continues to have grey-haired men as our leaders?

I also used to think the way you think but after some time, I realised that leadership is not all about sentiments. It’s about choice of the people. If you are 100 years old and the constitution allows you to rule, you are free to contest and lead because it is your right.

However, Nigerians were looking for a saviour and someone who would come and look at the track records of everybody. Among all the aspirants that contested for the primaries in APC, Buhari was the oldest, no doubt, but he was also the most experienced and I challenge anybody in Nigeria to fault his integrity. He was one time governor of the biggest state in Nigeria, one time Minister of Petroleum, one time GOC, one time PTF chairman and one time Head of State. Despite all these, you cannot find even one filling station that belongs to him. Even when he was overthrown, there were no corruption charges against him. I challenge anybody amongst his co-contesters who has his kind of track records. He contested three times and won in the fourth. He believes so much in the youths of the country. Is Rotimi Amaechi an old man? What about Hadi Sirika? What about Minister of the Niger Delta, Heineken Lokpobiri? Suleiman Adamu of Water Resources and several of them? So he can only give the jobs but cannot force anyone to do it.

Going by the constitution, he will make sure that all the tools needed for you to succeed is made available. So the young are carried along in this government and even when you look at the manifesto, the N5,000 that was promised the youths and unemployed was been criticised by many who opined that the government cannot live up to it, but what is happening today? Things are getting better.

There is change of attitude everywhere. Is it in the police force or military? Their dignity is back and security has improved. Is it in terms of infrastructure? The Yar’adua and Jonathan administration played their notable roles but he has taken it to the next level.

Everybody is doing his/her best because there is competition. The president is the leader of the present change and he is leading by example. So we are in a phase of change and it’s real. So join the train.

We have a leadership that is saying nobody is above the law.

Whichever way you look at it, everybody is being careful now, corruption-wise and you know why? It is simply because we have a president that is not corrupt and will not compromise for even his son. He is a good president surrounded by good people. There might be bad ones but it’s just a matter of time, the law will catch up with them

Danu...Buhari is doing well

of the country. You cannot tell me that the operation crocodile smile has not worked in the South-east. You cannot say that Boko Haram has not been defeated by at least 95 percent from where we are coming from some three-four years ago. The insecure environment is the most vulnerable and we were here and we saw how barracks owned by the military and other places were attacked.

Even the Inspector General of Police was attacked in his own headquarters. We saw how the United Nations headquarters was in disarray and how nobody was safe. We have seen the barricades even in Abuja, and how some security outfits had to block their roads.

All of these were the fear of Boko Haram and insecurity. Buhari’s promise during his campaigns of which I followed him to every nook and cranny of the country was that he was abreast with the situation of the country and was committed to fighting and securing it. He said we would work on the economy.

This administration battled with so many things in its first year of administration. Today, there has been successful operations of the EFCC which is no drama but real and with people keeping millions of dollars in their homes. Civil servants, service chiefs and top Supreme Court judges are being prosecuted in our life time. We have a leadership that is saying nobody is above the law. Whichever way you look at it, everybody is being careful now, corruption-wise and you know why?

It is simply because we have a president that is not corrupt and will not compromise for even his son. He is a good president surrounded by good people. There might be bad ones but it’s just a matter of time, the law will catch up with them.

Do you subscribe to the view that EFCC is being used for sinister motives?

So far, with the level of performance of the current chairman, we should give him the

benefit of the doubt. At least it’s too early to pass judgement. They should be allowed to carry out their investigations. All over the world, investigation takes time. They are professionals and must be given time. Mr. President is someone who belives that people must do that which is right and believes in the rule of law. That is why you see some of these things will have delays because we are used to doing things as usual but now, things have changed. There has to be a proper investigation and besides, we have freedom of information. The picture you have painted is one out of a thousand. How about their other operations? How about convicted service chiefs and civil servants who have bi llions in their accounts which we all know does not belong to them? Is it President Buhari that planted the monies in their houses or bank accounts? It is time for us to take anti-corruption serious. It is real, change has come. Nigerians need to understand that this is the best opportunity for our country and there is the need for us to pray for Mr President’s health and for his success. His success cuts accross all geopolitical zones and it is the success of all in Nigeria and beyond because the success of Nigeria determines the success of every other African country with a population approaching 200 million.

Religion has never been our problem and will never be. Checkout the corruption and looting going on whether in the oil and gas sector, or construction and lands, or whatever, you will never see that the loot was shared in the church or mosque because it is a matter of figures. People throw numbers around and both Muslims and Christians are fully involved and they all have pastors and imams around.

Corruption has been legitimised such that we don’t even know the difference between a corrupt person and upright person.

Do you think the president has a firm grasp

As an APC chieftain, what is your reaction to the imbroglio between executive and legislative arm of government?

I will not say that it is an ego problem because what is happening between the two arms of government happens everywhere all over the world. Simply put, it is democracy in action and nothing more. Both must disagree to agree. APC will deliver and we are already delivering our promises. Both arms know their constitutional duties.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

POLITICS

INEC’s Indecisiveness in Anambra Is the ruling All Progressives Congress conniving with the Independent National Electoral Commission to deprive the people ofAnambra Central Senatorial District from representation in the Senate? Segun James went in search for the answers

S

ome two years have passed since the 2015 general election that ushered in the Eight the National Assembly, yet one senatorial district in the federation is being denied a representation in the upper chamber not due to any fault of theirs, but the evil of high level politicking within the polity.

The seat of the Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate has been vacant since the election of Uche Ekunife was nullified.

Surely the prolong delay in conducting a rerun poll is frustrating the people in the senatorial district as they are being denied representation in the highest legislative body of the country.

INEC had categorically stated that the rerun would remain pending until all court cases relating to the election were disposed of. This has since been achieved in March 2017 when the last case was finally disposed off.

For Chief Victor Umeh, the refusal to conduct the election is a disservice to the people. After coming second in the nullified poll, Umeh has reason to complain.

According to him, there appears to be some kind of connivance between INEC and some people in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to make sure that the rerun election is not held.

So when will the electoral commission conduct the rerun election? This is the one question that has been heating the polity in the state.

The road to the ugly drama playing out in the state began at the end of the Anambra Central Senatorial poll held during the 2015 general elections, when Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, the then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner by INEC. On December 7, 2015, six months after she was sworn in as the Senator, the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu nullified her election and ordered that a rerun be conducted within 90 days from the date the judgment was delivered.

The ruling was given consequent upon an appeal filed by Uneh, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, against the earlier verdict of the lower tribunal upholding Ekwunife’s victory at the poll. Convinced that Ekwunife was wrongly declared winner, Umeh, who came second in the election, had gone to the tribunal to challenge the decision of the electoral umpire.

The rerun poll which ought to have held on March 5, 2016 was postponed indefinitely

by INEC, after an Abuja High Court suddenly gave a ruling compelling it to include the PDP, against the judgment of the Court of Appeal that disqualified the party and its candidate.

The Appeal Court had barred Ekwunife from participating in the rerun election it ordered on the ground that she was not validly nominated by the PDP through a properly conducted primary.

The implication was that PDP had no valid candidate for the initial election and so cannot be part of the rerun ordered by the court. INEC

The delay in conducting the rerun has, no doubt, become an issue of great concern to most discerning Nigerians, who believe that INEC no longer has any legitimate reason to continue to put the exercise on hold

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

refusal to allow PDP or accept new contestant from any party for the rerun poll was based on an already decided case where the Supreme Court ruled that only candidates and political parties that were part of an annulled election can participate when a repeat of the exercise is ordered. The delayed in conducting the rerun has, no doubt, become an issue of great concern to most discerning Nigerians, who believe that INEC no longer has any legitimate reason to continue to put the exercise on hold. After the Supreme Court pronouncement of February 10, 2017, that Court of Appeal decision on National Assembly election matters is final, it is expected that by now INEC would have done the needful and fixed a date for the rerun poll in Anambra Central which has lingered for too long.

In the judgment delivered by the apex court, following the appeal brought by Mrs. Ekwunife whose election was quashed by the Appellate Court, Justice Amina Augie said: “Looking closely at the wordings of Section 246 (3), it is clear that the decision of the Court of Appeal is final. This court is completely bereft of jurisdiction to entertain the appeal. Once the Court of Appeal delivers its judgment on a National Assembly Election Petition appeal, the judgment becomes final. For the umpteenth time, the constitution does not approve of the apex court to entertain this appeal no matter how cleverly it has been framed.”

INEC was about to conduct the Anambra Central rerun poll on March 5, 2016, but suddenly postponed the exercise indefinitely, after a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over

by Justice Anwuli Chikere ordered it to include PDP. The judge was reported to have directed PDP to replace its candidate, Ekwunife, who had at that time defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the nullification of her election based on invalid sponsorship by the PDP in the March 28, 2015 poll.

The electoral body, knowing full well, that Chikere’s ruling in favour of PDP was against the verdict of the Court of Appeal, which disqualified PDP candidate and barred the party from participating, suspended the conduct of the rerun and appealed the judgment. Therefore, as it stands, APC can only participate in the rerun if Dr Chris Ngige the APC candidate

decides to contest. As for PDP, the party has been completely knocked out of the race by the December 7, 2015 verdict of the Enugu Court of Appeal duly affirmed by the highest court in the land.

Since then, Ms. Sharon Ikeazor who was seeking to replace Ngige has been told by the court that INEC could not substitute Ngige in APC, and the court made the statement very clear. Speaking in the logjam, Umeh said: “Even Sharon made a statement when this verdict was delivered that she was not going to appeal against it. She had said that she is a lawyer of 30 years standing and knows what the law says, and she called on Ngige to come and contest to save the party. On whether I am ready to do battle with Ngige if he joins, I think you should ask Ngige if he is ready to run. Ngige had said he would not contest because he is on a national assignment, yet he does not want the election to be conducted.”

Umeh, a disciple of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu is a known dogged fighter who is ready to do battle with anyone over his right when he believes it is about to be trampled upon; and this battle for the soul of Anambra central senatorial district is one he is ready to fight till the end. He has therefore challenged INEC on this while also taken on Ngige, who is presently the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, on his recent utterances on the election.

He noted that there had been a ploy to confuse the issues surrounding the rerun. He did his best to simplify the issue thus: “Let me say clearly that from the judgment of Justice Chikere of 14 March 2017, INEC is completely free to fix a date for the election without further delay. The simple order to obey is to exclude any fresh candidate. Peter Obi and anyone else that seek to take part in the election must be someone who had taken part in the 2015 election.

“NEC could have gone ahead without waiting for any of these things, but it is good that the same judge they are relying on that said PDP should be included now came out boldly to say no fresh candidate to correct herself from whatever happened. I know that INEC is aware of this, but Ngige should not intimidate INEC in the discharge of its constitutional mandate.

The era of intimidation by ruling parties in

Nigeria should be over in line with President Buhari’s promise of change.

“We experienced these things during the PDP days, but now that we are in a government that has preached change, nobody should use his membership of the ruling party or any arm of government to intimidate and dictate to INEC. That is what Ngige has demonstrated, and he has said it everywhere. “In fact, this is enough for President Munammadu Buhari to sack Ngige from the Federal Executive Council for embarrassing both APC and the government. All these machinations and intrigues are targeted at creating problems in the forthcoming governorship elections in the Anambra State.

“Having explained these things, I want to say that Buhari and APC should not allow Ngige to use his voodoo politics and treachery to drag APC and the FG to disrepute. Ngige boasting that this election can never hold with certainty is an indication that the party and the government are dictating to INEC on how to conduct its affairs.

“Ngige has a long credential of political treachery and should not be allowed to plunge Anambra State into anarchy. In 2003, Ngige had to go into unholy agreement with some people including striping himself naked in a shrine to take a vow of loyalty, so that he would be rigged into power, under Obasanjo’s presidency. His decision to renege on that agreement brought Anambra State to its knees, culminating into mayhem, where Anambra properties worth billions were destroyed.

“Because of his bad fate in that unwholesome agreement, he was kidnapped by his sponsors, who in their pursuit of Ngige made Anambra State to suffer nearly three years before he was booted out of office in 2006.

“In 2011 again, Prof Dora Akunyili challenged his purported election into the Senate, with abundant evidence of falsified figures in polling units. What did he do? He resorted to the frustration of the hearing of the petition that led to the tribunal striking out Dora Akunyili’s petition.

By the time the court of appeal returned to hear Akunyili’s appeal on merit to the tribunal, the 180 days provided had elapsed, so Akunyili’s petition was struck out because the time provided for hearing had elapsed. That was how Ngige stayed in the Senate.

“In 2015 again, he came again on the senatorial election, he scored 20,000 votes, I got 86,000 votes to win the election, but PDP falsified the result and rigged themselves in with 93,000 votes.

You will recall that Ngige in a press conference described that election as a huge fraud and a charade, but because President Buhari had won the presidential election, he decided not to go to the tribunal to challenge the election, only to pursue a ministerial appointment.

“So when I challenged the outcome of the election and the election was nullified, he said he won’t come back to the election, and wrote a letter withdrawing. Now that the court has stated the law saying nobody who did not take part in the main election can take part in the rerun, he is now holding brief for everybody, saying that the election should not be conducted again, when he is at liberty as a candidate that took part in that election to come and contest.

“He wants to keep his ministerial job and stop the election from taking place, that is pure wickedness and a very terrible exhibition of lack of respect for the law, due process and total disregard to the people of Anambra central senatorial district, whom he had sought to represent.

“Ngige has now stated that 90 days within which the election should have been conducted had elapsed and that there are matters in court challenging it. That matter was filled on 28 march 2017, Ekwunife sponsored somebody to file a suit, two years after the election they are challenging my nomination as APGA candidate, and in another breath, saying that 90 days had elapsed and the election should no longer take place, that is what Ngige is shamelessly brandishing in the pages of newspapers as the reason why the election should not take place.”

20

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Raising Role Models Solomon Elusoji attended a student empowerment programme in a Lagos suburb and writes about the power of charity in shaping the lives of young people

A cross section of junior school students reading from the book, 'Insight: Nuggets of Excellence for Teenagers' by Maryam Popoola

O

n a cool morning in May, as early as 9a.m., students of Lagos State Model College, Badore, in their hundreds, filed into the school hall in their checks and white uniforms. Each of them wielded a book, Insight: Nuggets of Excellence for Teenagers

by Maryam Popoola. They were attending a personal learning and development programme organised by Tomeb Foundation and sponsored by ExxonMobil, and the book would be the focal point of the programme’s discussions.

Maryam Popoola wrote the book as a 16-year-old, when she was in her final year at Secondary School, last year. She attended Crescent Nursery and Primary School and graduated as the Overall Best Pupil of her year. She then proceeded to Dowen College, Lagos, where she had the privilege of being appointed as the Deputy Head Girl of the school and also graduated as the Overall Best Student and the school’s 2016 valedictorian. The book is a comprehensive summary of the issues affecting young people in secondary school and contains valuable lessons on how they can achieve academic, moral and spiritual excellence.

Incidentally, Maryam is a daughter to the founders of Tomeb, Mr. Tunde Popoola and Alhaja Mojisola Popoola. “When she put this book together, we decided to ensure that it gets to the hands of thousands of people, because it is an impactful title for people in her age bracket,” the Senior Popoola told THISDAY.

So, after the book was published, Tomeb partnered with ExxonMobil to donate free copies of the book to select students in Lagos State. Badore’s Model College was the chosen school and the foundation went further to arrange for a personal development and learning programme, where eminent speakers are invited to read chapters from the book and explain them to the mass of listening students.

That morning, May 29 to be precise, Mr. Tunde Popoola took to the stage, after a

We decided to focus on empowering young people and rural communities, to help them move to the next level. We have particular interest in young people, entrepreneurship, education and sustainable development; these are our four focus areas

short speech had been delivered by the Principal of the College, Mr. Abdulfatai Lawal. In a prime suit and wearing a dashing smile, Mr. Popoola, who is an enormously successful banker cum economist cum accountant, shared a snippet of his early days with the eager students. “I grew up in the village,” he said, “and when I was going to school, because my father was a farmer, I would go to the farm on Friday and come back on Sunday.”

But being a farm boy did not stop Maryam’s father from achieving his dreams.

“You can become anything in life, but you must be ready to do all that is required to get to the top,” he said.

He started Tomeb, together with his wife, Mrs. Popoola, when he realised that there are a lot of children who miss their way simply because they just couldn’t get someone to give them direction. “So we decided to focus on empowering young people and rural communities, to help them move to the next level,” he said. “We have particular interest in young people, entrepreneurship, education and sustainable development; these are our four focus areas.”

The foundation also awards scholarship to young students in rural communities at the Junior Secondary School level. More than 80 per cent of their scholarship recipients are now in the university.

After his speech, Mr. Popoola stepped down for the invited speakers, who are all lifelong professional achievers, to weave their magic on the audience.

The first speaker was the Country Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, Mr.

Niyi Yusuf. Yusuf, who also supervises Accenture’s Ghana office, is the Chairman of Junior Achievement (JAN) and a member of Tomeb’s board of trustees. A double honours graduate of Economics and Computer Science from the Obafemi Awolowo University, he has keen interest in youth development and is an advocate for integrity, hard work, selfless service to humanity and an enduring belief and trust in God. A soft spoken reader, he ran the students through the book’s third chapter, which is titled: ‘What It Takes To Succeed As a Teenager’.

“The way you define success will change as you grow in life,” he explained after reading. “To my mind, success is a journey.

It is about setting goals and achieving them.

It doesn’t matter where you start from. You only need to have faith in God to direct your path, have faith and belief in yourself, be hardworking and put in that extra effort that will make you extraordinary.”

He also advised the students to be patient and ready to persevere, because nothing good comes easy. He told the story of legendary Olympian, Michael Phelps to illustrate his point and referred to the 10,000 hour rule – an idea closely associated with pop psych writer, Malcom Gladwell, which holds that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become world-class in any field or vocation.

The second speaker was the former Executive Director of Fate Foundation, Mrs. Elizabeth Olofin, who stepped off the podium and engaged with the students intimately. A trained teacher, human resource

21

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

FEATURES

L-R: Mrs. Titi Akinsanmi, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, Mr. Tunde Popoola, Mrs. Mojisola Popoola and Mrs. Elizabeth Olofin

Mr. Popoola . . . giving hope to the students

expert and small business consultant, Olofin is currently the Managing Consultant of Kitbenj Nigeria Limited, a consultancy outfit with focus on issues of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and growth. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Zoology from the

I have learnt, today, how to pursue my dreams, and what it takes to be a complete person, in character and behaviour.

This is something that I believe will help shape my future and that of the other students present here today

Mr. Yusuf reading from Insight: Nuggets of Excellence for Teenagers by Maryam Popoola

University of Ibadan and her Master’s degree in Education Management from the same university.

Olofin read from the fifth chapter: ‘Important Habits to Cultivate’ and focused on the idea of being still. “If you don’t learn how to be still, you will never be able to achieve,” she said. “You must learn how to observe quiet time, go into the recess of your mind and consider things.”

Stillness, she pressed, helps to uncover one’s identity and protect it. “It will help you to find what gift you have; then after you have discovered that, you must practise and be prepared to share your fruits with others.”

A Professor of Medicine from the University of Lagos, Mrs. Fatimah Abdulkareem, took the third lecture, reading from Chapter 10: ‘Towards Academic Excellence’. Abdulkareem, who is a consultant in gastrointestinal and liver pathology, obtained her medical qualifications from the University of Calabar and the University of Lagos. She has held several positions of responsibility, both at work and in various other charitable capacities.

She advised the students to never settle for less. “It is not everybody that is something today that was somebody yesterday,” she

said, before urging the students to follow through with God and diligence. “If you follow and obey God and put in a lot of hard work, everything will be easy for you,” she said.

The last scheduled speaker for the day was Mrs. Titi Akinsanmi, the Public Policy and Public Affairs Government Relations at Google, where she is involved in understanding, shaping and developing Google’s policy direction and implementation of its strategic initiatives across key markets in Sub-Sahara Africa. She has almost two decades of expertise on Information and Communication Technologies in the public, private and civil society sectors across five continents. So it was no surprise that she read from chapters 7 and 8 of Maryam’s book, which details the ‘Good and Bad Sides of Social Media’.

Donning a white jacket over a black skirt, Akinsanmi was a crowd favourite, as the students got excited about her accent. But, more importantly, it was the topic – social media – which got them really simmering with interest.

Akinsanmi told them that being on social media was a great thing, as it helps them to connect seamlessly with one another and makes it easier to access informa-

tion. But she also warned them against falling into its many pitfalls like hacking, cyber-bullying, exposure to inappropriate material, defamation, piracy, and catfish, among many others. “I recognised very early that technology gave me an edge,” she said, “but I am imploring you, as young people, to make the right choices.”

At the end of the programme, students and teachers of the College, were obviously sated with wisdom. “It was very beneficial to the students and even to the teachers, in terms of the core values exhibited in the book published by Maryam and extolled by the speakers,” the Senior Education Officer of the College, Mr. Animashaun Kolawole, told THISDAY. “We have been rightly blessed and made aware of things we can do to put ourselves on the path to excellence.”

The College’s Head Girl, who had earlier led the national anthem in Yoruba, Miss Khalidat Sulyman, told THISDAY she had taken away so much from the programme.

“I have learnt, today, how to pursue my dreams, and what it takes to be a complete person, in character and behaviour,” she said. “This is something that I believe will help shape my future and that of the other students present here today.”

22

IMAGES

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, The Most Valuable Governorís wife Award (MGWVA), Mr. Tom Obulu, Newly elected Chairperson MGWVA, Ms. Adora Onyechere and Executive Personal Assistant to the chairperson MGWVA, Ms. Ramat Aliu, during the press conference on the inauguration and formal presentation of the chairperson for MGWVA 2018 award ceremony team in Abuja... recently ENOCK REUBEN

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

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

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right) with Islamic clerics and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the fidau prayers for the late party’s stalwart, Alhaji Salami Oloola, in Okeho, Oke-Ogun zone Oyo State..recently

L-R Chairman, Board of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Mr Adedotun Suleman; Honorable Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr.Okechukwu Enelamah and Permanent Secretary,of Trade and Investment Mr. Aminu Bisalla,at the inauguration ceremony of the New Board of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria in Abuja...recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

L-R: Managing Director, The La Casera Company (TLCC) Plc, MR Roland Ebelt; Deputy Director, Codex, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Dr (Mrs) Omolara Okunlora; DIirector, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Mr. Joseph Emoleke; Head, Food Unit Codex, SON, Mrs. Emordi Helen; and Director,, TLCC, Mr, Bayo Adeleke, at the La Casera apple drink fresh new look launch ceremony in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R Guest Speaker, Annual Lecture, International Dispute Resolution Institute 2017, Prof; Lindsay Jones, Honorable Justice Binta Nyako, Honorable Justice Agatha Okeke, and Chairman, International Dispute Resolution Institute(IDRI) Prof; Amasike, during the International Dispute Resolution Institute 2017 Annual Lecture, Dinner in Abuja...recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

L-R: Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tony Okpara; Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Entertainment, Honourable Irouno Chukwuwonye; Glo subscribers, Lady Gifi Nwanojuo, and Chief Onyewuchi Ugwuegbe, at the mega comedy show, Glo Laffta Fest, held in Owerri...recently

Managing Director, FCMB Microfinance Bank, Mr. Adetunji Lamidi; a customer of FCMB Microfinance Bank and award recipient, Mrs. Waliat Aniyi; Group Head, Consumer Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Shiba Ghosh and Consultant to FCMB Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Buchi Lenior, during the bank’s customer forum in Lagos...recently

L-R; Head Product Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu; Director, Information Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Paul Lee, and Business Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. HB Kim at the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ in Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

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Quick Takes

ACCI Appoints Ekechukwu DG

BUSINESS COLLABORATION

R-L: Managing Director, Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo; CEO of Triton Aqua Group, Raju Samtani; Executive Director of Heritage Bank, Jude Monye and Chief Financial Officer, Vijay Mastakar, during the bank’s management visit to Triton Aqua Africa Limited (TAAL) facility in Ikeja, Lagos...recently

FG to Review National Broadband Plan in 2018 Stories by Emma Okonji Unsatisfied with the implementation process of Nigerian National Broadband Plan, which has a five year longevity period, the federal government has said it will review the plan by the end of 2018, when its longevity period will elapse.

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who made the disclosure in an interview with THISDAY in Lagos, said the review would be necessary in order to finetune its contents, in line with global technology trends.

He also said timeframe would be considered in achieving certain parameters in the reviewed broadband plan, in order to speed up broadband penetration in the country.

“We have a broadband

ICT plan that is designed to make broadband available to all Nigerians. The broadband plan is a five year plan from 2013 to 2018, but hopefully it will be reviewed by the end of next year. By next year we will review the broadband plan and come up with new plan that will catchup with modern technology trends,” Shittu told THISDAY. Analysing the plan further, the minister said the target of 30 per cent broadband penetration as enshrined in the plan was even a low target for Nigeria, considering the clamour for ubiquitous broadband access by Nigerians.

He however expressed optimism that the country would surpass the 30 per

cent penetration target, given the current statistics, which he said, showed some significant growth level in the country’s broadband penetration.

According to him, “broadband is the enabler to technology development of any nation. The issue of broadband accessibility is the key to technology development. So government wants Nigerians to come together and ensure that broadband is accessible and affordable to all Nigerians. Government is encouraging private sector investment in broadband in order to make it accessible and affordable,” Shittu assured Nigerians.

He however explained that the existing broadband infrastructure in the country would be improved to make

broadband not only ubiquitous, but also accessible and affordable.

Giving some clues on how government plans to boost broadband growth in the country, Shittu said government has opened talks with Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) to collaborate with it in making broadband internet affordable to all Nigerians.

Shittu added: ’’This government had long considered it that it has no business in business. All that the government needs do is to provide the enabling environment for ICT-led industry businesses to thrive. We have been having some financial interventions through the Universal Service Continued on page 24

Expect Calls for Technology Adoption to Boost Nigeria’s Low GDP The Managing Director of Rack Centre, a Tier 111 Collocation Data Centre, Mr. Tunde Coker, has called on governments at all levels to adopt technology in order to bridge the wide margin that exists between the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its huge population size.

Coker, who made the call in a chat with THISDAY, said there was need to bridge the existing gap between the country’s GDP and its population size, using technology as an enabling factor to boost Nigeria’s economy and make it more productive.

According to him, “The population size is growing fast, but the GDP growth is not commensurate with the

ECONOMY fast growing population rate and this is a challenge for the Nigerian government. We need to grow GDP beyond its current low level and technology is the enabler.”

He added: ’’There is need for us to drive the country’s GDP to close the gap. If we do not do that as a nation, our population will continue to grow while the GDP continues to be static. So we need a catalyst that will drive GDP growth of the Nigerian economy.

We need to drive big data growth and encourage the establishment of certified Tier 111 Data Centres to drive GDP growth.’’

Furthermore, he said: ’’What we deliver at Rack Centre, sets Nigeria on a global map because of our technology offerings and the quality of our services. Currently we have four designs certified and this speaks volume of the kind of quality data services that we offer.’’

Coker called on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to consider hosting their data in Nigeria, as against the practice of hosting local data abroad, thereby increasing international traffic at the detriment of local traffic that will add economic value to the Nigerian system.

Coker who frowned on the situation where Nigeria, which is Africa’s largest economy by

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) size, is not among Africa’s top 10 countries with high GDP per capita, insisted that technology adoption by government at all levels could change the narrative.

GDP per capital is a country’s gross domestic product divided by its population, which is about how much money is available to an individual in the country.

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, Seychelles, an island nation that records the smallest population in any of Africa’s independent state, has the highest GDP per capita of any African economy, Continued on page 24

The Board of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has appointed Chijioke Ekechukwu as its new Director General effective May, 2nd 2017.

Ekechukwu, who holds a BSC in Economics; MBA in Management and MSC in Finance, is an entrepreneurial executive with extensive leadership experience.

His work career spans over 25 years, from Cashdata Services Ltd, Ikoyi Lagos, Senior Officer, Citizens Bank Ltd; Branch Manager, Equity Bank Ltd; Senior Manager, Oceanic Bank; Assistant Vice President, FCMB Plc; and Regional Director and Group Head, Public Sector, Bank PHB. Before joining ACCI, he was the Group Managing Director of Bristol Group with core business in investments, property and schools.

He is a Director in First Generation Mortgage Bank Ltd. Following the reorganisation of the chamber, Ekechukwu, comes with a track record of success in multiple areas.

Ekechukwu is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria, fellow, Institute of Management Consultants; Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered); and a Past President of Rotary Club of Abuja.

He has attended many professional courses both locally and abroad; and he is married with children.

Glo Continues Didactic Series Globacom has continued to run its didactic television drama series, Professor Johnbull. The latest episode of the series takes viewers on an interesting voyage on the significance of high moral standards.

The episode aptly titled “No Help” encapsulates the factors responsible for the dearth of help in the society and why many are unwilling to be their brothers’ keepers.

The first airing was at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Chanel 251 and NTA on StarTimes, while the repeat edition will run on Friday at 8.30 p.m. on the same stations. Cast in the setting of pure satire, the conscience of the sitcom and lead character in the series, Professor Johnbull, played by a veteran of Nollywood, Kanayo O. Kanayo, stresses the consequences of paying good with evil.

Announcing the new episode in Lagos, Globacom said in a statement that “No Help” is an episode which dramatises the unpleasant experiences many good Samaritans have suffered in the hands of people who lack natural sense of gratitude.

Sadly enough, it is the society that suffers ultimately as any act of ingratitude, no matter how little, is capable of dissuading others from rendering help and assistance even to those who would have appreciated such help.”

ESET Wins IT Security Product Award ESET, leading European-based IT security company, has been selected by Nigerians as the top product for internet security in online voting organised by the Beacon of ICT Awards.

Reading its citation at the award venue, the Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, organisers of the award, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, said: “ESET is a clear leader in the Nigerian market with proven and tested information security solutions. It is indeed a testament to ESET’s talent, innovation and its commitment to the growth of the information and communication technology industry in Africa.”

CEO of Arit of Africa, ESET’s partner company in the region, Ronke Okeremi, said: “ESET’s business in Africa has been steadily built for more than a decade and we are proud that this is now increasingly recognized by the public.

Our thanks goes to our valued users and to the talent behind top ESET technology.”

We are definitely delighted to see growth in the popularity of ESET protective technology here, both in corporate and enterprise security as well as personal computers and smartphones,” Okeremi added.

“NIPOST is endowed with huge potentials but bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks and limited capacities for experimenting and thriving business models”

Postmaster General, Adebisi Adegbuyi

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BUSINESSWORLD FG TO REVIEW NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN IN 2018 Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Government is also getting funding from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other agencies to support various government projects, which include broadband penetration.’’

The federal government, through the Ministry of Communications Technology, had in 2012, set up a presidential committee on national broadband plan, with the former Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe as Chairman of the committee and the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia as co-Chairman.

The committee, which submitted its report timely enough, was applauded for a thorough job done, but Nigerians have not been pleased with the actions of those who were supposed to drive the implementation process of the broadband plan, while blaming the slow broadband penetration on the poor implementation process of the broadband plan.

Worried about the implementation process, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of all computer professionals in the country, had earlier called on the federal government to expedite the full implementation of the country’s five year broadband plan.

EXPECT CALLS FOR TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION TO BOOST NIGERIA’S LOW GDP returning a figure of $15,400.

The IMF attributes this growth to the role of tourism in the country, highlighting a need for the much touted diversification of Nigeria’s economy that is largely dependent on oil with prices that have crashed.

The GDP per capita in Nigeria, when adjusted by purchasing power parity, is equivalent to 32 per cent of the world’s average. GDP per capita, a situation, Coker said is abysmally low.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritme)

NEWS

Forex: NACCIMA Lauds CBN’s Sanction against Banks Crusoe Osagie The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) decision to stop some banks from participating in the SME wholesale window of the forex market following series of complaints that some of the banks were deliberately frustrating efforts by many SMEs to access forex from the window.

This is as the Chamber has predicted that Nigeria would be out of her current economic downturn by third quarter of 2017.

The country, it noted, has started its growth out of economic recession with the continual decline in the negative growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) standing at -1.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016 as against -2.24 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2017.

The national president, NACCIMA, Dr. Bassey Edem, during its review of the state of the economy, said although the official figures for the first quarter of 2017 is yet to be released, there are noticeable signs that the growth rate will further appreciate in the first quarter of 2017.

He noted that leading indicators suggest that the economy is slowly picking up with public finances improving as a result of the fiscal and monetary policies initiated and adopted by the federal government, supported by stable crude oil prices and production.

He also warned that the growth is still fragile and may be constrained by policy inaction of the government.

However, the NACCIMA boss also lauded the sanction on some banks, saying that this would serve as a deterrent to others not to abuse the system.

He said the foreign reserves have continued to increase steadily, and stood at about $30 billion as at 31st March 2017 from $25.72 on December 31, 2016, while year-on-year inflation stood at 17.26 per cent in March 2017 as against 17.78

per cent in February 2017.

On the macroeconomic indicators, the NACCIMA president commended the CBN’s new policy of providing direct funding to banks to meet the foreign exchange needs of Nigerians, saying that this was followed with the introduction of a special platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access a maximum of $20,000 per quarter and a special window for investors and exporters.

These policies, he noted, have resulted in strengthening the naira, which fell in the last quarter of 2016 to about N500 to a dollar in the parallel market.

He applauded the effort of the federal government in ensuring that the country is on its way out of the economic recession, adding that the Economic Recovery Growth

Plan ( ERGP) launched by the federal government which is expected to grow the economy by 2.19 per cent in 2017 and 7 per cent in 2020 is a step in the right direction.

Following persistent complaints that some banks have deliberately frustrated efforts by many SMEs to access FX from the window created for small businesses in the country, the CBN last week barred all but eight banks from participating in the weekly SME wholesale spot and forwards interventions.

Sources at the CBN disclosed that the banking system regulator took the decision to bar the errant banks based on field reports, which revealed that only eight banks had sold FX to the SME segment since the inception of the window.

According to a source, the CBN frowned on the action of

the banks that declined to sell FX to SMEs to enable them import eligible finished and semi-finished items despite the availability of FX from the CBN wholesale intervention window.

CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed the sanction said the CBN’s management decided to bar banks that were yet to utilise any portion of the funds allocated by the CBN under the SME window, since its inception last month.

The affected banks will be barred from participating in the weekly wholesale spot and forwards interventions, he said.

He listed the banks not barred to include Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Heritage Bank, Jaiz Bank, Sterling Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Stanbic IBTC and

Keystone Bank were readmitted after it was confirmed that they have been selling FX to the SMEs. The CBN spokesman warned that the bank would not sit back and allow any form of instability in the interbank FX market through the actions of institutions or individuals.

He, however, disclosed that the action will be lifted immediately any of the affected banks show evidence of significant utilisation of the funds allocated to them under the SME window.

As an incentive, Okorafor said banks that had utilised their SME funds were allocated all of the $100 million sold at last Tuesday’s wholesale auction.

He urged all stakeholders to play by the rules for the benefit of the country and the economy.

APPRECIATING OUR CUSTOMERS

L-R: Manager, Regional Sales Kaduna, Etisalat Nigeria, Omolade Olajide; Etisalat Customer and student of Kaduna State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Attah; and Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Layi Onafowokan, at the Etisalat Customer Forum held in Kaduna …recently

BoI to Charge Zero Per Cent Interest on Loans DankwamboAssuresFarmers to Youths of Adequate Fertilizer The Bank of Industry (BoI) has reduced its interest rates for corp members under its Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) programme, to zero per cent interest charge from 9%, as part of measures to encourage entrepreneurship and aid business growth.

According to the BOI, the GEF scheme being implemented by it in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate is currently on the second edition and has recorded over N262.9 million disbursements to 177 successful candidates.

The bank said the zero per cent interest charge took effect from May 1, 2017.

It said existing GEF loans and those to be disbursed from 1st of May 2017, would require repayment of only the principal amounts, while the177 candi-

dates that had been financed under the scheme would be required to pay loan interest that accrued up to 30th April, 2017.

As at March 31, 2017, the bank had approved N583.8 million for disbursements for entrepreneurs under the scheme.

The bank explained that it was motivated by the larger part of the177 candidates who have exhibited strong dedication to their businesses and have demonstrated unusual commitment to repayment of their loans including the 9per cent interest portion.

With the first disbursements already creating impact in the agriculture value chain and creative industry, the bank said N46.98 million is expected to be disbursed to the remaining 28 successful candidates who are in

the various stages of complying with the loan requirements.

“The Bank of industry is highly delighted in the outcome of its investment in these young Nigerians. The Bank firmly believes that entrepreneurship is a critical pathway to resolving the worrisome unemployment problem in the country.

Hence, the Bank desires to ensure the businesses that have been created through the GEF programme remain sustainable with progressive migration from small businesses to medium and eventually to large enterprises.

“It is believed that that this gesture will further attract young Nigerians that are undergoing their one-year compulsory National youth service to embrace entrepreneurship by participating in the GEF programme.

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo has said that his administration will ensure that farmers in the state are provided with adequate fertilizer this farming season.

The Governor, who was away for six weeks, told a tumultuous crowd that came to welcome him at the Government House that he has gathered enough momentum to govern the State for his remaining two years in office.

He said his government will ensure that the state experience good governance and hunger will become a thing of the past as farmers would be supplied adequate fertilizer in good time and at affordable prices.

Fertilizer is currently sold in the state at N5,500 at the

open market and government sources said the price is expected to remain the same both in the open market and the government product so as to stabilise the prize and check exploitation by middlemen who divert government products and sell at higher prices in the open market.

Dankwambo then encouraged the people of the state to have no fear and embark on farming activities, promising that the government will do all it can to support farmers so that hunger will never rear its head in Gombe and beyond.

“I want to assure any farmer who wants to cultivate ten hectares of farmland and above, that I have directed the Tractor hiring unit of the State Ministry of Agriculture to release the farm for the farmer free of charge”, he stated.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Furore over Renewed Move to Relocate Lagos Computer Village The incessant threat by successive governments in Lagos State to relocate the Ikeja Computer Village Market is beginning to unsettle the traders, who have been expressing doubts over government’s sincerity of purpose, writes Emma Okonji The Lagos State government, last week, restated its decision to relocate the Ikeja Computer Village Market to a permanent trading site in Kotangowa, a suburb of Lagos in Okeodo Local Government Area of the state. The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowoshe, who made the disclosure, however explained that government was yet to come up with the blueprint for the planned relocation.

Disturbed by the renewed relocation plan by the state government, the traders, under the aegis of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), visited the commissioner last Thursday, to seek clarification on state government’s renewed relocation plan.

During the visit, the commissioner reassured the traders of government’s intention to relocate the market, but as usual, did not give any definite date for the relocation.

Although the traders were worried about the renewed plan, they are, however beginning to feel that the Lagos government is playing politics with the relocation threat, having made several failed attempts in that regard since 2004.

Fresh relocation plan After several failed attempts to relocate the Ikeja Computer Village to its permanent trading site by past governments, the current Lagos State government, led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has again, insisted it would begin the process of relocation before the expiration of its first four years in office by 2019.

The Assistant Public Relations Officer of CAPDAN, Mr. Presley Ibadin, who spoke with THISDAY on the latest development, said the Lagos State government was bent on relocating the market, but promised it would carry along the leadership of the traders in its relocation plan.

“We visited the commissioner on Thursday last week to seek clarifications on the fresh plans to relocate the market, based on information we got, and the commissioner confirmed the fresh relocation plan. He, however, assured us that it was not going to be immediate, and that government would inform us on how it would go about the relocation process,” Ibadin told THISDAY in a telephone interview. He said the fresh plan on relocation had created fear among the traders, hence CAPDAN had to visit the commissioner to seek clarification.

Former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who first initiated the move in 2004, had planned to relocate the traders to a permanent site in Katangowa, citing congestion at its current location as reason for the relocation plan. He could not achieve the plan before handing over government to his successor, Babatunde Fashola, who also made some attempts to relocate the market, but also failed. Now his successor, Ambode is making fresh moves to relocate the market.

Failed relocation attemptsDisturbed by the state government unending threat to relocate the computer market, CAPDAN, the only recognised umbrella body of traders in the market, before the emergence of several other factions, had in the past, approached the the Lagos State government for assistance to enable it begin construction work on the permanent site, but did not get government support.

The traders, however, decided to develop the new area themselves through CAPDAN, but met some challenges of land ownership tussle, which forced them to abandon the project, which they had already invested huge sum of money in.

During that period, some traders lost confidence in the leadership of CAPDAN, led by Mr. Tunji Balogun, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Brian Integrated Systems.

Mistrust among traders crept in, which resulted in the formation of several other factions that

A section of computer village market in Ikeja

divided the once united CAPDAN and the entire computer village market.

In 2006, one of the factions approached the authority of Ikeja Military Cantonment to move the traders to its newly built market inside the barrack but several traders opposed to it, giving reasons that movement of buyers would be restricted since it is a military barrack and they were afraid it would adversely affect trade.

All attempts to relocate the market, failed, and the traders had no choice but to remain in the congested market, and trading under different leadership factions.

In March 2014, the traders reunited and

After several failed attempts to relocate the IkejaComputer Village to its permanent trading site by past governments, the current Lagos State government, led byGovernor Akinwunmi Ambode has again, insisted it would begin the process of relocation before the expiration of its first four years in office by 2019

approached the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology to come to their rescue, which attracted the then Minister, Dr. Omobola Johnson to invite the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) into the scene. Through the intervention of the minister and NITDA, the traders secured a loan from African Development Bank and they were in the process of developing a new site for the market, before the state government stepped in with another fresh plan and a new contractor arrangement to develop the once abandoned Katangowa market.

The traders, who expressed their dissatisfaction over the delay by the state government to relocate the market long ago, however, pleaded with the state to ensure that the shops should be affordable to traders who were happy with the fresh relocation plan, which again failed like other past plans.

Another failed attempt In October 2014, the Lagos State government came up with another plan to relocate the computer market.

The plan to relocate the market was reached during a meeting between the Lagos State government; Bridgeways, the company contracted by Lagos State to handle the new market building project; and the leadership of CAPDAN. It, however, took a lot of efforts on the part of Lagos government representatives to convince the leadership of CAPDAN on the sincerity of government to finally relocate the market.

Some of the market leaders, who blamed Lagos government for their challenges, found it difficult to believe the sincerity of government in its renewed plan to relocate the market. They said the meeting only reminded them of their painful efforts to relocate the market years back and pointed accusing fingers at Lagos State government for foiling every relocation plan made by the traders in the past.

Addressing the three parties with the highest assurance of sincerity on the part of government to relocate the market, the then Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, said Lagos government was ready to coordinate the process that would lead to the relocation of the market.

The State Commissioner for Science and

Technology at that time, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, who was also present at the meeting, assured the traders of the state government’s commitment to relocate the market from its present location in Ikeja to Katangowa, which he said was easily accessible. Mabadeje called for full cooperation of the traders to enable the state government conclude the project in record time. But again, the attempt failed.

Traders’ concern Some of the traders who spoke to THISDAY on the incessant relocation threat from the state government, said the traders have lost confidence in the state government, over its unending relocation plan.

Suspecting that the state government may be playing politics with the relocation, they advised the state government to develop the current location of the market in Otigba quarters in Ikeja, into a standard market with facilities such as parking space, link roads, water, and steady electricity.

“The current location is big enough for government to develop into a modern market.

All that government needs do is to buy over the few remaining residential buildings in the location, relocate the owners of the buildings and develop the place. If this is done, government will generate huge money from the market, “one of the traders said.

History of computer village The Ikeja Computer Village Market started in the early 70s with the gathering of few traders in the then residential area called Otigba Village. As the market grew over the years, and attracted more traders and buyers who were dealing mainly on computer and its accessories and later extended to mobile phones and their accessories, the traders automatically converted the residential area to a full market and named it Ikeja Computer Village market.

The market became a beehive of activities, attracting more buyers and sellers, to the extent that the limited space became choked up and movement of buyers within the market became difficult as a result of severe body friction during movement of persons who visited the market. Parking space for cars has also become a nightmare as cars could not be driven into the market due to lack of space constraints.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Onajite: Sensitisation is the Key to Cashless Policy The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive of Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Regha Onajite, spoke with journalists on the recent reversal of the cashless policy and how to achieve the cashless goals. Emma Okonji brings the excerpts: The Central Bank of Nigeria recently reversed its decision on the new charges introduced to deepen adoption of cashless policy. What are your thoughts on the reversal?

I will start by stating that the CBN has the constitutional mandates to control and administer the monitoring of financial sector policy for Nigeria. It is the duty of the regulator to ensure monitoring and price-ability and to promote a sound financial system in Nigeria. It is in its wisdom that it looks at the policies they think can promote stability in the economy and come up with policy framework, which will support such promotions. One of the policies, which we have applauded very loudly, is the Cashless Nigeria Policy. For E-PPAN, which is a CBN approved body to drive cashless policy, we see the cashless policy as a good policy that supports strongly what we believe in, because we believe in electronic payment and we promote e-payment. So we found out that when the CBN brought that policy, our members were excited because we are in a country where people do not do the right thing except they were compelled to do so. If you take a good look at Nigeria, you will see that the introduction of compulsory use of seat belts while driving was followed by serious enforcement, likewise the direction on the use of helmets by both private and commercial motorcyclists. Even though the use of seat belts and helmets were meant to save people’s lives, most people didn’t comply until government began serious enforcement. Unfortunately, people have stopped using helmets now because the enforcement activities have died down. So, it is the same way with the cashless policy. This is the way to go. Everywhere in the world, electronic payment is the main thing now. So, it is good for our economy. For us to be able to imbibe it; we need the support of the regulator; we need the push by the regulator. That is why we applauded the policy for cashless. That is why we also applauded the CBN for putting penalties for not using electronic payment system.

So when we heard of the reversal of the new charges that were introduced in February this year, and which took effect on April 1, 2017, it made us take a step backward to look at what prompted such reversal. But we later understood the position of the CBN and we are all together in this. We are ready to support the CBN, and to support the payment system providers to ensure that we have a sound financial system; to ensure that our payment system is strong enough to compete with the rest of the world.

So what exactly are the reasons given for the reversal?

One of the main reasons the CBN gave for the reversal is the state of our infrastructure, even though Nigerians are asking if the CBN was not aware of the state of our infrastructure before introducing the extra charges on large deposits and withdrawals. Of course, we are all aware that we are not yet there when it comes to infrastructure. So for us to now move on, we need to make deliberate efforts to improve the infrastructure as much as it concerns electronic or digital payment. You are aware that E-PPAN has been on the street doing sensitisation. We have been to rural areas and big markets. We got surprised at times when we get a village we had never heard of and we see the kind of economy that is there, and the kind of commerce that is happening there, and we were surprised. You find that upon all these business transactions happening there, there is even not a single bank in such communities to support them. Electronic payment makes the cost of service delivery very cheap and affordable for low-value transactions. So, despite the reversal of the policy, we don’t think we can stop a moving train. We have already started.

Electronic payment has come to stay. It is just that a policy from the government would have ensured the faster adoption because Nigerians are people who like to be forced before they can do the simplest thing. That is why we are looking at this policy; that is why we saying it shouldn’t have reversed. But on a normal day,

more than electronic payments channels. So it is important that this sensitisation continues so that the value of e-payment will come to everybody and ultimately, the financial inclusion targets of 2020 would be met because to get everybody into the formal financial sector, the banks alone cannot handle it.

Cases of e-fraud in the industry also seem to be discouraging many from embracing epayment initiatives. What is E-PPAN doing to address it? We are doing quite a number of things to ensure that our payment system is safe because if it is safe for our consumers, it means that our promoter will get better business; it means that more people will get confidence in the payment system and it also means that the Nigerian economy will improve.

We have the annual payment system and fraud conference. We have been doing that for seven years and we are planning the eight conference this year. During the conference, we collaborate with all the stakeholders in the Nigerian payments sphere including the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, the regulators that are involved, associations and committees of people, the commercial banks and even consumers. We do this towards the end of the year in November.

This year, we are looking at big data and we are going to bring people from within and outside Nigerian to look at the trends in big date as its affect on the e-payment sector.

Onajite

electronic payment is the way to go and for us at E-PPAN, the reversal of the latest charges introduced by the CBN is not going to deter us. We are going to continue with our advocacy for people to adopt electronic payment in the country.

What is your assessment of the e-payment sector, in terms of traction?

It has been amazing. The Nigeria Interbank Settlements System (NIBSS) releases information about the kind of transaction we have seen happening. From fewer Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in 2012, when the cashless policy was introduced, we now have over 17,000 ATMs while quarterly transactions on the platform now stands at N1.5 trillion. Last year alone, close to N40 trillion transactions were carried out through various electronic platforms. In the first quarter of this year, transactions on NEFT and NITP hit N10 trillion. The cashless policy has also brought about effective Know Your Customer (KYC) policy in the sector with 28.6 million Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) already issued. These BVNs have also been linked to 51.7 million of the total 97.57 million bank accounts in the country. In terms of transactions on Point of Sales (PoS) terminals, Nigeria did N285.8 billion transactions in first quarter. In the same first quarter of 2015 and 2016, PoS transactions were N96.317 billion and N144.75 billion respectively.

These are just some of the transactions we have recorded and transactions continue to grow on other e-transactions platforms as well. So, we are gaining traction but we could do better through continuous public awareness. Invariably, there is no comparison between the electronic transactions in 2012 and that of 2017, just five years after and what we have seen is just a tip of the iceberg. There is still a lot to come.

We must know that cashless policy was strictly implemented in six states of the federation, including the Federal Capita Territory (FCT), Abuja and it is from the transactions in those six states that we are seeing the growth that we are witnessing now. So, we believe that as more people adopt cashless across other states, what we are seeing now is just the icing on the cake.

For some time now, E-PPAN has been on tour to some states to sensitise the people on cashless policy. Do you mind sharing some of your experiences?

In these few weeks, we have been to four states of the federation and in each of the states

visited, we reached out to the three senatorial districts to do sensitisation. We have been to Ondo, Plateau, Enugu and Bayelsa states and we have created a lot of awareness on cashless policy. As I earlier said, the awareness as to what cashless is has been growing but people now wanted to know how they can use it. And I tell you, whether the policy is put on hold or now, people want to be part of cashless, people want to experience the excitement created by cashless policy. People see the benefits in other states and they are tempted to have it in their own state. We have seen people in the market who are ready to be mobile payment agents.

They want mobile payment development to reflect in their own environment, to reflect in their economy. That is what we have seen. So, continuous sensitisation of people is still needed because the sensitisation will help create better economy anywhere cashless policy is implemented.

People now understand how to use the mobile phone for cash transfer.

They have heard about it and from all the sensitisation we have done, people have now seen their mobile phones as transaction tool.

We have heard story of how people have been able to save their loved ones just because they had access to mobile payment and they can send money across to their relatives that need help any day or time of the week. And we do not want to drop people’s hope and as such, we are going to continue pushing for people to adopt card, to adopt mobile payment and how to use the internet to do transaction and we will continue our tour and talks across the country and interface with the CBN and payment services providers to ensure that people still use and get the benefits of electronic payment. So, we will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to increase awareness on the use of e-payment, as E-PPAN will continue to support the growth of cashless economy. We are in the middle to support the customers, service providers and the regulators. So, electronic payment is more about volume and that is what this sensitisation seeks to do.

What are some of the benefits to customers for adopting electronic payment system?

In using all the electronic payments channels, all the stakeholders would benefit immensely.

If everyone is using this electronic payment, the service providers will benefit because there will be more volume coming through their system and then for the government, there is no other tool that can enhance financial inclusion

What roles do you think telecoms companies in Nigeria could play towards supporting the growth of e-payment?

Telecommunications companies are enabler and we need them to be more involved in electronic payment through network expansion for voice and data services.

We need them to see this as service to the nation. During our recent visit to Plateau State on sensitisation, one of our partners that went with us wanted the market people to sign up to their mobile payment platform and we had everybody using different networks. They all tried on that day and nobody could initiate successful transaction because of poor service and outright service outage. That was a very sad one for us. Now, can you now say the telcos are just an addendum? No. they are critical players. We need to involve them more.

The e-payment platform currently runs on existing infrastructure of telcos and I think that is why the CBN and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have been working on some level of collaboration. I know the central bank is also working with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), to use satellite resources to reach areas not yet covered by existing telcos with fibre optic cables for connectivity. I think if the telcos put a little bit more effort in the area of payment system, we can go a long way.

How will you rate the level of cashless policy awareness and the role E-PPAN is playing in this regard?

I can tell you that the awareness has improved greatly from 2012 when we started. I personally go to the field during this sensitisation exercise that we do and we have seen tremendous increase of people wanting to be part of electronic payment system.

Our role in creating the needed awareness is also very important because today, people know about cashless, people know about the benefits.

What they are asking now is ‘How can we participate? How can we be more involved?

How can we be better protected from e-fraud criminals? So, it is different from what it used to be in 2012, when people felt ‘Why does CBN not want us to use paper money again?’

Although the awareness exercise has been very positive, but there is still a lot more we need to do. We need to continue to sensitise people because if we do not, the wrong message will spread out there. So, the role of E-PPAN cannot be under-estimated in raising the bar of cashless policy awareness, despite the reversal of the new charges.

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Adelusi-Adeluyi:HealthcareProfessionalsShould Embrace a New Mindset Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, a former Minister of Health, is currently the President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, which is at the centre of efforts to mobilise healthcare professionals towards a new culture of mutual respect and collaboration. He spoke to Nosa Alekhuogie on the state of healthcare in Nigeria and the teamwork-building efforts. Excerpts: Looking at the state of the healthcare industry in Nigeria today, what would be your assessment? Would you say we are making progress or we are retrogressing?

When you examine the human development indices in recent time, for instance life expectancy has risen in Nigeria from about 44 years about three and half decades ago to a little over 54 years today; when you look at our approach to the control of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the fact that the disease is no longer spreading as fast as it used to; when you look at the concerted effort that was made to rid our country of the Ebola disease a few years ago; when you look at a lot of these things, yes indeed, it would be appropriate to say that Nigeria has made progress over the years in the area of healthcare.

But we could also look at the opposite side. We could look at the issue of infant mortality for instance and discover that there is a lot to be done in that area. How much research is currently ongoing in our universities and research institutes to find solutions to the diseases that afflict us? How supportive have we, as a country, been of research into new drugs and other solutions to these problems? Why is it that sixty one years after the discovery of oil in Nigeria we still do not have a functional petrochemical industry, which could have provided core components for local drug manufacturing and in turn, helped to make medicines more readily affordable by the common man? So you find that currently, because majority of medicines consumed locally are imported, the cost of

Many years after NIPRISAN, a drug for control of sickle cell anaemia was discovered by the NIPRD, why for instance is not being mass-produced in order to make it more widely accessible to people who suffer sickle cell disease?

So there are lots of questions that point to the fact that a lot more still needs to be done, especially in the areas of research and boosting the capacity of the local drug manufacturing companies and healthcare institutions to care for Nigerians

Adelusi-Adeluyi

medicines soars whenever there are shocks in the forex regime. But this needn’t have been so if majority of the drug components were produced locally. Many years after NIPRISAN, a drug for control of sickle cell anaemia was discovered by the NIPRD, why for instance is not being mass-produced in order to make it more widely accessible to people who suffer sickle cell disease?

So there are lots of questions that point to the fact that a lot more still needs to be done, especially in the areas of research and boosting the capacity of the local drug manufacturing companies and healthcare institutions to care for Nigerians. There is a lot that needs to be done as well in the area of fostering preventive healthcare – getting Nigerians to inculcate the habit of regular hand-washing for instance, of keeping their environments clean and devoid of stagnant water for instance. Imbibing good hygiene habits can dramatically minimize many health issues.

And then very importantly, there is the issue of inter-professional rivalry in the sector, which has become so divisive and unhealthy, that it is a huge burden on the entire health sector.

On this issue of rivalry among the professions, is this really a problem? After all, even siblings

can be in competition with each other and become rivals, but this does not necessarily mean that they hate or despise each other.

Yes, siblings can be in healthy competition.

The important adjective in this instance, is “healthy.” If what was going on in the health sector was healthy competition, nobody would complain. The truth is that there is currently so much divisiveness in the sector, so much mutual distrust and animosity among the various health professionals that it is clear to see that this unfortunate state of affairs can weigh down the entire sector and make it impossible for it to deliver excellent value to Nigerians in need of healthcare.

What, in your view, is responsible for this unhealthy rivalry?

There clearly have been a few developments over the years that have tended to pitch the different professional groups against each other.

But the professionals themselves have not managed whatever differences they have, as well as they ought to. So over the years, perceptions of one another by the various professionals appear to have taken a nosedive.

Sometimes, you read statements and commentaries by healthcare practitioners and you are shocked beyond belief and alarmed

that these professionals are referring to fellow professionals in such unprofessional terms.

The negative perceptions have been impacted by all of the anger and divisive statements.

But these are professions – I mean the healthcare professions – which exist solely to give succour to people in society by helping us to overcome pain and disease. As I said earlier, it is not possible that our doctors, pharmacists, nurses, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists can do this to the best of their abilities if they all continue to provide service in an environment of rancour and mutual distrust. And this is especially true when you realise that the practise of healthcare is increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary. In the twenty first century, no one professional can do it all alone. All of the knowledge and expertise that resides in the various scientific disciplines, maybe even non-scientific disciplines as well, must come to play. Collaboration is the key. Team work is vital. Healthcare practitioners must come together and work as a team to provide succour to Nigerians in need.

You mentioned “developments over the years” Continued on page 28

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ADELUSI-ADELUYI: HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD EMBRACE A NEW MINDSET Whether you are a pharmacist or doctor or medical scientist, the conditions under which you operate must be such as inspire you to excel. An environment of rancour does not do that, which takes us back to one of the reasons why we are driving collaboration amongst health care professionals.

Of course, we are also very concerned about the quality of training which pharmacists receive year-on-year. As an academy we have been involved in curriculum reviews working with the universities on one hand and the Nigerian Universities Commission on the other. The whole idea is to ensure that our universities continue to produce pharmacists whose training is relevant to the rapidly evolving needs and aspirations of people here and elsewhere. Many years ago, this training was primarily drug focussed but over the years, there has been a shift in focus. The patient is now the focus of all training, and that has become reflected in the new pharmacy curriculum. So the focus is now far more clinically-oriented than it used to be and this is in keeping with developments across the world, where all the professions in the healthcare sector are placing the patient at the centre of their universe.

So healthcare advocacy, whether by pharmacists or doctors is ultimately about the patient, about providing better and more affordable healthcare to the people.

as being responsible for the rancour in the sector. What are these developments?

There have been many developments locally over the years and it may be impossible to pinpoint any singular development as being responsible for the total near-total breakdown of what ought to be camaraderie among the sundry health disciplines.

Having been involved in quite a few efforts spearheaded by the government to broker peace and harmony in the sector over the years, my understanding is that such issues as remuneration, perquisites and working conditions are some of the problem areas.

Then of recent there have been issues of regulatory clarity and regulatory overlap.

Having sat in panels and listened to submissions by medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, doctors and other professionals, you realise that these are not issues that are insurmountable. Yes, they are problem areas that need to be tackled in such a manner that is transparent and mutually acceptable to all concerned, but there is no way this can happen in the current context of infighting and name-calling. That’s why we emphasise that the first step is to sit together, understand ourselves better and commit to working more collaboratively.

You’ve detailed quite a few problems. What are the solutions? What in your view, needs to be done to bring peace and tranquillity back to the healthcare sector?

There is an ongoing initiative which is being spearheaded by healthcare practitioners themselves, with the objective of gradually breaking down the walls of discord and empowering health practitioners – doctors, pharmacists, nurses and all – to adopt a more collaborative mindset in seeking solutions to health problems of the people.

For instance in May, the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy will in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, organise a symposium that will examine the imperative of collaboration among the healthcare professionals. It is going to be a cross-disciplinary affair and medical doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, nurses and midwives, physiotherapists, dieticians and even students of these and other professions will participate.

Former minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo will be delivering the keynote at this symposium at which several other speakers drawn from each of the professions will be participating.

Because it is an initiative of healthcare practitioners on our own volition, we believe that it will be more productive than similar initiatives that have been instituted by government in the past. We expect that professionals will be more open with each other and less combative and that this initiative will kick-start a major shift in mindset among professionals in the sector towards working together rather than practically fighting one another. If the mindset is inclined towards cooperation and teamwork, once team members in the health sector commit to partnering each other in the Herculean task of relieving Nigerians of the burden of ill health and disease, it will be a huge boost for the healthcare industry.

But healthcare practitioners have lamented about inadequate budgetary provision to the health sector, inadequate health facilities, brain drain leading to medical tourism by Nigerians who can afford it, among other problems. How does collaboration affect all of these issues?

I recall my experience in my days as minister.

Indeed, one of the first things I did was assemble all staff of the Ministry of Health for a team-building session at Whispering Palm Resort in Badagry. It was a very useful bonding session, but was also very insightful in demonstrating that there is so much that can be achieved by bringing people together, by team work. Indeed a new phrase soon emerged in the ministry: “In the spirit of Whispering Palms.” This was how people now referred to the new general disposition towards teamwork and inclusiveness.

Many of the issues you have listed are best addressed by healthcare operatives agitating in unity. The doctor who is seeking equipment to do his work is not doing so for his own sake.

His work is about the patient and making life

Adelusi-Adeluyi

better for his patient. The pharmacist who is seeking reduced duty on pharmaceutical raw materials or asking for a dedicated forex window for drugs and medical equipment is only doing so in order to make medicines more affordable for Nigerians. Healthcare professionals can get better results from these advocacy efforts if they would, in unison, lend their voices to these issues rather than operate in silos. This is one of the issues that collaboration helps to showcase. If collaboration among health professionals can help enhance budgetary allocation to this critical health sector, enhance the state of facilities in health institutions and enable the different professionals ply their trade in fulfilment locally rather than take their skills and expertise abroad, then it would have been worth the effort. Having more trained professionals working in fulfilment in Nigeria and attending to the needs of Nigerians is preferable to having them provide the same services in the Diaspora.

So collective advocacy for the health sector is one benefit that collaboration can help

There clearly have been a few developments over the years that have tended to pitch the different professional groups against each other. But the professionals themselves have not managed whatever differences they have, as well as they ought to. So over the years, perceptions of one another by the various professionals appear to have taken a nosedive

bring forth and Nigeria’s healthcare will be the beneficiary ultimately.

Given the deep-seated lack of trust and infighting among professionals that has raged for decades in the healthcare sector are you not being overly optimistic about this new campaign for collaboration? Afterall, none of the government interventions seeking harmony in this area seems to have been successful.

As I mentioned earlier, what is unique about this new intervention that is being spearheaded jointly by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is that this time, it is us healthcare practitioners who are on our own volition taking the initiative. And we trust that this aspect of free-will may actually make the difference. It’s like a scenario where you live in a neighbourhood in which you share the same existential problems – electricity, water, security – but instead of forging a united front to tackle these issues, each household keeps to itself or worse still fights the neighbouring household instead. In such a scenario, the problems of that neighbourhood will persist.

You will find that the different households in the neighbourhood are likely to come together in unity more effectively, if the effort is originated from within than if the effort were instigated by an external party. The state of the healthcare sector is so similar.

Here is a sector that is buffeted right, left and centre by different problems which are best solved by a united front of all the healthcare practitioners acting in concert with each other, for the ultimate benefit of providing better healthcare to the people of Nigeria.

So we are very positive that this initiative will mark a turning point in inter-professional relations in the healthcare industry.

You said that this is an initiative of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy. Is this your primary purpose as an academy? What else do you do?

Our primary purpose as a scientific academy is to contribute to raising awareness on the essence of meaningful pharmaceutical research as well as encouraging the prosecution of research that addresses relevant health problems. Of course, “meaningful” in this context implies that such research should be cognizant of the peculiar needs and aspirations of the immediate environment even while it seeks to solve the problems that afflict mankind in general.

Living up to this primary mission means that our approach must be multi-faceted.

You will find, for instance, that unless the professional practice is in such a situation in which professionals can fully express themselves intellectually, they cannot get the best results.

You’ve talked quite a bit about research.

Can you tell us about any research which any member of your academy is working on currently? Can Nigeria be looking forward to a breakthrough in one of these disease areas like malaria or cancer in the future?

What I can tell you is that even though the circumstances are extremely tough, a number of our colleagues still manage to carry out research especially in the universities and research institutes. Of course, research, as you know is a cost-intensive venture which implies that in the face of economic difficulties, it becomes very difficult to carry out research to a meaningful degree. And this explains why it is important that there is a structured platform for advocacy in this regard, which is also one of the things we do at the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy. In the face of so many different competing needs, it can actually be difficult for government to find justification for funding research. Academies and research-inclined professional institutes can help to provide this justification to government.

And the truth is that research is the future.

It is the one avenue by which we make true progress. If it weren’t for research, mankind would still be a hostage to hundreds of diseases and afflictions.

I was reading a new report by the WHO on neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, a few days ago. These are diseases like guinea worm, African sleeping sickness and many others that either do not exist or have been long wiped out in other parts of the world. Now, even though the world has made some progress in continuing to focus attention on them and the progress made with eliminating them, as scientists, we owe our people a duty not to neglect these conditions, even if the rest of the world tends to have neglected them. We owe the continent a duty to continue to trudge on in our laboratories and seek solutions to these ailments.

The Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, made a breakthrough a few years ago in coming up with a drug named NIPRISAN which is very effective at controlling both the outbreaks and severity of crises in sickle cell disease.

NIPRISAN is a product of local research and sickle cell disease is a blackman’s disease. So the drug is a reflection of the local relevance in research, that I alluded to earlier. NIPRISAN is at the moment being produced in very small quantities. But if it is to become widely accessible, then it ought to be produced in larger quantities and there’s no better way to do this than for production to be expanded. That is the stage that NIPRD is and we are hoping that relevant organs of government will help to make this happen soon, and in so doing provide succour not only to the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from sickle cell disease but also their families and loved ones who can only look on while their loved ones suffer excruciating pain during crisis.

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Thoughts on LSE’s ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ With the new report released by the London Stock Exchange on ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’, experts admit that the report has further affirmed that Africa’s burgeoning population holds the key to the region’s economic fortunes. Raheem Akingbolu reports

Indications that the future is looking bright for Africa, emerged recently when the London Stock Exchange in partnership with Africa Development Bank Group, CDC Group, PwC, and FTI Consulting revealed Africa’s most inspiring small & medium-sized enterprises.

The report, ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’, showcases outstanding stories of innovation, bravery and growth across the continent. It brings Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit to an international audience. For its relevance to future economic calculation, captains of industry and top management officers of both LSE and Nigeria Stock Exchange, who witnessed the Lagos event congratulated all the companies featured for their vision, ambition and tenacity.

Among other things, the landmark report identifies fastest-growing and most dynamic private businesses across Africa as well as demonstrates breadth and diversity of African businesses with 42 countries across seven major sectors represented. The sectors include; consumer service, industry, technology and telecoms. Others are; renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceutical.

In the report, data shows robust average annual compound growth rate of company revenues of 16% over three year period 2013-2015.

It also highlights strong company performances and the potential for these firms to become the next corporate champions powering Africa’s future economic and social development.

Significance of the report In her opening comment to the report, the Secretary Of State, Department for International Development, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP pointed out that it is the success of the identified companies that will drive Africa forward to a future of prosperity, and away from a reliance on international aid.

She also emphasised the place of entrepreneurship in economic development of the continent. According to her, entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of any vibrant economy.

She said: “It is the motor that drives investment, job creation and economic growth.

Throughout history, sustained, job-creating growth has played the greatest role in lifting huge numbers of people out of grinding poverty.

It is entrepreneurship that delivers the lifechanging progress that comes from growth in developed economies, and it is entrepreneurship that is beginning to deliver the same in Africa,” Speaking on what informed the publication, the Chief Executive Officer of London Stock Exchange, Xavier Rolet, said LSE sits at the heart of the world’s most international financial market, to play a central role in bringing together ambitious, growing companies from around the world with globally-minded investors.

He stated that key to that role is a continual effort to raise awareness in emerging markets of the unrivalled investor base that exists in London seeking exposure to new geographies and opportunities. He added that the LSE works to educate and introduce investors to the opportunities that these companies and countries may offer.

“For the first time ever, we offer the market a definitive report identifying hundreds of Africa’s most inspirational and dynamic private, high-growth companies – ones which have come to the attention of major global investors. The motivation behind researching and publishing this report was to demonstrate what we instinctively believe –that these companies are fundamental to the successful future of the African economy, with enormous potential for growth and high-quality job creation.

The companies we list and profile boast an impressive average compound annual growth rate of 16%. On average, each firm employs nearly 400 people.

FTI position In bringing the Lagos event to the right perspec-

tive, a panel of discussants, including the CEO of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie; partner at PwC, Andrei Ugarov; Managing Partner at FTI Consulting, Joel Kibazo and another partner at PwC, Kwabena Asante – Poku spoke on ‘Future Growth Opportunities in Africa. Among other areas, the discussants spoke on whether there is room for more of the same, the role of technology and the challenges of governance, politics and FX. In a unanimous voice, they reasoned that the new report demonstrated that high-growth; private companies are fast becoming the driving force behind African economies: developing skills, creating high-quality jobs and driving economic growth.

Kibazo, whose consulting firm - FTI Consulting has traversed the continent in the area of offering strategic management and consulting, public relations and communication Advisory for major multinationals, told THISDAY that the fact that biggest contingent of the companies come from Nigeria spoke volumes for the potentials of the market. He added that the biggest thing is that the report has given hope, excitement and the fact that Africa has a good story to tell as Africans.

He said: “Nigeria has been going through a difficult economic situation over the last two to three years. It looks as if the country is now coming out of it. But what this publication really shows is the strength of companies across the African continent, particularly the biggest contingent coming from Nigeria. It shows that there is hope. It shows that there are companies that are doing good work. It shows that there are companies that are managing to succeed in spite of all the challenges that you find in Africa. These are audited companies, these are companies that have been scrutinised and yet they have come out on top,” Speaking on why FTI, a global firm that is reputed to have worked with different companies, signed a partnership deal with Nigeria’s Caritas Communications Limited recently, he said it was part of the firm’s plans for international growth.

“We have four thousand seven hundred employees working in 29 countries. The reason why you have partnerships locally is because you can’t always be on the ground in everything and sometimes even if you are on the ground, you will have specialism you may not be able to meet may be sitting in London, New York or Washington . So we have a wide circle of partnerships across the

African continent and so Caritas falls within that. We have been working with Caritas on quite a number of clients and businesses that are pertaining specially to Nigeria,” He however stated that Caritas is not the only consulting firm the company has worked with in Nigeria but pointed out that Caritas in the context of the work FTI does in Nigeria has shown that it has the ability to execute the assignments to the level that the global company is able to feel comfortable and meet international standards.

“We are a global firm so at the very least, what we look for in a partnership with local consultancies is the competence to deliver to the level at which our clients want. Caritas falls within that group,” On how Nigerian government can manage its poor perception by using Public Relations, Kibazo admitted that issues related to poor understanding of the importance of PR in perception management is not unique to Nigeria. ‘’I work across the African continent and I have worked in many of the countries that have the same challenge of public relations.

Governments just need to realise that communicating to their populace and them being able to be understood in terms of legislation, regulation and the systems is necessary. There is need to have professionals do the job. As a law, many of these offices have a PR officer so it is not by mistake that they have that. If you look in many western countries, what they have is an internal Public Relations Officer and then they also have the external Public Relations Officer who assists with the various programmes that you have to execute. ‘’Sometimes, they assist but sometimes the person on internal communications also helps out in the external communications. There are different combinations that can work. But I think slowly as we as a continent grow, and get to know a lot more different things, we can also change,” To this end, he warned against taking Nigeria out of Africa while discussing issues related to peculiar challenges faced in businesses with regard to communication.

“I don’t like taking Nigeria out of Africa because the challenges that you face here are not that different to my own country of Uganda. For instance instability of power means that the business costs are much higher and if you are competing internationally, there is no way you can do it because your cost is much higher. So whether it is power, whether it is in

an environment that is fully regulated or the regulations are not yet in place, these are some of the challenges. However, these challenges are not only being faced by Nigeria, they are also faced by many other countries on the African continent. I think there is need to ensure that there is a conducive environment for businesses to operate whether it is taxation or regulation,” Narrowing his discussion to how FTI affiliation with Caritas Communications benefits companies such as the ones listed among ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’, the expert simply said the sort of companies to inspire Africa are all potential clients at some point. He called on PR practitioners to look at them like that, adding that as these businesses grow, there will be need for PR services whether in the area of communications and public affairs. ‘’No doubts, they (Companies to Inspire Africa) would want to use consultancy services.

So, that means that while we are happy that the publication is there, we are also hoping and thinking that some of them might want to use our services. So that’s the way in which I see it.

Nigerian perspective Adding a Nigeria’s voice to the discussion on the importance of the report to the economic growth in Africa, the Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Communications, one of the continent’s leading reputation management consultancy firms with specialist services for all sectors, including power and energy, telecommunications, and public sector, Adedayo Ojo corroborated the views of the Managing Partner, International, PwC, Warwick Hunt, who observed that the report clearly shows there is a proliferation of fast growing, innovative and dynamic private businesses in Africa.

In an interview with THISDAY, Ojo said the companies identified in the report have a real opportunity to help change the markets, economies and communities they touch, not just within their local borders, but well beyond them.

Speaking on his firm’s partnership with FTI, he pointed out that there are lots of benefits that collaboration can bring when a local agency works with a group such as FTI. “There’s a lot of benefits that collaboration can bring when you work with a Group such as FTI. A cursory look at the breadth of services that FTI Consulting Group offers will show that they are not a typical public relations, advertising and communications company.

They have specialists in technology, Corporate Finance, Strategy, Communication and in diverse areas within the

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INTERVIEW

Adekoya:InvestmentsinAgri-businessWillBoost e-Commerce Chief Executive Officer, Konga.com, Mr. Shola Adekoya, is passionate about Africa and how the continent can bridge the gap in the area of technologies to proffer solutions. As his company launches kongaDaily, he spoke to Raheem Akingbolu on how agriculture, food processing and SMEs can help invigorate Nigeria’s economy for this?

I don’t think anybody will think we are not ripe for it. Nigeria is part of a global village.

If it can be done elsewhere, it can be one in Nigeria. Some people already ship these things in small scale. It’s already happening in small scale. All we are doing is bringing the Konga might on to the table to push this harder. The impact is more convenience emanating from more value we offer.

What is your assessment of the e-commerce market in Nigeria, Vis a Vis volume of transaction and volume of investment?

The e-commerce business in Nigeria has grown in folds in recent time and this has impacted on people’s lifestyle and the nation’s economy. To put it in figure, I will say the investment in the industry is in millions of dollars; conveniently in six digits and this is a huge sum. I will also say it has also impacted on the success in the electronics market and other areas. In the last few years, e-commerce operators have been able to build trust and play down the culture of ‘touch and feel’, which at the beginning made it difficult to convince some potential online consumers. But let me confess that we are still growing but the response and level of the growth have been encouraging.

Apart from convenience, what other value does this offer?

Among other benefits, I think timeliness and consistency are important. In groceries, you can’t afford to disappoint consumers. They must get it when they need it and how they want it. They can’t get good value this week and get a completely horrible one the next week. Apart from the fact that we have to be consistent, timely and convenient, you can’t mess up with people’s foods. There are also values on quality and good pricing. Why are we also going into this? In Nigeria, government talk about agriculture, SMEs and processing. We think that other area that needs to be opened up is the retail segment. What is currently being done is to extend the frontiers of what we have been doing in the area of Agriculture.

In the area of security, like the delivery, attack and kill, which was experienced by one of the operators recently, are there plans to evolve an association that will give the players a single voice to tackle risk in delivery?

In fact, there is an e-commerce association that is already in the making and very soon, there will be officers that will drive the association to give us a single voice. On risk in delivery, much as I condemn and feel bad about what happened to that gentleman that was killed, I still insist that this is not only the challenge of the e-commerce industry alone but the society. It is not necessary right to put the challenges on pay on delivery alone. When you go into the open market, which we like to call cash on delivery, how many stores do you see around, where payment can be done via ATM? Do we now say those innocent women lives are at risk too? To me, I believe the more we continue to do cash, the risks will continue to exist.

What informed the decision to go into the groceries category, which Konga.com has just launched?

It is not entirely a new thing to us. Konga tried the groceries segment when it first launched in 2012, but had to quit because the logistics was just too tough to crack.

However, the company has found a way to make it happen now, even on nationwide scale. The groceries category is one area we have always willing to play big. The reason is simply to further add value to customers’ lives. When you look at the statistics in terms of where people spend most of their money, food comes first. Nigerians spend about 34% of their income (based on NBS statistics) on foods; hence Konga has seen the opportunity even to create jobs through merchants and other partners. What we are saying at Konga and through kongadaily.com is; can we extent the values we bring to people on phones, laptops and extend it to them in the food category. When we say value, it’s just not the discounts or benefits you get in pricing, but also the peace of mind. You actually get more time and that’s huge value. You can now focus more on things that really matter.

Every home needs groceries. Whether it’s cupboard food, frozen food, fresh food, drinks and beverages, beauty health and toiletries, you can get all your family groceries on Konga Daily. Shop your groceries from top brands at best prices on Konga daily. On KongaDaily, we are putting our best forward. We have a warehouse and orders are picked up within 3-hours, with 100% freight rate. There won’t be excuses on KongaDaily as customers are guaranteed delivery within 24-hours. So, you can never experience ‘out of stock’.

Who are the targets now?

Adekoya

It’s an across board offering, it doesn’t discriminate. Whatever it is that you can afford, is what we are going to offer.

How do you want to navigate through the complication and the risk of groceries market?

It’s a difficult category, but when you are going into something difficult, your level of preparation also has to be top notch. The first thing we’ve done is to prepare our warehousing, handling and other logistics. We’ve done a lot of work in that area and we’ve been certified. But more importantly is the fact that what we are bringing to the table is a wealth of experience from our merchants’ partners. They’ve contributed not just to the kind of products but also the policies. For the customers, our intention is that by the time you see your first order, you won’t be disappointed.

Are you going to place the sizes of these groceries on the screens?

If anything, I think this is one of those products I’m excited about in terms of description on the website. When you go to Kongadaily, every item has a weight. So as a customer, you can tell the weight. With tomatoes, Pepper, onions, ginger you will get the weight of what you are buying. You are buying in kilos or grams. So below the picture, you will see the weight of the product.

Who are your partners and how do you guarantee their trust?

For every product we want, we don’t just buy in the market. We go all the way to the approved distributors. So we pick a product, we know who is representing them in Nigeria, we’ve had conversations with them, they’ve given us their approved distributors. So we know where the products are coming from.

So with fish and tomatoes, we are using a partner that has been doing this for 12 years.

We consider many things; from the farm to handling and the temperature where they are kept. They know how to handle it and that’s what we are bringing to the customers. The produce is as fresh as you get.

Is there a limit to what can be ordered?

You can buy from any amount; from N500 and pay the shipping fees. You can decide to buy N2 million worth of tomatoes, no problem. No limits.

Have you considered the logistic challenges?

Who bears the cost of damages in case of any?

Logistics is a big deal for this category. What we are promising customers is that form where it is shipped to where it is delivered; this is coming straight from our warehouse to you. We don’t ship in nylon bags: it’s with coolers and ice. So by the time you get them, it’s actually in the right condition. We are saying customers should reject it if it’s not in good condition.

Why is Konga introducing this now, and what impact would this have on the whole e-commerce ecosystem: is the country ripe

What are the challenges you foresee?

The challenge is majorly in the area of logistics.

When you do something like this, you can’t but contend with logistic challenge because the products offered are coming straight from warehouse to consumer. It involves scaling up in terms of logistics; get delivery done on time and bring in more people or partners to ease delivery. To get the required solution, is not necessary we should be the only one doing it. What is important is for it to be profitable to stakeholders; both the consumers, suppliers and others involves till our goods get to their final destination. So, the challenge like I said is logistics but we are ready to bring in more people on board to curtail it.

What are other prospects do you see in this new category?

Apart from us being able to go into the Agric sub or value chain, though not directly, it offers us another opportunity to understand the consumers better and what they want. It extends the frontiers of the business as we are able to go into another phase of negotiation with both our suppliers and even the banks, based on the communication and connection between us and the end users.

What do you think will be its impact on the e-commerce industry?

This is one category I know will open up the market more as the success of Konga in this business will definitely attract competitions.

With the success, players in the industry will know that it is not appropriate enough for us to be able to satisfy only a particular segment of the market. By going into Agriculture sub sector, one will be able to touch the lives of many consumers, who are not necessarily within or above the middle class. Again, we will be able to probe ourselves further on how we can use technology to boost supply of groceries into various homes. Above all, this will jack up the contribution of e-commerce to the economy. It will also make life easier for people.

How has competition helped the Konga brand?

For any business, competition is good. The moment you take competition away, you relax.

When you have competition, it will compel you to do more than what you plan to do.

In energy, investment, strategies, competition will help you to think wider and deeper.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

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PERSPECTIVE

Restarting Growth in sub-Saharan Africa Abebe Aemro Selassie, in this article, identified the challenges bedevilling sub-Saharan Africa, positing that strong domestic policy measures are urgently needed to restart the engine of growth

Abebe Aemro Selassie

Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa has slowed markedly. After close to two decades of rapid expansion, 2016 saw the lowest level of growth in more than 20 years, with regional growth dipping to 1.4 percent.

The loss in momentum was broad based, with activity slowing in almost two-thirds of the countries (accounting for more than four fifths of regional GDP). The main sources of encouragement are the sizable number of countries in Eastern and Western Africa where growth remains robust, albeit slower than in recent years.

And looking ahead, the outlook looks set to remain subdued. The modest recovery projected in 2017—to 2.6 percent—will barely put sub-Saharan Africa back on a path of rising per capita gains. Furthermore, the uptick will be largely driven by one-off factors in the three largest countries—a recovery in oil production in Nigeria, higher public spending in Angola, and a reduced drag from the drought in South Africa. The outlook is shrouded in substantial uncertainties: a faster than expected normalization of monetary policy in the U.S. could imply further appreciation of the U.S. dollar and a tightening of financing conditions; and a broad shift towards inward-looking policies at the global level would further hamper growth in the region. Domestic threats to a stronger economic recovery in some countries include civil conflict and the attendant dislocations like famine that they can trigger—as in South Sudan at the moment.

Insufficient policy adjustment The fall in commodity prices from their 2010-2013 peaks was a very substantial shock. But, three years after the slump many resource-intensive countries have yet to put in place a comprehensive set of policies to address the impact of the decline in prices.

Countries which have been hardest hit by the decline, especially oil exporters such as Angola, Nigeria, and the countries of the Central African

Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), are continuing to face budgetary revenue losses

The fall in commodity prices from their 2010-2013 peaks was a very substantial shock. But, three years after the slump many resourceintensive countries have yet to put in place a comprehensive set of policies to address the impact of the decline in prices.

Countries which have been hardest hit by the decline, especially oil exporters such as Angola, Nigeria, and the countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), are continuing to face budgetary revenue losses and balance of payments pressures

and balance of payments pressures. The delay in implementing much-needed adjustment policies is creating uncertainty, holding back investment, and risks generating even deeper difficulties in the future.

It is also concerning that vulnerabilities are emerging in many countries without significant commodity exports. While these countries have generally maintained high growth rates, their fiscal deficits have been high for a number of years, as their governments rightly sought to address social and infrastructure gaps. But now, public debt and borrowing costs are on the rise.

Against this background, the external environment is expected to provide only limited support. Improvements in commodity prices will provide some breathing space, but will not be enough to address existing imbalances among resource-intensive countries.

In particular, oil prices are expected to stay far below their 2013 peaks. Likewise, external financing costs have declined from their peaks reached about a year ago, but they remain higher than for emerging and frontier market economies elsewhere in the world.

Strong policies are needed to restart the growth engine In view of these challenges, what can be done to restart growth where it has faltered and preserve the existing momentum elsewhere?

We see three priority areas: First, a renewed focus on macroeconomic stability is a key prerequisite to realize the tremendous growth potential in the region.

For the hardest-hit resource-intensive countries, strong fiscal consolidation is required, with an emphasis on revenue mobilization.

This is needed to swiftly halt the decline in international reserves and offset permanent revenue losses, especially in the CEMAC. Where available, greater exchange rate flexibility and the elimination of exchange restrictions will be important to absorb part of the shock. For countries where growth is still strong, action

is needed to address emerging vulnerabilities from a position of strength.

Now is the time to shift the fiscal stance toward gradual fiscal consolidation to safeguard debt sustainability. Greater revenue mobilization offers the best route to maintain fiscal space for much needed development spending.

The second priority is to implement structural reforms to support macroeconomic rebalancing.

On the structural fiscal front, the focus should be to improve domestic revenue mobilization and reduce the overreliance on commodityrelated revenue and debt financing. Financial supervision needs to be strengthened, especially that of pan-African banks through enhanced cross-border collaboration. More broadly, greater emphasis is needed to support the economic diversification agenda starting with policies to address longstanding weaknesses in the business climate.

This will help to attract investment towards new sectors and unleash the large and still untapped potential for private sector-led growth.

Finally, policies to strengthen social protection for the most vulnerable are essential.

The current environment of low growth and widening macroeconomic imbalances risks reversing the decline in poverty. Existing social protection programs are often fragmented, not well-targeted, and typically cover only a small share of the population.

There is a need to better target these programs and use savings from regressive expenditures such as fuel subsidies to ensure that the burden of adjustment does not fall on the most vulnerable.

While the growth momentum has undoubtedly slowed, medium-term growth prospects in sub-Saharan Africa remain bright. To fulfill the aspiration for higher living standards, strong and sound domestic policy measures are urgently needed to restart the growth engine.

- Abebe Aemro Selassie, is Director, African Department, International Monetary Fund

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

UNICEF: Fine-tuning Delta School Feeding, Other Programmes The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) recently organised a special training programme for senior officials constituting the implementing team of the Federal Government’s Cash Transfers and Homegrown School Feeding programmes in has ended in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Omon-Julius Onabu, who was there, reports

A

special training programme organised by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for senior officials constituting the implementing team of the Federal Government’s Cash Transfers and Homegrown School Feeding programmes in Delta State has ended in Asaba, the state capital.

The two-day training exercise was geared towards equipping the participants with both the philosophical framework and practical steps towards the effective implementation of the programmes in the state. The programme represents an invaluable icing on the cake as the Delta State Government awaits due nod from the federal government to kick-start the much-talked-about related social protection programmes.

Social Protection United Nations agency, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), defines Social Protection as “the set of public and private policies and programmes aimed at preventing, reducing and eliminating economic and social vulnerabilities to poverty and deprivation. Social Protection is essential to furthering UNICEF’s commitment to the realisation of the rights of children, women and families to an adequate standard of living and essential services.”

Similarly, the Federal Government, while underscoring the relevance of the socio-economic intervention in the ‘Draft National Social Protection Policy: Federal Republic of Nigeria (National Planning Commission)’, defines Social Protection as “A mix of policies and programmes designed for individuals and households throughout the life cycle to prevent and reduce poverty and socio-economic shocks by promoting and enhancing livelihoods and a life of dignity.”

Accountability Need In his presentation during the training held in Asaba, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Rivers Field Office, Mr. Wilbroad Ngambi, stressed the need for “social accountability” in the implementation especially of the Cash Transfers, warning that all risks and loopholes that would permit any frauds must be identified and guided against.

Ngambi, who noted that cash transfers as a “poverty alleviation or lift above the poverty line” measure of the government has several practical issues, stressed that the implementer or facilitating team must give the government functionaries due professional counsel and avoid all forms of biased exploitation or manipulation of the process from the planning stage to the implementation/monitoring and evaluation stages. He pointed out that, beyond the social and economic objectives of social protection measures, they are also a human right in line with various articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For instance, Article 22 states, “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security”; while Article 25 stipulates, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living.”

Ngambi emphasised that the process and methodology must be thoroughly appreciated and domesticated so that the implementation is carried out in a manner best suited to the peculiarity of Delta State communities and people, because “definition of the poorest of the poor differs from one community to the other.”

He also encouraged the implementing team(s) for the two lift-above -the- poverty-line programmes to organise well-structured and targeted advocacy to enable them obtain the desired maximal outcomes.

Programme Implementation Speaking at the event on behalf of the state commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Benjamin Igo, highlighted the efforts so far made by the state government to ensure a hitch-free implementation of the programmes, stressing that human and material resources were being duly mobilised to that effect.

He noted that the Delta State Government

A school feeding programme in Nigeria has often had a robust working relation with UNICEF, noting that the state had benefited, and was still benefiting, from the assistance of the United Nations agency in several areas.

Igo, who disclosed that the state was practically set to implement the programmes having sent the list of facilitators to Abuja for due approval, identified areas of collaboration with UNICEF to include child survival, including maternal child health, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition as well as quality basic education schemes.

Delta State has also benefited immensely from UNICEF support in ensuring child protection aimed at reducing and responding to exploitation, abuse and violence against the child, the permanent secretary said While commending the agency for its involvement in the training of the facilitators of Delta State’s Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the Cash Transfers Programme of the Federal Government, Igo noted that UNICEF has “cooperated with the state government in the formulation and implementation of social policies that strengthen Safety Nets vis-à-vis Emergency Readiness.”

He urged the trainees - made up of senior officials drawn from relevant state ministries, departments and agencies as well as political appointees, the civil society and non-governmental groups - to take the training seriously, adding that it would strengthen existing relations with

Schoolandhealth.org UNICEF in communication and development, which support media, private sector, children and families as well as community organisations.

“This is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the programmes”, Igo said, adding, “We must pay necessary attention and brace up for the challenges of implementing the programmes successfully, because the state government has put a lot in place, including personnel in the 25 local government areas, in readiness for this.”

Worthwhile Goal Earlier, the Social Protection Specialist, UNICEF Rivers Field Office, Dr. Annie Maurice Ekanem, stressed that the goal of the training programme included a proper articulation of design/planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation as well as documentation of the entire process, which would provide the basis for determining its overall success and sustenance.

The Executive Director of the state medium and micro-credit enterprises agency, Mrs. Shimite Bello, was represented by the coordinator/ manager, Delta State Homegrown School Feeding Programme, Mr. Eddy Nwamaka; while the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Child Rights Advocacy, Barrister Bridget Anyafulu, and the UNICEF Focal Person in the state ministry of Economic Planning, Mrs.

Millicent Amitaye were among participants at the two-day training workshop.

The fact that the state government had decided to augment the huge financial outlay of the school feeding programme underlines the passion Governor Okowa has for human capital development and especially beginning with child rights, Anyafulu told THISDAY. However, the high-point of the two-day training were the group discussions and demonstration intended to deepen the participants’ understanding of the various dimensions and practical or field issues in the implementation of school feeding and Cash Transfer programmes, preparatory to their takeoff in Delta State.

Executive Commitment The Nigerian Government is committing N500 billion World Bank loan into the implementation of the Social Protection policy through the Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the Cash Transfers scheme in the different states.

The Delta State Government has made elaborate plans preparations for the takeoff of the programmes in the state with the State ministries of Health, Agriculture and Basic and Secondary Education serving as pivot for the implementation of the Homegrown School Feeding Programme in the state. That is a worthwhile goal.

RANDOM THOTS Lost & Found There is a new vocation in town and it is very lucrative. This mildly-risky venture simply involves keeping one’s ears open and eyes close to the ground to glean vital information and sniff out where huge chunks of looted cash are stashed all over Nigeria.

Since the Federal Government unveiled the whistle-blowing policy to fight against corruption, mind-boggling cash in local and foreign currencies, which were cleverly hidden by corrupt highlyplaced public officials, have been fished out and confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

From shopping complexes to luxury

apartments, from cemeteries to septic tanks, in posh and slum areas, there is a deluge of cash which were previously ‘lost’ from the commonwealth tills. Among other examples, $9.8m was found in a safe in an air-conditioned room in a slum area of Kaduna, while another $43m was found in a posh apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

There is no recognisable pattern to the discoveries except the cash is getting too hot to keep in the banks because of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) exercise and the newfound love for whistleblowing among bank insiders at middle and lower level cadres.

The recovered loot is a big carrot for

whistle-blowers and the federal government’s intention to pay N2.1 billion to different intrepid ‘kelebes’ is enough incentives for many citizens to turn on their wealthy but miserly relatives who have helped themselves to the public funds over the years.

The good thing is that at least the loot is being found here and not in numbered accounts abroad. All lost and found pay should be forfeited to the FG while the whistle-blowers should be paid their compensation quietly in anonymity.

This vocation is surely worth the risk.... not so?

-Abimbola Akosile

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOpMENT/ISSUESINBOx

National Assembly complex in Abuja

Should the National Assembly Arms be Merged?

Many analysts have always asserted that the cost of governance in Nigeria is too high and that the income structure is too top-heavy to allow effective and efficient development. Members of both Houses of Representatives and Senate reportedly draw fair salaries but mouth-watering allowances, even in the current recession period. The belief is that Nigeria can equally do well if both national assembly arms are merged into one strong efficient unit which can work well with the Judiciary and the Executive. In your own view, should the two Houses be merged to save cost of governance in Nigeria or not?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

** No, the National Assembly arms must not be merged for any reason. What is needful or vital is the cost of governance being reduced drastically. Reduce their jumbo pays especially the unnecessary and arbitrarily-bloated allowances over time e.g. security vote, newspaper allowance, costly medical exigencies, foreign trips, over-priced contracts or projects, too many and ghost aides, wards, stewards e.t.c.

God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State

Merge both of them:

7

Don’t merge them:

2

Others:

2

Radical tip:

Total clear-out!

Total no of respondents:

11

Male:

9

* That would be the best for the country and a name should be found for that group as either the Senate or the House of Representatives should be eased out as they are Nigeria’s problem today, be it corruption, religious bias, tribalism e.t.c.

This group of people to be formed through election should be on part-time basis, meeting once in a month or quarterly, and should be paid sitting allowance and not fat salaries and other benefits they are currently carting away.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna

Female:

2

Highest location:

Lagos (4)

* In the interest of Nigerians, for the growth and development, for the easy passage of bills and other oversight functions of the National Assembly and ultimately to reduce cost of governance, merger of the two arms of the national Legislature is a welcome development.

Also, it would address the menace of duplication of duties.

- Mr. Yusuf MBO, Nda Aliu, Kwara State * I don’t think merging of the National Assembly is a solution. The challenges with the national assembly go deeper than merging them. The fundamental challenge of the national assembly has to do with the character of its members and their activities. If the National Assembly is people-centric, this proposal for its merger would not arise, but sadly, Nigeria’s legislature is dominated by selfish folks who go there to line their pockets. Rather than merger, let’s focus on dominating the National Assembly with people who offer effective representation.

The time to being that process is now.

- Mr. Utibe Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

* Bearing our current economic challenge in mind, merging both arms and retaining credible visionary leaders only, would be cost effective to start with.

- Ms Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos * It depends if the number of seats are to be reduced in the merger. Unfortunately, if that is going to happen, it’s the same National Assembly members that have the authority to bring such a proposal into being which ia highly unlikely being that some of them would lose the right to stand for the next election.

The Constitution would have to be changed for that to take effect and it doesn’t appear the National Assembly members are ready to make that sacrifice. Remember, these are the same legislators that refused to take pay cuts.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Such a merger is long overdue as most former highly-corrupt politicians have made the National Assembly their abode, where we only hear of budget padding, loss and taking away by security agencies e.t.c. In fact, tactically, our fiscal year that allows construction of roads during dry season gradually is fading away as we are now in May. The legislators are more highly-paid than in the US, only increasing their budget and ignoring the constitutional law-making. What good can we expect? One

steals billions of naira and is walking about freely; while the other steals thousands and is sentenced to death. Is there any justice in our law?

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State * The National Assembly is a conduit pipe that drains our resources, and we should scrap one section of the Legislature, be it the Senate or House of Representatives. Nearly all our yearly budget went to the National Assembly with little remaining for capital projects, and after all nothing good comes out of the National Assembly; they are only there after their own selfish aims and not about the well-being of the people who voted them into office. I don’t see any reason why we are bicameral legislature when few people just embezzle the money we need to develop Nigeria.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Yes, their merging together is quite overdue.

The omnibus national assembly is too bogus, over-staffed, fraudulent e.t.c. Like the federal parastatals, our assemblies are full of ghosts and redundant workers that scarce funds are being wasted upon at a time of economic recession and torture on pauperised bonafide citizens who jostle for virtually unavailable jobs. The merging must mean retaining only actually qualified staff for the available vacancies; no politics, only the truth.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * I think it is just proper to maintain the National Assembly the way it is rather than merging it - after all we copied the presidential system from the US and a two-chamber legislature still exists there. It’s needed to assure a vibrant democracy. However, the cost of governance could be reduced through the following: make the Senate smaller (two senators per state rather than three); make law-making part-time (IBB suggested this in 1999), and legislate a drastically reduced number of aides for all public offices/ officers (across the board).

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja

* I support a merger of both arms of the National Assembly, simply because many of their functions are merely duplicated. Aside from the fact that this would save a lot in the cost of governance, their roles should be part-time and this will help attract the really qualified and worthy representatives and serve to weed out the corrupt and selfish chaff. But the tricky part of such a merger is that it has to be approved and assented to by the very same set of people who are going to be the victims of the merging. How willing will they be to sacrifice and lose their plum jobs for the benefit of the general populace and a better Nigeria?

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: Will PMB’s Absence Stall the Anti-corruption War? Although the acting president, prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to lead and govern the affairs of a complex country like Nigeria in the absence of ailing president Muhammadu Buhari (pMB), some analysts believe the acting president may not be able to wield the final stick against corruption in high public places (like the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation over allegations of corruption). To you, will pMB’s absence stall the ongoing war against official corruption in Nigeria or not? please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (May 11 & Monday, May 15) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola. akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/ or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, May 18

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DEVELOPMENT

Pedestrians and motorists battling flooding after a rain shower in Lagos

Lekki Free Trade Zone Investment Rises to $15 Billion Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government has disclosed that the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Africa’s fastest growing economic zone, had attracted $15 billion from domestic and foreign investors in the last eleven years of its existence.

In 2016 alone, the state government disclosed that the largest manufacturing conglomerate in West Africa, Dangote Group and other companies invested over $6 billion in LFTZ. Of the $6 billion, it said Dangote alone invested $4 billion.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye gave the update at a recent news conference he addressed alongside his information counterpart, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary,

Mr. Lekan Akodu, among others.

Currently, the zone is under the management of Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC), a joint venture partnership established in May 2006 pursuant to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act (NEPZA) The LFZDC comprises a consortium of Chinese Companies by the name China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd (CALIL) with 60 per cent stakes and Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited (LWIL) owned by the Lagos State Government holding 40 per cent stakes.

At the recent conference, Ogunleye said the zone, which was established by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had already attracted 116 domestic and foreign investors, 16 of which had started operating.

The commissioner said LFTZ had attracted highest investment in Nigeria, noting that the zone alone had attracted $15 billion; attributing it to the creative approach the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode adopted to attract domestic and foreign investments.

Aside, the commissioner said 116 investors “have registered to operate within the zone. Of the 116 investors registered to operate in the zone, 16 have already commenced operation excluding Dangote Group with a plan to invest $11 billion in the zone.

“This is the where the economic transformation of the West Africa region, including Nigeria is done daily. I can assure you that the zone has become the preferred destination for investors. While some factories are currently under construction, 100 investors

have also signified their intention to register and situate their business within the zone.”

Before the end of the 2017 fiscal year, Ogunleye disclosed that the state government and investors will inject $64 million counterpart funding into LFTZ to fast-track development within the zone.

Apart from $15 billion investment the zone had attracted, the commissioner said N740 million had been paid to host communities and families as compensation, citing the communities that benefited to include Yegunda and Abomiti.

He explained that the communities within the arm of the zone where Lekki-Epe International Airport zone would be sited, saying the government compensated the communities in fulfillment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the

host communities.

At a recent different session, the Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD), Mr. Agboola Dabiri said there were 60 abandoned buildings belonging to the federal government on Lagos CBD, which he said, had been converted to criminal hideouts.

He said most abandoned buildings had been converted “to criminal hideouts where hoodlums perpetrate their nefarious activities. Some of the abandoned buildings harboured as many as 100 hoodlums. Some of them were located at Tinubu Square and Marina.”

Dabiri, however, said the state government would do something about the abandoned buildings in order to dislodge criminals occupying them as their abode. One of the biggest challenges on Lagos Island

is over-population.”

He ascribed the challenge to the state’s thriving economy, noting that Lagos State “is the only thriving State in Nigeria where people sell their goods around 5.00 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m., they are gone. The crowd there is too much. We are talking about human traffic.

“Managing human traffic is not easy. When you have large number of people coming to the CBD, it comes with waste challenges. On the Island CBD, about N3 billion exchange hands on a daily basis in terms of transactions,” the special adviser said.

He, however, said all illegal structures and shanties in and around Idumota pedestrian bridge had been completely demolished, thus providing an opportunity for the people to make use of it for the first time since over 15 years of abandonment.

praying for the implementation of smoking regulation laws to save Nigerians.

Meanwhile, La Mariposa, a boutique for fashion accessories, has opened a business outlet for women inside Jericho Mall, a new commercial centre, which opened for business in the heart of Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

The CEO of La Mariposa, Mrs. Adebola Oyefeso, at the well-attended opening ceremony said the new boutique was conceptualised more than a decade ago.

According to Oyefeso, “La Mariposa meaning ‘The Butterfly’ is a symbol which reminds us of the style necessary to overcome our fears. The butterfly life-style does not rush the process of

patiently nurturing the cocoon but encourages the acceptance of the due processes of nature by faith.”

She disclosed that “La Mariposa will not be limited by a physical space as the ecommerce platform will soon be launched. Our website is now going through the adaptation stage where purchases could be made online and goods delivered expeditiously.

“La Mariposa is an extension of an entity named Beagold.

Beagold was an evolution of a 3-generation old business based in Nigeria. It started about 60 years from my maternal grandmother, an Itsekiri-Sierra Leonean, who traded in gold, ‘George’ clothing materials and head-ties”, she added.

CISLAC Steps up Campaign against Tobacco Smoking La Mariposa launches e-commerce at Jericho mall Ademola Babalola in Ibadan The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is stepping up its campaign against tobacco smoking as the prevalence rate of adult Nigerians endangered in the act worries the organisation.

Quoting statistics of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria’s Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2013 at its workshop held recently in Ibadan, CISLAC said about eight million Nigerians are estimated to be at risk of dying from smoking by 2030.

Not only that, the survey report that smoking is currently responsible for over six million deaths worldwide, is again a source of worry to CICSLAC.

The NGO, which noted the high consumption of tobacco in Nigeria at an annual prevalence rate of 4-7 per cent, has therefore warned of the dangers inherent in adults and the under-aged indulging in such acts. A resource person at the workshop held for Civil Society Organisations in the South-west, Tunde Salman added that the high consumption of tobacco was evidenced by the high mortality and premature death from cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and other non-communicable diseases.

Decrying the low implementation of the existing National Tobacco Control Act (2015) which restricted smoking in public places and prevented

people from tobacco smoke resulted in increasing number of direct and secondary smokers, Salman expressed fear at the growing number of young people taking to smoking.

He thereafter called for the promulgation of strong policies that dissuade such youths from starting and encouraging smokers to quit.

“Whether as direct, secondary smoker or as farmers, eight million people are estimated to be at risk of losing their lives due to smoking, especially in Nigeria. Smoking is reason behind increasing cases of cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

We need strong policies to dissuade youths from starting to smoke while encouraging

smokers to quit. Moreover, it may be the major cause of mortality, premature death and disability,” Salman said.

Among other recommendations was a call on government to raise taxes on tobacco companies thereby reducing ability of minors to purchase tobacco and real monitoring of tobacco prevention and usage policies. Commenting on the issue, Mr. Iskil Yusuf prayed that state governments domesticate and enforce the National Act prohibiting smoking, noting that the cost of rehabilitating tobacco smokers was high.

Also, Austin Erameh of CISLAC noted that non-smokers exposed to second-hand smokers had about 30 per cent higher risk of heart diseases,

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We know that lots of women in the rural areas are involved in agriculture but presently not being taken care of. They are poorly served by infrastructure, financial systems, scientific innovations or access to market and the results are reflected in poor levels of productivity. Our intention is to make sure our activities extend to them” - MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE BANK OF AGRICULTURE (BOA), MR. KABIRU MOHAMMED, SPEAKING IN ENUGU RECENTLY Sona Agro Allied Foods to Boost Capacity with New Plants Launches Sona bites biscuits Blessing Abah

Kogi Governor Charges NEWMAP on Erosion Control Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has charged the Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to deploy innovative erosion control techniques and robust integration of flexible structures to tackle the menace of gully erosion in the state.

Governor Bello gave the charge during the official launch of Kogi State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (KGSNEWMAP), which took place at Riverton Hotel in Lokoja recently.

The governor said there is no disaster that can easily impoverish agrarian native societies like environmental disaster. He pointed out that unchecked gully erosion can wipe out farms and homes in just a few years turning landowning families into destitute and refuges, stressing that the agony and pains experienced by victims cannot be quantified in terms of loss of property and lives.

Bello, who disclosed that eight gully erosion sites had been discovered across the Kogi state, charged the project to entrench preemptive measures designed to reduce the vulnerability of the target locations that has soil erosion and environmental degradation in the state. He listed the eight sites to include Ogane-Aji in Dekina Local Government Area (LGA); Etahi in Okene LGA; Ozuri in Adavi LGA; Ankpa in Ankpa LGA; Ugwolawo in Ofu LGA, and Omigbo River in Kabba -Bunu LGA. The governor said the severity of the soil erosion and other environmental disasters in the state formed the decision of the state government towards finding integrated and sustainable solutions to arrest and reverse the menace, disclosing that his administration has approved the release of another N100 million as counterpart funds to the project,

A road affected by erosion in South-west Nigeria and assuring stakeholders and listeners that government will continue to improve on its contributions to NEWMAP. He commended the federal government and the World Bank group for structuring and supporting the noble cause, saying the global apex bank has shown appreciable interest in helping Kogi state to develop.

Earlier, the World Bank country director, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud in his speech disclosed that over 2.5 billion people worldwide will be removed from poverty through the operations and activities of the NEWMAP project.

He said the collaboration of Kogi state and the World Bank towards eradicating the menace

of erosion would not be limited to eight sites only, assuring listeners and stakeholders at the event that sites would be added to tackle gully erosion in the state.

Represented by the Task team leader of NEWMAP, Dr. Amos Abu, the country director revealed that besides fighting erosion, the organisation would provide capacity building and jobs for the people to improve their standard of living.

According to him, the World Bank does not partner states who do not show high level of commitment, while he commended Kogi state government for prioritising the issue of environmental degradation in the state.

Determined to meet the growing demands for its range of products in Nigeria, the management of Sona Agro Allied Foods Limited has concluded plans to boost capacity through an additional two biscuit plants. This, it said, would assist the company in boosting its current capacity where it produces about 100 tons per day. Similarly, the biscuits manufacturing giant has launched Sona Bites Biscuit, a new addition to its products portfolio with a view to nourishing its consumers with a premium brand of biscuits.

Sona Bites biscuit is a cashew and butter-based product manufactured to meet the taste demand of Nigerians. Both cashew and butter are locallysourced ingredients as Sona Group continues to strive to use locally available raw materials to be used 100 per cent in its manufacturing activity to drive the local economy strongly.

The managing director, Mr. Subramaniam Murugesan, who made the disclosure during the new product launch in Lagos recently, said “with the installation of two additional plants, the company would now have a production capacity of 200 tonnes per day.”

While expressing optimism in the Nigerian market, Murugesan said the company remains resolute to providing innovative products in the years ahead. Commenting on the launch of its new biscuits brand, he said the decision to launch new arrays into the market was informed by the need to fill the vacuum arising from shortage of premium biscuits in supermarkets, which he said was occasioned by lack of access to foreign exchange and the federal government ban on such imported items.

He said, “even though we are in mass market, all our products are known for quality. We have now moved to premium segment using rich recipe in order to meet the standard of American and Europe. As I speak, we have experienced food technologists - both Nigerian and Indian expatriates - who are capable of making high quality products to meet the need of consumers.”

While acknowledging that there is low disposable income among consumers in the face of current economic hardship, he said the company has remained faithful to the yearnings of different classes of consumers by providing products that cater for different classes in the market.

On his part, the state coordinator of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ogun state, Mr. Ayuba Samuel said the agency was satisfied with the level of compliance by Sona Agro Allied Foods Ltd, noting that virtually all of its products are now certified. While lauding the company for its initiative to rely solely on locally-sourced materials, he urged similar companies to emulate the idea by looking inward.

He said, “We are here to see what they have on ground and I can tell you that they have quality products in this factory. Recently about five of their brands were certified to our mandatory conformity, MANCAP. The company has been bestowed with the receiver of such award in 2017 and it is one of the reasons I had to visit the plant to see the factory myself. Here, you can experience the culture, you can see the environment and you can also see the products.

I want to assure Nigerians that this factory meets the necessary requirements by SON”.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY11, 2017

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Reddington Hospital Redefines Healthcare in Nigeria With the establishment of Maxi Specialty Hospital a few months ago and the recent inauguration of Grays Cardiology Centre and Breast and Gynae Centre by the Reddington Hospital Group, Martins Ifijeh writes that Nigeria may just be on its way to stopping medical tourism in the country

W

hile Nigeria continues to grapple with poor health system that has caused many of its citizens to access care in foreign countries like the Unite States, United Kingdom and Turkey, there seems to be a ray of hope, as private healthcare providers like Reddington Hospital Group are filling the gaps in the country with the aim of giving Nigerians state-of-the-art healthcare just as it is in many developed nations.

Few months ago, the hospital group established the Maxi Specialty Centre in Lagos, a one stop medical facility for dental care, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) treatment, eye treatment, endoscopy, dialysis, physiotherapy, EEG, Sleep studios, audiology, speech therapy, sleep management, among others.

The establishment followed the group’s resolve to provide primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in many specialties under one roof. A first of its kind in Nigeria.

But in expanding its healthcare frontiers for the country, Reddington, has again established recently, the Breast and Gynae Centre and the Grays Cardiology Centre to carter for everything woman, and everything that relates to cardiovascular system respectively.

The Breast and Gynae Centre, which was inaugurated by the Vice-President’s wife, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo Monday last week, is said to be dedicated to caring for women throughout all stages of life.

The Chief Executive Officer, Reddington Hospital Group, Dr. Yemi Onabowale, said the idea behind the establishment of the Centre was to offer the most advanced, comprehensive and personalised care available, and give all-round services in advanced breast care, gynaecological care, primary care, and other specialties such as cardiology, general surgery, ear, eye, nose and throat care to Nigerian women,” he added.

He said in keeping with the Reddington tradition of being the front runner in medical breakthroughs in Nigeria, the Breast and Gynae Centre boasts of cutting edge technological support never before seen in West Africa. “They include a 3D Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3D Mammography), a 3D Automatic Breast Ultrasound System (3D ABUS), a 3D Digital Breast Streotaxic Biopsy System (3D Stereo), a 3D MRI with 1.5 Tesla GE Explorer Technology.

“Of note about the 3D Automatic Breast Ultrasound System (3D ABUS) is its anticipated improved ability to detect small cancers that cannot be seen on a mammogram alone in women. It is believed ABUS will become an integral part of medical practice for the detection of breast cancer.”

“Other novel equipment of the Breast and Gynae Centre is the Vascular Embolisation Suite for Uterine Artery Embolisation, Digital Colposcopy, Optical Imaging Technology for Cervical Cancer Screening, Digital Bone Densitometry, and a 4D Gynaecology Ultrasound System (with 4D transvaginal ultrasound capability).

Also on-site is a state-of-the-art theatre for day surgery and other mini gynaecological and breast surgeries,” he added.

No wonder the Vice-President’s of wife, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, described the Centre as a facility that will save the lives of women and girls in Nigeria. Adding that the Centre has been designed to address not only all round health of the woman, but their emotional, psychological and physical needs.

Mrs. Osinbajo, who inaugurated the facility, said, “there are many women who need help

L-R: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Director, Grays Cardiology Centre, Dr. O. Usim; wife of the CEO, Mrs. Onabowale and CEO, Reddington Hospital Group, Dr. Adeyemi Onabowale, during the inauguration of Grays Cardiology Centre in Lagos...recently

in areas of breast cancer, fibroid, gynaecology, among others. Reddington has taken a bold step to address this. We should all follow suit and help women in need of healthcare.

“Doctors and health workers are like soldiers, they fight for us so we can live. But like soldiers, they need equipment to work with.

The Reddington Hospital team has fulfilled this by providing world class facilities needed in helping our women,” she said.

On his part, the Medical Director of the Centre, Dr. Nnamdi Iwuala, said the facility serves as a model for the future of women’s healthcare, by weaving together all-round women’s health services, robust client education and innovative technologies.

“With our philosophy of providing compassionate and respectful care, the Centre will journey with our women through every stage of life - from puberty through menopause and golden years, as we strive to give them the best comprehensive healthcare available,” he said.

On her part, the wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, who survived breast cancer 20 years ago, called on Nigerian women to do self examination on their breasts often, adding that the best way to beat cancer was early detection.

“I was able to defeat cancer because of early detection. Do not say it is just a lump. If you take it for granted it will continue to grow into cancer cells and then spread. By the time you may be ready for treatment, it may be too late.”

She called on the hospital management to make the facility affordable so that an average Nigerian woman can access and afford the Centre.

In the same vein, just four days after the inauguration of the Breast and Gynae Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, Reddington Hospital Group opened another first of its kind cardiac

centre named, The Grays Cardiology Centre in Ikeja, which was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

The Centre, according to Onabowale, is a full-fledged cardiology facility with a vision of improving patients’ chances of healthy survival, bettering the quality of their care, and giving more people the tools and education they need to prevent cardiovascular disease in themselves and their loved ones in an ethical and affordable manner.

He said out of the deep understanding of cardiovascular diseases and the passion to set high standards in the medical industry, came the need to create a centre of excellence that will cut across multidisciplinary services, which has now birthed the Grays Cardiology Centre.

“The Grays Cardiology Centre is launched in collaboration with a team of indigenous cardiology experts, Professors of cardiology, and a USA-based cardiology group.” Adding that; “The Centre will offer services covering noninvasive and interventional procedures, heart diagnostic procedures, cardiac rehabilitation, intensive coronary care, telemetry services, heart care education, amongst others.”

While noting that the facility represents the only cardiology centre in the mainland, he said Reddington has recorded several numbers of firsts and would continue to set pace in her healthcare.

He said the first digital Cardiac Catheterisation and Angiography Suite (among many other first) in Nigeria was launched by Reddington Hospital in 2009. “The Suite’s state-of-the-art equipment allowed many pioneering firsts in Nigeria, saving hundreds of life that otherwise would have been lost.

“The Reddington Hospital, the flagship hospital of the Reddington Healthcare Group, has since inception continuously maintained professional and qualitative

standard of healthcare delivery, with a mission to deliver first world medical service.

The hospital’s pioneering achievements and quality in healthcare delivery is evidenced by the awards won. The Reddington Hospital’s many breakthroughs in healthcare in Nigeria including the first digital cardiac catheterisation facility in Nigeria, the first angioplasty and stent operation to be performed in Nigeria, the first closure of a hole in the heart in a child using non-surgical modern technology, among others,” the CEO added.

On his part, Ehanire said the Centre has set the bar higher, in that it goes beyond the routine, to bring state-of-the-art diagnostic and intervention capacity to Nigeria. “We are proud that services that would have been found only in the top hospitals of technologically advanced countries, can be rendered right here, in the country, without need for passport, visa, airfare or other hurdles and expenses.

“However, there is more to be done. With a population of 170 million people and the wellknown needs of Nigeria, other entrepreneurs are invited to come in, and Reddington is invited to expand. Along the pattern of the Apollo Hospital chain in India, I ask you to consider developing a model in which you can also provide services to indigent patients, subsidised by your paying patients, as your corporate social responsibility.

Also, in his address, the Medical Director of the new Centre, Dr. Soe Moe Aung, gave his assurances that the latest medical technology in cardiology will be used to provide the expertise to ensure that all patients receive world-class medical care.

The various establishments of specialty centres

by Reddington are obviously defining the healthcare system. Will other stakeholders, the government and well-meaning Nigerians take a clue from this, so that the country’s health sector can attain its rightful place?

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY11, 2017

NEWS

FG: Nigeria Ranked Number One in High Tuberculosis Cases in Africa Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki.

The federal government has disclosed that Nigeria ranks first in high tuberculosis burden in Africa and 4th among 30 countries globally.

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said efforts were on top gear by the Federal Ministry of Health to achieve the target of providing one machine per local government area across the country in the fight against tuberculosis epidemic.

The minister stated this in Abakaliki during the inauguration and handover of a fully

equipped Chest Clinic built by Agbami partners to the Ebonyi State government.

Represented by the Medical Director, National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Professor Sunday Odueoye, the minister said the machines would not only provide GeneXpert MTB/ RIF technology as the primary diagnostic tool for TB among all presumptive TB cases in the country including PLWHA but also increase the number of notified TB cases, especially in the rural areas.

The Agbami partners; FAMFA Oil Limited, Petrobras, Statoil, Chevron and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC

handed over the Chest Clinic to Ebonyi State government for the use of Mile Four Hospital, Abakaliki, established by the Catholic Church to provide specialised care to sufferers of tuberculosis in the state and beyond.

Adewole who commended the initiative and contribution of the church in providing quality healthcare for the people added that tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem in most parts of the world causing deaths of nearly one and half

million people each year, mostly in developing world.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration through the Federal Ministry of Health has taken steps to control TB in Nigeria by introducing the use of the GeneXpert MTB/ RIF technology as the primary diagnostic tool for TB among all presumptive TB cases in the country, scaling up the number of facilities providing GeneXpert services from seven health facilities in 2011

to 318 facilities before the end of 2016, providing guidelines, tools and SOPs to enhance TB control efforts.

In their separate remarks, the Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Mr. Dafe Sejebor who stated that the project was aimed at facilitating the socio-economic development of the country added that the commitment of the agency is to see that the standard of living and quality of life of Nigerians were improved upon daily.

Represented by Uzo Ejidoh,

the Group General Manager added: “I am happy to note that the Agbami partners remain committed to improving the quality of healthcare in our society through the provision of infrastructures such as Chest Clinics to address chest-related ailments”.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State commended the benefactors for the initiative adding that they have through the execution of the project fulfilled their corporate social responsibility to the society.

Expert Gives Tips on How to Cope with Diabetes During Ramadan Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Coordinator of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), Dr. Bathnna Sule who is also a diabetes visiting consultant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, has advised people living with diabetes especially the Muslim faithfuls to be taking 20ml of insulin injections in the night (after iftar) and 10ml in the morning (Suhur period) in the forthcoming fasting month of ‘Ramadan’.

Delivering a paper titled ‘Management of hypertension in diabetes’ during the monthly enlightenment lecture organised by the state chapter of the association held in the hospital, Sule urged patients who notice symptoms of ‘hypo hypoglycemia’ (low glucose) to eat food immediately to avoid complications.

He said he consulted several Islamic preachers all of whom replied that ‘it is permissible

for all sick people that cannot continue with their fasting to break it whenever their ailments worsen to take drugs and foods ‘.

According to him, diabetic patients are also at risk of developing hypertension if they don’t properly manage the disease pointing out that lack of exercise, over weight, eating foods with too much salt, foods with too little potassium, smoking and drinking alcohol are among the factors that can lead to high blood pressure and concomitantly make people have hypertension.

“Hypertension can also cause kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and heart diseases. As such, there are things people living with diabetes can do to avoid hypertension such as loss of weight, sodium restriction, regular check up of sugar level/blood pressure, reducing stress, creating time for relaxation, avoiding soft drinks and drinking plenty of water instead,” he noted.

Sokoto to Upgrade School of Health Technology Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said the state government plans to upgrade the Sultan Abdulrahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, to the status of a College.

Tambuwal made the disclosure when he paid an unscheduled inspection visit to both the school, as well as the State College of Nursing in Sokoto town.

He said the gesture was in recognition of the giant strides recorded by the school in training of highly-needed middle-level manpower in the state.

“This development is tremendously boosting the efforts of the state government in the provision of efficient healthcare services.

“Upgrading the school to a College means improved funding and increased infrastructural development.

“I urge the management of the school to continue to sustain the high standards they are known for,’’ Tambuwal added.

The Director of the school, Nasiru Alhaji Aliyu, had earlier commended the governor for the visit, saying, ‘’this is the first time a governor visited the institution.

“Upgrading the school means more development, admissions and we will attract more funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). ‘’We have performed well in various national examinations in programmes like Community Health, Medical Laboratory Science, and Medical Records.

“We will not relent in our efforts and we will not compromise the set standards.”

At College of Nursing Sokoto, Governor Tambuwal expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the site of the new library complex and additional classrooms being executed by the state government.

He however frowned at the pace of work going on at the main auditorium of the college.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Market Doctor, Dr Yetunde Ayo-Oyalowo; Recipient, Mrs Olabisi Odumosu; Administrator, Yaba LCDA, Bayo Adefuye; and Marketing Manager, Mortein, RB West Africa, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, during Mortein Market Doctor free malaria test exercise in Tejuosho Market, Yaba Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

Access Bank, Others Push for ‘Increased Mortality Rate from NCD Caused by High Cost of Malaria Prevention Mary Ekah Access Bank, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria and Hacey Health Initiative have come together towards accelerating efforts to prevent malaria and save lives under the Malaria To Zero Initiative programme for grassroot people living in suburb and underprivileged environments across Nigeria and Africa at large.

This call was made during a community sensitisation session organised under the Malaria To Zero initiative for Mushin residents with no fewer than 1,000 Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets [LLINs] distributed.

It is apt to note that every year, about 100 million cases of malaria are recorded worldwide with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the burden for about 88 per cent of total incidences and 90 per cent of mortality resulting from malaria. Of this figure, pregnant women and children suffer the most from malaria with about 429 000 lives lost in 2015 alone. The resulting health costs from lost productivity, prevention and treatment means that the Nigerian economy loses about $1.13 billion each year, depriving families, businesses and the Nigerian government capital that can be used to address developmental challenges.

“Owing to the mortality rate attributed to malaria, the grassroots remain the under-served that needs to be reached due to the high burden of malaria

cases recorded in communities and inability to afford long lasting insecticide treated nets,”Head of Sustainability, Access Bank Plc Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said.

Also according to the CEO, Private Sector Health Alliance, Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq, one of the major sponsors of the initiative noted that there is the need to establish an innovative financing platform to compliment efforts from the government and target the root causes of under performances in the fight against malaria.

“Despite significant investment in the health system, we are yet to see commensurate results in terms of outcomes.

Current programmes are inadequate and we need to do things differently, we need to be more innovative and rethink our intervention. We have had issues with data and complex governance arrangements,” Muntaqi stated.

“Some other African countries such as Morocco, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan have been able to achieve zero malaria deaths. Why can’t Nigeria be put towards that part of zero malaria?” He asked.

The Oba of Odi Olowo, Mushin, Fatai Irawo who led other traditional and community leaders to the event thanked the sponsors for enlightening his people and advised them to use the nets in their homes to ensure that malaria becomes a thing of the past for members of the community.

Treatment’ Martins Ifijeh

A private medical practitioner in Ibadan, Dr. Rukayat Akande, has stated that there is high morbidity and mortality rate among poor Nigerians suffering from one form of Non Communicable Disease (NCD) or the other because it is increasingly difficult for them to bear the cost of treatment.

She said Nigeria as a developing country lacks adequate health facilities and even where these exist, majority of the people are unable to afford healthcare, hence the need to avoid the modifiable risk factors of the diseases as the key to ensuring increased standard of living across board.

Speaking with THISDAY, she said; “while the government cannot afford to bear the full brunt of expenses of everyone’s healthcare, the public cannot afford full healthcare too, leaving a gap that is difficult to bridge, as the masses continue to suffer in silence.

“Much emphasis is placed on prompt management of infectious disease due to the fear of its contagious nature but amazingly, non-communicable diseases account for the death of 40 million people each year worldwide, according to WHO as at April 2017. Three quarters of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries too. Developed nations have the wherewithal to cater for

people living with these diseases hence, lengthening their lifespan unlike in developing countries like Nigeria.”

Akande said there has been a rise in the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria in recent times. This, she said coupled with the country’s dauntingly high level of infectious diseases, makes the poor health in the country go downslide.

“NCDs are diseases that are not infectious (not passed from one person to another). They are chronic diseases, that is, they are of long duration. Examples of these diseases include diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke as well as chronic respiratory diseases like asthma.

Risk factors for these life threatening diseases include obesity, raised blood pressure, tobacco use and alcohol consumption amongst others.

“NCDs are closely linked to reduced quality of life and as such reduced productivity, which plummets further the country’s economy.

This implies that the burden of NCDs is even more worrisome as Nigeria is a country still battling with infectious diseases and a poor economy. It hence becomes a cycle of increasing poverty. In the situation where the burden of the disease is more than can be successfully borne, emphasis should be placed on preventing these diseases,” she added.

38

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

HEALTH MATTERS

goketakinrogunde@gmail.com

HEALTH

By Goke T. Akinrogunde 07036777348; 07029126776

Cancer Diagnosis: Not a Death Sentence (1)

“

Hush..Rumour has it that Oga on the rock has cancer - lymphoma, prostate cancer or whatever”….And so what?

Anybody can get sick and seriously speaking any human being can have cancer - it is not a respecter of age, position, gender, creed, religion or ethnic affiliation but the defining line is early diagnosis for most cancers; hence to be diagnosed of cancer is not necessarily a death sentence as the following lines suggests.

Breast cancer - a case study In all modesty, I must say that the balance sheet with cancer awareness in general, especially breast cancer awareness, is much better now than it was some two decades ago during my earliest face-to-face reality encounters with victims of the condition. Breast cancer is particularly notorious, this is because for most people by the time it becomes obvious or noticeable, it would have come to a point of return and hardly curable by most standard.

In other words, earlier detection is the norm for a possible cure. Earlier detection however comes with some experience with self-detection techniques in all women and to some extent in men too (since about 1-3 per cent of all breast cancers are also found in men). However, a regular examination with a special X-ray machine (the mammography) over a space of every other year is also recommended, particularly for ladies over the age of 40 years; below this age group, a mammogram may not revealed much. Instead, a breast scan may be more appropriate and handy with a clinical examination of the breast by a doctor.

Certainly, increased awareness about the above breast examination procedures has changed the viewpoints on breast cancers, leading to early detection, which has saved many lives and seriously curtailed the potential course of the disease in a number of women.

Although, I should quick to add that the reduction in the rates of morbidity due to breast cancer in developing countries like Nigeria is far off from the situation in the developed world where access to basic health is not far removed from the populace as it is the case here. The reason for this is not far-fetched; ordinarily, the cost of obtaining a mammogram in Nigeria goes between N10,000 and N25,000; for a

Early detection is key to preventing cancer

number of Nigerians, this cost is way out of affordability. In the same vein, more than half of the populace live in rural settings with low level of education, intense poverty and are not exposed to basic information gadgets like TV, radio etc, where they could have come across some of the advocacy programmes enlightening on breast cancer and self- breast examination.

In general, however, the awareness campaign has made some impacts with more women now getting bolder about scrutinising themselves for possible breast lumps and more patronages are daily reported at the mammogram centres across the country. It is only a pity that the intense capitalist nature of our society has put profitmaking over every desirable services, including social services like health; if not, it would have been possible to have a number of Mammogram machines, distributed in thousands across the country, with the intention of detecting small but potentially dangerous breast lumps before they start reigning havoc as breast cancers.

I have personally come across a number of women who had fallen victims to breast cancer and were not able to survive it due to the fact that the disease was detected when it was too late. On the other hand, I had similarly come across a fewer numbers that were able to brace the condition because they detected their cancers

much earlier.

Below is a published confession of a breast cancer survivor, Irsan Gao; her story is not only simple and concise, it is also very inspiring and her actions are worthy of emulation for other women. She wrote the following lines in her article titled: “Breast Cancer – a Must Read Confession of a Breast Cancer Survivor”.

Is not cancer a very dreadful disease? Mortality of women dying of breast cancer is lower today. The key is early detection, then treatment.

When detected, a patient is in denial stage. Why me? – This is the perennial question. But – it is important to think positive; and you are now in acceptance stage. This is true to me – I was first in denial only to accept my fate later and – I am thankful for what I am now. This is a great lesson in life. I was watching the television. I felt a lump in my right breast – small it was, yet it caused me anxiety. Shall I or shall I not see a doctor? What if the diagnosis is cancer?

Is death imminent? I prayed and prayed and prayed. Initial Examination I bravely went to see a cancer surgeon. He felt the lump, did an aspiration and to my dismay – the syringe was filled with blood. The Diagnosis The cancer surgeon is very popular for his specialization, the best so they say. Without hesitation, he said it is 90% tumor – the lump small, still in early

stage of breast cancer. Nevertheless, it is still cancer! First Treatment - Mastectomy He advised me on the date of operation – the sooner the better. I was admitted in a semi-government hospital for confinement and operation. My whole night in the hospital room was a torture.

I was afraid. I cried and I prayed. During the operation, the surgeon removed the lump in my right breast, had it examined (frozen biopsy). It was an early stage of breast cancer – Stage 2A to be exact. Radical mastectomy ensued. When I woke up some after hours, I was one-breasted.

Yes – gone is my whole big right breast. Second Treatment - Chemotherapy I was referred to an oncologist. Several laboratory tests were done until finally chemotherapy was recommended. Chemo so they say will make my chance for survival higher. It was six-session chemotherapy, done every 21 days. My first chemo was okay – no nausea, no vomiting. Supported by vitamins and supplements, I felt strong and alive. But after a week, I endured the side effects – I felt weak, I could not eat. Then, when I was recovering my stamina, chemotherapy treatment resumed. Then the same side effects registered.

The cycle continued until the six sessions were completed. Post Treatment Check-up every three months, then the interval was longer – every 6 months. Finally, it is annually. To be qualified as cancer survivor, I must be in full remission for five years. It is now seven years. I feel healthy and sexy – even only with my left breast intact.

I am alive and that counts. I thank God for my life extension. So – if you were in my shoes, do what I did. When you discover a lump in your breast – run to the doctor! You can save your life. Have no fear. Breast cancer is one of the most easy to treat – in the family of the Big C. My take away Frankly speaking, what is true for Irsan Gao is true thousands of breast cancer victims who reported early, after noticing the unusual in their breasts.

My take away today on this discuss on breast cancer today is train yourself on the appropriate methods on how to self-examine for a breast lump and how if in doubt about your breasts’ status, go for a mammography or a breast scan as appropriate. And this message is applicable to men too - breast cancer does occur in men (though not as frequent as in women)!

Inside the Hospital Dear Dr. Goke, Is my rashes caused by oral sex?

I wish to raise my concern about a condition that has been bordering my mind for some time now.

I had oral sex with a girl sometime ago and I began to notice some rashes on my organ which later spread to other parts of my body.

I went to see a doctor who carried out some blood tests (not HIV) and advised me to use Travocort cream for six months. I met

another pharmacist who advised me to use Ketoconazole tablets for 1month.

I have carried out all instructions and even went back to the hospital to see another doctor who told me to consult a dermatologist.

These rashes have become itchy and it is embarrassing.

Please do advise me on what to do.

Thank you.

Chidi

Chidi, Your apprehension in relation to the concern you had over these rashes of yours are quite understandable, especially because the response has been slowed with all the drugs you have been taken over the period under reference.

However, I should say that the fact that you had an “oral sex with a girl” a month to the commencement of the rashes all over your body does not strike me as the immediate or primary cause of these rashes. This can as well be attributed to other causes, other

than the oral sex.

The above is the reason why I will advise that in this case you should stop the various “try and error medications”, it is probably wise for you to seek an appointment with a practicing dermatologist, since the primary complaint has to do with a skin rash.

I am confident that the attending dermatologist will be in the best position to decode the nature of the skin rashes, and if necessary send you for relevant tests.

Best wishes, while you sort yourself out.

Nurses Call for Equality Within Health Sector Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called on the federal government for a timely intervention into what it described as inequality in the health sector. The national chairman of the federal health institutions sector of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Wale Olatunde made this call at the opening ceremony of the 10th annual labour workshop of the sector.

He said the issue of inequality has become so worrisome as government has continued to give key and sensitive positions to only members of

a particular profession to the detriment of others in the sector. He said with this unwholesome practice, alliance would continually be paid to the profession in question. He said amongst other issues the association was clamouring for was the monthly contributory pension scheme which was often denied nurses for a long period to time after retirement as well as the federal government’s non compliance to the rulings of the court in favour of the association.

“Why not bring somebody that has no loyalty to any particular profession and make it open for anybody who is fit and capable and not to make it a birthright of any particular profession who will see himself in that position as

a representative. These are the challenges and problems we are facing. There are pharmacists, nurses, lab scientists that are qualified and can become CMDs of hospitals and in other climes, they are performing better.

“We all know that the basic minimum wage can no longer take the Nigerian worker home. It is no longer realistic with the economic situation and we are part of it and equally affected and that’s why we are making our position known through our secretariat and we pass it on to the national conference an then to the federal government.

We are workers and are contributing to the pension scheme because we all know that we are

workers and one day we will retire. However, the news coming out from that office is not palatable. You retire for six to nine months and you cannot get your gratuity. Then what is the essence of the contributory pensions programme?

So we want to gather the challenges, put them together and then proffer solutions.

“Some of these issues are as long as 1980. Some of the current ones we are talking about even took us through the processes of the court and judgement was given in 2012. We persevered because of the love we have for our people.

We believe that those at the Federal Ministry of Health should do the needful but they are not doing it but are rather compounding the issues.

39

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

NEWS

Meningitis: Nigeria Kidding with Local Production of Vaccines Successive governments at all levels had raised the issue of opening local production of vaccines many times that never saw light of the day. However, with the outbreak of meningitis and the recent call by health workers for vaccine production in the country, the government may not turn a new leaf given its antecedents, Odimegwu Onwumere writes

“

This Meningitis outbreak shows that the Ministry of Health has no solid plan of action to help prevent such widespread outbreaks. It is disheartening that here in Nigeria, we wait until there is an epidemic or an outbreak before we start running helter-skelter to try to manage it,” cried out Dr. Nini Iyizoba, a contributor to national and international health discourses.

Iyizoba’s thoughts came when over 8,000 cases of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, CSM, and about 800 deaths were reported in Nigeria by April 17 2017, amidst were 336 children. This precarious disease that was reported late 2016 with the authorities showing lackadaisical attitude, escalated this year, especially in the North-west and North-central zones, compelling the once ostensible lame-duck authorities to pronounce it as contagion in six states of Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto and Yobe – informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to science, meningitis is a serious disease in which there is inflammation of the meninges, caused by viral or bacterial infection, and marked by intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidity; and most affected age group is 5-14 years of age. The source added that those in whose hand it’s to handle such a case were motiveless given that, “Meningitis is quite common in sub-Saharan Africa and countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Chad, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso etc which make up the ‘Meningitis Belt’.”

Apart from the 2016-2017 presence of the disease, health establishments educated that this is not the first time that the country was experiencing meningitis. “In 1996 alone, Meningitis killed more than 11,000 people in Nigeria. In 2009, almost 600 people died. In fact, just two years ago, a meningitis epidemic affected almost 10,000 people and killed over 1,000 people in Nigeria. And now, again, in 2017, it’s happening all over again,” enthused Iyizoba, adding, “How can we not be prepared? Why should we be caught unawares? It is occurrences like these that make people theorise about the lack of empathy for the poor or average Nigerian life.”

Failed promises on vaccines Experts have judged that if there were local vaccine production plants in the country, it is apparent that the number of the affected would not have risen as drugs would be at doorsteps to help in the outbreak. But over the years the authorities have deafened people’s ears that they would be building drug plants and manufacture vaccines in Nigeria that never

and May and Baker Nigeria Plc, that project did not meet the direction it was intended to reach. If it had reached, the health sector and the government wouldn’t be gasping for air on where to get vaccines for the control of outbreak of meningitis in the country as they are doing today. At the opening of the Health Canada-NAFDAC Mentorship Launch aimed at building the Agency’s capacity in the area of vaccine regulation on March 26, 2013, the then Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii said that the country was ready to start local production of routine immunisation vaccines for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis/whooping cough (DPT), polio, measles and yellow fever.

With these words by Orhii – “We want to start manufacturing vaccines. We are starting on a right footing of vaccine production in Nigeria by beginning with capacity building of NAFDAC officers” – up till now, there is nothing on ground to show for the mouthing.

From the month of June 2012, there was expectancy that Nigeria would have a world-class vaccine plant where the production of Yellow Fever vaccines would be fad in 18 months, but this expectation also bit the dust.

Nigeria has all it takes to produce vaccines

come to be. Hence, Nigerians have taken the government’s overtures on production of vaccines in the country aftermath of the epidemic as a tale by moonlight. Many believed that what the authorities have always preferred was what it did recently: Buy and share drugs. In the voice of Iyizoba, “About 500,000 doses of Meningitis C vaccine have been distributed to affected areas in the North for immediate vaccination.

Approximately, another 800,000 doses are being expected from United Kingdom to help support the ongoing vaccination programmes.

That brings the total to about 1.3m vaccine doses for a country that has a population of over 180m people.” In several occasions, individuals and organisations such as the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) have pleaded with the federal government to redirect its focus on local production of vaccines.

But the government wouldn’t do this given the many years it had been clamouring for erecting vaccines and drug production plants in the country.

The government would always prefer to import vaccines even when there were suggestions that the Federal Vaccine Laboratory, Yagba, can help Nigeria vaccines-wise go a long way if reinvested in. Before its comatose condition, this outfit produced vaccines that were sent

to foreign countries.

Many failed calls on local vaccines In July 2013, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), had called on the federal government to gear up in producing domestic vaccines, but that call seemed unattended to.

NMA’s call was in order to curtail the sprinting of hepatitis in the country, which was viral. It was the then President of the association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele who made the call on the occurrence of the 2013 World Hepatitis Day. It is evident that the call died immediately it was made. Even when Dr. Enabulele made it known at the occasion that hepatitis virus A, B, C, D and E were accountable for the millions of death in the country, because they caused sensitive and unremitting infections and inflammation of the liver, the government did not bellyache.

Failed attempts to produce vaccines In June 2012, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the local production of vaccines with an aim tailored towards everyday accessibility of routine vaccines in the country. While Jonathan might have meant well for the health sector with his government taking-off with Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, which was a joint project company between Federal Government

Lying on vaccines Opinions were that the government has been toying with the hope of Nigerians of benefitting from a well designed local vaccines production, given the statement by the MD/CEO, May and Baker Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okaforthat could not have come to pass till date.

“Our job is to revive that entity using our knowledge, expertise and resources to produce and distribute vaccines in Nigeria once again and consequently end the era of 100 per cent dependence on foreign vaccine producers to immunise our citizens against vaccine preventable diseases that ravage our society.”

Okafor made it known that the requisite industrial capability had been attained. But Nigerians have been wondering why they still gasp for local vaccines today, if that target has been met. Hear Okafor again, “Our major priority now is to commence local vaccines production as soon as possible. The Biovaccines business plan is being reviewed and will be presented to the Board as soon the latter is constituted.

We plan to commence construction of a new vaccine plant at the new site in Ota, Ogun State with a view to starting production of Yellow Fever vaccines within 18 months.”

Pharmaceutical Firm Launches Fight against Avoid Self-Medication During Severe Pain, Malaria Expert Tells Nigerians Rebecca Ejifoma Worried over the rise in the death of children and pregnant women to malaria, Publix Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited has launched a new product, 80/480 Publitem tablets and suspension - a World Health Organisation-recommended ACT formulation.

The product launch, which held in Lagos recently, attracted renowned pharmaceuticals from Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom. It is said to contain Artemether and Lumefantrin and is formulated in convenient dosing for both adults and children against malaria scourge.

“With this introduction, Publix is set to take the battle

against malaria further and collaborate with all stakeholders in the fight against this recalcitrant scourge,” a Director at Publix Pharmaceutical, Akindele Davies said. Aiming to achieve a malaria-free Nigeria by 2020, Davies noted that Publix is not focused only on profit, but also to contribute to the provision of affordable quality healthcare.

Citing the WHO, the Director decried that in 2015, there were 214 million cases of malaria worldwide. WHO also estimates that globally, there were 655,000 malaria deaths in 2010 with 91 per cent of the deaths occurring in the African region. Statistics show on average, 71 per cent of the Nigerian population is at risk.

Meanwhile, President, Phar-

maceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Yakassai, commended the company for the emulative initiative. “Because we are yet to achieve a malariafree society, Nigerians should join hands to kill malaria.”

The President said unfortunately enough NAFDAC recently unveiled new report on fake and counterfeit products, particularly on anti-malaria.

“It has increased from 3.6 to 4.3. That is so Pathetic. I keep asking if it’s due to lack of forex for genuine pharmaceutical company to bring in raw malaria or genuine product.”

Speaking further, Chairman of the company, Mr. Frank Owelle, described pharmaceutical business as a life-saving tool for humanity.

The Medical Director, Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Dr. Philip Ikeme, has called on Nigerians not to engage in self-medication if they are experiencing severe or chronic pain as it may be counter productive.

He said the danger in such act could be that the person may feel temporary relief where as more damage is being done to the body or organ involved, as it may require a precise treatment for the pain to subside.

Speaking at the unveiling of IBEX Eco-Pack in Lagos recently, he said however that mild pain, which is not associated with any structural organ, could be treated with almost any basic analgesics.

“Also, moderate pain has a bit of reaction and structural

involvement, hence could be treated with low-end opiods.

But for severe pain, you have no choice than to see a doctor,” he added.

The Head, CHC, Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Yaw Agyarko; said it is in tackling pain such as headache, general body pain and menstrual pain that Sanofi Pharmaceuticals introduced the IBEX Eco-Pack, adding that it was specifically designed to target low and middle income earners, as a pack is sold for N50.00 as against the formerly known IBEX 24 which is sold for a higher price.

“We want every Nigerian, irrespective of financial strength to be able to treat themselves when these pains come. We know Nigerians are very agile

and hardworking people, and there are situations when one is bound to breakdown. That is why we have this product.”

Noting that it contains ibuprofen, paracetamol and caffeine, he said it was not lower in quality than IBEX 24, but wants those who are unable to afford the previous one to partake in the experience of pain killing that Sanofi provides.

The Chairman of the unveiling ceremony, Prince Joel Odeh, who is also the National President, Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietors and Medicine Dealers said most members of the Association patronises IBEX for its effectiveness, convenience in swallowing, as well as its affordability.

40

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Fidelity Bank Academy to Train, Empower 200 Oko Poly Students David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Fidelity Bank Plc has disclosed its plan to train and empower about 200 students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, through its Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy. The managing director of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo stated this yesterday at a press briefing in Awka, noting that the training is part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility to Nigerians.

Okonkwo who was represented by the regional branch head for Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States, Mr. Leonard Ezeugwu stated that the bank has the urge to give back to the people, especially young ones as a way of empowering them to earn money for themselves and relieve burden on their guardians.

“We will begin this training on Monday 15th through 19th May, and over 200 students would be involved. Imagine what will happen if other banks toe this line and contribute their quota.

“We have done this in Enugu, using University of Nigeria, Nsukka, We have also done it in Kebbi State, and now we are in Anambra. After here, we may most probably go South South, and that is the beauty of our bank.”

The training, which is being organised by Gazelle academy for Fidelity will also partner FPO academy, and in-house academy of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. The deputy rector academic of Oko Polytechnic, Mrs. Gladys Anene told journalists that the idea was wholly welcomed when muted by the bank as

it already has its academy which it has been using to impact skills on its student.

She said the partnership with Fidelity bank will only help the institution to do what it has been doing before now, and also offer opportunity to more students.

Managing Director of Gazelle Academy, Muna Onuzo disclosed that successful candidates would be trained on several skills including; fashion designing, bead making, cocktail, mobile photography, fruit fountain, car wash and many others, depending on their passion.

He added that the bank will after the training empower candidates with equipment, and take off funds that would assist them set up their using businesses.

Heritage Bank, Triton Aqua N2bn Facility to Boost Job Creation The N2billion long-term facility Heritage Bank Plc and Central Bank of Nigeria under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) granted to Triton Aqua Africa Limited (TAAL) is expected to boost job creation.

The Managing Director of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo, disclosed this when he led a team of the bank’s senior management on fact-finding mission to the company’s facilities.

A statement quoted the bank CEO to have said the fund was disbursed to enable TAAL expand its aquaculture businesses- nursery/hatchery

for the production of fingerlings and brood stock in Ikeja; as well as earthen ponds for catfish and tilapia in Asejire, Iwo and Gambari towns in Oyo. According to Sekibo, the disbursement of the N2billion loan and the readiness of Heritage Bank to treat Triton’s application for another credit facility for the third phase expansion is part of the bank’s support to one of the cardinal programmes of the federal government’s administration, which is job creation and diversification.

Sekibo said his team embarked on the visit to the company’s facility in Ikeja to ascertain the progress of work

and ensure the credit facility was appropriately channeled.

“I want to be sure whatever facility Heritage Bank is giving will add value in terms of cash flow of TAAL. If I have your cash flow as part of your production plan it would make it easy for me to treat your application for credit”, he stated.

Based on the bilateral agreement reached by the two parties when the credit was given, TAAL is expected to increase the production capacity of one of its nursery/ hatchery unit to 15,000 tonnes at the end of the second phase of the expansion process.

Firm Unveils Online Guide to Restaurants, Bars Nigeria has joined the league of countries where online search for best places to wine and dine have been made easy with the launch of Tomachy, a restaurant search and discovery web platform, incorporating mobile app, currently listing information for over 20,000 restaurants, bars, and night clubs across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Founded by Charles Odibo and Segun Bright, Tomachy will be used by consumers all over the country to discover, rate and review restaurants, as well as create personal network of foodies for trusted recom-

mendations.

According to Odibo, Tomachy was established to ensure that “we make finding local restaurants as easy as possible, and we shall intently focus on driving restaurant transactions.”

“In addition to restaurant search and discovery, Tomachy will expand its services to include online ordering and table reservations thereby creating additional offerings to connect restaurant businesses and customers in ways that will revolutionise the restaurant industry in the country.

Tomachy shall also roll out end-to-end technology for a

comprehensive enterprise management system for restaurants – small local spots or exclusive fine dining restaurants – tools that will enable them drive their businesses to greater success by capturing new customers regularly, and ensuring that regulars keep coming back.

Tomachy’s features include photos and scanned menus because the founders believe these are as important as reviews to a customer’s decisionmaking process about where to eat. Reviews and ratings on Tomachy will be provided by users.

Taxiade Pledges to Revolutionise Tax Management Taxaide Professional Services (Taxaideâ), a tax management firm has become a Nigerian member of Alliance of Independent Tax, Audit, and Legal and Consulting firms (ANTEA); an international organisation of independent firms established with the aim of organising and promoting highly qualified auditing, consulting, tax and legal management services.

With membership from over 200 cities, ANTEA is highly ranked in the International Accounting Bulletin (IAB).

Commenting on the member-

ship, the Managing Director of Taxaide, Bidemi Daniel Olumide, said: “We are excited to join an international league of professionals to provide tax management services. As Nigeria continues to attract investments, we want to ensure investors in our country are on the right side of the law with regards to tax compliance.

“We are deploying technology to effectively and efficiently manage tax of our clients and have developed various products in the

market; we are inspired by this recognition and will continue to extend the frontiers of technology in tax management in Nigeria and West Africa.”

According to a statement, Taxaide is a tax management company that undertakes outsourced tax management services on behalf of its clients along a broad spectrum of general and specialised tax services.

Taxaide is the parent company for TaxTech; a tech startup with a number of products in the Nigerian market.

Okonkwo

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

DECEMBER 2016 Broad Money (M2)

23,840,392.42

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,520,166.67

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,820,415.90

---- Demand Deposits

9,699,750.76

-- Quasi Money

12,320,225.75

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,353,504.03

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,486,888.39

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,774,684.47

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,595,579.89

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,436,917.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,841,337.90

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,374,718.08

--Other Assets Net

-12,483,409.58

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,837,322.41

--Currency in Circulation

2,179,174.28

--Banks Reserves

3,318,344.71 • Source - CBN

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 TUESDAY 9, MAY 2017

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $46.83 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $46.87 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).

41

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

MARKET NEWS

SEC: Direct Cash Settlement to be Mandatory from September 1 Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

DCS is an initiative that allows proceeds of shares sold to settle directly into an investor’s account as against the system whereby the proceeds go to the broker’s account before passing it to the investor.

The DCS, which commenced last year, has been voluntary. However, speaking at post-Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting press conference

in Lagos, Gwarzo said the CMC has agreed that from September 1, 2017 the DCS will become mandatory for every investor.

“The DCS initially it was voluntary but when we saw recent events in the capital market, the CMC came together and said the best way to do it is to make it mandatory. Everybody will be inside the net. It is only

if you do not want to key into it, you can then opt out.

The CMC set up a committee, which did a very robust job and we have resolved that from September 1, 2017, DSC will mandatory for every investor. Meaning that every investor in the market will key into the DCS unless the investor decide to opt out,” he said.

According to him, the DCS has not reduced level of complaints on diversion of investors’ money, but has also brought speed and transparency to the market.

He added that the decision to stop issuance of dividend warrants from July 1, 2017 remains unchanged, urging investors who are yet to embrace the electronic (e) dividend initiative

to do so.

Gwarzo disclosed that so far, about 2.2 million investors have given mandates for e-dividends, noting however, “our intention is for the 7.7 million investors to mandate their accounts and we will continue to work towards achieving that. But as stated before, the issuance of dividend warrants will end June 30, 2017.”

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT

It will become mandatory for all investors in the nation’s capital market to key into the Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) initiative from September 1, 2017, the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo said yesterday.

T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

E XC H A N G E

42

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Union Bank Assures Stakeholders on Business Growth Agenda

Goddy Egene The Group Managing Director of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa yesterday said the bank remained focused on its 2017 priorities among which is raising Tier 1 capital to executive its growth agenda across its retail, commercial and corporate businesses.

Emuwa stated this at the 48th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, noting that

following approvals from shareholders, UBN will launch a rights issue in the second quarter of 2017 to raise up to N50 billion in Tier 1 capital as it looks to accelerate business growth and position as a leading commercial bank in Nigeria.

According to him, in 2016, “we focused on executing our priorities across all our business segments, especially in the retail space, with an aggressive strategy to increase adoption of our

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

alternate channels. Our success in this area, along with improved core interest earnings, contributed to pre-tax profit growth of six per cent compared to 2015. Our research-led, customer-centred product development strategy, coupled with an upskilled sales force and targeted marketing campaigns boosted our customer deposit base by 15 per cent compared to 2015, and led to a 73 per cent increase in new-to-bank customers.”

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 09May-2017, unless otherwise stated

In his report to the shareholders, Chairman of UBN, Mr. Cyril Odu said gross earnings stood at N126 billion, up from N117 billion in 2015. Profit after tax rose from N14.3 billion to N15.4 billion.

Other highlights of the bank’s financial performance in 2016 showed that interest income grew by eight per cent to N98 billion from N90.9 billion in 2015, as a result of growth in the loan book and improved asset

yields while non-interest revenue also moved up by nine per cent to N28.6 billion from N26.2 billion in 2015 owing to income from e-business channels.

Customer deposits rose by 15 per cent to N658.4 billion in 2016 from N570.6 billion in 2015, bolstered by new product offerings, increased market penetration and improved customer off take.

In 2016, UBN also witnessed expanded retail product portfolio with the

launch of five new products such as UnionBetta, a savings product that allows customers to earn interest while also supporting a charitable cause.

It also recorded accelerated customer onboarding on UnionMobile and UnionOnline with over 380 per cent growth in mobile users and about 50 per cent increase in internet banking users following the launch of new platforms with expanded capabilities in 2016.

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 139.29 140.11 9.78% Nigeria International Debt Fund 223.96 225.11 4.15% 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 0.72 0.73 2.51% 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 16.92% 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 12.82 13.21 3.83% ARM Discovery Fund 299.51 308.54 4.29% ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.62% 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 114.66 115.46 9.01% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.02% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.00% Paramount Equity Fund 10.13 10.39 8.23% Women's Investment Fund 89.31 91.60 5.57% 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 18.20% 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 1,066.97 1,068.09 5.63% FBN Heritage Fund 117.44 118.24 5.25% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.54% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.10 $108.87 5.04% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $107.75 $108.52 5.43% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 121.93 123.48 8.20% 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 1.03 1.05 10.64% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.71 2.71 5.46% 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 2,306.17 2,334.59 4.42% Coral Income Fund 2,237.83 2,237.83 6.35% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.57% 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 17.62% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.80 1.82 7.19% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.60%

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 1.03 1.04 3.85% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,021.05 1,021.05 3.79% 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 10.33 10.41 6.86% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.60% 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 1.10 1.13 11.61% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.53 10.59 1.28% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.40% 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 115.53 116.43 13.45% 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 1.29 1.29 3.89% 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 1,900.91 1,910.78 3.79% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 157.06 157.06 2.01% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.79 0.80 3.25% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 196.87 196.87 5.34% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 133.38 135.22 2.78% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.90% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,687.21 7,776.64 1.37% 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 1.18 1.19 9.83% United Capital Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 15.36% United Capital Equity Fund 0.67 0.69 2.22% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.11 1.11 11.72% 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 10.62 10.81 9.99% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.61 11.73 6.31% Zenith Income Fund 17.73 17.73 7.26%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.75

1.01% 2.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.26 77.63

8.36 79.07

-5.89% 2.43%

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

2.94 6.43 12.45 16.80 128.78

2.98 6.51 12.55 17.00 130.78

6.79% -8.49% 3.69% 5.30% -0.84%

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.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

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THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump

Trump Defends Comey Firing, Says Both Parties Will Thank Him President Donald Trump defended his firing of FBI Director James Comey, asserting in a flurry of tweets Wednesday that Republicans and Democrats “will be thanking me.” Trump did not mention any effect the firing might have on the probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia.

Instead, Trump tweeted that he’ll name a replacement “who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.” Nevertheless, Tuesday’s abrupt firing throws into question the future of the investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible connections to Russia and immediately raised suspicions of an underhanded effort to stymie a probe that has shadowed the administration from the outset. Trump has ridiculed the investigations as “a hoax” and denied any campaign involvement with the Russians.

Democrats likened Comey’s ouster to President Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” and renewed calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor, and some Republicans also questioned the move.

In a flurry of tweets, Trump said Comey had “lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington,” adding: “When things calm down, they will be thanking me!”

In his brief letter Tuesday to Comey, Trump said the firing was necessary to restore “public trust and confidence” in the FBI. The administration paired the letter with a scathing review by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein of how Comey handled the investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s email practices, including his decision to hold a news conference announcing its findings and releasing “derogatory information” about Clinton.

While Comey has drawn anger from Democrats since he reopened the email investigation in the closing days of last year’s campaign, they didn’t buy that justification for his firing. Several Republicans joined them in raising alarms of how it could affect probes into possible coordination between Trump associates and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

In one of the strongest statements

by Republicans, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said, “I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

“His dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigationby the committee,” Burr said.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told Trump in a phone call he thoughtdumpingComeywasamistake.

OnWednesday,TrumplabeledtheSenate minority leader “‘Cryin’ Chuck Schumer.’”

South Korea’s Moon Jae-in Sworn in,Vowing to Address North South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in has been sworn in, vowing to address the economy and relations with the North in his first speech as president.

He said that he would even be willing to visit Pyongyang under the right circumstances.

Mr Moon took his oath of office in Seoul’s National Assembly building a day after his decisive win.

The former human rights lawyer and son of North Korean refugees is known for his liberal views.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high and recent weeks have

seen the US and Pyongyang trade angry rhetoric as speculation about another nuclear test grows.

Mr Moon has also vowed to unify a divided country reeling from a corruption scandal, which saw his predecessor, Park Geunhye, impeached.

In his inauguration speech, Mr Moon said he would “do everything I can to build peace on the Korean peninsula”.

“If needed I will fly to Washington immediately,” he said. “I will also go to Beijing and Tokyo and even Pyongyang

in the right circumstances.”

He added that he would have “serious negotiations” with the US and China over the controversial deployment of anti-missile system Thaad.

In his first key appointments, President Moon named Lee Nak-yon, the current governor of South Jeolla Province, to the post of prime minister, and Suh Hoon, who played a key role in preparing the two inter-Korea summits in the 2000s, to head the National Intelligence Service.

IS Conflict: US Arming Syrian Kurds Unacceptable – Turkey Turkey’s deputy prime minister says the US decision to supply weapons to Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State militants in Syria is “unacceptable”.

Arming the Popular Protection Units (YPG) would “not be beneficial”, Nurettin Canikli told A Haber TV. Ankara says the YPG is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated a terrorist

group by the US. The PKK insurgency to secure Kurdish autonomy in Turkey has killed thousands of people.

Washington says the YPG is essential to the operation to capture the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

The YPG leads the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias that has driven IS militants from about 6,000 sq km (2,300 sq

miles) of northern Syria over the past two years with the help of US-led coalition air strikes and military advisers.

On Tuesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White announced that President Donald Trump had given his authorisation to “equip Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces as necessary to ensure a clear victory” over IS in Raqqa.

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NEWSEXTRA

1,653MW Power Generation Licences Risk Cancellation Niger, Benin Republics pay $159m electricity debt to Gencos, TCN

Chineme Okafor in Abuja About nine electricity generation permits to add 1,653 megawatts (MW) to the grid could be revoked by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for failing to be put to use or were not renewed after 10 years of their issuance, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered from the list of the generation and distribution

permits issued in the past by the NERC to operators and would-be investors in the country’s privatised electricity market that while a good number of the generation permits issued so far have largely remained idle and some of them renewed, these nine have either expired or would soon expire with their owners yet to renew them.

The findings also came at time the Nigerian Bulk Electricity

Customs Reconstitutes Mgt Team, Appoints Four Acting DCGs, Others Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reconstituted its management team with the appointment of four acting Deputy ComptrollersGeneral and seven acting Assistant Comptrollers-General.

The appointments followed the statutory retirement of some members of the management team within the last three months.

While re-constituting the new team, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), also approved the slight redeployment of eight comptrollers to re-engineer the management of the service for efficient service delivery.

A statement issued yesterday by the NCS’ Public Relations Officer. Mr. Joseph Attah, said the new management team includes Alu Sule Robert, Olubiyi Ronke, Dangaladima Aminu, Iferi Patience, Chidi Augustine, and Hamza

Ladan.

Others are Ekekezie Kaycee, Haruna Mahmud, Sarki-Umar F.M, Fatade A.O.B, Enwereuzor Francis and Dahiru Aminu.

According to the statement, Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) Umar Iya Abubakar. who was formally in charge of Tariff and Trade now moves to Finance Administration and Technical Services.

In the same vein, eight Comptrollers of Customs were redeployed.

“As the new members of management come on board, the CGC charges them to bring their experiences to bear in the administration of the service.

“He said the modest achievements of the ongoing reform agenda in the areas of revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation must be sustained and improved upon in the interest of the nation,” the statement added.

Ex-NNPC GMD Loses Bid to Reverse Forfeiture Order on $9.8m A Federal High Court in Kano has dismissed the application filed by a former Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, seeking to quash an interim order of forfeiture secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Ruling on the application filed by the counsel to Yakubu, Ahmad Raji, Justice Zainab Abubakar said the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, contrary to the argument of Raji.

The judge, according to Premium Times, also ruled that the application seeking to set aside the

case lacks basic legal framework and that the EFCC is competent according to Section 29 of its Act to seek for the order of interim forfeiture.

The EFCC had on February 13, 2017 secured the court’s order on the forfeiture of the over $9.8 million retrieved from Yakubu’s house in Kaduna.

Yakubu is already being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency for the money found in his house on February 2.

On Tuesday, a witness told a Federal High Court in Abuja, where the ex-oil chief is being prosecuted, how the money was found.

Rotary In’t President to Chair District 9110 Ogun Conference The World President of Rotary Club International, Rotarian John Germ, will chair the 2017 District 9110, Abeokuta, Ogun State conference which will hold from May 10 to 13 in Abeokuta.

A statement signed and made available to THISDAY, by the Public Relations Consultant to Rotary International, Tola Noibi, noted that Germ would be represented by the past Rotary International Director in the USA, Rotarian David Roper, and the wife, Edna.

Noibi in the statement said the event is expected to bring together a large section of the distinguished rotarians from Clubs in Lagos and

Ogun states.

He added that the conference would be declared opened by the Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on 11 May at 11a.m at the Legacy Resort, NNPC Bus Stop, Kuto Area of Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The statement added that Roper would pay a courtesy visit to Amosun, at his Oke Imosan office, where he would be conferred and decorated with the insignia of a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation, in recognition of the governor’s recent contributions to the Rotary Foundation event on February 25th, 2017 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos State.

Trading Plc (NBET) disclosed that two countries – Niger and Benin Republics who owe electricity companies in Nigeria millions of dollars in electricity debts have paid $159,773,116.61 which is part of the total debt to it, with a balance of $92,315,986.20 still being owed.

According to the NBET, the payment was for electricity generated and transmitted to the two countries through their respective electricity agencies Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (NIGELEC) and Communauté Electrique du Bénin (CEB).

The list of power generation licences holders however indicated

that NERC might have cancelled two licences which were not renewed by their owners when they expired in April.

The licences included a 90MW generation license held by Anita Energy Limited which was to be sited in Agbara area of Lagos, as well as another 90MW licence held by Bresson A.S. Nigeria Ltd for an on-grid generation project in Magboro, Ogun State.

The list also showed that between May and September 2017, another set of licences would be up for revocation by the regulator if their holders fail to renew them.

On this list are three generation licences held by First Independent Power Co. Ltd for 95MW capacity power plant in Eleme, 150MW capacity plant to be sited in Omoku, and 136MW plant at Trans-Amadi, all in Rivers State.

Others include a licence held

by Ibafo Power Station Ltd for the construction of an on-grid 200MW plant in Ibafo, Ogun State, a 150MW license of Hudson Power Station Ltd for its plant in Warawa, Ogun State, as well as Shell Petroleum Development Co. Limited generation licence for 642MW Afam VI plant in Afam,

Rivers State.

A 100MW power generation license held by Agbara Shoreline Power Co. Ltd would also be up for revocation in September the list further showed. The project is planned to be sited in Agbara, Lagos State.

Meanwhile, the NBET told operators in the power sector at their last monthly meeting in Jos, that the payments made by NIGELEC and CEB have been duly remitted to the generating companies and service providers who provided the generation and transmission services to them.

REWARD FOR HARD WORK

L-R: Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence lta-Giwa; Chairman/CEO, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd, Mr. Adulrazaq lsa; his wife/CEO, Katchey Company Ltd, Mrs. Kate lsa; former Presidential Adviser on Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah; and his wife, Mrs. Egbogah, during an Episcopal Award, the highest honour of the Church of Nigeria, Anglicaan Communion given to Mrs. lsa at the 33rd Synod of the Lagos Diocese of the Church in Lagos...yesterday Abiodun Ajala

House Moves to Liberalise Oil & Gas Export Free Zone James Emejo in Abuja A bill for an act to amend the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Authority Act to provide for the designation and establishment of oil and gas free zones and sub zones in Nigeria passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday.

The bill seeks to amend Section 1 of the Act by

liberalising the establishment of the oil and gas export free zone by allowing the president to designate any area within the federation as an oil and gas free zone and other zones.

Among other things, it seeks to set the tenure of the office of the managing director of the authority and also make the secretary as secretary of the board.

The Chairman, House

Committee on Rules and Business, Emmanuel Orker Jev, said liberalisation of the operations of the authority would pave the way for robust business environment.

He said one of the objectives was to subject the appointment of the chairman of the board to Senate screening and expanding the functions of the authority.

A co-sponsor of the bill, Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP, Abia),

said the designation of the trade zones would further enhance investments in all parts of the country.

Supporters of the bill further argued that its passage would make business more transparent, resultoriented and less cumbersome.

House Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, referred the four proposals of the bill to the Committee on Commerce for harmonisation ahead of its third reading.

Ex-FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed Docked, Remanded in Custody Paul Obi in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala A. Mohammed, before Justice A. M. Talba of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office, false declaration of assets and fraud to the tune of N864million.

EFCC Head of Media and Information, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that “Bala, while in office as minister, allegedly received

N550million as bribe from the Aso Savings and Loans Limited with respect to some properties in the Asokoro area of Abuja.

“He is said to have corruptly abused his position as Board Chairman of Aso Savings by allocating four fully detached duplexes and 11 semi-detached duplexes valued at N314million through the Presidential Taskforce on Sale of Governments Houses, to himself.

“The former minister is also accused of making false declaration of his assets.”

Count one of the charge reads:

“That you, Bala A. Mohammed, while being the Minister of the FCT, Abuja, sometime in 2014 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the FCT did accept gratification of a house worth N550,000,000 only situated at No. 2599 & 2600 Cadastral Zone A04 Asokoro District, Abuja from Aso Savings & Loans Plc as reward for performing your official duties and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, Ben Ikani, counsel to EFCC, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, Bala’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court of a pending bail application dated May 5, 2017 and urged the court to grant his prayers.

Justice Talba ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the bail application, while adjourning to May 12 for ruling on the application.

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NEWSEXTRA

WHO: Patients’ Safety in Nigeria Deplorable Calls for improved efforts Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) has deplored the level of measures adopted for patients’ safety in Nigeria.

Therefore, the global health agency has called for improved efforts towards better patient management in the country.

The WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, stated this yesterday during a national healthcare management conference on patient safety in Abuja.

Alemu said the present situation showed that there is more work to be done to achieve patient safety in Nigeria and in Africa.

He said: “The burden of

unsafe health care delivery is huge, not only to the patient but to the healthcare system and to the nation in the long run, as it results in loss of confidence in the health care system.

“Common patient safety issues include misdiagnosis, medication errors including antimicrobial resistance, workforce safety, health care-associated infections, and surgery-related complications.”

According to him, addressing patient safety issues would lead to huge savings for countries on healthcare expenditure.

Alemu said the leadership in healthcare must rise to the situation by providing a conducive environment for change in practices, regulation and coordination of

patient safety interventions and effort.

He added that this could be done through provision of strategic direction and sustained political will for the institutionalisation of patient safety culture in our healthcare system.

The WHO representative noted that the priority actions to start with include development of a policy for strategic direction and mainstreaming patient safety, building capacity of health workers and employing the use of safe and

suitable infrastructure as well as ensuring maintenance culture and safety of the healthcare environment for patients and even the health care providers.

Others include patient safety education and training at all levels; developing quality improvement plan for health care delivery; making functional regulatory framework that ensures patient safety; and measuring the burden and cost of unsafe health care system through surveillance, vigilance, and use of technology

and innovations.

Corroborating WHO’s observation, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was represented by Dr. Omobolanle Olowu, said many patients have gone to health facilities to seek solutions to their health problems only to come out worse because of so many unwarranted causes that could be avoided.

Adewole said the country must urgently find strategies to medical errors, negligence to patients so that they could be reduced or

completely avoided.

Also, the Dean of Rova College of Healthcare Executives, Dr. Emmanuel Abolo, called for systems and orientation of healthcare providers that would make it difficult for errors to occur.

In her remark, the Executive Director of International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Ms. Moji Makanjuola, said there was need to mentor young doctors in order to end the many preventable deaths from medical errors.

House Investigates ITF over Alleged Fraud James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of sharp practices and fraud in the operations of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Essentially, the lawmakers are expected to beam their searchlight on the utilisation of its funds from 2010 to date. The committee is requested to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

Also yesterday, the House passed a motion calling on the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to postpone the planned elections into the boards of the National Sports Federations and recall all members of the boards of the various sports federations that were dissolved.

It further mandated the Committee on Sports to investigate the role of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in interfering and issuing the guidelines for elections into the Sports Federations and report back to the House within three weeks.

Meanwhile, the House resolve was consequent upon a motion by Hon. Kingsley Chinda on the urgent need to address the non-payment of SWISS allowances to students by the ITF. The House noted the failure of the ITF to pay allowances to

students who participated in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) which is one of the core mandates for which the fund was set up.

It said it was unpatriotic and unconscionable for the ITF or any government agency to deliberately bring untold hardship to students by withholding funds that have been released for payment of their SIWES allowances.

Chinda further argued that unless urgent action was taken to check the prevailing sharp practices in the operations of the fund, students would continue to be ripped off.

Nevertheless, the motion by Hon. Ayodeji Adebayo Joseph noted that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports recently dissolved the Boards of the various National Sports Federations and issued guidelines for elections into the Federations. The guidelines provide that prospective candidates who had spent two terms of four years each would not be eligible to contest elections into the sports federations appeared to have stirred the ministry.

In taking a position on the matter, the House observed that each federation derives its powers from its constitution and is autonomous and any attempt to tamper with the constitution without due process or by fiat was unlawful.

Ikebiri Community Sues Oil Giant, ENI in Italian Courts Chiemelie Ezeobi For allegedly polluting their community and failing to take responsibility, the Ikebiri community in Bayelsa State has sued Italian oil giant ENI and its subsidiary, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), its subsidiary in Nigeria.

In a joint statement by Friends of the Earth (FOE) Europe and Environmental Rights Action (ERA) /Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoE), the community said they opted for the Italian courts having failed to get justice here in Nigeria.

According to the Head, Media and Campaigns ERA/FoE Nigeria, Mr. Philip Jakpor, the demands of the community, which led to the unprecedented legal case, was for the companies involved to clean up and compensate for damages from an oil spill which

has affected their community in the Niger Delta.

He said: “Supported by Friends of the Earth Europe and ERA/ FoE Nigeria, the Ikebiri community are calling for adequate compensation and clean-up of an oil spill dating back to 2010, which has yet to be addressed.

“The Italian oil giant ENI, which operates in Nigeria through its subsidiary NAOC, is responsible for the spill, caused by equipment failure. “To date, 11 million barrels of oil have been spilled in the Delta, twice the amount spilled during the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and new spills still occur weekly.

“Environmental Rights Action (Friends of the Earth Nigeria) and Friends of the Earth Europe continue to campaign for the clean-up of the region.

BUSINESS VISIT

L-R: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, Mr. Onajite Okoloko; Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Group Chief Financial Officer, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, Mr. Femi Agbaje; and Chairman, MFB Fertilizers and Chemicals, Mallam Bashir El-Rufai, when the Notore CEO paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna governor..... recently.

Rivers Has Made Investments to Upgrade Security Infrastructure, Says Wike Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that his administration has made more investments in the upgrade of security infrastructure than any other state government in the country.

Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday when he received doctors on security awareness trek following the killing of their colleague by

criminals, Wike said he remains committed to security of lives and property in the state.

Represented by the Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke, the governor said crime and criminality have drastically reduced in the state because of the administration’s investments He, however, said every society has security issues, pointing out that despite the reduction in insecurity, crime has not been totally eliminated.

He said: “The Wike

administration is committed to the security of every person living and doing business in the state.

That is why we have made massive investments in security.

“I challenge any state with alternative facts to come forward and declare. We will continue to support security agencies to make the state more secure.”

He commiserated with the doctors on the killing of their colleague, pointing out that the administration would work

with security agencies to bring the criminals to justice.

Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State, Dr. Datonye Alasia, said they were on a peaceful march to draw the attention of security agencies and the state government on the death of a doctor who lost her life to kidnappers.

He said the state health sector would be troubled if health professionals are under threat from criminals.

Ondo Plans N15bn Employment Trust Fund for SMEs James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said his administration is planning to establish a N15billion State Employment Trust, with the sole purpose of developing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The governor revealed the plan of the administration in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Ade Akinuoye, saying the purpose of the intervention was to make Ondo State a worthy living place for residents.

According to the governor, the trust fund, which would specifically target women-led startup businesses, food and

agri-business, health related startup businesses, environment and energy businesses, would be managed by experienced fund managers.

The governor, who spoke during a recent meeting with members of the diplomatic community in Abuja, said his administration planned to make Ondo State an investor destination.

Akeredolu told the diplomatic community that his administration planned a “Project Light-up Ondo” with the application of small renewable energy technologies and captive Independent Power Project (IPP) projects to power at least 60,000 households in the riverine communities of the southern senatorial district of the state.

He explained that his administration would be seeding the fund with N1billion yearly while the strategy for co-founding would be from development banks in Nigeria, non-governmental organisations, foundations and multilateral partners.

Akeredolu added that his government would unveil a scheme in partnership with development partners to empower about 20,000 youths and women in agric-business in a bid to boost job creation.

The governor, reminded interested investors that Ondo State has the deepest and longest coastline in the West Africa sub-region.

Akeredolu, who informed the diplomatic community of his administration’s preparedness to

exploit to the fullest the inherent advantages of the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) project which had lingered over the years with the inability of successive governments to start-off the project which has among other potentials of being private sector led with a maximum of 40 per cent government participation, said a nine-man technical committee had been constituted to reactivate the project.

He said: “In addition to oil and gas, Ondo State boasts of possessing the second largest reserve of bitumen in the world. It is also endowed with large deposits of various solid minerals including limestone in Okeluse Arimogija, granite kaolin, silica sand, among other minerals.”

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Suswam Withdraws N10bn Suit against DSS Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has withdrawn the fundamental human rights suit he instituted against the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking an order of unconditional release from detention.

Suswam had also asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to order the DSS to award him N10 billion as compensation for unlawful incarceration and violation of his rights.

When the matter was called yesterday, counsel to Suswam, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court that his client had no further intention of continuing the suit.

Daudu maintained that although Suswam’s doctor had placed him on strict bed rest, he reluctantly released him to appear in court to validate his claim of ill health.

“The applicant was just released last Sunday after over 70 days in detention and he visited his consultant cardiologist and was given a document showing that he should be on strict bed rest.

“In view of the fact that he was released based on his health, he needs time to get his health back to be able to stand trial.

“We, however, apply to

withdraw the application since he has been released,” Daudu said.

State counsel, Mr Terhemba Agbe, said the DSS was not opposed to the application since an applicant had a right to proceed with an application or to withdraw it.

In a short ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawale, said that based on the oral application made by Suswam’s counsel to withdraw the suit, the application was granted and he accordingly, struck out the suit.

Suswam had been in DSS custody since February 25 over allegation of possession of firearm found inside the boot of his car.

The DSS, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had prayed the court not to release Suswam owing to his alleged connection to the militant group that attacked Zaki Biam, a town in Benue.

The DSS also stated that security report from Benue government alleged that the state would be ungovernable if Suswam was released.

The court however released the former governor on May 7, on self-recognition.

Ekwueme Pledges Fatherly Support for Nnamdi Kanu Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, has pledged to provide his fatherly support to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Ekwueme, who made the pledge when the IPOB leader visited him at his Enugu residence, promised that he would always give the IPOB leader the needed counsel.

Kanu had told Ekwueme that “I have come to tell you that we find you invaluable in our advancement of our people and in our course also to make life better for the public and for the masses.

“So, I am humbled and delighted to be here and also to bring you up to speed as to what we have been doing, what motivated me; what motivated the IPOB to do what we have been doing.

“It is more or less today an expression, a political expression to the yearnings and aspirations

of the society; that’s what we are trying to do.

“The sum total of the struggle by the IPOB, which I’m leading, is to ensure that there is dignity of life.

“And for us to fulfill that very mandate, we must be diligent, we must be focused, we must be sincere.

“So, I have come here to brief my father as to why we do what we do and to get his blessings; anything he tells me is what we are going to do, in so far as it advances our political course as a people.”

Responding, Ekwueme said it was a pleasure to receive the IPOB leader after all his travails, stressing “I thank God that he is free and able to move around.”

“I will make my best counsel available to him in his very onerous task of leading an organisation that is committed to bringing justice and equity among people, especially for our people,” he added.

Sujimoto Bags Award at 10th Luxury Real Estate and Hotelier Summit The Managing Director/CEO of Sujimoto, Sijibomi Ogundele, has been honoured with the ‘Hospitality Honorarium Grand Award 2017 in appreciation of his tenacity and contribution to the hospitality and luxury industry in sub-Saharan Africa.

The honour came from the hospitality and luxury real estate community in South Africa, during the IDE 10th Hotelier Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.

In his keynote speech on luxury real estate, innovation and perseverance in entrepreneurship, Sijibomi highlighted the opportunities inherent in promoting African businesses by bringing three fundamental pillars of luxury real estate into one space; location, value and lifestyle.

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa, spoke on

the same stage with Ogundele who was joined by Johannesburg’s Director, Economic Development Facilitation, Blanche Majosi; CEO Orion Group, Franz Gmeiner; President Continental Strategy Partners Ltd, Micah Wells; Nestle Country Head, Consumer Goods Johannesburg, Madoda Theo Mxakwe; CEO, Grohe, Michael Rauterkus, among an expected 1,500 like-minds from 54 countries across more than three continents, to discuss Africa’s explosive property markets and how to continue to attract interest from investors and developers, home and abroad through innovative luxury real estate.

According to him: “When others see us as liabilities, how do we use our abilities to convert retreat into advance, and what seems like failure into success?”

Suswam and his former commissioner for finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia are standing trial for allegedly diverting about

N3.1 billion belonging to the government of Benue.

They are also being tried for alleged money laundering and

breach of public trust while in office.

The federal government had on January 25, asked the court

to adjourn sine die, fresh N7 billion criminal charges filed against Suswam by the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

LUCKY WINNERS

L-R: Third prize winner, African Young Chef’s Competition, Kegbegnou Esso- Essoou (Togo); first prize winners, Princewill Okpala of the Culinary Academy (Nigeria); and second prize winner, Siphesihle Bandile Xiniwe (South Africa), at the African Young Chef’s Competition in Lagos...recently

Adewole: FG to Upgrade Standard of Midwifery Practices in Nigeria Jim Iyke unveiled as WRAN Goodwill Ambassador Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said the federal government has concluded plans to improve the standard of midwifery practices in the country.

This is coming as a Nollywood actor and producer, Jim Iyke, was unveiled as the Special Envoy/ Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child health.

Adewole made this known yesterday during the commemoration of the 2017 International Day of the Midwife (IDM) in Abuja.

He stressed that a knowledgeable, skilled and motivated health workforce is an important catalyst to achieve the Universal Health Coverage, adding that there was also need for pre- service training which would involve regular curriculum review and provision of adequate funding.

He pointed out that the National Health Policy considered primary healthcare as the framework to

improve health services for all Nigerians, which include the provision of health education, adequate nutrition, safe water and sanitation, reproductive health among others.

The minister hinted that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) was established to provide strategic support for the development and delivery of primary healthcare, which includes developing guidelines on the implementation of primary healthcare services and enforcing such guidelines.

He said the state government was also expected to establish State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) to directly oversee the implementation of primary healthcare services in the various states.

Adewole further explained that the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) launched in 2009 aimed at ensuring skilled birth attendants through the recruitment and

deployment of midwives to underserved areas as frontline workers was currently being reviewed.

“Our plan was to modify the scheme based on lesson learnt to improve efficient service delivery in our drive to revitalise the primary healthcare service delivery in the country,” he added.

He emphasised that the ministry of health was committed to revitalising primary healthcare in Nigeria as bedrock of the health system.

While thanking other development partners especially UNFPA for strengthening the midwifery workforce over the years, the minister commended the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, for supporting government initiative of providing quality Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services in the country through her NGO, ‘WellBeing Foundation’.

Earlier, Mrs. Saraki stressed

the need for government, nongovernmental organisations and development partners to invest in capacity building for the midwives and nurses.

In a related development, the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRAN) has appointed Jim Iyke as the face of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in the country.

The National Coordinator, WRAN, Mr. Tonto Ibraye, said the popular actor was selected because of his affection for women and a committed father.

“One of the reason we selected him is that he is easy going and for the fact that he has a son.

Over the years, we have been engaging a lot of women; it’s time we engage men and Jim Iyke is going to be that face,” Ibraye said.

Accepting the appointment, Jim Iyke pledged to bring the issue of maternal health to the front burner, lamenting the high rate of maternal and mortality in Nigeria, making it the second in the world.

BDC Drags FirstBank,Travelex to Court Rhombus Bureau de Change (BDC) has dragged FirstBank Nigeria Ltd before the Lagos High Court, alleging unethical practices in forex transactions.

Travelex Retail Nigeria Limited, the accredited agent of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of disbursing foreign exchange to BDCs was joined as the second defendant.

In the suit filed on its behalf by the law firm of Akin Oladeji & Co, the plaintiff is demanding N25 million as general damages suffered by it because of the refusal of First Bank to credit its account as and when due after the company’s bid failed at CBN’s foreign exchange

window.

Rhombus BDC alleged that First Bank and Travelex Retail Nigeria, between them, kept its funds for more than 35 days after the unsuccessful forex bid.

“This act of deliberate delay and unjustified retention of the claimant’s funds impacted negatively on its business such that it had to source funds at huge costs to meet its obligations and run its business,” the plaintiff said in its statement of claim.

On a different occasion, the plaintiff said due to telecommunication network issues, it mistakenly duplicated one of the foreign exchange transactions by

crediting First Bank’s account with N6million instead of N3million for the purchase of $8,000.

Rhombus BDC said rather than crediting its account with the N3million excess, the bank held on to the money and that it took the intervention of the CBN to get First Bank to refund the money after holding it for 21 days illegally.

It said it had to mobilise funds from alternative sources to meets its obligation and run its business.

“Instead of the 1st defendant to credit claimant with the excess of N3,048,000 which the Claimant paid into an account number 2031316220 it had been misled by the 1st defendant to believe

was the 2nd defendant’s account, it held on to the funds.”

It averred that if it was not denied unfettered use of its money as and when due, it would have made profit by deploying the withheld funds to other business transactions.

Rhombus BDC is therefore asking the court to compel the bank to pay the profit it could have made in addition to the cost of hiring lawyers.

It also said efforts to resolve the dispute out of court had failed and that the only option left was for the court to determine the rights and obligations of the parties.

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Saraki Warns against Misuse of ECOWAS Free Trade Policy Says trade remains a veritable tool in fighting poverty in the region Alex Enumah in Abuja The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday warned on the dangers to misuse the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme by member states, which according to him is capable of killing local industries and thereby negate the integration drive of the region.

Saraki noted that the scheme which is aimed at facilitating trade among member states is susceptible to manipulation by other countries outside the region if members are not vigilant.

The Senate President, who was speaking at the first Ordinary Session of the Fourth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, urged the West African parliamentarians in their deliberations to come up with strategies and legal framework that would block leakages in their intra subregional trade engagement.

“Trade remains therefore the surest way to fighting poverty in the region. Having said that, it is important to point out that we must

remain vigilant to guarantee that the regional framework for liberal trade engagement is not misused or usurped to the detriment of our internal industrialization and development policy direction,” he said.

“A situation where due to the ECOWAS trade liberalisation Policy, is manipulated by other countries to channel goods into the subregion in a predatory manner to kill the local industry is not the intendment of the policy.

“This is today going on in the area of agricultural development and we must resist this and ensure that where there is a leakage in the trade engagement that enable this practice is nipped in the buds,” he added.

Saraki also charged the ECOWAS parliamentarians to device lasting solutions to the issues of insecurity and migration which has continued not only to hamper development in the subregion but has consistently in recent times put the region on a bad light.

He charged them to work in

partnership with other countries of the world particularly Italy and Germany in finding lasting solutions to the migration challenge facing them.

Earlier, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Moustapha Cause Lo, in appreciating members effort at actualising the dreams of

ECOWAS founding fathers, charged them not to relent in there efforts.

He noted that in spite of the harsh economic conditions

facing member states, there has been an increasing positive responds in the remittance of the community levy/ contributions.

Oshiomhole, Wife Donate to Edo IDPs Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The immediate past Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Lara, yesterday donated food items and cash to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Ohogua, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

Donating the items which included bags of rice, maize, vegetable oil and educational materials, he declared that the task of taking care of IDPs must not rest on government alone, but on all individuals.

He said the visit was part of his wife’s pet project, asserting that she had continued the project irrespective of the fact that she is no longer the first lady of the state.

Oshiomhole who expressed

joy that the children were well taken care of, stressed the need for all IDPs’ camps in the country to be well equipped with a view to giving the children quality upbringing.

According to him, “I am never ashamed to tell people that when I got to Kaduna, I still do remember that after I stayed in a police station for three nights because I have no body there to take care of me, I move in t o G w a r i c a m p and also stayed there f o r t w o w e e k s b e f o re I found somewhere. For my own life experience, t h e s e k i d s , t h e y a re a l l very intelligent, and above all, they are e n t h u s iastic.

“There’s the challenge of food shortage in every camp,

but much more than that, they need to be educated or learn something so that they don’t lose out. I think here is a model of what is possible with minimum government support they will excel. I think we must recognise that they need the love of every Nigerian not just government for the contributions that would make a difference.

“This is part of my wife’s commitment under her pet project, and we are happy to do more. We are really touched that so much can be done with so little resources. I am happy to see children very well brought up to live a decent life despite their challenges.

The current state governor is also committed, and I am sure he will give them the support they need. This is also part of

Edo community; it is a core part of the state and like every other part, they will get what is due to them.”

Speaking further, an elated Oshiomhole, encouraged the IDPs, especially the children, not to be discouraged by their present situation but rather, remain committed to their education.

Oshiomhole and his wife further commended the camp Coordinator, Mr. Solomon Folorunsho, for being able to carry on in spite of the challenges in the country.

Responding, the Coordinator of the International Christian Centre, Folorunsho, where the IDPs are kept, appreciated Oshiomhole and his wife for keeping in touch with the IDPs even after leaving office.

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OGBC Workers Shut down Station indefinitely over Unpaid Salaries Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Staffs of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Abeokuta yesterday shut down the radio station over unpaid salary of workers.

The workers who also staged a peaceful protest locked the main entrance of the station, chants songs, carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Hunger is killing us’, OGBC cutting grass with N750,000’, ‘Our present is uncertain and our future is not guaranteed, pay our pension’.

Addressing journalists at the scene of the incident, the Chairman Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) in the station, Mr. Ayo Aina, said they decided to shut down the station after the expiration of 21 days, seven days and three days ultimatum given to the management of the station.

He berated management of the station for spending the monthly subvention from the state government and the revenue being generated by the station, recklessly.

Aina, who noted that the state government has been paying N10miilion monthly subvention regularly, accused the management of squandering the resources of OGBC on frivolity instead of paying

salaries and other emolument of staff.

The protesting workers said they embarked on the action to protest the insensitivity of the management to the plight of the workers.

They added that their monthly subvention was raised from N3.5million by the incumbent governor to N10milliom, embarked on upgrade of their equipment, while the station generates at least N8million on a monthly basis, yet the workers are suffering.

“Since 2012, workers’ pension estimated around N50million has not been paid, while cooperative societies have not been remitted.

Imagine, the management claimed it cut grasses with a whooping sum of N750,000, while the station has failed to remit N1,990,931 National Housing Fund between 2013 and 2016 and presently owing National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) a sum of N9.5million from 2012 till date.

“We even lost one of our members, Kemi Mulero, last Saturday and the management hurriedly paid her four months’ salary to her husband on Monday.

To us, that is the wickedness of the highest order. For this, we are shutting down the station until at

IjawYouth Council, Others Condemn Military Invasion of Ondo Community Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and a retired Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ebitibituwa Tonye, have condemned what they described as military invasion and occupation of Ajapa town in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The President of the IYC, Mr. Eric Omare, in a chat with journalists yesterday, warned of imminent humanitarian crisis if urgent steps are not taken to stop the military siege over the town.

According to Omare, several vulnerable people especially “women, children and the aged from the besieged town are trapped in the creeks of Ajapa following the invasion of the community by soldiers from Operation Restore Hope last week.”

He noted that the dire situation arose after the commendable efforts of the soldiers who gunned down a notorious criminal, Ossy Ibori, and his gang members accused of masterminding various killings, kidnaping and other related crimes in Lagos and Ogun State riverine communities.

Things, he recalled, went ugly when Ibori and 15 other criminals were killed in a gun duel with the army, which lost a captain and some soldiers.

Enraged, he said, the soldiers allegedly “burnt down several houses in the community which made the frightened residents to flee into the adjoining bushes and have been trapped since the day of the operation.”

Speaking further, Omare urged the government to intervene to avert a major humanitarian crisis in the area.

The IYC leader called for a “guided media tour of the area

with the military, representatives of the state and federal governments as well as human rights groups to ascertain the true situation of things in the area.”

According to him, “Guided media tour of the area is the only way to let Nigerians know the pathetic story of Ajapa in the creeks.”

He also called on “the government to pull out the soldiers from the embattled community so that those trapped in the bushes could be allowed to come out.”

In the same vein, Ebitibituwa who was a former Police Commissioner in Enugu, Kebbi and Bayelsa State, said majority of the people now are trapped in the bush are in urgent need of food and medication.

He expressed regret that the Ondo State Government has not deemed it necessary to come to the aide of thousands of innocent people affected by the ongoing military operation in the community, which is in its 10th day.

He said: “The whole residents are in the bush. Our concern is that the state government has not taken this issue. The government has not done anything to assure the people that help is coming.

“There is no relief material; there is no effort at rehabilitation.

We have spoken to government on those issues. And there is no way we can go to the town.”

The former CP noted that a meeting between the leaders and the representatives of community with the Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, and the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, had not resulted in the expected respite.

least, our four months salaries are paid,” he stated.

Also, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), OGBC chapel, Biodun Ogundipe, blamed the management for the strike, noting the situation should not have got

to the level if the management had jaw-jawed with the workers.

He accused the management of approving IoUs, collecting salaries in advance as well as buying and distributing fuel among themselves, instead of ensuring workers welfare.

Meanwhile, Head of Service in the state, Mr. Abayomi Sobande, while addressing workers, urged them to exercise patience with the management of the station.

He said dialogue remained the best approach to labour crisis,

adding that a meeting would be organised between the management and workers of the station with the view to finding solution to the issue, submitting that such demonstration could scare away potential investors away from the state.

GOD’S SERVANTS

L-R: Chaplain, Chapel of Christ, Yaba College of Technology, Very Revd Olumuyiwa Awe, Bishop, Diocese of Ereko, Lagos, Rt Revd Olukayode Adeogun, Host Bishop, Rt. Revd Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi; and his wife, Sister Funmilayo Olawuyi, at the 2017 Annual Synod of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Methodist Church Nigeria, held at Folawiyo Bankole Memorial Methodist Church, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos....recently

184 PoetsVie for $100,000 NLNG Literature Prize About 184 entries will compete for the 2017 edition of Nigeria LNG Limited-sponsored The Nigeria Prize for Literature focused on poetry, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) revealed yesterday at a formal ceremony in Lagos to hand-over the entries to the Advisory Board of the prize.

The hand-over of the entries to the Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, signifies the beginning of the judging process which culminates in the announcement of the winner in October 2017.

Handing over the entries, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, said the prize has inspired some 1,630 books of which 533, representing 32 per cent, were submitted in the poetry category since the inception of the prize in 2004.

“The number of entries for the 2017 edition exceeded the 2016 numbers, showing a six percent rise in the number of entries received and increasing interest in one of the biggest literary prize in the world. This has been the trend since 2005.

“We believe that the prize

has inspired writers to want to deliberately win the prize. This has led to the proliferation of books and increased the quality of books. The spiralling effect of this is the boost to literacy and education in the country, the foundation of cultural and socio-economic revolution.

The impact of the prize is easily discernible and we believe that it supports our vision to help build a better Nigeria,” he remarked.

The entries, which came in response to a call for entry published in the national dailies in February 2017, will be examined on their merits of excellence in language, creativity and book quality.

The entries were immediately handed over to the panel of judges led by Professor Ernest Emenyonu.

Professor Emenyonu is a professor of Africana Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar between 1988 and 1990, and Provost (Chief Executive) Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, between 1992 and 1996. He has taught in several Nigerian and American universities.

Other judges are Dr Razinat

Mohammed and Tade Ipadeola.

Dr Mohammed is an Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Maiduguri. She teaches African Literature with specialisation in Feminist Literary Criticism and Theoretical Approaches.

She is an accomplished writer as well. Tade Ipadeola won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2013 in the Poetry category with his third volume of poetry, The Sahara Testament. A poet and a lawyer, Ipadeola has won several awards and is a resource person for the Rockefeller Foundation around Africa on building resilience.

This year’s award will run concurrently with NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism for which only five entries were received for this year’s competition. Introduced in 2013, the literary criticism prize is a yearly award and carries a monetary value of N1 million.

Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Professor Banjo, two-time ViceChancellor of Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan, are Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education,

former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, and Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and president of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2005 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, poetry), Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto (co-winner, 2005, poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006, drama) for his classic, Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Professor Akachi AdimoraEzeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008, prose); Esiaba Irobi (2010, drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book The Missing Clock; Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013; Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments and Sam Ukala (2014;Drama) with Iredi War.

Ambode Enjoins Religious Bodies to Pray for Lagos at 50 Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has enjoined all mosques and churches in the state to organise special prayers for peace and harmony, as well as accelerated socio-economic development, while marking golden jubilee of the state.

He said mosques should carry out special sermons and prayer sessions during the Jumat Services on May 19, 2017, while churches should do same on Sunday, May 21, 2017.

While expressing his determination to always pay

attention to the spiritual content of his developmental initiatives, Ambode expressed his resolve to upscale public participatory initiative in state’s policies and programmes.

He, thus, informed that, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, more collaboration for mutually rewarding relationship, between the state and the faith- based organisations, were in the pipeline.

Besides, Ambode said his administration had begun enumeration of worship centres in the state, and that, so far, more

than 10,000 data of mosques and churches had been captured in the website. Moreover, Nigerian InterReligious Council, Lagos Chapter (NIREC), whose contributions to the harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence in the state have been quite impressive, would soon have bigger scope, more depth, wider reach than is presently the case, for brighter performance, when the body is decentralised to the 57 local governments areas and local council development areas (LCDAs), and its activities further extended

to all wards in the state.

The governor was of the view that through commitment to excellence, greater public involvement and support, perseverance for merit, faith in the possibility of greater Lagos as SMART city of the collective dreams of Lagosians, “which is achievable through constant prayers and supplications to Almighty God, Lagosians will continue to thrive from the prevailing peace, security and state of accelerated socio-economic and infrastructural development.”

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Suspected Herdsmen Kill Police Inspector, Injure Three Others in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Police Command said it lost an inspector of police to suspected cattle nomads who allegedly ambushed some policemen on routine patrol in the university town of Abraka in Ehiope East local Government Area of the state.

The command said three other policemen also sustained various degrees of injury during the surprise attack on the patrol team late Tuesday.

According to the police command spokesman, Mr Andrew Aniamaka, members of the patrol team were from Abraka Police Division and the incident occurred along the dormant Railway Line in Abraka.

According to the report, the patrol van used on routine surveillance of the area on Tuesday evening was suddenly attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, catching the policemen unawares with a hail of bullets, leasing to the death of the inspector.

The policemen were said to have panicked at the sudden

attack, leaving them practically helpless and unable to give the suspected herdsmen a fight or respond with any firepower of their own.

One of the police officers who was fatally wounded died on the spot with no one to rescue him as others reportedly abandoned the ill-fated patrol van and scampered to safety but not without bullet wounds.

However, the injured are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Aniamaka, who confirmed the report yesterday, described the incident as unfortunate.

According to the police spokesman, “Our men were ambushed around the Railway Line in Abraka and they opened fire on them, and it was so spontaneous that our men did not have the time to ward off the attack.

“We lost an inspector of police and some others were injured and

Court Orders Former Minister’s Sons to Pay NERFUND N61.057m Alex Enumah inAbuja The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered promoters of Bakrad International Limited and children of former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, to pay the sum of N61.057 million to the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) as outstanding principal loan and accrued 13.50 per cent interest of loan granted them to finance a business.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order in a judgment he delivered in a suit brought against the defendants by the NERFUND. NERFUND filed a suit against Bakrad International Limited before the court and joined the children of Hajia Maina, Mr. Umar and Rahinatu Maina, as the first and second defendants respectively.

The plaintiff in the suit No:/ FHC/ABJ/CS/742/2015, sought to recover from defendants a loan amounting to the sum of N61,057,123.06 being the outstanding principal loan and the accrued 13.50 per cent interest granted them to finance and carry out their table water and juice production business some time ago.

According to NERFUND, “The customer did not make any payment and it appears the former minister used her influence while in office to obtain the loan for a company she and her children have interest. She frustrated the perfection of the pledged assets, and nothing was paid on the account till date. This is one of the facilities that grounded the operations of NERFUND, made it insolvent and led to the job loss for over 30 workers of the agency in December 2016.”

After considerations of arguments of parties in the suit which lasted several months, Justice A.R. Mohammed while delivering judgment, directed the defendants to pay NERFUND N61.057 million as agreed upon by both parties

during the transaction.

According to Justice Mohammed, the defendants failed to put forward any defence to the plaintiff’s action, hence the plaintiff is entitled to the judgment of the court.

The judge, therefore, held that judgment is entered in favour of the plaintiff against the defendants in the suit.

“Since I have earlier held that the defendants have not given any defence to the plaintiff’s claim on the merit, the plaintiff is entitled to judgement of the court. I therefore make the following orders: judgement is hereby entered in favour of the plaintiff against the defendants in this suit.

“The defendants are hereby directed jointly and severally to pay the plaintiff the sum of N61, 057, 123. 06, being the outstanding principal loan and the accrued 13.50 per cent interest agreed on the principal loan as at June 8, 2015,” the judgement read in parts.

Earlier, in the plaintiff’s writ of summons deposed to by a staff of NERFUND, Sanusi A. Ramalan, averred that the defendants have refused to sign and/or returned three engrossed tripartite deed of legal mortgage alongside three copies of irrevocable power of attorney given by Mallam Umar Joji Maina in favour of NERFUND which was earlier forwarded to them for execution.

According to NERFUND, the property was used as collateral to secure the loan vide a letter dated January 9, 2013, and was acknowledged by Umar Maina on January 10, 2013.

The court held that the first defendant, Bakrad International Limited, is an incorporated limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, and as a project holder/ promoter and the second and third defendants are in charge of the first defendant in dealing with plaintiff.

are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. That is the situation of things; we are still on the trail of those who committed the

dastardly act.”

There had been recent outrage over the criminal activities of nomadic cattle referees in different

parts of Delta State with the state government and even the state council of traditional rulers recently calling on the federal government

to adopt more drastic measures to curtail excesses of the cattle herders across the state and in the country.

70 HEARTY CHEERS

Mrs. Amdalata Adepate Abike, (third right) flanked by her children during the celebration of her 70th birthday at Ishaga in Lagos...recently

Soldier Shoots Judiciary Driver in Uyo over Right of Way Okon Bassey in Uyo There was palpable fear yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, when a soldier shot a worker with the Akwa Ibom State Judiciary headquarters, Mr. Godwin Udoaka, over right of way.

Udoaka, a driver attached to the state judiciary narrowly escaped death, as he was shot at close range by the soldier attached to Wizzchino Engineering Limited, Uyo. THISDAY gathered that the incident happened at about 12:45p.m. on Asutan by Udo Streets junction, close to the Secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of

Journalists (NUJ), Uyo. While Udoaka was immediately rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) by sympathisers where he is receiving treatment, the soldier was said to have disappeared with the company vehicle before mob attack.

An eye witness said the driver of the judiciary vehicle and his counterpart of Wizzchino Engineering Limited had arrived at the area from opposite direction at the same time but they could not initiate their way out due to double packing of cars on the streets.

In a very minor exchange of words over the right of way, the

soldier who sat on the front seat of the vehicle, reportedly fumed over the judiciary driver, insisting that the driver of the Wizzchino Engineering Company should go back for him to pass.

The soldier whose identity could not be ascertained by the time of filing in this report, was said to have stepped out from the Toyota Hilux Van with the registration number: ABC 222 AY and shot the driver in the face.

Reacting, the President, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Albert Mbebe, told journalists that ‘‘the WE-Hilux Van came in the opposite direction and refused to go back.

“It was the judiciary driver

that had the right of way, but the soldier got angry when the driver asked them to leave the road for him to move.

“It was there that argument ensued as the soldier came down and shot the driver in the face.”

The son of the victim, Mr. Sifon Udoaka, while speaking with journalists, expressed anger over the attitude of the soldier.

He confirmed that his father had been taken to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Don Awunah, said he was on official engagement in Abuja and had not been informed of the incident.

Police Release Lifemate Coy Chinese Manager after Attempted Murder Chiemelie Ezeobi After the alleged attempted murder of Triple MG music label boss, Ubi Franklin, by the Chinese manager of Lifemate Furniture in Lekki, the police handling the case released him yesterday, barely hours after his arrest without charging him to court.

The suspect was released by the Divisional Police Officer of Maroko Police Division, Abdulmajid Isah, barely five hours after his arrest, under controversial circumstances.

Although the police have recovered the murder weapons (two knives), the suspect was released and he resumed work again yesterday.

According to the victim, the incident had happened on Tuesday when he had gone to Lifemate Furniture to register a complaint about the services he paid for.

His post on Instagram read:

“Earlier today (Tuesday), I was at Lifemate Furniture show room at the Palms, Lekki, to enquire about a service I paid for that wasn’t attended to.

“I was then asked by a junior staff (Nigerian) to speak to his “oga” (a Chinese man). The Chinese man paid me no attention when I approached him with my concerns, he rather walked away as I was still trying to make my concerns known to him.

“So I followed up to say his attitude was unacceptable and then proceeded to leave the shop since he wasn’t going to pay me any attention or courtesy as a returning customer.

“As I was walking out the door I heard someone scream, I turned my back, only for me to see the Chinese man running towards me with two knives. But for the quick intervention of my cousin the story would have been different.

“I handed him over to the police who then transferred him to Maroko police station and he was asked why he wanted to stab me and he said because I said ‘see this Chinese man o’. Anyway, God got me covered physically and spiritually.”

The story changed yesterday when Franklin went back to the furniture store and saw the suspect back at his post.

The embittered Franklin who released a video shoot of the Chinese man working, said: “So the police released the Chinese man at Lifemate furniture that tried to kill me and he is seating comfortably and working. “This can’t happen in their own country and if it does the Nigerian will be dead by now and his family will be looking for him.”

However, when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, debunked

claims that the suspect was released without due process.

He said: “The suspect was arrested by the Maroko Police Division. The police also recovered the knife and it’s an exhibit now.

“The chief security officer of Shoprite was also at the station to give his statement. The suspect was released because the complainant refused to show up to state his own side of the story.

“Ordinarily, what the police do after such a case has been reported, is to charge the suspect to court and let the law run its course.

“However, in this case, the complainant refused to show up.

So if we charge the case to court, what will be on the charge sheet presented to the court? “ THISDAY had in turn contacted Franklin on the allegations of the police and he debunked it, adding “That is a big lie and trust me I

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THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017 • T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

$3m Bribery Scandal: Court Dismisses Lawan’s Motion to Recall Witness Alex Enumah in Abuja A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Lugbe, Abuja yesterday dismissed an application filed by the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan, seeking to recall a prosecution witness.

The application was dismissed in a ruling delivered by the trial judge, Justice Angela Otaluka.

Lawan through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had approached the court for an order to recall Prosecution Witness Two (PW2), David Igbodo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (substantive), on the grounds that the defence was actually foreclosed even before it finished with its cross examination of the PW2.“We need to recall the witness because we have not finished and this is a criminal case that involves the liberty of a citizen of the country, because he is their star witness, we need to take him apart, a job we have started and we need to finish,” Ozokhome told the court.

The prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN),

in objecting the application, urged the court to express its discretion on facts and not on speculations, as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) is not a licence to overrule decisions taken by the court.

The trial court in its ruling, held that since it had closed the cross-examination of the witness, even though it had the powers to revisit its own order, the order for foreclosure of the witness stands.

At the continuation of trial, Adams Jagaba, member of the House of Representatives representing Kachia Kagaruko constituency of Kaduna State and former Chairman, House Committee on Narcotics and Economic and Financial Crimes, denied ever receiving or keeping the alleged bribe money collected

by Lawan from Femi Otedola, Chairman Zenon Oil and Gas. While he was being led in evidence, Jagaba told the court that he only heard about his receipt of $620,000 from Lawan on the pages of newspaper, saying that he was practically asleep at the said hour he was alleged to have received the money from him.

“My Lord, that is not true, as I

Abia CP Relocates to Aba over Upsurge of Kidnapping Uchenna Nwosu Following the resurgence of kidnapping in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State for some weeks now, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, has relocated to the area in order to assist his men to vigorously battle the crime.

It was learnt that the CP has gone to Aba with a strategy with the code name: ‘Pro-active policing’, which according to him, will be instilled in the consciousness of all officers and men of the command.

Addressing the officers and men of Nigeria Police Force during his tour of 16 divisional police stations under the Aba Area Command, Adeleye explained that he was relocating the headquarters of the state command to Aba, the commercial hub of the

state, to enable him have a score card of the activities of his men in the city and its environs and efforts they are making to nip the crime in the bud. At the Ogbor Hill divisional headquarters, the state police boss said the reason why policemen should imbibe the act of pro-activeness in crime fighting was because of the dynamism in crime prevention in the present day society.

Adeleye, who disclosed that the command has been able to improve its network in Aba and other parts of the state, said a new squad (Tactical Response Squad) with its operational base at Abayi Police Division has been created to increase visibility policing and to compliment the efforts of some of the already established squads in the state to curb crimes.

Couple Arrested for Selling Sixyear-old Daughter for N400,000 Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Cross River State Police Command have arrested a couple for allegedly selling their six-year-old daughter for N400,000.

The state police commissioner, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, made disclosure of the arrest of the couple while briefing journalists in his office in Calabar yesterday.

Hafiz said the couple, GeorgeSunday Udoh and his wife Victoria, were arrested on April 26, in Ikom Local Government Area of the state following a tip-off.

He said the suspects were arrested at Ikom Local Government Area on April 26 following a tip-off.

The commissioner said initial investigation by the police, it was revealed that the couple sold the child to enable them offset their

house rent, and open up a small provision shop “On April 26, 2017, following a tip-off, our men arrested a couple, George-Sunday Udoh and his wife Victoria, for allegedly selling their daughter at the cost of N400,000.

“The suspects were arrested by our operatives attached to the Ikom division. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department here in Calabar and investigation is ongoing,’’ the commissioner said.

However, the father of the child who was paraded, denied the allegation.

“It is true that we don’t have money, and things are very hard with me and my wife, but we did not sell our baby for N400,000,’’ Udoh said.

go to bed at 9p.m. and I live alone there. I never saw nor received such amount of money from the defendant.

“I became aware of this on the pages of Leadership Newspaper, I reserved my comment until I was invited by the police to its headquarters. I was confronted with a letter written by Otedola, I denied it and told him that I would love a

situation where we would be there when the interrogation goes on.

“The police called the two of us and asked him if he could repeat some of the things he said, his remark was that I am not saying that Jagaba is involved in the bribe scandal, but based on the rights of his lawyer, if I can accept, that would help his case in the court.

“And at that point, the money

would be considered as exhibit and not bribe, and I asked him two questions; did you give me the said bribe money of $620,000.

Is the bribe money with me, he simply kept quiet,” the witness said.

The matter was however adjourned to June 21 and 22, 2017 at the instance of the counsel due to a flight schedule Ozekhome had.

Lawan has been standing trial before Justice Angela Otaluka of an FCT High Court Lugbe over allegations that asked for the sum of $3,000,000 for himself from Otedola, Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited to remove the name of his company from the report of the House ad-hoc committee on monitoring of fuel subsidy regime was conducting.

FOR SAFETY ON THE ROADS

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Highway Digital, Mr. Morris Mbetsa; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Executive Director, Highway Digital, Mr. Fahmi Omar; and representative of the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Joseph Ugbaja, during the formal launch of Highway Digital Manufactureing Plant in Lagos.... yesterday Yomi Akinyele

RRS Nabs 20Youths over Gang Wars in Lagos Neighbourhood Chiemelie Ezeobi The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos Police Command and Iyana Ipaja Area Command yesterday arrested 20 youths for instigating and participating in gang wars at the Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

The two-day restiveness in the area, especially at the Abule Oki area, was said to have been between two rival gangs over dominance and control of the axis.

During the violence, the youths had unleashed mayhem on anything at sight including the rear windscreen of one of the RRS patrol vehicles in Abule Oki, and also smashed the head of one of the police operatives.

After attempts to contain the youths proved abortive, the police operatives began to pick up the masterminds one after the other.

The arrests were fuelled by Tuesday night’s escalation of the crisis when the youths numbering

over 100, had set a bonfire on the expressway halting vehicular traffic on the two sides of the ever busy Lagos Abeokuta Expressway.

On the ground to quell the violence was the Area ‘M’ Commander, Austin Akika, who was later joined at the scene by the RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu.

After dispersing the youths on Tuesday night, the gang resumed their gang wars yesterday, prompting the RRS team to respond adequately.

However, the youths did not give up without a fight as they pelted the police with stones and broken bottles which was what smashed the head of an officer and the windscreen of the RRS Toyota Corolla with the registration number RRS 041 LA. While the RRS officer was taken to the hospital for treatment, the 20 arrested youths have been transferred to the area command for profiling and further investigation.

Finally, Police Detain DPO for Killing Fashion Designer Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command yesterday detained the Divisional Officer (DPO) of Ijeshatedo, Mohammed Yakubu, for allegedly killing a fashion designer, Jamiu Ayoade.

Yakubu was detained after the state government commenced an investigation into the incident that occurred last Sunday night.

This is just as residents alleged that Ayoade was the third person the DPO has killed, claiming that the other two occurred at two other streets in the area.

The police had earlier denied that the DPO nor any cop fired a shot, a position a senior police officer blamed on the lie Yakubu told the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

He said: “The DPO even lied to the Commissioner of Police that

some cultists engaged themselves in a battle of supremacy and that he went to the scene following a distress call to his office.

“He said he went to the place to disperse the hoodlums and as at the time he arrived the scene and left, nobody was killed and that he was surprised to hear that somebody was shot.

“Following the DPO’s briefing to the CP, he challenged the deceased’s family to produce the body of their son who was shot, but, the family had buried him according to Muslim rites.

“With media reports on the killing, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, ordered the CP to personally visit the scene.

The CP sent some under cover policemen who visited the house and he was shocked with the revelations from witnesses.

“He immediately ordered the

arrest of the DPO, who is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti.”

Owoseni, who confirmed that the DPO was in detention, said he would be prosecuted if found culpable.

The CP who said he has visited the area and met with the families of the deceased, added: “I told you that we were investigating and we have sent undercover policemen to the family of the deceased and the scene of the incident.

“We spoke to many people.

We now have true version of the story contrary to what the DPO told us.

“The police under the leadership of the IG operate in a manner that all actions must be in tandem with democratic principles and respect for human life.

“We will not condone any act of impunity. All those that are adorned with police uniform and get involved in impunity are not part of us.

“The DPO is under investigation.

If we find out that he is not one of those officers that belong to the new Nigeria Police the law will take its course. The DPO has been taken into custody. I have met with the family of the victim and we found out that it was imperative that investigation be carried out.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCIID, the Area C Commander and the Commander X Squad have started the investigation. I will leave no stone unturned and we would not sweep the matter under the carpet.

“As soon as evidence is put up, the officer or whoever committed the act of impunity would face the wrath of the law.”

54

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Moses: Conte Revived My Career with the Wing-back Role

Chelsea’s Victor Moses has credited manager Antonio Conte for reviving his career at Stamford Bridge by converting him into a wing-back during their Premier League title charge this season.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international Moses was previously sent out on loan for three consecutive seasons by manager Jose Mourinho before Conte arrived this season and changed Chelsea’s main formation to 3-4-3.

That reshuffle brought Moses back into the starting lineup, and has helped make him one of the most consistent performers this season, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

“He (Conte) didn’t say to me, ‘Do I fancy playing wing-back?’ He just put me in there, and after that he just kept on encouraging me,” Moses told British media.

“He went through what the position was all about, constantly talking to me in training to make sure I was improving in it. I took that in and I didn’t look back,” he said.

“I have been learning a lot defensively. And when I play against a winger... I understand what they are going to do before they try and go past me, so it makes it a lot easier.”

Moses said the position has added responsibilities at both the attacking and defensive ends, but he is enjoying the experience with every game.

“You need a lot of stamina to be able to play that position, and it’s a responsibility for me as well,” he added.

“I have never played that position before, but I am enjoying it. The more games I play, the better I get.”

Meanwhile, Moses’ teammate at Stamford Bridge, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has set his sights on lifting the trophy for the second time in three years at the club this Friday.

Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 3-0 on Monday to move seven points clear at the top of the table after second-placed Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at West Ham United last Friday.

The leaders need three points from their last three games to seal the title and Courtois said that they wanted to win it as soon as possible with a victory over a tough West Brom side.

“We hope to do it at the first attempt. We know West Brom are a hard team to play against. We had a very tough game here,” Courtois told British media, referring to Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Brom at Stamford Bridge in December.

Okpekpe Organisers Set to Host a World-class Race Organisers of the fifth edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race say they are ready to organise a bigger and better event on Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo State.

Race Director of Organisation, Zakari Amodu, said yesterday that the first and only IAAF Bronze Label race in Nigeria will live up to its billing as one of the prestigious road races in the world.

“Everything is set for a good race on Saturday,” begins Amodu. “We have covered all grounds necessary for a good race that will help us in our push to be a silver label race come next year. We have the required number of nations and elite athletes to fulfill the requirements for a bronze label race. We have all the materials we wanted for effective doping control including a doping station at the finish area in Okpekpe,’’ he said.

“The IAAF have set requirements for us to follow as a bronze label event and I can tell you we have met all the requirements and have even moved several steps higher,” he continued. ‘What we are waiting for is just for the race day to be here so that we can put into practice all we

have been doing in terms of keeping to the requirements.

“The international body also requested that prize money offered to competitors, including bonuses for times achieved shall be equal for all competitors regardless of their nationality or gender – in other words prize money for places should be equal for men and women and for nationals of the host country and athletes of other nationalities. This we have also done where the prize money for the first eight finishers are the same for men and women,” Amodu explained and added that drinking/sponging and refreshment stations will be adequately staffed by competent personnel and that water and refreshments shall be provided free of charge for all participants on the course and at the finish area.

Amodu also revealed that the Okpekpe race is much more than the race on the road. ‘’The Okpekpe race is conceptualised as a way of promoting distance and endurance related races for our athletes. It could pass for a high altitude high performance training for our athletes who need such conditions to be able to train effectively to be able to challenge the East Africans,” he concluded.

L-R: Former Brazil and Barcelona Legend, Ronaldinho; Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Okocha and former Colombia Captain, Carlos Valderrama at the ongoing 67th FIFA Congress in Manama, Bahrain ...yesterday

Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Polo to Gallop off in Kaduna May 15 Duro Ikhazuagbe The biggest charity polo event in Africa, the 2017 edition of the Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament is scheduled to hold at Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Resort, Kaduna, between May 15 and May 21, 2017.

Already, 15 teams have been listed to battle for honours in two major categories.

Four high-goals teams fortified with the best Nigerian players and professionals from Argentina, England and South Africa are listed for action in the big stake Charity Shield that pitches four equally matched teams from Lagos, Abuja, Keffi and Kaduna.

Campaigns for the prestigious Access Bank Cup would be an exciting experience with 12 regular and ambitious

debutants bracing for fierce games in a potentially explosive week long confrontations.

Speaking at a media briefing to herald the 2017 edition of the tournament in Lagos yesterday, Group Head, Inclusive Banking, Access Bank Plc, Ope Wemi-Jones, said the bank has continued to maintain its yearly commitment in supporting UNICEF towards its projects for orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Nigeria.

“This year’s tournament is more than an affirmation of our commitment to socioeconomic wellbeing of mankind and acknowledgement of the impact the initiative has had on the lives of vulnerable children in northern Nigeria especially in Kaduna State. It is also an opportunity for providing special care for Access Bank’s

customers through our inclusive banking services,” stressed Wemi-Jones.

Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, Babangida Hassan, said they are proud to continue in the development of the established partnership with Access Bank and the UNICEF Charity Shield tourney, which is in its tenth year.

“Fifth Chukker is proud to continue in its development of this established partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. As the level of play continues to raise the bar in Nigerian polo and captures a truly international following; the charity work follows in a similar fashion,” Babangida added.

Also speaking at the event, UNICEF’s Chief of Field-Partnership in Nigeria, Manuel Rosini, said: “We are

hoping to get more children needing support for instance, children orphaned by HIV/ AIDS - especially the girl-child into schools.”

He also disclosed that through the Access Bank and Fifth Chukker partnership, the school project at Maraban Jos in Kaduna has witnessed a 35 per cent increase in enrolment from a little over 8,000 last year, to 11,000 this year.

“We have no doubt created the space for a lot of them to enjoy their rights to education through this partnership, but we aim to seek more community participation to achieve greater results,” he stated.

Rosini pointed out: “UNICEF looks forward to expanding this partnership with Access Bank to advocate the realisation of children’s rights.”

D E LTA S P O RT S F E ST I VA L

Ukwuani, Aniocha-South, Ethiope-West Lead Medals Table After three days of activities at the on-going 6th Delta Sports Festival, three local government areas, Ukwuani, Aniocha-South and EthiopeWest are occupying the top of the medals table.

The festival will be rounded up tomorrow with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa expected to perform the closing ceremony at Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium.

The medals table made

available by the Technical Sub-committee yesterday saw Ukwuani seating on top with 18 medals made up of 10 gold, five silver and three bronze while Aniocha-South has 23 medals made up of nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals. Ethiope-West has 13 medals made up of six gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

Seating in the fourth

position is Warri-South with 14 medals (five gold, one silver and eight bronze), Burutu in the fifth position with four gold, seven silver and five bronze, just as Ughelli-North is sixth with three gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Oshimili-North has three gold, three silver and four bronze, just as Aniocha-North has three gold, two silver and

two bronze, while Ika-NorthEast has two gold, four silver and six bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Ebele Agbha from Ika-North-East won three gold medals in the women’s 48kg, while Ukamaka Dominic won three gold medals in the 63kg. Adaobi Onyia has also won three gold medals for Aniocha-South.

The weightlifting event is taking place at Asaba Stadium.

55

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY MAY 11, 2017

THURSDAYSPORTS

NPFL: Rangers Fight Back to Hold Gombe

Rangers International FC of Enugu and Gombe United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game yesterday.

Obinna Nwobodo took the game by the scruff of the neck with a virtuoso display capped by two goals either side of the break but the hosts battled back gamely to claim a share of the spoils at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe.

Nwobodo’s first goal on 12 minutes was largely down to great work by Osas Okoro who showed great skill and composure before squaring for the midfielder to tap home from close range.

His second in the 58th minute was down to sheer individual brilliance as the Flying Antelopes dared to dream, licking their lips in anticipation over the prospect of amassing maximum points away from home.

Those hopes disappeared in a flash as two goals in a space of 180 seconds dramatically

turned the game on its head.

Austine Oladapo got the fight-back underway with a goal from close range and he completed his brace soon after from the penalty spot after the referee adjudged that a Rangers player had handled the ball in the box.

The hosts thought they had got the final say deep into stoppage time as Ibrahim Abdullahi struck in the second minute of stoppage time to temporarily give the hosts a 3-2 advantage.

Manic celebrations by the home fans proved premature in the end as Osas Okoro struck with literally the last kick of the game to give his side a share of the spoils.

Rangers stay in 16th place on the NPFL standings with 23 points from 19 points while Gombe United climbed one place on the log to 17th, leapfrogging 3SC who now drop to 18th.

Gombe United have now amassed 23 points from 19 matches this season.

BUNDESLIGA

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: IT’S REAL, JUVE FINAL!

Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League final last night despite losing 2-1 away to Atletico Madrid in their semifinal second leg. Real’s 3-0 win in the first leg proved too much for Atletico to overcome as the reigning European champions progressed 4-2 on aggregate. Early goals from Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann, from a penalty, gave Atletico hope but Isco struck just before the break to leave the hosts with too much to do, taking Real through to a final against Juventus in Cardiff on June 3.

Leipzig vs Bayern: An Unlikely EUROPA: Herrera Craves Total Old Trafford Support Ander Herrera wants every game they’ve played competition will complete players expected to return for Top of the Table Clash Manchester United’s in the competition so we United’s collection of trophies, United today.

When the fixtures for the Bundesliga were announced last year, few ball fans would have thought that a clash between rookies RB Leipzig and record champions Bayern Munich on the second-last Match-day would be a top-of-the-table clash.

The fact that Bayern Munich won a fifth consecutive Bundesliga title and their 27th overall with three games to spare comes as no surprise, but that the club from eastern Germany need just one point more to secure a second place finish in their first-ever season in the top flight is nothing short of a sensation.

Both sides go into the game on Saturday in the Red Bull Arena on the back of victories.

Bayern ended Darmstadt’s stay in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win, while Leipzig ensured their place in the Champions League group phase next season with a 4-1 victory at Hertha Berlin.

Star striker Timo Werner was

again the man of the match for Leipzig with two goals, before substitute Davie Selke struck late for his first Bundesliga brace.

RB Leipzig Sporting Director, Ralf Rangnick, said that the victory against Berlin placed their match against Bayern into a different dimension. “It has changed everything. Now that we know that we will play in the Champions League next season, we have no pressure against Bayern.

“To be able to play two Bundesliga matches as a promoted team without having to pick up three points is a privilege. What we have achieved stands above all at the moment. The team earned that.”

For Philipp Lahm the game in Leipzig will be the second-last of his career, as he is to retire at the end of the season. Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti paid a tribute to the world champion.

“I would be glad to have 20 Philipp Lahms in my squad.

He is so professional.”

FIFA Ratifies Nine World Cup Slots for Africa The FIFA Council has ratified the decision to give Africa nine automatic places when the World Cup expands to 48 teams in 2026.

The move was confirmed on Tuesday in Bahrain - the continent currently has five spots at the tournament.

A tenth African country will take part in a six-nation play-off tournament to decide the last two spots.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council made the original proposal of how it planned to allocate the 48 places on March 30.

The expanded World Cup will feature 16 teams from Europe.

FIFA members voted in

January to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, starting with the 2026 edition.

ALLOCATION ASIA: 8 direct slots - increased from 4.5 (currently 46 members) AFRICA: 9 direct slots increased from 5 (currently 54 members) NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA: 6 direct slots increased from 3.5 (currently 34 members) SOUTH AMERICA: 6 direct slots - increased from 4.5 (currently 10 members) OCEANIA: 1 direct slot increased from 0.5 (currently 11 members) EUROPE: 16 direct slots increased from 13 (currently 55 members)

supporters to turn Old Trafford into a cauldron when the Red Devils look to complete victory over Celta Vigo in today’s Europa League semifinal return leg.

Marcus Rashford’s sweet second-half free-kick brought United a 1-0 win in last week’s first leg, putting Jose Mourinho’s side within touching distance of the final in Stockholm on May 24.

But although United have gone 17 European home games without defeat, Celta have scored in all six of their Europa League away matches this season and Herrera says everyone in United red will have to be on their game.

“They have scored away in

have to be aware of that,” the Spanish midfielder said.

“They are a very good team, very dangerous when they play away and we will need our fans at home.

“I tell them we really need them to create a good atmosphere, a difficult atmosphere for the opponents, who can push us to be in the final. It’s not going to be easy.”

United have never won the Europa League and are bidding to reach a first continental final since their 3-1 loss to Barcelona at Wembley in the deciding match of the 2010-11 Champions League.

But while success in Europe’s second-tier

what motivates them above all is the place in next season’s Champions League that Europa League success will yield.

Mourinho has openly abandoned United’s hopes of securing the top-four finish in the Premier League that would open the door to the Champions League.

He made eight changes to his starting XI for last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, which brought an end to United’s 25-game unbeaten run in the league and left them four points below fourth-place Manchester City.

Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba and Rashford are among the

Celta need not look far for inspiration, having overcome a 1-0 home defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk to prevail 2-1 on aggregate in the last 32.

They can also call upon cup pedigree that saw them overcome Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of this season’s Copa del Rey, a year after they had accounted for Atletico Madrid at the same stage of the tournament.

“It is still close,” said Celta striker John Guidetti, who was formerly on the books of United’s cross-town rivals City.

“It is halftime. They are leading 1-0 and we have to go out and make the second half count.”

Ronaldinho Adores Okocha at FIFA Congress Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho has never hidden his admiration for former Nigeria Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.

The two veterans are widely considered among the greatest midfielders the game has ever seen, and they crossed path in Bahrain, venue of the 67th FIFA Congress in Bahrain.

The 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year winner confirmed it again, when he met the Bolton Wanderers’ great at the Congress.

Ronaldinho was Okocha’s protégé at Paris Saint Germain before the latter’s departure for the English Premier League. Aside the Nigerian, he also revealed his respect for former Colombia

skipper Carlos Valderrama. ‘’Só camisa 10 que sempre admirei. @iamokocha e @ PibeValderramaP,’’ he tweeted posing with the iconic No.10s.

In English it means: ‘’Only 10 shirt I’ve always admired.

Okocha and Valderrama.’’

Diego Maradona, Carli Lloyd, Alex Scott , Karina LeBlanc, Said Olawairan, Cafu, David Trezeguet and

Alexey Smertin are other legends in Asian country for the congress billed for today at the International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Manama, Bahrain There, the FIFA council will discuss a number of key topics related to the future of the world governing body’s competitions, particularly the FIFA World Cup.

Winners Emerge at Rivers @ 50 Wrestling Finals The Rivers @ 50 Wrestling Finals took the centre stage at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday when traditional wrestlers from different local government areas of the state competed for honours .

The finalists who were divided into four groups displayed their strength, discipline and understanding of traditional wrestling.

At the end of the thrilling traditional wrestling fights,

Group 1 made up of wrestler from Obio/Akpor (Azeru Oziri) emerged tops. Group 2 consisting of Abua/Odual (Akari Radiant) emerged runners up. Group 3 made up of wrestler from Tai (Kingsley Nna) and Group 4, Etche (Kingsley Ikechi) were amongst those also honoured at the event.

Presenting the trophies to the winners, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said every wrestler who

participated at the wrestling finals was a winner.

He said traditional wrestling remains a sport with potentials, pointing out that the state’s Ministry of Sports will be empowered to improve on it.

The Golden Jubilee Committee later presented certificates of participation to all participating wrestlers.

Amongst the dignitaries who watched the Rivers at 50 Wrestling Finals were Rivers State Governor, Nyesom

Ezenwo Wike, his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, commissioners, state legislators and thousands of traditional wrestling fans.

The award winning professional wrestling team from Bayelsa State also graced the event, displaying rich traditional wrestling dances.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE Ahmad Lawan to Senate Colleagues

“Any other word in this letter, or indeed anywhere else, is irrelevant. I, therefore, feel that Mr. President has done what the Constitution requires him to do and I urge this Senate not to go ahead to discuss this because it is not an issue” – Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, arguing that President Muhammadu Buhari fulfilled the provisions of Section 145 of the Constitution by transmitting a letter to the National Assembly.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of Chibok Girls and Falomo Boys I

n April 2014, Nigerians were confronted with a monumental tragedy when 276 female students were abducted from the premises of Government Secondary School, Chibok by Boko Haram insurgents. While more than 150 of them have, at different times, regained their freedom—many of them with physical and psychological scars that they will carry for the rest of their lives—the primitive instincts that led to their abduction by those who claim to be fighting for God also account for the criminal behaviour of some male students of Ireti Grammar School, Falomo in Lagos State who last week assaulted and would have raped their female colleagues but for the intervention of a passer-by.

While we must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for staying the course and the tenacity of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) coalition that led to the release of additional 82 of the Chibok girls last weekend, we must also deal with the bigger issue of the way we treat our women and girls. If we must be honest, the reason the depraved Boko Haram insurgents carried the Chibok girls into captivity is not different from the madness that drove the Falomo boys into attacking their female colleagues. But in a society where the sexual domination of girls and women has become an expression of power, it must worry all of us that the malaise is so deep-rooted that secondary school students now believe rape is just another sport.

In January 2004, Amnesty International released a damning report about our country titled “Rape—The Silent Weapon”. Although it was about how the personnel of the police and other security agencies allegedly use their positions to sexually exploit vulnerable women and girls in Nigeria, any discerning reader cannot but come to only one conclusion: the infractions reported are not exclusive to the law enforcement authorities, they represent a general problem within our society.

That much can be glimpsed from the “Gender in Nigeria Report 2012” sponsored by the British Council on which several Nigerian female professionals collaborated.

With the Foreword co-written by the former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her then Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) counterpart, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the report is quite revealing of the hurdles before our women and girls in a society where the seemingly strong take pleasure in oppressing those considered weaker.

Whether we want to admit it or not, rape is becoming a problem in our country essentially because of gender hierarchy and we must begin to deal with it like most other countries are trying to do. For instance, in her piece titled “The Psychology of Rape”, Melody Sundberg wrote that a 2010 study conducted in South Africa revealed that “466 out of the 1686 men participating in the research, had forced a woman to have sex with them against her will. Most commonly, they stated that they did this out of a sense of sexual entitlement. In other cases, they raped to inflict punishment on

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode girlfriends and other women, or sometimes simply as entertainment.”

I am sure that the situation is not much different in Nigeria but since there has been no attempt to analyse the challenge, we can all pretend all is well on that front.

It is also within that context that we can situate the unfortunate incident at the Falomo school which, as it is now coming to light, is actually a common occurrence.

According to the eye-witness account, a crowd of boys had overpowered and surrounded two girls and were being hailed as they attempted to gang-rape them in the public glare: “People are looking and some security guards in the office near us are recording it. I open my car in disbelief and shout at the boys to break it up, while shouting at my security and the second driver to assist me. As I make my way towards them, I see another group and this time, they have cornered one of the girls who falls while running from them. I see her kicked down, she bravely pushes herself up and another guy tries to clear her legs and she lunges at him and then a guy takes a pair of scissors in his hands and with one swoop, tears her skirt from the bottom and also a part of the black ‘spanx shorts’ she has underneath…”

That some men who should have intervened were more interested in recording the ugly scene, evidently to post on Youtube, is a sign of the troubling times. But the Lagos State authorities and the Police have so much lead to work on in this matter. All the boys involved in the disgraceful and criminal act must be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. The authorities of the notorious Falomo School from where such scumbags graduated must also bear vicarious responsibility for what happened given reports that it is a familiar scene.

However, when taken together, the episode at Falomo and the Chibok tragedy presents an inconvenient truth about our country and the culture of rape—physical and metaphorical—that pervades the land.

While this has become a sociological issue that we must address in a larger context, given its manifestations in several areas of our national life, it also provides explanations for why some politicians have chosen to intentionally hurt the parents of the Chibok girls by calling the abduction of their children a hoax.

As a father of two girls, I can imagine what any parents with such harrowing experience would be going through and I will strongly recommend to those who see politics in everything that a little compassion will also not take anything from them.

In case such people have spoken out of ignorance rather than in mischief, they should reflect on the hopes and dreams that have been derailed as well as the potential that may never be realized, all because these girls decided to go to school, like their peers in the country and around the world.

Besides, not knowing where your daughter is or how she is being treated or whether she is in fact alive or dead is perhaps the hardest thing for any loving parent to face.

It is a roller-coaster kind of existence that can try the soul of any human being. That is why the Yoruba people would say ‘my child is dead is better than my child is lost’. One minute you could feel a surge of optimism, the next, you are back to the

depth of despair. That has been the story of the Chibok parents in the last three years. The only thing we can offer them, especially those still awaiting the return of their children, are words of comfort and love; not bile and reckless statements that are based on some petty politics and can only hurt and damage.

Indeed, if there is any lesson that politicians and public officials must take away from the Chibok tragedy, it is that in times of crisis, playing the blame game is not the right thing to do as it was partly responsible for the inability to rescue the children when there were opportunities to, at the initial stage of their abduction. That should teach us never to elevate political cold calculations above our common humanity.

What we must understand is that in an atmosphere of dread and terror, it is difficult for parents to send their children, especially of the female folks, to school.

Yet to the extent that education remains the only path to sustainable progress, we must do everything we can to ensure that some sexual perverts do not stand in the ways of our girls who seek knowledge.

That is why the rapists of Falomo School must be severely dealt with so that other animals like them will know that there are consequences for such criminal acts.

The Model Policemen Until Dr Reuben Abati paid homage to him on Tuesday, I did not know that Mr Taiwo Lakanu is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police. As many senior journalists would attest, everything Reuben wrote about Lakanu is true as he has been—for almost two decades that many of us have known him—a shining example of what a policeman should be.

But for me, the real essence of Reuben’s tribute is that as much as we like to talk about the bad eggs in the police, it is also good to promote those who take their jobs seriously and are professional in their dealings. As difficult as it may be to believe, there are actually many Lakanus in the Nigeria Police Force. I encountered some recently.

On 27th April, 24 hours to the public presentation of my book, “Against The Run of Play”, it suddenly occurred to me that I had made no provision for security. I called TheCable publisher, Mr Simon Kolawole, to ask whether he had the phone number of the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni. He immediately sent me the man’s number. I called the Compol and introduced myself and he was very warm and friendly despite the fact that we had never met before. When I told him about my book presentation and that I would need security, he asked me to send him a text message containing venue of the event and time. I did as instructed.

By the time the event started the

next day at the Nigeria Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, a detachment of police from the anti-bomb squad (based on the inscription on their vehicles) led by a female officer had been drafted to the venue. While I noticed their presence throughout, the real surprise for me was that, none of the policemen or their leader approached me for the customary “we-your-boys-are-onground” salutation. And because I did not know when they left, that meant I also did not have the opportunity to say thank you to them. They just did their job professionally and left after their operation without any interaction with me. I am therefore using this opportunity to thank Mr Owoseni and the Lagos State Police Command.

Meanwhile, I am overwhelmed by the incredible support I have been receiving from many Nigerians, including those I do not even know, who have taken it upon themselves that I must reap the financial benefits of my book, following the hacking of the online edition. The online campaign undertaken by some groups that those who have been forwarded the free online copy should pay into the publisher’s account or buy their own have also been very effective. I am grateful to them all.

However, as I stated last week, we must collectively join in the efforts to fight piracy and theft of intellectual property. Our society will be the better for it.

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