Friday 19th May 2017

NNPC Finalises $6bn Oil-for-Product Swaps Ejiofor Alike with agency reports

As part of measures to sustain the supply of petroleum products across the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is in the final stage of signing $6 billion worth of deals with local and international traders to

exchange about 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil for imported petrol and diesel.

The deals, which were previously referred to as offshore crude oil processing agreements (OPAs) and crude-for-products exchange

arrangements, are now known as Direct Sale-Direct Purchase Agreements (DSDP).

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu had said the DSDP was adopted to replace the oil swaps and the offshore

processing contracts so as to entrench transparency into the crude oil-for-product transactions and save the country $1 billion.

The signing of the deals earlier scheduled to take off

by April, it was learnt, was

delayed for three months to allow the NNPC and the oil traders negotiate the fuel specifications, among other issues.

This year’s beneficiaries also exceeded those of last year by three consortiums,

EU Bars Medview, Others from Its Airspace ... Page 48

indicating the country’s increased dependence on the NNPC for fuel importation.

Kachikwu had stated in Lagos on Wednesday that with the rise of crude oil price above $52 per barrel, the country finds itself reverting to position if found itself in, in Continued on page 10

Friday 19 May, 2017 Vol 22. No 8065. Price: N250

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Osinbajo Signs Executive Order to Aid Budget Submission by Agencies Signs orders on local content, transparency also

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja In a swift response to the ultimatum given by the Senate asking the presidency

to submit the budgets of revenue generating agencies within the next two weeks, acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday signed three

executive orders aimed at revolutionising government operations.

The three orders, according to a statement by his

spokesman, Laolu Akande, were intended to guarantee the timely submission of budgets by the respective federal government agencies,

promote transparency and ease of doing business, and boost local content in public procurement.

The statement added that

the acting president signed the orders after an interactive session with ministers, Continued on page 10

Army Yet to Make Arrests After Buratai’s Warning, Says Spokesman

Transparency Int’l: N4.62tn allocated to defence sector in five years, unaccounted for Reveals graft in sector undermined war against insurgency DHQ: Report is targeted at blocking support for war against terror Senator Iroegbu and Paul Obi in Abuja Following the revelation by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai of attempts by some politicians to infiltrate the military, the Nigerian Army said yesterday that it was yet to make any arrests.

This is just as a report by Transparency International (TI) stated yesterday that the Nigerian defence and security sector is steeped in corruption, revealing that over N4.6 trillion ($15 billion) allocated to the sector in five years was either embezzled or unaccounted for.

Buratai on Tuesday had warned officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to steer clear of politics and politicians,

whom he claimed were attempting to influence them.

Continued on page 10

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN OANDO 0.82 9.37 NAHCO 0.24 3.09 UBA 0.51 7.01 ZENITHBANK 0.87 17.97 PORTPAINT 0.10 2.10 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN MOBIL 16.60 315.40 TRANSEXPRESS 0.04 0.78 C &I LEASING 0.03 0.64 CCNN 0.22 4.78 JAIZBABK 0.04 0.91 HPE Nestle Nig Plc N835.00 Volume: 353.144 million shares Value: N9.162 billion Deals: 4,034 As at yesterday 18/05/17 See details on Page 42

% 9.5 8.4 7.8 5.0 5.0 % 5.0 4.8 4.4 4.4 4.2

Ebola: No Screening Points, Machines at Seme Border... Page 47

CHANGING THE WAY GOVT WORKS…

L-R: Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; acting President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; and Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.), during the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja… yesterday state house

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FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017 • T H I S D AY

PAGE TEN

L R: Mrs. Angela Adebayo; her husband and former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Niyi Adebayo; and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi, during the lying in state of the former Governor of the defunct Western Region, the late Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo, held at the Parliament Building, Ibadan, Oyo State… yesterday felix ademola

L-R: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, during the service of songs for the late Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.... yesterday yomi akinyele m

ARMY YET TO MAKE ARRESTS AFTER BURATAI’S WARNING, SAYS SPOKESMAN He said the Nigerian Army headquarters had received information that some individuals had been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons.

On this basis, Buratai warned such persons to desist from these acts and ordered his men to remain apolitical.

But responding to questions yesterday on whether the army has arrested, interrogated or questioned any of its officers or soldiers allegedly contacted by the said politicians, army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman said no one had been interrogated and no arrests had been made.

He said: “We have always been open and transparent with information and if there is anything, we will let the public know.”

Usman did not elaborate on any move to investigate the matter beyond the warning handed down to officers and soldiers in the army by the COAS. Buratai’s warning brought to the fore the spectre of a coup plot, amid concerns arising from President Muhammadu Buhari’s ill health and absence from the country.

The president left the country for the United Kingdom almost two weeks ago for a medical follow-up on an undisclosed ailment.

His current trip is the third medical-related trip he has made in less than one year, fuelling speculations about his ability to lead the country.

Defence Sector Corruption Meanwhile, a report has

stated that the Nigerian defence and security sector is steeped in corruption, revealing that over N4.6 trillion ($15 billion) allocated to the sector in five years was either embezzled or unaccounted for.

The report, which was released in Abuja yesterday by Transparency International (TI), in conjunction with and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), added that the graft in the sectors has undermined the war against the insurgency in the North-east.

The 19-page report titled, ‘Weaponising Transparency: Defence Procurement Reform as a Counter-terrorism Strategy in Nigeria,’ stated that the unforgivable damage defence corruption has done to the nation’s political stability, counter-terrorism

efforts, socio-economic development and wellbeing of Nigerian citizens, was undeniable.

Speaking during the launch of the report, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said the report focused more on the consequences of defence sector corruption, because of the sharp increases in the North-east ad hoc defence spending between 2011 and 2015 with fruitless outcomes.

“Yet, operations in the region were hampered by equipment, material and pay shortages,” he said.

Musa added: “Corruption is not far-fetched in Nigeria’s defence sector.

In 2014, the TI Defence Anti-Corruption Index, a global study of corruption risk levels in national defence establishments,

detailed the many areas where corruption risks are high in Nigeria and analysed the consequences.

“The research showed that lethally armed criminal networks, operating with the tacit support of local and foreign business mafias, and championed by powerful military ‘godfathers’, illegally siphoned off about $1 billion each year in petroleum.

“Amidst claims by Nigerian security agencies that they were being underfunded, it has been revealed that a total of N4.62 trillion was allocated to the federal security sector from 2010 to 2015.

“How this huge sum was spent, however, remains unclear as there is no reliable performance reports by the security agencies.

“The efforts of the security agencies – the

military, police, secret police – to contain violence and insurgencies have been attributed to incapacity and deep corruption.”

Musa further stated that procurement in the defence sector is most vulnerable to corruption, noting that in addition to the volume of transactions and the financial interests at stake, corruption risks are exacerbated by the complexity of the process, close interaction between defence officials and businesses, and the multitude of stakeholders.

He said the report identified the types of corruption in the defence procurement process to include embezzlement, undue influence in the needs assessment, single source contracting, unaccountable

of policy issues affecting: • The promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in the country; • Timely submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies, including companies owned by the federal government; and • Support for local content in public

procurement by the federal government.

Akande noted that the executive orders will significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country forthwith.

The Senate on Wednesday had given the executive a two-week ultimatum to submit the 2017 budget proposals of at least 36 agencies of the federal government for

consideration and passage by the National Assembly, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).

It also barred the agencies, which are revenue generating, from further capital and non-essential expenditure, pending the submission and approval of their budgets.

Some of the affected agencies include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

(NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

The ultimatum was issued to the presidency because the heads of several of the agencies are autonomous and do not report to any ministers.

won this year’s contracts.

NNPC had previously said this year’s contracts would exchange up to 800,000 bpd of crude oil, but the figure, representing 40 per cent of Nigeria’s peak production, was seen to be unrealistic in view of production outages.

However, this year’s contracts are worth 330,000 barrels per day, and each of the 10 oil traders/refineries partnered local Nigerian companies to win 33,000 barrels per day allocations.

According to the list, Trafigura partnered AA Rano to clinch 33,000 barrels per day; Petrocam paired with Rainoil and Falcon Crest to win 33,000 bpd; Mocoh partnered Heyden Petroleum to get 33,000 bpd; Cepsa paired with Oando to win 33,000 bpd; while Sahara is partnering Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage (SIR) for 33,000 bpd.

Five other groups that also got 33,000 bpd each include: Mercuria and

Matrix/Rahamanniya; Socar and Hyde; Litaso and MRS; Vitol and Varo; and Total, which is partnering its Nigerian subsidiary.

It was also gathered that the 2016 contracts, which were initially planned to begin in April, were delayed as the 2016 deals were extended at least twice, in order to give NNPC more time for negotiations with the traders.

The fuel specifications in the final agreements were

not immediately clear, but the July 1 take off date for the importation of higher grade, lower sulfur fuels have been shifted to September 1.

Sulphur levels were said to have been a major sticking point in the negotiations, as the Ministry of Environment and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have pushed for a reduction in the sulfur content of imported petrol and diesel with effect from July 1.

Continued on page 11

OSINBAJO SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO AID BUDGET SUBMISSION BY AGENCIES permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies in the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The executive orders also stipulated the sanctions and punitive measures meant to address violations, where necessary, Akande said in the statement.

“Ahead of the signing, the acting president held an interactive session at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa with all

the relevant government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of departments and agencies, among others.

“The session was meant to directly engage government officials who would be implementing the orders and the new instructions,” he added.

He said that Osinbajo signed three executive orders giving specific instructions on a number

NNPC FINALISES $6BN OIL-FOR-PRODUCT SWAPS the first and second quarters of 2016 when NNPC was the sole importer of petrol.

Reuters reported that at least four of the 10 groups of companies have signed product supply contracts with NNPC, which will take effect from July 1, while other companies are expected to sign the deals today.

It was gathered that unlike the 2016 contracts, which included only companies with refineries so as to cut out middlemen,

this year’s beneficiaries include international trading houses, and not just refineries.

Some of the companies that benefitted in 2016 also made this year’s list, including Varo Energy, Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage (SIR), Total and Cepsa.

However, Italy’s ENI and India’s Essar, which were in the 2016 list did not feature this year, while Socar and Mercuria, which were not in last year’s list,

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

Africa, Contemporary Art’s New Hot-spot

STARTERS

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Senate Probes Alleged Lopsided

Recruitment in DSS The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and InterGovernmental Affairs, SenatorTijjani Kaura, has disclosed that the committee is already investigating reports of lopsidedness in the recruitment of cadets into the service of the Department of State Services (DSS).

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FRIDAY, MAY

NEWS 19, 2017• T H

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Senate Probes Recruitment Alleged Lopsided in DSS Orders Gba Email davids

jabiamila to

quit lottery

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News Editor Davidson Iriekpe n hisdaylive.co m, 0811181308 1

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja at them at the The Chairman make sure that same time, to and confirmed justice in done Committee on of the Senate in consideratio by the Senate misguided and Inter-GoverFederal Character the constitutionn to provisions of and who is yet to receive to assume an without ,” Kaura added. appointment letter Senator Tijjaninmental Affairs, going through office from the executive, from the Presiding, Senate office of the process. that due thing disclosed that Kaura, has Bukola Secretary to President Governme would ever happenno such establish that Saraki said the the committee the “I spoke with nt of the the point raised is already investigating again. by Senator Senate but would all those who I advised the SGF that nomineeFederation, should know reports of committeebe awaiting Dino was factual that the lopsidedness nominee the assumed in the acting better, including within should not be seen that this kind of thing, we and of cadets into the recruitment recommen’s findings and office,” he said.

Secretary to the vicinity of must stamp it out the service of “I stand here dations. the of the Department the to report what Government of the Federation, “I am happy DG until he the office occur again. and it must not of State Services is confirmed and the conclusion He has erred that you are actually happened. The nominee (DSS). and an appointme looking in to for the office is the matter. nt letter is probably been misguided and There have the Director- erred because probablythat he given to him,” must not . He been reports you will keep us posted I think General of the National the he did not get the correct that a recent on your Ruling on the Leader said. Saraki be seen in that area,” findings and recruitment briefing ruled. recommendations,” Commission actually Lottery he should matter, Saraki the service, into have waited that said the nominee heavily favoured he added.

However, office,” he added. assumed the due until seen must not be candidates from the process Acting in In another developme Lawan added were completed and diligence lottery the premises of the Secretary to Governm Kaura, in a the North. nt, the Senate that the of the Federation commission. ent “I believe that,” Ladan said. raised on the point of order Lanre yesterday ordered Mr. nominee must have (SGF), Mrs. “The leader floor was Gbajabiamila been and has done a very Habibat Lawal, has yesterday, said of the Senate National there was a genuinean error thorough to quit the apologised to job the the Lottery and responded committee Senate for appeal promptly is looking into Regulatory allowing Gbajabiam in 24 hours, the matter to Commission, and desist firstly to without ila to assume office make sure from parading the confirmation. conforms with recruitment General himself as the Director the of the provisions agency. of the constitutio The Senate “In the last n.

Wednesday directed had last Nigerian media, few weeks, Leader, the Majority Senator both print and electronic, to investigate Ahmed Lawan, reports that with issues thathave been awash Gbajabiam have to do with ila, recruitment announcement following the of cadet officers in early April the DSS. of of his appoinmen t as DG of I stand before commission, has resumed the you on behalf of office.

Lawan, at plenary the Committee of Federal yesterday confirmed Character Inter-Governmental and Gbajabiam the reports that Affairs performingila has indeed been to assure our distinguish the functions colleagues of the and indeed ed office, without confirmatio Nigerians that all this committee his appointment by the n of is looking critically Senate. into this ActSection 8 (1) of the Lottery matter with provides that the intention the DG of the ensuring that of justice is done commission must be in this recruitmen confirmed by the Senate. t,” he said.

“Furthermo “Yesterday (Wednesda add that this re, I also want to Senate y) the committee had by way of similar cases from resolution other agencies, mandated me to investigate and is also critically looking an issue, a case of a nominee who is yet to be screened

Presiden Not One cy: Freed Girl 219 Chibok Schoolgirof ls

MR PROJECT

commission

Acting SGF

begs Senate

AT WORK

The presidency L-R: Former President, yesterday retracted its returnee said to be 1 of our Speaker, state House Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; that another announcement #ChibokGi Rivers State Governor, of Assembly, Chibok girl second Nkpogu rls,” it said Mr. Ikuinyi free, saying was Twitter Bridge as part on its she account. of the second Ibani; and former state Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; Deputy of the 219 whosewas not one Governor, Sir year anniversary “Whether 1 kidnapping Celestine Omehia,Governor, Ipalibo Harry of the Wike administra more than #ChibokGirls of our missing three years tion by the former during the inauguratio Banigo; or not, we caused global ago excited are president....yesterday n of the outrage. over The presidency regains their everyone who said freedom & Wednesday we evening that on look forward to all teenager was returning.” the Boko the military picked up by studentsHaram kidnapped 276 after fleeing Screening from the Governme from Girls Boko Haram nt machines, points, detecting Secondary School jihadists. the border. hand sanitisers But Laolu Akande, in the other remote town and spokesman in measures Borno Checks to the Vice-Presid state to A port health the evening conducted of April 14, on Ebola outbreak in prevent an News Agency ent Yemi by the official, Osinbajo, later 2014. have the country Fifty-seven of Nigeria (NAN) pleaded for anonymity who logistics, tweeted that yet to be provided escaped in showed we would the girl was , said out hours that a junior secondary at the screeningthat there were no there are no equipmen all the measures carry followed but the Seme border. school “student screen t to needed points, sanitisers people. from Chibok were not so lucky. Since 219 The to curtail this that is and detecting community.”

World then, “We are aware 106 girls have dreaded disease,” the machines at been found, Organisation (WHO) lastHealth the border. source said.

In a text message outbreak of Ebola of the recent rescued or released, Besides, week announced to AFP 82 The yesterday, he including the outbreak to put measures and the need the border commuters around who said of travellersreports also said on ground area who spoke was “not part the 15-year-old month were freed earlier this Ebola disease in the Democratic since this and in a prisoner to of the 219.”

Republic of also yet to be residents were in the is the busiest border NAN do not have knowledge swap deal Osinbajo for a number sensitised on country, of the recent prompting Congo (DRC), re-emergen is currently suspects of Boko the no equipmen but there are outbreak of Ebola deputising countries to ce of the in DRC. raise DRC in custody. Haram their level of t Muhammadu for President and measures disease in alertness.

“We have notfor us.

In May Tomiwa Several measures been given is putting place government screening in London on Buhari, who is the first 2016, just hours after Sadipe, have been commercial to curtail its machines, sanitisers medical leave.

Chibok girl was put in place at a spread to Nigeria. bus In the Nigerian major airports have not being found, Nigeria the military was not aware driver, said he in said education provided to a Also, Port Health prevent the system, junior second had of the recent there so been rescued. officials we is little or nothing that outbreak.

The girl later disease, but no such dreaded were not screening is for pupils secondary school turned can do about action was “I have not out to be a seen to prevent it.

T Haged and 15. The 10 student younger I S Dbetween the disease at going in and out of the people “You can be AY •FRIDAY anything. As heard about 219 Chibok the same school, country rest through MAY at were in their girls who a assured matter that the border. of fact, once I’m just was19, 2017 final secondary schoolyear of senior not part also kidnapped but necessary we have the but I’m hearing this from you of the equipment (SSS3). glad I know The #BringBack and be careful,” so I will Boko Haram 219.

OurGirls thousands has kidnapped Sadipe said. group, which of young women Former Minister has been campaigning and girls during Prof. Babalola of Education, and outing of the Chibok for the release year service at the insurgency its eight- be interred Borishade, will Andrews Saint to establish the girl’s name girls, also said a hardline on July 8, 2017, A night of Cathedral Anglican was not in their according tribute by Islamic records. to a statement Communion, northeast Nigeria. state in issued Ekiti Oke native community would his of tribute has Diocese at 10a.m. by his first been set “We’ve perused held on July be for July Young men prompt. our list but 4 at the Shehu aside and boys have Lamide Borishade son, Dr. The funeral can’t find the Saint Andrews 6, 2017 at the Yar’Adua .

Musa service will name of the also been forcibly recruited His remains Primary School preceded Centre be grounds shall fight in the and this would This would in Abuja. jihadists’ ranks to in his home town, be buried keep at by a Christian wake undertaken be the Federal Usi Ekiti in Ekiti State by the Egbe be with a commenda followed Science Usi Omo at his after a funeral and Technology College, tion service on July 6. residence, Ekiti on July Usi 108 The journey 7,2017, at 7p.m. to interment Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Ebitu would begin There is need Abuja on the in Abuja as a for enlightenmen day 7p.m. same July 4 at

Ebola: No Scre Seme Border ening Points, Machine s at

EDITORIAL Death from Generator Fumes

A widow and her three children in the Ikorodu area of Lagos lost their lives in a rather cheap manner recently.With no power supply from the electricity company serving their area, the family turned on the generator in one of the rooms in the three-bedroom apartment and went to bed.

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Borishade for Burial on July 8

EDITORIAL

DEATH FRO

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widow and ign on the use her of generators in the Ikorodu three children lost their lives area of Lagos in a rather cheap manner recently.

With no such like. But power supply emit, there aside the noise and pollution ity compan from the electricare y serving their they experts have also health costs. As area, the family most warned, fumes turned on the could be deadly. generato from these health in the three-be generators droom apartmer in one of the rooms The fumes All of them nt and died in their ous invisible contain carbon monoxid long list of thousan sleep. They went to bed. , odourless inhaled, carbon and colourles e, a dangeracross the country ds of people who have joined the s gas. When monoxid had tissues and been lost to generato As we have can easily leade replaces oxygen in the r fumes over signs on the the years. to death. The occasions in highlighted on this tell–tale page even confusiovictims are dizziness, tors are fatal,the past, the fumes emitted on several nausea, headach to too much n, symptoms mistaken mostly asleep,often without the victims, by generaly attributed e, knowing or explains whyalcohol or sun; or somethi also have long-term realising the who are the story of danger. They with their generato people who ng else. That hazards as lung cancer. sleep at night a possible cause r on without morning has the device to Experts therefore advise of waking never run a people exposure to now become a common up the next any area where generator indoors using moderate and tale. Besides, ventilation monoxide over high levels animals are is limited and or in present. with an increasea long period of time of carbon people or We understa has been linked nd that due lead to a shorter d risk of heart disease. to the poor This could life span.

IT IS ALWAYS supply SAFER TO electricity in of PUT THE GENERA T H I S DAY EDITOR hat is particula most offices, Nigeria, DEPUTY EDITORS IJEOMA NWOGWUGW OUTSIDE, AND TOR BOlAJI ADEBIYI, U development rly worrisome about this and homes shops AWAY MANAGING JOsEph UshIGIAlE FROM A WINDOW are DEPUTY MANAGINGDIRECTOR ENIOlA it is, there is is that as pervasive as now being BEllO DIRECTOR , AND CHAIRMAN still no public run by KAYODE KOMOlAFE NEVER IN AN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUsEGUN generators.

EDITOR NATION’S the dangers campaign by the relevant awareness Indeed, ADENIYI CAPITAL IYOBOsA SITUATION ENCLOSED posed by generato the state of authorities on UWUGIAREN Nigeria’s Therefore, rs. power infrastru week passes against the background cture without reports that hardly has created from a an of fatalities generato nightmare environm resulting across T H I S DAY the necessar r fumes, users must be in what Nigerian the country. Almost ental N E W S PA y precautions made aware EDITOR-IN-C PERS LIM In effect, it ITED to take. of GROUP EXECUTIVE HIEF/CHAIRMAN you” apartme s have dubbed “face every family, NDUKA OBAIGBENA DIRECTORS outside, and is always safer to put IsRAEl IWEGBU, ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE derogatorily nt, has a small power -me -I- facethe generato IJEOMA NWOGWUGW KOMOlAFE, generating known as “I-better GROUP FINANCE an enclosed away from a window, set, DIRECTOR U bour”. So bad DIVISIONAL and never in r situation. Indeed, OlUFEMI –pass DIRECTORS recorded were pETER IWEGBU, ABOROWA most of the many as 10 is the situation that in my neighFIDElIs ElEMA, ANThONY deaths DEPUTY DIVISIONAL generating OGEDENGBE badly ventilate as a result of unsafe sets could be some houses as radius of five DIRECTOR generator use OJOGUN VICTOR SNR. ASSOCIATE found within metres. public should d environments. We ASSOCIATE in DANBOYI DIRECTOR DIRECTORS Yes, generato a feel the general ERIC OJEh be adequate CONTROLLE rs provide “emerge danger RS ABIMBOlA hENRY NWAChOKO ly enlighte light, fans, fridges, posed R, sAhEED ADEYEMO TAIWO, UChENNA ncy” power GENERAL MANAGER DIBIAGWU, be safely used,by generators, and howned on the television to pATRICK EIMIUhI NDUKA MOsERI video games for GROUP HEAD the responsi mostly at homes. This they can DIRECTOR, FEMI TOlUFAshE and PRINTING PRODUCTIO bility of the should be authoriti N health ChUKs TO SEND EMAIL: ONWUDINJO and environm es at first name.surnam ent so doing, we both the federal and state e@thisdayliv e.com levels. By painful but will be able to save our cheap deaths. people from

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TACKLING G

LOBAL WARM ING

IN NIGERIA

nce upon a time in an endowed kingdom, the running; the air was fresh the scenery effect of their beautiful, the and tion of a cloud activities was grass was lush and the formaof death over greenhouse the gases welcomed the kingdom - the was a kingdom oceans pure. It he citizens of warming.

Middle Belt a new era called with a balance. have watched with keen interest All global time new subjectsparts of the system worked.

The mystery if the right thing were inducted Each policies, actions over the years the is that the cloud there seemed is done. kingdom contains into the kingdom of The Nigerian to be enough far by different and decisions taken so some elements life around the distorted but to serve all, the cloud of know that we government and the world seen presently the balance the subjects death issues ranging administrations upon cannot continue had kingdom and should balance crumbled, but in controlled quantities; in from there is need believed they a connection with the being together politics to economicstribal to religion, the grass became the for any group to help the have the responsibili littered with and decided not on her own kingdom get that thinks it and thereafter dry; the oceans dead fishes to ty and restored. There can stand major invasion have and other creatures, glacial melted, to peacefully keep quiet any longer but agitate for her survive to begin to prepare came a of civilisation. and the oceans agitate for her begin the independen extremely industrious The subjects broke its banks sovereignty increased in independen appeal that ce. At this point, and became as a nation. ce and and engaged the make living I wish to began scarcity and flooded the kingdom. volume, in activities We have observed fully approve Nigerian government go of to should peacethe independen of the kingdom.beyond the presumed that the conflicts started burning resources - famine, the There types in various other group ‘archaic’ ce of Biafra kingdom of different from that inside and any started wearing The once endeared connection level running all out; the subjects or more parties parts of the country between detached from has the capacity and about yet sustained out. kept wish to be have come two The wave of activities. been forced their wave of and progress Nigeria in order to allow to live together to stay because we have to peace, unity the kingdom; civilisation ravaged every The only thing obvious that as together with reign. We cannot continue induction rate nook of we don’t want one even when it is that can remove the people who the sense of to grew of death to population; It than us; we is true that be one. the responsibility is to choose value their cowlive Boko Haram cannot stay to live responsiblycloud for kingdom dropped, the kingdom. The more and are still together with who are always balance rate in the decision to killing innocent terrorists have killed the people outdid the rate of usage of resources killing us in plant more the burning and destroying people in the religion; we spiked the name of trees, of fossil fuels property worth country will not go resources. Trees of formation and maturation and their and vehemently outlaw pollution of is on also people living billions true any were together with who want us of that resist of naira; it kind by reducing, felled; the air, land, recycling materials the to practice their are still killing Fulani herdsmen have our will or reusing and and water werefossil fuels were burnt; killed and the people and religion against wish; will set the groaned, the to reconnectio farmland in subjects on the people who we are tired of living taking over subject moaned polluted. The kingdom n order to feed their together with be excited by option B; the with the kingdom. There the path their animals animals seem birth-right; we have taken leadership each new day as they seemed to kingdom is is no as to be more to be their will no longer introduction our planet, our environmen it is very true valuable than these people who of a shift from of invention and stay together the system t; that militants the talk Then comes the presumed The effect of we are the subject. bombed and in Niger Delta people; action. Enough peace but do the opposite with the the ‘archaic’. global climate destroyed oil kingdom started resultants of all the activities, is enough. in their harder each reduction in change is biting pipelines, causedhave Nevertheles day, burning and the production s, a great and act is now. the time to set the records the subjectsT H the doing more Biafra or remain Middle Belt Citizens cannot wereI S D AY • FRIDAY, because their of crude oil and are still straight go with Amusa Temitope place is still MAY 19, 2017 oped while need to let the with Nigeria. Therefore, underdevel the Victor, Ilorin, Nigerian governmen there is has been used money realised from their Kwara State know that “Middle to Belt” is equal t and the world above conflicts developed other places. crude oil wish to have to the task and and more can All the her be resolved “Federal Republicindependence and be amicably known as of Middle Belt”.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja

POLITICS Task Before Enugu House of Assembly

THE FEDERAL

T

REPUBLIC O

F MIDDLE

BELT?

For those who still remember, the last POLITICS days of Sullivan Chime as the governor Task Before Enugu Hous e of Assemb of Enugu State were characterized by ly probes and massive public outcry over F alleged mismanagement of state funds and sales of government properties.

At the twilight of his tenure, Chime probably thought that things were going well for him after all...

Page 17 PERSON

17

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

ALITY F OCUS

Before it was dissolved two passed far reach years ago, to the current ing resolutions. Yet, the previous Enugu State residents in assembly to House of Asse the state implement these mbly or those who still remember the last days lofty resolutioncontinue to look forw , of Sullivan as the governor Chime ard s, writes Segu were characteri of Enugu State n James and massive zed by probes public outcry alleged mismanag over naturally funds

Pe u A at se was one of the N ger an art sts whose works was exh b ted at the Ven ce B enna e Before the f rst wor d war the most exc t ng art sts were French n the 90s they were Ch nese Now the hot new p ace for contemporary art s Afr ca V s tors to the open ng of the Ven ce B enna e on May 13th can go to a N ger an pav on for the f rst t me three days ater Sotheby s w naugurate ts f rst auct on of Afr can contemporary art At the end of September Jochen Ze tz a German bus nessman w open the ong-awa ted Ze tz MOCAA wh ch Thomas Heatherw ck a Br t sh des gner has been creat ng for h m n a d sused gra n s o on the waterfront n Cape Town Those too mpat ent to wa t shou d make haste meanwh e to Par s where the Fondat on Lou s Vu tton (FLV) n the Bo s de Bou ogne has unve ed two of the most v v d

exh b t ons of Afr can art sts that the c ty has ever seen For the f rst exh b t on “Être Là” (“Be ng There”) Suzanne Pagé FLV s art st c d rector has se ected 16 art sts from South Afr ca Much of what they have made for the show s creepy fr ghten ng and aggress ve That s not unexpected g ven that th s s the work of a generat on grown ncreas ng y frustrated at the country s nab ty to ve up to ts post-aparthe d prom se The second show “Les In t és” (“The Ins ders”) s more surpr s ng Drawn from a co ect on bu t up

by Jean P gozz he r to the S mca motor ng fortune t starts n 1989 when the commun st proxy wars n Afr ca were com ng to an end and techno ogy n the form of mob e phones and nternet bank ng was but a step away from g v ng Afr cans greater contro over the r da y ves

It b ends humour and nvent veness n the form of w tty masks made from random y co ected domest c ob ects by Romua d Hazoumé from Ben n an art st whose work Dav d Bow e co ected scu ptures of br ght dea sed c t es by Bodys Isek K nge ez of the Democrat c Repub c of Congo mag ca works made w th porcup ne qu s by John Goba from S erra Leone and h ar ous face masks such as “Oba 2007” (p ctured) made by Ca xte Dakpogan a so from Ben n out of beads pens na -c ppers and synthet c co oured ha r wh ch he has found on h s wa ks through h s hometown of Porto-Novo Here energy and adventurousness are matched on y by mag nat on be y ng any not on that Afr ca s a dark cont nent • Culled from the Economist

ARMY YET TO MAKE ARRESTS AFTER BURATA S WARN NG SAYS SPOKESMAN and overpa d agents obscure defence budgets fraud n b d eva uat ons and nvo ces or contract ob gat ons Musa sa d the report a so revea ed that “more than ha f of fore gn br bery cases occurred to obta n a pub c procurement contract w th a most two-th rds of fore gn br bery cases occurr ng n sectors assoc ated w th contracts or cens ng through pub c procurement” The report a so revea ed how N ger ans n the defence sector w th nf uence of po t ca connect ons sto e N1 3 tr on ($4 3 b on) over a per od of seven years through arms equ pment dea s as we as another N610 b on ($2 b on) wh ch was a eged y sto en or d verted under the watch of the former Nat ona Secur ty Adv ser (NSA) Co Sambo Dasuk (rtd) But n ts react on to the report the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) debunked the corrupt on a egat ons eve ed aga nst t and other secur ty nst tut ons n the country by TI and CISLAC Speak ng to reporters yesterday DHQ spokesman Ma or-Genera John Enenche accused TI of attempt ng

to b ock the current support the N ger an defence sector s gett ng n the war aga nst terror sm from concerned countr es He noted that the present eadersh p of the Armed Forces of N ger a has done a ot to tra n boost troops mora e and procure v ta equ pment through due process for the Northeast operat ons aga nst Boko Haram n part cu ar and other operat ons Enenche exp a ned that the N ger an m tary has been commended by the Un ted Nat ons (UN) on ts war aga nst the nsurgency add ng that TI was work ng hard to destroy the good mage t has estab shed for tse f He sa d “Let me start by mak ng t c ear that th s sweep ng a egat on s fa se The present eadersh p of the Armed Forces of N ger a has done a ot to tra n boost troops mora e and procure v ta equ pment through due process for the North-east operat ons aga nst Boko Haram n part cu ar and other operat ons “The Defence Headquarters army navy and a r force have estab shed procurement branches that are gu ded by the ru es and regu at ons of the

Bureau of Pub c Procurement (BPP) “The M n stry of Defence dea s d rect y w th states and governments on defence equ pment procurement w thout us ng contractors or vendors any onger “It s susp c ous that a sweep ng statement of corrupt on aga nst m tary off c a s s be ng made At a t me ke th s t s rather d shearten ng “More so when the N ger an m tary on March 22 2017 was cred ted by the UN as hav ng done very we to f ght the nsurgency and extrem sm among others v ces w th adv ce to other countr es to earn from N ger a “In add t on such an a egat on com ng at the peak of the successes be ng recorded n our areas of operat ona engagements and the North-east n part cu ar must be treated w th utmost susp c on ” Enenche stressed that the Armed Forces rema ns focused and comm tted to prov d ng secur ty to ves and property and tota y oya and subord nated to Commandern-Ch ef of the Federa Repub c of N ger a

called ement of state and sales the State Bond. to question the rational At the twilightof government properties for of his tenure, .

Also, the Votes ably thought Chime and Proceeding of Assembly for him after that things were going probs of the well N11 Billion acknowledged that part House developmentalall, he was leaving behind sought by Chime of the plan he thought a of his administr in the twilight the people would of the state and Installation ation would go into: better off, richerleave more prosperou Supply of Security (CCTV) and Control Systems pursued and s if the template he set in the offices and Access rigorously Secretariat successor. sustained by was of the New Building at his million; Supply the cost of However, this N2.674 of Informatio was not to Facilities in a fierce opposition n Technolog be. There was the y cost of N300 New Governor ’s Office to him situation that million; Supply at the led to protestsand his plans, a of Audio-Vis and violence demonstra Installation and sometime ual Conferenc s Executive Chambers ing Solution when the state’s tion. Things got to a head of the governor’ at the at the cost on impeachin House of Assembly of N207 s office insisted g But what impact Million.

On May 4, him. did these loans development factionalised 2015 the move to impeach have and services the house State. him question that delivery? That on led by the former While has is the speaker Rt. 15 members as the rationale left many people wondering Odoh were Hon. Eugene behind an over bent on removing secretariat in group of nine N20 billion him, another members led thirds of the a state where more than Nwamba staunchly

by Hon. capital city twowater continues stood by the Chinedu had no governor. to rankle the pipe-born even though Crux of the legislature the state already matter secretariat structures had existing The State Assembly .

Despite the did not however off on a factionalis popular ed note as members start resolutions unanimous on triggered by and far-reaching have expressed the probes, and excesses some perceived unconstitu were of tional of assembly surprise that the current many First, the housethe ex-governor. has house not that the resolution deemed it fit to State Secretaria alleged that while ensure the new Chime...surv s are implemen t Complex For instance, initial cost ted. ived impeachme of N13 billion was awarded at complex has the construction of shopping nt views, the despite opposing cost the Presidenti continued, while the the house billion without was increased to over sale of N20 Crimes invited the Economic recourse to the last days al Hotel and public They also accused the house. and Financial lands in Commission to be revoked.of the administration (EFCC) to Chime government. finances of 2012 budget are yet freeze the board and undermin of forgery of the was Analysts believed According until investigat the tional powers completed. ed the constituion Debt Stock to the the lawmakers that the none-imp functionaries of the house by shielding Mrs. Ethel Nebo, , the Domestic mentation of the house’s of Enugu State lewho initially resolutions as at 30th December be due to the summons. from honouring parliamen his board but now headed the 2013 was N12.061bn, efforts of the could living in exile, tary she was by far the the South-Eas current governor Chime, however, had alleged highest in to break the jinx of predecesso sacked for t geopolitic that her refusal in Enugu or denied the al zone. A r-successor war explaining that to obey the at the documentation Chime’s relationsh allegations, directives by a senior official glance current for loan approvals the State Executive to award contracts as he simply there was no budget of the governmen house leadership ip with the forgery She vired monies by Council t in has .

2009–2014 breach While (EXCO) between unusually ated in the sued the already appropriof UBE rules. showed that retained Chime’sUgwuanyi 2012 Staff, Chief Billion State it approved with an awardgovernment and got judgment pressing needs budget to other Chief of Security Officer, Bond at its meeting a N20 areas of 30, 2009. On total appropria and without exceeding of Another area N10 million compensa among other of September key government functiona August 18, tion. of contention ted figure for the continuity and 2010, it ries But the lawmaker was the alleged N89 Million First the fiscal year. indiscriminate allocation political harmony. to promote Bank loan for approved an Ubosi s insisted parcel of every available vehicles for governme constitutional and Donatus Mr. Edward purchase of right to vary that he had no Center,of land at the Internation nt use. on the ex-govern Uzogbado, who On the same tion law without the appropria built to an advanced al Conference date, a First or’s side during ‘fought’ recourse to - Governor resulting Bank City amendments loan of N863,552, in the sealing Monument the crisis the house for Chimaroke Nnamani,stage by former to to the governor.

The lawmakerthe budget law. to people close counterpart funding 203 was approved for of Assembly Complex of the state’s House s were also of 2009 by police to Chime’s On August probe of the scuttle 5, 2010, N12.5 MDGs projects. Deputy impeachment, emerged 25 years water together in the Dispute approved to Billion loan ment to a private Speaker and concession Speaker, over Loans finance was (PPP) with Nexus Public Private Partnershi This appears respectively. collect revenues company to manageagreeThe house also to validate Ltd. p cancelled an and facility accruable from the position quarter of N11 billion-loan a Bank PHB N3 billionThe Exco also approved the former national sought by the water a of auditor of loan on April Democratic ex-governor to “bridge stopped the century. Therefore, the for a month of his the Peoples Party (PDP), resource”. A in the last 14, 2010 spoke concessioning administr house already Mr. Ray Nnaji Skye Bank agreements, after both the to newsmen amassed the ation as Enugu had USD275,000 was approved loan of Ugwuany especially at the inception who heaviest debt 2011 for counterpa under that administra the Managing commissioner in charge on of the rt funding of October 13, ent house i administration and Director of and tion. This became burden project with Corporation that the presAIDS control the State Water burden to the Governor must bear the World a major of admitted at the wrongs burden of righting N1,551,000,000 Bank. Diamond Bank Ifeanyi Ugwuany conducted the public hearing and issues by loan was approved i October it inherited have details the house that they 13, 2011

by Exco on predecessor. from its did not of the transactio 16-seater busses for purchase of 300 Nnaji, who had owners of ns, units including the company, himself sued of the alleged Other loans for public secondary schools.

ENSUBEB over were made even though refusal of its included a Fidelity to sign they Nneka Onuora, N1 Billion which former The Managing the concession papers. to supply him Chairman, was approved Bank loan of contracts Director was Chime 12, 2012 for sacked. The details on awarded September , immediat howev of the the house was also expansion

by ENSUBEB er, denied the in the state it saw as lack furious over ely the based on and purchase of agric projects that Freedom of Informatio what allegations, the state’s pineapple n Act, of machinery “there ability in the of transparency and accountfor be investigatwere many atrocitiesmaintained project. FMCB World Bank management of the N5 that there was explaining Bank loans of N835,459, that must and Skye ed. water reticulatio billion 032.7 were approved on October “We will be no budget challenges of n project 30, surprised resolution of MDGs 20122013 for counterpart capital city, potable water persisted as the forgery as he that a privateif after passing a funding despite the capital projects. simply in the approved a huge loan.

Furthermore, Exco also bought land at the Internatiodeveloper who vired monie N1 Billion the house Centre or UBA loan on 28, 2014 for nal Conferenc Chairman of s already summone adjacent the refinancing March stop the e Assembly loan. Another of N5 Billion work and it Education BoardEnugu State Universal d the appropriated should loan of N1.5 GTB is in Bank) was Commissioner (ENSUBEB) as well Basic Billion (Stering government will not harkened to or the approved on budget to other the 2012 the other way”. pay deaf ears and UBE projects.

March 28, 2014 billion primary for Education over theas the look for areas schools renovation N3.6 Nevertheless, Besides the House Committe of pressing heavy debt as the 2017 e on Education projects. The and second general feelings needs and burden, there Democracy ENSUBEB anniversary had accused withou Day were of shoddy that the government of end of Chime’s tion lacked Chime administr and sluggish execution one t exceeding approaches, the projects year after they all eyes remain macroeconomic fiscal policy objectives a- both the Ugwuany the Then as part were awarded. approp , the on framework i administr of move to riated figure total for the loans. ation and find out the policy basis state assembly to implemen truth, fiscal for the bond request Within a year,anda N20 resolution t the findings the year. billion conduct s by the previous and an extra loan and subsequent demand legislature or for of the fresh probes into the alleged (N149 million)of N863 Million at 17% Chime administr excesses interest was placed ation.

Will via FCMB. the House of This responsib Assembly wake ilities? Only time will tell. up to its

WEEKENDFILE 'Why I Like Action Movies'

What is the concept behind your new movie, ‘Slow Country’?

Slow Country is about a woman who made some mistakes in her early days and now she is trying to deal with it. She had a son unexpectedly and in order to take care of him, she took a dive into the dark world of prostitution and drug trafficking. At some point, she wanted to get out of such trades but it became impossible to do so.

Page 27

WEEKEND WEEK LY PULL OUT

Acting Featur es Editor: Charles

LIVIN G | P31

FILE

Ajunwa Email: charles.ajunwa @thisdaylive.c om

COLL AGE

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'WHY I ACTION MLIKE OVIES'

BUSINESS African Airlines Fear Flights Disruptions

ACTING EDITO

R CHARLES

AJUNWA / charle

s.ajunwa@t

over Ebola Outbreak in DRC The news of outbreak of Ebola in the BUSINESSW Democratic Republic of Congo a ORLD fortnight ago has elicited fears among African airlines that the development could hamper flights opera- tions.

African airlines lost about $2.3billion to flight cancelations and black listing of some des- tinations inWest and Central Africa following the outbreak African Ai ne s Fear of Ebola in 2014.

Flights Disrrliup Eb ola Outbreaktions over Page 19 in DRC T H I S DAY • FRIDAY, MAY

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Quick Takes

Etihad Appoi

nts New MD for Etihad Aviation Gavin Halliday Group (EAG) has announce Subsidiary d the appointm as ent management Managing Director of Hala Group, its destinatioof and lead EAG’s new global loyalty unit. At Hala, n Etihad Guest global loyalty company whichMr. Halliday would with brings together airlines. He will the loyalty programmes of and conferen also have responsibility for other EAG partner ce elements of the management organisations,EAG’s destination travel to Abu company’s plans to grow which are critical Dhabi and the leisure and business UAE. more than 30 years of experienc Halliday brings to his new business units.

For the last three e at British Airways and other role Officer of Avios, years, IAG IAG’s global loyalty he has been Chief Executive held senior commerc programm and British Airways. ial positions at IAG, Iberia, e. Previously, he British Midland Group, H.E. MohamedChairman of the Board Mubarak Fadhel of the Etihad Aviation a critical element Al Mazrouei reach and value of Etihad’s strategy to leverage , said: “Hala is of our airline the combined platform for realising partners. the full potential It also is an important as a preferred of Abu Dhabi and destination for the UAE is an innovator business and leisure travel. and leader in the Gavin him join EAG’s leadership team. industry – we are excited to have experience that “We are particular programme, for Gavin will bring to our global ly excited at the which we have loyalty marketin “This is an incredible big plans.” Gavin g Halliday added: opportunity. Etihad of the fastest-g Airways has been engine for furtherrowing airlines of the last decade and Hala one expansion .

I look forward to local travel companie isan working closely s and organisat and vacation with ions to bring more visitors to Abu business Dhabi and the UAE.” Medvi ew Partne

rs Weizo Med-View Airline has entered Travel Market, into partnersh the – aviation tourism organisers of the 3rd Edition ip with African event holding the partnersh in Accra May26-2of Accra Weizo ip, Med-View 7, 2017.Under Airline would be the two-day seminar the discounts to participaand exhibition, offering official carrier for a robust air ticket nts of Weizo 2017 In a statemen through t by Mr. Isiaq Na-Allah,the Executive Director, Businessthe organizers. with the promoter the airline said it was proud Development, to be associate s of travel and Na-Allah, the Med-View Airline tourism in Africa. According d at Accra Weizo brand will be to through of its new destinati the presentation and in full attendance the Dubai route ons. Top of the range will exhibition of some expansion of its scheduled to commence on be the unveiling of West Coast routes July 4, 2017 and Conakry and Dakar. the to Francoph now be serviced The new package for the one cities – Abidjan, London route that event.“We are by a B777 aircraft will also the feature in the will 2-day Jeddah routes”, airline to beat on the West a only carrier on confident Na-Allah said.MedCoast, London and the West Coast -View Airline Nigerian Stock is that Exchange (NSE), has its shares quoted the at the its listing declared and dividends to its had within three months of shareholders.

Chinedu Eze

The news of AVIAT ION the outbreak and outbreak of Ebola in the Democra disease forced spread of Ebola carriers tic Republic of like Ethiopia Congo a fortnight Airlines, national carrier, The Gambia Arik Air, ago has Kenya elicited fears out of business Gambia Bird, Air Coted’Ivo Airways, Asky, among African taken pre-emptive actions airlines that while Asky, ire, South Africa collaborating in a Togo the could hamper development the region with countries in operates based airline, which Airways and others which to control the flights operadid not only largely in West tions. spread of the disease, and to some cancel most flights but airlines are Central Africa was threatene destinations African airlines somewhat apprehen with d in lost about sive that back bankruptcy when it cut sub-region but some of the $2.3billion to there would flight them most of its flights were not allowed be panic and black listing cancelations disease due to to spreads beyond if the the spread of Ebola.

European and to operate tinations in West of some desCongo. would The US airline In the airports. wake have gone under THISDAY spoke Peak Spreads Africa following and Central of the disease of the outbreak for to the but the lifeline t Goodness to House in 2014, Promoters of received from of flight operations of Air head of Ebola in 2014. the outbreak airlines’ the operations were many Ecobank.

Peace, Captain Victor holds product availabilitPeak brand have identified drastiAlthough there Egonu who urged cally affected the Also many internatio the Nigerian because flights is strong end, the brand’s y in the consumer considera place of price and hope that the government their major to riers nal caractivation machiner tion ladder. To concept as they this Organisation World Health cancelled destinations were to cut back their operations ensure that anyone coming to drive further into ies are presently pushing most from .

(WHO) has any part of Africa of West more of the consume the neighborhoods is thoroughly Industry experts Africa destinatio and Central to understand rs and connectin stated that Weeks ago, Peak ns, but the most g its key adversely affected ascension into Filled was launched and has brands to them. were African the since its affordability daily needs of Nigerian householdgained steady Continued on page 20 s, considering formulated to and accessibility. Peak Filled nourish families is a N40 Peak brand with assuring them of a “Filled” Day. essential vitamins and minerals; nooks and crannies Peak Milk is currently of Lagos and combing the Market, Trade currently Fair, Mushin, Agege… activating nourishment Eromosele Abiodun spreading the Oke Arin of richness and a sure plan to Peak Filled across Lagos neighbou MARIT IME FRIDAY MAY seaborne extend the rhoods, trade goodness even 19, 2017 • T also engaging with As seaborne H I SisD unloaded beyond local developed countries in sential to AY trade surpasses to connect more artistes Like Saheed Osupa Lagos. Peak is the world trade.

10 billion tons Economic Commun Citing data from .” with consume Over amongst others 80 per cent of ities (RECs) rs. to represent the and continues must improve the volume Nations Conferen the United world of intra-regi merchandise majority of the overwhelming trade to ce trade is more than $16trilcatch up with onal and Development on Trade carried by lion in global sea, and an merchandise trade regions of the world. other he said: “Intra-Af(UNCTAD), higher percentag even by volume and rican trade 45 Accordin amounts to country trade e of developingonly about and other Africanvalue, Nigeria down of g to him, a break- per is carried in ships.

13.8 the cent continued to countries have countries group of developing regional as compared to intra- Global seaborne trade have “I accept criticism perform poorly, email:foreignd shows both been , genuine the Country or mischiev predominantly that goods are America trade among Latin than growing at a faster rate esk@thisday Manager They help loaded in Asia, countries which global live.com Terminals Nigeria, of APM which represents me to do myous.

22 per cent, is according GDP since 1990 work Mr. close “ David Asian to 40 per at Skov has said. to the UNCTAD countries cent of the total 52 loaded, about per cent and Europe at Maritime Review of 2016.”

Skov who stated followed by the goods Okechukw This, he added, u Uwaezuoke70 per cent. this at a Americas forum in Abuja One of the (14.7 agency reports restrained major with showed stressed that to per cent); Nigeria and by the policethe and increasin reverse the trend, the rest level factors behind g importance placed down in a police thiscar. of Africa low transport of trade integratio at full speed of up cent) were ation continent and the African Oceania (10.5 perScreams The carncrashed to 45th as andheard as pandemostreetinfrastruc is the intoinvestme where it was (0.1 per cent), US Navy veteran turestopped level of Trade nium broke out low a pole andnt its Regional finally came after crashing in “53 NewYork’s busy Facilitatio and US such as to a nhalt at 45th per impleme cent of the volumeTimes Square citizen, has into ports, more people Street the terminals meanwhile been been taken into police ntation.and Broadway before of world on Thursday when posted pictured.” and custody a speeding cargo the police and light and the scene inland “Maritim whisked the driver away. red More of the incident cordoned off by the into pedestrians sedan ploughede transport Photos being photos showed people CHANGE OF Police Departme New York Minister of State, is car eson a pavement, showed the carried away on Aviation NAME CHANG nt. according Reuters.

Continue on its sides on partially resting stretchers, formerly while dother E OF NAME SenatorI Hadi known on casualties The attack the pavement page 20 were reminiscent emitting and Sirika and addressed as I formerly MACHADO

INTERNATIONAL One Dead, at Least 22 injured as Car Mows Down

Nigeria, Oth Merchandiseers Lag Behind in $16trn Trade Global

Pedestrians in New York’s Times Square Screams were heard as pandemo- nium broke out in NewYork’s busyTimes Square onThursday when a speeding red sedan ploughed into pedestrians on a pavement, according Reuters.The attack reminiscent of a similar incident outside UK’s Parliament on March 22, has so far left one person dead and at least 22 injured. Page 45

SPORTS Eagles, Togo Friendly Confirmed for June 1

After what appears like a controversy on the possibility of the Super Eagles playing the Hawks ofTogo in an international friendly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday confirmed June 1 as date for the tune up match aimed at getting the senior national team ready for the AFCON 2019 qualifier against South Africa.

Page 54

INTERNATIONA

L One Dead, at Least 22 injure Down Pedest d as Car Mo rians in New York’s Times ws Square

of a similar incident strewn known and across the walkway. smoke and flames FOLA addressed outside UK’s Parliament from the bonnet.

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FRIDAYSPOR TS

Eagles, Togo Fri endly

T H I S D AY

• FRIDAY MAY

LMC, FIRS Resu scitate NPFL/VAT Wonder Goal

19, 2017

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ik hazuagbe@t hisdaylive.co m

Confirmed for June 1

Duro Ikhazuag be Odey and Sikiru After what Olatubosu and backroom staff to Paris n controversy appears like a Monday, on May 22, of the Superon the possibility they will travel from where the Hawks Eagles playing Although the to Corsica. international of Togo in an for Eagles in the planned camp friendly, the Nigeria Football French capital has been cancelled (NFF) yesterday Federation is expected , the confirmed to come up NFF June 1 as date a programme with match aimed for the tune up players to keep the senior nationalat getting the Group busy ahead of the for the AFCON team ready Cup E of the 2019 Africa of against South 2019 qualifier South Nations qualifier with Africa at the Africa.

NFF’s Godswill Akpabio Director Communication, International of Stadium, Uyo. Olajire, confirme Ademola Meanwhi match with the d that the German le, Eagles FrancoHawks would Technical Adviser, hold at Stade Gernot Rohr, Saint Leu La Municipal de Belgium-b has called up Foret in ased forward at 7.30pm Henry on the first Paris Onyekuru in place of June. day Wien FC poacher of Austria Olanrewaju “The match against the Kayode, who is being Hawks has back by club held engagement. for the Stadebeen scheduled PLAYERS INVITED Municipa Saint Leu FOR La Foret, l de THE FRIENDL on Thursday Paris Goalkeepers: IES starting from, 1stJune 2017, Ezenwa Ikechukw (FC IfeanyiUb u confirmation 7.30pm. This Dele ah); all speculatio has put to rest FC, Alampasu (Cesaren ns about whether se Portugal) the game will Defenders: Leon Balogun observed the hold or not,” (FSV Mainz 05, yesterday. NFF spokesman William Germany); Ekong (KAA Barely four Belgium) Gent, Togo friendlydays before the Granada ; Uche Agbo (CF in Paris, the , Spain); Abdullah three-time African champions Shehu (Anorthosis Famagust i will take on Cyprus); Tyronne a, team at thethe Corsica senior (ADO Stade Francois Den Haag,Ebuehi Coty in Ajaccio Netherla The 8pm on Friday, starting from Echiejile nds); Elderson (Sporting Already, Chief May 26.

Gijon, Spain); Chidozie Coach Super Eagles, of the (FC Awaziem Porto, Portugal) expected to Salisu Yusuf, is Midfielde of goalkeep lead a contingent (Leicester rs: Wilfred Ndidi ers trainer Alloy City, England) Agu, home-base ; d professionals Oghenekaro Etebo including; Ikechukw Feirense, (CD Alhassan Ibrahim,u Ezenwa, (Hapoel Portugal); John Ogu L-R: Nigeria Football Stephen Mikel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Federation (NFF) Nigeria National Agu (Vitoria 1st Vice President League (NNL), Setubal, partnersh , Seyi Akinwum ip between Bet9ja Chidi Ofor; and the i; and NNL in Lagos…y CEO of NNL, Bukola Managing Director, Bet9ja, Olopade, shortly Ayo esterday after the signing Ojuroye; Chairman of of the N200mill Ahead the ion round of start of second award. matches in Nigeria Profession the It League (2016/17) al Football LMCwill be recalled that League Managem season, the NPFLrecently offered FIRS, the the (LMC) and the ent Company the as a platform to engage football communi Federal Inland Revenue Services ty (FIRS) are benefits of paying taxeson the partnering to other and Wonder Goal resuscitate the such government charges as the Value At the turn series.

Added Tax of the second (VAT). Tax education round of matches messages are since being last season, the LMC had perimeter boardsdisplayed on Wonder Goal introduced the match at all NPFL to build affinity venues. between players, LMC Chairman their clubs and their , Shehu Dikko, domicile. It community of scheme said the re-launch ed aimed amongst is now to be other objectives to create an as the VAT Wonder known engagement is going to serve Goal and the clubs andchannel between tool for educating as a further communities their immediate communi the football through charity ty on the essence work by players of who win the paying the Value Added

12

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

COMMENT

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

TIME FOR NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

T

Oseghale Erahodu argues for alternative political platform to move the country forward

o say the average Nigerian has lost all hope and confidence in the democratic dispensation is stating the obvious. Bad as this is for people who, two years ago, were making worldwide headlines in celebrating the momentous triumph of “people power” by voting out a sitting government and electing a highly popular opposition leader and party, General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

By a queer twist of political fate here we are today in the depths of despondency and frustration as a result of the rapid evaporation of the euphoria of the triumph of democracy and virtual collapse of government.

Just as a military ruler once remarked that the Nigerian economy had defied all known economic principles, we need no telling today that dashing of hopes and reversal of fortunes seemingly triggered by the emergence of a popular government and leader must also be regarded as a negation of dividends of democracy. Even more curious is the fact that the implosion of the APC and the demise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) combined also practically left Nigerians without a ready alternative political platform to pursue a way out of the mishap.

In the current situation there is more to gain in expediting the exploration of new and more viable political parties than in ruminating over the irredeemable fate of the expired platforms. It could even be said that the strange fate that has befallen the PDP after 16 years of much-touted “infallibility” and the APC barely two years into a populist triumphant tenure amounts to an extraordinary expulsion of the two dominant ruling class responsible for the “decadent paralysis” that has plagued Nigeria since independence.

In that context it would be ridiculous for Nigerians to remain fixated with the same political cabals whilst seeking a genuinely viable alternative political platform to move the country forward and onto a new frontier for exercising democratic rights more purposefully and effectively for the actualisation of collective nationalist aspirations. There should by now be a strong conviction that the accident scene which claimed the PDP and APC must be fertile ground for the foundation of a new creed and generation for the political leadership of the country.

But not all hope should be lost despite the dismal prospects beclouding the horizon. In particular it is a positive development that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has found it necessary and expedient to facilitate the process of political rebirth and charting a new course for the redemption and reinvigoration of the democratic dispensation that remains the only dependable

IN THE CURRENT SITUATION THERE IS MORE TO GAIN IN EXPEDITING THE EXPLORATION OF NEW AND MORE VIABLE POLITICAL PARTIES THAN IN RUMINATING OVER THE IRREDEEMABLE FATE OF THE EXPIRED PLATFORMS

anchor for national progress and development. News that INEC has decided to register brand new parties could not have come at a better time and the significance of the opportunity should not be lost on all patriotic citizens.

It must however be emphasised that INEC can only go as far as it has gone in meeting the yearnings of our people. The more critical task of seizing the opportunity and converting it into a vehicle for exiting the political dead-end staring us in the face can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of the generality of Nigerians, particularly the youth whose stake in a better future for this country cannot be over-emphasised. The crux of the matter is that we must all be more circumspect about the purpose of meaningful participation in politics with a view to preventing a relapse to the “decadent paralysis” that has bogged the nation down since independence.

The era of adopting an arms-length disconnection with the politics of leadership and national development must now come to an end. It needs no campaign to realise that the outcome of our politics cannot supersede the quality of the politicians who drive the process. The widespread notion that politics is a “dirty game” is like a curse on the all-important process that determines the progress of nations.

This is the time to exorcise the demons whose malpractices and bad attitudes have polluted the civic focus of politics in a democratic setting. You cannot leave politics to those who live and feed fat on it and yet complain that it is not meeting national aspirations. More professionals and seasoned technocrats must therefore crowd out the so-called “professional politicians” to achieve the desired qualitative outcome.

No less important however is the quality of political parties which can no longer be the preserve of godfathers and cabals and their rented fellow travellers. The constitution and manifesto of the new parties should now be the critical factor in determining their viability and effectiveness for discharging the onerous responsibility of delivering tangible qualitative dividends of democracy, rather than the personalities parading its leadership.

In particular serious attention should go to the parties whose constitutions and manifestoes boldly address the notorious ills of our political system as well as enhance the capacity of the majority of members to determine the policies, programmes and performance of the parties by sheer strength of internal democracy and expanded financial stake-holding.

Erahodu wrote from Benin City

MACRON, LEADERSHIP RENAISSANCE AND NIGERIANYOUTH (2) Aspiring for public service requires careful preparation, argues Emmanuel Ojeifo

M

entoring: Macron entered politics under the Socialist Party in 2006 and distinguished himself with his charismatic and astute personality. He soon caught the attention of Francois Hollande who took him as his protégé and groomed him for political greatness. He rose rapidly in his political career and was appointed as deputy secretary-general of the Élysée, a senior role in President François Hollande’s first government in 2012. In 2007, he served as deputy rapporteur for the bi-partisan commission to improve French economic growth headed by Jacques Attali. In 2014, at the age of 36, he was appointed French Minister of Finance and the Economy, where he pushed through business-friendly reforms. In August 2015, Macron resigned his membership of the Socialist Party and declared himself an Independent. In August 2016 he resigned his cabinet position to run for the presidency, under the banner of a centrist political movement he founded in April 2016, En Marche!

Macron’s romantic relationship with Brigitte Trogneux, his 64-year-old former teacher at La Providence High School and 24 years his senior, is the most talked about aspects of his private life, but there lies the hidden secret of his success. Macron and Trogneux first met when he was a 15-year-old student in her class, and she was 39. He fell in love with her in the drama class. Macron’s parents initially attempted to separate the couple by sending him away to

Paris to finish his high school, as they felt his youth made the relationship inappropriate, but he reconnected with Trogneux after he turned 17, and they married in 2007.

Throughout the years of their relationship, Trogneux coached and mentored Macron behind the scenes. When Macron was the Minister of Economy and Finance, he was captured onscreen rehearsing a speech. His wife was overhead telling him to be audible.

When they both moved to Paris, Trogneux worked briefly as a teacher and eventually quit her job to focus on her husband’s career.

She helped him network and is constantly beside him. She has been called “his closest political advisor.”

Macron’s best man Henry Hermand (1924–2016) also played a major mentoring role in his life. Although Hermand died in 2016 and did not live to see Macron’s presidency, he was the businessman who loaned Macron Euro 550,000 for the purchase of his first apartment in Paris when he was Inspector of Finances. Hermand also let Macron use some of his offices on the Avenue des Champs Élysées in Paris for his political movement En Marche! Mentoring here is about cultivating friendships with people who can help us achieve our goals in life. It is a process of discernment and sifting that keeps us glued to the right people and disconnected from people with whom we have nothing in common.

Today’s Nigerian youth have ample lessons to learn from Macron. He was carefully and deliberately prepared through the crucible of learning, mentoring and public service.

The leadership recruitment system prepared for him and he prepared himself for the leadership system. That is a system solidly built on succession planning and leadership grooming. In his book, The Accidental Public Servant (2011), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai argued that many public officeholders in Nigeria simply stumble upon leadership positions by accident, without any deliberate preparation.

This is the reason why our national system is bogged down by inept, mediocre and visionless leadership. Our society needs to educate and equip young people for public service through sufficient mental, intellectual, psychological and ethical preparation. We also need to build a new generation of young people who value the culture of reading and who take active part in intelligent conversation on issues of leadership, politics, governance and public service. This is how young people can reflect ideas and inspired thinking of a new generation who are positive about their country and confident in their ability to shape its future.

Raising the next generation leaders calls us to tap into the resource base, ingenuity and creative pool of today’s youth. This is predicated on the understanding that aspiring for public service requires years of careful preparation, focused learning and loyal tutelage under more experienced mentors and accomplished leaders. In a December 2016 article, Eddie Iroh stated that leadership is not about age, but about ability.

“Nigerians,” he argues, “frequently make the argument that the panacea for Nigeria’s ills is to sweep all old leaders into the Atlantic

and replace them with the so called youths.

But this is an argument that has no merit, principally because it lacks the merit of both historical and contemporary contexts. The issue is not young or old leadership. The issue is, first and foremost, ability. You either have it or you do not. Youth will not confer ability on you because it is not a physical but a mental and intellectual thing.”

This means that Nigerian youth can only take the destiny of the country in their hands if they demonstrate leadership abilities and show sufficient preparedness. On the strength of the prevailing mentality of today’s youth, we have a long way to go as a nation in preparing our young people for the prospects and challenges of good leadership. I was awestruck recently when I found out that a huge chunk of the leadership development programmes for American youth at the Aspen Leadership Institute in Colorado is deliberately designed to meet the need of young people between the ages of 14 and 21. The financial investment in these programmes is astronomical. That is a society that recognises that its future lies in the hands of the young, and that ‘catching them young’ means grooming them from an early age for the leadership opportunities of today and tomorrow. Nigerian youth who believe that they can be successful in life without hard work, discipline, focus and sacrifice, are only living in a fool’s paradise. Macron has proved the time-honoured maxim that ‘Nothing good comes easy!’

Ojeifo is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja

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T H I S D AY •FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

EDITORIAL DEATH FROM GENERATOR FUMES

A

There is need for enlightenment campaign on the use of generators

widow and her three children in the Ikorodu area of Lagos lost their lives in a rather cheap manner recently. With no power supply from the electricity company serving their area, the family turned on the generator in one of the rooms in the three-bedroom apartment and went to bed.

All of them died in their sleep. They have joined the long list of thousands of people who had been lost across the country to generator fumes over the years.

As we have highlighted on this page on several occasions in the past, the fumes emitted by generators are fatal, often without the victims, who are mostly asleep, knowing or realising the danger. They also have long-term hazards as a possible cause of lung cancer. Experts therefore advise people using the device to never run a generator indoors or in any area where ventilation is limited and people or animals are present.

We understand that due to the poor supply of electricity in Nigeria, IT IS ALWAYS SAFER TO most offices, shops PUT THE GENERATOR and homes are OUTSIDE, AND AWAY now being run by FROM A WINDOW, AND generators. Indeed, NEVER IN AN ENCLOSED the state of Nigeria’s SITUATION power infrastructure has created an environmental nightmare across the country. Almost every family, in what Nigerians have dubbed “face -me -I- faceyou” apartment, has a small power generating set, derogatorily known as “I-better–pass my neighbour”. So bad is the situation that in some houses as many as 10 generating sets could be found within a radius of five metres.

Yes, generators provide “emergency” power for light, fans, fridges, television to video games and

Letters to the Editor

such like. But aside the noise and pollution they emit, there are also health costs. As most health experts have warned, fumes from these generators could be deadly.

The fumes contain carbon monoxide, a dangerous invisible, odourless and colourless gas. When inhaled, carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the tissues and can easily lead to death. The tell–tale signs on the victims are dizziness, nausea, headache, even confusion, symptoms mistakenly attributed to too much alcohol or sun; or something else. That explains why the story of people who sleep at night with their generator on without waking up the next morning has now become a common tale. Besides, exposure to moderate and high levels of carbon monoxide over a long period of time has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease. This could lead to a shorter life span.

T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOlAJI ADEBIYI, JOsEph UshIGIAlE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUsEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOsA UWUGIAREN

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

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TACKLING GLOBAL WARMING IN NIGERIA

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nce upon a time in an endowed kingdom, the air was fresh and the scenery beautiful, the grass was lush and the oceans pure. It was a kingdom with a balance. All parts of the system worked. Each time new subjects were inducted into the kingdom there seemed to be enough to serve all, the balance distorted but the subjects had a connection with the kingdom and believed they have the responsibility to help the kingdom get restored. There came a major invasion of civilisation. The subjects became extremely industrious and engaged in activities to make living go beyond the presumed ‘archaic’ level of the kingdom. The once endeared connection started wearing out.

The wave of civilisation ravaged every nook of the kingdom; induction rate grew - population; the sense of responsibility for kingdom balance dropped, the rate of usage of resources spiked and outdid the rate of formation and maturation of resources. Trees were felled; fossil fuels were burnt; the air, land, and water were polluted. The kingdom groaned, the subject moaned as they seemed to be excited by each new day of invention and introduction of a shift from the presumed ‘archaic’.

Then comes the resultants of all the activities, the kingdom started burning and the subjects were

W

hat is particularly worrisome about this development is that as pervasive as it is, there is still no public awareness campaign by the relevant authorities on the dangers posed by generators.

Therefore, against the background that hardly a week passes without reports of fatalities resulting from generator fumes, users must be made aware of the necessary precautions to take.

In effect, it is always safer to put the generator outside, and away from a window, and never in an enclosed situation. Indeed, most of the deaths recorded were as a result of unsafe generator use in badly ventilated environments. We feel the general public should be adequately enlightened on the danger posed by generators, and how they can be safely used, mostly at homes. This should be the responsibility of the health and environment authorities at both the federal and state levels. By so doing, we will be able to save our people from painful but cheap deaths.

running; the effect of their activities was the formation of a cloud of death over the kingdom - the greenhouse gases welcomed a new era called global warming.

The mystery is that the cloud of life around the kingdom contains some elements seen presently in the cloud of death but in controlled quantities; the balance crumbled, the grass became dry; the oceans littered with dead fishes and other creatures, the glacial melted, and the oceans increased in volume, broke its banks and flooded the kingdom. There began scarcity of resources - famine, the kingdom started burning from inside out; the subjects kept running all about yet sustained their wave of activities.

The only thing that can remove the cloud of death is to choose to live responsibly in the kingdom. The decision to plant more trees, outlaw the burning of fossil fuels and vehemently resist pollution of any kind by reducing, reusing and recycling materials will set the subjects on the path to reconnection with the kingdom. There is no option B; the kingdom is our planet, the system our environment; we are the subject.

The effect of global climate change is biting harder each day, the time to set the records straight and act is now.

Amusa Temitope Victor, Ilorin, Kwara State

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF MIDDLE BELT?

T

he citizens of Middle Belt have watched with keen interest over the years the policies, actions and decisions taken so far by different administrations upon issues ranging from tribal to religion, politics to economics and thereafter have decided not to keep quiet any longer but begin to peacefully agitate for her independence and sovereignty as a nation.

We have observed that the conflicts of different types in various parts of the country between two or more parties have come to stay because we have been forced to live together as one even when it is obvious that we don’t want to be one.

It is true that Boko Haram terrorists have killed and are still killing innocent people in the country and destroying property worth billions of naira; it is also true that Fulani herdsmen have killed and are still killing the people and taking over their farmland in order to feed their animals as these animals seem to be more valuable than the people; it is very true that militants in Niger Delta have bombed and destroyed oil pipelines, caused a great reduction in the production of crude oil and are still doing more because their place is still underdeveloped while the money realised from their crude oil has been used to developed other places. All the above conflicts and more can be resolved amicably

if the right thing is done.

The Nigerian government and the world should know that we cannot continue being together and there is need for any group that thinks it can stand on her own and survive to begin to prepare and agitate for her independence. At this point, I wish to appeal that the Nigerian government should peacefully approve the independence of Biafra and any other group that has the capacity and wish to be detached from Nigeria in order to allow peace, unity and progress to reign. We cannot continue to live together with the people who value their cow more than us; we cannot stay together with the people who are always killing us in the name of their religion; we will not go on living together with the people who want us to practice their religion against our will or wish; we are tired of living together with the people who have taken leadership to be their birth-right; we will no longer stay together with the people who talk peace but do the opposite in their action. Enough is enough.

Nevertheless, Middle Belt Citizens cannot go with Biafra or remain with Nigeria. Therefore, there is need to let the Nigerian government and the world know that “Middle Belt” is equal to the task and wish to have her independence and be known as “Federal Republic of Middle Belt”.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

Task Before Enugu House of Assembly Before it was dissolved two years ago, the previous Enugu State House of Assembly passed far reaching resolutions. Yet, residents in the state continue to look forward to the current assembly to implement these lofty resolutions, writes Segun James

F

or those who still remember, the last days of Sullivan Chime as the governor of Enugu State were characterized by probes and massive public outcry over alleged mismanagement of state funds and sales of government properties.

At the twilight of his tenure, Chime probably thought that things were going well for him after all, he was leaving behind a developmental plan he thought would leave the people of the state better off, richer and more prosperous if the template he set was pursued and rigorously sustained by his successor.

However, this was not to be. There was a fierce opposition to him and his plans, a situation that led to protests and sometimes violence demonstration. Things got to a head when the state’s House of Assembly insisted on impeaching him.

On May 4, 2015 the move to impeach him factionalised the house State. While 15 members led by the former speaker Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh were bent on removing him, another group of nine members led by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba staunchly stood by the governor.

Crux of the matter The State Assembly did not however start off on a factionalised note as members were unanimous on some perceived unconstitutional and excesses of the ex-governor.

First, the house alleged that while the new State Secretariat Complex was awarded at initial cost of N13 billion despite opposing views, the cost was increased to over N20 billion without recourse to the house.

They also accused Chime of forgery of the 2012 budget and undermined the constitutional powers of the house by shielding his functionaries from honouring parliamentary summons.

Chime, however, denied the allegations, explaining that there was no budget forgery as he simply vired monies already appropriated in the 2012 budget to other areas of pressing needs and without exceeding the total appropriated figure for the fiscal year.

But the lawmakers insisted that he had no constitutional right to vary the appropriation law without recourse to the house for amendments to the budget law.

The lawmakers were also together in the probe of the 25 years water concession agreement to a private company to manage and collect revenues accruable from water for a quarter of a century. Therefore, the house stopped the concessioning agreements, especially after both the commissioner in charge and the Managing Director of the State Water Corporation admitted at the public hearing conducted by the house that they did not have details of the transactions, including owners of the company, even though they were made to sign the concession papers.

The Managing Director was immediately sacked. The house was also furious over what it saw as lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the N5 billion World Bank water reticulation project as the challenges of potable water persisted in the capital city, despite the huge loan.

Furthermore, the house summoned the Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) as well as the Commissioner for Education over the N3.6 billion primary schools renovation projects. The House Committee on Education had accused ENSUBEB of shoddy and sluggish projects execution one year after they were awarded.

Then as part of move to find out the truth,

Chime...survived impeachment

the house invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the finances of the board until investigation was completed.

Mrs. Ethel Nebo, who initially headed the board but now living in exile, had alleged that she was sacked for her refusal to obey the directives by a senior official of the government to award contracts in breach of UBE rules.

She sued the government and got judgment with an award of N10 million compensation.

Another area of contention was the alleged indiscriminate allocation of every available parcel of land at the International Conference Center, built to an advanced stage by former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, to people close to the governor.

Dispute over Loans The house also cancelled an N11 billion-loan facility sought by the ex-governor in the last month of his administration as Enugu had already amassed the heaviest debt burden under that administration. This became a major burden to the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Chime, however, denied the allegations, explaining that there was no budget forgery as he simply vired monies already appropriated in the 2012 budget to other areas of pressing needs and without exceeding the total appropriated figure for the fiscal year.

government.

According to the the lawmakers, the Domestic Debt Stock of Enugu State as at 30th December 2013 was N12.061bn, by far the highest in the South-East geopolitical zone. A glance at the documentation for loan approvals by the State Executive Council (EXCO) between 2009–2014 showed that it approved a N20 Billion State Bond at its meeting of September 30, 2009. On August 18, 2010, it approved an N89 Million First Bank loan for purchase of vehicles for government use.

On the same date, a First City Monument Bank loan of N863,552,203 was approved for counterpart funding of 2009 MDGs projects.

On August 5, 2010, N12.5 Billion loan was approved to finance Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Nexus Ltd. The Exco also approved a Bank PHB N3 billion loan on April 14, 2010 to “bridge resource”. A Skye Bank loan of USD275,000 was approved on October 13, 2011 for counterpart funding of AIDS control project with World Bank. Diamond Bank loan of N1,551,000,000 was approved by Exco on October 13, 2011 for purchase of 300 units of 16-seater busses for public secondary schools.

Other loans included a Fidelity Bank loan of N1 Billion which was approved on September 12, 2012 for the expansion of agric projects in the state and purchase of machinery for the state’s pineapple project. FMCB and Skye Bank loans of N835,459,032.7 were approved on October 30, 2013 for counterpart funding of MDGs 2012 capital projects. Exco also approved a N1 Billion UBA loan on March 28, 2014 for refinancing of N5 Billion GTB loan. Another loan of N1.5 Billion (Stering Bank) was approved on March 28, 2014 for UBE projects.

Besides the heavy debt burden, there were general feelings that the Chime administration lacked the fiscal policy objectives, the macroeconomic framework and policy basis for the loans. Within a year, a N20 billion bond request and subsequent demand for an extra loan of N863 Million at 17% interest (N149 million) was placed via FCMB. This

naturally called to question the rational for the State Bond.

Also, the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Assembly acknowledged that part of the N11 Billion sought by Chime in the twilight of his administration would go into: Supply and Installation of Security (CCTV) and Access Control Systems in the offices of the New Secretariat Building at the cost of N2.674 million; Supply of Information Technology Facilities in the New Governor’s Office at the cost of N300 million; Supply and Installation of Audio-Visual Conferencing Solution at the Executive Chambers of the governor’s office at the cost of N207 Million.

But what impact did these loans have on development and services delivery? That is the question that has left many people wondering as the rationale behind an over N20 billion secretariat in a state where more than twothirds of the capital city had no pipe-born water continues to rankle the legislature even though the state already had existing secretariat structures.

Despite the popular and far-reaching resolutions triggered by the probes, many have expressed surprise that the current house of assembly has not deemed it fit to ensure that the resolutions are implemented.

For instance, the construction of shopping complex has continued, while the sale of the Presidential Hotel and public lands in the last days of the administration are yet to be revoked.

Analysts believed that the none-implementation of the house’s resolutions could be due to the efforts of the current governor to break the jinx of predecessor-successor war in Enugu or Chime’s relationship with the current house leadership. While Ugwuanyi has unusually retained Chime’s Chief of Staff, Chief Security Officer, among other key government functionaries to promote continuity and political harmony. Mr. Edward Ubosi and Donatus Uzogbado, who ‘fought’ on the ex-governor’s side during the crisis resulting in the sealing of the state’s House of Assembly Complex by police to scuttle Chime’s impeachment, emerged Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.

This appears to validate the position of the former national auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ray Nnaji who spoke to newsmen at the inception of the Ugwuanyi administration and that the present house must bear the burden of righting the wrongs and issues it inherited from its predecessor.

Nnaji, who had himself sued ENSUBEB over the alleged refusal of its former Chairman, Nneka Onuora, to supply him details of the contracts awarded by ENSUBEB based on the Freedom of Information Act, maintained that “there were many atrocities that must be investigated.

“We will be surprised if after passing a resolution that a private developer who bought land at the International Conference Centre or adjacent the Assembly should stop work and it is not harkened to or the government will pay deaf ears and look the other way”.

Nevertheless, as the 2017 Democracy Day and second anniversary of end of Chime’s government approaches, all eyes remain on both the Ugwuanyi administration and the state assembly to implement the findings and resolutions by the previous legislature or conduct fresh probes into the alleged excesses of the Chime administration.

Will the House of Assembly wake up to its responsibilities? Only time will tell.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

Why the World Can’t Forget Chinua Achebe A former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, posits that the world would continue to drink from the intellectual reservoir of Chinua Achebe whose exploits in the literary world did not imperil his desire to submit to the noble cause of using his works to influene the soiety positively

W

hen the Institute of African studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka informed me of my nomination for award as a champion of intellectual discourse followed with a request to deliver a paper at the first Chinua Achebe international conference with the theme, “Chinua Achebe and the convolutions of immortality: Assessing the Writer in Relation to new Realities” to mark the fourth year anniversary of his interment, it dawned on me that the spirit of the icon lives on. The Institute acknowledged the role I played as the Governor of Imo State, when we hosted what turned out to be Achebe’s last major outing in Nigeria at the Ahiajoku lecture where he delivered the keynote address.

The Achebe essence remains evergreen and those that benefitted from his remarkable scholarly works are unarguably eternally grateful for the indelible impression he left on them.

Meeting Chinualumogu Achebe on the pages of his book, ‘Things Fall Apart’, was an encounter that triggered off an inner desire to make an inquest into the essence of, the values, character, world view, morality, ethos, mores and idiosyncrasies of an unadulterated Igbo society, that classical Igbo society of yore that carved a place of pride for us.

Achebe created imagery with words, took us back to the old Igbo society that was built on sound moral values, high sense of communalism and deification of community icons that exhibited valour, courage and cant.

Reading through this book that was a historical document on the place of culture and tradition in the pristine Igbo society, one cannot but acknowledge an exhibition of rare intellect, creativity in writing, sound understanding of the imperatives of communication and mastery of the art of arresting the attention of the reader.

Beyond the input in literary accomplishment, ‘Things Fall Apart’ was a compelling read for students of the society in exploring and explaining the intricate issues in cultural conflicts, the inherent shocks, the fall-outs and resolutions. The opening sections of this internationally received piece of literary work, vividly captured a social scenario that defines the impact of cultural conflicts in societies.

In the words of the author, “Turning and turning in a widening gay, the falcon cannot bear the falconer, things fall apart, the center cannot hold, mere anarchy is lost upon the world”. The principal character in the book, Okonkwo, was a metaphorical characterization that clearly gave colour and resonance that made the book a magnum opus.

Even though Achebe had other great literary works in books and papers that received commendable reviews and were widely published in world journals, ‘Things Fall Apart’ pointed a torch towards him early which earned him the admiration of many. It did not just expose capacity in word management but literary discipline that kept him on course from the beginning of the book till the end without running the risk of losing the attention and interest of the reader.

Anyone that encountered the work would readily have a picture of the society under reference, the people, the environment, what they stood for, their drive, preferences, values, world view and interests.

Like many others across the globe, the love for the works of Achebe, to me, translated to an unquenchable desire to drink from the intellectual reservoir of this great mind whose exposure in the literary world did not imperil an inner desire to submit to the noble cause of using his works to influence the society positively.

In terms of impact, pervasiveness and penetration, Achebe stood tall because of his style and elan. He owed no one any apology for being described as a political writer

Professor Chinua Achebe and Mr. Ikedi Ohakim in 2009

All his works were devoted to educating the mind, promoting the essence of humanity, challenging the leadership to work towards building a society that would be beneficial to all, and calling for an aggregate redirection of our energies in achieving group good.

Achebe’s works, which covered the colonial years in which he was born, years of nationalist struggle and the years after independence, are evidence of a restless heart that took time, deploying energy and resources to stamp an intellectual imprimatur as a reliable and dependable literary historian horned in the art of chronicling events that defined our past, the present and the relevance in shaping our future.

He shared thoughts through his books on the nationalist response to colonial rule, the need to preserve tradition and culture that are not injurious to modernity, the independence disenchantment, the civil war in Nigeria (the implications, lessons and fallouts), the leadership gaps and its debilitating effect, top of which, is the arresting of human and structural development.

Even though his writings were essentially directed to an African audience, curiously, their psychological insight especially within the context of the world as a global village, resonates across boundaries, thus the universal acceptance.

Achebe changed the perception of novelists as mere story tellers. No political scientist, historian, anthropologist, or any class of social scientist, would lay claim to churning out more works that x-rayed the society, the people, politics and leadership than Achebe.

In terms of impact, pervasiveness and penetration, Achebe stood tall because of his style and elan. He owed no one any apology for being described as a political writer.

According to him, “my politics is concerned with universal human communication across racial and cultural boundaries as a means of fostering respect for all people”.

Such respect, he continued, can issue only from understanding. “So my primary concern is with clearing the channels of communication in my own neighborhood by hacking away at the thickets that choke them”, he once wrote.

Africa’s meeting with Europe to him was a historical fact that turned out a terrible disaster given the reality that the meeting precluded any warmth of friendship that could have facilitated genuine understanding and appreciation of Africa. The African

world, Achebe insisted, is still bedeviled by the consequences of an encounter that turned cataclysmic.

The distortions in development in human and material terms are direct consequences of a deliberate erosion of the value system of Africans and the people. While some Africans capitulated, the metaphorical OKONKWO took the noblest path of not allowing the Whiteman urinate on his honour and integrity.

My take on Achebe’s intellectual works is that Africans have been paying the price of an encounter with Europe that robbed the continent the opportunity of leveraging a rich historical past to shape a future consistent with a pattern that suites its people. Granted that some of the pristine practices were reprehensible, a total obliteration of the culture, tradition and values through radical and hostile mental and psychological invasion, created major social dissonance with the attendant impairments.

The colonialists invaded Africa with a mentality that was divisive instead of integrative, recriminatory, exploitative and airs of superiority complex that questioned our essence and humanity.

I could not but find in Achebe a man whose space must be shared, convictions identified with and teachings accepted and equally propagated as a veritable means of self and group identification (Ima Onwe).

An Igbo adage holds that its only when one understands how and where rain started beating him, that one would find an answer to the dilemma of life. This is because we may be building on quick sand if the foundational imbalances are not properly dealt with.

The opportunity of a life time to share space with this world citizen and intellectual colossus came in 2008 when the Imo State government was preparing to mount the Ahiajoku lecture slated for Friday, January 23, 2009. It came at a time there was public concern about the place of the Igbo in Nigeria. The state executive council in Imo State then felt challenged to devote the Ahiajoku lecture as a platform to stir discussion and call attention to the state of affairs that was troubling and disconcerting.

In order to give the event the national and international colour it deserved devoid of political taint and partisanship, the State Exco had no better choice than Achebe, as the right masquerade whose presence would draw the crowd and his message likely to hit

the bull’s eye to a point of conscientizing the entire Igbo nation to ask the right questions.

The choice was the best but the challenge of climbing the iroko tree was a tall order given that for a long period after the accident that set him on the wheel chair, Achebe seldom honoured invitations to events in Nigeria for obvious logistics reasons.

As the Governor of Imo State, it dawned on me that whatever it would take in planning and logistics to bring Achebe to the colloquium was worthy, especially against the backdrop of allowing Ndi Igbo and Nigerians the opportunity of drinking from the fountain of his experience, knowledge and intellectual intervention The Imo State government under my watch, consistent with its policy of rising up to the occasion no matter the challenges and odds, succeeded in displaying the masquerade at the 2009 Ahiajoku colloquim with the theme “UWA NDI IGBO (the world of Igobs)”.

Achebe who delivered the keynote address was at his oratorical best and took liberty in the mastery of Igbo proverbs, idioms, anecdote and flawless delivery in both English and Igbo language to hold the audience (made up of who is who amongst the Igbo intellegentia, academia, captains of industry etc) spell bound.

Drawing inspiration from his great works, top of which was Things Fall Apart, Achebe delivered what could rightly be described as a generational message on the need for the Igbo to go back to the basics for proper group identification. According to him, there are certain virtues that set the Igbo apart as a people with rich history of accomplishments that define who they are and which must not be allowed to die because of the complexities of competition in a nation that cares less about promoting merit and identifying with progressive ideals.

‘Uwa Ndi Igbo’ before the ant infestation, was defined by adventure, courage, pushing the limits, breaking barriers and boundaries, high sense of accommodation and inclusion, enterprise, resilience, building bridges and alliances and commonality of purpose. The Igbo sense of community which flows from structured family system helped shape the society. The essential Igbo promoted community life and a moral society that drew strength and bearing from ‘Chi Ukwu’ (the ultimate reality), the author of life that shapes the destiny of men based on the degree of conformity with that which is moral and noble. The concept of ‘Nso Ala’ was a moral barometer that regulated the society.

Things fell apart the moment the falcon could no longer hear the falconer. The civil war and its consequences changed the vista and orientation of the Igbo nation and outsiders took turns in manipulating us and found willing allies amongst the dregs of Igbo society whose Igboness are suspect in every material particular.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD R A t e s NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A s

NIBOR

15.3333% 17.0332%

A t

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

M A R C H 9 , NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH

20.1621% 23.1621%

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

2 0 1 7

13.0970% 14.0684%

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

15.7898% 19.6644%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.50//1Us DOLLAR* *As At LAst FRIDAY

Quick Takes Etihad Appoints New MD for Subsidiary

ACCOUNTING TO SHAREHOLDERS

L-R: Company secretary, Wema Bank Plc, Oluwole Ajimisinmi; Chairman, Adeyinka Asekun, and Managing Director, Segun Oloketuyi, at the 2016 Wema Bank AGM held in Lagos...recently Abiodun Ajala

African Airlines Fear Flights Disruptions over Ebola Outbreak in DRC Chinedu Eze The news of outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo a fortnight ago has elicited fears among African airlines that the development could hamper flights operations.

African airlines lost about $2.3billion to flight cancelations and black listing of some destinations in West and Central Africa following the outbreak of Ebola in 2014.

Although there is strong hope that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has

AVIATION taken pre-emptive actions in collaborating with countries in the region to control the spread of the disease, but airlines are somewhat apprehensive that there would be panic if the disease spreads beyond Congo.

In the wake of the outbreak of the disease in 2014, many airlines’ operations were drastically affected because flights to their major destinations were cancelled.

Industry experts stated that

the outbreak and spread of Ebola disease forced The Gambia national carrier, Gambia Bird, out of business while Asky, a Togo based airline, which operates largely in West and Central Africa was threatened with bankruptcy when it cut back most of its flights due to the spread of Ebola. The airline would have gone under but for the lifeline t received from Ecobank.

Also many international carriers cut back their operations to most of West and Central Africa destinations, but the most adversely affected were African

carriers like Ethiopia Airlines, Arik Air, Kenya Airways, Asky, Air Coted’Ivoire, South Africa Airways and others which did not only cancel most flights to some destinations in the sub-region but some of them were not allowed to operate to European and US airports.

THISDAY spoke to the head of flight operations of Air Peace, Captain Victor Egonu who urged the Nigerian government to ensure that anyone coming from any part of Africa is thoroughly Continued on page 20

Nigeria, Others Lag Behind in $16trn Global Merchandise Trade Eromosele Abiodun As seaborne trade surpasses 10 billion tons and continues to represent the overwhelming majority of the more than $16trillion in global merchandise trade by volume and value, Nigeria and other African countries have continued to perform poorly, the Country Manager of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. David Skov has said.

Skov who stated this at a forum in Abuja stressed that to reverse the trend, the African continent and its Regional

MARITIME Economic Communities (RECs) must improve intra-regional trade to catch up with other regions of the world.

According to him, a breakdown of the group of developing countries shows that goods are predominantly loaded in Asia, which represents close to 40 per cent of the total goods loaded, followed by the Americas (14.7 per cent); Nigeria and the rest of Africa (10.5 per cent) and Oceania (0.1 per cent), “53 per cent of the volume of world

seaborne trade is unloaded in developed countries.”

Citing data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), he said: “Intra-African trade amounts to only about 13.8 per cent as compared to intraregional trade among Latin America countries which is 22 per cent, Asian countries at 52 per cent and Europe at about 70 per cent. One of the major factors behind this low level of trade integration is the low level of Trade Facilitation implementation.

“Maritime transport is es-

sential to the world trade. Over 80 per cent of the volume of world merchandise trade is carried by sea, and an even higher percentage of developingcountry trade is carried in ships.

Global seaborne trade have both been growing at a faster rate than global GDP since 1990 according to the UNCTAD Maritime Review of 2016.”

This, he added, showed the increasing importance of transportation infrastructure investment such as ports, terminals and cargo inland Continued on page 20

Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has announced the appointment of Gavin Halliday as Managing Director of Hala Group, its destination management and global loyalty unit. At Hala, Mr. Halliday would lead EAG’s new global loyalty company which brings together Etihad Guest with the loyalty programmes of other EAG partner airlines. He will also have responsibility for EAG’s destination and conference management organisations, which are critical elements of the company’s plans to grow leisure and business travel to Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Halliday brings to his new role more than 30 years of experience at British Airways and other IAG business units. For the last three years, he has been Chief Executive Officer of Avios, IAG’s global loyalty programme. Previously, he held senior commercial positions at IAG, Iberia, British Midland and British Airways. Chairman of the Board of the Etihad Aviation Group, H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, said: “Hala is a critical element of Etihad’s strategy to leverage the combined reach and value of our airline partners. It also is an important platform for realising the full potential of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a preferred destination for business and leisure travel. Gavin is an innovator and leader in the industry – we are excited to have him join EAG’s leadership team. “We are particularly excited at the experience that Gavin will bring to our global loyalty marketing programme, for which we have big plans.” Gavin Halliday added: “This is an incredible opportunity. Etihad Airways has been one of the fastest-growing airlines of the last decade and Hala isan engine for further expansion. I look forward to working closely with local travel companies and organisations to bring more business and vacation visitors to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”

Medview Partners Weizo

Med-View Airline has entered into partnership with African Travel Market, the organisers of the 3rd Edition of Accra Weizo – aviation tourism event holding in Accra May26-27, 2017.Under the partnership, Med-View Airline would be the official carrier for the two-day seminar and exhibition, offering a robust air ticket discounts to participants of Weizo 2017 through the organizers.

In a statement by the Executive Director, Business Development, Mr. Isiaq Na-Allah, the airline said it was proud to be associated with the promoters of travel and tourism in Africa. According to Na-Allah, the Med-View Airline brand will be in full attendance at Accra Weizo through the presentation and exhibition of some of its new destinations. Top of the range will be the unveiling of the Dubai route scheduled to commence on July 4, 2017 and the expansion of its West Coast routes to Francophone cities – Abidjan, Conakry and Dakar. The new package for the London route that will now be serviced by a B777 aircraft will also feature in the 2-day event.“We are the airline to beat on the West Coast, London and Jeddah routes”, a confident Na-Allah said.Med-View Airline is the only carrier on the West Coast that has its shares quoted at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and had within three months of its listing declared dividends to its shareholders.

Peak Spreads Goodness to Households

Promoters of the Peak brand have identified the place of price and product availability in the consumer consideration ladder. To this end, the brand’s activation machineries are presently pushing the concept as they drive further into neighborhoods to understand more of the consumers and connecting its key brands to them.

Weeks ago, Peak Filled was launched and has since gained steady ascension into the daily needs of Nigerian households, considering its affordability and accessibility. Peak Filled is a N40 Peak brand formulated to nourish families with essential vitamins and minerals; assuring them of a “Filled” Day. Peak Milk is currently combing the nooks and crannies of Lagos and currently activating Oke Arin Market, Trade Fair, Mushin, Agege… spreading the richness and nourishment of Peak Filled across Lagos neighbourhoods, with a sure plan to extend the goodness even beyond Lagos. Peak is also engaging local artistes Like Saheed Osupa amongst others to connect more with consumers.

“I accept criticism, genuine or mischievous. They help me to do my work “

Minister of State, Aviation

Senator Hadi Sirika

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD AFRICAN AIRLINES FEAR FLIGHTS DISRUPTIONS OVER EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DRC screened at the airports and the borders of the country to ensure that the disease did not come to Nigeria.

He expressed optimism that WHO and other concerned world organisations would make concerted efforts to ensure that the disease did not spread, adding that Congo has been associated with the disease at least in the last 16 years and it recurs every four or five years.

“WHO and the United Nations should be able to rein the disease so that it will not spread. It has been happening in Congo for the past 16 years and it resurfaces every four or five years; so it is not really new.

But we should screen anybody coming from any African country strictly because even if the person is coming from Kenya; you don’t know where he went to before going to Kenya. It will give the world confidence to learn that Nigeria is strictly screening people at its borders and ports.

NIGERIA, OTHERS LAG BEHIND IN $16TRN GLOBAL MERCHANDISE TRADE services to overall economic growth and rising standards of living, particularly in economically developing areas currently underserved by modern transportation networks and access.

“This development has gone hand in hand with an increase in the volumes of traded goods transported by sea. In 2007, international seaborne trade was estimated at 8 billion ton of goods loaded. During the past three decades the annual average growth rate of world seaborne trade is estimated as 3.1 per cent. Dry cargo (bulk, break-bulk and containerised cargo) accounted for 66.6 per cent of the good loaded. The rest is oil and petroleum transports, “Scov said.

According to him, more than half of all seaborne trade by value moves in containers, with emerging economies of Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa accounting for most of current shipping market expansion.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Capital Market)

NEWS

Ecobank, OiLibya Seal Deal on Digital Financial Services Obinna Chima

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of Ecobank, the Pan-African banking group has signed an agreement with OiLibya, a Pan-African oil and gas downstream company, for the distribution of digital financial services.

The contract empowers OiLibya teams to distribute a variety of digital financial services across the continent in partnership with Ecobank in accordance with local regulations.

According to a statement, Ecobank leverages the power of digital to deliver convenience to its customers.

Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Masterpass Merchant QR, Ecobank XpressAccount, Internet banking, Pan African Card, Automated Teller Machines, Points of Sale are some of the digital services the bank created to make banking easier, more accessible and cost-effective than ever before.

Commenting on the agreement, Ecobank Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi said: “This partnership with OiLibya demonstrates our commitment to bring affordable banking to the doorstep of every African, as we seek to serve 100 million customers by 2020. Ecobank believes it is the right of every African to have access to financial services and we are leveraging digital, mobile and retail chains across Africa to provide ubiquitous ebanking. This will help unlock opportunities for small and medium African entrepreneurs,

eliminate inefficiencies, unleash productivity and spread opportunities across society to speed up growth.”

On his part, Libya Oil Holdings Limited CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Bugaighis said: “We are pleased to partner with Ecobank to bring financial services to customers more conveniently through our network of service stations, and thus help improve their accessibility. OiLibya is a leading distributor of petroleum and convenience products on

the African continent. This partnership with Ecobank is in line with our vision of contributing to the economic and social development of Africa.

“OiLibya service stations are increasingly evolving to become multi-service destinations, offering not only fuels and lubricants but also auto care services, convenience stores, restaurants, cash points and much more. Giving easy access to financial services has the

potential to unlock enormous lifestyle, business and other financial opportunities to our customers and partners across Africa.

“In Africa, where virtually everyone has a mobile phone, OiLibya is partnering with Ecobank to enable customers to safely make digital financial transactions and help open up reliable, innovative and convenient financial services to population centers with limited banking facilities.”

Ecobank and OiLibya have large and growing pan-African footprints.

For instance Ecobank has a presence in 33 African countries with over 1200 branches and OiLibya operates in 18 countries with a network of more than 1000 service-stations.

On the other hand, OiLibya has been present in Africa for more than 20 years and yet its heritage supporting the growth of the continent extends over a century in several countries.

WORTHY RECOGNITION

L-R: Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & lndustry (LCCI), Mr. Knut Ulvmoen; President of the Chamber, Chief Nike Akande; GMD/CEO, CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, during the unveiling of the Manilla for the 2017 LCCI Awards in Lagos ... recently Abiodun Ajala

Peterside: FG Committed to Tackling Piracy Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said that the federal government is leaving no stone unturned in tackling the menace of piracy and other illicit crimes on the nation’s territorial waterways.

This, he said, was demonstrated by the federal government’s recent approval for the procurement of three helicopters and twelve fast intervention vessels to ensure coastal and aerial surveillance and patrol of the Nigerian maritime environment by the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA. Peterside, was quoted in a statement signed by the

NIMASA’s Head, Corporate Communications, Isichei Osamgbi to have said that “while acknowledging the fact that piracy is a global problem which is not peculiar to one continent or country, the need for a concerted and coordinated approach in tackling the menace cannot be overstated”.

He equally debunked recent reports that piracy was on the increase in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, noting that it is sad that some section of the media are manipulating statistics to the contrary. The truth he pointed out is that the reverse is the case as piracy has been reduced to the barest minimum. Accordingly, he noted that inter agency and regional cooperation through

bilateral agreements among others, as well as effective maritime domain awareness and strong maritime legislation to criminalise and punish piracy is fundamental in addressing the challenges. Speaking further, Dakuku said in recognition of the aforementioned, the governments of the West and Central African Countries including Nigeria at the regional level, subscribed to the Continental Maritime Charter on maritime security, safety and development in Africa, in Lome, Togo on the 15th of October, 2016, to strengthen inter-Agency and transnational coordination and cooperation among member countries in the area of maritime domain awareness, fight against all forms of maritime

crimes, prevention and control of pollution of the seas and to promote economic growth of the continent of Africa.

“In the area of inter agency cooperation, it is expedient to mention that NIMASA recently renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy to strengthen collaboration between NIMASA and the Navy to enhance the safety and security of navigation in our waters as, well as leverage on the use of the Federal Government’s Falcon Eye Satellite systems domiciled with the Nigerian Navy including NIMASA’s Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems to respond to distress calls within Nigerian waters in order to prevent and

adequately respond to threats within the Nigerian maritime environment ”, the DG stated.

“In order to bolster the aforementioned efforts of the agency to ensure a virile maritime sector through a robust legislative framework to criminalise and punish piracy and other maritime crimes committed in our waters to serve as a deterrent to offenders; Nigeria has prepared a draft Anti-Piracy Bill to give effect to the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts at Sea, 1988 and it’s Protocol of 2005 to punish and deter piracy and other maritime crimes, “ he added.

Total Deploys Solar Energy Solutions in Retail Stations Nosa Alekhuogie Total Nigeria Plc has reiterated its commitment to providing better energy with the deployment of solar hybrid solutions in strategic service stations across Nigeria.

The company said it has also gone beyond the introduction of the first solar service station it rolled out in West Africa in

2013.

According to a statement, the company said it is meeting the energy needs of Nigerian homes through its solar home solutions designed to combat unstable power supply and provide constant electricity.

From the giant step it took in 2013, the company said it has inaugurated a total of eight solar-powered service stations

in different parts of the country - Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Asaba, among others.

The company further noted that its deep experience in providing solar energy in Nigeria is based on the use of its high-end technology and unrivalled expertise. Through its installations, the Nigerian subsidiary of the French oil major, has established the cost savings benefits and

effectiveness in the use of solar energy in Nigeria coupled with its abundant solar resource.

“Developing renewable energy is a strategy for the Total Group in the evolving energy market and an industrial responsibility to combat the menace of climate change,” the company said. The company has also expanded the entire value chain necessary for the future

growth of renewable energies to include the storage (battery) sector with the acquisition of SAFT; known for its innovative and technological know-how.

“The quality of Total’s solar products and services characterises the new look of position in the Nigerian solar market and most importantly its commitment to better energy,” the company.

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NEWS

Bala-Usman Reduces Monopoly in Cargo Handling Stories by Eromosele Abiodun In a bid to reduce monopoly in the ports industry and enhance operational efficiency, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has directed that every terminal in the port is free to receive any cargo in as much as they have the technical competence to handle such cargo.

Speaking when she received members of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering(NAE) in her office, Usman requested for greater collaboration and support from the academy in

the areas of new engineering projects.

She also affirmed that NPA has a large pool of competent engineers who are versatile, and are contributing immensely to the organisation.

The NPA boss added that the authority would ensure a level playing field for all the operators.

While stressing that no investor is above the law, she stated that all operators must comply with laid down rules and regulations at the ports.

Usman assured stakeholders that the NPA would support the Academy, while the organisation would also look at the possibility

of supporting relevant technical institution in her corporate social responsibility (CSR) especially in the areas of capacity building.

In her address, the President of NAE, Mrs. J.O. Maduka expressed her joy at what the MD NPA has achieved within a short period, adding that NPA was noted to have produced very competent engineers in the past.

Maduka solicited NPA’s support in the efforts of the Academy to resuscitate engineering institutions and colleges in Lagos, lamenting that government has not given enough recognition to the profession.

Customs to Enforce ECOWAS Protocol along Lagos-Abdijan Corridor The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken proactive measures to eliminate all barriers that constitute impediments to effective trade viz-a-viz the ECOWAS protocol along the Lagos-Abdijan corridor.

The new Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Aliyu, who stated this on assumption of office, promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

This is as he matched words with action by further collapsing some operational structures along the busy land border.

The controller said he

occasionally monitors the modus operandi of officers under his jurisdiction by way of uninformed visit.

He enjoined the field officers to ensure that total compliance to the service extant laws is the hallmark while engaging in anti-smuggling operations.

Aliyu added that in order to ensure the standardisation of trade facilitation and protect the territorial integrity of the country, all incoming transport vehicles with particular emphasis to luxury buses must be subjected to scanning procedure as it is done with trucks and

containers.

Commenting on the trapped vehicles that could not meet the dateline of the policy pronouncement of the federal government, he charged the committee to ensure proper documents verification and authentication of duty payment of each vehicle trapped in the customs vehicle seat before release.

He warned that smugglers must not take advantage of the exercise as the numbers of the trapped vehicles in customs custody are known to the Command.

Women in Maritime Africa Launched in Nigeria Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAFRICA), a continental body of African Women in the maritime Industry has been inaugurated in Nigeria with new executive elected to lead the organisation.

WIMAFRICA has national chapters in all African countries with headquarters in Angola, and is an institutional framework for capacity building, cooperation and entrepreneurship development of women in maritime sector.

The election, which was held at its inaugural meeting in Lagos, had Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere emerging as president.

In her acceptance speech, Anishere said that her regime would alleviate the hardship confronting women in the

maritime industry.

Anishere further said that one of the objectives of the association was to promote collaboration between the national, regional and international maritime organisations.

Anishere is a former President of Women In Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Nigeria) and present Vice President of WIMAFRICA at the Continental level.

According to her, the association will ensure advancement of gender equality in the maritime sector and support mainstream women participation in all aspects of “Blue Economy” She said that focus would also be on “Policy, Advocacy, and Maritime Awareness.”

“WIMA Nigeria will promote

human capacity development, enterprise and employment of women in all aspects of maritime sector. The association will ensure strategic leadership and serve as a voice for gender empowerment in the maritime sector. I will ensure that the association supports the advancement of women in the maritime sector in Africa. The newly-elected executives will assist to strengthen the maritime capacity in the Continent in order to promote a safe, secured and efficient cleaner ocean,” Anishere said.She noted that the association had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Africa Union in order to bring issues affecting women in maritime industry to the attention of the Commission.

ICRC Lauds NPA Management’s PPP Initiatives The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has been commended for the success it has recorded in the areas of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) across board in order to bring to bear the dividends of a most effective administrative management. Top executives of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) gave the commendation when they

visited the NPA management in Lagos. The group was led by the Director Civil Service Transformation Department, Gabriel Aduda.

Speaking during the occasion, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman expressed the preparedness of the management of the organisation at collaborating further with meaningful initiatives with

the government agencies and globally with the view to joining the comity of nations along the dictates of generating more revenue for the country. Similarly, she enlisted the support of the Commission in her quest for a regime of greater infrastructural sufficiency and customer satisfactory operations in the sector and in relations to activities in the sub-region.

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

Supply Chain Risk - Managing the Weakest Link

T

he continued dependence on crude oil exports as a primary source of foreign exchange earnings makes the Nigerian economy vulnerable to domestic and external shocks from the oil and gas sector. By 2020, the government of Nigeria plans to have made significant progress towards achieving structural economic change and having a more diversified and inclusive economy. This will involve a major strategy to diversify the economy from oil as a major revenue earner to other areas like agriculture and solid minerals.

Thus Nigeria is projected to become a net exporter of key agricultural products, such as rice, cashew nuts, groundnuts, cassava and vegetable oil. Solid minerals will include 44 known types of minerals of varying mixes and proven quantities.

For this to work, the buyers of export items from Nigeria must be given some level of assurance that the items will be shipped to them on time in the agreed quantities, specification and quality. This introduces the various elements of supply chain risk.

A supply chain consists of the different activities that transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to the end customer. For example, in producing sugar the supply chain might involve sugarcane farmers, processors, packaging manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. It is a set of interconnected processes and resources that starts with the sourcing of raw materials and ends with the delivery of products and services to end users. Many organisations outsource major parts of their operations and support services.

For the government, the key supply chain elements must be managed if Nigeria’s exports of agricultural produce and solid minerals are to become a reality.

All kinds of uncertainties can cause problems in the supply chain. It is impossible to eliminate risk entirely, but adequate attention to risk management matters can reduce the likelihood and magnitude of any disruption to supply.

Due to the need for movement of goods in the supply chain, a common risk element is transportation and logistics. Nigeria’s transport infrastructure stock is inadequate for the size of the economy and constitutes a major cost and constraint for both large and small businesses. Investments in strengthening Nigeria’s infrastructure will make a significant contribution towards building a competitive economy.

In addition the supply chain, including the transport logistics, warehousing, border clearance processes and costs and all the attendant skills need to match up to the challenge.

Recent deregulation and investment has led to increased professionalism in and modernisation of the haulage and logistics companies and it is reported that there is good performance with outsourcing, sub-contracting and the holding of safety stock and supply chain diversity. But Nigeria has continued to consistently underperform and remain in the 4th percentile on World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index as reflected on poor rankings on: •Time delays in international shipment •Poor tracking and tracing capabilities •Poor logistics quality and competence •Efficiency of customs clearance process •Quality of trade and transport related

infrastructure •Ease of arranging competitively priced shipment •Quality of logistics services •Ability to track and trace consignments •Frequency with which shipment reach the consignee within the scheduled time Due to its global nature and systemic impact on the firm’s financial performance, the supply chain arguably faces more risk than other areas of the company. Risk is a fact of life for any supply chain, whether it’s dealing with quality and safety challenges, supply shortages, legal issues, security problems, regulatory and environmental, compliance, terrorism, weather and natural disasters.

The repercussions of supply chain disruptions to the financial health of a company can be far-reaching and devastating and thence the effect on the economy is affected.

Supply chain risk management like other risk management disciplines requires the same sequence of process; •Identify the context •Identify the risks (opportunities and threats) •Analyse and evaluate the risks •Take action to respond to the risks •Measure, monitor and communicate Having identified the risks using some form of prompt such as the one above, it is then important to analyse the size of the risk in terms of likelihood and impact so that the risks can be prioritised for action. For supply chain risks, there are additional impact elements that need to be considered such as; •The likely duration of the interruption •The level of interference with the rest of the chain (can it cause other knock on threats / opportunities?)

•How easy is it to be corrected?

•The relative cost of the corrective action?

The scope and reach of the supply chain cries out for a formal, documented process to manage risk. A firm that is determined to succeed and maximise the opportunities that are presented in today’s Nigeria will have already embedded supply chain risk management into its armoury of good management disciplines.

Finally, evaluation should be undertaken to determine the actual risk exposures that are associated with increasingly complex supply chain arrangements. Insurance may be available to cover incidents such as fire, flood or earthquakes, but events such as poor quality of components, late delivery by suppliers which could be due to poor logistic infrastructure are generally not insurable.

Comprehensive enterprise risk management frameworks can be used to predict, and mitigate supply chain risks. Companies that proactively implement a supply-chain risk management program will be more resilient and prepared for the day when a “risk” becomes “real” and will stand the test of time.

•Mbonu, FERP, CIRM(UK), HCIB, MsRM (Stern), studied Engineering, is an experienced Banker and Enterprise Risk Management professional. Earned a post graduate degree in Risk Management from New York University Stern School of Business, and is a member of the Institute of Risk Management -UK. Can be reached on 09092092046 (SMS Only); email: rm4riskmgt@gmail.com

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AVIATION

Ethiopian Airline Promises Travellers Great Offer, Resumes Singapore Flights Stories by Chinedu Eze Ethiopian Airline has announced the recommencement of flight service to Singapore from June 1, 2017. The airline, which now partners Singapore tourism authorities, said the decision to resume flights to the Far East country was in response to demands from its numerous travellers from Nigeria and other parts of the continent.

The General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Solomon Begashaw, said all arrangements had been concluded to ensure a -five weekly flights for a start, adding “all its customers stand to benefit hugely from the code-share agreement on which the flight is being initiated, so that travellers could be taken to farther destinations.”

According to Begashaw, in addition to the 53 destinations that the airline operates to, customers would have access to other destinations that Singapore Airlines serves, being a

member of Star Alliance and code-share partner. In other words, in partnership with Singapore Airlines, Ethiopian would take travellers to different destinations in the Far East with flights that emanate from its operational hub in Addis Ababa.

“We have series of innovative products to offer our customers on these routes like we have done over the years. They now have unlimited access to destinations covered by these Star Alliance airlines”, he said.

Begashaw disclosed during the meeting that Ethiopian Airlines projected $10 billion revenue by 2025 is still realistic as everything is geared towards actualising that goal.

This is evidenced by the massive investment going on in the company, including expansion of airports and terminal facilities and the acquisition of more aircraft, as Bagashaw disclosed that the airline was ready to reopen its Singapore route because it has the equipment to operate the

destination. “At that time, we were not operating then with the right equipment. Then our orders were on the line, some of the airplanes we planned to use had not arrived then.

Now, everything is in order, opening Singapore direct to Addis and also, we have the right equipment, the right resource to restart this market”, he added. Also, Area Director, Middle East and Africa International Group Singapore Tourism Board, Mohamed Firhan Abdul Salam described Singapore as a magical country boasts exciting and alluring places.

Abdul Salam assured Nigerian travel agents and others, who expressed misgivings about the difficulty in obtaining Singapore visa that there have been positive efforts being made to the Singaporean government to relax the visa rules, adding that the tourism board was dialoguing with its Embassy to see how genuine travellers can easily procure visa to Singapore.

Air Peace to Train Students on Non-violence

• To start flights to Asaba, Warri Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema has announced a package of over N300 million to train 52 executive members of the National Association Nigerian Students (NANS) in non-violence education in Nigeria at Emory University in the United States.

Onyema also promised the students that Air Peace would soon resume flights to Asaba and Warri to ease access to these cities by air.

He made the announcement when the Grand Patron of NANS in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ubong King and leaders of the student body visited the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos recently.

The airline, he added, would also henceforth fly leaders of NANS and all other categories of students to school on resumption and out of school on vacation for

a flat fare of N18, 000, adding that the airline was offering a fare much better than the 15 per cent discount the students sought because of its belief in the youths’ capacity to transform the country.

Onyema commended the executives of NANS for pursuing issues relating to the country’s wellbeing without ethnic considerations, saying the nation needed a pool of focussed, detribalised and non-violent youths to drive its development agenda.

He urged NANS executive to regard the opportunity offered by the airline to train them in non-violence education with seriousness, saying they were expected to return to the country as non-violence experts to support the campaign for peace his not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation for Ethnic

Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) had championed for many years.

Meanwhile the Air Peace boss has stated that the difficulties being experienced by air travellers on the Delta State route would soon be a thing of the past.

Onyema gave the assurance when members of the National Association of Niger-Delta Students visited the airlines Lagos office to show appreciation for the airline’s efforts to transform air travel experience in Nigeria and provide jobs for the people.

The Air Peace boss, who was responding to the appeal of the National President of the Niger Delta students, Comrade Martins Abebe for the airline to operate flights to Warri and Asaba in Delta State, said the status of the airports in the two cities did not guarantee safe landing of the carrier’s B737 aircraft.

IATA Steps Up Efforts to Improve Quality of Aviation Fuel The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Joint Inspection Group (JIG), and Airlines for America (A4A) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and promote safety and quality assurance in global aviation fueling activities.

This was aimed at maintaining the quality of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1 that is distributed globally.

“Maintaining the quality of the aviation fuel supply and the supporting infrastructure and operations is vital to the safe and efficient functioning of the air transport industry. This MoU, covering all airport fuel storage and handling, puts forward an industry-level programme for

application of standards and a single global reference for airline inspections. This is a great step forward in further promoting global safety and efficiency,” said IATA’s Director for Global Airport Infrastructure and Fuel, Hemant Mistry.

Through the programme IATA, JIG and A4A would seek to encourage the gradual standardisation of aviation fuel processes by facilitating compliance with current industry standards and best practices, and by establishing high quality common inspection processes to ensure that the aviation fuel is delivered clean, dry and on-specification.

This is expected to facilitate a reduction in the number of

required inspections at a given location, while increasing the scope of coverage across the globe and the reduction of cost.

“JIG’s vision is to work with industry partners to establish and enhance standards for the safe handling and quality control of aviation fuels globally. By partnering with IATA and A4A we will be able to more effectively support the industry by strengthening the implementation of our standards and providing a framework for the development of an industry Quality Assurance Scheme. This will form the foundation of a global inspection process that is supported by airlines,” said Chairman of the JIG Council, John Buxton.

AIR WATCH Still on Exploitative Airfares

A

ccording to industry experts, there is a general saying by foreign airlines that Nigerian operating environment is insecure. They use this assumption to charge exorbitant fares and up insurance premium when compared to what is obtainable in other countries in the region.

About two years ago, precisely during the Air Finance Conference for Africa in Johannesburg, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and KLM officials admitted that Nigeria was their most profitable route in terms of profit per flight. What a Nigerian passenger pays as fare per distance and time is higher than what a passenger in another country in the region and beyond pay. Despite that these foreign airlines claim that Nigeria environment is insecure, it has never been on record that they abandoned the Nigerian route for a necessarily long time; except when they cannot compete, as was the case with Iberia and United Airlines that left last year.

Industry experts posit that the major cause of this is because Nigerian airlines cannot compete on these international routes. They noted that the withdrawal of Arik Air flights from New York, London and Johannesburg consolidated the high fares for South Africa Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines. Indirectly, this favours other carriers like Ethiopia Airlines, RwandAir, Turkish Airlines, the Middle East carriers and others which take Nigerian passengers to their hubs and then fly them to these destinations at comparatively lower fares than what airlines that operate directly to these lucrative routes charge.

THISDAY learnt that Nigerians in New York and other cities are lamenting the cancellation of flights by Arik Air to the city because the Nigerian airline, like the Nigeria Airways of yore provided the Nigerianpassengermoreluggageandataffordable fares. It was the same experience in London and Johannesburg. Medview Airline, the only Nigerian carrier operating to London currently, has been forced to shrink its flights to London to twice weekly because of the low season. So the foreign carriers now have a field day to charge Nigerian passengers outrageous fares.

Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema remarked: “I have said it times without number that foreign airlines are constantly depleting our reserves because there is no Nigerian airline to compete with them. Why won’t the fares go up?

They are having a field day on Nigerians. Do you know that a Nigerian passenger pays higher fare for a six-hour flight to London more than that of a South African passenger who flies nine hours from Johannesburg to London? Go and Google flight times to different destinations in the world and see what they pay and compare it to our six hours flight to London or 11 hours or 12 hours to United States, Nigerians pay more. And they will tell you the country is so unsafe, why are they coming to the country if it is so unsafe?”

The International AirTransport Association (IATA) had projected that the aviation industry in Nigeria could directly and indirectly employ one million persons and generate multiple earnings from

the industry if the country’s local airlines could be empowered and if Africa embraced the Yamoussoukro Declaration, which is open sky for Africa.

This could only be achieved if Nigeria has strong local carriers that would be able to create employment and operate profitably. Profitable local carriers would create other jobs in the area of catering, cargo services, charter services, maintenance organisations and handling services.

The ultimate beneficiaries of strong, profitable Nigerian airlines are the passengers as industry observers indicate that Nigerian airlines would always charge relatively lower fares for international operations, they would always give higher baggage allowances and they would go further to “accommodate the peculiar whimsies of Nigerian passengers” because they understand Nigerian travellers better.

But the former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and secretary of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu differed in his view about the operations of Nigerian airlines on long haul flights. According to Ojikutu, Nigerian problems are more with “our airlines rather than the foreign airlines; how many of them have developed the capacity to operate in the international routes sufficiently enough to compete with the foreign airlines? Those that are operating to London how many aircraft have they deployed for the three or five flights weekly? If they have less than two aircraft, they have not got the capability for internationalcompetition.Wehaveabout80Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASAs) and only about 23 of them are operating.”

Ojikutu also noted: “We hardly can reciprocate British AirwaysandVirginAtlanticoperating21flightsweekly from the UK route alone, even with Arik operating, we hardly could reciprocate 10 which is now reduced to only three Medview flights. To compete with the 23 foreign airlines on the operating BASA routes, we would need minimum 60 long range aircraft. We have been asking them to merge by pooling their fleet together but ego did not allow them; they depend on debtconcessionsandgovernmentinterventionfunds to survive only to last for about four to five years and they pack up. That has been the trend in the lifespan of the Nigerian airlines.”

But some industry observers have faulted Ojikutu’s argumentandnotedthatgovernmentsofsomeAfrican countriesthatwanttheirairlinestodowellusuallygive them support by lowering taxes, facilitating access to cheaper fuel and lead diplomatic efforts to sign BASA with targeted countries that have huge traffic passenger market like Nigeria.

“This has nothing to do with the number of aircraft. I recall when British Airways allegedly connived with the airport authorities in the UK to stop Arik from operating Abuja to London. Our government could not fight for Arik and it remained like that. How many aircraft do RwandAir have? I am not sure it is up to 10 and they deployed them to international routes and their government is helping them to penetrate African markets,” said an industry analyst.

Nigerian will continue to pay outrageous fares for international flights unless the federal government empowers and encourages local carriers to become competitive on these routes.

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INTERVIEW

Onyema: Foreign Airlines are Depleting Our Reserves Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema argues that pent up demand on the foreign exchange market arising from capital flight is one of the reasons for the pressure on the exchange rate, and urged government to encourage indigenous airlines to build capacity and operate international routes. He spoke to Chinedu Eze. Excerpts: What gave you the impetus to embark on international flights, knowing that since the defunct Nigeria Airways, local airlines have not been successful on long haul routes?

Like I have always said , I am a Nigerian nationalist, I believe in this country whole heartedly and if I find myself in any position that I can use in touching the lives of Nigerians, in helping the economy of my country, in promoting the wellbeing of this country, I will get involved.

It pains me that the foreign airlines are ravaging this country; they are all depleting the resources of this country through capital flight. If you know the amount of money they take out of this country in foreign exchange, you will weep. And over time they have been doing this, they are all enjoying the fact that no one strong Nigerian airline is giving them a challenge. And it has gotten to a level that they try to abort any plan by Nigerian airlines to operate international.

When you said there is a kind of conspiracy to not allow Nigerian airlines to operate long haul, it is true. It is true that the foreign airlines do not ever wish to have one strong Nigerian airline that can comfortably and reliably compete with them. They feel the route from which they make so much money is being threatened.

It is also happening among African airlines.

The African airlines do not actually want any Nigerian airline to survive. The survival and the strengthening and wellbeing of indigenous Nigerian carriers are a huge threat to them.

So it pains me that these countries airlines have several frequencies into Nigeria yet they don’t want Nigerian airlines to come into their own cities. These countries are protecting their airlines the way they know best. They do not want competitors.

I will give you an example; Togo’s Asky or whatever it is called comes into this country about four times a day. They come to Abuja; they come to Lagos as many times as they wish, they are being given free access into the country. And when we applied to fly to Togo, in the spirit of the Bilateral Air Service agreement (BASA) to come into their country, they blocked us. And they lost their minds and went and put it in writing and sent to us, stopping us from operating to their country.

I am still going to court to make sure that Asky is stopped from coming into this country.

The courts of Nigeria must protect this country, because it is unfair. The BASA spirit says that if you come to my country, I go to your country.

If you come to my country five times, I go to your country five times if I want. Why are they stopping Air Peace? So a lot of them are scared of Nigerian airline because they know that we have got the strength to do the right thing. And they are scared that Air Peace will give them the competition. And a particular airline in Africa is at the forefront of trying to block our airline everywhere. I have gotten that information, so they are using everything possible to stop us. But it is not going to work. They can do it for some time but it can’t last forever.

It is either they allow us to come into their countries or they will not come into Nigeria.

And if the government is not going to do anything about it we shall through the judiciary do something about it. This country must be protected.

There is relative increase in fares for international destinations like London, US destinations because there is no Nigerian operator apart from Medview that is going to London. How does it result in capital flight from Nigeria?

Onyema

I have said it time without number; the foreign airlines are constantly depleting our reserves because there is no Nigerian airline to compete with them. Why won’t the fares go up? They are having a field day on Nigerians.

Do you know that a Nigerian passenger pays higher fare for a six-hour flight to London more than that of a South African passenger who flies nine hours from Johannesburg to London? Go and Google flight times to different destinations in the world and see what they pay and compare it to our six hours flight to London or 11 hours or 12 hours to United States, Nigerians pay more. And they will tell you the country is so unsafe, why are they coming to the country if it is so unsafe?

Air Peace has come out as a strong Nigerian airline to compete, all we ask is for this government to support the Nigerian airlines.

With the plan Air Peace has, we don’t need a national carrier in Nigeria. This is because we are getting support to increase our fleet to 20 and we target to schedule for international destinations. In Air Peace, we have integrity

and that is why many corporate organizations want to do business with us.

So we are going all along. We have bought the Boeing 777s, so we are matching the foreign airlines with beautiful aircraft, triple class configuration, first class, business class and economy. We have the best pilots in the land; all these foreign airlines are poaching Air Peace pilots. They will stop all that because we are matching them, wages for wages. So Air Peace is very strong and we have come out to compete; all we are asking is a level playing field and for our own government to support us. I am not asking the government to gives us money but to support us, if these foreign airlines are blocking us our government should give us full backing and protect our airlines; just as those countries protect their own airlines.

However, if I don’t see that happening I am going to court to stop these airlines and I am going to embarrass Togo. Cote d’Ivoire allowed us to come in and ask us to be paying almost $7000 per landing. So where is that done? Do

they pay $7000 per landing here? So they have a way of frustrating you. Cameroon has not even answered us; we have been there for the past one and half years going to Duala almost every month. Senegal is doing the same thing. We have gone to Senegal more than I can remember for the past one and half years; yet nothing.

These people come into Nigeria and go. Air Cote D’Ivoire comes to Lagos. RwandAir is even doing Lagos-Accra, Accra-Lagos, what is in Rwanda for us? So before allowing these countries, we should also think of what is there in their country we can benefit from. If you apply to go to America, they will tell you that you have to apply to their own airlines. Why are we not carrying our own airlines along in giving these airlines from these countries frequencies? If you look at the Ministry of Transport application form the US, one of the directives is that you must inform US airlines CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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INtERvIEW

ONYEMA: FOREIGN AIRLINES ARE DEPLETING OUR RESERVES that operate to your country.

You must inform the American airlines, it is part of their application process. They might decide that you won’t come and you won’t come. So in Nigeria the government should also carry indigenous airlines along in giving these frequencies just like it is done all over the world. Why should the foreign airlines be doing Port Harcourt-Abuja before taking off to their countries? It is not done anywhere in the world. We must save our fragile currency; we must save our fragile economy. If you quantify what the legacy airlines take out of this country in a year, it is one of the greatest ways of depleting our reserves.

Nigerian airlines should be encouraged to get it right. Now Air Peace has stepped out, with Air Peace, Nigeria does not need a national airline because we are going to support our government and we want our government to support us to provide the needed capacity for Nigeria. We are going strongly and we are doing the right things, safety is top notch in Air Peace, the governance structure here is top notch, it knows no tribe or religion, no brother, no sister, it is based on merit. We have the best pilots, we are financially responsible, when we borrow money from the bank; we create an enabling environment for the bank to get their money back.

So the banks are willing to give us money and that is our strength. Our strength lies on our integrity. The banks are out there to support us. Fidelity is bankrolling us because they see that we have integrity to do the right thing.

As I said earlier, Nigeria does not need a national carrier; what Nigeria needs now is a national hangar. Let government facilitate the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and challenge the indigenous airlines and see what will happen.

I heard that it is one of the major plans of this government, as the Minister of State, Aviation; Senator Hadi Sirika is working hard to see that we can have MRO in this country. He has my full support in that.

The foreign airlines will advise that we need national carrier; government has no business doing business; except the project is buoyed by the private sector. With Air Peace we don’t need a national carrier; we are ready to provide effective service to the Nigerian citizens. We once requested to build MRO facility but the concerned agency was unwilling to give us land.

And we are always talking about Ethiopia, we don’t need Ethiopian Airlines to come and do anything for Nigeria. It is a shame that we have to run to Ethiopian Airlines to come and run airlines for us. We had requested for hangar space since the first day we got AOC, two and half years ago. When they wanted to give us they slammed about N650 million for 15 years rent, that means they didn’t want to give it to us. Why should a Nigerian airline be maintaining its aircraft on the ramp? It is not done; they should create the enabling environment for the airlines to thrive.

The west Coast and the Africa destinations you plan to do, have you reviewed the market, the movement of passenger from Nigeria to these destinations? What is the density of the passenger traffic?

When we talk about traffic it is relative to the equipment you want to put in there. Most of this traffic originates from Nigeria. These countries do not have Nigeria’s population and Nigerians move a lot more than the citizens of these countries. Most of the African airlines target Nigeria because they know Nigeria does not have strong airlines and they continue to strive to ensure we don’t have one, but they cannot frustrate Air Peace. So we have done our survey, we know where to put which equipment, Air Peace is bringing about 12 Embraer 145 jets, they are undergoing their maintenance checks now. We are ready to bring money into these country, we are ready to create jobs for our people. These other airlines from Africa they are not creating jobs for our people, we are ready to create jobs for our people, so we need encouragement from our government. We are bringing in about 12 ERJ Embraer Jets, 60 seater aircraft.

You see, you start losing out when you put Boeing B737-800 on these routes; how many people are you going to carry? But Embraer

been done a long time ago even by preceding governments. However, if the government is trying to do this, it is a welcome idea and I don’t think the time is too short for them to do it, even if they start it now and they put in every effort to it they might accomplish it before December. But they need to start because we had a very bad time last year and passengers will not even understand even when they are seeing the weather. Some passengers are unruly and they may not understand and they will take it out the airlines. So it is very welcome information that the government wants to improve the landing aids. I urged them to go on and do it.

Onyema

145 is a 60 seat jet, rest assured that you can fill it up to Duala, from Duala you can go to Libreville, and all over the West Coast and Central Africa. And then for our international flight, we want to create a hub for this country.

Small African countries shouldn’t be disgracing us. When Nigerians want to go to London, they will first go to Kigali on RwandAir flight before they go to London. Nigerians going to Dubai, they will first go to Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa and Kigali to go to Dubai. These airlines are creating multiple routes into this country.

I am not against them, I am not against open skies, when we talk about open skies there is no unlimited open skies, it must come with some conditions; there is no blanket open skies. That is what those other countries are practicing, they are frustrating us. I am not against open skies but they should also allow us to come into their countries. Our government should also give us rights to go into those countries. And when they gives us this permit to go into these countries, they should also follow it up and make sure that these countries obey the spirit of the BASA. These countries are not obeying it, I think it is a shame and an insult to this nation Nigeria, that Togo’s Civil Aviation Authority wrote us, stopping Air Peace from coming in. Meanwhile they are having a field day into Nigeria through Asky.

By now since I spoke about this I expected that Asky should have been stopped from

coming into the country until such a time they allow us to come into their own country. So if that is not going to happen I am going to go to court from May 22-25 to stop Asky. And I am going to do the same thing for any other country that stops Air Peace from coming in. so we have done our feasibility, there is market in those countries but it is relative to the kind of equipment you are going to use.

It pains me that the foreign airlines are ravaging this country; they are all depleting the resources of this country through capital flight

Recently NAMA and FG, Minister for State Aviation, said there are plans to procure equipment to upgrade the landing aids so that what happened last December where many flights were canceled because of harmattan haze will not happen again.

What is your reaction to that plan?

Well, this is something that should have

Do you have a channel to access government to let them know what Togo did and did they respond?

We have reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Ministry of Transportation. I am sure the Nigerian government is getting across to them. And do you know that 48 hours after that publication that I was going to sue Togo, they wrote to us apologising that it was administrative hiccups; that they would do something about it soon and they would come and inspect our facilities, but since then they have not come. But I am going to make real my threat; I will pray the Nigerian Customs to ground their own airline so that they will see how it is. We have invested in human resources, infrastructure, in preparation for these flights into Togo and they are stopping us, our planes are parked there; not doing any work. There is this threat of sack hanging on the staff that we have employed for this purpose. Will the Nigerian government watch and allow me sack our staff because of another country that has four frequencies into Nigeria is not allowing us to come into their own country? So this is the issue the court will adjudicate on.

You noticed that this year fares are relatively high on domestic routes. Some industry observers attribute to limited equipment or do you think there are more passengers despite the hard times?

I disagree with you; the fares are not high at all. N35, 000 economy is not the basic, N35, 000 is when the aircraft is getting filled up.

We still have N20, 000 and some airlines are selling N16, 000. Let me tell you, in this country, Nigerian passengers pay the least compared to any other place in the world. Everything in airlines business is based on the dollar. If you are flying from Miami to Atlanta, that is a one hour flight, if you want to buy your ticket same day you might pay as much as $300 for that trip. $300 times 450, even at 400 it is N120, 000 for economy flight of one hour.

You go to other places even Ghana here, our tickets are not high at all.

With the kind of fares we are charging Nigerian airlines will continue to find it difficult to break even. Because when you look at it, you first start from N16, 000 before it gets to N35, 000 that N35, 000 maybe about three seats only that you are buying for N35, 000, so on the average what the airlines are selling might be about N22, 000 and that is very cheap.

There is unhealthy competition among us, so everybody is trying to outwit the other to everybody’s loss, so the Nigerian fares are the cheapest. We pay the cheapest because of the dollar exchange rate; you can say at least they even increase to N35, 000. Arik was charging N39, 000 about three years ago so it is not getting higher; meanwhile, the exchange rate has quadrupled, fuel cost has doubled, everything has doubled. And we are charging the former fares, so it has not gone higher and it is unreasonable and unrealistic.

The fares we pay in Nigeria very unrealistic considering where we are coming from, considering the fact that we are not even in America where you can see your spare parts in the next shop within one hour. So if you put all the cost of running this in Nigeria, the cheapest fare in Nigeria should have been about N70, 000 for economy seat. If you put everything into consideration; yet we are still paying N20,000, N19,000 and N18,000, you can’t break even on those fares.

If Nigeria begins to produce aviation fuel locally how will it positively affect your operations?

Of course, if Nigeria is producing aviation fuel locally it will reduce the cost of acquisition of the product. Right now we are buying at times N200 plus, N180 plus, but it has come down a little bit now but it is still very, very high. It used to be N97 but even then we were complaining, all over the world they will tell you that aviation fuel is 40 percent of your operational cost but in Nigerian is about 70 percent because you are paying three times over for the product. But if we are producing it in Nigeria it will help first of all: to conserve our foreign earnings. It will help us to buy this fuel in naira and not in dollars and then change to naira, everything will be fully computed and it is going to be cheaper.

And it is going to also make us reduce the fares we are charging and the availability will even be more, so issues of scarcity will stop.

The down time you are going to wait for the product to come from Europe, America or from where ever to Nigeria is a lot but if it is produced in Nigeria, you cut off all those chains and it will impact on our turn around.

There won’t be scarcity and the passengers will benefit from it.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARItIME

Trough Times at the Nation’s Ports Eromosele Abiodun posits that the federal government should consider the plight of stakeholders and fix the access roads to the nation’s ports, while at the same time addressing the extortion by government agents attached to the ports Like many sectors of the Nigerian economy, the maritime sector is as old as the country itself and the sector, also is bedevilled by many challenges that appear impossible to resolve.

Prior to the concession of ports to private operators in 2006, doing business in the nation’s ports was a hellish experience laced with a myriad of problems.

These included turnaround time for ships which took too long making businesses to brace themselves for weeks, if not months of endless waiting before their cargo could be loaded or discharged.

Before the concession, most of the few cargohandling facilities owned by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were moribund. As a result, shipping companies had to hire such facilities from private sector sources, leading to extra costs. Also, dwell time for goods in port was so long that overtime cargo filled the most active seaports and led to massive port congestion.

Labour for ship work was controlled by a mafia that controlled dockworker unions and had no scruples supplying less than the manpower paid for. Many port premises that could have been put to good use were abandoned, giving maritime businesses less options.

Also, massive portholes were the norm, rather than the exception leading to waste of man hours brought about by snail-like movement of goods to and from the ports. The resulting congestion led to consignments becoming untraceable with some of them disappearing into thin air. NPA often seemed helpless in effecting the return of such vanished cargoes, to the chagrin of hardworking businesspeople.

As a result of porous entry points, dangerous miscreants also known as wharf rats swarmed the ports to also eke out their daily bread, leading to predictable tales of woe on the part of responsible business people.

However, following the concession, there has been a relative improvement in port operations in areas relating to anchorage/berthing, ship turnaround time, throughput time, clearance and yard handling.

Troubling Times But the recent gains recorded by the government following the concession seem to have faded away following the infrastructure crisis bedevilling the ports. Chiefly among them is poor port access roads and alleged extortion by government officials. Efforts to get the federal government to fix the port access roads over the years have failed. In a bid to get government to fix the roads, customs clearing agents and Amalgamation of Trucking Associations had shut down process of clearance of goods from the Lagos ports and evacuation of cargoes by withdrawing their services. To ensure effective shut-down of the ports, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) joined forces with the truckers. National President of ANLC, Olayewola Shittu, told THISDAY that the action will continue until the port access roads are fixed. Shittu said several pleas to government to fix the roads in the past have fallen on deaf ears. He vowed that there would be no going back until government takes action.

According to him, “We are going ahead with the strike. We will withdraw our services, we will not work. Although some of our people are meeting with government officials now but I know that we cannot just turn round like that, no way.”

In a bid to forestall the strike, stakeholders in the haulage business and freight forwarding sector had met with Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Hassan Bello.

The NSC boss had pleaded with them to stay action promising to reach out to top echelon of government to address the issues. They, however, did not listen to him and went ahead with the action.

NPA’s Intervention As a way of dousing the tension, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),

STATE OF NIGERIAN PORTS

Poor Ranking on Trading Across Boarders (Ports): 182 out of I85 Countries in World Bank Ease of Doing Business Ranking.

No. of Government Agencies in the Ports: 14 instead of 6

Employment Potential: 800,000 industrial and 10,000 maritime new jobs.

Average timeline for clearing TEUs: 14 days instead of 2 days.

Revenue Losses: Over N1 trillion attributed to port inefficiencies.

Costs Attributed to Illegal Payments: About 50% import and 61% export processing costs.

Economic Competitiveness Index: 124th out of 140 countries in 2016 –World Economic Forum.

Delays: 71% of the time spent to import and 64% of the time spent to export are linked to delays.

Large GDP Size $478 billion, now 2nd largest in Africa

Hadiza Bala Usman, Monday in Lagos pleaded with clearing agents and freight forwarders to return to work and call off their action.

She made the appeal at a meeting with representatives of the truckers and licensed customs agents at a parley to resolve the lingering crisis. According to her, the problems of bad roads and inadequate infrastructure were also of concern to government and apologised on behalf of the ministers of works and transportation for the delay in fixing them.

She explained that major reconstruction work to completely overhaul the deplorable Apapa Wharf road has been taken over by the agency and will commence next month.

She said NPA has also made provision for the construction of the road in its 2017 budget with the sum of N4billion, adding that NPA has agreed to commence on the full reconstruction of the wharf road in collaboration with Dangote Group and Flour Mills of Nigeria jointly funding the project.

Usman, who undertook an inspection tour of the failed port access roads at Tin can Island and Coconut axis following the strike action embarked upon by clearing agents and truck owners over the deplorable port access roads, called on them to give her time to fix the roads.

She also added that government has some bureaucratic challenges it faces in addressing the issues while she also pleaded for more time and patience.

She promised to open more channels of dialogues with the stakeholders like the Port Consultative Council (PCC) where issues will raise regularly with a view to finding lasting solutions.

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of service by licensed customs agents and freight forwarders at the ports appeared to be hit by a setback on day one. When THISDAY went round the ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island on Monday, there were scanty movements of trucks in and out of the port area.

Though vehicle traffic was low, there was heavy presence of policemen drawn from the Ports Authority Police Command to prevent breakdown of law and order.

National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA Dr. Kayode Farinto, who was seen at the entrance of Tin Can gate 2, confirmed the development.

Farinto told journalists that the compliance level by agents and freight forwarders at Tin Can was low.

Attempts by some agents to prevent trucks from entering the port was resisted as it almost resulted in physical scuffles before the trucks eventually went in.

An official of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Simon Nwonu told THISDAY that the service withdrawal action is making progress, confirming that the group was monitoring the progress being made with the action.

Customs Resist Agents Spokesman for Tin Can Customs, Uche Ejesieme told THISDAY that the leadership of the agents and freight forwarders groups came early Monday to the customs gate to prevent their members from gaining access into the customs facility.

Ejesieme added that customs officers were at work as early as 8.00am ready to attend to importers and agents willing to process their documents.

As at 1.00pm Ejesieme said work started at Tin Can when the leadership of the agents left.

He, however, stated that the man hours lost may likely affect the revenue collection of the command.

On her part, Public Relations Officer of Apapa Customs, Nkiru Nwala, told THISDAY that work was ongoing at the command’s Customs Processing Centre (CPC).

She maintained that the command had its usual number of persons coming to process entries but could not ascertain the effect of the action on revenue collection.

Evil Day Postponed However, as the NPA boss made attempt to get customs agents and truckers to end their strike, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to rehabilitate and make

the Oshodi-Apapa Dual Carriage Way and the access roads leading to the nation’s sea ports motorable.

The President of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, gave the ultimatum while responding to questions from journalists in Lagos.

He said that it was sad that the access roads to the ports were in a deplorable condition.

Adeyanju said that the union was worried that the access roads to the nation’s seaports and the Oshodi-Apapa Dual Carriage Way that leads to Apapa and Tin-Can Ports had been abandoned.

Specifically, he said: “It is sad that the gateway to the nation’s economy is abandoned. We have written several letters including issuance of ultimatums over these roads to no avail.

We can no longer live with the abandonment of access roads to the ports which have been in the state of disrepair for years in spite of efforts to draw government’s attention to the need to fix them.

“The union president said that for a long time, the Oshodi-Apapa dual carriage way as well as other port access roads had become death traps to road users. He said that the roads had been recording fatal accidents on a daily basis, and in December 2016, the NPA said that the contract for rehabilitation of the dual carriage way had been awarded. We are in May 2017, nothing has been done. The sad thing is that there is no sign that any contract had been awarded.”

He further said that NPA had last week written again to the union that contracts had been awarded for the rehabilitation of the roads.

“If after three months to six months, the rehabilitation project does not start, we shall be compelled to take necessary action without further notice,” the union leader said.

He appealed to the government to repair the roads to save lives of innocent Nigerians that get trapped on the road or are attacked, robbed, harassed, intimidated and abused by hoodlums.

He said that hoodlums had been taking advantage of the deplorable roads to perpetuate all sorts of crimes.

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BUSINESSWORLD

pERSpEctIvE

OfRecessions,TradesUnionsandLabourRelations Dafe Otobo, in this article, notes that in times of economic contraction, effective union leadership is critical in encouraging private and public sector employers to create more jobs and reduce unemployment fall as a result); (b) Under-consumption. If the capitalists/ employers win the class struggle to push wages down and labour effort up, raising the rate of surplus value (profits), then a capitalist economy faces regular problems of inadequate consumer demand and thus inadequate aggregate demand (fewer employed hands).

Introduction I should like to thank the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State Council for inviting me to participate in this Symposium with “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: an Appraisal” as its theme. Given the times and circumstances worldwide and in our country, the choice of topic is immensely sensible and commendable.

Global Economic Recession The Economic Recession today is not Nigerian, but global. But being Global does not mean the absence of local contributory factors to our situation. We talk of a global economic Recession today because we have a global economy, not because we have many countries. We have for several centuries had many countries but not the kind of economic and financial crisis we are experiencing today.

We are all over the world experiencing economic recession, not to the same extent or degree to be sure, because we share in or participate in certain global economic and financial institutions, which partly regulate and also comprise economic transactions between countries and between local and foreign or transnational companies. A combination of factors which need not concern us here, including integrated air, land and sea transportation and advances in information technology, led to the expansion of local and regional economies into one global economy. So, what is this global economy?

Global economy The Global Economy comprises national economies, Regional and Sub-regional economic groupings (e.g. ECOWAS), Regional and subregional financial and trade regulating institutions (e.g. African Development Banks- ADB), International trade, financial and development institutions/agencies, Relevant UNO trade and financial agencies, and Transnational/ multinational companies. And the structure of the global economy may differentiated along the following lines or classification: a) Long-industrialised economies; b) Newly industrialising economies; c) Raw materialsproducing economies; d) Capital-intensive and rich economies, of which only a few of the long-industrialised economies are; and e) Poor capital economies.

Int’l economic system and its dynamics Simplified considerably, it is how various units which make up the global system go about investing and trading that is referred to as the so-called International Economic System.

Typically, they operate through Stock Exchanges, transnational or multinational companies, and jumping into the foray are the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, regional and international credit financial institutions and thousands of a variety of fund managers, and insurance companies.

The underlying philosophy or ideology of this international economic system is that of leaving the supply of goods and services and the determination of their prices and other terms to the now-famous “market forces”, demand and supply. The push therefore is for “deregulated markets”, whether of exchange rates, finance and financial derivatives, shares and futures, services, or labour, transactions that should exclude involvement of governments or state authorities.

So, intra-continental and inter-continental business opportunities and interests give birth to multinational or transnational companies, with subsidiaries located in all continents.

Multinational companies and other investors compete for global markets and global sources of raw materials, with strategies fashioned to cope with or adapt to local circumstances of national economies.

So, what has all this got to with Economic recession in Nigeria today?

Economic Recession or Crisis

(c) Full employment profit squeeze. When capital accumulation increases the demand for labour power, thereby raising wages, if wages of the many more employed rise “too high,” it hurts the rate of profit, causing triggering a recession as labour gets laid off, and declining wages/incomes lead to fall in consumption, which leads to further fall in profits and so on.

In sum, Economic Recession or Crisis is seen as part of the larger crisis of the social order under Capitalism and Liberal Democracy.

Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

The concept and notion of Economic Recession or Crisis derive from huge debates about the nature and workings of the private enterprise economic system from the eighteenth century, especially since Karl Marx. An industrialising Europe was dominated by the doctrine of Classical Liberalism. Classical liberalism holds that individual rights are natural, inherent, or inalienable, and exist independently of government. It is a philosophy that upholds the sovereignty of the individual, with private property rights seen as essential to individual liberty.

Applied to economic matters and general social policy by a group of French, Continental and British economists during and since the times of Adam Smith and David Ricardo, it argues for minimum state involvement in the supply or production, pricing and distribution of goods and services. This has since been generally labelled Laissez faire Economics, especially after Adam Smith’s books, The Wealth of Nationsand The Theory of Moral Sentiments were published in the eighteenth century and in which, among other things, Adam Smith wrote of an “invisible hand” of the market mechanism, the infallible and most efficient value-allocating role of the forces of demand and supply.

So, what have these got to do with Economic Recession or Crisis?

It did not take long to observe that the capacity of demand and supply to adjust themselves automatically was limited and not as smoothsailing as supposed, that there were periods of scarcity and that aggregate welfare did not increase as rapidly as claimed. More crucially, like day always following the night, periods of boom or prosperity for businesses were always followed by period of recession or bust.

Karl Marx and his followers, socialists and communists developed thoroughgoing critique of the capitalist system, propositions which have all come to be known as the Crisis Theory. The Crisis Theory is concerned with explaining the business cycle, recession and crises in capitalism. Karl Marx noted that it is in the nature of the capitalism system to suffer from periodic crises because of its internal contradictions. Prominent among the contradictions or factors identified by Marx are three, which have remained classic and which economists of all ideological hues have come to accept: (a) The tendency of the rate of profit to fall (As more goods and services are supplied because investors increase, prices reduce and profits

Keynesian Economics At the end of World War II when all European economies lay in ruins, reconstruction and rehabilitation could not be based on market forces alone and the activities of entrepreneurs in a situation where capital was very limited and lives disrupted. Helped along by American Marshall Aid Plan, the State assumed a commanding role in rebuilding respective economies and which led to the rise and development of the Welfare State. Keynesian Economics are those prescriptions advocated by John Maynard Keynes and economists of his persuasion, measures designed to assist market forces rather than give them complete freedom as under Laissez Faire Economics.

Keynesian Economics thus attempts a “middle way” between laissez-faire, unadulterated capitalism and state guidance and partial control of economic activity. Here attempts to address economic crises with the policy of having the State/Government act as: i) a temporary super-capitalist and pillar of the underlying private enterprise system with its increasing range of welfare policies; and ii) actively supplying the deficiencies of unaltered markets through bailouts, subsidies, incentives, and other palliatives.

The new system was based on Economic Planning, representing an international consensus on the modification of Laissez Faire Economics, with member-states of the United Nations all adopting Development Plans for varying durations (5, 10,15, etc.). The lesson and wisdom now was that economic development could be planned for, and not merely the accidental or unintended, trickled-down effect of unrestrained market forces.

Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism Classical liberalism is a political ideology that developed in the nineteenth century in England, Western Europe, and the Americas. It is committed to the ideal of limited governmentand liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly, and free markets. In the age of Laissez Faire Economics of that time till the 1940s when USSR, Eastern bloc countries emerged and Keynesian Economics or Welfare Economics became orthodoxy in the Western World, Liberalism remained the dominant socio-economic ideology.

Neo-Liberalism Broadly speaking, Neo-Liberalism seeks to transfer part of the control of the economy from public to the private sector, in the belief that it will produce a more efficient government and improve the economic health of a nation. The concrete policies advocated by neo-liberalism are often taken to be John Williamson’s “Washington Consensus,” a list of policy proposals that appeared to have been adopted by the Washington-based international economic organisations (e.g. International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank). Williamson’s list included ten points: •Fiscal policy discipline; this is designed

to help lower expectations for what the government can do to improve the lives of citizens. For example, the policy decision to maintain a reserve of unemployed as part of an inflation-fighting strategy combined with a public relations campaign that this unemployment is natural and cannot be defeated without huge deficits or inflation.

• Redirection of public spending from subsidies(“especially indiscriminate subsidies”) toward broad-based provision of key pro-growth, pro-poor services like primary education, primary health care and infrastructure investment; • Tax reform– broadening the tax base by shifting the tax burden to the middle and lower economic groups and adopting moderate marginal tax rates; • Interest rates that are market-determined and positive (but moderate) in real terms; • Competitive exchange rates; • Trade liberalization – liberalization of imports, with particular emphasis on elimination of quantitative restrictions (licensing, etc.); any trade protection to be provided by law and relatively uniform tariffs; • Liberalization of inward foreign direct investmentincluding commitment to unlimited transfer of earnings across foreign borders; • Privatization of state enterprises; This occurs not only in the sense of the transfer of companies from the public to the private sector, but also in the conversion of social rights into marketable objects. Health and education, traditionally considered to be citizens’ rights, become economic interests and, in many countries, are integrated into circuits of accumulation. In some cases, remaining public sector agencies and enterprises are encouraged to adopt commercial and corporate management and organizational structures (corporatization).

With privatization of the public domain comes extractive fees for use of such resources and an increase in the overhead to the productive economy.

• Deregulation – abolition of regulations that impede market entry or restrict competition, except for those justified on safety, environmental and consumer protection grounds, and prudent oversight of financial institutions; • Legal security for property rights; and, • Financialization of capital.

The disciples of free movement of capital, now called ‘neo-liberals’, argued that: i) development has been blocked by inflated public sectors, distorting economic controls and overemphasis on capital formation; ii) Governments were part of the problem, not part of the solution; they were inefficient and often corrupt and hence parasitic, not stimulators of growth; iii) The solution was to privatize most of the public sector; iv) reduce the scale and scope of government spending; and v) give up all policies, from exchange rate controls to subsidies and redistributive taxation, that altered any prices that would otherwise be set by the impersonal forces of the market.

To summarise, ‘Market forces’ are now supposed to determine every transaction in the local economy, while the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and similar international rules (which favour the economically more advanced countries) and other tariff and non-tariff obstacles ‘regulate’ international trade. Thus, internally in most countries, xenophobia, ethnic, religious and other social divisions are on the increase, as aspirations remain unfulfilled.

Financial crisis of 2007–2010 As it is now an open secret, but also well documented by the Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopaedia for those of you seeking further details, the financial crisis of 2007–2010 was triggered by a liquidity shortfall in the United States banking system. It resulted in the collapse of large financial institutions, the “bail out” of banks by national governments and downturns in stock markets around the world.

The policy of Deregulation entrenched by Continued on page 39

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

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'WHY I LIKE ACTION MOVIES'

ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

28/COVER

19.05.2017

'Why I Like Action Movies'

Producer of the award-winning action movie, ‘A Mile From Home’, Eric Aghimien, is a young but very methodical Nollywood producer and director. In this interview with Mary Ekah, he talks about the making of his new movie, 'Slow Country', billed to hit the cinemas today, the motivation for making it, and his life as a filmmaker What is the concept behind your new movie, ‘Slow Country’?

Slow Country is about a woman who made some mistakes in her early days and now she is trying to deal with it. She had a son unexpectedly and in order to take care of him, she took a dive into the dark world of prostitution and drug trafficking. At some point, she wanted to get out of such trades but it became impossible to do so. So ‘Slow Country’ is metaphorical. It is not about Nigeria, so let me clear that. People think it’s about Nigeria because of the things we went through recently. But no it is not about Nigeria, it is just the right name I can come up with to describe the emotions this woman was going through. First of all, a lot happen in our mind, most of the battles we fight in life happen in our mind, trying to make decisions and trying to do stuffs. There is a different world within us that we have to contend with every day - battles we have to fight with ourselves, I consider that the greatest battle human beings fight. So, this is a woman sitting in the dark room, thinking what her life would have been like and what her life is right now, comparing both. So, it was something that is almost indescribable, I had to look for a word to describe how she felt, so ‘Slow Country’ came to my mind. So that was just how the title came up. I actually wrote ‘Slow Country’ in 2011. It was supposed to be my first movie but realistically it wasn’t possible to make the film with the kind of money I had then, so I had to write ‘A Mile From Home’ and made it within the budget I had then. After, ‘A Mile From Home’s’ success, I was able to pull enough funds for this ‘Slow Country’, so I just went to dig out the story and completed it within a short time. Obviously I knew the cast that will work for each role. I just called them. Subconsciously, I was also writing the character for them, I knew what each person can do.

What criteria did you use for characters?

I’m very particular about characterisation in my stories and my scripts, so when I write characters, I write compelling characters, characters that are memorable. So what I do is when I write a story, everything I do is about that character, it must favour the character. You see in the film, I used a couple of the characters in the previous film; I had to bring them back because their convincing abilities. When you write characters, there are some people that their looks just suit your character, the way they look, the way they talk, the way they acts just suits your character. But another thing is I take time to discuss my character with the person. There are some characters that I had to discuss with the actors, this is what I want, this is my vision, this is how the character is going to act, this is the kind of cloth he will wear, this is how he is going to walk, his expression and all that. We discuss everything. Like Tuvi played by Sambasa Nzeribe, it was an outstanding performance but we had a long time to discuss the character. He comes to my house every night then, we sleep over the character, and we wake up on the character. And thankfully, it came out the way I envisioned it to be.

Why action movie again?

I did an action movie again because I like action movies but beyond action, its storytelling, action is just something on the side. Some people like to call me an action movie director, I am not an action movie director, I am just a storyteller and I really don’t agree when people call me an action movie director. I chose action because first of all it was like problem solving; before now, when people talk about action movie in Nigeria, they laugh because they think it’s going to be ridiculous, so I wanted to solve that problem personally, so I started putting things together. I started acquiring the kind of knowledge I needed to be able to solve that problem. So, when it was time, I decided to solve the problem about action movie in Nigeria, convincing the audience that it was possible. But I won’t like to be seen as an action movie director, because if you look at the story, it has every elements, it has drama, it has romance, it has a bit of comedy, but we just leave it as thriller or action. It’s even more

while reading about film - as in how to bring people together for a cause, how to motivate people to do the things you want them to do, as if were their ideas. So, I didn’t just read film, I read leadership books as well. I made reading a part of my life even though now I hardly read because of everything that is happening.

I read wide so it was easier to make ‘A Mile Form Home’ and after that I became a little bit bankable, so I could meet people and say I want some money to do a project and they could say ‘we have seen what you did before’. So that was how I made ‘Slow Country’.

Aghimien

challenging to make an action movie.

Do you think you have been able to solve this problem?

Yes, convincingly, because I have heard a lot of testimonies. The first one I heard was that some people were on a movie set trying to do an action movie, another person was like it’s not possible, let’s just do our drama, somebody just opened his phone and played ‘A Mile From Home’ thriller to the guy and the guy looked at it and said ‘this is not Nigeria jor’ but eventually they were able to convince him that it was Nigerian and then he changed his mind afterwards.

What standard did you introduce into this movie that makes it different from the conventional action movies in Nigeria?

Basically, it is just about paying attention to details every step of the way - in performance, in choreography, in visual effect, in special effect, everything maters a lot. Another thing is that people are not willing to sacrifice for what they want; I think I have done that. I have paid the price for whatever is happening right now. I worked and worked, I learnt, I read a lot, in fact I read to make my first film, I didn’t have money to go to film school, so I read books, and articles online, I was practically online every day.

I think I have paid the price because I researched and read for over three years before I was ready to make my first film. That’s like going to film school, anyways. People are not willing to learn, but they just want to be, and you just have to go through that process of learning before you can be.

You started writing ‘Slow Country’ before ‘A Mile From Home’ but couldn’t produce it for financial issue, so how exactly did you manage conquer that? ‘ Before I made ‘A Mile From Home’, I had not done anything and you can’t just meet someone and say give me N10 million or N15 million to make a movie because they haven’t seen anything you have done before that is successful. I had to fund ‘A Mile From Home’ myself, because the budget was a bit lower than that of ‘Slow Country’. And before doing ‘A Mile From Home’, I was doing graphic designs professionally and also I used to record events here and here. Then I did a couple of graphic designs for some big companies, made some good money used it for the production of ‘A Mile From Home’. Though the money was not enough, but sometimes it is not about money, it is about charisma, and skills, leadership skills as well; how to bring people together, those are the things I learnt

Why did you focus on drug trafficking and prostitution in ‘Slow Country?

The truth is drug is not very common, I mean like cocaine is not commonly seen around Nigeria, probably because of the poverty level, people are struggling to find what to eat, instead of taking cocaine which will not quench their hunger. But the truth is, it’s there, there are a lot of people who are addicted to drugs, it’s there on the street, but because people don’t find it often, they find it difficult to relate to it. Prostitution, of course is there. A lot of our youths go through this same situation my character goes through. So there was no particular reason, but sometimes when I drive pass some areas, I see some ladies standing by the roadside. Some of them were compelled to be there; maybe a relative forced them into the situation, some of them, just do it in order to survive. Apart from that, there are also women on the street, hawking with their children under the sun. That motivated the story and even the characters. I think prostitution was what came to my head when I wanted to write that character, it could have been hawking in traffic. I think prostitution and drug trafficking are more emotionally devastating for a lot of people, imagine someone who thought she wanted to be a lawyer or anything, now forced into prostitution because of situation, its dehumanising.

How did you feel when ‘Slow Country’ won an award, seeing that it hasn’t even gotten to the cinemas yet?

I felt great. You know like I said, I read widely and when I write, I write like an audience too, I judge like an audience, critic and filmmaker.

So, I know what to put in the movie. I feel good when the movie won awards. It won Audience Choice awards in AFRIFF and Best Actor in Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and I expect to win more by the grace of God. It’s more of an achievement for me than money, money is good, I like to spend money but it has to also be recognised and be celebrated.

How was growing up?

Growing up was challenging for me because I’m from a broken home, in fact I never saw my parents together, and that used to hurt me a lot as a child. I think I was two when they broke up and my younger brother was one. We are five; I have three older sisters, then I’m the fourth and then my younger brother. We were children when they broke up and we really didn’t know why, we just realised that we started living with my mother and we realised that other people had fathers and that was heart breaking for us.

I lived with my mother till I was seven and then moved to live with my father. Whenever I used to visit friends and I see both their parents together, it used to break my heart; I used to cry, as a matter of fact. So, because of that, it made growing up tougher than it should have been because my father couldn’t do so much in terms of care because he was always travelling; sometimes he will tell us ‘I will come and take you guys to school’, he will not show up, we will have to trek to school. Sometimes he will promise to come take us home from school, he will not show up, we will have to trek home. It was not his fault, it was tough for him. Growing up was also fun but challenging because we were exposed to a lot of stuffs, we had to grow up ourselves. I think two of my siblings - my elder sisters were with my mother, while three of us were with my father, so we had to grow up on our own because my dad was always

travelling. Things were not just perfect.

Are you married?

No, I am not. I have someone that I am going out with but it’s a little bit complicated, I think I focus too much on my job. I hardly pay attention to girls. It is complicated because I remember my friends said ‘one day, we will bring a girl from Benin for you and just dump her in your house, so you get married’. But the thing is that my mum never disturbed me, she understands me better, my dad sometimes says jokingly ‘you have not brought someone’ but they never disturb me. I think I focus on my work a lot, so I hardly worry about women. I live a very simple life.

I fear breakup a lot, I think that’s one of the reasons I’m still not married. I went through hard times because my parents had to break up at a certain point. Divorce is scary for me, very scary, it is not something I want to experience.

So, when I want to get married, I want to marry the right person because I want my children to grow up with us, I want my children to be taken care of us, I don’t want my children to grow up by themselves or grow up in a foster home, I want them be able to grow up with me and my wife.

Tell us about your educational background.

I’m an artistic person; I have always loved art.

My dad wasn’t an artist but he had those abilities too, he could draw and be creative, I guess I picked that up from him. As a child, I could draw, I could mould, I had strong imagination, strong vision. When I was eight, I used to draw comics, take to school and sell. That was a form of storytelling, so it has always been there. I also used to do assignments for my big cousins and elder sisters, whenever they had art assignment, to mould or draw, they bring it to me, I did it and charged them money. But because of the environment I grew up in, they made us believe that you have to be a doctor or lawyer before you can make it in life, there was nothing like film or music, so I decided that I wanted to be a doctor.

So I started reading sciences even though I was good at art, so I studied Laboratory Technology in Auchi Polytechnic, I did my National Diploma, and when I was to do my IT, I came to Lagos where I met my uncle, who is late now and he saw something I did with the clay I saw in his house and he told me ‘you should be in art, not science’. So, I started considering it that really I should be in art, I know but I ignored him because I felt it was too late. I continued my sciences but instead of going back for my HND, I decided to put the two years into a career in entertainment, it wasn’t just film, but entertainment, maybe music, because I can sing.

So, I came to Lagos in 2006 to pursue career in entertainment and I did a couple of things; I went for Star Quest audition and a couple of other auditions. There was one that I went for, maybe rising star or so, I can’t remember, Sony Ericson powered it, I went there and I saw this Sound City crew using camera, crane, wearing T-shirt, I said cool, and I said wow, this is what I should be doing, that was when I said I will be making film. Right there, something happened to me that I couldn’t cure, so I had no choice, I had to go into filmmaking. I started researching about filmmaking crazily, so after everything, I didn’t have computer knowledge then, so I decided to go after computer knowledge, I went to a computer school, where luckily for me, they had an editing suite where we were trained on how to edit film. I didn’t stop there, I started looking for books, and online articles that could help me become a filmmaker. So, that was how I metamorphosed from a Laboratory Scientist to a filmmaker.

Are you still going back to school?

The truth is I have a career plan. ‘Slow Country’ just happen to be an element in my plan. I still want to have a degree, I still want to probably have a Masters, or even become a Professor.

People call me Prof because of the knowledge I have acquired over the years, not school, but because of sniffing around, but I want to bear that name for real.

29/PERSPECTIVE

19.05.2017

Major Gen. Abubakar during a peace meeting with village heads and youth leaders on land dispute between Cross River and Ebonyi States

Communal Crisis and the GOC’s Pacific Mission

Sagir Musa, who visited warring communities in Ebonyi and Cross River States recently, writes on the need for periodic intra and inter community engagement and dialogue between the warring communities to guarantee peaceful coexistence In line with the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai’s disposition to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar had in the early hours of Monday, 15th of May 2017, led some security chiefs comprising the Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Ebonyi State, Mr. Titus Lamorde, Commander 44 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Mark Mamman, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Ebonyi State, Mr. Enyinnaya Adiagu, representative of Ebonyi State’s Director of State Security Services (SDS), Mr. Joseph Oleseni, Commandant Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Ebonyi Srate Command, Mrs. Chinwe Kannu, Commanding Officer 24 Engineer Support Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Kulawe, Commander Mobile Police Squadron Ebonyi State Command, Superintendent Yusuf Bala, Commander 82 Division Provost Group, Colonel Ahmadu Abubakar and the representative of the Commander Military Intelligence Brigade, Major Titus Oladejo, on a visit to the conflicted villages of Cross River and Ebonyi States with the aim of resolving the crisis.

Journalistic temperament pushed me to look at the trip not so much from a public relations perspective but more from a journalistic enterprise. Thus, the five hours journey on a bad road took

us to Okputimo - Okwerike communities in Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, Ijitum and Idoro neighbourhoods in Obubra LGA of Cross River State. Contagious villages like Offia Orji, Osofong and Enyebichiri, and other neighbouring but scattered communities close to Ogurunde and Ogamanya located at the fringe of Cross River and Ebonyi States were also visited to determine the extent of damage and their involvement in the perennial conflicts.

Some of these communities seem actively involved in the skirmishes, while a few are passive - supporting one community against another. Although agrarian, dispersed or fragmented, some of the villages appear to be divided, tensed and obviously at war with each other.

The only major common market was barricaded, the dilapidated primary and secondary schools are no go areas, and the only bad road linking the communities to the two states has been blocked by the ’merchants of war’. Instructively, socio – economic, educational and religious activities are virtually paralysed and peoples’ suffering seems to be increasing.

What is intriguing, - is not just the realities of conflict and pervasive neglect, but the sheer poverty and underdevelopment in the communities. Although, most of the localities look deserted, the remnants of women, children and men look downhearted and melancholic. Hope and an aura of relief came when the people in Okpuitimo - Okwerike community saw the convoy of security agencies.

Majority came forward, welcomed and ushered the GOC and his team to a natural shade provided by a cluster of mangrove trees for a meeting. It was the first community engagement, dialogue or consultative meeting of the day. At first, the submissions by the village head, a few elders and youth leader appeared conflicting, evasive or outright falsehood.

But, the GOC, COMPOL and the SDS and other security chiefs on the mission were determine to ensure total and everlasting peace in the village and its environs. So, General Abubakar, - looking calm and unemotional, warned the chiefs and youths of the consequences of their actions.

Consequently, the Village Head, Chief Luke Obu and the Youth Leader Mr. Augustine Nwoyo passionately opened up and voiced their community’s anger against their neighbours – ‘their Ijitum brothers and sisters’…. ‘the problem is about our land,… our farm lands laying at the border between Cross River and Ebonyi States which have been severally encroached by the Ijitums, and there will never be peace if they do not vacate our land’ – Chief Luke stated.

At this point, General Abubakar interrupted, urged them to calm down.

“I want you all to know that by your actions and utterances, you are sowing the seed of animosity between your community and its neighbours, and the result will be nothing but vicious circle of violence which will do no one any good… having been together for

many years, no village will relocate to anywhere. No community has the mandate to order for the relocation of any community, whatever the grievances, we must today amicably discuss and resolve them for the common good.

“I would like to make it clear to you that government is aware of the recurrent boundary skirmishes between and among your localities and a lot is being done to address the problem…I will table this issue once again to appropriate authority with the view to resolving the issue once and for all…whatever we agree on here, I will pass it on to the other warring communities,” General Abubakar posited.

The day was going fast; we were only able to reach out to three volatile communities of Okpuitimo – Okwerike, Ijitum and Idoro. In all the communities, the messages were straight forward – that of peaceful coexistence and the need for periodic intra and inter community engagement/dialogue between and among the warring societies. The major achievements of the visit included restoration of peace, reopening of the major road, the common market and the schools.

Above all, mechanism/processes for the establishment and activation of inter community vigilante groups would be established by the civil power in Ebonyi State to help to de-escalate tension and address emerging security challenges across the communities and its environs.

Colonel Musa, is the Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army

30/ NEWS

19.05.2017

Boldrini Praises Italians for Supporting Vulnerable Lagos Communities Mary Ekah Loving Gaze last weekend welcomed the Italian President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Laura Boldrini who praised the Italian community’s effort in supporting vulnerable communities in Lagos. Boldrini who was received at St. Kizito Clinic and SS Peter and Paul Nursery and Primary School in Lekki, Lagos while on an official visit to Nigeria expressed gratitude for the long-term and sustainable projects executed in Lagos communities by Loving Gaze.

She particularly impressed by St. Kizito Clinics’ effort in providing access to the children’s vaccination programme to protect them since they were born.

Boldrini has been the President of the Italian Lower Chamber since 2013. Before that, from 1993 until 1998, she worked at the World Food Programme (WFP) as the Italian spokesperson. From 1998 to 2012 she was spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for whom she also coordinated public information campaigns in Southern Europe. In recent years she has specifically dealt with the influx of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean. She has taken part in numerous missions to crisis spots, including the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Caucasus, Angola and Rwanda.

Loving Gaze is an independent not-forprofit organisation with 25 years of experience in Nigeria. It serves the unprivileged and most vulnerable communities in Lagos

L-R: Loving Gaze General Manager, Barbara Pepoli, St Kizito Clinic Medical Director, Dr. Alda Gemmani, St Kizito Clinic and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Laura Boldrini during her visit

and in Taraba State. Loving Gaze General Manager, Barbara Pepoli who has been in Lagos for over 10 years now, recounted some of her organisation’s activities. “In 2016 we touched the lives of 60,000 people in Nigeria. We helped men and women to get the healthcare they needed, young children to continue their primary education, we helped communities groups save pennies a day that added up to real, lasting change.

But all this has been built through the hard work of our local staff and the generous donators in Nigeria and beyond, who supported us from the beginning, when we arrived in Lagos 25 years ago.”

AVSI Foundation, an Italian NGO ac-

tive in more than 30 countries, arrived in Lagos in 1988 and, with the support of the Italian Development Cooperation aid programme, started the development of two St. Kizito Clinics in Lagos, one in Lekki and another in Idi-Araba. Its first school was actually a “bamboo school” on the lagoon’s shores, in 2003, thanks to the European Development Funds (EDF), which helped to establish the SS Peter and Paul Nursery and Primary School, which now accommodates 450 students. In 2007, it completed the construction of the St. John School in Ikorodu, Lagos. Up till date, the Italian AVSI donors are supporting 300 students in St. John School.

In the last few years Loving Gaze has beyond healthcare and primary education, initiating women vocational trainings, community engagement and education activities with the generous support of the USAID programme, and social agricultural projects in Lagos, with egg production and in Taraba State with a cooperative agricultural initiative with local farmers.”

Dr. Alda Gemmani, St. Kizito Clinic Medical Director, who took the guests through St. Kizito Clinic’s activities, underlined the efforts made in the fight against HIV and Tuberculosis, the educational effort towards sanitisation and malaria prevention, the two nutrition centres which cater for over 120 malnourished children every year and the 24/7 maternity clinic opened last year which has welcomed over 400 new born already.

RCCG Lagos Province 44 Renovates, Equips Police Stations in Surulere Renovation, refurbishment and donation of security equipment to four police stations in Surulere, Lagos, were the hallmark of activities by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 44 last weekend.

The corporate social responsibility intervention was in alignment with the vision and mission of the Church which regularly embarks on various CSR initiatives and investments as a way of positively impacting the quality of lives within the communities the Parishes are located, according to the Pastor in Charge of Province, Pastor Amos Emovon. While inaugurating the various equipments, using Divisional Police Station, Itire, as base Emovon said the latest intervention was sequel to the implementation of various mega CSR interventions in education, medical care, poverty alleviation, youth development, food for all initiatives and empowerment by the Church.

“Having done all these, our next mega CSR intervention is now on security and safety in alignment with our CSR philosophy.

This will enable us contribute our quota towards ensuring safety, protection of lives, property, and to also create a conducive environment for social economic growth and development,” he said.

He listed the latest gesture to include renovation of the reception area, the entire

Pastor Emovon (2nd left) assisted with Ogedengbe and others at the event

lobby, the station officer’s office, front fence and painting of the Ijesha Police Station.

The station also received some security equipment such as Walkie Talkie and hand cuffs.

The intervention at Itire Police Station involves refurbishment of Patrol Van and painting of the Police Station. They also received some security equipment. Besides, Aguda Police Station and Bode Thomas Police Station also received Walkie Talkie and hand cuffs.

Emovon said the project which started in April 2017, “provided the platform to contribute our quota towards ensuring safety,

protection of lives, property, as well as the creation of a conducive environment for social economic growth and development in these communities.”

While appreciating the gesture on behalf of his colleagues, the Divisional Police Officer, Itire Police Division, CSP Bunmi Ogedengbe, noted that the intervention would go a long way to assist the Police in the effective discharge of their duties.

“Hardly will you see people coming to the aid of police in their time of needs but this church has restored hope that the public is still appreciating our efforts,” he said.

Toyin Abraham, Ali Baba, Others in ‘Alakada Reloaded’ The much awaited star studded comedy movie, 'Alakada Reloaded' is set to make its cinema debut on May 26. The comedy movie produced by Toyin Abraham will be shown in all cinemas across the country. This upcoming movie parades a star-studded cast both from the English and Yoruba sector, not excluding Nigerian comedians and music artistes. They include Toyin Abraham, Ali Baba, Odunlade Adekola, Kehinde Bankole, Woli Arole, Nedu OAP, Helen Paul, Lilian Esoro, Annie Idibia, Bidemi Kosoko, Liz Da Silva, Lala Akindoju, Mr Latin, Iyabo Ojo and Gabriel Afolayan.

The movie is set to break record as industry stakeholders have predicted that after ‘Wedding Party’, in terms of sale, the much awaited movie ‘Alakada Reloaded’ might be the next to make over 200 million naira. 'Alakada Reloaded' is the third production in the popular Alakada series;

Abraham

the first released was in 2009, while the second was released in 2013. It follows the story of Yetunde Animashaun, a young girl from a poor family background who as a result of her inferiority complex, engages in the act of making up stories and lying

about her financial and social status in order to fit in with the crowd.

When asked about the movie and its difference to the previous production of Alakada, the producer Toyin Abraham said, “Although ‘Alakada Reloaded’ like the previous productions in the series follows the story of Yetunde Animashan, however, this movie takes a different dimension from the others. ‘Alakada Reloaded’ is not just extremely hilarious and entertaining; it cuts across all spheres of lives and realities.”

She further stated that “the movie is well cultured, morally inclined, and deep rooted and suitable for everyone to watch, old and young and I am confident that the audience will love it.” The comedy movie which is set to be privately screened on Thursday, May 18 is a must watch for all.

81 Candidates Qualify for Next Round of SPAK TV Show 81 students, out of the over 6,000 who sat for the first round qualifying examinations of the SPAK National Science Competition TV Show have been shortlisted to proceed to the next round. The SPAK National Science Competition is a TV show aimed at igniting interest in, and promoting, the study of science in secondary schools in Nigeria. It specifically targets students aged 14 SPAK TV Show creator, Mr. Oladapo to 17, who are currently Ojo in the second year of the Senior Secondary School (SS2). Entries were received from over 2,000 schools from across 19 states of the country, and the students, who sat for a written examination on April 1, 2017, were tested in four subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Master Idowu Toluwanimi, of Kings International College, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, scored 93 per cent out of a possible 100 per cent to emerge as the best overall student.. He was closely followed by Miss Adeshola Fadahunsi of St. Michaels Alabstar College, Lagos, Master Oluyede Qoyuum of Sobru Private Schools, Lagos, and Master Akinwande Fashola of St. Catherine’s College, Aleshinloye, Oyo, who scored 92 per cent each.

In all, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo States led the pack of states which recorded the highest number of successful candidates, with 21, 10 and 10 students respectively.

The 81 successful students will now proceed to the recording phase of the competition which is scheduled to commence in August. The TV show itself is expected to be transmitted during the last quarter of this year.

Mr. Oladapo Ojo, the creator of the show, expressed delight at the successful conduct of the qualifying examinations, and the performance of the candidates.

He said: “the performance of these students have shown me very clearly that, contrary to what a lot of people may think, the standard of science education in our secondary schools is not that bad. The examination was very competitive, so much so that we had to adopt a cut-off mark as high as 73 per cent, to be able to select the successful candidates who qualified for the next round.

With the performance of the students that I saw in this examination, which, by the way, was conducted by NECO, who are our technical partners on this project, I can boldly say that there is still hope for Science Education in Nigeria.”

SPAK National Science Competition is a science-based TV quiz show with elements of entertainment to broaden its viewership appeal. It is a unique learning programme which already enjoys the endorsement and support of public and private schools across Nigeria

NIMR Holds Molecular Biology Workshop The 7th Annual Molecular Biology hands-on-training workshop of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department of Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) will hold from August 7th to 11th at the NIMR Conference room, Yaba, Lagos. The five-day conference with the theme, ‘Protein Expression’ will focus on current methods in Molecular Biology, Ethical issues of challenges in Genetic Research, Molecular Evolution of viruses of Public Health Importance: from Genomics to Proteomics, Introduction and Principles of SDS-PAGE and Basic Protein Interaction Techniques.

A release signed by the workshop Coordinator, Mrs. Stella Smith, stated that there will also be practical sessions on PCR, SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting.

The Molecular Biology hands-on-training workshop started in 2009 with the theme ‘Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: Roadmap to Specific Diagnosis.’ The idea of MBBT hands-on-training workshop was first muted informally in 2007/2008. In 2009, a total of 48 participants were in attendance with 2010, recording 40 participants. In 2011 and 2012, 12 and 14 participants respectively attended the workshop. In 2013, a total of 36 participants were in attendance and in 2014, 16 participants were in attendance. Over the years a total of 166 participants have attended the hands-on-training workshop that had its spread across the six geopolitical zones. The first two years witnessed Guest speaker such as Prof. Bamidele Solomon (former DG, NABDA) and Dr. Ejifome (former member of NIMR Board) who chaired the workshop opening ceremony.

31/LIVING

19.05.2017

Abia GSM Dealers to Build ICT Centre, Mall Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Efforts to decongest the commercial city of Aba by relocating various areas of trade to specific clusters outside the city centre have continued to enjoy the support of traders associations. The latest group to key into the policy is the Abia GSM and Components Dealers Association Aba which has taken steps to commence the construction of Abia ICT Centre of Studies and GSM Mall Aba at estimated cost of over N2 billion.

Presently, St. Michael Road Aba is the hub of GSM and ICT business but the dealers would in the next 12 months relocate their businesses to Ngwa Road where the ICT Centre and GSM Mall would spring up. To this end, a memorandum of understanding was signed on May 10, 2017 among the GSM dealers, project developer, financing bank and state government. At the ceremony held at the Multi-Disciplinary Entrepreneurship Skills Development Centre, Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government, all the parties involved in the project pledged to do their own part to ensure the realisation of the project, which had been in the pipeline since 2009.

The ICT Centre and GSM Mall is billed to be sited at a 24,250 square metres of land presently occupied by Ngwa Road Primary School, which would be relocated to merge with another school.

Project manager, Mr. Sylvester Uti said that the GSM Mall is a three storey complex of 1,056 shops with eight malls all interconnected. It has the complement of a study centre where youths would learn the science and technology of repairing phones and computers. Each of the floors contains 134 shops. He said that the complex

Abia State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji (middle) with GSM dealers, after the MoU signing ceremony for building of ICT Centre and GSM Mall

would be built with brick technology which is fire and weather resistant and has life span of 100 years. The facilitator of the relocation project, Hon. Jude Udeachara, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the Abia Governor on Trade and Investment, said that the design of the complex took long in coming because it took care of every possible detail and input from the GSM dealers who are the beneficiaries of the project.

Members of Abia GSM and Components Dealers Association are already excited at the prospect of relocating their business to a much more conducive environment away from the

already congested St. Michael Road. Chairman of the association, Nze George Eze said that the idea of relocating their business to a GSM plaza came up as far back as 2009 and since then efforts had been on to make the dream a reality. He said that with the signing of the MoU for the construction of the GSM Mall the “long journey” to a GSM village was coming to a nice end. According to him, the ICT/GSM cluster would unlock the ingenuity of youths that constitute 75 per cent of the population of those engaged in the business. Eze noted that youths skilled in repairs of any types of GSM

phones and computer engineers specialising in hard or soft wares abound in Aba hence bring them together in a business cluster would trigger explosion of their ingenuity. “With this project we know that in no distant time we will start making phones here in Aba. We have the technical knowhow and the people who can do it,” he said, adding that what they needed was government support. He therefore called on Abia Government to rehabilitate the access road to the new site of GSM/ICT business area and “most importantly create the enabling environment” to enable businesses thrive.

Project developer and chairman Logistics De-Luke, Mr. Raymond Aliga, explained that his concept of Abia GSM Centre was about meeting the needs of ICT in both the South-east and South-south zones. He said that the cluster would make it possible for manufacturers to bring their products and easily identify those to deal with while the dealers and consumers would transact business in a very conducive environment irrespective of if the weather is sunny or rainy.

“We need things that will continue to re-engineer business in Abia because we must live up to the billing of centre of commerce in the South-east.

Aliga, who is also involved in developing a market cluster for tyre and heavy motor spare parts dealers, said that he was motivated by his desire to create conducive environment that would trigger rapid growth of businesses. He said that Keystone Bank was expected to provide 50 per cent of the cost of Abia ICT Centre and GSM Mall while the shops would be sold out to dealers on owner occupier basis at a price to be determined by the association.

Guinness Takes Its ‘Matchday Made of Black’ Experience to Benin Adibe Emenyonu in Benin English Premier League lovers in Benin were treated to an exciting “Matchday Made of Black” experience on Thursday, April 27 as the Guinness Matchday train arrived for a screening of the highly contested Manchester Derby.

Football fans experienced an incredible evening complete with live commentary from the Supersports crew of Mozez Praiz, and Mike Maiyaki, as well as Orangeman Mohammed of Raypower Benin.

The evening was rounded off by a live music performance from Benin-born artiste Maleke who consistently shows that he is Made Of Black by showcasing sheer determination, passion and hard work in his music; values that exemplifies the Guinness Made of Black movement.

Guinness recognising that the most amazing football experiences go alongside good music has infused music into these series of events.

It would be recalled that consumer favorites like Jaywon, Illbliss, Small Doctor and Magnito serenaded Lagos consumers at the kick-off of the activation on March 19th; Slow Dog thrilled the

L-R: Moses Praize Super sport analyst, Uche Onwudiwe, Marketing Manager Guinness, Osahan Airhunmwunda, CEO of Play Hosue Bar, Benin, Tomiwa Odunjo, Divisional Sales Manager, Central Division, Guinness Nigeria, at the Guinness Made of Football event in Benin

consumers in Owerri while Zoro, Mr. Ransome and Quincy upped the ante in Enugu, exciting fans at the centres with great music.

The Benin experience is the fourth stop for the Guinness Matchday experience since its kick off in Lagos on 19th March.

ITECH GEORGE OGUNLEYE

The Guinness Matchday activities are designed to celebrate Nigeria’s passion for football and music and to unite communities through incredible football experiences – in a way that only Guinness can do.

The Benin events which took place at Tips Bar and Play House bar provided English Premier

Email: george.ogunleye@thisdaylive.com,

www.itechthisday.blogspot.com

League (EPL) fans the opportunity to showcase their passion for football. Fans were rewarded with a free Guinness Foreign Extra Stout for every Guinness Foreign Extra Stout bought at the venue and also had the chance to win airtime units.

“Our consumers are at the heart of what we do,” said ‘Rob Hobart, Marketing Director for Guinness Nigeria Plc, adding “and delighting them is what we will always strive to do.”

“As a brand, we realise that the Nigerian consumer is a restless go getter- one whose boldness is fueling a progressive, new spirit of Africa, the brand, an embodiment of this mindset is successfully putting itself right at the centre of this movement.

“Knowing how passionate Nigerians are about music and football and how they fully give themselves to these passions without inhibitions, we launched “Match Day Made Of Black”- to create totally different and amazing football.

“Before now, we have been sponsoring the broadcast of the EPL in Nigeria and we remain committed to showing greater support for the incredible football fans across the country. The Matchday Made of Black is another testament to our commitment in this regard,” Hobart said.

Tel 07032143733(sms only)

Stunning Designs on New Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ Design and Display Samsung's new S series flagship smartphones recently unveiled in Nigeria with features builds on Samsung’s heritage. Stunning designs, extremely high-end functional device, with variable display options, 5.8-inch for the Galaxy S8 and 6.2-inch for Galaxy S8+. The bezel-less designed display thus forming a smooth continuous surface and the absence buttons or harsh angles gives it an infinite feel. The powerful silhouette created by the rounded-off corners of the S8 series enables comfortable one-handed operation while the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back accounts for its durability and a high-quality finish.

The obverse part of the phone is mostly just display with perfect symmetry, thereby virtually eliminating the bezel. The physical home button usually located in the front of the phone has been replaced with a digital home button, built into the glass. Both devices feature a rear mounted fingerprint reader, quite close to the camera lens. The always-on display makes a return, and now shows you the home button whenever the phone is locked - so you know

where to press to wake the phone.

The Infinity Display of the Galaxy S8 series is a Super AMOLED display panel with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 and a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 resulting in a crisp display and a pixel density of 530 ppi. The AMOLED panel delivers deep, inky blacks and incredible contrast, making images life-like.

The Camera The Galaxy S8 and S8+’s 12 MP rear camera utilises Dual Pixel technology that gives it an incredibly fast autofocus ability thus allowing users capture important moments in time. The F1.7 lens, help makes pictures appear bright and crisp even if taking in low-lit environments. Samsung did revamp the front-facing camera to an 8MP with auto focus. This will definitely excite selfie addicts as pictures come out sharp and vibrant. Another obvious addition is a new multi-frame image processor that takes three shots every single time a picture is taken, reducing blur and leaving users with a sharper shot. The Samsung Galaxy S8 series are pioneering the first truly mobile HDR screen. Samsung with her recent partnership with Netflix and Amazon to offer HDR streaming to its phone, with users view HDR-enabled programming on a phone.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+’s extended screen is perfect for multitasking. Users can multitask seamlessly while watching a video; just open your favorite IM app along with the video player using Multi Window and text with the full keyboard without having to hide the video

playing. While the Multi Window resizes the whole app window, the Snap Window feature will display only the selected area so you can refer to it while you are doing any other task.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ offer five types of security technologies: iris recognition (most secure biometric identification system available on a smartphone), face recognition, pattern, password, and PIN, users can easily choose their preferred method. Users can use the iris scanner to unlock their devices without having to swipe the phone.

With the face recognition, users can instantly unlock their devices with a look. Without the PIN or pattern, simply look into the camera on the lock screen to unlock the device. Users can also use the Secure Folder app to save important files, images, videos, and apps.

Galaxy S8 and S8+ have IP68 certification for dust and water resistance and can be submerged up to 1.5m of fresh water for 30 minute thus owners can capture memories in rain, at pool parties or out on the beach with loved ones. When wet, the device stops automatically charging to prevent short circuits.

32 / XTRA

19.05.2017

Empowering the Nigerian Textile Industry A private sector partnership entered into by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council in 2016 is already yielding edible fruits, writes Peter Uzoho

L-R: Vlisco Country Manager, Adebisi Adekunle, winner of Vlisco Train Academy, Grace Ogwu and Regional Coordinator, NEPC, Babatunde Faleke, at the closing ceremony for students trained on skills acquisition in Apapa

Vlisco top five students and their facilitators.

L-R: Ituen Basi, Awolowo Olamilekan and Olusola Babatunde

L-R : Vlisco Country Manager, Adebisi Adekunle, Regional Coordinator, NEPC, Babatunde Olusegun Faleke and Stella Harrison

Nigeria’s textile and apparel industry covers the entire clothing value chain, and has a strong potential for growth due to availability of cotton and the country’s large market-size represented by over 170 million inhabitants, who provide a natural market for textiles and apparels. Moreover, there is also the scope to export Nigerian textiles and apparels to other markets, especially to the USA under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The decline of the industry, which started from 2003, has resulted in Nigeria spending over $2 billion annually on imported textiles. However, with the Federal Government Intervention Fund of N100 billion for the cotton, textile and garment industry introduced in 2010, the sector has started picking up. Recent figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) revealed that the capacity utilisation in the sector has increased tremendously from 29.10 per cent in 2010 to 49.7 per cent in 2011 and currently put at 50.2 per cent.

The industry is dominated by foreigners, though it harbours various classes of players, individual investors, partnerships and government involvement in the industry. Several bigger mills swathe all the sectors while some smaller mills survive by servicing and feeding the bigger players.

Some of the players are from Hong Kong, India, UK, China, Japan and even Colombia. However, the sector lacks the presence of a virile garment making industry.

To help solve this problem, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) established its fashion training facility, the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) in 2006. The centre is located in Apapa, Lagos, and has over 150 sewing machines, pattern making and cutting tables. It has the primary objective of promoting garment making skills, creating job opportunities and upgrading the technical skills to improve quality, productivity and efficiency level of the garment industry. It also supports the goal to establish the garment manufacturing industry

A cross section of facilitators

as valuable with the hopes of boosting non-oil exports.

On May 12, the HCDC saw its second set of students officially end training classes; 64 students, of which 16 are industrial pattern makers and 48 are sewing machine operators, successfully completed the intensive eight week training session.

The classes were facilitated by Style House Files, a fashion business development agency, in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Vlisco Nigeria, the Dutch wax and design brand.

The programme experienced a higher success rate in comparison to previous editions with a five per cent dropout rate and 98 per cent daily attendance. In a remarkable feat, 100 per cent of the students proceeded into the industrial training phase where they produced a ready-

to-wear collection.

The top five students from the training – Grace Ogwu, Simon Nneamaka, Bolaji Busari, Bukola Kumolu and Anu Akinrinwa – will be presented with machines and the best student will also get a cash prize from Vlisco as part of its ongoing support to the apparel production sector.

The HCDC is part of the NEPC efforts to develop capacity for the garment sector. It was in February 2016 it engaged Style House Files to manage the centre. Under the arrangement, Style House Files will manage the HCDC and run training programmes that meet international standards for developing the skills of practitioners in the garment-making sector to meet the requirements of the fashion industry for exports.

Speaking with journalists during a tour of the facility in 2016, the Executive Director/ CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo said,

“Nigeria is awash with creative talents in the fashion industry, whose designs can compete anywhere globally. However, there is a wide gap in production and finishing, which affects the marketability of garments made in Nigeria at the international market. Nigeria needs to participate more in the global market for garments, which was about $800 billion in 2015 and expected to reach $1trillion by 2020. The purpose of this centre is to build capacity of Nigerian garment producers in apparel production for local but particularly the export market.”

In her remarks, Founder of Style House Files, Mrs. Omoyemi Akerele, said, “We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the NEPC on developing capacity for the garment sector.

We will bring our experience and knowledge of the industry to bear on the management of the Centre. Our testimonial speaks of successfully creating a revolution in the Nigerian Fashion Industry by using our powerful knowledge to brainstorm truly innovative concepts and execute them professionally with enthusiasm that is yet to be surpassed.”

NEPC recently relocated the Human Capital Development Centre to its office complex at Apapa, Lagos. The Centre was originally set up over 10 years ago in Ikoyi, as the AGOA Human Capital Development Centre, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

NEPC intends to reach out to national and international development partners to support funding requirements for training at the Centre.

Already, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is in talks with NEPC to collaborate on the Centre.

NEPC is Nigeria’s apex agency for the promotion of non-oil exports. It promotes the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade; assists in promoting the development of export-oriented industries and plays a leading role in the creation of export incentives.

33/ XTRA

19.05.2017

‘We’ll Drive Development, Cultural Revival in Ibeku’ Chief Emeka Enyeazu was recently elected President-General of Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association (IEADA), a revered socio-cultural organisation of Ibeku clan in Abia State.

In this interview with Emmanuel Ugwu, he speaks on issues affecting the sophisticated people of Ibeku, his agenda for renaissance, among other issues permanently or it could be administrative office where you have staff and if the Ogurube needs to receive dignitaries or his people he would come to the common palace for such activities.

But it would be well organised with the Prime Minister, Secretary of palace and other officials having their offices. So the committee would tell us if the Ogurube would leave his local palace to stay permanently at the common palace or to only use it for official functions.

You’ve been elected the President-General of Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association.

What does the association stand for?

Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association is an umbrella organisation that binds every Ibeku person residing at home. There is something peculiar to Ibeku people: Ibeku is a clan, a large clan. It is among the clans that cut across every local government in Abia State and all the states in the South-east and South-south and even goes beyond the South-south. The clan can be equated with a clan like Arochukwu. We are just everywhere. But this Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association is the organisation that concerns us, Ibeku people here in Umuahia Ibeku and our sons and daughters who are outside Umuahia. I was elected President General on 26th December 2016. You know this is jet age, the age of computer technology and the Ibeku Egwu Asa is moving with the time. We used to be one autonomous community but now we have 16 autonomous communities.

So what are your plans for the Ibeku clan?

My first goal is to find a way to formalise the association, give it a base here and then reach out to our brothers and sisters outside Ibeku land. And here in Ibeku we have Ogurube, the sole traditional stool we have in Ibeku clan and we are passionate about that stool. And before the creation of autonomous communities there was an understanding that the Ogurube stool will continue and rotate among the Ezes.

Another issue is that we need a central palace for Ogurube and we are consulting an architect about it. What that would mean is that anybody that wants to see the Ogurube will come to the palace and see him and the Eze-in-council there.

The Ogurube is chosen from among the Ezes and so he is first of all an Eze of a particular autonomous community. So if you want to see him as Ogurube you have to come to the palace and if you want to see him as the Eze then you go to that particular autonomous community where he is the traditional ruler. So that is one of our plans. We also have a plan to institute a scholarship programme because this is a developmental, socio-political association. So we will give scholarship to our children who are bright and we have set up a committee to work out the modus operandi. We know we can do it perfectly well because we have people who are passionate about the academic advancement of our children.

Is IEADA in any way political in nature and activities?

We are going to formalise the association and we will make it clear that Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association is not a political platform.

For that reason, I, as the President-General, if I want to speak on political issue I will speak in my personal capacity as Emeka Enyeazu, not as the President-General of the association. The same thing applies to the Ogurube of Ibeku and the traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku. These positions encompass the whole of Ibeku clan and for you to speak on these platforms you need to consult and make sure that you get the consent of the people. Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association is an association that should be apolitical so that if we call a meeting everybody must be there whether you belong to XYZ party and the other person belongs to ABC party. We might not have seen for years but when we come for the meeting it would be an opportunity for us to come together and discuss about the development of our land. We could have diverse political interests but when we come together on the platform of IEADA, we contribute our quotas for the development of our land and then you can go out there and pursue your political ambition.

But clash of political interests is sure to play out in the election of who to lead the association?

When you talk of politics some people will say it is everywhere. But when we talk about politics it is in the context of the activities of government, who gets what, how and when,

Enyeazu

the authoritative allocation. It is the struggle for power in governmental agencies – that’s the politics we are talking about which we don’t want the association to get involved in. But as a socio-cultural association the choice of who becomes the President-General of Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association, we look at the antecedents of people. Right from my teens I have been active in the affairs of Ibeku which culminated in my becoming the President of Ibeku Youth Association in 1999. I ran the association for seven years and handed over in 2007. So I know Ibeku and its activities very well. People were there watching when I was engaged in those activities so they know me and my pedigree.

They knew that I can effectively pilot the affairs of Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association; they knew that if I took the reins of leadership that I would initiate programmes and policies that would enhance the welfare of Ibeku people.

So when you see that a particular person has the capacity to turn the place around for better you are to support such person.

Before the creation of autonomous communities Ibeku clan used to enjoy administrative homogeneity but with the splitting of the clan into 16 autonomous communities, would it not be unwieldy for you to lead the clan harmoniously?

The creation of autonomous communities is not peculiar to Ibeku. For instance, Arochukwu used to be monolithic but they now have a number of autonomous communities, the same thing for Abriba. So, to lead a clan made up of several autonomous communities depends on the mechanism you put in place to harmonise things. For several years nothing has been done and that’s why we want to harmonise things.

The organogram is already there, it’s just to give it flesh and have that common palace for the Ogurube. The autonomous community creation did not affect only Ibeku and it won’t constitute a stumbling block to the peace, unity and development of Ibeku clan.

This idea of a common palace for the Ogurube, does it entail that any Eze that ascends the throne at any point in time would consequently leave his autonomous community and dwell in the common palace?

When the steering committee in charge of the common palace project comes out with their report we will know what it would entail. It could be a place where the Ogurube would live

As the President-General of IEADA, does it give you any concern that so many youths are out there doing nothing because they don’t have skills. If so, what is the way out of the bad situation?

It is a national malaise. It is a problem not peculiar to Ibeku; it is a problem of Nigeria, a problem of our educational system which they have changed over and over. What baffles me and pains me most times is that we theorise and say that the colonialists taught us the three Rs – read, write and arithmetic. Sometimes when I look back, I laugh because we are worse than the three Rs we were taught because somebody who passed primary six in those days could read and write efficiently but now somebody with a degree certificate might not even be able to write not to talk of having skills. Politicians in those days built trade centres, workshops and people go there to learn skills but Nigeria’s policy makers saw all those things and decided to change our educational system to 6-3-3-4. In the first three (junior secondary) you learn skills but how many schools have workshops. So you see people coming out from secondary school without any skill. We therefore have to look at our educational policy. In the past too, people used to go and learn skills or trade through apprenticeship but nobody does it now. The world has become a global village and skilled people can come from other countries. So our artisans can’t fix certain things and you have the Ghanaians, Togolese, Beninese doing all these works and because in their home countries they have formal institutions that teach them skills both practical and theoretical. So they can function everywhere and they do better jobs.

So our leaders should look into our educational system and bring back technical education and vocational education. But at own level it worries us because it is also a problem of the communities.

So we have started doing something to make our youths acquire skills. We have selected 80 persons from among the 48 villages that make up Ibeku Egwu Asa and in a month’s time we will disburse cheques to enable the beneficiaries start their training in various skills. Then the traditional education system where children are trained in moral values would be revived and families encouraged to imbibe it.

What you’ve listed as your programmes is good enough. Are your people buying into it?

We are consulting, we are talking to people about our plans and we have set up committees for the implementation of our programmes. In the last meeting we had virtually everybody was talking about constitution review. We need to review our constitution; it was last reviewed in 1996 when Ibeku was still a single autonomous community. When we presented the idea of skills acquisition for our youths, people applauded it and when we talk of the things that hold us together like our iri ji (new yam festival), age grade system and other traditional festivals that have been relegated to the background people have accepted that we should revive our culture and traditions. We have set up committees to look into these things and find ways we can revive them. The creation of autonomous communities has made people to operate at their respective miniature levels but now the time has come for us to revive and strengthen the things that hold us together as Ibeku people. People are happy and enthusiastic about this move we are making. I have to point out that these things are not top-bottom policies; these are the things that people want and they tell you and you feel it. So it is through their inputs that we are formulating these programmes.

Your emergence as the new President-General of IEADA appear to have stoked up controversy and the group opposed to your leadership even set up a parallel executives of the association.

What is the situation now following the recent peace parley?

There is no opposition in Ibeku leadership.

What you are seeing is just a storm in a tea cup. We are all brothers and sisters. We talk, we banter, and we meet. The beauty of democracy, which is rooted in Igbo tradition, is that the minority will have their say and the majority must have their way. That is the way it is. Like I said earlier, Ibeku Egwu Asa Development Association is a socio-cultural organisation but when people start using their offices in Ibeku to start making political statements people take positions and it becomes bad. But those things have been resolved. The Ogurube, who is the paramount ruler and the first among equals among the Ezes, has resolved the issues because everything centred on him. Let me make it clear: matters of Ibeku are just like matters that concern husband and wife which is settled without a third party. Ibeku matter has been settled. We are brothers and we talk. So if there is any thing remaining we will sort them out. My priority is to ensure that peace and unity prevail in Ibeku because without peace there will be no development. Those that opposed me are men of timber and calibre, men of well and means, men of high intellectual calibre. We respect their views and we need their ideas and contributions to make Ibeku better. It is not about Emeka Enyeazu; it is about Ibeku and all of us must come together and join hands to achieve our goals for the good of our people.

Ibeku is the primary host of the seat of government in Abia State, what’s the relationship between the government and IEADA? Yes, we are the host community to the seat of power because Umuahia-ibeku is the capital city.

It used to be Ibeku in the past but they started calling it Umuahia in the colonial era and there was an agreement that the city would revert to the former name but that has not happened. Our relationship with government is cordial. The new leadership of IEADA has paid a courtesy visit to the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and we will continue to interface with his administration.

As a leader of a socio-cultural organisation what is your take on the alarm expressed by UNESCO that Igbo language is under threat of extinction as new generation parents tend to prefer raising their children to speak English Language?

I’m really concerned but I have to point out that the problem is not peculiar to Igbo language.

The preference of foreign languages to native languages is one of the effects of globalisation. It is affecting everything, even American politics.

The resistance of the Middle East to globalisation is also crumbling. So the threat to Igbo language is a problem of globalisation because people want to learn and use languages that have international usage. But come to think of it, the situation is not as bad as people may want to paint it. For instance, I have kids who are in school and I know that my children are taught Igbo language right from kindergarten to at least JS 3 and in Abia State it is compulsory for a child to pass Igbo language before he/ she is promoted to senior secondary level of education. So any Igbo speaking state that has not adopted this policy should do so. I believe that among the middle class Igbo families children are encouraged to speak, read and write in their native language. It is rather the illiterates or half literate parents, who out of inferiority complex and ignorance force their children not to speak their native language. Most of their children end up speaking broken (pidgin) English because the parents don’t even speak correct English to them. Part of our cultural revival initiative is to encourage our children to cherish Igbo language and culture. It is on record that Ndigbo had developed a system of writing called Nsibidi before the colonial masters came and imposed their language on our people.

34/INTERVIEW

19.05.2017

Babaeko: Cristal is a Testament We Are the Agency to Beat The African Cristal Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco last weekend with agencies from Nigeria, it became a very humbling experience as they nudges Nigeria and Nigerian agencies forward on the African and global creative arena. Adedayo Adejobi spoke to creative and music impresario, Steve Babaeko, CEO, X3M Ideas, whose agency led the creative blitz

Babaeko

How does it feel being a winner at the Cristal Awards last weekend?

It is a very humbling experience. Like I always tell people, when we set up X3M Ideas, we didn’t setup to be second best to any other agency, we thought we could be the best and we have tenaciously work at this. Today, the fact that we win at that pan-African level underscores all the dreams, all the aspirations we had at the inception of X3M Ideas. We are glad we are leading the onslaught to break down barriers and destroy myths. We are indeed humbled.

Some agencies are wary of participating in such events, what do you think are the reasons for this?

These might be caused by a couple of reasons.

Let us be factual about this, the award is not cheap, it’s quite expensive to participate in this kind of awards just like the Cannelions, few agencies can afford it. So when you consider the economy of the country where most agencies are struggling to keep their heads above the water, you will understand why only a handful of agencies submitted entries. Be that as it may, if you considered this, the financial outlay against the exposure for your staff, learning arising from it, you will realise it’s a good decision afterall.

Again, it needs be pointed out that some agencies are still bugged down by this old school mentality, they just think, ‘okay, the world stops in Nigeria’, no its doesn’t work like that, the world goes further than Nigeria.

When you have activities at the continental level like this, if you want to be a player to be reckoned with in the world, then you have no options than to be at such events. It is not about showing off, it is in line of our duty

and growing our brand.

Apart from the financial outlays, what else does the agency need to feature in such awards?

This is not a small scale award, it is a continental award. It takes guts and creativity.

Creativity is the currency of the business. So the agency’s creative fire power is the in thing, if not, it will be just an exercise in donating money to charity. So most importantly, beyond everything else, the level of creativity you have in your agency and the kind of works you develop will determine your stand and chance to contest for laurels at that continental level.

A poster of the Cristal prior to the event shows only six agencies, what does this say about the business in Nigeria?

Honestly, if somebody came from Mars and saw that poster, he will be tempted to conclude that those are the five or six agencies doing business in the country. If that assumption is correct or not, we can debate that from now till eternity. In football, however, the teams that show up at the world cup are considered the best and the most viable in the game! It tells me something about the state of our industry, if there are just about six that made it through to the awards, then those are probably about the best and most viable players at least for now.

Of what effect or lesson is this to the client?

It does have some lesson or effect, the clients are not blind and they are not fools neither are they deceived. They look out for all those brand health indicators – are you able to show up where your mates are showing up at the continental and global levels? If you are not then the clients will probably be thinking why should we work with this agency? And if they

don’t do that, they will be making a mental note of how the agencies are fairing. If he looked at the table and can’t find his agency then something is wrong. Though, this may just be for future decisions, it will certainly have far reaching implications for the clients and agencies as well.

and “can do” spirit to the glory of God is not in short supply at X3M Ideas and other companies in the group. In line with this, any other thing that comes from here just like underscores the spirit behind the agency.

Can you dissect how the rating and categorisation of the award are done, what determine the leader (s) of the pack to support the X3M leadership?

I really do not know how the ratings are done. But what I can say is that X3M Ideas is the only agency from Nigeria that won a Cristal. And the Cristal represents a gold. We are the only agency from Nigeria called up to the podium to receive our award. We won a Cristal (Gold) for Oando’s O-gas promo, an ‘Emerald’ for Etisalat and another Emerald for Oando and also got shortlisted for a couple of other clients including Multichoice. The rest of it I leave up to people to find out who won what? We have moved on already, we always look up to bigger things.

As the leader of the Nigerian pack, what does this say about the Nigerian industry dream for the Cannes?

It underscores the seismic shift that is happening gradually in the industry. There is a shift of power, there is a generation shift that is just coming into fruition to say “something new is happening”. It started about five years ago. X3M Ideas is just four years, we are not five yet, for us to go there and be the leader of the pack from Nigeria, it tells that the power shift is almost gone full circle for us to fly the flag of Nigeria at that level. For us it’s like putting Nigeria on the global map talking about advertising and marketing communications. I doubt if there is any Nigerian agency that won a Cristal or a gold at the main award. Being the first we are proud of the achievement and the clients we work with for giving us the opportunities.

What is the rating of X3M Ideas with final outcome?

To be honest, I do not bother about position, we have always thought we are the best. This Cristal is a testament. Either we won this Cristal or not, no one can take that attitude away from us. It is that attitude that drives what we do, the way we present to our clients, handle their businesses, how we treat our people’s welfare, provide training and re-training supports, provide opportunities for global exposures and care for them generally in our quest to be the best, that quest for excellence, drives us really hard. The power of “possibility”

What do you advice other players and the creative industry at large?

We just have to keep striving, no matter how many Cristal we have won either at the regional or mainstream Cristal there are still so many new grounds to conquer, the Cannes is there to be captured. Beyond the awards, what kind of resources we put at the beck and call of our people, training, how do we raise the standard to compete at the global scale going beyond the awards, these are key and very critical to developing the industry and individual companies and brands entrusted into our care.

35/ENTERPRENEUR

19.05.2017

Eyes on Nollywood After opening its first office in Nigeria late last year, Canon is set to revolutionise the Nigerian camera industry. In this interview with Solomon Elusoji, the Japanese company’s Sales Director for the region, Somesh Adukia, says it wants to help change the face of the world’s third biggest film industry

Adukia

What has been the company’s experience since establishing in Nigeria?

It has been an enriching experience. We wanted to understand the status of the Nigerian consumer, what they like, what they don’t like and what they expect from Canon as a brand. I’m happy to say that our future strategies for developing the Nigerian market is based on the feedback received from the Nigerian public. One of the things we are doing is to establish our service network, because we understood that service is very important for the Nigerian customer, unlike, say a person from Dubai – if his product is one or two years old and it’s not working, then he knows it is time for him to replace it. But for the Nigerian consumer, servicing becomes very important.

Also, to further understand the local needs, we have appointed a Nigeria Country Manager.

And when we started to penetrate the channels, we felt there was a need to keep in touch with the local community, and that was why we appointed Channel Account Managers.

With the kind of things we have achieved in the short term, I think we are happy; we have a long way to go, but it is much more better than what it was last year. And with each passing day, we are learning and implementing. We look forward to continue with our future strategies, so that we grow the business, have more associations and connect the Nigerian community.

What are the company’s future strategies?

We have made our strategies two-pronged, one from the product side and the other from the channel side, because both need to be complemented if we want to succeed. From the product strategy point of view, we want to grow the market of DSLRs in Nigeria,

because we feel that with a strong population of over 175 million, the current penetration ratio of less than a per cent is not deserving.

We want to focus on our entry range, which will target the masses; we also want to focus on the high-end range, which will target the professionals, photo clubs and Nollywood users. One important step in this direction for us is the establishment of Canon Academy, where we will teach a consumer how to operate a DSLR camera. From our photo printer point of view, we want to enhance our relationship with street photographers, because we have understood that the street photography community is very big in Nigeria and 99 per cent of them are using Canon products. So we want to thank them, as a sense of gratitude, and we want to have some dedicated events only focused on the street photography community. This is because we also understood that while there are many events and seminars for retail shops, SMEs, big businesses, the street photographers are always overlooked; and Canon as a brand will not like to do that, because we believe that they are our long term customers, and we want to take care of them by increasing our association with them.

As far as Nollywood is concerned, we have a range of products that suits the industry.

So we need to inform the Nollywood users that there are good options available which promises quality, as well as ‘ease-of-use’ and affordability. We also want to cater to the affordable printing solutions market, without compromising on quality.

On the channels side, our vision is to enhance our visibility, create demand through the generation of activities like road-shows, give Nigerians the opportunity to have a feel of Canon products. And when all these is

done, we want to raise our brand awareness by investing in above-the-line like billboards and sign-boards.

Why choose to come in during a recession?

It is understandable that the company is going through a recession at the moment. But again, we are not here on a short-term basis.

We are looking at a long term association with this country. Firstly, we believe that Nigeria is a big market; that self-belief is very important. If you don’t believe in this country’s potential, then it becomes a halfhearted attempt, which we do not want to do. So we believe that the population is huge, and that it is composed of mostly young, tech-savvy people. So, yes, today, the economic instability is not conducive to business, but it will get better. And we do not want to enter the country when things are okay, or exit the country when it is going through challenging circumstances. We feel that we are a part of Nigeria, and we also want to make Nigerian feel that Canon is a brand to be patronised, because we are going to be here, both in good and bad times. Together, we can come up. Our new ad campaign, which will be launching very soon, will also revolve around, not Canon as a brand, but Nigeria as a country. Our message will be: capture every spirit of Nigeria, and while you are capturing it, Canon is always there.

What are some of the steps you are taking relating to the Nigerian film industry?

I think the Nigerian film industry has budding photographers and filmmakers who stand out today in the world. What we will like to do as Canon is to cement our association with existing filmmakers. But not only that; we want to create new filmmakers. What our team is

doing now is getting in touch with budding filmmakers, going to filmmaking institutes and introducing them to Canon products, and sharing with them tips on photography and how to enhance their filmmaking through a Canon camera. We are confident about our strategies to penetrate the Nollywood market, because while our eyes are set on channel penetration and becoming number one, our eyes are also set on becoming a major pillar in Nollywood.

How does Canon view the Camera-Smartphone debate?

From our side, we do not have any debate when it comes to photography which is taken by a smart-phone camera, because we have accepted the fact that with the advent of smart-phone cameras, the entry-level camera customer has shifted to the smart-phone. So now there are less and less people who use a compact range of cameras, because their needs have been fulfilled by a smart-phone camera. However, we, being pioneers in imaging, want to offer consumers with the right kind of solution and services, so that they can make their moments even better.

There are many things which a smart-phone cannot capture. For example, moments such as the birth of your baby or the first time when he or she walks, or the marriage of your daughter; those kind of moments require the kind of quality which only a DSLR can provide. So, the entry-level has shifted to the smart-phone camera, which we have accepted. But from mid-high, as well as the DSLR range, there are moments which you need to capture with quality, and here Canon will come up with its innovation, so we can afford consumers the right kind of solutions and services.

36/COLLAGE

19.05.2017

L-R: Globacom's National Sales Coordinator, South-South, Marcel Anyanwu; Nollywood legend, Richard Mofe-Damijo; Glo Brand Ambassador, Di'Ja; wife of Cross River State Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Lynda Ayade and former Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, at the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour held in Calabar...recently

L – R: Mrs Uzoezi Omafuayire; Mrs Patience Ororewor; Mr Bonny Ogwara; Mr Kenneth Eboh and Mrs Oghale Ayuya during the burial of their mother, Late Mrs Josephine Eboh at Ofagbe in Delta State... recently JAMES AGORI

Mr Lawrence and Mrs Mary - Jane Iriferigoma Jnr. during their wedding reception in Ughelli, Delta State, recently

L-R: A Staff of Total Health trust, Mrs. Cecilia Fajemiroye; Couple, Mr and Mrs.Adeolu Malomo; and , Mrs Abiola Adelusi. during the wedding reception of the couple in Ibadan.....recently

L-R: Rev. Kehinde and Kemi Babarinde; Rev. Emmanuel Awotunde; Rev. & Mrs. Jerry Akinsola(Lead Consultants) and Rev, Moses Adebayo at a seminar on marriage mentor organsed by The Equipping Christian Ministry in Lagos‌recently

L-R: Elder Lanre Adewusi; Secretary to Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello; Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello; Dr. Temitope Bello; and Pastor Femi Olubolade .at the thanksgiving service to mark the 53rd birthday of Prof. OlatunjiBello in Lagos...recently

L-R; Bride Mother, Mrs. Lasisi Kashimawo, Couples, Mr. Qazeem Alabi and his wife, former Miss. Rahmat Aramide Kashimawo, and the Groom Mother, Mrs. Kehinde Alabi, during the Nikkai ceremony of Rahmat and Qazeem in Lagos...recentty

R-L: Former National Chairman, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, Francis Cardinal Arinze and Mrs. Prisca Umeh, when the Umehs visited Cardinal Arinze at St.Peter's Square Rome...recently

37/XTRA

19.05.2017

Skysat Launches Subsidiary’s Products in Nigeria Peter Uzoho One of the leading providers of digital printing solutions in Africa, Skysat Technologies, has launched the products of its subsidiary, Brother International (GULF) FZE, into the Nigerian market.

The Brother products which include a wide range of black and white colour Laser and Inkjet printers/MFP, High Speed Document Scanners, and Innovative Labeling printers designed for use in the home, office and corporate environment offer excellent customer care value with a low total cost of ownership (TCO), and low acquisition and usage cost.

Speaking at the special product launch and open house at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, Managing Director, Skysat Technologies Limited, MrIzzat Debbs, stated that the introduction of Brother printers in Nigerian would go a long way in supporting many corporate organisations in saving cost, while at the same time, producing high quality office documents.

He explained that the plan of the organisation was to leverage on its past successes in offering robust and efficient sales and after-sales technical support services, noting that with support from its partners, Brother International, in making products of Brother a preferred choice in its market segment within a very short time in terms of affordability, usability, durability and productivity.

“It is expected that the introduction of Brother products into Nigeria will lift the standards of office document management, create new business opportunities in the small and medium enterprise sector, create employment for young people, and ultimately contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation,” Debbs said.

Leather Spa Opens Shops in Abuja Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

L-R: Delegate from Jethro, Mr. Taku Miyazaki; Managing Director, Skysat Techs Ltd, Mr. Izzat Debbs; Managing Director, Brother Gulf, Mr. Soichi Murakami; and President, Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), Alhaji Ahmed Adeniyi Ojikutu, during the formal launch of Brother range of products at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos...recently

On his part, Managing Director of Brother International, Mr. Soichi Murakami, said the launch of the company in Nigeria was to fulfill a long time dream of introducing to the Nigerian market affordable and high quality efficient Brother products that were world renowned for Japanese design and quality, affordable and ease of use across the world.

“Brother is a leading provider of office equipment/technology including award-winning colour and black and white multifunctional printers, document scanners and device based-cloud

and mobile printing/scanning technology. It is expected that with the partnership with Skysat Technologies, Brother is billed to provide excellent sales and after-sales technical support services for Brother products in Nigeria,” Murakami noted.

Brother International’s office is currently at the Obafemi Awolowo House, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, and the company has presented authorised dealership certificate to various firms across Nigeria for the distribution of its products and services all over the country.

The Managing Director, Leather Spa and Company, Ms. Chidinma Ekwebelem, has lamented that the country lacks reliable places to get luxury goods fixed, saying that there was need for more innovative services in Nigeria.

Ekwebelem who gave the hint in Abuja, revealed that she set up Leather Spa in order to break the barrier of travelling out to get luxury goods fixed especially leather products, in terms of repairs and restoration.

According to her, "I always travel out to get my bags or my shoes fixed. Whenever I travel out I will just fix it and I will come back because we don't have reliable places in Nigeria where you can have your luxury goods fixed. So I came up with the idea, have always been passionate about business, I eat and breathe business."

She added: "I actually travel out for training for months and I came back and I decided to set this up because it's the first of its kind in Nigeria and we are happy to provide services like this because we needmore innovative services like this in Nigeria as to the normal norm that we have here."

Ekwebelem noted that she decided to do something different for a change and to also deliver good services which she said was the number one priority for the company.

She explained: "We restore and repair leather goods. We don't change the leather, we work with what you have. Just like for example now, you can't do anything with synthetic hair, but you can do a lot withhuman hair because it's natural."

SD Joseph Launches Third Album: Unfailing God Peace Obi A Christian gospel singer, SD Joseph has added another album to the stack of his albums in the market. The new album titled, ‘Unfailing God’ with a hit track ‘God is too Faithful to Fail’ was launched in Lagos recently. Described as a unique collection of Spirit-inspired numbers by the music minister and his team, has been promised to be a blessing to every ear and heart that listen to the relics.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the Unfailing God, the music minister disclosed that it revolves around some situations he went through and God's subsequent assurances to him, that he is an Unfailing God, who is too faithful to fail.

According to him, "This title came as a message of hope I received from God sometime ago when I was going through a situation in my life and I heard God told me that “I am unfailing God".

Anytime I sing this song, it gives me hope, it gives me courage and my needs are met. In fact anytime I minister with this song, I see God indeed as an unfailing God as the message becomes real in the lives of listeners through their testimonies,” Joseph said.

Stating that what makes a Christian artiste different from any other musicians to be the ability to hear from God, SD Joseph said that it does not only pave way for a firsthand message

L-R: Clara Udensi, Joseph S. D. Attabor, Evangelist Chucks, Oluchi Oparaji, and Pastor Victory Abel, at the formal launching of SD Joseph’s album titled ‘Unfailing God’ at Foundation Faith Church, Salem International Christian Centre, Lekki, Lagos…recently

from God, but that it helps sustain one's hope and faith in God especially during challenging times. Assuring listeners of the rich content and divine touch that await them, he said, "For every listener of this music, no matter the circumstances and situations you are going through, God is too faithful to fail. So, whenever you sing this song, heaven will respond to you,” he said.

In her words of exhortation titled, ‘Divine Intervention Through the Weapons of Praise’ Reverend Kate Etteh said that praises is one of the strongest spiritual ammunition that can be

used to bring down the forces of the wicked.

Warning that praises should not be seen as a spiritual entertainment, a mere melody or even as an object of excitement, the minister said that praises is a covenant practice that leads one into the very heart of God. According to her, "praise is not for a spiritual entertainment, not just a melody nor is it for excitement; praises is a covenant practice that you need to engage in to enable you get into the very heart of God. It possesses the power that will make you enter into God's presence and

understand the ways of God. Praise is one of the strongest spiritual ammunition that can be use to bring down the forces that are troubling you,” Etteh said.

Speaking further on the power of praises, the woman of God said, "Yes, you can pray, prayer locks in your enemies but praises pulls the trigger and it brings down the enemy.: Sharing the story of King Jehoshaphat in the Bible, Etteh hinted that praises would always do the unusual in the life of any individual who applies it with faith.

"It will help you to win the unusual battle in your life and you are sure to overcome. Once you begin to praise the name of the Lord, the Lord will manifest in that situation. And any battle the Lord takes over, victory is sure,” she assured.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Reverend Simon Odomokwu said that Christian music was meant to bring people to God. According to him, it is a kind of music that is filled with the power of God. "Christian music makes people come out of sorrow, bitterness, sadness; it creates way for people to get closer to God." And quoting the book of Prophet Isaiah 12:3, Odomokwu noted that no one that approaches God with praises without encountering the delivering power of God. "My word to you today is to look unto God, the theme of the Album is ‘Unfailing God’ God never fails, whatever, he has promised that he will surely bring it to pass."

Varsity Don Charges Influential Politicians on Human Capital Development Femi Ogbonnikan A former Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor Lai Ogunkoya, has charged politicians and well-to-do members of the society to make human capital Development a priority as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The erstwhile VC, who was the chairman of the occasion, gave the charge at the 2017 Annual Ajoke Ipaye Educational Foundation presentation of scholarships and awards to the indigent, but brilliant university undergraduates held at Ojoo, Ijebu-igbo Local Government Council Development (LCDA) of the state.

He said this kind of initiative should be emulated by everybody that the society has affected positively, noting the impact of giving back to the society would be felt in the area of human capital development, education wise.

"Ajoke Ipaye Foundation has taken a right step since 2009. It has been involved in giving out scholarship to the less-privileged that will further encourage other students in their educational

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Modupe Mojota (5th left), Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tunde Ipaye and his wife, Ayotola, flanked scholarship recipients

pursuit," said the university don.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries of the scholarship award, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, who is the incumbent Ogun State Commissioner for Health, said he was also a beneficiary of one

thousand naira which has brought him to where he is today, saying that the best way to give back to the society was to encourage the less-privileged amongst students who are from humble background and cannot afford basic education.

He said he was so excited about Master Adebayo Sakiru, one of the first beneficiaries of the foundation who is currently studying PhD in English Language in South Africa.

"My joy today knows no bounds as I witness some of the students currently under my scholarship award doing excellently well in their various choices of career, one of whom is an undergraduate in OAU, another one studying his PhD in English Language in South Africa," said Ipaye.

While urging well-to-do members of the society to sieze the opportunity of giving back to the society in a way that would add value and dignity to the lives of the beneficiary, Ipaye said the foundation has been in existence since 2009 and currently, 11 students are benefiting from the scholarship award.

Dignitaries in attendance include Mrs. Modupe Mojota, Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Chairman, Ajoke Ipaye Foundation, Chief Samuel Olugbemi Ogungbe, Director, Ogun State Lands Bureau, Mr. Biyi Ismail and others.

38/OPINION

19.05.2017

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Buhari

The Spin Doctors of Aso Rock (2) For sure, writing or discussing about Boko Haram and any government in power is like stepping on landmine. But there are questions to ask.

Over the past fortnight, daily newspapers have featured articles as framed for them by the government without asking more questions.

For the media, it is about not missing the most important news item of the day. As a newsroom leader I know it is always a tug of war between the editors and reporters on one hand and managing directors/editor-in-chief and editors on the other hand.

But here is the riddle. For the government, there’s a political interest to protect in times of crisis, and the media is often caught in the web of politics, profits and social justice as spin doctors swoop on it as a vehicle.

Clearly, the Buhari government has much political interests to protect having presented the former government as a failure on all fronts, especially with respect to dealing decisively with terrorism and corruption.

We can’t forget so soon that Buhari as a candidate during the election was marketed as someone who dealt with insurgency before and has the capacity and capability to win the war as soon as he resumed in Aso Villa.

It turned out to be a spin.

But in the politics and profits of Boko Haram terrorism, the name of one man—Zanna Mustapha—has been cyclical The willingness of Mr. Mustapha, a Maiduguri–based lawyer to stay in the bedlam from one government to the other since Umaru Musa Yar'Adua presidency drew my attention in the recent swap deal that saw some Boko Haram commanders released from Nigerian prisons.

Really, we rarely hear of horror stories such as what happened after the release of

the commanders, where pardoned criminals will take up arms against the government less than 24 hours after “amnesty” as shown in the latest video released by Boko Haram on May 12.

Just like in time past the government has asked us to dismiss the new video. I’m not surprised, because government everywhere knows the art-of-cover-up more than anything else. No government wants the citizens and enemies to see it as too soft on issues of terrorism. It was the undoing of Goodluck Jonathan regime—his government sounded too soft to the ears of citizens and enemies (Boko Haram fighters).

And while I’m supportive of government dismissing fake news, this government has failed to prove to Nigerians that the Boko Haram terrorists in the video were different from those released by his officials.

“A short term political victory,” are the words David Otto, a United Kingdom-based counter-terrorism expert with knowledge of Africa and European Union used to describe what happened when I pressed him for answer this week.

I concur. That’s probably what President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are looking for at this time.

Interestingly, Otto has worked with Zanna and Aisha Wakili, the two arrowheads of the swap deal.

“The decision to swap strategic Boko Haram commanders with 82 captives was never going to be a long term gain,” Otto said.

And why did the government keep the talk about this “secret amnesty” out of the public domain until the girls were released?

It was because Boko Haram dictated it.

So, without asking more questions and investigating government claims, the media

appears to be in bed with political interests.

Now, why is Zanna the go-to person for the government in this process? The fact of the matter is that Zanna is the man with the intelligence.

In 2007, Zanna became a go-to person with intelligence about Boko Haram, when he incorporated a school to cater for the children of victims of Boko Haram. The school, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation, was one of the schools that was not burnt or closed down during the peak of Boko Haram crisis in Borno State.

Tellingly, Zanna’s school is where you’ll find everybody across the divide—the families of Boko Haram militants and their victims.

The wives of Boko Haram fighters share communion with Zanna and that helped him own so much intelligence.

In an interview he granted Daily Trust in July 2014, two months after the 270 Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped, Zanna said: “I have an Islamic foundation that caters for the well-being of orphans which cuts across various divides and that does not in any way exclude the insurgents’ family members, widowed and orphaned in the crises. Having them is leverage. As you know, we have the Future Prowess widows who are part of the Parent Teachers Association, which often guides the making of the school curriculum.

If you need any advice on the insurgents and how to end the crisis you can meet them anytime you need… Talk of the insurgents for example, their leadership, they have over 270 of their children in this school.”

To be sure, Zanna worked with the Goodluck Jonathan government for the release of the girls, but couldn’t secure their release, because of the contentious word called swap.

Of course, the regime led by Jonathan was a confused one, when it comes to how to deal

with Boko Haram. The United States already declared Boko Haram a terrorist organisation and was not going to be party to swap deal, yet Zanna knew the only way out was to go with the swap deal.

The Boko Haram wanted their members released without any information to the public about it and that created a dilemma for Jonathan as his government equally faced a monstrous opposition after one error to the other.

Jonathan’s unwillingness to swap and other issues created deadlock, but zanna counselled in an interview that Nigeria needs to take its own approach.

“Americans are saying that the insurgents have been blacklisted and that Boko Haram is a terrorist organisation. Don’t forget that the late Nelson Mandela, at the point of his death, his name was not removed from the list of terrorists but when Obama went for his burial, he described him like a kind of a saint…that is America for you.

“They are telling us that this is a terror organisation but at the same time they are going to negotiate with Al-Qaeda for the release of their soldiers in exchange for terrorists. If the Americans can do this, it should be a lesson to us to look for a viable means of exchanging the girls with some of the insurgents. That would be a window to advance for further negotiations,” Zanna said.

That window I believe is what Buhari has opened, but we’re being made to think it is something different.

Next week, when I conclude the series, I will publish my conversation with Otto along the line of cherry picking captives with preference for Chibok girls and the effect of that in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgents.

Follow me on twitter: @adeolaakinremi1

39

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

OF RECESSIONS, TRADES UNIONS AND LABOUR RELATIONS President Reagan in 1982 and pushed to its limits by George W. Bush turned “prudent regulation of financial institutions” to nearabsence of regulation.

The banks and other financial institutions took complete advantage of this and explored all possibilities resulting in over-extension and commitments and bankruptcies. The Obama administration commenced and completed the bail out of several large American banks and large financial institutions, and the automobilemanufacturing companies.

The important point to note is that all of these are consequences of globalisation, the current dominance of neo-liberalism, the latest mutation in private enterprise system.

Impact on the Nigerian Economy In January 2009, the Governor the Central Bank of Nigeria listed the following impacts on that crisis on the Nigerian economy and which remain the same in 2017: 1) Commodity prices collapse (especially oil price); 2) Revenue contraction; 3) Declining capital inflows in the economy; 4) De-accumulation of foreign reserves and pressure on exchange rate; 5) Limited foreign trade finances for banks—credit lines may dry-up for some banks; 6) Capital market downturn, divestment by foreign investors with attendant tightness and possible second round effects on the balance sheet of banks by increasing provisioning for bad debt and decrease in profitability; 7) Counter party risks vis-à-vis external reserves. We should add massive public sector indebtedness also, especially arrears of salaries/wages and pension payouts and inability (or refusal?) to pay salaries.

The impacts of globalisation and the current crisis on the economy and politics are thus multi-faceted, ranging from the a) impoverishment of a majority of wageearners, continuing loss of members by way of down-sizing (restructuring, retirements, dismissals, etc.), b) abandonment of indigenisation schemes, and difficulties facing many companies (especially in the manufacturing sector faced by rising costs and competition from smuggled substitute products and administrative bottle-necks), c) declining capacity among union leadership due to wastages, attrition, and prevalence of younger and relatively inexperienced hands, the rapid growth in the number of rival nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) many of which concentrate on some traditional concerns of the labour movement (civil liberties, human rights, child abuse, gender discrimination, occupational hazards, inequity and corruption, etc.) to deliberate anti-unionism tactics of both private and public employers, especially subcontracting of operations and labour. d) The increasing cases of ‘rationalisations’, ‘down-sizing’, mergers/take-overs, bankruptcies, technological changes, privatisation, commercialisation, removal of subsidies, and drastic cut-backs in ‘public expenditure’ have not only led to massive loss of jobs that can be ‘organised’, surviving on wages/salaries has become very difficult – in spite of those attractive remuneration packages for a class of employees in certain industries. As a result, many workers have become part-time workers in orientation, pre-occupied with how to supplement the pay-packet.

Economic Recession and Labour Relations and Trade Unionism The impact of the Economic Recession or Crisis on Labour Relations is very obvious: as businesses collapse, jobs are lost. As more persons lose their jobs and thus cannot meet their financial obligations (mortgage, credit card, rent, auto, medical, schools fees, etc.), those intermediary financial institutions (e.g. insurance companies) to which regular payments of premiums are due also go out of business, and more people lose their jobs!

This is not to say that some jobs are not created; but not sufficient to make much difference especially if left to these same companies.

Although there has been a corresponding growth in the development of certain skills and jobs accompanying rapid changes in technology, they are yet to be organised by unions and the hawking of recharge cards on the streets is not exactly a decent job.

But, we are not here arguing that no good comes from deregulation! In the Nigeria case, for example, organised labour should encour-

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba

age some degree of deregulation in sectors of the economy dominated by highly inefficient publicly-owned companies. For example, it is not a question of whether government officials or staff of the NNPC or workers in the refineries should be blamed for the state of the refineries today. All of them are in the public sector, and if they owned any of the refineries as persons or investors, they would not have run them aground or put up with their epileptic performance.

What is to be done: Deregulation and Privatisation Deregulation and privatisation may be carried out in different degrees; no country has privatised all of its public utilities and service providers merely on account of market forces supposedly being the most efficient way of determining prices and of allocating resources.

Even companies in the private sector collapse daily. However, for example, a situation where only a few people control the importation of refined petroleum products (which we should not being doing in the first place as one of the primary producers of crude oil and gas in the world) is not good for consumers or the country – hence a degree of deregulation would prove beneficial in this respect.

Transparency in governance and business Wage employment is in both public and private sectors of the economy and within companies/organisations, and for meaningful employment (what the ILO refers to as “decent jobs”) to exist, there should be increased concern for transparency in governance and business.

For political governance, activities directed at getting all to respect and protect human rights should be increased and encouraged. One way of doing this is for organised labour to network with other non-government organisations, including students’ organisations, in civil society.

No government should be allowed to insist on its own definition of ‘human rights’, of ‘democracy’ or reduce elections to declaring the well-connected victors rather than votes determining the results. With a consolidating civilian democracy, the trade unions have to respond proactively and reactively to a more benevolent socio-political situation characterised by positive expectations from the citizenry.

It should also be borne in mind that although a government may have the power to make laws, those laws that do not conform to laid down procedures in their enactment or violate those rights and privileges protected by the Constitution can and should be declared unlawful by the courts. It is to avoid this that some military dictatorships introduce so-called ‘ouster clauses’ that prevent the law courts from even examining such laws.

To this extent, a democratic environment is expected to assist the furthering and achievement of the rule of law and the development of a credible judiciary. The worker is first a citizen before being a worker.

As for managing businesses in the public sector, the Essential Services will reinforce their

continuing dominant position as the country’s largest foreign exchange earner. One likely implication of this is either greater co-operation between the unions and state authorities, or more acrimonious relationship as governments might over-react to the sensitive position of these parastatals (e.g. NNPC group) in relation to its own interests and pre-occupations.

My best guess is that collective bargaining would likely be a mixture of both attempts by governments to impose some terms, and other terms demanded by the unions and workers, depending on the compensation policies of private employers in the industry, social and political issues and nature of leadership on both sides.

The poor shape of the economy - if made much worse by official mismanagement or lack of effective management in and capital flight dominated private sector - shall continue to take its toll in terms of continuing loss of union membership through lay-offs, redundancies, ‘rationalisations’, declining turnovers and profits of firms, reluctance on the part of increasing number of employers to re-negotiate new agreements, declining membership dues, and inability of several unions to meet their financial and other obligations.

It is left to labour to increase its ranks by organising casual and short-term contract workers, in addition to taking legal steps to compel employers to keep terms of agreement, especially the now severely disregarded contract of employment of which employers in the banking and finance sector easily the worst culprits.

Second, a government alive to its responsibilities and the future of the country should meet its obligations and also develop a more credible management of the oil and gas industry.

Many jobs are likely to be lost, especially at the bottom of the ladder where a good deal of subcontracting of jobs is going on in the oil and gas industry, and under a cross-posting policy for management staff an increasing number of positions are now being taken over by expatriate staff in virtually all sectors.

Third, government, politicians, bureaucratic elites alive to their responsibilities and the future of the country have no business perpetuating an industrial policy pivoting on importation of raw materials or inputs, a country that is a major world producer of an impressive number of raw materials. It is just common sense: even a slight upswing of exchange rates against the naira threatens investors, managements and wage-earning population, not to mention inflation impoverishing the general population.

Transparency in Business financial transactions The relevant professional associations in Nigeria, especially legal and accounting, have not been of great help in promoting transparency and good corporate governance or practices.

Concocted agreement and doctored “audited” accounts translate into loss of jobs, capital flight, misuse of funds, embezzlements and in the end the companies go under or restructure.

Perhaps, self-regulation of these professional bodies in the area of corporate governance may not be adequate, pointing in the direction of new oversight tripartite structures whose membership should include all stakeholders, including the trade unions.

The quality of union leadership and union administration The greatest challenge for organised labour in this dramatically changing socio-economic environment is the quality of union leadership.

The trouble here would seem to be more in terms of general orientation and strategic vision, than in formal education (not that this does not need to be beefed up) for, as I have always pointed out, the bulk of those in all Nigerian governments and the National Assembly were/are no better educated than union leaders.

The creation of union bureaucracies, over the last three decades in particular, and the growth of union assets and liabilities (e.g. increasing numbers of union pensioners) have impacted on union administration, strategies and tactics in several ways, all not so beneficial. For our purposes today, however, suffice it to remark that some branch unions and state/zonal branches have struck bargains with managements/employers, a good many not terribly protective of members’ larger interest. I have come across branch unions in service sector of the oil and gas industry striking over disposal of by-products by management – for

excluding union executives from participating in such disposals, proceeds, if when allowed to be involved, which do not go into the Union’s coffers in the first place.

On the other side of the coin, some union bureaucracies and leadership have stabilised and institutionalised effective practices and relationship with managements, the textile industry being a good example. But, economic recession and closures have imposed constraints and limits to the overall effectiveness of good strategies and tactics.

Generally speaking, food, beverage and tobacco sector tends to be less negatively impacted upon by Economic Recession or Crisis, except for luxury items, as people tend to re-adjust tastes and concentrate more on food, drink, transportation and shelter because of shrinking budgets. Unions in this sector should be able to promote and protect interests of their members more effectively.

Concluding remarks Laissez faire economic doctrines are some of the oldest ideas on development, underlying the early formulations advanced by Adam Smith and his contemporaries since late seventeenth century as we observed earlier.

But Laissez Faire economic doctrines had to be first modified, and then abandoned in the 1930s for the same reasons as Globalisation would likely to be abandoned sooner than later, namely that an unregulated market or private enterprise system is plagued by alternating incidents of booms and busts or depressions, and despite its acclaimed ‘efficient allocation of resources’, an increase in aggregate welfare is not achieved, let alone guaranteed. Enviable standard of living for the general population has never trickled down in any country where ‘intervention’ through planning by the state did not take place.

Indeed, a critical point in relation to employment is that the period during which the world experienced the birth and growth of mass consumption society and greatest increase in the aggregate standard of living in human history was when extensive economic planning and state intervention occurred from mid-1940s till early 1970s.

Another way of putting it is that since the mid-1970s when Globalisation/Neo-liberalism gained ascendancy, mass poverty has been on the increase worldwide. So, it stands to reason that if people elect governments to improve their economic lot, laissez faire economic policies would certainly not do the trick in the short or middle run. This is why one measure is for the state or government to embark on job-creating ventures, especially construction of physical infrastructure that could inject immediate purchasing power into the system.

Adversarial labour relations tend to feature more during Economic Recession, showing as always that social change, especially adverse economic change, is disorienting as individuals, trade unions and corporate bodies re-strategise and raise questions and doubts about purposes of governance and usefulness of existing socio-political arrangements and practices to their continued survival. Thus practically all governments are on the defensive and their task even more difficult, having to deal with principal political actors, communities, financial institutions, powerful local and foreign corporate bodies and business community in general.

Under Economic Recession, effective union leadership is critical in encouraging both private and public sector employers to create more decent jobs and reduce unemployment, particularly impacting on official socio-economic policies that should take on board deregulation, privatisation, pricing of refined petroleum products, physical infrastructure, monetary and fiscal policies, and industrial policy and so on.

The clearest lesson that Economic Recession or Crisis brings home forcefully is that it is never the responsibility of the employer to guarantee adequate standard of living but the way society is managed and ruled.

If any employer paid what each and every employee needs to live decently, it would be out of business. Thus, both as citizens and those bearing the brunt of increasing hardships and poverty, workers and their organisations do not seem to have much choice than to critique and oppose official non-beneficial social and economic policies.

-Otobo is of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Soludo: Nigeria’s Economic Recession was Avoidable David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo has said that the current economic recession being witnessed in Nigeria was avoidable, insisting it was caused by poor ideas by the country’s policy makers.

Soludo made the remark at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where he was lead paper presenter at the 2017 International Conference of the Department of Business Administration, yesterday.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Managing a Recessed Economy’, he noted that Nigeria slipped into recession barely a year after the current administration took over power, and the inability of the country’s policy makers to rise to the challenge plunged her into recession.

“Poor ideas transcended

over superior ideas, and we went into recession, which was slightly avoidable. That is why academics must be alive to their responsibility of nudging us to reality; the reason I commend you for this international conference,” Soludo said.

The former CBN governor however stated that the foundation for the recession was laid by the previous administration, which he said borrowed to fund recurrent expenditure at a time when oil prices were as high as over $100 to a barrel.

He said part of the problem was because Nigeria failed to save funds at a time when there was unprecedented boom in oil prices, but rather engaged in unprecedented borrowing.

“If you borrow at a time of boom, what will you do in time of lack? Even my grandmother in the village

knows this.

At the same time when we had boom, we had unprecedented unemployment.

“The problem with Nigeria’s successive policy makers is that once oil goes up, we take it that it will remain so, and we continue to spend. But once there is a shock and oil goes down, we just think it is temporary and we start borrowing.

“Nigeria can be fixed, and what it needs to fix Nigeria is not rocket science, but we do not have the will to fix her,” Soludo said.

He said that part of the problem Nigeria was having in the quest to get out of recession was poor policy. Huge spending by government he further noted, was one of the ways of solving the economic problem, but two wrong steps by government ruined that.

Infinity Trust Posts 19% Rise in Profit Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc posted a 19 per cent increase in its profit before tax (PBT) in 2016 as the company unveiled its annual financial accounts yesterday. It also recorded a 45 per cent growth in its loan portfolio from N1.672 billion in 2015, to N2.417 billion in 2016.

Speaking at the bank’s 11th annual general meeting (AGM) in Abuja, the Chairman, Dr. Adeyinka Bibilari, noted that the company was undaunted in its resolve to multiply the wealth of all stakeholders, and remained profitable in 2016 despite what he described as “the fierce political, economic and operating environments.”

Bibilari disclosed that the bank recorded a profit before

tax of N312,706,202--- an increase of 19 per cent over the preceding year’s (2015) figure of N262,430,085. This, according to him, meant that the bank had consistently been profitable for the past 11 years.

“This is a notable and significant achievement in an industry where major players are struggling for survival,” he said.

Based on this, a dividend of 3.0 kobo was approved for each of the shareholders whose names are in the register of members as at close of business on May 2, 2017. Preference shareholders also received a dividend of 7.0 kobo each.

Giving further details on the performance of the bank, Bibilari stated that gross earnings increased by 13.8 per cent from N755 million in 2015 to

N861 million in 2016 while total operating expenses appreciated by 13.2 per cent from N434 million in 2015 to N491 million in 2016.

“Our strategies, in terms of the aggressive mobilisation of customer deposits paid off even with the harsh environment, with deposit growing from N1.41 billion in 2015 to N1.538 billion in 2016, an increase of 10%.“Our core business of increasing the number of homeowners led to our loan portfolio growing from N1.672 billion in 2015 to N2.417 billion in 2016-- an increase of 45%. Total assets also grew from N7.6 billion in 2015 to N8.1billon in 2016, a growth of 7% while shareholders funds grew from N5.6 billion to N5.7 billion in 2016,” the bank’s chairman said.

CITN Rates Ogun Third in IGR Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has rated Ogun State Government third in Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) among the 36 states, following the N72,983,120,003.85 recorded by the state in 2016.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, during the 19th annual tax conference with the theme: ‘Taxation and Governance: The Social

Contract Imperative,’ CITN President, Dr. Olateju Somorin explained that Ogun State recorded N34.6 in 2015, an increase of N17.09 billion from N17.5 billion it recorded in 2014.

She said the National Bureau of Statistics had stated that Ogun state took first position by doubling the N17.5 billion it generated in 2014 to N34.6 billion in 2015. Olateju stated that with the total components

of total revenue being PAYE (N24.15billion), direct taxes (N1.81billion) Road Taxes (N364million), other taxes (N6.43 billion) and MDAs Revenue (N40,218,549,061.91).

The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, however, appreciated the institution for its rating. Amosun said there was no way government can survived without taxation, adding that taxation remain the strength of any government.

Access Bank Empowers Female Entrepreneurs In furtherance of its commitment to empower female entrepreneurs across Nigeria, Access Bank has extended its Womenpreneur Business workshop to Kaduna State.

To give the women in Kaduna a professional business capacity-building experience, Access Bank’s ‘W’ Academy partnered with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC); the Entrepreneurship arm of Lagos Business School to organise a workshop.

In its fifth edition, the Womenpreneur Business Workshop is one of the flagship trainings of the ‘W’ Academy under the bank’s ‘W’ Initiative, designed to address the lack of access to

entrepreneurial skills, finance, networking, and management skills; which are the key barriers to women’s economic inclusion.

Speaking on the purpose of the workshop, Group Head, Inclusive Banking of Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Ope Wemi-Jones, was quoted in a statement to have said: “Since 2006, the bank has continued in its commitment to drive women’s economic empowerment in the nation.

The Womenpreneur Business Workshop is intended to educate and enlighten Nigerian women on the fundamentals in business which will eventually help them attain their full

potentials.

“So far, business women in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Abuja have benefitted immensely from the workshop with over 1200 female entrepreneurs testifying to have increased their business network, improved their business model and are thriving through the economic constraints with ease.

“This first of its kind workshop is highly discounted and targeted at small and medium scaled women entrepreneurs.

Access Bank’s commitment to empower female entrepreneurs continues to foster the growth of SME’s in Nigeria with its resultant economic benefits.”

Soludo

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)

26,970,297.97

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,595,579.89

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,436,917.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,841,337.90

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,374,718.08

--Other Assets Net

-12,483,409.58

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,837,322.41

--Currency in Circulation

2,179,174.28

--Banks Reserves

3,318,344.71 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month

December 2016

Inter-Bank Call Rate

10.39

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) 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 - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, 17 MAY 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $49.43 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $49.71 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).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

41

42

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Caverton’s Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Facility Excites Shareholders Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Shareholders of Caverton Offshore Support Group (COSG) yesterday expressed optimism that the company’s commercial Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) will greatly boost the diversification of its revenue base and improve its financial position.

The MRO will be used by airlines to maintain their

aircraft.

Speaking at the 8th annual general meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos, the shareholders said apart from conserving foreign exchange internally, revenue from other airlines that would use the facility will fetch COSG significant revenue. The Chairman of COSG, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola assured the shareholders that the MRO would be completed and fully operational in 2018.

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

According to him, when the facility becomes operational, it will diversify the company’s revenue base across multiple platforms for the betterment of all stakeholders.

He said the current downturn in the oil and gas added pressure to the group’s financial performance and its operational cash flows, which led to reduction of 17 per cent in its revenue to N19.3 billion, from an23.2 billion. He added that profit

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

fell 11 per cent to stand at N7.7 billion as against N8.6 billion but total assets rose by 4.7 per cent from N39.5 billion in 2015 to N41.3 billion in 2016.

Makanjuola disclosed that deal with the current environment the company’s units have been right sizing, monitoring the flow and reviewing their operations.

“We are leveraging on our companies to stream line processes, reduce costs and share resources. These efforts

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

19 19 31

1.25

1,078,511 1,078,511 1,102,780

1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30 2,154,839.65

5 68 13 86 86

0.77 1.13 20.47

33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918 6,839,918

25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11 9,004,949.11

13 13

41.50

31,970 31,970

1,409,214.78 1,409,214.78

5 5 18

5.20

28,901 28,901 60,871

154,716.48 154,716.48 1,563,931.26

6 24 7 98 135

2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

9 9

168.50

166,476 166,476

28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

54 38 6 12 1 29 140

5.61 19.00 1.37 6.86 6.65 1.27

2,120,306 314,421 40,000 119,863 433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00 842,442.48 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

11 54 65

17.86 700.00

18,825 98,360 117,185

329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

11 11

4.46

99,050 99,050

420,455.00 420,455.00

13 21 34 394

21.90 28.00

36,887 133,117 170,004 3,289,575,498

820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67 4,244,727,629.11

82 51 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

4.10 1.49 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

3,962,506 2,163,396 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

14 8 2 3 7 10 1 1 46

0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06 0.76 0.50 0.50

200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

1 1

1.08

4,760 4,760

4,950.40 4,950.40

31 7 105 7 20 170 893

2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915 108,317,977

2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75 195,681,762.26

27

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

will enable us to resilient as we continue to navigate through rough waters,” the chairman said. He added that the company continues to harness and collaborate the distinctive strengths of its businesses to capture opportunities arising from the local, regional, and global demand for oil sustainable. “With increasing financial discipline and sharp focus on optimizing returns, we will seize opportunities as

well as innovate solutions and services to build a long-term and competitive position and capture sustainable returns for our stakeholders,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of COSG, Mr.Bode Makanjuola, said while seizing opportunities to build and grow the business, the company aims to anchor its position as the trusted and preferred logistics solution partner in the industry.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32 4 6 69 69

25.33 0.94 0.69

551,998 16,020 597,000 1,779,083 1,779,083

13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00 15,902,796.63 15,902,796.63

1 1 1

1.69

500 500 500

805.00 805.00 805.00

16 9 4 6 10 31 76

24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

6 6

1.51

134,500 134,500

204,240.00 204,240.00

5 5 87

50.00

24,529 24,529 15,152,108

1,165,135.50 1,165,135.50 1,164,682,243.92

2 2

0.50

24,262 24,262

12,131.00 12,131.00

90 90

3.47

3,827,573 3,827,573

13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

21 7 8 21 7 64

18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

33 33 189

318.00

389,934 389,934 4,473,488

124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56 149,977,475.67

1 1

0.50

941 941

470.50 470.50

5 5

3.80

32,870 32,870

127,756.40 127,756.40

13 13

0.89

624,500 624,500

538,430.00 538,430.00

1 22 23

2.29 4.00

4,588 251,094 255,682

10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

1 1 43 1,811

1.68

10,000 10,000 923,993 3,428,226,216

16,000.00 16,000.00 1,694,242.54 5,785,390,675.15

2 2 2 2

1.21

270,464 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

306 306

11.45

13,929,679 13,929,679

159,605,439.23 159,605,439.23

278 278 584

3.74

10,438,552 10,438,552 24,368,231

39,515,087.18 39,515,087.18 199,120,526.41

35 35 35 619 2,432

139.83

38,770 38,770 38,770 24,407,001 3,452,903,681

5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 204,425,192.41 5,990,143,129.00

2 2 2 2 2 10 10 10

2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

3,000 20 20 20 15 3,075 3,075 3,075

6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 270.65 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

43

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

MARKET NEWS

New African Alliance Insurance MD Vows to Reposition Firm Goddy Egene The newly appointed Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of African Alliance Insurance Plc, Mrs. Funmilayo Omo, has said that her desire is to transform the firm into a world class insurance company.

Omo was recently confirmed MD/CEO of the life specialist underwriting company by its board of directors.

Speaking on her vision for the company, she said: “I want African Alliance to be a first class company in the next five years. I want African Alliance to compete with any other company internationally, I want to improve on the quality of personnel that we have. Yes, the company is run by professionals but I want to keep on training them exposing them, improving them so that they remain relevant

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

and be able to take this company to the next level.”

Prior to her confirmation last week, she was in March this year appointed acting MD of the 56 year old life insurance company following the retirement of the erstwhile MD Alphonsus Okpo.

A statement from the corporate communications personnel of the company, Stella Osanebi said Omo’s appointment was recently

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 17May-2017, unless otherwise stated

confirmed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

A graduate of the University of Lagos, Omo, was awarded a B.Sc. Degree in Insurance in 1990. She was trained as a life insurance underwriter

by Munich Re in South Africa and has over 26 years experience in life and pension business.

She joined African Alliance Insurance Plc (then a Limited Liability

Company),as an Assistant Superintendent in 1991 and later rose to the position of Controller (Technical Operations) in charge of individual business in 2004. In 2006, she became an Assistant General Manager from where she advanced to become the Executive Director and Head of Life Operations of the company.

With proven track record for success, Omo, until her confirmation

was the acting managing director of African Alliance Insurance Plc, taking over from the erstwhile MD/CEO. She is an Associate Member of the prestigious Chartered Insurance Institute of London, an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and an Associate of the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria. She is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School.

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 143.20 144.04 12.86% Nigeria International Debt Fund 218.48 219.71 3.05% 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 0.73 0.74 4.73% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.15% 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 117.25 118.07 11.47% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.11% 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 10.46 10.73 11.78% Women's Investment Fund 90.29 92.61 6.73% 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 18.47% 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 1,070.85 1,071.97 5.98% FBN Heritage Fund 120.84 121.13 8.06% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.56% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.46 $109.15 5.35% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $108.09 $108.79 5.72% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 124.80 126.39 10.74% 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 1.06 1.08 13.83% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.72 2.72 5.85% 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 2,356.28 2,386.06 6.71% Coral Income Fund 2,244.71 2,244.71 6.67% 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 17.42% 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 18.55% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.83 1.85 8.83% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.63%

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 1.04 1.05 4.75% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,022.03 1,022.03 3.89% 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 10.91 11.00 12.87% 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 1.11 1.13 11.92% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.54 10.60 1.39% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.41% 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 118.59 119.50 16.45% 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 1.30 1.30 4.16% 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 1,933.02 1,943.19 5.54% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 158.39 158.39 2.88% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.81 0.82 5.84% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 197.60 197.60 5.73% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 136.74 138.64 5.37% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.25% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,875.22 7,965.68 3.84% 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 1.20 1.19 9.60% United Capital Bond Fund 1.31 1.31 18.88% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.71 4.59% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.14 1.14 11.39% 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 11.01 11.20 13.85% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.73 11.85 7.39% Zenith Income Fund 17.79 17.79 7.65%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.75

1.01% 2.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.65 82.23

8.75 83.75

-1.47% 8.50%

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

3.18 6.98 13.19 16.71 129.20

3.22 7.02 13.29 16.91 131.20

15.36% -0.99% 9.75% 4.74% -0.52%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

45

FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

One Dead, at Least 22 injured as Car Mows Down Pedestrians in New York’s Times Square Okechukwu Uwaezuoke with agency reports Screams were heard as pandemonium broke out in NewYork’s busy Times Square on Thursday when a speeding red sedan ploughed into pedestrians on a pavement, according Reuters. The attack reminiscent of a similar incident outside UK’s Parliament on March 22, has so far left one person dead and at least 22 injured.

The police has not been able to establish that the incident, which occurred around noon ET (16:00GMT), was linked to terrorism, an opinion that shared by news media and witnesses.

This was despite other eyewitness accounts that seemed to suggest that the action of the driver, who was driving against traffic, was “intentional”.

The bustling Manhattan-based commercial hub at the heart of the Broadway theatre district attracts hundreds of thousands of people, mostly tourists from around the world, daily.

In a description of the scene of the incident, Reuters reported that one person was covered with a bloodstained blanket after the car, identified as a red Honda sedan, ran into the pedestrians while CBS New York Television said the driver had been removed.

Also, television footage showed a man sporting a dark T-shirt being

restrained by the police and placed in a police car.

The car crashed into a pole and finally came to a halt at 45th Street and Broadway before the police whisked the driver away. Photos showed the car partially resting on its sides on the pavement and emitting smoke and flames from the bonnet.

Reuters further described the scene after the attack as littered with shoes and quoted an employee at the adjacent Thomas Reuters headquarters, identified as Josh Duboff, who jumped out of the way to avoid being hit, as saying:“People were being hit and rolling off the car.”

Another witness, Abdel Dosokey, 20, who told the UK newspaper The Guardian that he was working in a falafel cart at Broadway and 43rd St, on the east side of Times Square, when the incident occurred, said:“I saw a car go onto the sidewalk and hit a lot of people” and that the police and ambulance arrived at the scene about two minutes later.

BBC also quoted an eyewitness Ed G Val, who was across the street and saw the car speeding north on the west sidewalk of the 7th Avenue, as saying in an Instagram post: “A woman in front on the sidewalk was hit and tossed before then car reached 44th street [and] continued ploughing people

down at full speed up to 45th street where it was stopped after crashing into more people and the light posted pictured.”

More photos showed people being carried away on stretchers, while other casualties were strewn across the walkway.

The driver, further identified

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MIss GLOrIA TEsEME AIDELOMO, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs GLOrIA TEsEME ABAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mr. ADEKOLU OLAMIDE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. ADEKOLU OJO OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as IsIAKA OLANIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as ADIGUN IsIAKA OLANIYI. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I, OMOrUYI JOY, hereby state that the names JOY IFEDAYOMI OMOrUYI, OMOrUYI JOY and OMOrUYI JOY IFEDAYOMI as they appear on some of my documents refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as JOY IFEDAYOMI OMrUYI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and the general public Please take note.

as US Navy veteran and US citizen, has meanwhile been

CHANGE OF NAME

been taken into police custody and the scene of the incident

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MACHADO FOLA FLOrENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as OBUA FOLA FLOrENCE. All former documents remain valid. The

I formerly known and addressed as OBIAGELI EUNICE NWAGHANATA, now wish to be known and addressed as OBIAGELI EUNICE EMEKEKWUE sYLVIA. All former documents remain valid. The

I formerly known and addressed as IDUH FrANCIs BOLUM, now wish to be known and addressed as MICHAEL OsAKWUE. All former documents remain valid. The

I formerly known and addressed as MIss GIBsON EKANEM SYLVIA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs EGEDEGU TAMADU PErrY sYLVIA. All former documents remain valid. The

general public should take note.

general public should take note.

My name was wrongly written in my Bank details as EZEOrANU sAMBA MAXIMUS, my correct names are EZEOrANU-sAMBA MAXIMUs KAsIE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MICHAEL OJONUGWA DEBOrAH, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. OGUCHE OJONUGWA DEBOrAH. My correct date of birth is 15th of August 1988. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MIss FUNMILAYO JEMIWOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs FUNMILAYO MONsUr. All former documents remain valid. The general public

should take note.

cordoned off by the New York Police Department.

general public should take note.

general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as UWEM AKPAN sUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as ETIM CHrIsTIANA BLEssING. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as HABEEBAT AKINTUNDE TITILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AJIYO HABBEBAT TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public

should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MIss rUTH NKAsI sTEPH, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs rUTH NKAsI-GODWIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SULAIMON BOLANLE AMINAT, now wish to be known and addressed as OBOMEGHIE BOLANLE AMINAT (Mrs). All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

46

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

47

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017• T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Senate Probes Alleged Lopsided Recruitment in DSS

Orders Gbajabiamila to quit lottery commission Acting SGF begs Senate

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tijjani Kaura, has disclosed that the committee is already investigating reports of lopsidedness in the recruitment of cadets into the service of the Department of State Services (DSS).

There have been reports that a recent recruitment into the service, heavily favoured candidates from the North.

Kaura, in a point of order raised on the floor of the Senate yesterday, said the committee is looking into the matter to make sure the recruitment conforms with the provisions of the constitution.

“In the last few weeks, Nigerian media, both print and electronic, have been awash with issues that have to do with recruitment of cadet officers of the DSS. I stand before you on behalf of the Committee of Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to assure our distinguished colleagues and indeed all Nigerians that this committee is looking critically into this matter with the intention of ensuring that justice is done in this recruitment,” he said.

“Furthermore, I also want to add that this committee had similar cases from other agencies, and is also critically looking

at them at the same time, to make sure that justice in done in consideration to provisions of the constitution,” Kaura added.

Presiding, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the Senate would be awaiting the committee’s findings and recommendations.

“I am happy that you are looking in to the matter. I think you will keep us posted on your findings and recommendations,” he added.

In another development, the Senate yesterday ordered Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila to quit the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, and desist from parading himself as the Director General of the agency.

The Senate had last Wednesday directed the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, to investigate reports that Gbajabiamila, following the announcement in early April of his appoinment as DG of the commission, has resumed office.

Lawan, at plenary yesterday confirmed the reports that Gbajabiamila has indeed been performing the functions of the office, without confirmation of his appointment by the Senate.

Section 8 (1) of the Lottery Act provides that the DG of the commission must be confirmed by the Senate.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) the Senate by way of resolution mandated me to investigate an issue, a case of a nominee who is yet to be screened

Presidency: Freed Girl Not One of 219 Chibok Schoolgirls The presidency yesterday retracted its announcement that another Chibok girl was free, saying she was not one of the 219 whose kidnapping more than three years ago caused global outrage.

The presidency said on Wednesday evening that the teenager was picked up by the military after fleeing from Boko Haram jihadists.

But Laolu Akande, spokesman to the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, later tweeted that the girl was a junior secondary school “student from Chibok community.”

In a text message to AFP yesterday, he said the 15-year-old was “not part of the 219.”

Osinbajo is currently deputising for President Muhammadu Buhari, who is in London on medical leave.

In the Nigerian education system, junior secondary school is for pupils aged between 10 and 15. The 219 Chibok girls were in their final year of senior secondary school (SSS3).

The #BringBackOurGirls group, which has been campaigning for the release of the Chibok girls, also said the girl’s name was not in their records.

“We’ve perused our list but can’t find the name of the

returnee said to be 1 of our #ChibokGirls,” it said on its Twitter account.

“Whether 1 of our missing #ChibokGirls or not, we are excited over everyone who regains their freedom & we look forward to all returning.”

Boko Haram kidnapped 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in the remote town in Borno state on the evening of April 14, 2014.

Fifty-seven escaped in the hours that followed but 219 were not so lucky. Since then, 106 girls have been found, rescued or released, including 82 who were freed earlier this month in a prisoner swap deal for a number of Boko Haram suspects in custody.

In May 2016, just hours after the first Chibok girl was found, the military said a second had been rescued. The girl later turned out to be a younger student at the same school, who was also kidnapped but not part of the 219.

Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of young women and girls during its eightyear insurgency to establish a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

Young men and boys have also been forcibly recruited to fight in the jihadists’ ranks

and confirmed by the Senate and who is yet to receive an appointment letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, but that nominee assumed office,” he said.

“I stand here to report what actually happened. The nominee for the office the DirectorGeneral of the National Lottery Commission actually assumed office,” he added.

Lawan added that the nominee must have been

misguided to assume office without going through due process.

“I spoke with all those who should know better, including the acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the conclusion is that he erred because probably he did not get the correct briefing that he should have waited until the due process and diligence were completed,” Ladan said.

“I believe that was an error and there was a genuine appeal

from the executive, that no such thing would ever happen again.

I advised the SGF that the nominee should not be seen within the vicinity of the office of the DG until he is confirmed and an appointment letter is given to him,” the Leader said.

Ruling on the matter, Saraki said the nominee must not be seen in the premises of the lottery commission.

“The leader has done a very thorough job and responded promptly in 24 hours, firstly to

establish that the point raised

by Senator Dino was factual and that this kind of thing, we must stamp it out and it must not occur again. He has erred and probably been misguided. He must not be seen in that area,” Saraki ruled.

However, the Acting Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mrs. Habibat Lawal, has apologised to the Senate for allowing Gbajabiamila to assume office without confirmation.

MR PROJECT AT WORK

L-R: Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Mr. Ikuinyi Ibani; and former state Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, during the inauguration of the second Nkpogu Bridge as part of the second year anniversary of the Wike administration by the former president....yesterday

Ebola: No Screening Points, Machines at Seme Border Screening points, detecting machines, hand sanitisers and other measures to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the country have yet to be provided at the Seme border.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week announced the outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), prompting countries to raise their level of alertness.

Several measures have been put in place at major airports in Nigeria to prevent the dreaded disease, but no such action was seen to prevent the disease at

the border.

Checks conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that there were no screening points, sanitisers and detecting machines at the border.

The reports also said travellers and residents were also yet to be sensitised on the re-emergence of the disease in DRC and measures government is putting place to curtail its spread to Nigeria.

Also, Port Health officials were not screening people going in and out of the country through the border.

A port health official, who pleaded for anonymity, said there are no equipment to screen people.

“We are aware of the recent outbreak of Ebola and the need to put measures on ground since this is the busiest border in the country, but there are no equipment for us.

“We have not been given screening machines, sanitisers have not being provided so there is little or nothing that we can do about it.

“You can be rest assured that once we have the necessary equipment and

logistics, we would carry out all the measures that is needed to curtail this dreaded disease,” the source said.

Besides, commuters around the border area who spoke to NAN do not have knowledge of the recent outbreak of Ebola in DRC. Tomiwa Sadipe, a commercial bus driver, said he was not aware of the recent outbreak.

“I have not heard about anything. As a matter of fact, I’m just hearing this from you but I’m glad I know so I will be careful,” Sadipe said.

Borishade for Burial on July 8 Former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade, will be interred on July 8, 2017, according to a statement issued by his first son, Dr. Lamide Borishade.

His remains shall be buried in his home town, Usi Ekiti in Ekiti State after a funeral

and outing service at the Saint Andrews Cathedral Anglican Communion, Ekiti Oke Diocese at 10a.m. prompt.

The funeral service will be preceded by a Christian wake keep at the Federal Science and Technology College, Usi Ekiti on July 7,2017, at 7p.m.

A night of tribute by his native community would be held on July 6, 2017 at the Saint Andrews Primary School grounds and this would be undertaken by the Egbe Omo Usi on July 6.

The journey to interment would begin in Abuja as a day

of tribute has been set aside for July 4 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

This would be followed with a commendation service at his residence, 108 Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja on the same July 4 at 7p.m.

48

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017• T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

N701bn Stimulus May Briefly Slowdown Plans to Escrow Accounts of Discos Chineme Okafor in Abuja The 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s electricity market may get a temporary reprieve on the plan by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Market Operations (MO) Department of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to escrow their accounts and the monthly revenues they get from the market, THISDAY has learnt.

This is because of the imminent release of the N701 billion financial stimulus the federal government has planned to give the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) to meet up with payments to

electricity generation companies (Gencos) and gas suppliers, and with which it hopes to improve power generation, supplies, and revenue collections by the Discos.

According to the Executive Director of the MO, Mr. Moshood Saleeman, the NERC and MO had perfected plans to begin to enforce all existing rules of the electricity market, including rules on payments and guarantees, but may have to consider the government’s moves to stimulate the operations of the Discos.

Saleeman stated this at a workshop organised by his department for all market participants yesterday in

Abuja. He also disclosed that the average monthly revenue remittances of the 11 Discos was now 35 per cent.

“Aside from the escrowing of account of the Discos, there are other things we are working out with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure liquidity in the market.

“By the rule, the MO has the power to escrow the account of Discos that have not made payment but the federal government is trying to provide money to avoid this.

Recently it provided a buffer of N701 billion for the Gencos to make sure the electricity market becomes better,” said Saleeman.

He, however, noted that MO would go on to enforce the rules

governing the market, adding that stakeholders’ respect for market rules was vital to getting the market to operate efficiently.

“Henceforth, MO will enforce the rules and penalise defaulters – Market Rule 45.

From today, we are going to ensure that all the rules are complied with. They include rules about payment to the market, and other essential rules for the market to grow,” he stated.

The Discos have since opposed the government’s plans to escrow their accounts to make them pay in full for electricity supplied to them. They in their opposition to the move, alleged that it would amount to the government taking over their

operations.

But on the Discos’ revenue remittance levels, Saleeman explained: “We now experience a marginal increase of 35 per cent in the remittances of the Discos but we are not yet there; it is improving gradually.”

Also, the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP) Head, Tom Uwah, reiterated that the inability of Discos to take up generated power from the system has continued to result to high frequency which often led to system collapses.

Similarly, the Managing Director of TCN, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, urged stakeholders in the power sector to desist from the frequent blame games

they get involved in, and work to advance the efficiency of the market.

Mohammed, who was represented by TCN Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Sunny Iroche, confirmed that Discos’ rejection of load was still a challenge to the transmission company.

He said: “Load rejection causes high frequency in transmission when the Discos reject load and we have to tell the Gencos to reduce generation so we can balance the system.”

Mohanned also stated that the TCN has reduced the percentage of transmission losses it records to about eight, from 10 per cent that it was some years back.

Tragedy Strikes NNPC GMD, Baru Loses 21-year-old Son Tragedy has struck the Maikanti’s family once again.

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, has lost his son.

Earlier in April, his mother, Hajiya Fatima Baru, died in her hometown of Misau in Bauchi State.

The son died in Dubai, it was reported yesterday evening.

Baru’s sister had died weeks ago on the eve of his trip to

Houston, Texas United States, for the OTC conference.

Last year, guests attending his daughter’s wedding died in an accident.

The victim’s family and relatives were inconsolable after they were informed about the son’s death.

Sources said the late Baru junior was humble and soft spoken.

Family is yet to give official statement regarding the loss.

Rail Projects: Transportion Ministry Debunks Excluding South-east Zone Says China Exim Bank loan to fund three segments of projects Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Federal Ministry of Transportation yesterday debunked reports in some sections of the media that it excluded South-east geopolitical zone from the federal government ongoing rail projects.

The ministry in a statement by its Director of Press, Mrs. Yetunde Sonaike, said the Southeast was never excluded from the rail projects.

Sonaike explained that the two major rail projects of the federal government are the coastal rail project which is from Lagos to Calabar traversing Lagos-Ore-Benin City-Sapele-Warri-Yenegoa with sidings to Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo, Calabar and branch line from Benincity, Abudu, Onitsha including Onitsha rail bridge.

According to her, “There is the Lagos -Kano rail project which traverses LagosAbeokuta, Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ilorin, Jebba, Minna, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano with branch line from Minna and Abuja and Abuja/Kaduna.”

She added that the loan from China Exim Bank

would be used to fund the three segments from the two rail projects: “Lagos-Ibadan: Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan with extension to Apapa Port Complex (Segment two of Lagos – Kano. Secondly, Kano to Kaduna which is a segment 3A of Lagos – Kano).

The third one is Calabar to Port Harcourt: Port Harcourt-AbaUyo-Calabar with extension to Onne Deep Sea Port (Segment 1 of the Coastal rail Line).

“From the foregoing, it can be deduced that the federal government rail projects touch various sections of the country and therefore no section is or will be left out.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to serving the nation, and it is determined to reviving the rail infrastructure thereby ensuring ease of movement of people and cargoes within the country.

“The rail project is aimed at fast-tracking economic diversification as well as optimising the federal government change agenda in the transportation sector which will serve as an economic index for growth and development.”

STRATEGIC SESSION

R-L: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing, Abubakar Magaji, former Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Emeka Ezeh; and others at the three-day retreat for Heads of Departments and Agencies under the ministry in Abuja....yesterday

EU Bars Medview Airlines, Others from Its Airspace

Airline debunks ban

For not meeting its safety standards, the European Union has banned Nigerian carrier, Medview Airline, and other airlines from Africa and other parts of the world from its airspace.

European Air Safety Agency (EASA) determines the airworthiness of aircraft and airlines allowed to operate in European airspace and gives certification to airlines from other parts of the world to operate into the region.

According to reports, Medview was one of those under the EU Air Safety List Annex A, which included a total of 181airlines banned from operating to Europe.

Out of the above number, 174 airlines were barred due to safety oversight by aviation authorities in their home countries.

But Medview Airline explained in a statement that it was not banned from operating to London; rather, it was asked to change its operating aircraft.

The airline said its operations to London is in no way affected by the ban and had since been operating with her wet-leased aircraft, adding that the ban which falls under exception rule in EASA, Annex A, where it states that “air carrier listed in Annex A could be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier, which is not subject to an operating ban.”

The airline regretted the anxiety the misinformation might have caused its teeming passengers and assured them that there was no basis for alarm as the Lagos-London flight remains unaffected.

“We at Medview Airline are committed to safety, and currently working with EASA and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to restore normalcy,” the airline said in a statement.

The airline said on May 17, 2017 it operated normal schedule flight to London “amid

the misinformation about the restriction.”

In March 2016, Medview Airline passed the International Air Transport Association (IATA), after which it was issued with IOSA – International Operational Safety Audit certification.

The airline said it had secured a B777 aircraft leased from an EU-member state to boost its international operations, which would soon join the fleet.

The EU Air Safety List is a list of non-European airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union.

In the updated version, all air carriers from Benin Republic and Mozambique were removed from the list, while four individual airlines, one each from Nigeria, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe were added.

An operator in the industry whose airline recently stopped

flights to London told THISDAY that besides the safety reasons, EU often bans airlines from largely third world countries to allow only airlines from Europe to operate to Africa, some parts of Asia without corresponding flights from indigenous airlines.

“With that they have all the passengers to themselves and they set the fares and determine the traffic. Our governments do not fight back by banning them in response because they do not understand the world aero politics. There was a time Eurocontrol wanted to ban Arik and Medview, alleging the airlines owed so much money but we understood that it was a plot to stop us from operating to London but we quickly settled them, giving them no reason to stop our flights. Air fares went down when Arik and Medview started operating to London. Now British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have the London route for themselves,” the source said.

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FG Approves N186bn for Waterways Security Commences work on Lagos-Ibadan rail lines Ugo Aliogo The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday said the federal government had approved N186 billion for waterways security which is in line with its resolve to assist the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA) in tackling crime along the coast.

The minister, who disclosed this in Lagos at the Institute of Directors (IoD) forum with the topic: ‘Transportation: A vehicle for Growth,’ said the approval of the fund was through due process which he noted began earl January 2016.

In another development, Amaechi disclosed that he would implore the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to find out if they can plead with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as a matter of due process, to invoke the presidential powers for the repair of the Apapa road.

He also noted that the road was being delayed because the ministry that would fix it had not decided, stating it was left for the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to award contract for the rehabilitation of the road.

Speaking on the federal government’s desire to improve rail transport, the minister said they have launched and commenced works on the Lagos-Ibadan rail lines which is

a $1.5billion project, adding that recently the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the concessioning of Lagos-KanoKaranamuda-Port- HarcourtMaidugri rail lines.

Amaechi further stated that the federal government had also completed the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, continued the completion of the Warri-Ajaokuta gauge and rehabilitation of existing narrow gauges, so that rail development can be quantified.

He promised of government resolve to commence the efficient movement of goods by rail before the end of August, despite how slow it might be, adding that the General Electric has agreed to bring in 20 locomotives, about 200 wagons, and coaches for movement of passengers and freight.

“In the road sub-sector efforts are directed at completion of awarded projects nationwide.

Government continues to conduct surveys and feasibility studies on the procurement of new infrastructure nationwide,” he noted.

He explained that the target of government programmes is to achieve sustainability based on three principles: rehabilitation, restoration and procurement of new platforms, noting that the principles were deployed so that the nation don’t loose what has improved and

increase opportunities through procurement.

The minister remarked that in respect to rehabilitation and restoration, the administration has laid emphasis on the completion of existing and abandoned projects, repair of existing facilities in the rail, roads and aviation sectors.

He stressed that the essence of the approach is to bring infrastructure to a level that can support productivity and position it in such a manner that it can be improved upon through procurements, noting that it is also a humble approach that appreciates the efforts of

past administration and the costs incurred, adding that, “the government opted to rehabilitate the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway, instead of building a new one.”

Amaechi added: “There is truly some level of crises in the transportation sector. Evidently, the sector suffers from shortfalls in infrastructure and service delivery, unregulated service delivery especially in the road sub-sector, poor financing of infrastructure and service platforms and others challenges.

“Expectedly, government should partner with the private sector to alleviate these problems.

The challenge has been the capacity of the private sector to be able to partner in this regard.

The Private Sector Participation (PSP). Permit to state here that the PSP lags behind because of inadequate finance and the desire to be contractors to government.

“Aside the operations of rolling stock as service platforms, the private sector have no infrastructure plans. That is why investment in the rail and inland waterways subsector are not popular. Whenever the private sector shows interests, they want either to collect revenue or become monopolies without competitors.

“The opportunities will be high when government completes the current rehabilitation and restoration programmes that will ease operations nationwide. Our procurement packages are creating interconnectivity that will reduce the stresses of distance and facilitate trade. New programmes such as the development of more international corridors and establishment of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) and Modern Vehicle Parks (MVP) will greatly encourage more investment.”

One Dies, 17 Rescued as Building Collapses in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi

an unknown number of labourers were doing their One person yesterday died and various works at different 17 others were rescued alive areas.

“Further investigation when a three-storey building undergoing construction caved revealed that the building in and collapsed at No 2/4, collapsed at around 2p.m. We Richard Abimbola Street, off first reached 14 of the labourers Limca Road, Ire Akari Estate, and some were treated by the agency’s medical team and Ilasa area of Lagos.

The 17 persons were LASAMBUS. “Meanwhile, others with rescued by emergency workers drawn from the Lagos State serious injuries were rushed Emergency Management to the hospital. Extraction of Agency (LASEMA) and local trapped victims is ongoing and no mortality has been volunteers.

It was gathered that most recorded at the moment.”

Also confirming the worrisome was that nobody could tell the actual figure of incident, the South-west zonal the number of persons who spokesperson of the National Management were in the building at the Emergency Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim point it collapsed.

According to reports, the Farinloye, said evacuation construction workers were would continue until they at work when the building get to the ground floor.

In a series of text messages, suddenly made a sudden lurch and began to crumble before he said: “The building they could get their bearing. collapse at no 2/4, Richard Already, some of the 16 Abimbola Street, off Limca survivors have either been Road, Ire Akari Estate, was treated by the agency’s a three-storey building that medical team and Lagos was under construction.

“Initially, emergency State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) or were rushed workers were able to to the hospital depending on rescue 13 persons alive and the severity of their injuries. unascertained number of Confirming the accident, the persons are still trapped General Manager LASEMA, underneath the rubble. Our Adesina Tiamiyu, said: “We operation continues.”

As at 5.57p.m., he said got a situation report about a collapsed building at Richard emergency workers increased Abimbola Street, Ilasa bus stop. the number of rescued persons “On getting to the scene of by two, making the total rescue incident, it was discovered figure 15 and at about 6.15p.m., that it was an uncompleted he said one more person was building that collapsed while rescued, making it 17 survivors.

EPOCH EVENT

L-R: Partner, Corporate Services, Olajide Oyewole LLP, Mrs. Bola Tinubu; Partner, International Business Development, DLA Piper Africa, Mr. David Church; Partner, Energy, Technology and Finance, Olajide Oyewole LLP, Mr. Tunde Oyewole; and Partner, Transportation and Infrastructure, Olajide Oyewole LLP, Solape Peters, during the signing of agreement between Olajide Oyewole LLP and DLA Piper Africa in Lagos...recently

Saraki, S’ West Govs, Others Storm Ibadan for Adebayo

Ademola Babalola in Ibadan

and former Governor of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, accompanied by the widow sitting governors and their of the deceased, Mrs. Modupe deputies, former civilian and Adebayo, led the pack of family military governors and Yoruba members to the colourful event leaders yesterday gathered in which lasted over four hours.

Also at the event, the Deputy Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to pay their last respects to the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. former military Governor of Yetunde Onanuga; Deputy Western Region, Major General Governor of Osun State, Chief Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd). Grace Laoye Tomori, former The eminent Nigerians Governor of Osun State, Chief paid flowing tributes to the Bisi Akande, former military late leader at a special ‘day Governors of the old Oyo of tributes’ held at House of State, General, David Medaiyese Jemibewon, Col. Oladayo Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan.

The remains of the deceased Popoola, Real Admirer Akin retired general had earlier been Aduwo and former civilian received around 2p.m. at the Governor of the old Oyo State, Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Dr. Victor Olunloyo; former Deputy Governor of Oyo State expressway.

It was accompanied to the Chief Iyiola Oladokun.

Others included the Olubadan venue around 2.48p.m.by four governors- Abiola Ajimobi of Ibadanland who was (Oyo), Rauf Aregebsola (Osun), represented by his chiefs led by Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin (Balogun of Ibadanland), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

General Adebayo died on Secretary to Ogun State March8, 2017, at the age of Governor, Taiwo Adeoluwa, 89, a day to his 90th birthday. and Commissioner of Police in The scion of Adebayo family Oyo State Mr. Abiodun Odude.

Also on the list were the senators representing Oyo Central and North, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu and Dr. Abdulfatai Buhari; members of Executive Councils in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos and Ekiti.

The Provost of the Cathedral, St. Peters Anglican Church, Ibadan, Venerable Wale Adebiyi, and representatives of Chief Imam of Ibadanland Sheik Abubakri Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere prayed for the soul of the departed leader.

Saraki, while speaking urged the gathering not to mourn but to celebrate a life well spent.

He said: “I stand here not to mourn but celebrate General Adebayo, it is not common for six state governors to celebrate an individual, let me commend the efforts of the organisers.

“I think Baba Adebayo deserves more than this, on behalf of entire Senate, General Adebayo is more than Southwest.

“That is why the entire Nigeria is here to honour

General Adebayo.

“The only tribute we can have for people like him is to sustain the labour of our past heroes and make sure they are not in vain.”

Ajimobi while speaking on behalf of his colleagues, described Adebayo as an illustrious son of Africa.

“Papa fought a good fight. I congratulate us all for the good works of the late Adebayo.

“Papa has carved a niche for himself and his name remain indelible in our hearts, his legacy will always remain in our heart. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

The Secretary to Oyo State Government who is also the Chairman of the planning committee, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, earlier said the demise of Adebayo though heartbreaking, but was a thing of joy for a life well spent.

He said the choice of Ibadan for the day of tribute was in recognition of his contributions to humanity in general.

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Police Recover Corpses of Four Officers Killed by Militants in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri The corpses of four policemen, who were allegedly killed by militants penultimate Monday in one of the creeks in Delta

State have been recovered by a search party comprising security agents and locals.

The decomposing bodies were retrieved on Wednesday along the Benin river axis of

NIS Recruitment: Not All Companies Used for Exercise Were Registered, CAC Tells Court Alex Enumah in Abuja A prosecution witness, Muftau Bello, in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, over complicity in the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise yestrday admitted that not all the companies that executed the contract for the mounting of the e-recruitment portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were duly.

Bello, a staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), admitted this at the resumed trial of Moro at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The witness who works in the Registry Department of the Commission however, gave the names of the registered companies as Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited and Drexel Nigeria Limited.

He, however, told the court that another company, Drexel Tech Global has not been registered with the commission.

Meantime, the prosecution counsel has sought for an adjournment to enable him file and serve counsel to the defendants, additional proof of evidence to tender additional documents.

Although the prosecution witness had initially told the court that only one company from the three companies mentioned in the EFCC letter to CAC for investigation that was registered, he admitted under cross examination by

counsel to Drexel Nigerial Ltd, Sunday Ameh (SAN) that two companies were actually registered by the CAC. Ameh: look at the document and confirm to the court whether Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd is a dully registered company by the CAC? Witness: Yes, it is dully registered with the CAC Ameh: Take a look at the document again and confirm whether Drexel Nigeria Ltd is a duly registered company with CAC? Witness: Yes, it is a dully registered company.

Bello also admitted under cross-examination that although CAC has a legal department, he does not work in the said department.

Justice Dimgba however, adjourned the case toJune 28 and 30 for continuation of trial at the instance of the prosecution counsel.

Before the adjournment, some documents tendered in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Steven Odiase through the witness included a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the CAC dated January 28, 2016 with the title: ‘investigation activities.’

Another letter from the commission to CAC dated March 3, 2016 with similar title was also tendered and admitted and marked as an exhibit by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.

Meadow Hall Nurtures Talents Meadow Hall Education, a subsidiary of Meadow Hall Group (MHG), has organised an event to mark the end of Easter term.

The event titled “Meadow Hall’s Got Talent” was organised for pupils of Meadow Hall Junior School between the ages of 7 to 11 years. The show is aimed at discovering and nurturing talents in children as early as possible. The event was held recently at the school’s main auditorium and the judges were Mr. Jude Abaga aka M.I. (a Nigerian Rapper and Hip Hop Artiste), Mrs. Sarah Ariyoh (Dance instructor/entrepreneur), Mr. Segun Lawal (President of Spirit of David dance club) and Evy Jean-Pierre Eze (Architect/ ex international super model).

The Talent Show comprised of dance, music (vocals and instruments) and acting.

M.I applauded all the parents for their support and

extra training given to their children at home. He further stated, “I didn’t know I would turn out to be a musician but my parents encouraged me. I learnt about music; I was playing the keyboard and my habit of raps paid off”.

He appreciated the pupils for their talents and excellent performances, and encouraged parents to be involved in their children’s talents discovery.

He also thanked the organiser, Meadow Hall Education for this wonderful initiative.

According to Mrs. Sarah Ariyoh, a judge at the event, “all the participants were amazing because being able to face a large audience and still be composed enough to perform very well without stage fright is a daunting task for many.”

She went further to urge schools to help children discover and nurture their talents.

Delta State were recovered along with their patrol boat after Aruwun community.

The corpses of the policemen, simply identifiied as Aghoro who was the commander of the team, Sagay, Andrew and Mejer, were deposited at both Sapale and Warri General Hospital morgue.

It was learnt also that the bullet riddled patrol boat that was sunk by the militants was recovered and taken to Abigborodo community under the care of soldiers

at the military post.

Heavily armed militants had allegedly invited the policemen led by Aghoro to come and collect money to pave way for them to carry out their illegal bunkering activities.

It was reliably learnt that against advice from well meaning persons not to proceed to the area, Aghoro embarked on the trip with the only patrol boat at their Sapele Marine Police Unit with four others and ventured into the sea

at about 2:30a.m.without a back-up patrol boat.

Usually there used to be a back-up patrol boat whenever there is an operation as ordered by the police authority.

It was gathered that on sighting a boat on the sea and having identified that they were the persons invited, the militants moved closer to the boat and opened fire on the officers killing four of them with one, Mr. Ugbo swimming to safety with bullet wounds and currently

recuperating at the Sapele General Hospital.

THISDAY learnt that the Sapele Unit Commander has been under arrest since the incident.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, refused to pick the calls put across to him for confirmation of the incident.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Zanna, later confirmed the recovery of the bodies but refused to give details of the incident.

WORK IN PROGRESS Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (first left) and other officials inspecting a section of the Yobe University Medical College Complex currently under construction by his administration at the Yobe State University in Damaturu ....yesterday

Malabu Oil Suit Put off Till July 5 Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court in Abuja has deferred hearing in a legal action instituted by Malabu Oil against the federal government on the ownership of the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 otherwise known as Malabu Oil till July 5.

The celebrated law suit involving mainly multinational oil companies was stopped by Justice John Tsoho in Abuja yesterday following the inability of the plaintiffs to serve court processes on one of the major defendants in the suit, Shell Exploration Company.

When the matter was mentioned, counsel to the

plaintiffs, Mr. Joseph Achimugu, apologised to the court that proceedings would not be able to go on as scheduled as Shell was only served with the processes this morning (yesterday). He informed the court that Professor Kanyinsola Ajayi (SAN) had graciously accepted the service of the processes in the open court but needed time to respond.

He therefore pleaded with the court for an adjournment to enable the defendant file his response.

Lead counsel to the defendant, Prof. Ajayi, did not object to the request for an adjournment but however added that all counsel who had been served had filed their preliminary objection.

Justice Tsoho consequently fixed July 5 for hearing of the preliminary objections.

Some stakeholders in Malabu Oil had dragged the federal government, Shell, Agip and seven others to court over the alleged illegal transfer of their stakes in the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPS) 245 otherwise known as Malabu Oil to unauthorised persons.

The stakeholders, which include Malabu oil, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Ahmed and Pecos Energy Limited, as 1st to 3rd plaintiffs respectively in the suit are challenging what it claimed to be illegal divestment of their shares in the OPS 245.

Others sued alongside the federal government and the

two giant oil firms are Mr. Kweku Amafegha, Munamuna Seidougha, Amaran Joseph, CAC, AGF, Petroleum Minister, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

In the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/506/2017 and filed at the Federal High Court Abuja, the plaintiffs are seeking “A declaration that the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs jointly hold seventy percent (70 percent) shareholding in the equity of the 1st plaintiff.

Critical stakeholders in Malabu Oil and Gas, including Mohammed Sanni Abacha, in a bid to reclaim ownership of the OPL 245 filed a suit against the government at the Federal High Court.

Phillip Morris, ITC Partner on Local Manufacturing Jonathan Eze Philip Morris Limited (PML), the national affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI) in Nigeria, has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Tobacco Company Limited (ITC) to manufacture one of PMI’s leading brands in Nigeria.

Under this agreement, PML would invest in technology and capacity building at ITC’s factory, creating additional employment opportunities

and contributing to the local as well as national economy of Nigeria.

An official launch to mark the start of local manufacturing was held at ITC’s factory at Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday.

PML’s Managing Director, Coskun Kagan Dicle, told THISDAY that they strongly believe investing in local manufacturing is the right thing for the future as it contributes to the Nigerian government’s efforts to strengthen the economy and

reduce the dependency on oil adding that it will also benefit all parties.

“Our consumers will have their preferred brand readily available at the highest quality standards, our partners will enjoy improved capacity utilisation of their facilities, and the local community will benefit from the microeconomy boost and new employment opportunities.

“We are here to provide a choice to those consumers who choose to continue to smoke, and we are here to

make a positive contribution to the Nigerian economy for the long term.”

He went on to highlight the giant stride that PML has made in less than two years of operations in Nigeria, attributing it to PMI’s global strategy to deliver long-term sustainable growth and the passion of local employees.

Dicle further added that the start of local manufacturing is just the beginning of various planned investments in the Nigerian economy by PML.

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Ubah Committed Economic Sabotage, NNPC Tells Court Davidson Iriekpen The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday informed the Federal High Court in Lagos that the reason why oil magnate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, is being detained by the Department of State Security (DSS) is because he committed economic sabotage, by diverting petroleum products kept in his custody.

The corporation through its lawyer, Mr. K. T. Turaki (SAN), stated this while urging the court to strike out the motion

on notice filed by Ubah seeking an order for his release from the custody of DSS. Turaki while arguing his clients’ counter-affidavit to Ubah’s originating motion and preliminary objection to the motion, averred that the corporation had in the past two years being subjected to various investigations, particularly the issue of fuel diversion, adding that NNPC has a duty to inform the Investigating agencies where the fuels were kept. And that it is left for them to find out

Nigeria Set to Launch First Nano-Satellite into Orbit Adedayo Akinwale with Agency report The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has revealed that Nigeria is set to launch Africa’s first nano-satellite into orbit.

The Director General of the agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said Nigeria’s nano-satellite would be launched alongside four other countries, including Japan, Ghana, Bangladesh and Nepal between May 23 and 27, 2017.

A nano-satellite is an artificial satellite with a wet mass between one and 10 kg 2.2–22 lb which is used for measuring weather changes.

The DG revealed further that the nano-satellite would be launched at the launch base in Miami, Florida, United States.

According to him, “Nigeria, along with other four countries – Japan, Ghana, Bangladesh and Nepal – in the last one year, came together to work in a constellation to build about five nanosatellites.”

Continuing, Muhammed said: “You may ask ‘what are these nanosatellites for?’

It’s a scientific satellite that is to study environmental parameters.

“They would help in most

of these environmental issues to study them – environmental characterisation. In addition to that, they would also be carrying camera that would acquire some form of data.

“And what we have also demonstrated by this is the fact that Nigerian engineers and scientists earlier built Nigerian Sat-X using the laboratory in Missouri.

“They’ve gone ahead again to build nano-satellite in the laboratory in Kyushu University in Japan and all these are parts of efforts to sustain technology already transferred to Nigerian scientists and engineers, “Those nanosatellites, each time they are within the Nigerian territory, would be singing national anthem.

“So those who carry UHF radio would be able to receive it and all these are part of Nigeria’s efforts,” he said.

Mohammed also declared that Nigeria would be a space power by 2030, sending an astronaut into space from Nigerian-owned launch facility on Nigeria’s soil.

“There is a ‘Roadmap for Development of Space Science and Technology’ ending in 2030.We hope by 2030, facilities for launch would have been provided in Nigeria so that by that year, we would have launched satellite from Nigeria into space.”

what happened to the fuel.

On the true put argument by the plaintiff, the respondents said even if the agreement existed, the position is that a crime has been committed by the diversion of the products.

And stating that the law is that no party in an agreement has the right to decriminalized the criminal act.

Turaki also submitted that the security agencies have inherent power under the constitution to investigate economic crime, which diversion of petroleum product is one of them.

In challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter, the NNPC lawyer stated that all the alleged infringements committed by the plaintiff took place in Abuja, not in Lagos.

He therefore urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter and strike out the applicant’s application.

In the same vein, the DSS through its lawyer, Mr. Peter Okerinmade, also urged the

court to dismiss the plaintiff’s application on the grounds that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Okerinmodu while adopting the DSS counter-affidavit and preliminary objection, said Ubah’s motion is aimed at frustrating the ongoing investigation on the allegation made against him by the NNPC. Furthermore, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its lawyer, A. M. Ocholi, argued that going through the affidavit filed by the applicant, there was nowhere it alleged of any breach of the applicant rights by the commission.

He equally urged the court to dismiss the suit.

However, Ubah’s lawyer, Mrs. Isioma Esom, while arguing her client’s motion on notice, told the court to discountenance all the objections raised by the respondents, stating that her

client’s originating summon was brought under Order 2, Rule of the court and it was supported with affidavit of 103 paragraphs deposed to by one George Oranuba, Company Secretary of Capital Oil and Gas. Esom told the court that the only reason why her client (Ubah) is being harassed by the first to sixth respondents is on the allegation that he is indebted to the NNPC. Ubah’s lawyer also informed the court that the said debt arose from a contract, which she said should have nothing with criminal offence.

She also told the court that the NNPC is currently owing her client’s firm, Capital Oil and Gas Limited the sum of N10 billion and $8 million, and her client never report to any security agency.

Ubah’s lawyer also informed the court that her client was arrested on two occasions in Lagos and kept at the

Shangisha’s custody of DSS before being transferred to Abuja.

She therefore urged the court to grant his client’s application by ordering the DSS to release him unconditionally. Or in alternative, to admit him to bail, pending the conclusion of the matter.

Justice Mohammed Idris, after listening to the submissions of both parties, adjourned till May 25, 2017, for ruling.

Ubah had approached the court for an order compelling the DSS to release him unconditionally.

Those dragged before the court by the businessman as respondents are: AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director-General of DSS, DSS, Inspector-General of Police (IG), NNPC, NNPC Retail Limited, and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

THINKING ABOUT ECONOMIC MATTERS

R-L: President, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES), Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu; former Minister of Health and Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; and former Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti, during the eighth annual national conference with theme: ‘Nigeria’s Economic Recession: Ways out of the Woods’, by AES in Lagos...yesterday KOLA OLASUPO

BPE, NPA to Develop Framework for Evaluation of Existing Port Concessions Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have met and agreed on the framework they will adopt to evaluate the existing port concession agreements which the federal government has with private operators.

A statement from the Head of Communications of BPE, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that the Director General of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, met with the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, in his office where this was part of their discussions.

The statement explained that at the meeting, Okoh pledged to work with the NPA to sustain its development of Nigeria’s

maritime industry.

He said this had become necessary to enhance efficiency and service delivery at Nigerian ports.

According to the statement, Okoh and Usman reviewed the maritime industry and agreed on the framework for evaluation of the ports concession agreements. They also discussed the infrastructural challenges at the ports and the ways to address them.

Recently, Usman disclosed that the NPA could review the existing concession agreements it has with concessionaires at the various ports of the country, to reflect current economic situations.

Okoh, however, stated that the Bureau would constantly liaise with the NPA to ensure that the concessionaires keep to the terms

of the covenants they signed with the government and also to ensure that the agreements that are due for review are done expeditiously.

The statement stated that both executives expressed optimism that the reform bills, especially the Ports and Harbour Bill and National Transport Commission Bill which are currently receiving attention at the National Assembly, would optimise operations at the ports.

According, to it, the two bills when enacted would strengthen the technical and economic regulatory framework in the maritime industry.

It also quoted Usman to have explained in her remarks that synergy between both agencies would ensure an allencompassing review process of the ports concession agreements.

While stressing the strategic position of the maritime sector in the nation’s economy and the enormous prospects it presents for economic growth, the NPA boss maintained that inter-agency collaboration was one sure way to harness the potential.

The statement also noted that the House of Representatives last month passed the National Transport Commission Bill, which it said has as its main objective: “to provide efficient economic regulatory framework for the transport sector, mechanism for monitoring compliance of government agencies, transport service providers and users in the regulated transport industry with relevant legislation and to advise government on matters relating to economic regulation of the regulated transport industry.”

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Boko Haram is Regrouping in Forests in Taraba, Warns Ishaku Wole Ayodele in Jalingo Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has raised the alarm that members of the

Boko Haram terrorist group dislodged from Sambisa forest by the army are regrouping in Suntai Daaji forest in the state.

Besides the Suntai Daaji forest,

which cut across Bali and Donga Local Government Areas of the state, the governor also revealed that some of the fleeing members of the terrorist group are also

Jonathan: No Regrets Supporting Wike Governor condemns politicians castigating former president Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the excellent performance of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has justified the support he received from all political stakeholders for his election in 2015.

This is as Wike castigated governors from the South-south states who demean the former president, assuring him of the continued unwavering support of Rivers people, saying that he would never be abandoned.

Speaking during the inauguration of the second Nkpogu Bridge in Port Harcourt as part of the second year anniversary of the Wike administration, Jonathan said: “Wike has performed wonderfully well.”

He said: “I have no regrets that Wike is the governor of Rivers State. I am happy that the governor has opened up Rivers State through projects.

“Wike has shown so much commitment to infrastructural development. The whole of Rivers State is now a construction yard.”

The former president pointed out that the appreciation for the excellent performance of Wike goes beyond party lines. He recalled that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo after visiting the state also stated that the governor is delivering on projects.

While appreciating the people of Rivers State for the support they gave him throughout his eight year involvement in national politics, he expressed happiness for the invitation to inaugurate the important second Nkpogu Bridge.

In his address, Wike said Nigerians after the two years of APC have seen the difference between good governance and false promises.

He explained that the decision was taken for former President Jonathan to commission the second Nkpogu Bridge as a clear message to the nation that he will not be abandoned.

He said: “We are not politicians that when anything is wrong, they sing different song. Rivers State is a different place. When we believe in you, we believe in you. We are different from other Niger Delta states. We can say it with all authority.

“We cannot come out in the public and begin to castigate our own. Those of them who do that, should have a rethink. For us, it doesn’t matter the blackmail against Jonathan, we will continue to back him.”

Speaking further, Wike said: “Those who think that they have promises from those who think they own Nigeria should be careful.

They will use you and dump you at the appropriate time.”

Chairman of Monier Construction Company, Senator John Mbata, said the company constructed the two bridges which have linked Nkpogu to the business districts of the state capital.

The Commissioner for Works,

Mr. Bathuel Harrison, said the Second Nkpogu Bridge would resolve the traffic challenge in the area.

Wike after assuming office constructed the first and second Nkpogu Bridges to link different parts of the state capital.

regrouping inside the Gashaka/ Gumti National Park.

Ishaku, who made the disclosure while receiving the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Divison of the Nigerian Army Division Enugu, Major General Adamu Abubakar, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Jalingo, urged the federal government to deploy special security forces to flush out the terrorists from the forests before the country would have another Sambisa in her hands.

The governor lamented that the terrorists are currently holding the people of the state hostage as they commit all sorts of crime including rape, kidnapping and killings, adding that people

can no longer travel freely along Bali-Suntai-Takum road due to the activities of the group.

“The massive influx of people into Taraba for some time now has been the major cause, of insecurity facing us. But when I was warning of the repercussions, I was accused of hating a particular tribe, but today all of us are victims of their criminal activities.

Speaking on the activities of killers that have led to violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country, the governor advocated ranching, saying it is the only panacea to end the clashes and put an end to cattle rustling.

“Our problem in Nigeria is that we don’t tell ourselves the truth.

Why is it that herdsmen are going about with AK47 rifles freely without being arrested. Where are the AK47 coming from into the country and what happen to our security at the border.

“We need to have a deep reflection on these issues and prevent further loss of lives.

The population of Nigeria before independence is not the same as now and we must think and look inward to solve these problems associated with open grazing,” he said.

Speaking earlier, General Abubakar said he was in the state to address the issue of farmers/ herders clashes and assess the general security situation of the state.

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FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017• T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Adeleke Was Sedated, Given Banned Drug, Personal Nurse Reveals Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo A Chief Nursing Officer, Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe, who treated late Senator Isiaka Adeleke

earlier before his death has disclosed that he was sedated and given banned Analgin drug to ease his leg pains.

Aderibigbe, who appeared

Kaduna Govt on the War Path with Banks over Unpaid Levies The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KDIRS) has threatened to seal all banks operating in the state that failed to pay its communication mast and signage fees as required by law.

The Legal Adviser to KDIRS, Francis Kozah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna yesterday that the defaulting banks were given two weeks to pay or be sealed.

Kozah explained that the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law 2016 provided that all bank branches operating in the state with communication mast and synergy were to pay certain fees.

He, however, said that with the exception of UBA, most of the banks have failed to pay, particularly for 2016 and 2017.

“We have served them demand notices, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development

Agency equally served them, asking them to come and settle their liabilities but they have failed to do so.

“At the moment, we have finished preparing our documents and we will take them to court in the next two weeks.

“We will seek for an order of the court to seal off all defaulting banks in the state, “he said.

Kozah advised the banks, to in their own interest, settle the liabilities to avoid embarrassment.

He also said 32 other people would soon be charged to court for tax evasion.

He advised taxpayers to pay their taxes, stressing that the board would prosecute any company or individual that failed to do so.

KADIRS had on Tuesday dragged 23 people to a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for alleged failure to pay their Personal Income Tax from 2013 to 2015.

before the coroner inquest set up by the state government to probe Adeleke’s death yesterday, narrated that the late senator had taken some medications before he got to his house around 4:30 a.m. April 23, 2017, the day of his death.

The nurse explained that he met Adeleke in pains with his friend, Dipo Faborode, and treated him with the prescription the senator gave to him, even as he admitted that it was unethical to administer drug to patients with their own prescription.

He disclosed that Adeleke received hydrocotisol, diacepham, analgin and fortwin for his treatment.

According to Aderibigbe, the analgin and other drugs administered to the senator were bought by the deceased, disclosing that Adeleke had handed over a bag of drugs to him on April 17, 2017, to keep.

He denied given the senator over-dose drugs just as he disclosed that Adeleke do always requested for double dose during treatment.

When asked the function of diacepham drug, Aderibigbe said it was for sedation, even as

he submitted that the organs of a person that is sedated cannot function properly and that it is dangerous to central nervous system.

Aderibigbe who works at Comprehensive Health Centre, Edunabon, Osun State, explained that hydrocotisom is a steroid while analgin is an analgesic for pain reliever.

He said analgin and steroid did not go together in the body system, adding that analgin and excessive alcohol intake might lead to overdose.

Aderibigbe said: “I was sleeping when I heard some people banging my door around 4a.m. on April 23, 2017. I opened the door and saw two men who told me that senator wanted to see me. I checked my phone and there were 16 missed calls from Adeleke, his friend Dipo Faborode and some other people in his house. I called the senator’s phone number and Faborode answered the call before handing it over to him. He told me to be on my way with the drugs he gave me to keep.

“I got to the senator’s house around 4:33a.m. and I met him

in pains with some oral drug and bottle water. I asked what the matter was and he told me he had been in pains for some hours and had also taken some drugs but the pain persisted.

He also told me he was weak.

He asked me to bring out the injections. The senator was suffering from gout-leg pains.

“I did blood pressure, respiratory, pulse and other tests and other vital organs test were normal. I took four amples of diacepam, two amples of analgin (200mg), hydrocotysol, fortwin, gentamysin (160mg) to the senator’s house which were part of the drugs he gave to me.

“I set up drip and diluted it with hydrocotisol. I gave him three amples of diacepham (40mg), 1 analgin, two amples of forwim. He insisted on taking four amples of diacepham but I resisted.

He started falling asleep and I waited till around 7:50a.m. before I left for church.

“I got back around 9:30a.m. and met Dipo. I went straight to the senator’s room and saw that he was still sleeping and I turned back. Immediately I turned back, Dipo told me that

senator raised his hand. I went back and I raised up his hand but it dropped. I knew there was little life in him. I gave him heart massage but he was not responding normally, Dipo and I shouted which attracted others.

The senator was rushed into his vehicle and headed to Osogbo in a one-way drive.

I knew he would die “before getting to Osogbo because there was nobody to give him heart massage to save him.”

Aderibigbe disclosed that he was dead before getting to Biket Hospital in Osogbo.

He stated that the Chief Medical Director of the Biket Hospital, Dr. Adebisi Adenle; Adeleke’s sibling, Mrs. Dupe Sani; the former Attorney General of Osun State, Mr. Wale Afolabi, all exclaimed when the empty amples given to the senator by him and the oral drugs were brought to them, saying it was an overdose.

He submitted that it was not the drugs he administered to the senator that killed him.

Again, Disease Causes Tomato Scarcity Some traders in Abuja have attributed the scarcity of fresh tomatoes to disease and acidic rain and appealed to the three tiers of government to address the problem.

A seller in one of the markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Yinusa Isa, said between April and May, most tomato farmers from Kano and Zaria complained of the tuta absoluta pest attacks.

Isa said the same scarcity of fresh tomatoes occurred within the same period in 2016, and appealed to government intervene to save the situation.

He said between February and March, a big basket of tomatoes which cost N3,000 to N3,500 now cost N15,000 to N20,000.

“One waste bin basket measure was sold for N500 but it is currently being sold at N2,000,” he said.

Another trader, Garba Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the reason why tomato farms were dying in the north was because of the acidity in rain water.

“Normally, the tomato plants are watered with water, but as soon as the rains come, the plants begin to die because of too much acid in the rain water.

“The tomatoes I have now for sale are from Niger Republic, although we have tomatoes available in Jos, but that is the one of the places we currently have good tomatoes in Nigeria,” he said.

Mrs. Zainab Dogo, a buyer at Dutse market, who had been

buying in the same market for over three decades, said that she had never bought tomatoes for this much until recently.

“I used to buy a basket of tomatoes at N8,500, but now it is being sold for N20,000 at the popular Dei-Dei market which is one of the cheapest food markets in Abuja.

“The sellers are saying that they do not have enough tomatoes to sell to their customers while some are complaining about rain water being acidic on tomatoes,” she said.

Mrs. Adebimpe Odewale, a buyer at Bwari market, said that the price of tomatoes, a key ingredient for most delicacies such as jollof rice, sauce and stew, had increased by 400 per cent.

“People who sell tomatoes now buy a basket for twice the price.

Five tomatoes, which used to be N50, are now sold for N200.

“Me and my household cannot do without fresh tomatoes and I do buy it like that but I pray it will not be like last year, adding that last year was worst tomato scarcity ever.

Scarcity of fresh tomatoes occurred for the first time in Nigeria in 2016 which was attributed to a disease called tuta absoluta pest attacks but Federal Government proffer solution it.

The tuta absoluta ant actually originated from South America in 1912 and is spreading to other parts of the world like Europe and Africa and came to Nigeria in 2016 through Niger Republic.

YOU HAVE DONE WELL

Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA), Dr. Dafe Akpocha (left), presenting the CDGA award for Best Sole Administrator in Lagos State to the Sole Administrator, Isolo Local Council Development Area, Hon. Abimbola Osikoya in Lagos… recently

Defence Minister: Over 12,000 Boko Haram Hostages Freed So Far Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Minister of Defence, Brig-General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd,) yesterday disclosed that the federal government has so far freed over 12,000 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram insurgents.

The minister disclosed this in a keynote address at a two-day retreat holding at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

The theme of the retreat is: ‘Enhancing Civil-Military Relations: A Panacea for

Promoting Security and National Development.’

He said: “More than 12,000 Boko Haram captives have been freed; this figure includes the 106 Chibok girls that were abducted in 2014. We need to do more to consolidate on the efforts to sustain the peace and security currently enjoyed in the country.

“For more to be achieved, the military and civilian components of the ministry must work hard together, understand each other, and have mutual respect and trust for each other.”

Dan-Ali added that the combined efforts of members

of the armed forces have successfully degraded the insurgents, making it difficult for members to re-group and carry out any organised attack.

Also speaking, the state Governor, Simon Lalong, described the retreat targeted at enhancing civil-military relationship, as apt and of great significance, noting that Plateau has benefited from collaborations between the military and civilians in ensuring quick resolution of internal conflicts.

Warning the military, Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogora, noted that power was not in the barrel of the gun but in the contents of the heart.

He added: “Holding the guns and ranks should not give anyone a sense of superiority over members of the society; it should be a humbling factor, and should therefore be managed with a great sense of responsibility.”

Dogara also however warned the civilians to respect constituted authorities and embrace regular dialogue on matters of national importance.

54

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Eagles, Togo Friendly Confirmed for June 1 Duro Ikhazuagbe After what appears like a controversy on the possibility of the Super Eagles playing the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday confirmed June 1 as date for the tune up match aimed at getting the senior national team ready for the AFCON 2019 qualifier against South Africa.

NFF’s Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, confirmed that the match with the Hawks would hold at Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret in Paris at 7.30pm on the first day of June.

“The match against the Hawks has been scheduled for the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret, Paris on Thursday, 1stJune 2017, starting from 7.30pm. This confirmation has put to rest all speculations about whether the game will hold or not,” observed the NFF spokesman yesterday.

Barely four days before the Togo friendly in Paris, the three-time African champions will take on the Corsica senior team at the Stade Francois Coty in Ajaccio starting from 8pm on Friday, May 26.

Already, Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf, is expected to lead a contingent of goalkeepers trainer Alloy Agu, home-based professionals including; Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Alhassan Ibrahim, Stephen

Odey and Sikiru Olatubosun and backroom staff to Paris on Monday, May 22, from where they will travel to Corsica.

Although the planned camp for Eagles in the French capital has been cancelled, the NFF is expected to come up with a programme to keep the players busy ahead of the Group E of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. Meanwhile, Eagles FrancoGerman Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has called up Belgium-based forward Henry Onyekuru in place of Austria Wien FC poacher Olanrewaju Kayode, who is being held back by club engagement.

PLAYERS INVITED FOR THE FRIENDLIES Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal) Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Uche Agbo (CF Granada, Spain); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Gijon, Spain); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal) Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal,

Portugal); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United FC) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester

City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Henry Onyekuru (KAS Eupen, Belgium); Isaac Success

(Watford FC, England); Noah Serenren-Bazee (Hannover 96, Germany); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany); Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC)

*Chelsea’s Ola Aina and Alex Iwobi of Arsenal FC are expected to join the team after the English FA Cup final involving both clubs.

L-R: Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwumi; Managing Director, Bet9ja, Ayo Ojuroye; Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), Chidi Ofor; and the CEO of NNL, Bukola Olopade, shortly after the signing of the N200million partnership between Bet9ja and NNL in Lagos…yesterday

LMC, FIRS Resuscitate NPFL/VAT Wonder Goal NNL Seals N200m Partnership with Bet9ja Ahead the start of second round of matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (2016/17) season, the League Management Company (LMC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) are partnering to resuscitate the Wonder Goal series.

At the turn of the second round of matches last season, the LMC had introduced the Wonder Goal to build affinity between players, their clubs and their community of domicile. It aimed amongst other objectives to create an engagement channel between the clubs and their immediate communities through charity work by players who win the

award.

It will be recalled that the LMC recently offered FIRS, the NPFL as a platform to engage the football community on the benefits of paying taxes and other government charges such as the Value Added Tax (VAT). Tax education messages are since being displayed on perimeter boards at all NPFL match venues.

LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, said the re-launched scheme is now to be known as the VAT Wonder Goal and is going to serve as a further tool for educating the football community on the essence of paying the Value Added Tax when they make purchases.

Video of goals scored during a specific match-day will be uploaded on the NPFL website, www.npfl.ng, Facebook and YouTube accounts for fans to vote the most exciting and intelligently executed goal.

The player whose goal attracts the highest number of votes wins the award and will be presented monetary reward, 50 per cent of which is to be invested in a charity of the player’s choice within the city the club is located.

Dikko also announced that the prize money has been increased by 50 per cent from N100,000 to N150,000 out of which the player will invest N75,000 on the selected Charity.

It was another big plus for Nigerian football after the Nigeria National League (NNL) yesterday announced a three-year partnership worth N200million with leading sports betting company in the country, Bet9ja.

The Chairman of the NNL, Chidi Ofor, said at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday that it was a timely intervention for the league and hopefully more private companies will come to the league.

“Bet9ja is a Nigerian brand and the NNL is also a Nigerian brand. It’s a win-win for all us,” he said.

“This is like a partnership made in heaven because it will afford the NNL the

opportunity to improve on the league which serves as the bedrock of the country’s football.

“I really want to appreciate the management of Bet9ja for coming into the league and hopefully it will be a lasting relationship.”

The Managing Director of Bet9ja, Ayo Ojuroye, while announcing the partnership said it would help in development of the league.

Ojuroye said: “It is our goal to support what is our own hence the decision to support the NNL, it is a testament of our plans for the Nigerian youths. We want to support grassroots development and promoting the league will help us in achieving that.

“The sponsorship value is N200m for the next three years and we are committed to seeing it to the end.”

While thanking the leadership of the Bet9ja for their support, the CEO of NNL, Bukola Olopade, revealed that more organisations were on the cards to further boost the league.

According to the former commissioner for sports in Ogun State, the NNL already sealed an agreement with Pay TV network, StarTimes, and also an oil company, Fatgbems Oil, and the unveiling will be done soon.

He added that discussions were ongoing with a financial institution to also partner the league and place the NNL on the world map.

Italian football giants, Lazio and Inter Milan, are set to clash at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome this weekend in a game seen as one of the season’s good bye fixtures as both teams are not in contention for Serie A trophy.

Though Lazio’s bid to crash into the Champions League spot was thwarted last Saturday, Coach Simone Inzaghi remains confident of a good performance on Sunday as a win for Lazio will boost its morale for the Europa championship. It currently occupies the fourth position,

but not so for Inter, as its lacklustre performance this season has seen it languishing in the eight position.

The trouble for Inter Milan was however compounded as its hardcore fans walked out of the San Siro as they lost 2-1 to Sassuolo on Sunday. It was Inter’s fourth defeat in a row and has not won any of their last eight matches.

All the weekend Serie A and German Bundesliga and other thrilling sporting actions from European leagues are live on StarTimes’ World Football channels 244

and 254.

Speaking on the weekend sporting actions, Acting Brand and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Qasim Elegbede, said: “StarTimes remains commitment to delivering quality sporting content to our subscribers.

Providing quality sporting content was the reason behind the acquisitions of these sporting rights for the Serie A, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Chinese Super League, Eredivisie and recently, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in over 48 territories in Africa.”

S’finalists Emerge in GTBank/ Edo Queens, U13 Play for Amaju in Benin Lagos Principal’s Cup Serie A: Lazio Welcomes Inter at Stadio Olimpico As part of the programme of events for Semifinalists for Season 8 of the GTBank Principal’s Cup emerged after some enthralling encounters in the quarter finals played at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School defeated Gbaja Boys Senior High School 5-2 via penalty shootouts after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time.

It was penalty shootouts that also decided the encounter between Estate Senior Grammar School, Mushin and Muslim Senior College, Oworonsoki with the latter running away with a 4-2 victory after 2-2 at full time.

In the female category, Sanya Senior Grammar School, defeated Ijaiye Community Estate Senior Grammar School, Ojokoro 3-2 while Ikorodu Senior High School, Ikorodu pummelled Lekki Community Senior High School, Lekki 6- 0.

the grand reception for Amaju Melvin Pinnick by the South-south Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) today in Benin City, a novelty match between Edo Queens and the state’s Under-13 male side has been scheduled to precede ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Edo FA Chairman and Media Committee head of the South-south Congress, Frank Ilaboya, said in a statement that the match is between Edo Queens, the top women side in Edo State and the state’s Under13 male side that was being groomed by late national team Coach, Amodu Shaibu. The reception proper is scheduled for 6.30pm at the Government House in Benin City today.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 19, 2017

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Friday, May 19, 2017

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

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MISSILE Wike to Buratai

“Who are those approving battalions of soldiers to politicians? If they don’t want soldiers to follow politicians, they should stop giving soldiers to politicians. It is only in Nigeria that soldiers accompany politicians. They should stop soldiers from being security details to politicians.

Somebody comes home and they will give him a battalion of soldiers and they say soldiers should not hobnob with politicians” – Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state cautioning Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to stop complaining about soldiers hobnobbing with politicians because the same army authorities attach battalions of soldiers to accompany politicians nationwide.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

On The Greatness of Nigeria B

elow are excerpts from a post on the social media pushing a counter proposition that Nigeria is a ‘great’ country. It is unique in the respect that it seeks to controvert the premise on which the international community and the overwhelming majority of Nigerians think so poorly of Nigeria. In a manner of speaking, it is intended as positive propaganda for Nigeria and will find companionship in the new tradition being set by public communication proxies of President Donald Trump of the United states, called ‘alternative facts’. There is however a qualitative superiority to the Trump tradition-all the citations made to support this propaganda effort are factual and verifiable.

“I cannot help but copy and share this.

I’m proud to be a Nigerian. A Russian saw me in my office and said where are you from, I said am from the greatest country in the world. He looked at me with a very strange look and said let me guess you are from Nigeria, I said yes. Out of curiosity he said considering what’s happening in your country now why would you say she’s the best in the world and I asked him to sit down and let me tell him what he and most people don’t not know about Great Nigeria and I told him these”.......

“Are you aware that all over the world Nigerians are setting the pace and becoming the standard by which others measure themselves?

Do you know that in the US, Nigerians are the most educated immigrant community.

Type it into Google and you’ll see it. Not one of the most educated, the most educated.

60% of Nigerians in the US have college degrees. This is far above the American national average of 30%. Nigerians in US are one of the highest earners, typically earning 25% more than the median US income of $53k”.

“In Ivy League schools in Europe and America, Nigerians routinely outperform their peers from other nations. A Nigerian family, The Imafidon family, have officially been named the smartest family in the UK. The designer of the famous car, Chevrolet Volt, Jelani Aliyu, is a super talented Nigerian from Sokoto State. The World’s fastest supercomputer was designed by a world renowned inventor and scientist, Philip Emeagwali, a full-blown Nigerian whose patency was awarded in 2015.

“The wealthiest Black man and woman on earth are Nigerians, Aliko Dangote and Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija. Both have no trace of criminal records of any kind. South Africa couldn’t have ended apartheid & achieved Black rule if not for the leadership role Nigeria played. Of the 3 South African Presidents who ruled after apartheid, two of them once lived in Nigeria under asylum. Both Nelson Mandela (60s) and Thabo Mbeki (70s) lived in Nigeria before becoming President of South Africa. We gave financial support, human support, boycotted an Olympics and our politicians, musicians and activists campaigned relentlessly.

“Nigeria spent over $3 Billion and lost

Philip Emeagwali hundreds of soldiers to end the wars in both Liberia and Sierra Leone which the world ignored because they have no oil. When there was a coup in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2003, Nigeria restored the elected President back to power. Before there were street lights in European cities, ancient Benin kingdom had street lights fueled by palm oil. 500 years ago, Benin casted metal alloys to create magnificent art including the world famous Queen Ida Mask. Amina was a warrior queen who ruled Zaria Emirate in Kaduna state, Northwestern Nigeria 400 years ago in 1610. Google and see what she means to Africa”.

“We gave monetary gifts to Ireland during our oil boom and built a statue for France free of charge. We are not poor blacks. Nigeria is rich and don’t be lied to. The first television station in Africa was NTA Ibadan (1960) long before Ireland has their RTE station.........

Wherever you look in this great country, Nigeria, heroes/heroines abound both now and in our recent and ancient past. If all you do is listen to mainstream Western media, you’ll not get the full and true picture of your Nigerian heritage.

“We’re not a nation of scammers, drugs and corruption, but a people with a verifiable track record of greatness........ On the 7th of May, 2016 at Howard University in Washington D.C history was made. Out of 96 graduating Doctor of Pharmacy candidates, 43 of them were Nigerians and out of 27 awards given, 16 went to Nigerians. The entire world still envies our uniqueness as a NATION, living together despite our ethnic diversity. One single country with over 400 languages. ..

“If you don’t blow your trumpet, no one will blow it for you. There are over 180,000,000 Nigerians world over and only about 250,000 of this figure have traceable criminal records.

This is about 0.14% of our entire national population in the last 20 years: nothing close to 1%”.I am proud am created a Nigerian, thank

you God. .... God bless Federal Republic Of Great Nigeria”. Courtesy... Adako-Lemese Mayowa MY RESPONSE: The singular trend that runs through this political evangelism and exhortation to pride and patriotism is the externalisation of Nigeria’s greatness-extrapolated from the mostly individual and communal accomplishments of Nigerians in the diaspora. The question then arises as-to what extent is it valid to attribute and appropriate this phenomenon as the achievement of Nigeria and what is the utility of this observation for a honest and critical accounting of contemporary Nigerian development history?

Our first contention is that the greatness being cited here is not produced by Nigeria.

It is a product of the modernisation effect of the societies to which individual Nigerians have relocated and repatriated. It is a product of assimilation, adaptation and positive response to the development stimulus abounding in those foreign societies. There is also the contributory factor of what Jide Osuntokun elsewhere conceptualised as the ‘immigrant drive hostility syndrome’.

It is illustrated as the extra motivation and achievement consciousness that generally drive and compel immigrants to put in the extra efforts in their desperate quest for success; to perceive success and failure in zero sum terms- in all or nothing, no margin for error starkness.

The most critical factor at the root of development is the prevalent value and social ethos on which citizen behaviour is predicated as (for instance) originally propounded by Max Webber in ‘the spirit of capitalism and the protestant ethic’. The corollary here is that unlike those foreign societies whose values and positive incentive system predispose Nigerians in diaspora to succeed, it is difficult to imagine how Nigeria can progress heedless of the inhibitory values prevalent therein- notably the displacement of the work and productivity ethic by the consumption culture and national indifference to the norm of finding illumination in the guiding light of the scientific imagination.

The unique success profile of Nigerians in the diaspora is amenable to generational classification and interpretation- comprising the Baby boomers, Generation X and the Millennials. The baby boomers and Generation X are the cohorts (generation groups) consisting of those who were born from 1946 to 1964 and from the early 1960s to early 1980s whilst the Millenials reference the cohort born between 1982 and 2004.

The majority of Nigerians in the diaspora belonging in the first two generation groups were mentally acculturated to a Nigeria tradition that was still relatively work ethic/ modernisation oriented before their emigration.

This was the enabling background to the seamless adaption to their new environment.

Their Millenials counterparts, especially the successful ones, are mostly Nigerians who were born in their adopted foreign societies

by Nigerian immigrant parents. It follows that their socialisation and acculturation are prescribed and dictated by the cultural values and social ethos of their countries of their birth.

Until probably 1980, Nigerian standards were largely comparable to the average universal standard owing to the fact that there was still a relatively operative positive correlation between productivity and reward; between hard work and progress. And it is not a coincidence that the erosion of this development oriented culture corresponds to the destruction of federalism in Nigeria.

The success of federalism in Nigeria was implied in the National development success undergirded by the spirit of the competitive modernisation of the first republic-among the four regions. This positive rivalry and peer pressure was mostly discernible in the relationship between the Eastern and Western regions.

Yes the Northern region was lagging behind but the regional leaders sought to grapple with this challenge rather than shy away from it. And it was in palpable subscription to the development ethic, that the region sought to create a space and pace for the attainment of comparable modernisation. Notwithstanding the educational disparity, the wish of the Northern region to remain part of Nigeria was predicated on two premises. The first was the shared willingness and disposition to continue and thrive in the tradition of the legacy of the western modernisation development model bequeathed by the British colonialists. The second premise was the preservation of a regional comfort zone and autonomous space to chart the pace of regional development undisturbed by extra regional interventions.

The other regions might have arrived at a similar memorandum of understanding through a different route but this was the formulation of Nigerian federalism that was given force and effect in the independence constitution. The success of these three regions was the success of Nigeria and events thereafter would prove the verity that within the context of Nigeria, development can neither be imposed nor decreed from the top. Correspondingly, the poster boy failure of the thirty six liability states equals the failure of Nigeria.

The first casualty of the destruction of federalism in Nigeria was the spirit of competitive modernisation rivalry among Nigerians. The post-civil war unitary ideology of equalisation/unity and stability unwittingly generated the restructuring of Nigeria into a structural abnormality in which socio economic development was no longer a priority focus in the creation of states; a restructuring that has fostered the transformation of Nigeria from a functional society founded on the work and productivity ethic into a dysfunctional polity undermined by the permeation and suffusion of the consumption culture syndrome-economic free fall and political instability fuelled by corruption and impunity.

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