Friday 7th July 2017

Telcos Must Meet Financial Integrity Standards, Says NCC Board Emma Okonji After collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on a loan repayment plan and the appointment of an interim board of directors for Etisalat Nigeria, the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

yesterday directed the commission to ensure that all network operators in the country meet financial and technical integrity standards in relation to telecoms financing.

Concerned about the debt

crisis that threatened to hamper Etisalat’s operations, the NCC board at the end of its meeting said the directive had become imperative in order to avert unforeseen circumstances in the future.

In a statement signed

by NCC spokesman, Mr. Tony Ojobo, the board said: “The board, under the chairmanship of Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, to review the Etisalat issue in

its entirety and also review the intervention made by the NCC management.

“The board commended the NCC management for its handling of the Etisalat issue to date, noting that the board has had a three-

I Need a Better Budget to Work, Fashola Tells Senate … Page 10

fold concern: ensuring continuous service to the over 21 million Etisalat subscribers, safeguarding the employees, and stabilising the telecoms sector to ensure its contribution to GDP is not impacted and investment continues.

Continued on page 12

Friday 7 July, 2017 Vol 22. No 8114. Price: N250

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Osinbajo: FG Will Address Clamour for Restructuring Soon Says no one can remove Magu US Transparency Bill to expose illicit funds from Nigeria, others John Shiklam in Kaduna andPaul Obi in Abuja with agency report Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the federal government would soon come out with policies to address the clamour by Nigerians for

restructuring of the country.

Osinbajo made the disclosure at the presentation and launch of a book titled: “Nigeria: The Restructuring Controversy,” in Abuja yesterday.

Continued on page 10

Cement Price to Fall Soon as Cost of Production Drops Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Prospective house builders and the construction industry will have reasons to smile soon as cement manufacturers have put the machinery in motion to bring down the price of the product.

Making this disclosure at the State House, Abuja yesterday after a meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chairman of BUA Cement, Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, said the price of cement

would fall soon, as some of the factors that contributed to the high cost of the building material have been addressed.

He listed such factors to include the foreign exchange crisis and the high cost of low pour fuel oil (LPFO) used to run cement plants.

According to him, the cost of LPFO has dropped drastically, while a noticeable improvement has also been recorded in foreign exchange rate.

Continued on page 12

ETERNA MEETS ITS SHAREHOLDERS…

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Eterna Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Eterna Plc, Mr. Mahmud Tukur; and Chairman of the company, Mr. Lamis Shehu Dikko, at the company’s 24th Annual General Meeting, held at the Muson Centre, Lagos… Wednesday

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I Need a Better Budget to Work, Fashola Tells Senate Asks Goje not to trivialise issues he raised Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has told the Senate that he needs a good budget to work as a minister of the federal government, adding that the questions about how he performs on his job should be left to members of the public to determine.

Responding to comments made by the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, who had criticised the minister for taking umbrage with the legislature for altering the budget of his ministry and other ministries, and hampering their ability to execute infrastructure projects, Fashola said the senator had

trivialised the issues he raised about the unilateral slashing of the budgetary allocation to key national infrastructure by the National Assembly.

Fashola stressed that a good budget was a necessary tool for the executive to do its work.

He said when services are inadequate the Nigerian public would look to him and his colleagues in the executive to provide answers.

“I need a better budget as a tool to do my work and that is why l am speaking out,” said Fashola in a statement he signed.

He said he was currently attending the 35th Annual General Meeting of Shelter Afrique in Zimbabwe, but had to respond to Goje to refocus

attention on the issues at stake.

According to him, Goje’s reference to the patriotism of legislators should not be spoken but demonstrated as regards his calls for a more developmental budgeting approach.

“In this context, it is left for Nigerians to then decide whether budgeting for constituency roads is more patriotic than budgeting to complete the Kano-Maiduguri road that connects five states, the Lagos-Ibadan road that connects three states and helps to move food, imported goods and fuel across the country; or the second Niger Bridge that connects the East and West geopolitical zones of at least 11 states together.

“I will also leave Nigerians to judge whether it is more

patriotic to budget for the Mambilla power project that will contribute to more power across Nigeria or reduce the budget to build street lights in legislative constituencies,” he stated.

He said Goje’s response to the issues he raised should not have been about accusations of his blackmailing the legislature or referring to those who shared his views as his “surrogates.

Reiterating his respect for the parliament as a house where very vigorous debates about development should take place, Fashola advised Goje to acquire the temperament for such debate and disagreement.

“Let me reiterate that I see parliament as a house where very vigorous debates about

development should take place and it is important for Goje to acquire the temperament of debate and disagreement”.

Decrying the senator’s admonition that he should learn how to “behave” like a “minister” and the reference to the Senate saying it was waiting to see how he would be “handled” by the House of Representatives, the Minister declared: “ I think first that the language is unparliamentary and therefore not deserving of a reply.”

Noting that Goje’s faux pas gave a clearer insight into how the senator and those who may be minded like him may be thinking, having transited from the executive arm to the legislative arm, the minister

called for caution.

“It seems that it is such people who need a behavioural prescription about legislative function,” Fashola said.

Fashola has been at loggerheads in recent weeks with the National Assembly for tampering with the budget of his ministry and that of other ministries.

An estimated N500 billion was shaved-off by the National Assembly from his ministry’s budget for projects including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Mambilla power project and the second Niger Bridge.

The National Assembly was also accused of inserting 4,000 projects that were never contemplated in the 2017 budget drawn up by the executive.

get a boost soon, as a corporate transparency bill introduced in the U.S. Congress last week will force disclosure of Nigerians and other nationals who run shell companies registered in the United States.

The bipartisan bill, “Corporate Transparency Act of 2017,” introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat, and co-sponsored by Congressman Peter King, a Republican, will compel disclosure of beneficial owners “to prevent wrongdoers from exploiting United States corporations and limited liability companies for criminal gain”.

Both legislators represent New York, a city that has been cited in several investigative reports as one of the prime destinations for illicit financial flows from Nigeria.

According to online news medium, Premium Times, the bill enjoys the support of members of the Financial Services Committee of the U.S. Congress, law enforcement agencies, 44 anti-corruption advocacy groups, and 27 investors whose combined asset are in excess of $855 billion.

Nearly two million companies are registered in the United States every year. The bill will amend the current incorporation law, which often demands only basic information from proprietors and typically does not ask for the names of beneficial owners.

In her introduction, Congresswoman Maloney said: “Criminals have exploited the weaknesses in state formation procedures to conceal their identities when forming corporations or limited liability companies in the United States.

“They then use the newly created entities to commit crimes affecting interstate and international commerce such as terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion, securities fraud, financial fraud and acts of foreign corruption.”

Her speech to the U.S. Congress last week coincided with the recent uptick in Nigeria’s campaign for transparency in the financial sector.

Speaking in Abuja last month at the Conference on Promoting International Co-operation in Combating Illicit Financial Flows, Osinbajo observed that the Thabo Mbeki-led High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows

from Africa singled out Nigeria as a source of most of the illicit fund flow out of Africa.

Ms. Maloney similarly called for international collaboration on corporate transparency.

“Anonymous shell companies have become the preferred vehicle for money launderers, criminal organisations, and terrorist groups because they can’t be traced back to their true owners,” she said, adding that “the U.S. is one of the easiest places in the world to set up anonymous shell companies.”

“Frankly, it’s an embarrassment. We need to fix this gaping hole in our national security and listen to law enforcement that is requesting these changes,” she added.

The Corporate Transparency Bill 2017 will empower United States Treasury Department to issue regulations requiring corporations and limited liability companies to file information about their beneficial owners.

The bill also stipulates that the Treasury Department will collect beneficial ownership information for corporations registered in states that choose not ask for such information.

When it becomes law, the bill will also establish minimum beneficial ownership disclosure requirements, the beneficial owners’ name, current address, and details of their non-expired passport or state-issued driver’s licence must be recorded at the time of registration.

False, fraudulent or incomplete beneficial ownership information will attract civil penalties.

OSINBAJO: FG WILL ADDRESS CLAMOUR FOR RESTRUCTURING SOON Osinbajo, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu said the debate for the restructuring of the country by Nigerians had been noted by the government.

“We are looking at all contributions made by Nigerians across the country. Very soon we will come out with policies to address the call for the restructuring of the country.

“We are watching and looking and taking notes. The beauty of Nigeria is that we don’t take up our guns to fight, we love to talk, we love to debate, and this is what we know,” he said.

He recalled that even though tension was high during June 12 crisis, “Nigerians never took their guns to fight”.

“It is a beautiful thing that we are looking at the issue of restructuring, but what we are against is to rise up and take up guns against other persons.

“But what we can assure you is that we are all looking at the contributions being made across the country, whether, from the North, South-south, South-east, North-central and South-west, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is taking notes of all the contributions.

“Very soon we are going to come out with policies that will take care of some of the issues around restructuring,” Osinbajo stated.

While citing South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria as countries that sought for separation that eventually plunged their nations into endless warfare, Osinbajo asked Nigerians to discard agendas that promote division and separation and focus on the unity of the country, as the federal government was already making plans to prioritise the issue of restructuring.

The acting president warned that the federal government would not tolerate any act capable of causing disaffection among the various ethnic groups in the country.

He urged Nigerians to be committed and loyal to the cause of the country, stressing that separation was not the answer to the country’s challenges.

“It is in our interest as a nation to continue to dialogue for the unity and peace of the country.

“Equity, fairness and justice can only be achieved under a peaceful atmosphere. We must not do those things that will

turn us against each other,” he cautioned.

Osinbajo said the government was working assiduously to ensure that all Nigerians, irrespective of their tribes lived better lives.

The chairman of the occasion and former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was represented by his erstwhile Minister of Information and Culture and current President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, concurred with Osinbajo, stating that with the current quagmire regarding the structure of the country, restructuring Nigeria had become inevitable.

Abubakar contended that the peaceful co-existence between the various ethnic groups “has been bastardised and turned round into where you come from and not what you can give Nigeria”.

“That is why restructuring has become an inevitable sine qua non for the continuous being of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The reason we are in this jinx is because we found oil.

“But those who found oil and the formula for its allocation divided Nigeria into states that are dependent on oil and nothing else.

“When we found oil, we all forgot about production, we all forgot about agriculture, the government became about sharing oil wealth.

“Very soon, our oil will mean nothing if this structure persists.

The essence of restructuring is to enthrone a new scheme of development, a scheme for the exploration of our human and natural resources,” he said.

Abubakar advised the federal government to adopt modern technology to move the nation forward, as oil was no longer lucrative in the international market.

Earlier, Mike Okiro, a former Inspector-General of Police and author of the book, said the country currently demands true patriotism from all citizens.

“Presently, our country demands from all citizens a strong display of true patriotism in whatever we are doing or saying.”

He blamed Nigeria’s ruling elite for systematically deploying ethnicity and religion as tools to create divisions for their self-promotion and enrichment.

“My strong conviction is

that Nigeria will emerge an unstoppable giant on the path of peace, rapid development and progress, not by dissolving into mushroom republics along ethno-religious lines, but by a leadership-led reconstructing that accords iron-cast deference and reverence to justice, equity and fair play even in the face of the worst of odds,” Okiro submitted.

The reviewer of the book, Sam Omatseye, who is also the Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspaper, said the book was about the cry for justice and a denial of the cry for justice.

He said that the book was about believing and those who hated believing.

In attendance were five former inspectors general of police, traditional rulers and National Assembly members, among others.

‘No One Can Remove Magu’ At another event yesterday, the acting president also remained resolute on the presidency’s retention of Ibrahim Magu as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite the insistence by the Senate that he should be removed from the position.

Osinbajo, who spoke at the commissioning of the zonal office of the EFCC in Kaduna, declared that nobody could remove Magu from office.

The acting president, who was represented by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, expressed confidence in the capacity of Magu in the fight against corruption.

He said he had spoken to President Mohammadu Buhari on Magu, adding that the president had assured that as long as he (Buhari) remains president, Magu will not vacate the anti-corruption seat.

“We have every confidence in Magu to fight corruption to a standstill. He will remain the EFCC chairman as long as I remain the acting president and Muhammadu Buhari remains the president.

“It is our belief that Magu will continue to remain a nightmare for corrupt people for years to come,” the acting president said.

In his own remarks, el-Rufai disclosed that over N500 million

had been quietly recovered from corrupt former government officials and contractors in Kaduna State.

He added that those corrupt officials would be handed over to the EFCC in due course for prosecution.

He said the EFCC was encouraged by him to establish a zonal office in Kaduna because of the zero tolerance for corruption by the state government.

The governor promised to allocate land to the commission for the construction of its training school and staff quarters in Kaduna and assured it of continuing support.

Earlier in his remarks, Magu advocated for the establishment of a special prison for corrupt people in the dreaded Sambisa forest, the Boko Haram enclave in the North-east, in order to keep them away from people.

He said for the prison to become a reality, the judiciary must cooperate with the commission.

Magu predicted that illegal monies were likely to be abandoned by corrupt persons at the nation’s airport and places in the near future, as it happened at the Kaduna airport a few months ago.

He warned that if concerted efforts were not made to rid the country of corruption, the country would not make progress.

“We want to call for the establishment of a prison in Sambisa forest in order to keep away corrupt people from our midst.

“In this case, the judiciary has direct influence to help in the fight against corruption.

But concerted efforts are being made by some big Nigerians to neutralise the fight against corruption.

“We must change the narrative by fighting back those that do not want the fight to succeed.

“I remain committed to the fight against corruption and I commend the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for encouraging the EFCC to establish a zonal office in Kaduna.

“We must therefore join hands together to kill corruption, before corruption kills us,” Magu said.

US Law to Expose Illicit Funds Meanwhile, Nigeria’s fight to wipe out corruption will

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STARTERS

France to End Sales of Petrol, Diesel Vehicles by 2040

Two-Minute Briefing NEWS Yoruba Leaders Insist Nigeria

Has No Future Unless It’s Restructured “The Nigeria of our founding fathers’ dreams will elude us in our lifetime unless it is thoroughly restructured to allow for the devolution of powers and resources…

Page 50

EDITORIAL When Jungle Justice Reigns

A Lagos-based comedian Chinedu Paul and two others were last week named the latest victims of mob justice. Paul, aka ThinkTwice, accom- panied by two mechanics, was on a mission to retrieve his broken-down vehicle.

Page 15

POLITICS The Maitama Sule Story

The legacy left behind byYusuf Maitama Sule in his lifetime will certainly outlive him, writes Shola Oyeyipo Page 17

Renault Zoe… a leading electric car in Europe France will end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris Climate Accord, new Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot announced yesterday.

“We are announcing an end to the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040,” Hulot said, calling it a “veritable revolution”.

Hulot acknowledged that reaching the goal would be “tough”, particularly for automakers, but said that French carmakers Peugeot-Citroen and Renault were well equipped to make the switch, reported the AFP. France is the biggest manufacturer of electric cars sold in Europe, with the Renault Zoe far outselling other models in 2016.

On Wednesday, Volvo said it planned to phase out production of petrol-only cars from 2019, with all new models to be either electric or hybrids.

The Chinese-owned group is the first major manufacturer to electrify all of its models.

Hulot cited Volvo as an example in making his surprise announcement, part of his plan to make France “carbon neutral” by 2050.

Hulot, a veteran environmental campaigner, was among several political newcomers to whom President Emmanuel Macron gave top jobs in his government.

His nomination was seen as a statement of Macron’s commitment to environmental issues.

Last month, the 39-year-old centrist hit back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would pull out of the 2015 Paris Accord with a video vowing to “make our planet great again” — a play on Trump’s campaign pledge to “make America great again” that went viral on social media.

Several countries have said they want to dramatically reduce the amount of polluting petrol and diesel cars on their roads but few have made firm commitments.

India has said it wants all cars sold there to be electric-powered by 2030. In Europe, Norway aims to end sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 and Germany wants to put one million electric cars on the road by 2020.

Welcoming Hulot’s announcement World Wildlife France chief Pascal Canfin told France Info radio: “We have every interest in being among the leaders.

“The sooner we invest, the sooner we will have the right technology and the better we will be positioned on the industrial and job fronts.”

Motorists still continue to opt overwhelmingly for petrol and diesel models, usually substantially cheaper.

In 2016, hybrid and electric cars accounted for only 3.6 per cent of new cars registered in Western Europe, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The greatest spurt in sales was for non-rechargeble hybrids, which rose 27.3 per cent compared to 2015.

Electric car registrations jumped by seven per cent last year while plug-in hybrids grew by only 3.9 per cent.

Hulot said that weaning France off conventional cars was a matter of “public health”.

Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and other French cities have a chronic smog problem.

Analysts are split on how quickly electric vehicles will displace those powered by internal combustion engines.

The 29-nation International Energy Agency (IEA), formed after the 1973 oil crisis, sees relatively modest growth, resulting in an eight per cent market share — about 150 million vehicles — by 2040.

Private forecaster Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s estimates, by contrast, a 22 per cent market share for electric vehicles by 2035.

China — the largest market in the world for electric vehicles — sold more than half-a-million in 2016.

telCos must meet FinanCial integrity standards, says nCC Board “The board commended the cooperation and inter-agency collaboration exhibited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a fellow regulator.

“The board directed management to ensure at all times that telcos meet the financial and technical integrity standards expected of them.”

Etisalat on Tuesday announced a new five-man interim board, following the resignation of its former board members,

former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Matthew Willsher, and former Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Olawole Obasunloye.

Their resignations were triggered by the withdrawal of one of its core investors – Emirates Telecoms Group Company (Etisalat Group) – following Etisalat Nigeria’s inability to repay a $1.2 billion loan taken from 13 Nigerian banks in 2013 for infrastructure upgrade and expansion.

The new board appointed for Etisalat Nigeria, in conjunction with the lending banks, will be expected to oversee the sale of the company’s shares relinquished by its Abu Dhabi-based parent, Etisalat Group, to new investors.

THISDAY had exclusively reported last month that some of the network operators that had indicated interest in taking a slice of Etisalat include South Africa’s Vodacom and France’s Orange.

Cement PriCe to Fall soon as Cost oF ProduCtion droPs Against this backdrop, Rabiu said producers had begun moves to bring down the cost of cement, assuring the public that the price would drop soon.

“Cement production requires quite a lot of energy; that is quite a significant part of the cost element of cement production.

That has been addressed since the price of LPFO that we use has come down. I’m talking about Sokoto Cement Company now.

“Of course, the other cement plants scattered all over the country like may be in the southern part of the country are using gas which is actually much cheaper.

But for Sokoto, for example, we use LPFO

and LPFO is quite expensive.

“We have to transport it either from Lagos or from the Kaduna refinery if there is availability. That you know from time to time impacts on the cost. But I can assure you that the three major companies producing cement in Nigeria are working very hard to see that the price of cement comes down in the very near future.

“We are trying very hard to make sure the price comes down. Of course, the foreign exchange aspect has improved dramatically.

That, as we all know, was a big issue.

Now, that has improved considerably. So, I think we will see quite a reduction in the very near future,” he said.

He also said he had visited the Presidential Villa to invite the acting president to commission the new BUA Cement Sokoto plant that is nearing completion.

“Well, I don’t think I am here to discuss policies. Rather, the reason I came here was to come and pay respect to the acting president and to also solicit his support in commissioning one of the projects that we are doing. That’s why I came here.

“It’s a project that we have actually almost completed. It is Sokoto Cement and we are hoping to commission the plant very soon. We discussed that and he is looking into it and he’s promised to get back us on his attendance,” he stated.

WEEKENDFILE 'My Vision is to Eliminate

Human Trafficking’ Ms. Julie Okah-Donli is the DirectorGeneral of the National Agency for Prohibition ofTrafficking in Persons. In this interview with Iyobosa Uwugiaren, she spoke on the challenges tackling the fast growing global business of human trafficking…

Page 27

BUSINESS World Bank Ranking: FG Urged

to EnforcePort OffencesAct FGhas been urged to enforce the provisions of the Port Related Offences, Amendment Act to reduce the lengthy, cumbersome and costly process in the nation’s ports in order to improve on the country’sWorld Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Page 19

NEWSXTRA Melaye’s Recall: Court Refuses

to Stop INEC Embattled senator, Dino Melaye, yesteday failed yesterday in his bid to stop his ongoing recall process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Page 54

INTERNATIONAL Communicating with Allah his paradigm applies to any relationship with individuals who genuinely love and care for each other.They are often seen not talking much to one another, and when they do, they do so softly and quietly.

Page 46

SPORTS Eagles Goalkeeper, Ikeme,

Diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia Nigeria andWolverhampton Wanderers’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has been being diagnosed with acute leukaemia and is to begin chemotherapy immediately.

Page 54

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COMMENT

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

REMEMBERING A STERLING COMRADE Amina Salihu pays tribute to Abubakar Momoh, former Director General of the Electoral Institute

Q

uiet but deep and assertive, he was to me a comrade, and senior colleague. I did not get to see him on a regular basis; we saw maybe on the average once a year. Yet we could greet like we conversed every day. It was that kind of easy going relationship, forged by moments of solidarity and collaboration among a small band of fellow travellers. That easy-going, non-pressured friendship is golden for an activist movement; an amazing store of value which we do not always acknowledge but just take for granted: assume that it is there.

That gold gave me the currency to call Professor Abubakar Momoh - the Wednesday before he passed away - while I was right at the gate of the Electoral Institute where he was Director General. I said to him: ‘Mallam (teacher or mentor in Hausa), your people say they don’t know us o!’ He had previously offered to host the 8th Tajudeen Abdulraheem Memorial event. I had not spoken with him since a meeting in 2015 to plan a conference to be organised by the Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), yet he picked my call. He, thereupon, spoke with the security guard who then let us in.

Little did I know that I was speaking with him for the last time on this side of heaven; and that a few short weeks after that conversation, we would be planning his own memorial event.

A meticulous academic, when it came to work, Professor Abubakar Momoh was all seriousness when it came to attention for detail. He once invited me to be part of a research collaboration on ‘’Democracy and Socio-economic issues in Nigeria” funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The process began with a workshop that was meant to culminate in an edited volume but later into a lull. After several years, Mallam Abu revived the project and then began the back and forth on narrative corroboration, synergy and appropriate referencing style. I learnt a lot from that process but teased him too as I said to him ‘Mallam Abu so, this our book will finally get published!.’ He took his time in his calm, inimitable way, to narrate the causes of the delay and his effort to move things forward. He had, moreover, been ill in between, and was out of the country.

Once, when he won a prize from one of the banks we said to him ‘comrade bring our share o, now you are officially a bourgeois’! He said, ‘’these people who splashed my photo all over the front pages of newspapers will get me into trouble..

HE GOES WITH THE GLORY OF HIS GOOD DEEDS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE SCHOOL FEES HE PAID; AN INCREDIBLE TESTIMONY THAT DOING GOOD DOES NOT DEPEND ON A BIG CACHE OF MONEY BUT ON A BIG HEART

you see, it is not like that. It is not serious money, believe me’’. He took the matter so seriously, even though it was hilarious to us.

A forthright person, I remember vividly his frustration with me over my inability to finish my PhD work. He gave me a tongue lashing every time we talked.

As my senior comrade, he had the right to expect more from me. Whenever we met, PhD was the agendum such that I was quick to say before he would broach the subject, ‘Mallam Abu I am working on it’. One day he said to me while waving a folded newspaper for emphasis: ‘Amina, I know you will never get this PhD because now you are earning dollars (referring to my consultancy work)’. I said, ‘Mallam, which dollars? It’s not money that is holding me back o, No one pays me dollars anyway’. He said with a mock smile; ‘you see, you- have- to - choose- either- the -money -or -a –PhD. You- can’t- do-both - you – know’: all the while waving the newspaper to stress his point. That was his final word on the subject: a verdict delivered with a typical Mallam Abu élan. That in essence was our conversation - as paraphrased here - and did it rankle! Suffice to say, I eventually finished my thesis; perhaps to prove that it was possible, and perfectly legal, to strive for both gold and glory!

Mallam Abu has been a part of my social family for as long as I can remember; from when he was as a member of my Governing Board of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) while I was a programme officer, and even before. He remains my senior comrade and a brother.

A stellar academic, Mallam Abu treated you like an equal; looked you in the eye and pressured you to understand his viewpoint and to engage as he ‘complexified’ the issue - one of his favourite phrases. His is an unripe funeral but when the time is up there is nothing one can do. What matters is that he goes with the glory of his good deeds, one of which is the hundreds of individuals whose school fees he paid; an incredible testimony that doing good does not depend on a big cache of money but on a big heart.

I will miss his how now? as he asks after your wellbeing, with a pidgin slant. I will miss his golden tiger eyes and slight, kind smile. Goodbye Mallam Abubakar. May Allah grant your generous soul aljannatul firdaus; and sustain the family.

AMBODE AND THE LAGOS ASSETS

G

The return of federal assets to the Lagos State Government will ensure effective and proper usage, writes Taiwo Ogundipe

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode is yet again making another bold move. This time around he is reaching out to the federal government, demanding for the return of all the assets it acquired in the state. These assets, according to the governor, include disused lands, buildings and disputed quarters.

Ambode made the request against the backdrop of receiving the report of the Special Committee on Federal Government Assets in Lagos State which he set up to determine the status and titles of the disused lands, buildings and disputed quarters the federal authorities are still occupying in the state.

The governor had constituted the committee to put an end to the jurisdictional disagreement between the federal and state governments over the assets to which the former still laid claim within the territory of the latter. The committee, which was chaired by former Federal Commissioner for Works, Chief Femi Okunnu, comprised a human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, a Simmons Cooper partner, Mrs. Victoria Alonge and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr. Olabode Agoro, among others.

The governor expressed the hope that the initiative will end the long standing dispute between the federal and state governments over the prime assets located in various parts of the state.

According to the committee, some of the assets in dispute include the dilapidating Federal Secretariat at Ikoyi, the International Trade Fair Complex which had been converted to a sprawling market, the highbrow

Banana Island, Osborn Foreshore, Festac Town, Satellite Town and the whole of Ikoyi with boundary at Lagos Canal standing between Ikoyi Island and Lagos Island.

Historically, when the idea was mooted to establish a Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, the government in power then indicated that Lagos would remain the commercial capital of the nation and continue to be treated as a special centre of development, along with Kaduna, Enugu and Port Harcourt. But this has not been the case 40 years down the line. Lagos particularly has suffered neglect since then and this has rubbed off on the assets acquired by the federal authorities.

While submitting the report, Okunnu expressed sadness over the current state of the Federal Secretariat in Lagos and other abandoned assets of the federal government in the state, noting that the assets be returned to the state government for effective and proper usage.

In the past, controversy had dogged the efforts of the federal government to concession some assets in the state. In 2006 the then federal authorities entered into a controversial concession arrangement regarding the Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikoyi with a corporate organisation, Resort International Limited (RIL) to convert the structures to residential quarters. Other assets concessioned under controversial circumstances included Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Tafawa Balewa Square, among others.

The step the Ambode government is now taking has been generally commended. It is seen as a right step to resolve the long-

standing dispute between it and the federal government. From the body language and utterances of the state government, the approach is deservingly not confrontational.

Some observers had viewed the past efforts by the previous governments of the state to assert the state’s right of ownership and jurisdiction over the numerous assets as being confrontational. This is far from the case with the Ambode’s approach.

The governor had also recently set a characteristic positive and progressive tone when he graciously offered the assistance of the state government to renovate the main bowl of the National Theatre, two cinema halls, the exhibition lobby and the banquet hall as part of the collaboration between the federal government and the state, during preparations for the Lagos @ 50 celebrations in readiness for the 2017 Africa Movies Academic Awards (AMAA) ceremony holding in Lagos State.

Governor Ambode also made a strong case for and earned the approval of the federal authorities to embark on a total reconstruction of the International Airport Road from Oshodi. The governor had viewed the state of the road as a national embarrassment. He had then said, “In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe strongly that the image that is exhumed by the decadence of that road must be repaired.”

The Ambode administration is now going ahead with a design of 10 lanes to come from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop you towards the local airport.

All these are pointer to the fact that Governor Ambode has good intentions regarding the efforts to retrieve state’s assets from the federal authorities. Besides, there is merit in the claim of the state government.

Most of these assets have been allowed to lie waste and fall into disuse. This is even poignant in this period of dire national economic situation. The abandonment of the assets is not only a disservice to the state but also to the entire nation.

Lagos, many patriotic citizens of Nigeria generally believe, deserve the support and understanding of the federal authorities.

As the governor pointed out, the recovery of the assets from the federal government is strategic to reflating the economy of the state and improving its GDP. In his words, “The state government is in dire need of space for development projects that would improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its residents in line with the socio-economic realities of present times.”

It is tragic to continue the flagrant wastage of valuable assets more so when, as the governor said, “these assets are no longer in use for the purposes for which they were originally released to the federal government.”

It is also pertinent that the governor expressed an understanding that the job of determining the jurisdiction and ownership of the identified assets is an ongoing process.

Many hope that with the resolution of this dispute, the assets can be put to valuable use to shore up the internally generated revenue of the state and thereby boost its economy as well as that of the entire nation.

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EDITORIAL WHEN JUNGLE JUSTICE REIGNS The authorities have to do more to protect the people

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Lagos-based comedian Chinedu Paul and two others were last week named the latest victims of mob justice.

Paul, aka Think Twice, accompanied by two mechanics, was on a mission to retrieve his broken-down vehicle. But the trio was mistaken for members of “Badoo,” a cult group which has been terrorising some areas in Ikorodu, Lagos, and lynched by some angry residents. Within a week, six persons suspected to be members of the cult group were reportedly lynched and set ablaze by a vigilance group in the now notorious and crime-infested Ikorodu axis of Lagos.

The rate at which the mob has been dispensing “instant and brutal justice” on suspected cultists and kidnappers and the like should worry those in authority as they send disturbing signals of a society where impunity reigns.

A poll by one of Nigeria’s leading poll and survey companies, NOIPolls IT IS ONLY THE STATE THAT Ltd, stated sometime CAN PUNISH A CRIMINAL, ago that majority AND THAT IS AFTER A of Nigerians, about PROPER TRIAL IN COURT 94 per cent, agreed TO ESTABLISH THAT AN that there was a OFFENCE WAS INDEED high prevalence of jungle justice/mob COMMITTED attack in Nigeria and described it as “a wicked and barbaric act”. But 51 per cent of the respondents, according to the poll, attributed the prevalence of jungle justice in the country to a “lack of trust in the law enforcement agencies”. According to the result, 43 per cent of Nigerians had personally witnessed these acts of jungle justice in their localities while 16 per cent knew the victims of jungle justice/mob attacks.

“Jungle justice/mob attacks are generally characterised by the stripping of accused persons of their fundamental human right of fair hearing and the opportunity to defend themselves. The occurrence

Letters to the Editor

and increasing frequency of these attacks which sometimes result in the extra- judicial killing of Nigerians has generated growing concern among the populace”, said the poll which described jungle justice as a situation where “an irate mob, takes into their hands the right to execute punishment on alleged offenders of a heinous crime.”

It is trite to argue that under the law, it is only the state that can punish a criminal, and that is after a proper trial in court to establish that an offence was indeed committed. But under the current situation in our country, it is the mob that identifies and “prosecutes” alleged kidnappers, ritualists, robbers, cultists, etc., and in almost all the cases, the punishment is both instant and severe.

U T H I S DAY

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MAITAMA SULE: A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND DISCIPLINE

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hen the news of the passing of Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule, a one-time Minister and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations was made public, I received it with sadness, philosophical calmness and equanimity.

I have no doubt that Dr. YMS, even in death, will continue to be a reference point whenever the history of who is who in Nigeria on integrity, honesty in service to the people and humility is written, now or in the future. To say that Dr. YMS stood out among living and dead Nigerian elder statesmen is to say the obvious. He served his country with all honesty, without the temptation of amassing wealth for his children and the unborn generations. It would be recalled that Dr. YMS was appointed a minister in the First Republic at a very youthful age but the get-rich-quick syndrome that is characteristic of today’s youths was never his portion. How I wish our youths of today, as future leaders of tomorrow, can emulate him.

In a paper presented to a group of youths in 2013, I made an appeal, among other things, to the audience to imbibe the good character of Dr. YMS by making a reference to an interview that

nfortunately, this recourse to savagery which is fast becoming a national pastime is bewildering as it does not matter the supposed crime being levelled against those caught in the web of this new wave of jungle justice. And as it most often happens, it is the innocent citizens that are victims of mob justice whose dispensers cannot be held accountable. This means that just being on a street corner looking a little like someone accused of a crime the day before or even being a victim of witch-hunt could cost one his or her life.

There is a pertinent question about what is responsible for this ugly development: is it failure of law enforcement or signs of a more dangerous national ailment? Or is it that human life is no longer sacrosanct in Nigeria? The answer of course is simple. It is a combination of the three. What is however rather troubling is that the propensity for dispensing this brand of justice is becoming increasingly high in our cities as many people take the law into their hands. The way things stand today, the government has to do more. They must fund the police and expand their capacity to carry out their constitutionally stipulated responsibility of protecting lives and property while the courts must be alive to their responsibilities.

was granted to him in the January 2, 2011 edition of Sunday Sun newspaper. I told the youths who he was in the preamble to the interview as “a minister in the First Republic, who was so poor that he couldn’t build for himself a hut and that in fact when the civil war broke out and he had to evacuate his household from Lagos to Kano – his town of origin – he had to rely on friends and family members for the fare”. I also drew the attention of the attention of the audience to the fact that the experience of the minister happened at a time when there was accountability and probity in public office.

I went further to draw the attention of the youths on the need to shun extravagance as the future leaders by quoting what the late elder statesman said on this: “Oil has become both a blessing and a curse. A curse because it has made us develop a negative culture of extravagance. As a result of oil find, we have formed the habit of sending our girl friends to do their hair in Paris, do their shopping in London and spend holidays in New York. We steal oil money and compete in buying V-boot cars for our girl friends.

Odunayo Joseph, MOPA, Kogi State

NIGERIA’S FUEL INCREASE CONSPIRACY

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n 2016, crude oil price crashed to $28 per barrel in the international market. In spite of that, Nigeria’s local crude oil price went up astronomically, from N86 to N145 per litre.

Usually, excess production of crude oil from countries like Saudi Arabia, China, USA and Iran is expected to crash the oil price. But prices in Nigeria never drop, even when demands are low.

We know vandalism by militant groups may affect availability of fuel products and trigger prices during scarcity. But between 2011 and 2014 when oil was sold around $100 per barrel, there were increases in poverty, maternal mortality, unemployment, and environmental challenges. The excess monies realised did not reflect in the life of citizens. It is on record that successive Nigerian governments have amassed about N100 trillion from 58 years of oil exploration.

Since the discovery of oil in the 1950s, price of petrol in the country has continued to go up from one administration to the other, starting from 1972 to this present administration. In the past 44 years successive Nigerian government has increased petrol price about 20 times, and only reduced five times.

These successive administrations have routinely introduced palliative measures or commitment of intervention funds to cushion the economic effect of fuel prize increase. Some claimed to have invested several trillions of naira in agriculture, transportation,

electricity, employment, roads, potable drinking water, etc. Yet, inadequate mechanism seems to have prevented these investments from ameliorating the sufferings of the people. Instead, monies budgeted for economic benefits are re-looted and unaccounted for. Many business owners have packed up their businesses due to non-availability and unbearable increase of fuel product and absence of electricity.

What has played out over the years is the mismanagement of revenues by public office holders, lack of accountability and transparency on the huge returns derived from the oil sector.

Certain individuals in some of these governments have enriched themselves more with huge revenues from the sector, without promoting the growth of key sectors. Sectors like agriculture, electricity, solid mineral, and others that should act as a catalyst for economic growth and beneficial to majority of the people have been abandoned. I verily believe that successive governments excuse to discontinue fuel subsidy is an attempt to stop the endemic corruption and fraudulent activities perpetrated by oil marketers in the petroleum sector. There have been reports of fraudulent supply of petroleum products by oil marketers, amounting to over N30trn in just a few years. Yet, those in authority have failed to prevent the loopholes which create opportunity for looting.

Charles Iyare, ANEEJ, Benin City

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POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

The Maitama Sule Story The legacy left behind by Yusuf Maitama Sule in his lifetime will certainly outlive him, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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n his novel published in 1991, Reaper Man, renowned novelist, Terry Pratchett stated that “No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.” These are exactly the words that will best describe the life and death of Alhaji Maitama Sule because in the annals of the Nigerian political history, his name will linger a long time, especially for those who are interested in the constitutional history of the country.

Sule, the Dan Masanin Kano has been variously described as a reputable Nigerian politician-businessman, a consummate diplomat, an elder statesman, a nationalist who strongly opposed military dictatorship and all forms mis-governance, detribalized Nigerian who perpetually stood for peace and unity of the country and an orator. He was announced dead in a Cairo, hospital by his family on Monday, July 3, 2017. He was born on October 1, 1929.

Not only have well-meaning Nigerians continued to pour encomiums on the late elder statesman, the multitude that made their ways to the Kano burial of the national hero attested to the fact that he occupies a pride of place in the minds of many people, irrespective of tribe or religion affiliation.

History books are replete with the role he played to stabilize the country during the independence struggle. No doubt, he played significant roles in colonial Nigeria, during the struggle for independence and even long after independence.

Between 1955 and 1956 he was the Chief Whip, Federal House of Representatives.

Before that, in 1954, he was the Minister of Mines and Power. In 1960 he led a Nigerian delegation to the Conference of Independent African States. In 1976, he became the Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints. With that he became Nigeria’s pioneer ombudsman. In early 1979, he was the presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria but lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who later emerged president.

He was appointed Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations after the coming of civilian rule in September 1979. While there, he was chairman of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid. After the re-election of Shagari in 1983, Sule was appointed Minister for National Guidance, a portfolio designed for him to assist the president fight corruption back then.

Most of those who have eulogized him since he died testified to the fact that; he was a strong believer in national unity, a man who stood for justice, a man with a vast knowledge of contemporary history of Nigeria who enjoyed friendship and solidarity across the Niger. As if he knew his time would come very soon, Maitama Sule did not waste any opportunity in sharing his Nigerian experience with anyone who would listen to him, especially the young generations. He wished the young generation would avoid some of the mistakes of his generation.

It is the more reason why some people have particularly bemoaned his death, coming at a time when agitation for restructuring and secession is getting louder.

He has been called all sorts of good names by his admirers after his death. For instance, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the late Sule was “a nationalist to the core.” He noted that he consistently spoke on and fought for the unity, peace and progress of the country, stressing that his demise was a “huge loss” to the emirate council, the people and government of Kano State and Nigeria as a whole.

Maitama Sule...Mourned by many

For former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, the death his was both a national and personal loss to him because to him, Sule’s death has depleted the rank of true nationalists.

According to him, he was a detribalised Nigerian. Tinubu said: “His death has reduced the ranks of true nationalists at this time when the nation is in dire need of wise counsel on how to navigate through potential landmines.

Danmasanin Kano was a rare statesman and an orator who can move mountains with words. I related with him closely and drank

Most of those who have eulogized him since he died testified to the fact that; he was a strong believer in national unity, a man who stood for justice, a man with a vast knowledge of contemporary history of Nigeria who enjoyed friendship and solidarity across the Niger

from his vast knowledge. I will personally miss him. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanna Fridaus.”

Also reaffirming the roles he played in building a stronger Nigeria, Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo underscored the fact that despite the fact that he had advanced in age, Sule was always prepared to reach out to other leaders in other parts of the country in the quest for unity, tolerance and national cohesion.

“He did not waver in lending his voice to the promotion of moderation in national discourse, and his graceful conduct thereto would be sorely missed. Alhaji Sule never relented in applying his wealth of experience to advance the cause of unity, peace and progress of Nigeria. His fatherly counsel to those in authority had always been bold, sincere and untainted,’’ Osinbajo stated.

Also acknowledging him as an iconic nationalist, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki said: “He would remain an inspiration to both present and forthcoming generations on the lessons of tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence. He left at a time his wise counsel is in dire need to navigate our way out of current challenges confronting the country.

I pray the Almighty Allah to grant his soul aljannah firdaus and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, described Sule as a bridge builder, a committed patriot, celebrated African statesman and advocate of peaceful co-existence. “He was an accomplished leader, diplomat and elder statesman who served Nigeria and

Africa in different capacities to the best of his abilities. I remember him as a great leader who worked relentlessly for Nigeria’s development.

“He functioned as a reliable navigator in difficult times both at home and abroad, especially with the commitment he showed towards dismantling the last vestiges of apartheid. The canon he preached and lived as a committed patriot was genuine love for our nation which manifested in his sincerity, hard work and deep embrace of people and politicians from all parts of the country,” Jonathan noted.

It has been a long list of commentators with good things to say about the late Maitama.

Former Speaker and the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the governor of Kano State, Abdullai Ganduje; Jigawa State governor, Badaru Abubakar, the Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, former Anambra State governor and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, the Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG), Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) were among those that have paid tributes to the elder statesman.

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POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

Why N’ Assembly Can’t Alter Budget As the debate on whether the legislature can alter a budget before passing it continues to rage, a legal practitioner, Moses Ediru argues that the lawmakers don’t have such powers under the constitution

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ecent debates on the nagging issue of budget padding by the National Assembly have thrown up at least three postulates. One, the suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation ,Abdulmumin Jibrin, is of the view that the House can either increase or decrease the amounts contained in the budget as laid by the executive but cannot introduce new projects. Two, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN expressed the view that the National Assembly has the power to do both. Thirdly, Femi Falana, SAN, without addressing the issue of illegality maintained that the National Assembly has no vires to do either. This writer aligns with Falana, but before giving reasons for the alignment it should, peremptorily, be stated that the check and balances inherent in the budget making process is not intended to asphyxiate the well founded principle of separation of powers standing tall in our constitutional democracy. In other words, the law will not allow the legislature to take over the constitutional function of the executive to make budget for the nation. Now, the reasons: According to S. 81 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, a budget is the estimate of the revenues and expenditures of the federation for the next following financial year. The only power vested in the legislature in the budgeting process by S. 80 (2) is to authorise the estimates before withdrawal can be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation and not to participate in making the estimates; hence, the authorisation is extrinsic to the budgeting process. Therefore, where the legislature disagrees with the estimates for any project it can only withhold its authority or permission, refuse to pass the budget and send same back to the executive for alteration and the altered budget is to be passed as prescribed

by S. 59 (1) - (5) of the constitution.

It should be noted that the alteration contemplated by S. 59 (1) (a) is not that by the legislature.

If indeed the legislature can alter the sum for projects in the budget and pass it as such and also under S. 59 (4) veto the power of the president to assent, then the budget is no longer that of the executive but the legislature. Should that be the case the legislature would have taken over the constitutional function of the executive thereby rendering the doctrine of separation of power under the constitution redundant and impracticable.

On the postulation of Professor Azinge, SAN, that the legislature can inject new projects into the budget, whether as constituency projects or non- constituency projects, the implications are even worse having regards to the constitutional power of the legislature to oversight the budget.

Clearly, the legislature, over time, has demonstrated preference for its power of oversight under S.88 by investigating the disbursement or administration of moneys appropriated to its main function of law making, the many allegations of abuse and extortion arising there from notwithstanding.

So, whether the alteration to the budget is in the form of injection of new projects or meddling with the estimated sums laid by the executive, the question would be who is to oversight the projects affected by the alteration, the same legislature? It is the view of this writer that allowing

Saraki... believes legislature can alter the budget

the legislature to oversight the injected projects will not only engender absurdity but also impugn the principle of checks and balances in the budgeting process and, ‘a fortiori’, the doctrine of separation of powers.

Moreover, just as the judiciary through the courts cannot, after invalidating any law made by the legislature, resort to its own notion of the law on any matter, the legislature cannot alter the budget for the purpose of passing it into law without violating the priceless doctrine of separation of powers.

If, however, the legislature is averse to passing the budget with the estimates of the revenues and expenditures prepared by the executive, the only lawful thing to do is to return it to the executive with its observations for necessary alterations before any subsequent passage by the legislature.

In fact, to the extent that S. 59 (1) (a) makes the legislative process of passing a budget under Subsections (2) – (5) of S. 59 applicable to both altered and unaltered budgets means alteration of a budget is a non-legislative process or function. Otherwise, a budget

altered in the course of passage by the legislature would have to be passed a second time by the same legislature in accordance with S. 59 (1) (a) to meet the constitutional requirements. Query! Is it possible to add the proceedings of the legislature leading to the alteration of the budget midstream to the post alteration proceedings to arrive at the proceedings consistent with the requirements of the constitution for the passage of the emergent budget? Only the legislatures can answer the question.

On the whole, this writer holds the view that alteration of budget by the legislature before passing it into law is legally and procedurally wrong and smacks of legislative incompetence and corrupt inclination If, however, the legislature is averse to passing the budget with the estimates of the revenues and expenditures prepared by the executive, the only lawful thing to do is to return it to the executive with its observations for necessary alterations before any subsequent passage by the legislature.

Dr Ediru wrote in from Lafia, Nasarawa State

If indeed the legislature can alter the sum for projects in the budget and pass it as such and also under S. 59 (4) veto the power of the president to assent, then the budget is no longer that of the executive but the legislature. Should that be the case the legislature would have taken over the constitutional function of the executive thereby rendering the doctrine of separation of power under the constitution redundant and impracticable.

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BUSINESSWORLD R A t e s NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A s

A t

M A Y

NIBOR 3-MONTH

21.3750% 21.0038 %

6-MONTH

22.5331% 24.6856%

1 8

NITTY 1-MONTH 3-MONTH 3-MONTH

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

2 0 1 7 20.1827% 19.3855% 16.2693%

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

21.3861% 21.5058% 22.4006%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.35//1US DOLLAR* *As At LAst FRIDAY

Quick Takes Transport Ministry, NSC to Hold Summit

EXCHANGING VIEWS

L-R: Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex A. Okoh and a former Director General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin E. Dikki, at the 2017 Annual National Workshop of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in Abuja…recently

To facilitate investments in Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) and enhance trade and investments for the revival of Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and Kings Communications Limited, is organising a two-day national summit on establishment, management and operations of TTPs in Nigeria. The summit scheduled for Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th, July 2017 in Abuja, has the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the chief host and will deliver the welcome address while the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola will deliver the keynote address. The summit with the theme, ‘Truck Transit Parks: Providing Critical Infrastructure for Trade and Transit in Nigeria,’ seeks to assemble stakeholders in transport and logistics sector to optimise the potentials and investment opportunities in TTPs; to harmonise and standardise truck parking facilities on Nigerian roads; adopt financial models for developing and sustaining truck transit parks; to establish the role of stakeholders in managing TTPs, among others. According to the spokesman for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Ignatius Nweke, among those expected to attend the summit are some of the critical stakeholders in the project. They are: state governors and transport commissioners, haulage truck owners, transport unions, construction companies, relevant National Assembly committees, prospective investors and leaders of thought in the sector.

AIB Trains Police on Crash Site Security

World Bank Ranking: FG Urged to Enforce Port Offences Act Eromosele Abiodun The federal government has been urged to enforce the provisions of the Port Related Offences, Amendment Act to reduce the lengthy, cumbersome and costly process in the nation’s ports in order to improve on the country’s World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Of the 190 countries appraised on the ease of doing business in 2017, the World Bank ranked Nigeria 169th position, showing a marginal improvement from 170th ranking in 2016.

Consequently, Nigeria’s poor ranking has been inhibiting the flow of foreign direct investments (FDIs), thereby complicating the country’s economic challenges, deepening unemployment crisis and limit-

MARITIME ing investment opportunities for domestic investors among others.

However, the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero has advised the government to enforce the provisions of the Act to improve the ranking of the Nigeria. He stated this in a petition addressed to the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on the implementation of the executive order issued by the federal government.

He said he is concerned that the executive order on port with regards to reduction of the number of federal government

agents in the port is not being obeyed.

Amiwero said the Port Related Offences Amendment Act No. 61 of 1999, was enacted for the purpose of reducing the number of security agents entering the port and participating in the examination of goods and also to have a one-stop- shop process in the port.

“The provision as contained in Section 1-(1) states: (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law or enactment, including the Customs and Excise Management Act, the Nigeria Ports Authority Act of 1999 and the Federal Airport Authority Act of 1996, it shall be unlawful for any person, not being a duly authorised officer or agent of any of the following, namely-The Nigeria

Customs Service, The Nigerian Ports Authority, The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; The Nigeria Immigration service, The Port Police and inspection agent, Licensed Customs Agents under section 1-(1A) of the Act to do any of the acts or things mentioned in subsection (2) of this Section, not allowed to enter the port, “ he said.

He added: “The provision of Section (1A) of the Act Provide for lead LEAD agency and a one-stop-shop process under the control of Nigeria Customs Service in line with paragraph 3 and 4 of the executive order on port operations.

“The provision states, without prejudice to the provision of subsection (1) of this section, the Continued on page 20

Passenger Traffic Shrinks Further in 2017 Chinedu Eze Despite the fact that Nigeria’s economic recession peaked in 2016, there were more air passengers who travelled through the nation’s airports in the first quarter of 2016 than in 2017.

In the first quarter of last year, only 59, 808 travelled through the airports but it is still more than the passengers that travelled in the first quarter of 2017, which is a meagre 41, 932; but the total passenger traffic in 2016 was 14, 564,722.

Sources at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said that from the traffic figures so far this year, there would be less number of air passengers in 2017 compared to 2016.

AVIATION But in the last 13 years, there have been progress in the passenger traffic and according to data from FAAN made available to THISDAY, there has been a leap in passenger traffic from 2004 till date; although passenger traffic shrunk in 2016 compared to the previous year, but there are indications that it would shrink further this year.

In 2004, the total passenger traffic from Nigerian airports was 8,140, 088, but there was less number of air travellers in 2005, which recorded 8, 310, 415 passengers and further depleted in the following year to about 8, 207, 563 in 2006.

In 2007 passenger traffic rose to 8, 474, 287 and further

increased in 2008 to about 10, 829, 572 and in 2009 it increased to 12, 526, 464; it rose further in 2010 to 13, 939, 418.

This progressive increase from 2010 has been attributed to turnaround in the nation’s economy by industry operators who noted that with more money available due to the robust economy, the tendency to travel was high because Nigerians like to travel.

In 2011 the passenger traffic rose further to 14, 760, 276; in 2012 it shrank to 14, 113, 077 and rose again in 2013 to 14, 632, 788 and in 2014 it edged to 15, 335, 722.

In 2015 passenger rose to 15, 222, 187 and shrank to 14, 564, 722.

The total passenger traffic

from 2004 to 2016 was about 185, 532, 305.

Industry observers posit that there could be little progress in the passenger movement over the years but considering the population of Nigeria, the figures are small because of low income and limited funds available to majority of Nigerians, only a small segment travel, “because if you are writing the names of the people that travel you will notice that it is the same number of people that travel and this is less than one percent of the total population.”

A senior FAAN official told THISDAY on Wednesday that the economy is down; that it would be erroneous to compare Continued on page 20

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has successfully trained the first batch of 20 Police Officers on how to secure crash site.

The objective of the training, which was held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was to inculcate in the officers peculiar security regulations as it concerns the protection of crash site from people so that the site would be intact for investigation. The police officers were drawn from Airports Command and Special Protection Unit at the Ikeja Police Command in Lagos for the two days exercise. AIB also said that the second batch of the training was scheduled to commence in Abuja in the next one week, assuring that with training of the officers, the era of tampering with accident investigative evidences was over.

The General Manager, Security and Industries, AIB, Mr. Olumide Osineye, who coordinated the training for the officers, said that the exercise would further enhance the performance of accident investigators in the Bureau in case of an accident. Osineye in an interview with journalists, during the training, said that the novel idea was the brainchild of the Commissioner of AIB, Akin Olateru who insisted that police officers must be adequately trained to support the Bureau’s accident investigation.

Osineye explained that the training was put together to provide the aviation security awareness to police officers and also to explain the roles of the police at aircraft accident sites.

He declared that the training cut across police officers posted to the airport command and also those at the Special Protection Unit at Ikeja deployed to AIB.

ICAO Elects Nigerian SecondVice President

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council has elected Nigerian Representative, Captain Musa Nuhu as the Second Vice-President of the Council. Nuhu emerged during the recently concluded 211th Session of ICAO Council held at its headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Also, the Council elected Mr. Tee Chiou Ng, the Representative of Singapore as the First Vice-President and Mr. Germinal Sarasqueta Oller of Panama as the Third Vice-President.

The election of Nuhu and the other two Vice Presidents is in compliance with Rules of Procedure for the Council (ICAO Doc 7559/10).Thetenureisone-yeartermfortheelectedVicePresidents.

According to the Rules of Procedure for the Council, Rule 10 states that: “In the absence of the President, the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President or the Third Vice-President in that order shall exercise the functions vested in the President by these Rules of Procedure.”

“The port access road constitutes a stumbling block to our international maritime traffic as it has limited trade facilitation process by constituting death threats to port operators“ President NCMDLCA

Mr Lucky Amiwero

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BUSINESSWORLD WORLD BANK RANKING: FG URGED TO ENFORCE PORT OFFENCES ACT Nigeria Customs Service may, if it considers it appropriate, by written notification, require the presence of any other relevant agency of the Federal Government in the course of the administration of the Customs and Excise Laws with respect to importation or exportation of goods in any Port. The Nigeria Customs Service is the Lead Agency in the Port to coordinate activities based on Importation and Exportation of goods in the Port.”

He stated that the government, in a bid to reduce the number of security agents in the ports issued out circulars that were never obeyed, which prompted the federal government under General Abdulsalami Abubakar enacted the Act 61 of 1999.

PASSENGER TRAFFIC SHRINKS FURTHER IN 2017 the passenger traffic with the population of the country; rather, it should be looked at from the point of the economy.

“The economy is bad. It is the economy that determines the movement of passengers; so it is not a function of the population. It is difficult to obtain foreign exchange; there has been downturn in cargo movement and in aircraft movement”.

The official noted that many airlines have stopped coming to Nigeria, including cargo airlines and passenger airlines like Iberia and United Airlines.

THISDAY also learnt that cargo planes rarely carry full cargo for Nigeria these days like in the past, “but now a cargo plane coming to Nigeria may drop some cargo in Ghana, Ivory Coast or any other neighbouring country before coming to Nigeria because we cannot afford huge cargo anymore.”

According to an official of one of the major handling companies at the Lagos airport, there has been a drastic reduction of cargo in the last three years, “starting from second quarter of 2015. Our work rate has slowed; so also our revenue. The airlines we service have been reviewing downwards the cost of our service.”

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

NEWS

UNIDO to Empower over 500,000 Businesses in Nigeria The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation is set to empower over 500,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially operators in the non-oil sector, with adequate skills to enhance operations and contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, in the next two years.

Chief Technical Adviser, Investment Promotion Division, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Mr. Stanislaw Pigon, said, for the economy to be competitive, the non-oil sector must be equipped with adequate investment and technology training.

Pigon, who spoke at the UNIDO’s Roundtable Meeting on Investment and Technology Promotion with Captains of Industry in Lagos on Wednesday, said this would be made available by UNIDO from August 2017.

According to him, the organisation was set to partner several groups of industrial firms, professional bodies, enterprises and the federal government to ensure sustainable industrial development.

The expert said, “Investment and technology are also very important in improving infrastructure efficiency, diversifying the economy, expanding the production base, as well as facilitating access to international and new markets.

“But disparities in terms of investment flows and technology innovation- still persist and development efforts are hampered by weaknesses in institutional capacity, regulatory frameworks, the cost of doing business, the lack of advisory and support services for both

foreign and local investors.”

He added that the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices’ (ITPO) arm of UNIDO was set to provide support, advisory and technical services to enterprises and business development firms, through networking with the private sector and institutions in the country to disseminate opportunities for investment and technology transfer.

According to him, ITPO will facilitate contact between potential foreign and local investors and technology suppliers through meetings, events like its upcoming

Nigerian International Investors Forum and other appropriate means to support negotiations on investment ventures and technology partnerships.

Participants agreed that providing fora where opportunities to transfer investment and technology are made available, would contribute to the transformation of the Nigerian economy and its integration.

Speaking at the event, Manager, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. Sadiq Usman, agreed with Pigon that lack of technical skills and capacity building had been a bane to industrial growth in Nigeria.

According to him, the hurdle has been a clog in the wheels of several industrial giants in the country as many of them find it difficult to get specialised hands in some areas in the manufacturing sector.

“FMN has been witnessing difficulties in getting a capable hand to manage its Sugar mill in Niger State. We go to India every year to employ experts to work in the mill because we couldn’t find any Nigerian capable of handling the work,” he said.

Head, ITPO Nigeria, Mrs. Adebisi Olumodimu, said, “With the right regulatory,

incentive framework, and the right frame of mind of entrepreneurs in the non-oil sector, the Nigerian economy could take a step forward in diversifying the economy, in industrial upgrading and technological innovation, to make the nation a more competitive brand in the continent and the world at large.

“We are targeting the empowerment of over 500,000 SMEs over the next two years. Our focus is on enterprise development because we discovered that investors do not have the desired skill and knowledge of enterprise development.

TOWARDS IMPROVED INVESTMENT LAWS

R-L:The President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar, presenting a report on the review of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) to the Senate President , Dr. Bukola Saraki, on behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja…recently etop ukutt

‘Functional Scanner Prerequisite for 24-Hour Port Operations’ Eromosele Abiodun For the federal government to achieve the 24 hours port operations mandate issued as part of the Ease of Doing Business Executive Order recently signed by the acting President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, the scanners at the nation’s ports must be kept functional, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has said.

Afolabi said in a statement

that the poor state of the scanners in most ports across the country makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to discharge its duty of container inspection effectively. “Most scanners at our ports are either completely broken down or functioning well below installed capacity.

This has left the personnel of the NCS with no other option than to do 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes. This

comes with huge difficulties and impedes quality and efficient service delivery that the Ease of Doing Business executive order is trying to address,” he said.

In order to address the problem of faulty scanners, Afolabi urged the federal government to consider the option of concession as the current economic reality in the country has made it impracticable for the government alone to shoulder the

responsibility of infrastructure provision in critical sectors of the economy.

“The model of concession is already a success in the maritime sector. The last 11 years of private sector involvement in port terminal management has brought great improvement to service delivery. I am convinced that such feat could be extended to the scanning service if the federal government gives private investors

the opportunity of managing the process,” he said.

Aside the improvement in service delivery, Afolabi also noted that functional scanners at the ports are necessary for national security in view of the recent cases of illegal arms importation through the nation’s sea ports. He argued that such illegal importation would have been discovered during cargo examination with the aid of functional scanners.

N/Assembly, Ortom Commend Bajaj’s Investment Drive as Firm Unveils Cargo Vehicle

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

James Emejo in Abuja

Capital Market Editor

The leadership of the National Assembly has commended Bajaj Auto, India for its faith and confidence in the Nigerian economy, leading to further investment drive by the firm.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the company had contributed significantly in addressing the problem of unemployment among the teeming youth population.

Speaking over recently

Emma Okonji

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritime)

in Abuja at the launch of the Maxima Cargo, Bajaj’s three-wheeler cargo vehicle for last mile transportation particularly in the agricultural sector, Ekweremadu stated that the company had proven to be a strategic partner of government towards solving unemployment.

He said the launch of the cargo assets could ignite a series of manufacturing activities along the value chain and boost the economic power of Nigerians.

The lawmaker said government would continue to encour-

age Bajaj and other companies whose investment strategies align with government’s policy to boost job creation, adding that the legislature will provide enabling environment for foreign investors to thrive.

He promised that the National Assembly will continue to make laws that will further improve the ease of doing business in the country. Ekweremadu said the country was determined to make progress in spite of current challenges. Also, speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Benue

State, Mr. Samuel Ortom said the new cargo shuttles including ambulances will boost the country’s auto industry and add value to economic development by providing gainful employment to youths at these trying times.

He said while the vehicles will facilitate the development of agriculture and add value to agriculture and health services, it would bring revolution to cargo transportation in the rural areas.

Noting that the vehicles will be of immense advantage to the people of Benue State who are largely

farmers, the governor stressed the need to diversify the economy from oil, which is fast losing its relevance. Nevertheless, Senior Vice President, Africa, Bajaj Auto, Mr. K.S. Grihapathy said the Maxima Cargo will usher a new solution in cargo transportation that is cleaner, safer and more comfortable.

He said: “We feel that this vehicle will be an effective solution in the last mile cargo space in Nigeria which currently is beset by problems like congestion, traffic and pollution.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Peterside: NIMASA Working With Govt for NMU Take-Off Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said that NIMASA is working closely with some government agencies at both federal and state levels to ensure that academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) commence in the next academic session.

Peterside, who stated this during this year’s celebration of Day of the Seafarers with the theme, “Seafarers Matter,” noted that the mandate of the university include bridging the gap in human capacity in the maritime sector, with particular reference to seafarers now perceived to be in high demand in the country and globally.

Peterside restated that capacity building remains a focal mandate of the agency and is required in order to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the maritime sector and

the country as a whole.

“Learning is a continuous process, when we stop learning the sector cannot grow, and by extension the entire country. More so, the country is diversifying its resources and we need trained and competent personnel to man the different sectors of the economy. In this regard, in NIMASA there is a rebirth of focusing on our core mandate of which capacity development is topmost in order to realise a virile maritime sector. We therefore remain committed to the ideals of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration aspiration to make Nigeria a pride in the comity of nations.

He urged seafarers to remain patriotic in the delivery of their services to their fatherland and assured them that NIMASA will continue to collaborate with shipowners and relevant stakeholders in the sector to ensure that their interest is protected.

In his words: “We are proud of you and be assured that we

will ensure that your interest is protected. In the light of these, we will also ensure that all international instruments pertaining to your welfare are fully implemented.”

Speaking further, the DG said that the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) comprising tripartite stakeholders, have reconvened to fashion out a decent wage and improved working and living conditions for the seafarers in line with the provisions of the convention and comparable to what is obtainable internationally.

“It is therefore, expected that once the collective bargaining agreement is signed, ship-owners will commence its full implementation,” he stated.

While assuring the seafarers of the agency’s continuous support, he stated that NIMASA would continue to give priority to capacity building initiatives in order to actualise its vision of making NIMASA a world class organisation in line with global best practices.

Glo Commended for its Support for Lagos Business School Ugo Aliogo The Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) has commended Nigeria’s data grandmasters, Globacom, for powering the association’s 25th annual President’s Dinner held last Sunday.

The President of LBSAA, Mrs. Bola Adesola, who gave the commendation in her welcome address, expressed appreciation to Globacom for its continued support for the association regardless of the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The dinner, the highest profile annual event organised by the association, was graced by professionals from all walks of life, captains of industry

who are products, relations and friends of the prestigious institution. It was held at the New Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

LBSAA constitutes an important part of the Lagos Business School community, because it is through its alumni’s activities and involvement that LBS achieves its long term objective of propagating excellence at the workplace. It was created as a platform for members of the association who have completed Executive or Degree programmes at the Lagos Business School to network with the leading lights of corporate Nigeria. Globacom entered into an agreement with LBSAA in 2016 to be the exclusive telecoms sponsor of the dinner for five

years and the 2017 edition which is the second in the series was attended by approximately 1000 people from Nigeria and the Diaspora. Responding in a press statement, Globacom said it was proud and excited to collaborate with such a high profile association.

The company also gave kudos to members of the association for the immense contributions they had made to nation building through the promotion of productivity, professionalism and corporate excellence in the economy.

At the event, Globacom showcased its cutting edge 4G network which is highly regarded because of its speed and most extensive coverage of Nigeria.

NPA Okays Senate’s Probe of Its JV Enterprises Eromosele Abiodun Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman has welcomed the decision of the Senate to look into the activities of the Joint Venture Enterprises of the NPA, namely, the Lagos Channel Management, the Bonny Channel Company, and the Calabar Channel Management Company Limited, as raised in a motion on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by its Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ibrahim Nasiru, the NPA explained that its current administration had on assumption of duties, identified the challenge and took immediate steps to address the unaccept-

able situation.

The statement explained that as part of the processes, an advertisement for expressions of interest for, “Consultancy Services for Dredging and Channel Design Optimisation Studies,” was placed in newspapers in October 2016 (Public Notice No 3957). This, according to the statement was an international competitive bidding.

It explained that at the moment, three companies have been pre-qualified for the assignment with a request for proposals (RFP) already issued towards the conclusion of the process for the award of contracts. The NPA said further that the studies, when completed, will provide accurate information on the depth and

siltation levels of the channels and ultimately, guide the NPA on its next line of immediate and future actions on the channels.

The studies will additionally provide: “A comprehensive review of the dredging practices currently adopted for the management of Bonny/ Port Harcourt Channel, the Calabar Channel and Lagos Channel and to recommend ways in which these could be optimised with a view to enhancing dredging efficiency.

“A comprehensive review of the existing channel layout and recommendations on how the layouts can be optimised for current and projected vessel traffic in each of the pilotage districts. As part of the optimisation studies.

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

Enterprise Risk Management: Call for Action The speed of change in the global business world presents a multitude of opportunities and risks that must be navigated to lead organisations in today’s marketplace. Over the past few years, boards of directors and senior executives have sought to strengthen their risk oversight so that they are attuned to emerging issues that may impact their organisation’s strategic success.

External parties also place greater expectations on boards of directors and senior executives to be more effective at overseeing the most significant risk exposures that potentially affect their organisations’ long-term viability. These parties include government regulators, creditrating agencies, stock exchanges and institutional investor groups. In response to these shifting expectations, many organisations are coming under pressure to implement Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) or equivalent processes to strengthen their top-down view of the portfolio of risks most likely to impact the enterprise’s strategic success. The findings from a recent report released by the association of Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA) - 2017 Global Risk Oversight Report, sheds more light on this.

It provides the current state of ERM practices in four regions around the globe. The regions are Europe and the United Kingdom, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and the United States of America. Because the business climates differ in various regions, the resulting expectations for more enhanced risk oversight also differ.

Some key useful findings from this new study indicate that organisations around the world face a similar volume and complexity of risks – no region is uniquely different in that perception.

Views about the volume and complexities of risks are generally similar in all four regions.

The organisations in Africa & the Middle East however perceive risk complexities to be higher than their peers in other regions.

Risk management practices range in maturity across the globe. The lowest penetration of enterprise risk management (ERM) processes in organisations was found to be in Africa & the Middle East.

The survey further showed that most organizations struggle to integrate their risk management processes with strategic planning. Despite the fact that most strategies may be impacted by a number of risks, only about 50% of respondents around the world indicate that they “mostly” or “extensively” consider risk exposures when evaluating new strategic initiatives.

For many organisations, their risk oversight and strategic planning efforts appear to be separate activities. A common problem is a disconnect between enterprise risk oversight and strategy execution. There needs to be executive buy-in and understanding that risk management processes provide strategic competitive advantage to solve this. Perhaps the relative immaturity of risk management processes in some organisations, makes the consideration of risk in the context of strategic decisions informal and ad hoc. This in turn limits the ability of the risk management function to contribute significant insights to the organisation’s strategic planning and execution activities. The problems facing organisations in most emerging markets, Nigeria inclusive, might appear to be a lack of detailed risk oversight infrastructure. Few are known to maintain or update risk inventories/registers, and have formal risk management policy statements. Some organisations wrongly combine the risk, audit

and compliance functions, and rely more on internal management-level risk committees as opposed to chief risk officers. The findings in the report have given rise to a number of calls to action. The complexities in today’s business environment mean risk management is unlikely to get easier. The effect is that organisations are faced with increasing threats from economic and geo-political volatility, technological advances leading to increased cyber-attacks, climate change and financial instability. This means the risk environment and potential for significant operational surprises are imminent. Approaches to risk oversight may be insufficient to deal with the rapidly changing risks that are likely to occur.

The current state of ERM adoption remains relatively immature, with some organisations yet to have “complete formal enterprise-wide risk management process and frameworks in place”.

Using the risk maturity scale developed by the UK Institute of Risk Management (IRM), every organisation can be classified according to its risk maturity. The classification scale starts from the least level described as “basic”, the next level up is described as “reactive”, then “proactive”, and finally the highest level being “optimized”. The key objective of the IRM risk maturity model and training roadmap is to enhance current Risk Management processes and assist organisations to move from a “basic/ reactive” levels toward a more ‘Proactive/Optimised’.

Given the intricacies of managing risks across complex business enterprises, organisations need to strengthen the leadership of their risk management function. Appointing a risk champion (for example, a chief risk officer) or creating a management-level risk committee helps, but will require more to ensure that risk management processes are appropriately designed and implemented. It must be embedded as a culture throughout the organisation.

There is a need for increased senior executive involvement in risk oversight, suggesting that the status quo is no longer acceptable. Boards need to assume formal responsibility for overseeing management’s risk oversight processes through board committees. The level of immaturity and low robustness of enterprise risk oversight is attributable to several perceived barriers which may be restricting progress in strengthening the overall approach. Sufficient resources to ensure the process is effective can be a challenge for organisations in emerging markets.

There needs to be effort around communication and education to help articulate the value of investing in better enterprise risk oversight for strategic success. There is also the need to focus on integrating risk oversight with strategic planning and value-creating efforts to address some of the findings reported earlier. The more that executives recognise how robust risk insight increases the organisation’s ability to be agile and resilient, the greater will be the progress in expanding risk oversight infrastructure in general.

Overall, more work remains to be done. .

•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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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

AIR WATCH

Arik Introduces Ambassadors Unit to Boost Customer Relationship Chinedu Eze To improve goodwill with its customers, Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air has introduced ambassadors from its cabin crew whose duty is to interface with passengers.

Beyond the duties of cabin crew officers, the ambassadors are expected to enhance passenger satisfaction with the airline’s services, provide up to date information on flights and attend to peculiar needs of the passengers.

Arik Air management, which unveiled the ambassadors, said that the objective was to provide its passengers unique flight experience.

Speaking at the event held at the General Aviation Terminal, (GAT), Murtala Muhammed Airport on Monday, the airline’s Vice President, Ground Operations, Murat Ozcan, said that the essence of putting

the ambassador unit together was to give customers better experience at the airport and cater for passengers’ needs.

“The unit will help give timely responses to passengers.

The idea came up when we decided to put some units together to look after the passengers. Once passenger walks into the terminal, they will be received by our ambassadors, who are very distinguished and identifiable by the way they are dressed. If passengers have any questions or issues, the Arik ambassadors will be able to assist them and they will always be here to help. The work of an ambassador starts immediately check-in commences every day. Anytime there are issues or inquiries from our passengers, they can approach the ambassadors. Their mission is to solve the passengers’ problems before they leave the airport,” Ozcan said. He

explained that the aim of the unit was to make passengers get exceptional customer service experience; so that passengers would leave the airport happy.

“Airline operations are extremely time consuming process, if anything comes up outside the box, our operations people who may not be able to resolve it at that particular time will refer passengers to Arik ambassadors, who will definitely resolve it on a timely basis. We have six ambassadors and one lead ambassador. In each shift, we have two ambassadors on duty all the time,” he added.

Ozcan stated that very soon, Arik ambassadors would be extended to Abuja and Port Harcourt airports.

Head Arik Ambassador, Ijeoma Ebele said she was excited at this new development and pledged commitment to the course of satisfying the needs of passengers.

ICRC, Systemspecs Commend BiCourtney on 10th Anniversary of MMA2 Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and SystemSpecs, an audit firm chaired by boardroom guru, Dr. Christopher Kolade, have hailed the pioneering efforts of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), a member of The Resort Group and operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), which turned 10 recently.

In separate letters to BASL, the two organisations said the resilience of the firm was the reason the MMA2, the first privately-funded airport terminal in Nigeria, has remained the leading airport in terms of constant

maintenance of facilities.

A statement issued by BASL’s spokesman, Steve Omolale, quoted a congratulatory letter personally signed by the DirectorGeneral of ICRC, Alhaji Aminu Diko, as saying, “MMA2 is indeed a great story of a pioneering Private, Public Partnership (PPP) initiative in the aviation industry in Nigeria and is the first successful privately-funded Design, Build, Operate and Transfer airport terminal in Nigeria, which introduced innovation to air transport management (in Nigeria)”.

Omolale quoted Diko to have stated that the needless

controversy surrounding the MMA2 concession with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding its agreement with BASL was regrettable, adding, however, that “We have received the commitment of the Minister of State, Aviation, to look into resolving the dispute in no distant future”.

The statement also said SystemSpecs in another letter addressed to the management of BASL and endorsed by the Managing Director, Mr. John Obaro, described the 10th Anniversary of MMA2 as “a landmark achievement”.

Air Peace Acquires Additional Aircraft Nigeria’s fast rising airline, Air Peace has acquired another aircraft, bringing to 13 the number of aircraft in its fleet.

The new aircraft, a Boeing 737-300, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at the weekend amid excitement of the staff of the airline. The airline said the aircraft flew into Lagos from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where it landed on Thursday, with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema on board. The new aircraft is the 13th so far acquired by Air Peace in less than three years of its commercial flight operations.

Excited Air Peace team, comprising the Vice Chairman, Mrs. Alice Onyema, Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide, Director of Finance Administration, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, Technical Consultant, Mr. Ben Adeyileka, Quality and Safety Manager, Mr. Patrick Achurefe, Cabin Services Manager/Head of Commercial, Florence Opia and Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah received the aircraft in Lagos.

The team prayed for the

continued success of the airline, which lifted a third of all passengers in the country in the first quarter of this year.

The airline took delivery of its 12th aircraft, also a B737, in February this year and it is finalising arrangements for bringing in other aircraft, including B737, B777 and Embraer 145 jets, it recently acquired to increase its fleet size to 22. While the B777 aircraft would be deployed to service the airline’s international routes, including South Africa, London, Guangzhou-China, Dubai, Mumbai and Atlanta, the B737s would strengthen the carrier’s expansion to more destinations in the West Coast of Africa, including Lome, Abidjan, Douala, Dakar and Niamey. Air Peace currently operates daily flights from its Lagos hub into and out of Accra-Ghana.

Speaking on the arrival of the new aircraft, Onyema assured that Air Peace was “committed to investing in equipment and services that make travelling more comfortable, convenient and seamless for the flying public.

“The arrival of our newest aircraft underscores the depth

of our resolve to make a huge difference in the Nigerian aviation industry. We are matching our huge expansion project with the right equipment and people to ensure the delivery of the best flight services to our valued guests.

“In a couple of weeks, more B737, B777 and Embraer 145 jets will be joining to increase our growing fleet to 22. We are ready and determined to cover more Nigerian cities with our Embraer jets. We will also deploy more B737 aircraft to strengthen our regional operations, which we started with our first flight into Accra-Ghana on February 16. We will soon launch more routes in the West Coast of Africa, including Lome, Abidjan, Douala, Dakar and Niamey. We are doing everything to give our esteemed guests the best long-haul flight experience with our B777 aircraft. With God on our side and with the support of our valued guests, we are sure of delivering a whole new experience on the London, Atlanta, Dubai, Mumbai, Guangzhou-China and South Africa routes soon,” he added.

The Menace of Fuel Tankers

T

he prevalence of tankers conveying aviation fuel, known as Jet A1at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has become a threat to safety and a hindrance to vehicular traffic around the airport.

In 2013, a study carried out by FAAN indicated that if there was explosion around the airport caused by highly inflammable vehicles, known as tankers, it would consume thousands of lives with unquantifiable collateral damage to property both at the airport and adjoining areas as the airport facility is located very close to highly populated communities.

It was this report that called for the urgent need to relocate the tankers to an area that seemed to insulate them from busy vehicular and human movement. But today, they are not only back at the airport road but they have taken about 40 per cent space along the road which empties into the international terminal.

THISDAY also learnt that some of the vehicles that now park along the road are not only the ones laden with aviation fuel, known as Jet A1, but others conveying premium motor spirit; so invariably the airport road has become a parking space for these tankers!

Less than 10 meters to where these tankers park is located Sahara oil tank farm, which has capacity for over four million litres of aviation fuel. Also less than 10 meters to the area where the tankers park are two filling stations that sell fuel products with underground tanks.

A senior FAAN official told THISDAY that the tankers most often drive against traffic around the busy NAHCO bus stop at the airport thereby causing gridlock and chaos. While driving towards the airport, motorists get confused when they see tankers driving from the opposite side and approaching them fiercely from the same road in a dual carriageway.

“What is really saddening is that many of the tankers do not have any business with aviation fuel.

This is the reason we are saying that government should revive the pipeline that conveys fuel from the Ejigbo depot to the airport in order to avert any calamity that may be caused by these tankers one day. With the rate these tankers are exploding ours may be a tragedy waiting to happen; unless something is done urgently,” the FAAN official said.

Last Monday afternoon, some of the tankers coming from the international airport terminal literally invaded the same road with vehicles going towards the terminal. This caused a gridlock as the tankers pushed in from the opposite direction along with protocol vehicles and buses. Despite the presence of the police and traffic warden officials, that junction has become notorious for avoidable traffic jam. Some airport users have said the tankers constitute danger in that part of the airport because in the night when there is poor lighting, there had been occasions when vehicles heading to the international airport terminal rammed on these stationary vehicles, causing maximum damage and even death.

In many countries of the world tankers conveying aviation fuel are rarely seen at the airport; rather,

bowsers that source fuel from hydrants are seen at the airside of the airport fueling aircraft. Hydrants are connected to fuel tank farms by pipelines so the ubiquitous tankers that criss-cross airport roads in Lagos do not exist in major countries outside Nigeria.

Recently,theChairmanofAirlineOperatorsofNigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, noted that about 20 years ago, fuel tankers were a rarity at the Lagos airport because the fuel hydrant was functional and the pipeline that connected the hydrants to the Ejigbo depot was still functional and there was so much sanity at the airport then.

“Things were better then and I don’t understand why the system has continued to deteriorate. This pipeline could be given out on public private partnership arrangement so that it could be repaired and made functional. This will put an end to the menace of fuel tankers at the airport. Flights are delayed because these vehicles coming from Apapa face traffic gridlock. This problem will come to an end if the pipeline is restored,” Meggison said.

Also, a pilot with one of the major domestic airlines said that the whole process of conveying aviation fuel with tankers is totally flawed from the delays due to gridlock, to betting accidents and fire and to the quality of product after it has been stored in the tanker. The pilot disclosed that the quality of the product is sometimes tainted by the rustic body of the tanker. “That is why when the fuel is brought we give it some time and allow the debris to settle before we put it in our aircraft,” he said.

On April 9, last year a tanker caught fire at the NAHCO area of the airport very close to the Joint User Hydrant Installation (JUHI) tank farm. Before then there was a time another tanker caught fire near the toll gate along the road linking the domestic terminal to the international terminal.

THISDAY spoke to some officials of FAAN, who exasperatedly noted that the agency has made many efforts to rein the excesses of the tanker operators who have a knack for disobeying directives.

But they expressed the hope that very soon, construction will start on the airport road by the Lagos state government and the tankers would inevitably vacate the road. The road construction has been approved but time is not yet set for the construction.

An insider, however, noted that that was not going to be the solution to the tankers menace because they must find a place to park their trucks at the airport; unless a safer alternative is sought.

THISDAY learnt from FAAN official that the tankers had to leave the designated park meant for them because the place was water logged and could stuck their vehicles because of the rains. That was why they have to move and park them along the road.

“The problem with the place is that it is not habitable during rainy reason. The truth is that if FAAN repairs the place and use concrete to cover the ground there, the tankers will not agree to pay toll; but it is not the responsibility of FAAN to prepare a parking place for the tankers; it is the responsibility of the oil companies and their association. FAAN has already allocated land to them, so the oil companies should do the concrete base,” the FAAN official said.

The solution to this problem, experts suggest, is to stop conveying fuel by road by piping fuel to the hydrants at the airport.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Targeting Non-aeronautical Revenue at Airports For the Federal Airports Authority to broaden its revenue base aimed at revamping airport infrastructure, industry experts posit that the agency must fully exploit nonaeronautical revenue sources, writes Chinedu Eze Many industry observers are of the view that the high charges imposed on airlines by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is because it has not introduced comprehensive non-aeronautical revenue sources, which could increase its earnings in that area to about 35 percent.

It is believed that when an airport management increases its non-aeronautical revenues it tempts to reduce its charges on airlines, which would in turn reduce the cost of tickets. With reduction in the cost of tickets, it is expected that more people would prefer to travel by air and as more people come to the airport they patronise businesses and other service providers and generate more revenue for the airport management.

Conversely, when too many charges are levelled on airlines they pass the charges to their customers through the cost of tickets thereby reducing the number of people that travel by air, as many who could afford cheaper tickets may not be able to buy exorbitant tickets.

Multibillion Dollar Sub-sector According to Airport Council International (ACI), global airport revenue from non-aeronautical sources has risen to 38.8 percent to $60.4 billion. ACI said non-aeronautical revenues continue to be a vital component of an airport’s bottom line.

“This source of revenue tends to generate higher net profit margins, whilst providing airports with more diversification of income streams which then serve as additional cushion during economic downturns where passenger numbers may drop or passenger spend may decrease in one area or other,” ACI noted.

Non-aeronautical revenues are such revenues that accrue from non-airline services such as parking and landing charges, fuel surcharge, baggage taxes and others that relate to passengers but include revenues generated from businesses around the airport, advertising, meeters and greeters and others.

Increasing Aeronautical and Nonaeronautical Revenue A source told THISDAY that with a boost in non-aeronautical, if all loopholes are closed and revenue systems automated, FAAN could increase its annual revenues from the present N45 billion to about N70 billion.

With the huge revenue generation, the agency, according to sources, could effectively and efficiently carry out major developmental projects without seeking funds from the federal government.

It should also be able to offset its fiscal liabilities, enhance welfare package for its workers as well as improve the facilities at all the airports under its management.

With a boost in non-aeronautical and tight fiscal regulation, FAAN may be able to fund the provision of safety critical facilities and equipment without resort to government.

Measures FAAN could adopt to improve revenue include the automation of every process that generates revenues for the agency in all the airports under its management and a comprehensive development and optimising of non-aeronautical revenues sources.

“First, FAAN has to capture the data of revenue potential which will determine the amount of revenues to expect; it will have to ensure that there is transparency, which means that every amount of money generated is captured; then it will have to streamline all its activities so that at a glance everyone will have the picture of what is generated”, an inside source told THISDAY. Modern Airport Terminals Investigations have showed that in Europe, Americas and in the Gulf regions, nonaeronautical revenue has risen to 70 per cent of the total revenues generated by airports but in Africa, besides South Africa, non-aeronautical revenues are still below 50 per cent of the total revenues generated by airport services and in Nigeria it is below 30 per cent.

The former CEO of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), which built and is managing the Lagos airport domestic terminal (MMA2), Christophe Penninck explained to THISDAY in an interview that modern airports are seen as economic development centres so it is built and created to attract businesses in addition to providing the critical service of passenger facilitation and air travel.

“The purpose of an airport all over the world is changing. It is not only to take one person from point A to point B but it is economic development centre. Look at Johannesburg, it has wonderful airport. Do you know many shops it has? I was there when it moved from being a small terminal to what it is now. I was there when they were transforming it. It was difficult to operate but now they have tripled the shops inside it.

“It is a whole new experience; people enjoy travelling through Johannesburg airport because you have things to do. You don’t necessarily waste your time sitting down, you can spend your time either shopping, enjoying a massage, ice cream. So the non-aeronautical in the new airport is almost more important than the aeronautical revenue. The aeronautical revenue should be for investment in security, in safety and the maintenance of all the equipment to make sure that an aircraft can land in any weather condition,” Pinninck said.

Infrastructure On the infrastructural limitations the Murtala Muhammed International Airport has, Penninck said there should be a way to transfer passengers from domestic to international terminal and vice versa.

“We should device the means to have a link between the terminals here (domestic) and international. Whatever means you may choose, whether monorail, rail or otherwise but we should have a shuttle between both terminals to create the hub system in Nigeria.

What we have now is that first of all you go through the hassles at the international terminal, you are endlessly in traffic and by the time you end here you might have even missed your flight.

“So we must change that. It is a big project but it is something that has to be done at government level. It is an investment the same way that Lagos State has invested or is investing now in this mono rail, the same thing should be done here at international airport. Make it a seamless connection between international airport and domestic,” Penninck said.

He also remarked that to improve safety government should ensure there are efficient landing equipment at all the airports, including airfield lighting which will enable airlines to fly to any airport at any time.

“The Murtala Muhammed International Airport must be well equipped enough to handle domestic and international flights on both runways and in all weather conditions.

And the same thing should be done in Abuja.

Abuja really should have second runway and then Port Harcourt should also have a descent terminal and better landing equipment. What the previous minister has done is good, that is starting the modernising of equipment at all the airports. It is a good step but on this particular airport, it is better connection between domestic and international and better landing equipment,” the former BASL CEO said.

Customer Satisfaction ACI said that for airport to develop nonaeronautical revenue sources it must meet customer satisfaction and it must be friendly and secure at the same time.

“Faced with a shifting paradigm in the business model, airports are distributing their focus from a strictly aeronautical standpoint to fulfilling an increasing demand in non-aeronautical services which their infrastructure and positioning well allows them to do,” ACI said. ACI also said that there has been increasing trend in airports across the world turning to non-aeronautical commercial sources of income to sustain airport profitability. It noted that global non-aeronautical revenues reached $58bn; which is 40 percent of global airport revenues.

“The airport revenue model is becoming increasingly diversified, as airports continue to look beyond being an infrastructure provider to more profitable commercial enterprises.

The diversification and increasing reliance on commercial income sources also provides a cushion during adverse economic times, such as financial crises and epidemics such as the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks. Globally, the income generated from commercial revenues shows that retail, car parking and property lead the way,” the Council said.

Pressure on Airlines Finances According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), one of the reasons why air transport has not developed in Africa to contribute significantly to the GDP of various countries in the continent is because governments see aviation as elitist and charge airlines huge taxes that make it impossible for them to operate profitably. In the same way, they charge huge taxes on aviation fuel, known as Jet A1.

During the IATA Aviation Day held in Abuja on May 23, 2016, the international organisation, urged African governments to tackle the excessive surcharges on fuel, which could make fuel purchases on the continent up to 20 percent more expensive than the global average.

“Airlines operating to Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana and Kenya are particularly affected by above market fuel costs. These surcharges increase airlines’ cost burden when they are already operating in a challenging environment. They also hinder growth in an industry that delivers extensive socio-economic benefits,” IATA said.

Building Attractive Airports Airport management experts reason that airports could be built to be attractive to both people who are travelling and others who come to enjoy the services available at the terminals.

For this to happen, airports must be built to attract businesses with different services, which would in turn attract people. For example, at the Lagos airport, the new domestic airport terminal, known as MMA2 has attracted the supermarket, Spar, a gym, banks, eateries and other businesses, which attract people, including those who don’t intend to travel.

A FAAN staff once told THISDAY that the agency could invite investors to take up spaces at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano to establish businesses, from shopping malls, restaurants to other types of businesses, including aircraft maintenance centre, clubs, cold storage facility, product packaging for export of goods, plazas, business centres, gold course, health clinic, TV and movie filming facility etc.

Reducing Charges on Airlines To ensure robust airline operation, it is expected that FAAN should review downwards its charges on airlines to ensure that they do not go under and to ensure that they attract more people to the airports.

President of Aviation Round Table (ART) Gbenga Olowo said air transport should be seen by government as vehicle for development and therefore should support it by reducing charges paid by airlines, at least, at this time.

“Should government understand and appreciate the importance of airlines to national economic stimuli and growth; then the heavy burden of loading the many user charges on tariff should stop immediately. Airlines are not revenue collectors.

Travel agents, banks or appointed agencies should begin to collect Passenger Service Charge (TSC), Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), VAT, Fuel Charges, etc., deduct commission and remit balance through the International Air Transport Association (IATA) clearing house to the agencies.

“The airlines will safe 15 percent user charges presently eroding the tariff yield. Collection on tickets as it is done in other economies has proven unworkable in Nigeria. Airports should also be compelled to source non-aeronautical revenue just like most modern airports in the world,” Olowo said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

ThePlaceofDevelopingCountriesinGlobal Maritime Business Eromosele Abiodun examines the United Nations’ Conference on Trade and Development Review of Maritime Transport, submitting that the long-term growth prospects for seaborne trade and maritime businesses are positive Before now, the global maritime business was dominated by Western countries. That appears to be changing as it has emerged that developing countries are increasing their involvement in many parts of global maritime business. Aside expert’s position on the development, the review of maritime transport 2016, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this month, laid credence to this.

The review however, outlined a cautiously upbeat view of global shipping over the years ahead. This is correct because just before the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Following his rhetorics during his campaign, the risks for world trade appear to have suddenly multiplied or, at least, uncertainty has been abruptly amplified by this election outcome.

Trump had criticised globalisation and free trade, expressed hostility towards international trade pacts and shown enthusiasm for a protectionist stance. What is not clear yet is how much was campaign rhetoric and how much was firm intention. If government policy evolves on this basis, a potentially highly unstable period for world trade could result, where detrimental influences are a bigger feature. However, that is speculation and may remain so until the Trump administration outlines its plans. However, the report suggests that long-term growth prospects for seaborne trade and maritime businesses are positive, although there are many uncertainties and downside risks. Analysis of the report points to ample opportunities for developing countries to generate income and employment and help promote foreign trade.

Ship Supply Questions Meanwhile, an analysis of the entire world fleet of commercial vessels by country of ownership revealed that three countries remained at the top. Greece was still by far the largest owning country with 293 million deadweight tonnes, 16.4 per cent of the 1792 million dead weight tonnes world total. Japan was the second largest, with 229 million dead weight tonnes (12.8 per cent) and China was in number three position with 159m dwt (8.9 per cent). Accompanied by Germany (119 million dwt) and Singapore (95m dwt), the top five owning countries comprised exactly half of the world total.

The UNCTAD report discussed the structure, ownership and registration of the world fleet of ships. It pointed out that the fleet’s deadweight capacity (all ship types) grew by 3.5 per cent in 2015. While this increase was the lowest annual percentage for over a decade, it was still far higher than the 2.1 percent growth in demand, resulting in continued global overcapacity.

The authors focussed on various positive indicators for shipping markets. However, there was discussion about the downside of the huge container ships surplus caused by overinvestment, which the review suggested was not in the long-term interest of either liner operators or shippers. In the short term shippers may benefit from lower container freight rates but, in the long term there is a danger of more markets with oligopolistic market structures, reflecting a continued process of concentration as service operators become fewer.

Ship Demand Conundrum Experts believe UNCTAD’s view of the seaborne trade outlook seems realistic at present and, to some extent, provides a counterpoint to alternative more pessimistic projections emerging during the past twelve months or so. But the report conceded that negative developments in the macroeconomic framework are intensifying, and dampening maritime cargo volumes.

Nevertheless, the experts argued that growth in global seaborne trade is still intact. “While China’s slowdown is bad news for shipping, a number of developing countries are becoming more involved and could drive further trade

enlargement, “said the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero. Uncertainties and downside risks listed in the report included: weak global demand and investment, political uncertainties such as the ongoing migration crisis, doubts about the future pace and direction of European integration and a further loss of momentum in developing countries. Moreover, another set of factors were identified – technology, innovation, the data revolution and e-commerce – which can transform and disrupt the shipping industry, generating both challenges and opportunities. How will these trends evolve? The report admitted the outcome was unknown.

Among causes for anxiety about the future evolution of world seaborne trade was prominent, along with the shared and circular economies.

However, the report did not comment specifically on the likely timing of most of the impact from these trends. What seems clear though is that these are longer-term influences evolving over a decade or two perhaps and, as a result, immediate effects may be limited. Reduced global use of fossil fuels is another, more tangible, worry for the shipping industry because it is already highly visible.

The fourth industrial revolution is a concept which envisages that innovation, technology and big data could assist in increasing efficiency and productivity in the global economy. This progress, experts believe, could shift established modes of production and consumption, with negative implications for seaborne trade.

Experts also believe that the performance of supply-chains could be enhanced, accompanied by a reduction in their typical length as features such as three-dimensional (3D, or additive) printing and robotics are increasingly incorporated.

Shorter supply-chains, they added, implied shorter average sea voyage distances, with adverse effects on the demand for shipping services.

“Similarly, the impact of the shared and circular economies points to savings and efficiency gains which could lower demand for maritime transport. Shared economy characteristics (renting and swapping, for example) may modify demand and also supply chains.

This would be achieved through new technology and platforms that facilitate asset management, service delivery and information access.

A circular economy promotes effective use of resources, greater resource conservation, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels and raw materials, to achieve sustainable production and consumption patterns. Steps have been taken already in numerous countries to cut fossil fuel consumption. Further advances in renewable energy production and energy storage could have a large adverse impact on oil, coal and liquefied gas movements and associated demand for shipping capacity, “Amiwero submitted.

Developing Countries’ Maritime Strengths Many developing countries are involved in five key aspects of the global shipping scene – ship owning, ship registration, seafarer supply, shipbuilding and ship recycling. As the UNCTAD report emphasised, in some activities developing countries are top participants, with increasing shares of the world market. The report suggested that a good policy choice for policymakers in these countries is to identify and provide support for selected maritime businesses in sectors where a comparative advantage is evident.

According to the report, for developing countries as a group (including transition economies) their ownership share of the global fleet total, as at the beginning of 2016, was just over two-fifths (40.5 per cent) and has been rising.

Most of this capacity is owned in Asia, and just over half of that Asian sub-group is comprised of three countries/territories, China, Singapore and Hong Kong (China), jointly owning 19.1 percent of the world fleet’s deadweight tonnage.

A breakdown of the fleet owned in Asian developing countries, by ship type, shows that almost half consists of bulk carriers, one quarter is comprised of tankers, and one eighth is container ships. For comparison, in other developing country regions with much smaller tonnages, the breakdown is very different.

Fleets in developing countries in Africa and the Americas have high shares of offshore supply vessel ownership, for example.

As is well known, ship registration in the global fleet is highly concentrated in developing countries. The report showed that, as calculated at the beginning of 2016, this group registers just over three-quarters (76 percent) of the world fleet’s deadweight tonnage. The top 5 flag states are all in this category, jointly registering 57 per cent of the world total. Panama is the largest, with 19 per cent, followed by Liberia (11 per cent), Marshall Islands (11 per cent), Hong Kong, China (9 percent) and Singapore (7 percent).

Providing seafarers for the international shipping market is another large and strongly evolving activity for developing countries.

“Figures for 2015 were drawn from a survey conducted jointly by BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping, published several months ago. These show China contributing the largest number at 244,000 (15 percent of the world total). In second place was Philippines with 216,000 (13 percent), followed by Indonesia’s 144,000 (9 percent). Russia, India and Ukraine also provided substantial numbers. Global demand for seafarers apparently increased by a cumulative 45 percent during the decade ending last year, facilitating the expanding involvement of developing countries, “UNCTAD said.

A positive perspective The report highlighted the lacklustre growth of global seaborne trade, currently increasing at a pace notably slower than the historical

average, and the slowest since the debilitating world economic recession seven years ago. It also revealed uncertain prospects in the immediate future and further ahead, emphasising prominent downside risks.

Surplus capacity, it revealed, is compounding the problem for the shipping industry, with fleet expansion still exceeding demand enlargement across the shipping market as a whole.

The report revealed that there are ample opportunities for developing countries to generate income and employment and help promote foreign trade. A breakdown of the report showed that shipments expanded by 2.1 per cent, a pace notably slower than the historical average.

The tanker trade segment recorded its best performance since 2008, while growth in the dry cargo sector, including bulk commodities and containerised trade in commodities, fell short of expectations. While a slowdown in China is bad news for shipping, other countries have the potential to drive further growth. South-South trade is gaining momentum, and planned initiatives such as the One Belt, One Road Initiative and the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, as well as the expanded Panama Canal and Suez Canal, all have the potential to affect seaborne trade, reshape world shipping networks and generate business opportunities. In parallel, trends such as the fourth industrial revolution, big data and electronic commerce are unfolding, and entail both challenges and opportunities for countries and maritime transport.

The report showed that the world fleet grew by 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to 1 January 2016 (in terms of dead-weight tons (dwt)). This, stakeholders said, is the lowest growth rate since 2003, yet still higher than the 2.1 per cent growth in demand, leading to a continued situation of global overcapacity. Different countries, it added, participate in different sectors of the shipping business, seizing opportunities to generate income and employment.

“As at January 2016, the top five ship owning economies (in terms of dwt) were Greece, Japan, China, Germany and Singapore, while the top five economies by flag of registration were Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China) and Singapore.

The largest shipbuilding countries are China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, accounting for 91.4 per cent of gross tonnage constructed in 2015. Most demolitions take place in Asia; four countries - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and China - accounted for 95 per cent of ship scrapping gross tonnage in 2015. The largest suppliers of seafarers are China, Indonesia and the Philippines, “it stated.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Adebajo:We’reMakingAgricultureAttractivetoYouths Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo is the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State. In this interview with Jonathan Eze, she speaks on steps taken by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to arouse the interest of youths in agriculture and improving on farmers’/herdsmen relationship, among other sundry matters. Excerpts: May we meet you please?

I am Adepeju Adebajo. I am privileged to have had over 25 years’ experience spanning various industries and finance. I am currently the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture. Previous roles include MD, Project Management Office & Geocycle at Lafarge Africa Plc. I previously headed strategic planning, brand management and product development at United Bank for Africa and was a qualified case leader at Boston Consulting Group and as well as a financial analyst at Citibank, both in the UK. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) from the Imperial College of Science & Technology, London; a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) from the University of London; and a Master of Business Administration, Harvard University, Boston. I am also an alumna of INSEAD. I supported the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning in development of the 2017 – 2020 National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan among other responsibilities.

Tell us about your ministry. Since you were appointed the Commissioner, what have you observed and what are the potentials of the Agric Ministry that you have been unlocking?

The Ministry of Agriculture was founded 40 years ago at Ogun State’s inception. The Ministry formulates policies that drive the agricultural sectors in the State. It supports the people of Ogun State in the agricultural sector through various programmes and activities such as agricultural land allocation, providing subsidised inputs such as fertilizer to smallholder farmers, provision of efficient agricultural extension services and sourcing for industrial off-takers. The Government’s job after all is to provide an enabling environment.

The key to taking agriculture to the next level lies in increasing productive alliances between different value chain actors. One way to do this is through backward integration, spearheaded by private sector actors and supported by government policy.

Backward integration refers to the process in which a company purchases or internally produces segments of its supply chain. In the case of fish feed producers this would mean taking part in the production of maize, sorghum and/or soybean to provide raw materials to work with.

An increasing number of larger companies are following this model of operations from dairy processors to ethanol producers. A related model of backward integration is the use of out grower networks by larger processors, in addition to their own production. The processor enters an arrangement with farmers who will supply their products to him. The processor can support his outgrowers through training, provision of inputs, etc. all with the aim of increasing yields and as a result providing more guaranteed and better raw materials for the processor.

How can your explorations and exploits in the Agric ministry impact on the economy of this state especially with the increasing calls for diversification from oil to agriculture?

There are 46 sectors that contribute to Nigeria’s economy. The largest contributing sector is Agriculture, responsible for almost a quarter of Nigeria’s GDP and the largest employer of labour in the country with 70% of Nigerians involved in the sector in one form or the other.

As the terrestrial gateway to the country’s largest commercial and population centre, Lagos, Ogun State understands she has an important role to play in agriculture.

The State has huge farming potential with 1.2 Million hectares of arable land, of which less than 30% is currently under cultivation, tropical climate and high average rainfall. Furthermore, the diverse agricultural landscape means a wide variety of crops can be grown. Major crops currently grown or cultivated in the State include cassava, rice, maize, fruits, vegetables, cotton and soybean, cocoa, oil palm and cashew. In addition, the state has one of the largest poultry populations in the country and houses the largest fish cluster

Adebajo

in Africa at Eriwe in Ijebu Ode. Despite these advantages, we have a large gap between supply and demand across many value chains, which presents a huge opportunity for producers and investors alike. This is why the state is focused on productive alliances with the private sector and Development Organisations, to see how we can urgently narrow this gap. Our mode of operation is collaborative, with our stakeholders, for example, ongoing discussions with cassava farmers and offtakers across the state. This is being replicated across all our crop, livestock and fisheries value chains.

Agriculture isn’t just limited to farming. It involves participants from the seed producers, to the fertilizer manufacturers, to service and logistics providers, to the major agro allied industries and formal/ informal food markets. Ogun State, thanks to her proximity to Lagos already is a major industrial hub, with 75% of FDI coming into Ogun state.

With the infrastructure, security and housing being put in place, the role of Ogun state as a major agri business destination will only increase.

With an abundance of land, an ideal climate and landscape, we expect growth in agriculture to lead to more industrialization, thus improving wealth creation, economic diversification, employment generation, import substitution and enhancing export potential.

A shift or upgrade from manual farming to mechanised using modern technologies will boost food production. How soon can we get there in this state?

Nigeria has the potential to be one of the top agricultural forces in Africa and the rest of the world. However, boosting food production is subject to several factors and not just limited to the transition from manual to mechanised farming. The key lies addressing the agricultural value chain as a whole. When it comes to productivity, promoting good agronomical practices, and using good quality inputs to improve yields is important.

Mechanisation also has a role to play in improving yields, reducing manual labour and attracting new cadres of farmers, particularly the youth. Land clearing and preparation is a major challenge to mechanized farming and the cost of land development is a huge outlay, potentially deterring many farmers. The State is poised to address this challenge and has invested in land clearing equipment. The State is also procuring labour saving implements, particularly for the cultivation of rice and cassava to improve productivity in the

sub-sectors. We are also improving our extension service delivery to enhance the dissemination of modern farming technologies to boost food production. The state is also promoting cluster farming in key crops of rice, cassava and fish, in 2017. We are in the process of promoting rice clusters in Eggua, Cassava in Owowo, and Fish across the 3 senatorial districts.

Before now, there used to be issue of flooding especially when the Ogun dam is released and farmers are often affected massively. What measures has the state taken to prevent and manage this?

We have focused on carrying out enlightenment programmes for the local farmers on weather forecasting, as released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Furthermore, we advise farmers in different sectors from fisheries to crops, who may be affected by the dam, on how and when best to evacuate the products, especially in areas prone to flooding. Fish farmers have been told to clear their drainage structures and harvest their stocks earlier, crop farmers have been advised to harvest what they can move to better areas. The State will liaise with Ogun-Osun River Basin development Authority to make regular announcements on when water from the Dam will be released.

Tell us about your Anchor Borrowers and Civil Servants Agricultural Scheme?

The Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme targets value chains and so fits our strategy on a value chain approach. The state is currently supporting a number of private sector players in cassava, poultry, fish etc to access Anchor Borrowers and the State will anchor Rice in 2017. The Civil Service Agricultural Scheme is a project approved by His Excellency that will ensure that civil and public servants participate in agricultural development in the State. This is directly in line with the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria that approves agriculture as one of the sectors civil servants can participate in while still in service. Therefore, civil and public servants will have access to land for farming. The State Government assists with access to inputs, funding etc to encourage this scheme. There is a high degree of interest in this program and it will help with financial independence.

What is the State Government doing to make agriculture attractive to youths?

The State recently hosted a Youth Summit,

exposing youth to different options for employment and empowerment. There was a high degree of interest in agriculture, across crops, livestock, fisheries and vegetables. These youth, over 3000 of them, will be accommodated in the various specific intervention projects for 2017, where they will be given practical on the job training alongside experienced farmers. In addition, a number of private sector companies have committed to taking some of this youth on. Our expectation is that these youth will learn new skills, improve employability and indeed be employed as entrepreneurs or employees.

The implementation starts with deployment of youths to corporate farms and directorates of the Ministry for practical training in specialized areas of Agriculture. The youths will be trained at our farm settlement in Owowo, some have been drafted into FADAMA 111 Youth Empowerment Programme. All other areas for training are our directorates of Fishery services and Livestock services, Cassava revolution, and corporates, to mention a few.

Worthy of mention also, is another training arrangement with the support of Michigan State University. The programme is supported

by MasterCard foundation and IITA for 700 youths in Ogun State. The Length of training will be determined by harvest cycle (poultry- 6-8 weeks, fishery- 6 months) The State also has a number of other Youth Empowerment projects eg The Owowo Model Farm Estate, where 40 youths are given a residential opportunity to train in poultry, Fishery and Arable crop businesses. The Kotopo Green house Technology project is another Youth Empowerment programme. The initiative was designed to train youth in greenhouse technology for guaranteed supplied of tomatoes among other high priced vegetables.

What is the state government doing to address gender inequality in Agriculture?

There is no better time to support women’s economic empowerment and strengthen a critical part of the Nation’s population through agriculture.

Women typically receive very little remuneration for their effort in agriculture, because land tends to be family-owned and they have limited access to financing and inputs. We have designed a program to empower 2,000 rural women with Ten (10) Five (5) week old free range chickens each. The chickens are a hardy breed, a cross between layers and broilers and can be reared with little maintenance. This will be done in the Three (3) senatorial districts of Ogun State. After Twelve (12) to Sixteen (16) weeks the women can sell the chicks, enabling them to replenish their stock and earn a living.

Even though the state had not witnessed any major attack from the herdsmen, what is the state doing to prevent such?

Ogun State has in the past experienced cases of clashes between Herdsmen/Pastoralists and indigenous farmers leading to loss of lives and property. To avoid future occurrences of these incidents the Ogun State Government instituted a committee on the Harmonization of the agreement governing the relationship between Fulani Pastoralist /Herdsmen and their Host Communities.

The committee was constituted on November 14, 2013. Members include representatives from the Executive Government, Local Government, Fulani Communities, Farmers Associations, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Other sub committees were then created to address the conflicts and initiate corrective action.

The Conflict Resolution Committee and Implementation Enforcement Committee was inaugurated on January 15, 2014. The members of the Committee include Security Personnel, Host Community Representatives, and representatives from the Fulani/Cattle Herdsmen communities.

In addition, the Ministry monitors the activities of herdsmen through reports from field officers and has regular dialogue with the leadership of the herdsmen in the State.

WEEKEND WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

LIVING | P31

COLLAGE | P36

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FILE

'MY VISION IS TO ELIMINATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING’

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

28/COVER

07.07.2017

'My Vision is to Eliminate Human Trafficking’ Ms. Julie Okah-Donli is the Director-General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. In this interview with Iyobosa Uwugiaren, she spoke on the challenges tackling the fast growing global business of human trafficking and how criminally-minded people are making huge profits from selling human organs Have you been able to arrest big names, big players and syndicates?

Over the years, NAPTIP has made many significant arrests and get some convictions; we are hoping to get more. So far, we have been able to get 325 convictions, and we are going to get much more as the months go by.

Tell us the challenges you are facing in tackling human trafficking in line with your mandate?

The basic challenges we are having relate to funding. As you know, this is a very complicated and technical business if you want me to put it that way. Funding is very important because most of our jobs entail advocacy. We need a lot of money to be able to create awareness, not just at the state level but also local government levels as well; so we need funding. Secondly, our major challenge has got to do with lack of information; information in the sense that most of these victims do not want to divulge any information. The citizens in general do not give information; so we work based on intelligence and information, and if we don't get information, then who are we going to prosecute? That's the question.

Is the human trafficking only about international?

Trafficking is both local and international. We have the source, the transit and destination states.

If you take somebody from Lagos and take her to Abuja or take her to Edo State, you are trafficking.

I think the proportion of trafficking locally, can almost compare internationally. We partner with other organisations; we share information; we do joint task force; we investigate together, and there are so many cases where we are prosecuting criminals jointly.

Share with us the destinations of these human traffickers, do they have foreign collaborators?

Well, the notorious countries are basically Italy, Spain, France, and now Saudi Arabia has become more notorious. Saudi Arabia has now joined the gang, Dubai and the Middle East have become a problem to us; even China. It's getting to all the countries: the Middle East, European countries and Africa. Back in the days, you could pinpoint one or two countries; now it's like almost everyone is trying to get into this trafficking thing.

Why is trafficking very attractive?

The truth is that if there is no demand and profit, there will be no supply. Obviously, we have lots of demands from Europe; we have a lot of profit from this illicit trade. Unfortunately, in some of the European countries, prostitution is legal, and it's so difficult to curb it just like that.

That's why we are working with international partners and governments to make sure that this aspect of trafficking is really looked into and tackled seriously.

Apart from your agency’s efforts, are you collaborating with other groups in order to make huge impact in the fight against human trafficking?

Absolutely, we are collaborating with most of the countries, where we have trafficking; that is, the destination countries; we are partnering with their governments; we are partnering with their law enforcement agencies. We have something like a joint task force, we are partnering with the International Organisation on Migration; we are partnering with United Nations on Drugs and Crimes; we are partnering with International Labour Organisation (ILO); UNICEF, ECOWAS, so many international organisations and international non-governmental organisations as well.

What are the impacts of these collaborations in the last few years?

We share information and intelligence gathering; they help us to prosecute. They arrest offenders for us; they send back victims of the trafficking; they send back traffickers to Nigeria, IOM have been helping a lot in that regards. They repatriate back victims and illegal immigrants as well, because it's not just a trafficking thing now, there's so much migration going on.

Your mandate includes tackling human trafficking, prostitution and force labour. Which is the most challenging?

All of them are very challenging to us. When we talk about force labour, most of the time we are looking at children, who are going into labour, working for hours without being paid adequately, who are being abused sexually, physically, and they are not being paid; someone else is collecting their money for them. Now, we talk about sexual exploitation, which relates to more mature girls and even the men who are sexually abused, most of them are older. All of them have their problems; I will not choose one over the other.

They are all horrible crimes against humanity; we treat all of them with equal seriousness.

Don’t you think it would have been better

What is the new trend now in trafficking?

The new trend in trafficking has gone beyond sexual exploitation; now it has gone to organs harvesting. What do I mean by organs harvesting, they sell your organs. Before it’s just prostitution, sexual exploitation and force labour, you may have the opportunity to come back home peacefully.

Okah-Donli

to tackle the problem here before they move abroad. Why are you finding it difficult to tackle the problem here in Nigeria?

We are not finding it difficult to tackle the problem here in Nigeria. The problem here in Nigeria, is that a lot of people see something and they don't say something. Like I said earlier, if you don't talk about it, if you don't give us information, it's going to be difficult for us. Of course, we have our surveillance staff members that go out gathering information; we have our private investigators; we have informants who also give us information; of course, it's not enough because this is a very huge crime. So if people begin to talk to us and give us information, it will be easier for us. Besides, we do a lot of awareness campaigns now; we go everywhere and we talk about it and people are aware now.

That way we are tackling the issue.

There are some states that are notorious in trafficking. What is NAPTIP doing to reduce the activities of trafficking in those states?

Apart from NAPTIP, there are so many international organisations and NGOs who are very interested. For example, Edo State has remained endemic of all the states even though trafficking has been moving from state to state. Now, we cannot pinpoint Edo State, all the states are endemic now; it's just that Edo State was one of the earliest endemic states. A lot of concentration is given to the state; we are working with Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is trying to make his indigenes know that they don't need to travel abroad. He has promised to train them, give them technical skills and even send them to school for those who want to go to school. In that regard, we are doing a lot of enlightenment campaign, we also have Benin City Zonal Command there; so those in Benin City are actually doing a lot in terms of sensitising children, parents, schools, Churches, Mosques and all that. We are on top of our game.

Aside Edo, which other states are very pronounced in the human trafficking?

So many states: Kwara, Plateau, Lagos, and in fact, it is in every state. Some of the states are source states, where they go and source victims.

Some states are transit; people pass through those states. Enbonyi State is also endemic, Imo State, Benue State is also endemic as well. It's spreading everywhere.

From your investigation, what do these human traffickers do with human organs?

They sell them; there are so many people wanting to go for transplant, kidney transplant; liver transplant and heart transplant. By the time they take various parts from them, they get as much as $400,000.

The recent global report about human trafficking rated Nigeria poorly. What was responsible?

I am so heart broken right now; Nigeria was able to get to first tier, before now. Unfortunately, we dropped to tier two; now, they have downgraded us further to tier-two watch list. It is really so sad; because they gave us a lot of reasons why we were downgraded. It's not just a NAPTIP thing, it's a Nigerian thing and so many factors were responsible for it. They talked about child soldiers being used in the North-east; they talked about inadequate funding for NAPTIP, because they were not satisfied with the meagre resources NAPTIP was given to carry out its mandate.

They also talked about labour inspectorate not doing enough, child labour and Almajiri.

What is your vision, given that you are new in the agency?

My vision is to eradicate human trafficking; to take Nigeria back to tier-one, where we rightly belong; to put Nigeria back to that international map where our integrity will be restored.

Given the roadmap to achieve all these. How far can you go?

We have started already; most important thing for us now is the awareness campaign, which we have started. There is massive awareness campaign, which we are launching on July 27 this year. Going forward, we are going into all the nooks and crannies in Nigeria, all the local governments. We are engaging every stakeholder you can think of. We are engaging the Church; we are engaging the Mosques; we are engaging the local government chairmen, the governors, and everybody. Then, we are going to protect our victims, in the sense that when traffickers are caught, we would prosecute them. We want to expand our partnership base. We want to look inward and also engage local partners.

Apart prosecuting these traffickers, you also have the mandate to rehabilitate victims; how far have you gone in this regard?

So far, we have done very well. When we have victims of trafficking, we keep them in our shelters. We take them in, we have shelters in 10 states, and we keep the victims with us in our shelters. As soon as we get those victims in our shelters, the first thing we do is to counsel them; we teach them skills so that when they are leaving, they don't go back empty handed.

We teach them technical skills. Some of them

go back to school; some have even graduated from different universities. When they are leaving the shelter, we give them starter pack to go and start some kind of businesses to sustain their livelihoods.

What kind of experience do the victims share with you?

The experiences are horrible, there are very gory details. When they tell you things, you just shudder and wonder how evil people can be. You have cases of even incest, where fathers rape the children continuously; uncles, brothers and others rape their relations. There are cases where people who work for their madams are abused, they are battered, and they are beaten, sexually exploited. There are so many gory tales.

Even boys are abused; but because of the stigma, they don't talk about it. They are basically sexual exploitation and force labour you don't even get a dim for the work you do. Someone else is collecting your money and you're not treated well, you're beaten. Some of them have bruises from the top of their heads to their feet, and so many details like that; you see so many cases like that, you get very sad.

On a monthly basis, what number of cases do you receive?

In Abuja alone, we get nothing less than 20 reported cases daily. We are not talking about all the other states, all the other zonal commands where we have offices. I'm sure they also get the same reports. These things happen on a daily basis, not weekly, not monthly.

You talked about financial challenge; have you made a case for increase in budgetary allocation that will enable you do your job?

Yes, we recently paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Budget and National Planning, and we made a strong case and we also made a strong case before the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and we still want to make a case before the National Assembly. We will continue to make a case until our budgetary allocation is reviewed upwards.

Does the federal government care about the worrisome human trafficking menace?

The federal government is worried and it is doing what it can within its ability. We are trying to tell them, they can do more and I'm sure they will do more when we justify why they should do more. So far, we have had the support of the federal government because our supervisory ministry is the Ministry of Justice and we have a very good working relationship with the Honourable Minister and Attorney General of the Federation. I'm sure that he will lend his voice and help us to make a case to the federal government to increase our budgetary allocations so that we can work better.

You said you are very concerned with the recent rating of Nigeria. Tell us what you want to do in order to change the situation?

We are having strategic meetings to engage those involved in downgrading Nigeria; we are going to have meetings with the Chief of Army Staff, Minister of Defence, we are going to meet with the Police, Customs, Nigerian Immigration Service; we have meetings with Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Labour and Employment.

So, we need to come together to fight this fight because all of us need to complement one another.

Everyone look at NAPTIP, but there are so many factors and so many reasons that were adduced for Nigeria being downgraded. So once we can come together and meet and device strategies, we can do things better and complement one another; share information, work together; form joint task forces, we will be able to take us back to tier one.

Do you have the necessary human capital in your agency to achieve that?

Yes; I have fantastic staff members; they are very hardworking; dedicated officers and very experienced officers. Trust me, we will get there.

29/BOOK REVIEW

07.07.2017 TITLE

:

Inflation and the Structure of Aggregate Output: Theoretical, Empirical and Policy Issues Author: Abraham E. Nwankwo Publisher: Adonis and Abbey Publishers Ltd, London, U.K Pages: 264 Reviewer: Mike I. Obadan, Professor of Economics, University of Benin and Chairman, Foundation for Education and Development, Benin City Review presentation: At the public presentation/launching of the book (by Dr. Abraham Nwankwo) in Abuja on Thursday, 29th June, 2017.

Dr. Abraham Nwankwo’s latest book, Inflation and the Structure of Aggregate Output: Theoretical, Empirical and Policy Issues, is a notable addition to the literature on the relationship between inflation and output for two reasons. First, is the ‘structure of the economy’ approach used in analysing the relationship between inflation and output in Nigeria and the very lucid style of writing which would make the book very appealing, even to the general reader. Secondly, the issue of inflation and output that is primarily addressed in the book is of particular significance now in Nigeria whose economy is beleaguered by the non-classical type of recession, in the sense that it is characterised by stagflation – a situation in which declining output and rising unemployment coexist with high rate of inflation. The analysis in the book points to significant value added.

The sub-title of the book suggests the nature of the content and type of analysis. In this direction, the book provides deep insights from theoretical review of inflation dynamics in relation to output, empirical review, and, importantly, empirical analysis of the relationship between inflation, on the one hand, and aggregate output and its components, on the other, in Nigeria as a case study. The book also provides illuminating policy insights from the review of comparative experiences of central banking and monetary policy of some industrialised countries – United Kingdom, United States, Japan, the European Union countries, and two developing countries – China and India.

The book is divided into 15 chapters under two broad themes or parts. Part One contains the empirical investigation of the relationship between inflation and output in Nigeria. This part has six chapters with the first two providing background information and context for the empirical study. Leaning on the perspective that a lot of inflationary impulses are embedded in the structure of the Nigerian economy, the author examines the following characteristics of the Nigerian economy that are related to inflation: · Weak performance of the agricultural sector/ lagging agricultural sector; · High population growth rates; · ncreasing income in non-agricultural sector; · High rate of monetary expansion; · Government funding of fiscal deficits through the Central Bank of Nigeria; · Bludgeoned public expenditure, especially defence and general administration; and · Foreign trade through increased oil exports and increased imports, i.e, imported inflation.

The heart of the book is chapters 3 – 6 which focused on theoretical and empirical analysis of output-inflation relationship in Nigeria. It is here that the author makes an original contribution to knowledge and practice as the findings reflect original research of high policy relevance. The approach reflects a new thinking on the relationship between aggregate output and inflation. It is a ‘structure-of-the-economy approach’ which entails examining how different components of output (GDP) relate to the general price level. This contrasts with the erstwhile approach in empirical studies which focused on the relationship between aggregate output and inflation. This approach, as the author correctly points out, tended to obscure a lot of the underlying influences which are necessary for the understanding of the structure and dynamics of inflation. The structure-of theeconomy approach adopted recognised the fact that different sectors, for example, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, wholesale and retail trade, may exert differential impact – positive or negative – on inflation. Thus, the empirical study undertaken in the book sought to find out how different sectors of the economy impact inflation and how the interaction between the

Nwankwo

agricultural and non-agricultural sectors affect the general price level.

The empirical findings reported are very revealing and tend to confirm the basic hypothesis that the components of aggregate output have differential impacts on inflation – with some components accentuating inflation rather than dampening it. Thus: · The sectors that tend to accentuate inflation include: non-agricultural output, petroleum exports, non-agricultural – agricultural output ratio. Besides, money supply and imported inflation are important factors contributing to inflation in the country. ·

Some sectors, on the other hand, dampen or reduce inflation, i.e, they have an inverse relationship with inflation. They include aggregate output, agricultural output, manufacturing output, construction output, and wholesale-and-retail trade. Increases in these reduce the price level.

Thus, the message from the empirical study

is that as the components of aggregate output affect the price level differently – some positively, others inversely – it may not be appropriate to use aggregate output in empirical studies of output-inflation relationship. Rather, both aggregate and components can be used. Importantly, in the design and execution of anti-inflation policy, all of monetary, fiscal and structural characteristics of the economy should be taken into account.

Chapter 7 which discusses Monetary Policy Essentials and Frameworks is very insightful, especially for students of monetary economics, and people who do not have a strong background in economics. It provides lucid explanation of monetary policy frameworks that we often hear or read about, for example, monetary targeting, inflation targeting, and exchange rate targeting.

Also of note is the discussion of the phenomenon of “impossible trinity” relating to the impossibility of an economy having a policy of free movement of international capital (capital mobility), fixed exchange rate, and independent monetary policy at the same time. For any two of the three policies to be operational or effective, the third must be

sacrificed.

The remaining core chapters, 8 – 14, contain surveys of the central banking and monetary policy experiences of four industrialised countries and three developing countries (including Nigeria) mentioned earlier. These case studies provide rich insights into the experiences of these countries, especially in relation to their institutional frameworks for monetary policy, policy objectives, monetary policy frameworks and instruments, among others. One message that comes out of the surveys is that the pre-eminent mandate of the central banks / primary objective of monetary policy is price stability while not losing sight of the objectives of sustained economic growth and higher employment. In other words, price stability (low inflation) is seen as a most important condition for economic growth. In all the developed countries covered, price stability is defined as a rate of inflation maintained below but close to 2.0 per cent over the medium term.

In India, the inflation target is 4.0 per cent with symmetric upper and lower limits of below and above 2.0 per cent. The desire for price stability derives from the fact that a higher rate of inflation would reduce the public’s ability to make accurate longer-term economic and financial decisions, while a lower inflation rate would be associated with heightened risk of falling into deflation. Deflation has never been an issue in Nigeria. Rather, it is very high rate of inflation which currently stands at over 17.0 per cent.

Policy makers could therefore benefit from the findings of the empirical study in this book in their efforts to tackle inflation in the country.

Finally, the book draws attention to what it describes as issues of concern relating to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s special development interventions, undertaken in the context of the CBN Act. The author observes that the CBN has been proactive in financing various sectors of the economy and many of the interventions seem to be more or less direct rather than intermediated.

The book lists issues of concern regarding the CBN’s financing of real sector as follows: · Intrusion into the fiscal operation space; · Weakening of focus on core mandate of monetary policy; · Creating a conducive atmosphere for conflict of interest and compromise of standards and principles; · The nature of intervention inevitably brings the CBN dangerously close to politicians who must be involved in the “officially” sponsored real sector projects, thereby breaking the thin barrier protecting the Central Bank from predation of the politicians.

Thus, in the book, the author is concerned about the possible impact of the interventions on CBN’s independence. No doubt, the CBN may have acted in consideration of the need for overall economic stability in the country.

However, if stakeholders continue to express concerns about the interventions, the Bank may need to determine its degree of involvement that will not compromise its independence.

On this note, Mr. Chairman, author of the book, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I wish to end this review by commending Dr. Nwankwo for writing the policy-oriented book. It is a document which provides tremendous insights relating to a contemporary problem plaguing the Nigerian economy, namely inflation. The book is well-written in a lucid style. Different categories of readers can easily relate with it. I therefore, commend it to policy makers, researchers, tertiary education teachers, undergraduate and graduate students of monetary economics, private sector operators, and the general reader.

They will find one aspect or the other of the book highly educative or useful.

30/ NEWS

07.07.2017

Sultan of Sokoto Commends Maryam Tambuwal over Goodwill Awards Peter Uzoho Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended the wife of Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for being listed as an awardee at the prestigious Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Awards.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, the revered Sultan said that “This Goodwill Awards proves that the credibility of Sokoto State is in the right hands” even as he also commended the First Lady for embarking on several projects to touch lives of the needy in the state.

He also pleaded for greater under-

standing and patience of Sokoto State indigenes in the face of biting economic hardship in the country.

The Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Awards was birthed to celebrate, recognise and honour sincere humanitarian service providers along with philanthropists including extraordinary achievers. is here again.

The fifth edition of Awards has the theme ‘Green-White-Green’.

Project Director, NGAA, Ambassador Chris Odey explained that the awards which cuts across over 30 categories, were given to selected nominees for their contributions to peace building and development in Nigeria, especially in recent times.

Nigerian Breweries' Managing Director, Nicolaas Vervelde First Lady of Sokoto State, Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Elizabeth Foundation Empowers Orphans with Education Scholarship A non-governmental organisation, Elizabeth Foundation has given scholarships to some orphans in Abuja. The foundation also runs ‘Weekly School in IDP Camp’ to educate enterprising Nigerians, especially the youths.

Speaking on the occasion, the Founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Adelani said the Foundation was ready to do everything possible towards assisting orphans to go back to school and also to remain in school.

"This gesture is in line with the Foundation's undying commitment to ensuring affordability of qualitative education for less-privileged students in institutions and we are always ready to commit hard-earned resources towards achieving this feet," she said.

“That is why at Elizabeth Foundation, we have what we call Heroes of Humanity, it is all about inspiring people who are doing the kind of things we do, to let them know that somebody sees you, recognises you. It’s been challenging and we need all the support we can get,” she added.

The Beneficiaries of the education scholarship project felt so opportune and applauded the organisation for such great initiative.

The less-privileged children assisted by Elizabeth Foundation

Nobody Hurled Water Sachets at Senator Orji , Says Ikoh Anayo Okolie A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, has denied reports that water sachets and pebbles were hurled at the senator representing Abia Central senatorial district, Senator Theodore Orji, at a burial ceremony last weekend.

Ikoh, who is a former Commissioner for Industry, Science and Technology in the state, said the report was misleading, as he witnessed the burial rite for the late Dr. Elekwachi Nwaogbo at Ntalakwu, Oboro, where the incident was alleged to have occurred, till the end.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, Ikoh, an indigene of Oboro Clan in Ikwuano Local Government Area, said, “The people of Ikwuano LGA, in particular, and Abians, in general, see the published falsehood as an affront on their sensibilities. The misleading report flies in the face of professionalism and the practice of journalism that demands credibility, fairness and objectivity. And we make bold to refute that blatant lie and to urge the author of the false report and the organisation that went out to deceive the reading public to tender an unreserved apology to the Distinguished Senator, T.A. Orji, who is unarguably the father of modern Abia State.”

Ikoh said contrary to the said report, Orji was held in high esteem in Ikwuano and the whole of Abia because of his outstanding human and infrastructural development efforts during his tenure as governor.

He said, “When Senator T.A. Orji

Orji

mounted the rostrum to give his own speech, there were cheers from the audience with thunderous shout of ‘Ochendo’. T.A.Orji told Abians that he stopped idolatry and swearing to the deities before anybody would assume a political office in the state.

“Needless to say, the distinguished senator is held in high esteem as a leader of high repute who has considered Ikwuano in all his developmental projects, programmes and empowerments. He exhibited exemplary leadership as a governor and now as a senator.”

Insisting that there is no part of Abia where people would contemplate pelting Orji with water sachets, Ikoh stated, “Before his arrival as governor, Abia State was a mere glorified village without visible infrastructural development, but by the end of his eight years in the saddle, every Abian became proud to be called an Abian. In addition to the massive infrastructural development, provision of social amenities and human capital transformation, Senator T.A. Orji actually brought Abia State back to God when the vestiges of evil worship, demonic

Nigerian Breweries Deepens Partnership with Local Entrepreneurs

manipulations and satanic enclaves were jettisoned as prerequisite to access political appointments.”

The former commissioner said the exgovernor rewrote the history of Abia State, “When he worked tirelessly to ensure that the sacred principles of equity and justice were implemented, which has resulted in Abia South having a shot at the governorship seat of the state.”

Similarly, Media Adviser to Senator Orji, Don Norman Obinna in a statement made available to THISDAY, said the falsehood against his principal was aimed at misinforming the reading public.

“Customarily, we would have ignored this canard but for the obvious reason that Journalists are the people’s trustees saddled with constitutional and social responsibilities to accurately and dispassionately inform the masses hence our response.

“It is out rightly unethical and embarrassing to the public and members of the fourth estate of the realm to say the least that a national newspaper will resort to Yellow Journalism in their self-defeating efforts to reduce the most distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Chief T.A. Orji to the pitiable political level of their pay master.

“Contrary to the mendacity reported, Senator Orji was rousingly welcomed to the venue of the ceremony by the people of Ntalakwu and all the dignitaries at the occasion, Col. Akobundu, Hon. Henry Iko, Senator Ben Uwajumogu, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Spiritual leaders of Assemblies of God’s Church, family members of the deceased, Mr. Mascot Kalu who could not hide his excitement on seeing Senator Orji arrived with trumpet blast.”

Solomon Elusoji The pioneer brewing company in the country, Nigerian Breweries Plc, is deepening its partnership with local entrepreneurs and farmers to harness huge value chain from its backward integration policy.

The company’s Corporate Communications and Brand Public Relations Manager, Mr. Patrick Olowokere, said the company was consolidating its local sourcing of inputs for its operations and has fast-tracked its plan to attain 60 per cent local input sourcing to 2018 as against the initial 2020 target.

During a tour of Psaltry International Limited, one of Nigerian Breweries’ major raw material suppliers, in Alayide Village, Ado Awaiye near Iseyin, Oyo State, Olowokere said that the strategy was to identify organisations that could produce raw materials and ancillary products as inputs for its business.

These organisations, he explained, would be supported and provided the guarantee of a ready market for their products. These value chain models, according to him, has been successfully experimented in the areas of Packaging Material, Sorghum and Cassava development models.

He revealed that the company has also made progress in increasing the supply of sorghum used for some of its beverages as more than 100,000 metric tonnes of the cereal is annually sourced locally. “Over 250,000 farmers spread across several agronomic zones in the North have been impacted by our Sorghum value chain program as at 2013,” he said.

Currently the company’s brands are packaged using locally sourced packaging materials such as bottles, cans, crates, cartons, crown corks, and labels among others.

As at 2016, 99 percent of these packaging materials were locally sourced, opening wide opportunity to clusters of local entrepreneurs.

TEA Holds 2017 Executive Masterclass in September Peter Uzoho The Entrepreneurship Academy (TEA) has announced plans to hold the second session of its 2017 Masterclass programme in September.

The academy is a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Calvary Bible Church established in 2012 with operational base in the church’s headquarters in Lagos, aimed at raising new breed of entrepreneurs with requisite skills that would become job creators and solution providers who would help solve the unemployment and poverty challenge in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos recently, Founder, The Entrepreneurship Academy and Presiding Pastor of Calvary Bible Church, Lagos, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel, said the two weeks intensive programme would run from September 4 to 15, 2017, at the church’s building in Lagos. He said a free online application portal has been opened for all intending applicants to register and come for the programme with a N12, 500 tuition fee.

Emmanuel explained that the essence of the programme was to ensure that through the academy, participants would have the relevant knowledge, resources and technical know-how required to start and sustain a thriving business in Nigeria, revealing that, on completion of the programme, applicants stand the chance to benefit from the N1 million grant and N5 Million Micro-finance interest free loan made available for them.

He disclosed that since the commencement of the academy in 2012, over 250 people had been graduated while over 20 had benefitted from the grants and start-up capital, saying all of that was to help develop Nigeria and Lagos State in particular. He said the programme was open to all Nigerians who are 16 years and above and can read and write, irrespective of religion or tribe.

Lamenting the pitiable economic situation in the country, Emmanuel said: “When we look at our country today, over 70 per cent of Nigerians are poor and a huge majority of them are unemployed and under-employed. In the last 15 months, millions of people have lost their jobs.

31/LIVING

07.07.2017

Stakeholders Kick Against Abuse of Widows Mary Ekah Human rights activists and political leaders in Nigeria have called for a concerted action aimed at abolishing all cultural and behavioural practices militating against the full exercise of the rights and privileges of widows in Nigeria. They made this call at the African Widows’ Summit in commemoration of second International Widows Day, pioneered by the Felix King Foundation in Benin City, Edo State.

Presenting a paper titled, ‘Confronting Inequity to Promote Change’, one of Nigeria’s prominent activists and Founder, Women Arise Initiative, Joe Okei-Odumakin called on Nigerians to see the challenge that widows and other vulnerable women face in the society as one that should be confronted by every individual to enable positive synthesis that will build communities for the better.

She blamed the continued scourge of maltreatment of widows on the insensitivity of those not directly involved and the silence of those who found themselves as victims and said it was a debt society owes itself as a mutually functional growing unit to protect the vulnerable ones among them.

Okei-Odumakin advised women to be brave and speak out when their rights are trampled upon, especially, as is prevalent, upon the departure of their husbands, assuring their

L-R: Desmond Elliot, Felix King Foundation ambassador, Mercy Aigbe, Felix King Foundation ambassador and Felix King, Founder, Felix King Foundation at the event

voices would be heard by those ready and willing to offer help and support.

Also speaking on the topic, ‘Girl-Child Education: Panacea for Potential Growth’, the Co-convener, Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Aisha Yusuf blamed the scourge of maltreatment of widows and the vulnerable in our society on ignorance, saying that spreading education to the poor and the vulnerable will go a long way in preparing them for the task of effectively fighting for their rights when the situation arises.

She therefore advised men to invest in the education of their girl children while also ensuring that they hold their wives in confidence and empower them to make certain critical decisions that will play critical roles in the future survival of their families. Founder of the Felix King Foundation, Mr. Felix King Eiremiokhae, lamented the plight of widows in society and said his Foundation was established, not to solve all the myriad problems, but to blaze the trail and hopefully inspire others to embrace the movement that will alter the cultural practices

that lead to the disempowerment and maltreatment of widows. He said his Foundation has over the past two years, not only organized the first ever widows summit in Nigeria, but gone ahead to make interventions aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of widows in the society.

“I am of the strong belief that when we deny the poor and the vulnerable their own human dignity and capacity for freedom and choice, it becomes self-denial. It becomes a denial of both our collective and individual dignity, at all levels of society. This is so because the divine order of social evolution presupposes that we protect one another, speak for one another and advance the cause of one another and when we, for one reason or the other, deny the weak and vulnerable among us what is their due, we are disrupting that Divine order,” he said.

Also lending her voice to the campaign, wife of the Governor of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, commended the Felix King Foundation for its timely initiative and promised her support towards empowering widows through her pet project, Edo Women for Agriculture (EWA) by adopting those who wish to embrace agriculture. She expressed hope that with the Foundation’s initiative, Edo State and other States in Nigeria will make deliberate efforts that will change the circumstances of widows.

Apapa Community Rejects APC Chairmanship Candidate Mary Ekah Community members of the Apapa Local Government have expressed displeasure over the choice of Mr. Elijah Owolabi as the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Apapa Local Government.

They rejected Owolabi on the grounds that Ward E, which he belongs has provided eight candidates for 10 consecutive years. The people are therefore saying that Ward E should give a chance to other Wards in the Apapa Local Government.

During a press conference by a group of community members in Apapa recently, they called on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to come to their rescue.

Rebecca Ejifoma

According to the Party Leader, Ward C, Mr. Bayo Adesanya, ”Ward E is dominating Apapa and it is injustice. Owolabi is from Ward E. That ward has been producing the chairman in the last 10 years.

“We reject him because he is not saleable.

He is from Ward E, the same ward that has been dominating the Apapa in the past 10 years. We, as APC party members on ground in Apapa, know that he will ruin our party political interest and victory in the next election,” Adesanya said.

Alleging that Owolabi and his predecessor have been boasting that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo nominated them and nothing could alter this, Adesanya however, expressed satisfaction over the Acting President’s style

of leadership, noting that, “Osinbajo is a good man and no one should discredit his name. He therefore called on the presidency to rescue them from this set of people while the APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should do something immediately.”

Meanwhile, representative of the Apapa youths, Oluwasegun Moses, spoke tenaciously against the continuous choice of Ward E as their representative.

“Wards A, B, C and D have not been happy for years now. Owolabi and his team members have been playing politics of exclusion since he was made the Chairmanship Candidate.”

Moses claimed that 85 per cent of the youths were displeased, angry and frustrated, describing

the situation in the party local government as shameful. “It is painful that with all our loyalty and steadfastness, we are still given a candidate we do not want.”

Other APC members present to express their displeasure and sadness included Jimoh Salami Mucheche Ward A; former Speaker and Apapa Local Legislative Council Ward B; Woman Leader of the Group, Hajia Bola Yakub Ward D; former leader of Apapa Local Council Ward C, Mr. Alloy Odok Ayim; Mr. Muri Kaffo Ward D representing Maritime; Secretary of the group, Iduh Jeremiah; Community Leader, Apapa, Mr. Ganiu Bello; former Counsellor from Ward A, Mr. Joe Bassey and the Party Leader, Ward D, Apapa, Mr. Gibraltar Njowusi among several others.

Nigerian Leaders Charged on Financial Prudence

Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDV) has urged Nigerians; especially leaders to acquire financial knowledge to enable them manage the nation well in the present economic situation.

Speaking during a seminar in Lagos organised for Ebonyi indigenes in Lagos State, the association’s President, Mr. Paul Ikele said, “We have a very sound economic system but we have leadership problem. We need to activate those economic facilities we have to begin to yield profits for livelihood of Nigerians.”

Ikele, who spoke on ‘Basic Financial Knowledge’, explained that the country has a lot of money but live in wastages. “The federal government has a lot of waste in infrastructure and otherwise while some people get involved in capital flight and that makes Nigeria a mono-country and dependent on others. We have all the money to feed ourselves. We have land enough to feed ourselves but we are fraudulent otherwise Nigeria is supposed to be a very rich country.”

The CEO of the Institute of Business Development described the seminar as a tool to

L-r Management Consultant/ guest speaker, Professor Williams Olughu; ESDA Trustee, Chief Augustine Nwego; President, ESDA, Mr. Paul Ikele and Member Board of Trustee ESDA, Mr Innocent Nwangbo at the event

assist their members to acquire knowledge especially financial knowledge. He called for adequate savings for retirement, noting that it was very necessary to enable them live better

after working for many years. He added: “With financial knowledge, you will not be coached to go into criminal activities. In the end, you will know how to plan yourself under this

‘Ajuwaya - The Haunted Village’ Storms the Cinemas Following the success of his movie ‘Couple of Days’, Producer and director Tolu Lord Tanner’s new movie ‘Ajuwaya- The Haunted Village’ is set to storm cinemas nationwide from July 7. The movie which is of the horror genre has been described as a breath of fresh air particularly in an industry largely dominated by romantic comedy movies. It was first screened at the Lagos State NYSC camp and most recently to the media at the Film House cinema, Surulere.

‘Ajuwaya- The Haunted Village’ follows the story of six corpers who get posted to a remote village in Osun State for their

youth service and unwittingly awaken an age-long evil. The movie features Northern sensation, Rahama Sadau, Timini Egbuson, Lanre Hassan, Etinosa Idemudia, Kemi Lala Akindoju and others.

According to the director and producer, “When I wanted to come into movie industry, one of the things I wanted to do was make a movie that targeted ages 18 and 30, the vibrant age that does not watch Nollywood and this is what we are doing with Ajuwaya.

One of the best experiences I ever had was during my youth service; it was a year when I got to experience another life in the same

country called Nigeria. The first time I heard the name Ajuwaya was during the orientation camp, it was the name our trainers used to call us, I didn’t know what it meant until someone told me it actually meant ‘As you were’. Many young adults and the much older ones especially those who underwent the one year compulsory service will be able to relate with this movie and its story. The story is a good one although not the usual popular Nollywood genre but the audience and all lovers of good movie will enjoy watching it.”Ajuwaya will be shown in cinemas nationwide starting from today, July 7.

economic dispensation to be a responsible citizen and contribute to your town union, the state and the country.”

Meanwhile, a retired Professor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), William Olugho, who enlightened participants on ‘Personality Building for Achievements' and ‘You are the Creator of Your Experience', hailed Ebonyi State. “We are proving the world wrong. We are becoming unique. We are bringing out what we have with quality.”

He urged participants to take home the lessons learnt and impact their people in the various communities for a change in attitude and development.

A participant and General Overseer of Great Grace Assemblies, Apostle Lazarus Alinweze, lauded the leaders of the association for such seminar. “This is a good theme for the state, Having rated the seminar excellent at such a time in the country he called on members to stop looking down on themselves; take charge of their lives through practice, determination and faith. “If you must move to the next level, you must recognise opportunity is where you are,” he noted.

32 / XTRA

07.07.2017

Kakadu’s Cross-cultural Strings Contrary to the publicised atmosphere of hostility occasioned by xenophobic attacks, Kakadu the musical team left Johannesburg with a new pair of lens with which to reassess Africa’s most populous city, Nigeria. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

L-R: Chairperson, Anniversary Planning Committee, Lady Adenike Okudoh; Representative of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ngozi Opara; Historical Chairman, Pa Olagbaye Solomon; The Lord Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji; Bishop Egba West, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ogundeji and Vicar of Festac Archdeaconry, Ven. Isreal Omotunde Owoyele during the the event PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Every visitor who arrives at the Joburg Theatre is entitled to 300 megabyte-data on a daily basis which allows you to explore the social media and write about an ongoing show. Though, the Joburg Wifi places no restriction on the users’ activity but inside the auditorium, the Wifi signal is quite weak.

Once you get to the lobby that juts into the theatre restaurant, the world is your oyster.

For South Africans, art is one of the most vibrant sectors of their economy and indeed, their way of life. All year round, there are scheduled shows inside the theatre which ranges from drama to animation movies.

Between June 6 and 18, Kakadu the musical was performed at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, the biggest theatre inside Joburg Theatre as part of activities marking Africa Month.

South Africa means a lot to Nigeria. For one, it is the choice destination for most recording artistes who desire to shoot world-class videos with exotic models and vixens. Asides the artistes, Nigerians flood the streets of Joburg engaging in all manners of businesses, from legitimate to the unpleasant. Unfortunately, the latter is what Nigeria has become known for but the 50-man cast and crew of Playhouse Initiative had the determination to change the narrative with the Kakadu production.

Interestingly, the sound engineer for Kakadu, Johnson Oketade, is a Nigerian who has lived in South Africa for nine years. He was programming the sound for the dress and tech night and running off to attend the crew meeting when he was spotted inside the 1,200 capacity theatre. In between that, he offered to talk about his experience as a Nigerian working in South Africa. First, he clarified some misconceptions about Xenophobia. Those attacks often happened on the outskirts of the city and to those Nigerians who offensively flaunt their wealth. He said it is important to respect other people’s culture where you live outside your home country.

“I respect them. I respect their culture and everything about them. I am actually learning to speak their language. I can speak Zulu, They have 11 official languages here but the prominent ones are Zulu, Xhosa and

Kakadu

Africaans. When the South Africans hear me speak in Zulu language, they are interested in me,’’ he said.

He demonstrated briefly how he arranged the buttons on the sound mixer based on the scenes. A copy of the script was his guide and he had an assistant who helps in backstage. When asked if he would be willing to transfer his knowledge to younger ones, he said he has plans to organise a training workshop in future.

“I am willing to teach whoever is willing to learn. You must have a passion for it,’’ he said while acknowledging the presence of Kanayo Omo, the director for the show from inception.

The UK-based director had seen many on-stage and off-stage challenges upon his arrival in Joburg. Some of his cast fell ill due to the harsh winter, and those who were physically strong had to protect their vocal cords by staying warm in a temperature that drops at night. No one dared to wait outside for a taxi.

Omo’s shared history with the Executive

Producer, Kakadu, Uche Nwokedi SAN is quite intriguing. Their fathers were classmates and later, judges. However, their fathers never brought them together-Kakadu did. Omo had the task of adapting the script to a stage that is technologically driven, with wagons and flight systems.

“I have only two blackouts and I have over 32 scenes. Every time the scene changes, it is because something is moving,’’ Omo revealed.

He had directed two musicals in the United States of America and other theatre productions in the UK. He would later be spotted with a bata drum at Hillbrow Theatre during the workshop for the theatre students there. His dexterity with the drums was quite fascinating.

For the legal adviser, Kakadu the musical, Olisa Nwokedi, the audience reaction was beyond expectations. For a country that has a rich theatre tradition, it was imperative for the Kakadu team to up the ante. Nwokedi revealed how the show had changed the way South Africans see Nigerians. At the hotel, many sought after the actors to teach them how to dance and sing.

“They knew Nigerians for a lot of thingsNollywood, pop artistes and may be some disreputable things that we don’t want to be known for. But this show has changed their perspective,’’ he remarked.

His views were mirrored by the Project Manager, Kakadu the Musical, Lolo Eremie.

Fluent in English and French, she has managed various travel projects and had worked with several artistes in Nigeria and abroad.

Kakadu was her first theatre project and she was excited to be part of the team that made Nigeria proud.

“We are Nigerian ambassadors here. We have changed the mind set of so many people here. For a play that has a strong message, sometimes people don’t want to be preached to or talked to. Sometimes, there is nothing you can say that will be right. Sometimes, words are just not enough. That is when a musical like this becomes powerful because when you tell a story, what you have tried to explain for years because apparent in a few minutes and in our case, with Kakadu, two and a half hours. Some people see themselves in this play. Some understand the consequences of taking certain decisions. It’s a third party experience. In that moment that you are watching a show, you can experience so many things at the same time,’’ she revealed. She also admitted that she had met a number of South Africans who have asked her to teach them a few of Nigerian greetings.

Kakadu’s opening night at the Nelson Mandela Theatre was a great experience, with the cast walking down the aisle after the show and shaking hands with some members of the audience. Outside the auditorium was turned to “selfie pavilion’’ with the cast and crew as well as the entire Nwokedi family joined in the photo shoot. The Nigerian ambassador to South Africa was absent due to an official assignment outside the city but after the reviews and the numerous media mentions, he made sure he was at Kakadu’s finale.

If there is any benefit Kakadu has attracted to Nigeria, it has to some extent punctured the negative impression the average South African has of Nigerians.

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07.07.2017

Army Prosecutors Undergo Training to Tackle Complex Crimes Solomon Elusoji and Sarah Agbamuche About 20 Nigerian Army Prosecutors have undergone a three-day training with an objective to address their capacity to address serious and complex crimes under Nigerian criminal law, including those crimes that potentially fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The training, which held at the Southern Sun hotel, Ikoyi, was organised by the Wayamo Foundation, Africa Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA), the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, and financially supported by the Ford Foundation.

Speaking at the training’s opening ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who approved the training of the 20 Prosecutors and was represented at the ceremony by the Army Provost Marshal, Brigadier-General Ayuba

Hamman, noted that although the country is bedevilled with complex criminal cases, the Nigerian Army will continue to press for justice and prosecute rights abuses committed by its own soldiers.

Hamman also reiterated the need for continuous training of skilled manpower to further bring about efficient justice system, both in the civil and military system. He also commended the organisers of the training for the initiative, saying the Nigerian Military will continue to partner with them.

The Director, Wayamo Foundation, Bettina Ambach, explained that the increase of crime committed beyond boundaries necessitated the need to enlighten the military about the modalities of international law as Nigeria is yet to utilize the provisions of the International Court of Law, even as a member.

“After two highly successful events for civil prosecutors held in Abuja and in Lagos in

December, 2015 and March, 2017, this workshop was organised in collaboration with the Chief of Army Staff to set the standard for prosecutions of serious international crimes in future,” Ambach said.

Meanwhile, the Army’s Director of Legal Services, General Yusuf Shalangwa, stated categorically that no army official has ever been found guilty of war crimes, except for cowardice and non performance of duties.

The facilitators of the training, pulled from a global pool, include a Professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford, Dapo Akande, a former Attorney General of Ekiti State and Chair of the Nigerian Military Human Rights Dialogue, Olawale Fapohunda, A Fellow of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex and Retired Colonel of the United Kingdom Army Legal Services, Charles Garraway, among others.

Buratai

Vodacom Tackles Gender Disparity in ICT, Inspires Girls Peace Obi Vodacom Business Nigeria in its bid to bridge the gap between women and men in the ICT sector, where according to the National Bureau of Statistics, the ratio of Nigerian female workers to men stands at 3.3:1 in 2012; recently organised a one-day ICT field trip for female students from Baptist Girls Academy, Lagos.

The company which has over the years remained committed to mobilising support for girls in ICT through different programmes like mentorship, competition, facility tours, among others inspires and encourages young girls to take up a profession in ICT space.

Speaking to the students of Baptist Girls Academy, Lagos, who were at the Vodacom facility in Lagos recently, the Head, Human Resources, Mrs. Jumoke Mustapha told the students that the company appreciates the place of the youths in national development.

And that as potential leaders of tomorrow, the IT firm considers very important. "And that is why we want to take you through this process and prepare you for the opportunities of the future."

Restating Vodacom's commitment in tackling gender disparity in ICT, Mustapha said that the company leads in gender equality when it comes to gender distribution at workplace.

According to her, the company has continued to improve in its drive to encourage the participation of more females in ICT. "Currently, 43 per cent of Vodacom’s workforce are females. In the last year, promotions of female employees rose by nine per cent, while 17 per cent of the executive workforce is female.

"Vodacom’s working policies also allow women more flexibility around maternity leave and returning to work. However, with the decline in the number of female candidates

L-R: Senior Manager, Human Resources, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mrs. Olajumoke Mustapha, Principal, Baptist Girls Academy, Mrs. Eunice Akanji, Senior Product Manager, Funke Atanda and Senior Manager, Customer Support Operations Center, Mr. Olumide Idowu. during a one-day ICT field trip of the students of Baptist Girls Academy in Lagos…recently

admitted into Engineering, Technology and ICT faculties between 2014 and 2015, it is important that more companies join in the promotion of females in ICT education in Nigeria.

In her presentation, the Senior Manager, Product Portfolio, Mrs. Funke Atanda told the school children that the future is technology and that they are the future scientists, engineers, and technicians that will change Nigeria and make the country join the league

of countries with smart cities. Taking the students through seven technology trends that are currently changing the world today in some parts of the world today, Atanda said the world was in the era of machine talking to machine - Internet of things (IoT).

As technology pervades every facets of life with homes and offices getting smarter through automation, she said the development calls for active involvement of Nigerian youths, especially the girls.

"Gender equality remains a challenge, particularly in the ICT sector, and so we realise that we should do more to bridge the disparity between male and female in this sector. By supporting ICT skills acquisition for girls, bringing females into our organisations to learn about new technologies and helping them further develop their ideas, we are able to encourage more girls to choose courses and careers in ICT. This will help increase the number of women in the ICT sector in the near future” "According the National Bureau of Statistics, of the 564 candidates admitted into the Faculty of Engineering in Lagos State, in 2014, only 129 were female. The numbers declined in 2015 with only 84 females admitted of the 414 candidates admitted into the Faculty of Engineering in Lagos State. By providing donations, training and support to ICT driven programmes, Vodacom Business Nigeria is accelerating the removal of barriers for girls and women in the ICT field.”

Vodacom has created youth empowerment programmes like the Power to You project and #ConnectedSheCan, a campaign that targets a broad spectrum of women who face a range of challenges around work. Also, over the years, Vodacom Business Nigeria has supported Girls in ICT Day; an initiative of the ITU which aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector. Atanda added that "Vodacom will continue to support and advocate for gender equality for women in and through ICT; this will strengthen their stance in the sector while continuing to improve lives of all around the world."

Another Failed Attempt to Malign T.A.Orji Eddie Onuzuruike The story published on Saturday, July, 1, 2017 in one of the national dailies slumped once again into their usual falsehood on page 53 where they alleged that T. A. Orji was booed at the burial of Dr. Elekwachi Nwaogbo.

The only reason for these false publications is that the so called national daily hardly know the difference between cheering and booing.

To put the facts straight, Senator Orji was hilariously welcomed by many across the burial arena. A few minutes after arrival he was received and urged to make his speech after his predecessor Orji Uzor kalu popularly known as OUK, who in his speech made claims that were not supported by known facts.

He took time to dispel the wrong innuendoes by the former governor who deviated from paying tribute to the dead and turned the opportunity into a self praising exercise, claiming among other things that he paid salaries and did not owe pensions whereas he left a huge debt burden of 35 billion Naira.

Orji

This can be confirmed from the Abia Ministry of Finance and Accountant General’s office.

It is on record that the first 10 policy decisions of Senator T. A. Orji when sworn in

as Governor in may 2007, was to liquidate arrears of salaries and pensions owed civil servants. He put in place an unprecedented promotion of all civil servants to the next salary grade level mostly to assuage the plight of civil servants and exorcise the ghostly shock from the previous government and at the end erected a twin complex for workers housing them presently.

Many sweeping changes were made as time went on including adopting special salary structures of some professional bodies like teachers and health workers.

What OUk said about Abia University were blatant lies. When Senator Orji took up the saddle, Abia University was in a state of rot with low subventions, disaccredited departments like Architecture and Medicine.

Senator T. A. Orji raised the subvention of Abia State University from 60 million to 100 million and reaccredited more than five departments. He has taken all these in his strides and now busy in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as he was popularly elected to the Senate in 2015, for which he has a lot to show.

There were notable people in the place who can debunk the lies of the national daily, including former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Rotary International, the irrepressible Assemblies of God Mission and University of Ibadan Alumni Association who have been proud of the leadership of one of their kind.

On the traditional scale, when a kinsman dies, a solemn customary approach comes into play abhorring quarrels and fights.

Come to think of it, is it the Ikwuano, Umuahia people, the array of Ndi Eze, which Senator Orji improved their status or highly respectful Rotary International group and the University Alumni, his own University that will boo Senator Orji?

If the publishers ever think, why is it that such despicable news is only reported only by the said national daily and a sister publication in a midst of journalists and media houses?

Lies and damn lies from this stable. They should note that there is a limit to media rascality! .Onuzuruike, Media Aide to Senator T.A.Orji wrote from Abuja

34/PERSPECTIVE

07.07.2017

UNHCR, American University of Nigeria Boost Livelihood Support to ‘Boko Haram Widows’ Nelly Ating At Maiha Local Government Secretariat in Adamawa State on May 23, 50-year-old Salamatu Babale stands in the queue with other beneficiaries to receive her farming start-up kit. The kit, provided by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the American University of Nigeria (AUN) under The Protect Project, includes a pitch fork, hoe, shovel, and seed crops for planting. All beneficiaries had participated in a three-week sustainable agricultural training.

The Protect Project was launched to support IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable host community members, in the most insurgency-hit areas of Adamawa and Gombe states. Since 2016, UNHCR has been supporting AUN to help the affected community members to restart their lives and create a livelihood for themselves as they cope with the trauma of displacement and return.

With the remarkable success of the Nigerian military in repelling Boko Haram fighters and dislodging them from communities in Adamawa State, comparative normalcy has returned to the region.

However, rehabilitating the returnees and restoring economic activities, especially farming, continues. AUN, which has been at the forefront of humanitarian intervention in the region from the very beginning of the insurgency, continues to play a major role in the rehabilitation process.

At intervals, Salamatu looked away, clutching her nametag. The queue was divided into two, men on the right side and women on the left. In the crowd’s excited chatter, the other women pointed at Salamatu, referring to her as the poorest of them all. Some told how they even hire her as a farm hand to do their weeding.

Overhearing the conversations, she winced but ignored them. She had a lot more on her mind.

Salamatu had never really understood hard labour until she lost her husband, who was very ill when the insurgents attacked Maiha in 2013. He could not run, so he told her to run with their five children. Since they returned to the town, life has been very difficult.

“The children are out of school,” says the widow in Hausa, “I do hard-labour work and they pay me N500 per day,” which is a little above $1. She explains that from the meagre pay, she cannot afford school fees or daily three square meals for her family.

But the support from the Project will give her a chance to kick-start her life as she hopes to sell her farm produce to generate more income.

Under a grant from UNHCR, AUN is reaching 3,000 most at-risk IDPs, returnees and host community members with livelihoods and sustainable agriculture skills and inputs support to be better able to cater for themselves and move away from reliance on donor support.

Audu Liman, AUN’s Administrator of Grants and Contracts, said that “In five LGAs of Gombe State, and in two LGAs of Adamawa State, 1500 of these beneficiaries, who are mostly heads of households, are being supported to start and/or expand small scale businesses through financial literacy and business skills leading to formation of cooperatives to assure sustainability of the start-ups.”

Liman, who heads AUN’s Atiku Abubakar Centre of Leadership and Entrepreneurship, under whose auspices AUN executes its numerous community development and humanitarian support activities in the North-east region, said: “In seven most at risk LGAs of Adamawa State, AUN is developing the skills of 1,500 female and some male IDPs, returnees and host community heads of households to increase agricultural yield through training in sustainable agriculture and the provision of farm inputs to enable them plant food crops to sustain them and their families.”

The Protect Project aims at equipping returnees to reintegrate into the community with lifelong training on the use of sustainable methods to improve farm yields and enhance the soil quality. AUN Sustain-

Women IDPs and Returnees at the AUN distribution

At the Maiha distribution by AUN UNHRC

ability Research Manager, Rotimi Ogundijo, explained that the sustainable method of farming was specifically introduced to discourage the use of soil chemicals.

“These skills are for a lifetime,” he said, “they will meet their needs today without mortgaging the chances of the future generation. Organic base never depreciates; it increases, and this method of farming is based on water retention, wind and erosion reduction--in fact, farming consonant with nature.”

One of the key selection processes for beneficiaries was land ownership and vulnerability. Ogundijo explained that the returnees’ level of vulnerability was measured by income versus family size, or proof that they have lost all sources of livelihood. The support, which he described as very timely, will go a long way in reducing the risk of food scarcity in the four local government areas seen as highly agrarian communities in Adamawa State.

Out of the 1,000 beneficiaries from the four local governments, 257 women benefited from the training, as well as from the start-up kits. Some of these women have been widowed as a result of the insurgency. For some of these widows, returning to assume the role of the head of the household was certainly not a reality

they were prepared for. With the unfavourable societal attitude towards women without husbands, this means they have to work twice as hard as their fellow women to support their households.

Thirty-year-old Ladi Solomon narrated how she has not seen her husband since 2015; she does not know if he is still alive.

Left with six children to care for, the youngest strapped to her back, she bent down to pick up her five-kilogram bag of maize.

Ladi said she was never prepared for the outcome of the insurgency. As a widow, she resolved to sell cooked pasta to feed her children. The unsold food is taken home for the family. She hopes to farm this rainy season, praying for a bumper harvest of about 16-15 bags of maize from the donated maize seeds. “My children will now eat three times,” she said, looking up to heaven for support.

At Government Day Secondary School, Michika, another designated distribution centre, 48-year-old widower Peter Daniel, on the line to receive his own start-up kit, narrated his story. “My wife died two years ago. My home was burnt down. We escaped alive but when we came back to Michika, my wife saw the wreckage of our home by Boko Haram, she had a heart

attack, and before we could get help, she died!”

Mr. Daniel, who ran a joint commercial farming business with his late wife, admitted he used to harvest almost 50 bags of yield from his farmland. Now left with six children, the trauma caused him to lose focus to return to his farm.

He only farmed for subsistence. Now he cannot contain his joy, and said how excited he was to return back to the farm, especially with the support garnered from AUN and UNHCR. “I can now stand back on my feet.”

“The training opened my eyes to see that I will not be spending money to buy fertiliser. I can make my own insecticide from natural materials around me,” he added. “I now truly appreciate my wife when I took up her responsibility.”

The Protect Project has different components: financial literacy, skills acquisition, and sustainable agriculture. The UNHCR Protection Officer Veronica Yohanna, told a group of beneficiaries at the project launch in Maiha that the project will achieve its aim of reducing the farmers’ dependency on donor agencies for aid. They will become self-reliant with improved and sustainable sources of livelihood. .Ating writes in from Yola

35/ENTREPRENEUR

07.07.2017

‘We are Determined to Boost the Business Aspect of Entertainment in Nigeria’ We are Determined to Boost the Business Aspect of Entertainment in Nigeria’ With growing interest in entertainment events and functions, KFT Events, a top-notch event company which specialises in hard core public relations, brand development and events management, believes there are fantastic opportunities for businesses that will boost the entertainment industry. Group Managing Director of the firm, Mr Ekomieyefa Uduboh, said his company is not leaving any stone unturned in order to tap into some of those opportunities. Mary Ekah reports Everyone loves entertainment and with the growth of the internet and digital media, new avenues through which people can be entertained have opened up. With growing national and international interest in entertainment events and functions, KFT Events, a top-notch event company which specialises in hard core public relations, brand development and events management believes there is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to boost the entertainment industry. The firm is determined to boost the social and economic conditions of Nigeria’s economy through the entertainment industry by attracting investors.

Since it was incorporated, the KFT Group has contributed to local economies by bringing growth and innovation to the community in which the business is established.

KFT has also helped to stimulate economic growth by providing thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities to Nigerians. The firm tends to attract talents who invent new products or implement new solutions for existing ideas.

However, the increasing demand of Nigerian entertainment content in music, movies, creative arts, publishing and stage events has motivated KFT Events to collaborate with Wet Sound Entertainment to organize the Warri Mega Fiesta, an iconic event that is set to redefine the city of Warri.

The Warri Mega Fiesta, which will be featuring Nigerian renowned artists like Olamide, Tekno, Runtown, Simi, Phyno, Harrysong, Koko Pee and many others, will take place at KFT Place, a multi-purpose arena at Warri in Delta State.

The arena, billed to be officially opened on July 19 with the hosting of Warri Mega Fiesta, contains 5,215 seats and is rated the largest multi-purpose event hall in the entire Niger Delta region.

Speaking about the Warri Mega Fiesta, the Group Managing Director, KFT Events, Ekomieyefa Uduboh, disclosed that there are few opportunities in Warri where people from various cultures and ethnicity can sit down, chat and celebrate the positive aspects of the city, together.

According to him, there are few places nationally where people can meet, enjoy everything from dance, music, comedy, drama, food, drinks, and games or participate in a wide range of relaxation or fun activity. “This place is KFT Place and it is set to host the Warri Mega Fiesta, an iconic event that will redefine the city of Warri and its perception in other parts of the country. It’s an event cut out to celebrating the best of the people of Warri and those contributing to its sustained peace and growth,” he said.

Speaking further, Uduboh noted, “This much anticipated mega fiesta will attract a 5000-strong audience of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from all over the Niger Delta region to take part in a program of music, traditional arts and cultural activities, comedy, games in July each year, which will welcome major traditional rulers across the Niger Delta region.”

Warri Mega Fiesta, Uduboh believes, will grow into one of the premier events in the country, offering a unique opportunity to share and experience the pride and strength of our collective heritage. “With growing national and international interest in entertainment events and functions, we believe there is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to partner with this important Indigenous event,” he said.

Key features expected at the Warri Mega Fiesta are music, entertainment; comedy and

Uduboh

culture, which are the four most powerful drivers of community collaboration and engagement and the four pillars upon which the Fiesta is based.

Uduboh said music is such a big part of life, bringing together artists, performers,

song men and song women to share stories and culture with the audience through song and dance.

“Traditional meets contemporary music across the stage at the Warri Mega Fiesta.

Nationally acclaimed musicians will perform

Some of the artists scheduled to perform at the Warri Mega Fiesta

alongside emerging artists from Warri and its environs, giving opportunity for new talent discovery. The festival will treat its audiences to a musical spree, acoustic performances, surprise acts and back-to-back live musical bands on center stage.”

The 2017 maiden event, Uduboh said, will showcase a huge line up including Phyno, Olamide, Teckno, amongst many other young and upcoming musical artist. He said further that the event will also redefine comedy and laughter, bringing together a compendium of Nigeria’s top comedy performers while discovering new ones. The event will showcase comedians like Basketmouth, AY, Bovi, I Go Die, Akpororo, John Okafor, Ushbebe, Gordons and a host of other upcoming comedy performances.

“It is going to be a night to be remembered and a best way to forget about tomorrow's worries,” he said. “Warri Mega Fiesta will gain national media recognition each year through a strong relationship with media outlets across the country, a targeted advertising and marketing campaign, and a huge push into the social media sphere.”

Also, participants will experience traditional indigenous culture with family, friends and visitors at the event. The Fiesta maintains ancient rites, customs and skills, engages a broad spectrum of the community and offers a platform for passing knowledge and experience on to the next generation. The cultural presentation will presents many ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities for audiences to engage in traditional dance and storytelling of cultural norms and values.

“Everyone participates; indigenous and non-indigenous people talk, eat and dance together, enjoying the unique opportunity for cross-cultural engagement. Warri Mega Fiesta is a meeting place, and this cross cultural event reaches a broad demographic of all ages, with participants coming from all states of the Niger Delta including some overseas visitors to experience a mix of culture, entertainment and style. Approximately 65 per cent of the audience is indigenous and 35 per cent is non-Indigenous. We are committed to working with partners who share the values of promoting peace and the rich cultural heritage of the Niger Delta,” Uduboh said.

36/COLLAGE

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO Nepal oil and Gas, Sister Ndidi Uzo; Special guest of Honour,Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma; Presenting award to Dr Uche Oga; and President Daughters of Light Society, Mrs. Ekwy Anyanechi, at the 20th Anniversary thanksgiving Service and award Ceremony of Daughters of Light Society held at Archbishop Vining memorial Church Cathedral ikeja, Lagos recently

07.07.2017

L-R: Chairman/CEO, Associated Bus Company Plc (ABC), Mr. Frank Nneji; Chairman, Board of Directors, Chike Okoli Foundation, Dr Stella Okoli; and Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, at the 11th annual heart and soul gala 2017 of Chike Okoli Foundation in Lagos recently PHOTO; ETOP UKUTT

Committee members From right Engrs Titi Omo-Ettu, Pius Ajabhu, Patrick Jessah, Jan Baan, Prof A. Bolu, Emmanuel Lawanson, Prof A.O. Denloye standing before President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering(NAE), Mrs Joanna Maduka at the inauguration of joint committee of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and Arco Group Academia and lndustry Linkage to sere as a platform to assemle viable engineering innovations that will promote national development in Lagos...recently

Tejiri Sakpere with his lovely wife, Okeoghene at their traditional marriage. in Warri, Delta State... recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology and Member, Science, Research and Innovation Council, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Balogun; Members, Mr. Olawale Oluwo; Mr. Oladokun Oye; Mr. Akeem Adeniji-Adele; Dr. Adenike Fajemirokan; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman of the Council, Prof. Olutoyin Ogundipe; Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Olufemi Odubiyi and Dr. Frank Ojadi, after the inauguration of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council, at Lagos House, Ikeja‌..recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Guest Lecturer, Investiture of Patrons and Patronesses, St. Martin De Porres Old girls' Association, Lagos Branch, Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Obinnaya L. Chukwu; Honouries: Mrs. Beatrice O. Ubeku, MFR and Dr. J.G. Nkem Onyekpe, during the Investiture of Patrons and Patronesses, St. Martin De Porres Old girls' Association, Lagos Branch at Unilag, Akoka, Lagos recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Pastor Peter Obieke; celebrant, Pastor Michael Awe; his wife, Mrs Stella Awe; Zonal Pastor, The Redeemed Church of Christ (RCCG), Zone 42, Pastor Adekunle Adekemi;his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Christiana Adekemi and Pastor Gabriel Akande, during Pastor Awe's 70th birthday celebration, Agbado, Ogun State... recently

37/THISLIFE

07.07.2017

Circumcise Your Daughter or We All Die! Yusuf Odaudu writes on the pathetic story of Mr. Nwokoma Donald, a young Nigerian parent who is being hounded by his extended family for refusing to allow the circumcision of his daughter, an act that defies age-long tradition of the South-eastern part of the country

Female circumcision

I heard strange noise coming from his apartment at about 11:40p.m., as we share the same rented building located at No 7, Ikuomola Street, Cement Bus/stop, Dopemu, Lagos. I was alarmed because few days ago, Donald called to tell me that he was going to travel with his family, and it was urgent.

I could feel his gasps intervening with the voice as he managed to express himself. It was clear that he was in a hurry to catchup with a taxi or flight. It was quite sudden and unusual of him, but since I was still at my workplace, I couldn’t probe further. He hung up even before I could ask his destination.

So, the noise couldn’t have been from the owner of the apartment who had already announced his journey few days earlier. I was transfixed in thoughts, trying to figure out the situation. But the more I ponder and peep through my windows in search of a familiar figure, the more the banging and screeching lingered until it disappeared faintly with some footsteps out of the compound.

The following morning, I was curious to know the cause of the noise. I went to his apartment only to find the place broken into and vandalised. I dialed his line but it was switched off. I saw a threatening note left at the threshold of the door with the words, “Anyikan’ebidoebido. This is just a warning for your refusal to succumb to our age-long family tradition of female circumcision”.

I was horrified for a moment as I kept

wondering what brought the strange visitors, and why they vandalised my neigbour’s apartment. Perhaps they were the group of people who kidnap people for money rituals.

Weird thoughts kept popping up in my head but they weren’t close to the actual motive for that nocturnal visit. Some of our neighbours also joined in the lamentation and suggested that we should report to the police because the family might be in danger.

As we kept pondering what to do,I finally got across to Donald. I told him that his apartment was vandalised by a mysterious group, though I wasn’t sure they took any property but they left a note; then I read out the note to him. He said the visitors came to circumcise his daughter, which was why he left the house. He narrated how the hunt to get his daughter circumcised started, and how it was an age-long tradition he was running away from.

It dawned on me that Donald and his family may have been in trouble, had they not travelled a few days before the incident.

I have heard and read about female circumcision and how it has gained deep roots in some cultures in Africa. No doubt, it is a barbaric practice inflicted on innocent young women. In its most extreme form known as infibulation, it can involve the removal of all external genitalia and the stitching up of the labia leaving only a very small opening for sex, urination, menstruation and giving birth.

This often makes a later operation necessary to create a larger opening.

According to reports, a particularly brutal operation can leave a woman with infections ranging from hemorrhage, abscesses and, sometimes, a lifelong loss of sensation during sex.

There have been global objections to the practice of genital cutting by international organisations, especially as it involves circumstances that violate human rights. Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, reports that the operation is often carried out using blunt tools -- penknives, fragments of glass or tin cans.

The Pan-African Committee on Traditional Practices estimates that two million girls in Africa undergo genital cutting each year which endangers both their health and their lives.

The committee also reports that circumcised women experience chronic pain, chronic pelvic infections, development of cysts, genital ulcers, excessive scar tissue formation, infection of the reproductive system, decreased sexual enjoyment and psychological consequences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Amnesty International also frowns at the fact that the victims of this barbaric practice are denied of their rights to make a choice on what affects their lives.

Donald has, since then, resorted to moving his family around different locations for fear of being tracked down by these predators and

to avoid further contacts and anything that might endanger his life and that of his family.

The sad experience of Donald is one that would elicit pity and rage to any sentient being.

Pity in the sense that he, though innocent of the customs, has been frustrated out of his country of birth. Rage in the sense that it involves an innocent young girl whose only crime is that she was born a girl.

Interestingly, the Nigerian Government took a historic step in May, 2015, outlawing the practice of female genital mutilation, a move activists have described as “hugely important” in curbing the excesses associated with the custom. But until this enlightenment reaches the grassroots, Donald’s daughter and other innocent young girls are still at the mercy of those predators.

According to UNICEF, more than 30 million girls are at risk of being subjected to FGM over the next decade and around 125 million women have undergone the procedure.

There is an urgent need to increase grassroots enlightenment with a view to curb this menace, hoping that Nwokoma's daughter doesn't become a victim of this ill wind that blows no one any good.

By ascribing mishaps, bad luck, deaths and all sorts of misfortune to uncircumcised women, the perpetrators are being driven by a strong illusion that is shrouded in falsehood and calumny, one that seeks to destroy the future of innocent young women.

38/OPINION

07.07.2017

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

ONE Campaign’s Alarm on Nigeria’s Health Sector Nigeria’s healthcare system can bring you joy and anxiety in equal measure. The ideas on the table about revamp of the sector and the dreary leadership impeding progress are things of joy and anxiety.

Sure, a fossilised political system and patent lies by the leadership about commitment to healthcare reform has been one reason Nigerians continue to have their life expectancy low despite the country’s opportunity with human and financial resources to turn the tide.

For instance, Nigeria’s image in health sector investment is poor. The indicators do not just add up.

Honestly, when the Country Director of ONE Campaign, Serah Makka-Ugbabe, explained it to me on a recent week with curves on a graph, I held my breath for a moment.

It was a simple conversation about some global issues that led us to Nigeria.

With a long conversation around issues that ONE cares about, we came up dry at explaining how Nigeria has been unable to place priority on its healthcare reform, leaving the poor vulnerable and the rich going abroad to die in search of healthcare in a foreign land.

True, there are many unacceptable health indicators that currently put Nigeria in healthcare crisis situation with no emergency declared. Life expectancy is one of them.

As a people we’re expected to live for just a little above 50 years. The mortality rate for children younger than five years is 124 per 1000 livebirths; the maternal mortality ratio squirts at 560 per 100 000 livebirths; the HIV prevalence is 2030 per 100 000 people; the tuberculosis prevalence is 161 per 100 000 people; and the incidence of malaria is 28 710 per 100 000 people.

Of course, there are many other things that continue to take Nigerians to their early grave.

Sadly, preventable health-related issues represent

Makka-Ugbabe

a large chunk of reasons our country is in the range of statistics with low life expectancy.

I’m not sure how others received it, but the most recent global ranking of Nigeria as 216 in the world, and 16th in Africa following life expectancy ratio gave me goose pimples after 17 years of democracy.

Thirty-seven years ago, average life expectancy in Nigeria was 44.74 years and now we have life expectancy of 54.07 years. That’s just moving at a snail speed.

Let’s agree on the fact. Living in South Sudan, Rwanda, Haiti, Yemen, Afghanistan, and poorer nations such as Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will give you some respite compared to living in Nigeria, when you consider their life expectancy ratio to Nigeria’s.

In the global statistics, those living in Yemen, will live for 65 years, DRC citizens will, on the average live up to 59 years, while those in Mozambique have a life expectancy of 57 years.

In Japan, an average person will live to see his/her grandchildren at the ripe age of 83.7

years, those in the United Kingdom will live up to 81 years, residents of the United States will live up to 79 years, while in Algeria, which is an African country, the life expectancy rate is 75 years.

Now, we can justify why ONE Campaign, the global nonprofit that Makka-Ugbabe leads in Nigeria has limited patience with the way funding for healthcare sector in the country is equally being made at a snail speed.

In a statement this week, ONE Campaign gave a little praise to the government for increasing the budget a slightly from N257 billion in 2016 to N308 billion in 2017, but with an alarm.

According to ONE, Nigeria’s poor investment in the healthcare sector will be detrimental to the future of the country and its place as a giant on Africa continent.

The basis of ONE Campaign’s argument is soundproofed. The detail is in the budget. The nation’s contribution to the Ministry of Health remains at the same level of 4.1 per cent between 2016 and 2017. That means a lot of people will be uncovered in government medical provision for the citizens this year.

So it makes sense when Makka-Ugbabe said: “While ONE commends the federal government for increasing the health budget allocation from N257 billion to N308 billion between 2016 and 2017, the people of Nigeria still have reason to feel let down.”

Indeed, the current allocation is grossly insufficient to address Nigeria’s fragile and failing healthcare system. With a spend per Nigeria citizen in deficit and amongst lowest in the world, and service delivery rate that is at the rear end and amongst the worst in the world, Nigeria cannot claim to be an economic lion, when the health of its citizens flutters.

According to ONE, Nigeria will continue to lose millions of lives to basic illnesses like

malaria, diarrhoea and Lassa fever because of poor funding of its healthcare system, especially primary healthcare in rural areas.

“The self-styled Giant of Africa invests less than other African countries for health. The South African government invests 12 per cent of its budget towards the health care sector while the Ghanaian government invests 7.3 per cent,” Makka-Ugbabe said.

But if there’s anything I like about MakkaUgbabe, it is her ability to make known what is not known. “If Nigeria is to find her rightful place as Africa’s leading economy and indeed become a global player, the federal government must ensure that the right investments are made towards its people health. A healthy nation makes a wealthy nation. We recognise the federal government's efforts in increasing the health budget, but we cannot ignore its failure of missing the mark for investments which would save millions of Nigerians lives, especially the poorest of our country,” she added.

The point she made about the statutory transfer of N49 billion towards the Basic Healthcare Provisional Fund that Nigeria did not honour in the 2017 budget is disheartening. This provision is the one that matters for Nigeria’s poorest and would increase revenue to improve and revitalise the primary healthcare system.

We all know this that the primary healthcare system which provides “last mile” health services to people in the rural communities is critical to the strength of Nigeria’s health system.

Perhaps ONE Campaign understands how to make necessary push as the preparation for the 2018 budget cycle may soon engage the attention of policymakers.

So the group is asking the federal government to invest more in health while putting in place measures for transparent expenditure for the 2017 health budget.

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

Tel 07058069255

How Safe Are These Beautiful Buildings?

The recent Grenfell Tower fire disaster in London, UK which claimed dozens of lives, left many critically injured and a significant number of people still missing has revealed some of the shortcomings of the modern life and provoked calls for aggressive reforms and improved oversight function across board in the UK. In swift response to this popular call, Mr. Nicholas Holgate, chief executive of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is responsible for managing the Grenfell residential tower, tendered his resignation.

Holgate’s resignation became a matter of urgent necessity because the people had complained severely that the council’s response in the aftermath of the blaze that killed at least 79 people was appalling. Therefore the leadership of the council must take the blame and responsibility.

In the same vein, British Prime Minister, Ms. Theresa May, also concerned with the growing public criticism against the government at all levels, hurriedly tendered an apology over the disaster.

“So let me be absolutely clear. The support on the ground for families in the initial hours was not good enough.

“That was a failure of the state, local and national, to help people when they needed it the most.

“As Prime Minister, I apologise for that failure, and as Prime Minister I have taken responsibility for doing what we can to put things right,” Ms. May said.

That’s evidently a model of a good democracy.

A democracy that exists amongst people who are alive to the primary responsibility of the

May

government over its citizens, and who will not shy away from demanding better service from their government when such is seen to be porous or inadequate.

Similarly, it is a system of government, operating at all levels of governance, whose priority is to be responsive to the needs of the people at any given time and which is also open to accountability whenever the need arises.

It is obviously in this circumstance that ones thought is refreshed about the poor state of governance in a country like Nigeria.

Just imagine that Grenfell was sited within a locality in Nigeria.

Following the unfortunate fate that befell the tower and its occupiers, the whole world would have been treated to some shocking inadequacy and embarrassing buck-passing from both the emergency services and government at various

levels.

Then the firefighters would have informed the world that they had no fuel and water in their fire-fighting trucks, which was responsible for their late response. Of course those excuses would be coming after the inferno had consumed a good size of the locality and its residents.

Showing similar act of irresponsibility, the council will be quick to blame the state, the state will target the federal government and that keeps going round until the dignity of the dead is completely lost and those who managed to escape with some varied degrees of injury are left to languish in the hospitals which are mostly poorly equipped.

And as usual, the citizens will moan for just a while, the government will react with some hackneyed platitudes. At the end of it all, nothing happens and life continues.

But never will such be allowed in a sane clime like the UK. Just take a look, apart from the governments that hurriedly assumed their roles after the Grenfell disaster, corporate sector players and building contractors were equally called to account for their actions or inactions which may have contributed to the tragedy.

So far reports have revealed that the use of cladding, a flammable material used to wrap around the outside of most modern buildings to beautify it and prevent infiltration of weather elements, aided the spread of the blaze that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower.

Subsequently, the government mandated that combustibility tests should be conducted in 25 areas of England and results showed that 60 high-rise blocks which are wrapped with claddings

are unsafe as they failed the government’s fire safety tests.

Presently, cladding on tower blocks is being ripped down across Britain amid fears they could contribute towards another terrible fire disaster.

Again, the situation of Nigeria plays out so glaringly in the mind; and followed by a few salient posers particularly on the integrity of the many gigantic and beautiful edifices that are springing up in major cities of the country.

Taking Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial centre, into consideration, a lot of foreigners will be held in awe with the growth of aesthetically captivating commercial and residential buildings many of which are adorned with cladding of different designs and shapes.

But the big question, just like the British government just put to the landlords and building contractors across England, is how safe are these beautiful buildings that are springing up in Nigeria and especially in Lagos?

Within the last two months alone there have been reports of over three incidents of building collapse based on very poor structural integrity, cheap building materials and appalling development plan amongst other avoidable construction defects.

Now that Nigerians, similar to the manner we usually run haywire with any new trends, are religiously going with the fad of cladding, efforts should be made at different levels of government to organise fire safety tests on many of these properties.

Certainly, this will go a long way in preventing impending multiple and devastating fire disasters in the city and other parts of the country.

39

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JULY 7, 2017

MY THOUGHTS ON RESTRUCTURING leadership is doing the right thing, no one will be talking about restructuring. Let us go back in time. Restructuring became an issue in Nigeria under the present regime of President Muhammadu Buhari. And what gave rise to this call is the feeling in parts of the country that the present government is discriminating against them. The received feeling in such quarters is that the sweeping powers which the president enjoys under the constitution make it possible for him to run an unbalanced federation in which certain segments or interests can be left out in the scheme of things. Those who feel this way want the political structure that makes this possible to be tinkered with.

But if we take into consideration what the situation was before now, we will appreciate the fact that the problem does not lie with the system we operate but with those that operate it. Those leaders who provided the right leadership in the past did not face the kind of agitation the present government is facing.

ALHAJI ATTAHIRU DALHATU BAFARAWA n the last two years or so, the word 'restructuring' has become a recurring decimal in virtually every political discussion in Nigeria. In fact, any keen observer of recent developments in the country will readily notice that Nigerians are in the mood for agitations. While some are taking the extreme position of separatism, some others are asking for the restructuring of the country. As a concerned Nigerian, I have reflected on these issues, particularly restructuring, and have observed that nobody is asking the necessary questions. And the questions are: Why do Nigerians want their country to be restructured now? Why were they not asking for this before now? And if there were isolated cases of such agitations in the past, why has it become a war cry now? Why is the polity almost crumbling under the weight of an issue that was, until recently, innocuous?

I

The answer to these questions is not far to seek. There is an avalanche of demands for restructuring because of the failure of leadership. Those whose responsibility it is to lead Nigeria in the right direction have failed to do so. In the absence of the much needed leadership, Nigerians have, on their own, fashioned out a system which they feel will take the country out of the woods.

Essentially, those who feel that the present political order is not working believe that Nigeria will begin to work if the country is restructured. Even though many are becoming increasingly interested in this subject matter, none of the proponents of the idea has come up with strong and cogent reasons as to why Nigeria should be restructured. Except, perhaps, for one or two statesmen whose position on restructuring is borne out of a genuine concern for a better Nigeria, we cannot say the same thing of the motley crowd that is making a sing-song of restructuring. In fact, a good number of those who are mouthing restructuring are doing so for selfish reasons. Unfortunately for us, the situation in Nigeria today has provided them with a fertile ground on which to plant and water the seed of what they are advocating for.

However, no matter what anybody may have to say in favour of restructuring, I blame the agitation on failure of leadership. If the

We can take recourse to the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency to buttress this point. During the Obasanjo era, restructuring was never an issue in Nigeria. There was no clamour from any quarters for the country to be restructured. The reason was simple. Obasanjo did not discriminate against any section or interest. He was the father of all. He did not discriminate in the appointment of persons into political offices. He saw the entire country as his constituency. That was why he appointed ministers and other political office holders from across political divides. This was in spite of the fact that he was of the (then) ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Under the Obasanjo era, some North West states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa were under the control of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but they were not discriminated against. Obasanjo treated them with equal care and attention like the PDP states. That was leadership. That was statesmanship. Under that atmosphere, everybody was happy.

The country functioned peacefully. And nobody asked for restructuring.

Obasanjo was also a committed leader who worked hard for the good of the entire country. It was under him that Nigeria achieved debt forgiveness from the creditor nations. Today, everybody is scrambling for the Paris Club fund. It was the Obasanjo presidency that made this possible.

The solution to our problem therefore is not restructuring. It is for Nigeria to have another leader like Obasanjo. Nigeria needs a leader that is not partial; a leader that will take the interest of every segment of the country to heart. Nigeria needs a national leader who, like Obasanjo, will treat those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him the same way. If we appreciate this fact, we will easily see that those calling for the restructuring of the country are regional leaders with a sectional bent. Their call for restructuring is neither nationalistic nor altruistic. It is parochial and self-serving. They are making such calls for their selfish interests and not to improve Nigeria.

Based on the foregoing, I dare say that Nigeria does not need restructuring. If we need any form of restructuring, it is our mind and orientation that we need to restructure. We need to restructure the way we choose our leaders. We need to restructure our thinking to be receptive to good leadership. To achieve this, we need to be more committed citizens who will choose the right leaders to pilot the affairs of the country. If we get it right in this direction, we will realize that Nigeria does not need restructuring.

ALHAJI ATTAHIRU DALHATU BAFARAWA (Garkuwan Sokoto) FORMER GOVERNOR, SOKOTO STATE.

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Report Reveals Effects of Robust Corporate Governance on Africa Obinna Chima A new joint study by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA) and KPMG has found that the standards of corporate governance code across several African countries are well aligned with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Corporate Governance released in 2015.

The study titled: ‘Balancing Rules and Flexibility for Growth,’ focussed on 15 countries across Africa, and examined the corporate governance requirements for listed companies against the benchmark across four tenets of corporate governance.

These were derived from the OECD principles and included: leadership and culture, strategy and performance, compliance and oversight, and stakeholder engagement. Governance requirements were assessed based on their clarity and completeness of content, degree of enforceability and availability of relevant requirements.

While one-third of the countries studied by KPMG and ACCA have recently reviewed their corporate governance codes, now could be the right time for others to take stock and make improvements, given the impetus of the new OECD Principles and the need to encourage more foreign direct investment.

The report was launched in Lagos yesterday, at a joint press

briefing held by both organisation. The study found that all 15 African markets respectively have a corporate governance code or equivalent in place, with most countries adopting their first codes from 2000 onwards.

The report ranked South Africa number one, having adopted the largest number of OECD Principles, with Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria and Uganda completing the top five. Overall, a majority of markets (10 out of 15) have aligned their corporate governance requirements with more than 80 percent of the OECD Principles.

Commenting on the study, the Partner and Head of Board Advisory Services, KPMG in Nigeria, Tomi Adepoju said: “A number of countries have had corporate governance codes for some time and the experience of implementing them has created practical learning points.

African markets will be able to leverage the lessons learned in the evolution of similar codes in other markets.”

“We hope this study can contribute to raising the standard of corporate governance requirements across Africa. Each market needs to consider their specific political, legal, economic, social and cultural environment when making decisions about developing, defining and enforcing corporate governance requirements.”

Looking at the comparison within this study, and from phase one of the same report

which looked at 25 markets globally, Tomi added: “Implementing corporate governance well will prepare companies for the opportunities that come with the anticipated high growth rates of the African markets.”

Speaking about the findings in relation to Africa’s development, the Head of Policy, Sub Saharan Africa, ACCA, Jane Ohadike said: “As these markets grow and evolve, more awareness and effort will be needed to strengthen remaining critical areas of corporate governance, particularly for remuneration structures, performance evaluation, risk governance, and board composition and diversity.”

Most markets mandate the basic corporate governance requirements such as financial disclosure, shareholders’ rights and the role of the board, supplementing these with non-mandatory guidelines for good practice.

“Achieving the right balance between rules and flexibility is a tricky task for any country, but of fundamental importance for those where corporate governance is critical to support robust economic growth,” Jane added, saying: “Although decisions about how to shape a corporate governance framework and how fast to do so may be unique to each market, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’, there is value in continuing to compare and incorporate internationally accepted standards of corporate governance.”

Access Bank Opens Second Digital Bank in Epe Community Ugo Aliogo Access Bank Plc yesterday officially opened its second digital branch in Epe community, a suburb in Lagos State.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the new digital branch would help in opening up the eastern region of the state to more businesses and economic development.

Ambode, who inaugurated the digital branch, which is the second of its type in the country, called on other corporate bodies to contribute to raising the economic standards of Epe to meet up with what is obtainable in other parts of the state.

He urged management of Access Bank to consider

employing Epe residents first, as the bank tries to meet the manpower needs of its newly opened branch in the community. While commending the bank for taking the bold step to establish the branch , he said Access Bank has set an example for other corporate bodies to take advantage of the emerging Epe market.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the establishment of this branch will promote the socioeconomic activities of this town.

I believe that jobs will be created directly and indirectly from the operations of this bank,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the opening of the branch was a demonstration of the bank’s strength and commitment

to expand the number of communities they have been able to serve. He noted that in relatively short time the bank has transformed from been a little local bank in Nigeria to one of the top three financial institutions in the country.

Wigwe explained that the bank would promote world class banking in the community, adding that the branch would open new business frontiers in the community. The Access Bank CEO further stressed that the new branch would play a very critical part in orchestrating economic development within the community.

Wigwe added: “We have built strong international presence within and outside the country.

We have branches in China, India, Dubai, London and other places.

IMF, W’Bank, WTO Seek Improved Trade to Boost Global Economic Growth The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have stressed the need to remove trade barriers and reduce subsidies and other measures that distort trade.

They stated this in a joint statement presented yesterday by the Managing Director of the IMF, Ms. Christine Lagarde; President of the World Bank, Mr. Jim Yong Kim; and DirectorGeneral, WTO, Mr. Roberto Azevedo, on the occasion of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Hamburg, Germany.

They pointed out that the

economic wellbeing of billions of people depends on trade, stating that deeper trade integration twinned with supportive domestic policies can help boost incomes and accelerate global growth.

This, according to them, called for decisive actions by world leaders gathering for the G-20 Summit this week.

“The good news is that when it comes to trade, we do not need to choose between inclusiveness and economic growth.

Evidence shows that opening of economies to trade, especially in the late 20th century, boosted

incomes and living standards across advanced and developing countries.

“Since the early 2000’s, however, the pace of opening has largely stalled, with too many existing trade barriers and other policies that favor chosen domestic industries over the broader economy remaining in place, and new barriers being created. Such policies can cause a chain reaction, as other countries adopt similar measures with the effect of lowering overall growth, reducing output, and harming workers.”

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, 5 JULY 2017 TThe price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $47.04 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $47.57 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), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), 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

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Eterna Plc Shareholders Approve Dividend, Commend Board, Management Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Shareholders of Eterna Plc, a petroleum products marketing company, have hailed the performance of the company and payment of dividend for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The shareholders, who spoke at the 24thannual general meeting of the company in

Lagos said Eterna Plc has been recording improvement and paying rewarding investors with dividends.

“The present management and board of the company have really done a good job by not only improving on the performance but have also fulfilled the promise to shareholders of consistent returns.

We commend you and urge

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

you to keep it up, while we will continue to support you,” a shareholder, Mr. Boniface Okezie said.

The Chairman of Eterna Plc, Alhaji Lamis Dikko told the shareholders that in keeping with their promise, the board was pleased to recommend a dividend of 30 kobo per share.

“The dividend represents a 20 per cent increase from

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

the dividend paid by our company in 2015.

We continue to appreciate your trust in our ability to keep promises that we have made to you, our valued shareholders,” he said.

Dikko said the company achieved consolidated revenue of N106.9 billion in 2016, compared with 92.06 billion in 2015.

“We achieved 221 per cent

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

increase in operating profits despite 16 per cent increase in our turnover and 178 per cent increase gross profits.

This commendable performance is directly attributable to adoption of efficient processes in delivering our products and services and our ability to control costs despite the high levels of inflation prevalent in the country,” he said.

The chairman explained that profit before tax increased by 84 per cent from N1.3 billion in 2015 to N2.4 billion in 2016, while profit after tax stood at N1.477 billion, as against N1.278 billion in 2015.

Dikko said he was pleased with the performance of the company in 2016, adding that he had no doubt that it would perform even better in subsequent years.

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

42

friDAY, julY 7, 2017 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

‘Succession Planning Key to Companies’ Growth, Survival’ The Chief Executive Officer,

Anabel Group, Dr. Nicky Okoye has said that corporate entities should place high premium on succession planning, stressing that it is the major key to growth and development of an organisation.

Okoye stated this while addressing participants at a forum of resource managers on Succession Planning in Lagos. Many companies have either gone under or are performing poorly due to lack of succession plan or succession

crisis, he observed.

But Okoye explained that the most important challenge to business sustainability is leadership succession.

According to him, leadership succession involves preparing the next generation of leaders for unit heads, departmental heads and executive management. He noted that many companies had consistently tied succession to changes at the level of chief executive only.

“It is not proper to overlook

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

succession planning at the level below the executive officers because the middle level staff would ultimately grow to the top level. There should be deliberate efforts to groom the future executives and the role of human resource managers is very strategic in this regard,” Okoye said.

Commenting on the attributes of a good employee, he identified loyalty, passion, competence and positive mental attitude as some important factors to observe in determining the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 5-July-2017, unless otherwise stated.

future chief executive officers.

He noted that some quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with foreign core investors had long stopped appointment of Nigerians as chief executive officers, indicating the need for our indigenous professionals to review what went wrong and the way forward.

The Anable Group boss, also cited some notable Nigerian entrepreneurs whose business empires collapsed after the founders’ death.

“Great Achievers can be identified early in their professional life and so corporations that wish to preserve their growth and guarantee their success will identify these super achievers and place them on the path of leadership”, Okoye added.

He announced the plan by his firm to hold series of Boot Camps from this month till the end of the year where participants would be exposed to the fundamentals of succession planning and

case studies of companies that deployed succession planning for enhanced corporate growth and those whose collapse were prompted by lack of succession planning.

Meanwhile, one of the participants at the forum, Mr. Sunny Enebi, stressed the need for executive grooming by human resource managers in order to ensure that only fit and proper staff occupy strategic vacant positions in the event of vacancies in their respective organisations.

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 157.61 158.85 24.35% Nigeria International Debt Fund 224.59 226.21 5.97% 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 0.74 0.74 5.14% 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 18.92% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 15.43 15.89 24.97% ARM Discovery Fund 337.31 347.48 17.46% ARM Ethical Fund 24.21 24.94 8.36% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.00% 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 131.05 131.97 24.59% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.06% 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 10.78 11.05 15.14% Women's Investment Fund 91.41 93.75 8.05% 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 19.11% 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 1,093.01 1,094.09 8.01% FBN Heritage Fund 129.96 131.03 16.56% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.93% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.56 $109.54 5.58% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $107.75 $108.73 5.53% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 142.11 144.28 26.26% 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 1.22 1.24 30.85% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.79 2.79 8.50% 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 2,606.19 2,649.36 18.25% Coral Income Fund 2,304.07 2,304.07 9.50% 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 15.55% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.75% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.95 1.97 16.01% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.30%

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 1.07 1.09 8.34% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,043.88 1,043.88 6.05% 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 12.27 12.36 26.90% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 19.08% 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 1.13 1.15 14.19% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.64 10.69 2.31% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.98% 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 120.18 121.17 18.04% 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 1.32 1.32 6.16% 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 2,056.52 2,067.99 12.30% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 161.51 161.51 4.90% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.90 0.91 17.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 202.37 202.37 8.28% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 155.13 157.23 19.52% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.49% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,774.79 8,873.02 15.69% 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 1.29 1.30 9.19% United Capital Bond Fund 1.36 1.36 15.17% United Capital Equity Fund 0.82 0.84 2.68% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.16 1.16 11.18% 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 11.74 11.93 21.09% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.60 12.74 15.16% Zenith Income Fund 18.19 18.19 10.07%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 128.34

1.01% 3.53%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.71 93.65

9.81 95.39

10.53% 23.57%

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

3.83 7.80 15.08 19.09 130.95

3.87 7.88 15.18 19.29 132.95

38.57% 10.89% 26.48% 19.56% 1.58%

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.

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IMAGES

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awyer and educationist, Chief (Mrs.) LEILA FOWLER, nee MOORE, turned 84, recently. A Thanksgiving Service was held at her home in Ikoyi, Lagos ... an “open house” followed. Mrs. Fowler is the founder and proprietress of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Oregun, Lagos State, and Hallmark University, Itele, Ijebu, Ogun State. Here are some of the faces at the event.

•The celebrant, Mrs. Leila Fowler, left, and Alhaja Funke Gbajabiamila.

•Ambassador and Mrs. Adeyinka Asekun.

• The celebrant flanked by Bishop of Lagos Mainland, The Rt. Revd. B.C. Akinpelu Johnson, left, and the Rt. Revd. Yinka Akinlade, Bishop of Ife.

• Daughter of the celebrant, Ms. Irene Fowler, left, Professor and Mrs. Afolabi Lesi.

Photographs by multiple award-winning Director of Photography SUNMI SMART-COLE.

•The retired Archbishop of the Ecclesiatical Province of Lagos (Anglican Communion), The Most Revd.

(Professor) and Mrs. Adebayo Akinde.

• The celebrant with her son, Mr. Tunde Fowler, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

• Daughter-in-law of the celebrant, Mrs. Rosemary Fowler, left, and journalist and photographer, Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole and Mrs. Onari Duke, former first Lady of Cross River State.

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• Daughter of the celebrant, Mrs. Leila Funke Amba, left, and her niece, Miss Leila ‘Funke Fowler

• Mr. Deji Okoya-Thomas, left, and Mr. Oludotun Smith.

• Mr. Yomi Jones and Ms. Nene Lanval.

• Professor Omo-Egun, left and Chief (Mrs.) Toyin Olakunrin.

• Justice BIsi Ogunmekan, left, and his wife, Sade.

• Ms. Kadaria Ahmed, left, and Dr. Yewande Olusola, niece of the celebrant.

•Mrs. ‘Seyi Owoade, left, Mrs. Fola Akande and Mrs. Annabel Yemi-Johnson.

• Daughter of the celebrant, Mrs. L. ‘Funke Amba, flanked by her children, Awana, left, and Solomon

•Thesonofthecelebrant,Mr.TundeFowler,left,PrinceTolaSotinwa,ProfessorWaleOmoleandChiefKolaOgunmekan

Nieces of the celebrant, Mrs. Tosin Bakare, nee Okoya-Thomas and her sister, Mrs. Yinka Taiwo

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WORLD OF ISLAM INTERNATIONAL Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Communicating with Allah Spahic Omer/IslamiCity

T

his paradigm applies to any relationship with individuals who genuinely love and care for each other. They are often seen not talking much to one another, and when they do, they do so softly and quietly. They simply whisper, or speak in undertones, to each other. This is so because their hearts are together, and are one.

And it is right in their hearts that most of their communication unfolds and mutual understanding takes place. Their united hearts talk, though the separated physical bodies appear still and silent. Regardless, they perfectly understand each other.

On the diametrically opposite side stand relationships with individuals who gravely misunderstand each other. They often, as a rule, quarrel, screaming and shouting at one another. They do so because, even though they are physically side by side, their hearts are worlds apart. They recognise that very well and so, feel they have to scream and shout. They know, no matter what, they will not be heard by the one(s) on the other side. Hence, such squabbles never solve anything. They are simply vain attempts to out-scream and out-shout one another. There is rarely any room for reason and sanity in such situations.

Prophets’ calling to communication with Allah

Owing to this importance of communication with Allah, each and every prophet’s mission paid special attention to it.

Communicating with Allah was seen as a logical, plausible and natural process, for Allah is a Personality (Huwa or He) -- not a mere abstract conception of philosophy -- with a Nature of His so sublime that it is far beyond our limited conceptions; He exists, but in such a way that He is the Ever-Living, Self-Sustaining; He created and sustains the world; and He sent prophets to mend people’s ways and create for them suitable communication patterns with their Creator and Master.

For example, when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) confronted his unbelieving and rebellious people, he among other things tried to bring home to them the inappropriateness and danger of polytheism. His focus was the delusion, futility, uselessness and unresponsiveness of their home-grown idols and deities.

They simply could not communicate in any way, nor could they benefit or harm anybody. They were but a fragment of dead matter to which only mentally incapacitated and spiritually dead individuals could be devotedly attached: “Deaf, dumb and blind -- so they will not return (to the right path)” (al-Baqarah, 18).

Ibrahim said to his father, an idol-maker: “O my father! Why do you worship something that can neither hear, nor see, nor yet profit you in any way?” (Maryam, 42).

This is a segment of Ibrahim’s discussion with his polytheistic people: “Ibrahim, are you he who has done this to our gods?”

He answered: “Rather it was this supreme one who has done it.

So ask them, if they can speak.” Thereupon they turned to their (inner) selves and said (to themselves): “Surely it is you who are the wrong-doers.” Then their minds were turned upside down, and they said: “You know well that they do not speak.” Ibrahim said: “Do you, then, worship beside Allah a thing that can neither benefit you nor hurt you? Fie upon you and upon all that you worship beside Allah. Do you have no sense?” (al-Anbiya’, 62-67).

Ibrahim also said to his people concerning their fraudulent gods and their inability to communicate: “Do they listen to you when you call (on them)? Or do they profit you or cause you harm?” (al-Shu’ara’, 72-73).

And about Allah, his Almighty Creator and Lord -- with Whom Prophet Ibrahim enjoyed such a close relationship that Allah said that He took him for a friend (khalil) (al-Nisa’, 125) – Ibrahim said that it was He: “Who created me, and it is He Who guides me; Who gives me food and drink, and when I am ill, it is He Who cures me; Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me back to life; and Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgment” (al-Shu’ara’, 78-82).

Why can’t we see Allah?

One may ask why we cannot see Allah, although we can communicate with Him so closely.

In a nutshell, we cannot see Allah because, first, there is nothing like Him (al-Shura, 11). Our eyes, and other senses and faculties, are things and thus, can only see other things belonging to the corresponding existential realms. They cannot see, hear or recognize beyond the orb of our everyday existential things and objects.

Second, nobody says that humans will not see Allah. Both the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s sunnah are explicit that believers will see Him in Paradise (jannah). The vision will be as clear and certain as seeing “the moon on the night when it is full” and “the sun on a cloudless day” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

What is more, seeing Allah will be the best reward in Paradise; whereas not seeing Him will be the worst and most painful chastisement for the inhabitants of Hell. Seeing Allah is the greatest blessing and joy, so it is withheld for the place of ultimate blessing and joy, namely Paradise, and it is reserved exclusively for believers. This, in addition, serves to believers as a strong motive to continue doing good in this world and

never get bored or give up.

It goes without saying that not seeing Allah is only a temporary decree for Allah’s true servants, who are closest to Him in this world. Seeing Allah in Paradise could also imply the pinnacle, or culmination, of their incessant drawing closer to Him. Third, we cannot see Allah now and here because we are trapped in time and space, while He is beyond them. Time and space are Allah’s creation. He is not fettered by them; we are.

Consequently, man cannot think except along the lines of time, space and matter. Once the hindrances posed by the time and space factors of this world are eliminated in the Hereafter -- or modulated, together with man himself and his various faculties, so as to make them suitable and fitting for the conditions of the Hereafter – seeing Allah will appear utterly viable and sensible, especially for those who will be Paradise-bound.

Even in this world, man can see instantly and directly very little and a very few things. Man is myopic or short-sighted, so to speak. He cannot see more because of a myriad of time and space factors and influences standing between him and things, incapacitating him from seeing more. To see more, man must overcome, or eliminate, those factors and influences. The problem, therefore, is not with things and objects, but with man and his limited abilities.

For example, a person sitting in a windowless room can only see the room’s interior. To see outside, he must leave the room; that is to say, he must overcome the room as a hindrance to seeing outside. Moreover, to see a friend in a nearby town, 50 km away, the man must travel that much; that is, he must overcome the hindrance of the necessary distance and time that separate him from seeing the friend. The same principle applies to seeing everything else that lies outside the parameters of the windowless room.

Similarly, for a person to see his friend who passed away two years ago, he will have to travel back in time two years or more; that is to say, he will have to deal with the unsurmountable time hurdle, or barrier, in order to see his friend. Also, for a person to see his future grandchildren, he will have to travel into the future as much as necessary; that is, he will again have to contend with the unassailable time difficulty.

At any rate, to see and experience things, man must free himself from the physical milieus and situations wherein he, as substantially a physical being himself, is confined or imprisoned.

The whole issue is about man and his weaknesses, exacerbated by the spatial and temporal parameters and constraints within which he operates. Yet, there are many other things right inside man, or everywhere around him, which man cannot see, but which undeniably exist. Some of those things are radio waves as a type of electronic wave used to transmit data for satellites, computer networks and radio, atoms as the smallest building blocks of matter, air or oxygen, ultraviolet light, gravity, the mind, the soul, emotions, quantum particles, the actual size of the universe, etc.

Anyway, it makes sense to wish, yet ask, to see existing things and objects. But a code of ethics, as well as a dose of pragmatism and common sense, are needed. Man must realize that, just like in everything else, there are certain physical, rational, ethical and spiritual rules, regulations and procedures that preside over the prospect of seeing things. For man -- insignificant, weak and vulnerable as he is -- to insist on seeing Almighty Allah, Who is the only truly Transcendent Being, the Exalted, Sublime, Ever-Living and Self-Sustaining, while he is imprisoned and stuck in the yokes of matter, is at once an ignorant, arrogant and preposterous pretence.

When Allah spoke to Prophet Musa (Moses) on Mount Sinai, Musa at one point said: “O my Lord! Show (Yourself) to me that I may look upon You.” Musa asked to see Allah because, as a prophet, he knew that seeing Allah is not impossible, nor that wishing, or even humbly asking, to see Him in extraordinary situations such as the one in which Musa had found himself, is blasphemous.

When Allah replied that Musa neither will, nor could, see Him, He meant that in the context of this world only – as is the view of all mainstream exegesis (mufassir).

And when Allah said to Musa after that: “Behold this mountain: if it remains firm in its place, then -- only then -- will you see Me”, Allah wanted to bring home to Musa his existing human weaknesses, as well as the impediments and hurdles of time and space, which will need to be overcome, or liquidated, if he was to see Almighty Allah. Allah wanted to communicate to Musa that he was not ready to see Him, nor had the time come for such an event to take place.

At last: “When his Lord manifested His glory on the mount, He made it as dust and Musa fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses, he said: ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance and I am the first to believe’” (al-A’raf, 143).

When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked if he had seen Allah on the night of Mi’raj (ascension into heaven), he replied: “(He is veiled by) Light, how could I see Him?” (Sahih Muslim).

Finally, Allah declares: “No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is above all comprehension yet is acquainted with all things” (al-An’am, 103).

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump Tells Russia to Stop ‘Destabilising’ Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has called on Russia to stop “destabilising” Ukraine and other countries and end support for “hostile regimes” such as those in Syria and Iran.

Speaking in the Polish capital Warsaw, Mr Trump urged Russia to “join the community of responsible nations”.

The Kremlin rejected his comments.

The US leader has travelled to Hamburg for the G20 summit, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time.

In Warsaw, Mr Trump addressed a large, cheering crowd from the monument

Civilian Trapped as Iraq Forces Battle IS in Mosul Iraqi forces on Thursday battled the last remaining Islamic State group fighters in Mosul’s Old City, where the UN said up to 20,000 civilians are trapped and in “extreme danger”.

In neighbouring Syria, US-backed forces are facing fierce resistance from IS as

they wage a parallel offensive to recapture the city of Raqa from the jihadists.

The fighting in both cities is taking place in densely populated residential neighbourhoods, posing a major threat to civilians as diehard jihadists put up a desperate last stand.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ROBERT LUCKY EROMOSELE, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ROBERT LUCKY IZOKPU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKPEWHO OTEJIRI JESSICA , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OTEJIRI JESSICA IZOKPU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OSUJI MERCY ADANNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MERCY PRINCE IHEDIWA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI DIOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI AMONYEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS LAWAL GRACE ABIMBOLA OLUTAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FAYINKA THEOPHILUS GRACE ABIMBOLA..

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA FOLASHADE DESOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as BAMISEDUN FOLASHADE DESOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAIFA DORCAS FOLAKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJALA DORCAS FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI DIOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI AMONYEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ALICE VALENTINE IDIONG, now wish to be known and addressed as ALICE JACOB UDOSEN. All former documents remain valid.

Home Office in London (United Kingdom) and the general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MRS COMFORT FUNMILAYO KOMOLAFE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS COMFORT FUNMILAYO KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MABAWONKU OLABISI ADEYINKA, now wish to be known and addressed as ODENIYI OLABISI ADEYINKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKOLI OBINNA AUSTINE, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYAR OBINNA SHALOM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKWUOKIE ADIEU TINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BLESSUNG UGOCHINYERE PETER. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, ARINOLA ADEYEMI is the same person as AISHATU MOHAMMED and ZAINAB A. MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

to the 1944 uprising in the city, on Krasinski Square.

He hailed Poland as an example of a country ready to defend Western freedoms.

Poland’s conservative government shares Mr Trump’s hostile view of immigration and strong sense of sovereignty.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ABIGAEL YETUNDE OMIDINA, now wish to be known and addressed as ABIGAEL YETUNDE AGBOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BABAWALA ABIODUN JAMES INNOCENT now wish to be known and addressed as BABAWALE ABIODUN INNOCENT. All former documents remain valid. The general Public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as YEMBRA BENJAMIN SATOR now wish to be known and addressed as YEMBRA BENJAMIN OGHENEWEGBA ADJESATOR. All former documents remain valid. The general Public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UMARU ABA AJI now wish to be known and addressed as MANCHARI UMORU. All former documents remain valid. The general Public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as TARIERA JULIET DIYEDEI, now wish to be known and addressed as JONES-ERE JULIET TARIERE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NGOZI BLESSING ALIBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NGOZI BLESSING AKUNYILI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKUDO CHINWE MBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKUDO CHINWE UCHIDIUNO. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NSIKAK AKPAN DAN, now wish to be known and addressed as GABRIEL AKPAN DAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI DIOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AHUNNA ONYINYECHI AMONYEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBIOHA SILVER CHINWENDU, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS IBEJIAKO SILVER CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to notify the general public that my name was wrongly quoted as MEKADESE DENIELLA OLAMIFE instead of MEKADESE DANIELLA OLAMIFE. All documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JULY 7, 2017

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NEWS

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

Yoruba Leaders Insist Nigeria Has No Future Unless It’s Restructured Ademola Babalola in ibadan “The Nigeria of our founding fathers’ dreams will elude us in our lifetime unless it is thoroughly restructured to allow for the devolution of powers and resources to the federating units.”

This was the position of eminent leaders of the Yoruba nation who gathered yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, less than two weeks after they took similar position in the city.

While calling for massive devolution of powers and resources from the centre to the federating units, the Yoruba leaders, under the aegis of Conscience of the Yoruba Race, with the theme: ‘Restructuring Nigeria: Options and Strategies,’ also harped on devolution of powers which must also involve decentralising responsibilities.

Present at the event held at the Banquet Hall, Premier Hotel, were the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae; Prof. Amos Akingba, former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Mr. Sina Kawonise, Senator Ayo Arise and Dr. Olu Agunloye.

Others were Prof. Wale Are Olaitan, Mr. Yomi Layinka, former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola, Hon. Dipo Olaitan, Mrs. Bola Doherty, Mr. Dare Babarinsa and the Administrator of the group, Mr. Kole Omololu.

Falae who was the chairman at the event, maintained that while the present government might not be positively predisposed to negotiating the unity of the country, the ripples that the current debate about restructuring is generating have made it critical for it to be discussed if Nigeria is to have a future.

According to the elder statesman, while there are many options to restructuring, the future of Nigeria lies in the implementation of the reports of the 2014 National Conference.

Unlike what obtained in the old regional system, Falae stated that the regionalism being championed is to get to the grassroots where the bulk of Nigerians reside.

He said: “What we have come to discuss is a big subject in Nigeria. Not long ago, the new president, my friend said it was a non-issue and that the report of the National Conference had not been read. But that subject has become topical and like I

said in my recent interview, the restructuring of Nigeria via the report of the National Conference is the future of Nigeria if Nigeria has a future.

The options for restructuring are many. We went to Abuja for a regional agenda but on getting there, the Middle Belters were scared of it, but I am happy that in recent times, they are at the forefront for it. I called my friend, Jerry Gana, what has happened and he said they have a change of mind.

“Change must come but not the partisan change that has no

meaning. Massive devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources must take place from the centre to the federating units. I want to add that the devolution will not stop at the old regional capitals of power.

It must continue to the states created in the regions and the local government which is where our people reside.”

The administrator of the group, Akogun Omololu, said happenings in the country have called for the need for the Yoruba race to mobilise intelligence and ensure social justice for

her members.

Omololu who noted that the group started as a social media group for the mobilisation of the people, added that the time has come to fashion out the ways to implement the resolutions reached at the 2014 National Conference where all groups were represented.

While noting that it smacks injustice for the government to state that unity of the country cannot be negotiated, Omololu recalled that even the colonial rulers allowed the negotiation of terms of governance.

He said: “As the theme of this gathering, ‘Restructuring Nigeria: Strategies and Options’ states, what is happening in Nigeria today is a recognition and clarion call that all is not well with the country.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said: ‘Nigeria’s problem is that we fight against the effects and not against the problem.’ The bane of Nigeria is the Decree 4 of 1966, enacted by the first military regime headed by the late General Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi.

INEC Swears-in 14 RECs Today

ECOWAS countries plan reduction in cost of elections Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today swear-in the 14 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) earlier screened and cleared by the Senate.

With their assumption of duty, the number of RECs appointed to supervise elections in the 36 states of the federation has risen to 17 with the two of the RECs tenure expiring in the next two weeks.

While briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja on the outcome of the meeting of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONET), the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the meeting of the leadership of electoral boding of the ECOWAS sub-region resolved to find ways to reduce the cost of elections in the sub-region and to explore ways of offering more assistance to each other.

Yakubu said he and the chairmen of electoral commissions of Burkina Faso and Cape Verde would be visit Liberia as part of preparations for that country’s presidential election coming up later this year.

For instance, he said members of ECONET agreed to offer technical assistance to each other in the areas of deployment of electronic devices for voter

registration and authentication of voters during elections.

He also said member counties agreed to work towards deepening the application of technology in the conduct of future elections.

In addition, Yakubu said the meeting also resolved that they would visit the two members conducting elections this year, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

According to the INEC boss, the visit is to explore ways of assisting the countries to conduct a successful election.

Yakubu who is to lead the ECONET delegation to Liberia, said the meeting reasoned that it would be better to assist countries in conducting peaceful election than to take the trouble of mobilising troops to go and quell crisis arising from the badly conducted election.

During the visit, the ECONET would be interface with all the stakeholders in the Liberia’s electoral process, including the Judiciary’ media, electoral commission and political leaders.

Yakubu further said the regional electoral commission coalition has decided to make Nigeria permanent host to ECONET headquarters and that an office has been provided in one of the INEC’s facilities in Abuja for them.

So far, all the 15 countries of the ECOWAS are members of the ECONET.

IMMORTALISING THE MBADIWES

L-R: Special guest of honour, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Father of the day, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo; Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia; Chairman, Kings Celia Hotel & Suites, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe; and Chief Obafemi Olopade at the official opening of Kings Celia Hotels & Suites in Lagos ....yesterday, AbioduN AjAlA

Russia: Global Crude Oil Pact Working, No New Steps Needed Oil price rebounds 2% on US stock decline Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Russian Energy Minister, Alexander Novak yesterday said a global pact by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers to cut oil output had dampened price volatility and was reducing bloated inventories, stressing that no immediate extra measures were needed to prop up prices.

Russia, the world’s biggest oil producer with capacity of around 11 million barrels per day, agreed under the output deal with OPEC and others to cut its production by 300,000 bpd from its October 2016 level.

OPEC and its allies face a challenge from US shale producers, which ramped up output as oil prices rose from 2016 low.

In addition, Libya and Nigeria, two OPEC members, which were exempted from the cuts, have also pushed up production.

But Novak said it was up to OPEC to decide how to stick to its pledges on cuts while Libyan and Nigerian output climbed.

This is coming as oil yesterday rose about two per cent, making up some of the previous session’s losses after US data showed crude oil and gasoline stocks dropped more than expected.

Brent crude futures were up $1.19 to $48.98 a barrel, a 2.5 percent gain, after settling down 3.7 per cent in the previous session, its biggest daily drop in a month.

Similarly, the US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $1.15, or 2.5 percent, at $46.28 per barrel.

The price of oil has tumbled from one-month highs just below $50 as evidence showed rising exports and increased production from OPEC, even as the group has pledged to cut output.

But the Russian minister told Reuters there was potential for an oil price rise from current levels and that $50 to $60 was “fair” value for a barrel, after

benchmark Brent fell 20 per cent in the first half of the year.

OPEC and other producers led by Russia agreed to cut production by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from January this year to rein in inventories and support prices.

The deal runs to March 2018.

Despite the initiative, oil prices have registered their biggest first-half decline in almost two decades, as OPEC-led supply cuts have been undermined by rising output in the United States and from other producers not bound by the global pact.

The Joint OPEC-NonOPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), set up to monitor the global supply pact, meets on July 24 in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Ministers from Russia, Oman, Algeria, Venezuela, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, alongside OPEC’s secretary general, are to attend.

Novak said there were no proposals for more nations to be represented at that regular committee meeting, which

plans to discuss the deal implementation and the market situation.

The committee had the authority to recommend “any decisions” to participants involved in the pact if needed, Novak said.

While he saw no need for further action, Novak said: “I can’t predict what the proposals could be from (other) ministers.”

The Russian energy minister also said any exit from the global pact at the end of the first quarter would be “smooth”, adding that inventories would have fallen by that stage and demand would be picking up in the second quarter of 2018.

“We are not going - as we discussed with our colleagues - to all hike oil production on April 1 at once,” he said.

“Other OPEC members have also confirmed their interest to exit the deal in a way that any supply increase would follow a demand rise during the second and third quarters,” he added.

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Saraki Hints at Reshuffling of Standing Committees Senate passes bills allowing NOUN law graduates to attend law school, establishment of Maritime University, Oron Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has hinted that there would be changes in the composition of the 68

standing committees of the Senate before the lawmakers embark on their annual recess before the end of July.

Saraki said this yesterday in reaction to observations

Udoma Puts Nigeria’s Debt Stock at N19tn Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has revealed that the country’s debt stock has risen to N19 trillion, accounting for 20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Udoma who spoke in an interview with journalists at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, said the current debt was within a comfortable margin.

“Every country borrows, the level of borrowing in Nigeria is not excessive too. Currently, our debt is about N19trn which is less than 20 per cent of GDP which is quite moderate, so, we don’t have a debt problem,” he said.

The minister said having a debt is not a problem if only the country is able to maintain high revenue generation.

“What we have is a revenue problem. That is why we are taking steps to increase our

revenue. One of the things we are doing is to the amnesty programme in order to get people who have not been paying their taxes Right now, our tax collection on GDP is very low. If we can achieve that, you will that the level of debts is low,” he said.

Speaking on the frequent controversies trailing the country’s budget, especially the recent face-between the Minister of Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and the House of Representatives, Udoma said his ministry had always tried to engage with the lawmakers on issues relating to budget planning and project implementation. ”My role is to seek approval of the president’s agenda by the National Assembly and we engaged them before we can get approval because the more percentage we can approved, the more successful it is. So, it is continuous discussion and engagement,” he added.

by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who faulted the composition of the committees.

Ekweremadu, while contributing to the debate on report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron, bill, observed that it was signed by only 12 out of 21 members.

“It is unusual the number of senators, 21, that are in the tertiary institutions committee. It is unhealthy that many senators will be in many committees that would make it difficult for them to attend meetings, “Ekweremadu said.

Saraki agreed with the observation by the Deputy Senate President.

“I agree with you in entirety.

You will recall that at the leadership, we have discussed it. We must clean it up and this must be done before we go for our recess,” Saraki said.

The Senate President in a recent interview with THISDAY had also indicated that there would be a reshufflement. He had responded to enquiries on whether the Senate planned to change its rules regarding the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is traditionally reserved for opposition party members.

The current Chairman of

PAC, Senator Andy Uba, had decamped to the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last March.

“No, we are not changing the traditions. There are a number of things that we want to do, not only regards Senator Uba, a few changes are likely to happen. We decided to do a more holistic change and others, so it would happen. That position is always for the opposition, and it would remain like that,” Saraki had told THISDAY. Meanwhile, the Senate passed an amendment to the National Open University Act to allow law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria

(NOUN) to attend law school.

The amendment also provides for the enlistment of all graduates of the institution to undergo the one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, provided they meet other requirements.

Graduates of NOUN are currently exempted from law school and the NYSC programme.

Adopting the recommendations of the Committee on Tertiary Education, presented by the Chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North), the amendment also provided for the massive deployment of ICT facilities for learning in the NOUN.

Keyamo, Oke, 28 Others Elevated to SANs Alex Enumah in Abuja

them are practising lawyers while the remaining four are The Supreme Court yesterday from the academica.

Leading the class of the announced the elevation of 30 candidates to the prestigious academic is Prof. Enefiok rank of Senior Advocates of Effiong Essien of the University Nigeria (SAN), with Festus of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Prof. Sadiq Keyamo, Olusola Oke, former Sylvester Shikyl of the American Legal Adviser of the Peoples University of Nigeria, Yola, Democratic Party (PDP) and Adamawa, Prof. Adebambo Kamarudeen Ajibade making the Anthony Adewopo former National list of the successful candidates. Director-general, The new Chief Registrar of Copyright Commission and Prof.

Supreme Court / Secretary of Adedeji Olusegun Adekunle, Nigerian the Legal Practitioners Privileges Director-General, Committee, Hadizatu Mustapha, Institute of Advanced Legal also announced Oluwatoyin Studies.

Other successful candidates Ajoke Bashorun as the only Chibuike A. female among the successful include Nwokeukwu, Johnnie N. candidates.

Mustapha stated that the Egwuonwu, Bert C. Igwilo, final list which was arrived at Sylvester E. Elema, Ikenna V. following a three-day meeting Egbuna and Wilcox A. Abereton.

The remaining are Michael of the committee, was pursuant to its powers under Section 5 of A. Aliyu, Akinlolu O. Osinbajo, Legal Practitioners’ Act, Laws of Francis F. Egele, Nasser A the Federation 2004 as amended. Dangiri, Emeka P. Okpoko, According to him, the Sani H. Garun-Gabbas, Abdul candidates emerged successful A. Ibrahim, John O. Odubela, after a rigorous screening of 156 Gboyega S. Oyewole, Joshua Y. applicants who applied to be Musa, Ibrahim S. Mohammed, elevated to the rank of SAN. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, Oyetola She disclosed that while 123 Oshobi, Sulaiman Usman, candidates qualified in the first Kehinde O. Ogunwumiju and stage, only 72 made it to the Chiesonu I. Okpoko.

Mustapha however disclosed final stage with 30 of them that swearing in ceremony successful.

Given further breakdown of the candidates have been of the candidates, the Chief scheduled for September this Registrar disclosed that 26 of year.

BANKING MADE EASY

L-R: GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Governor, Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; Chief Fatai Olumegbon, and Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, during the official opening of the Access Bank branch in Epe, Lagos....yesterday.

Ambode: Local Chiefs Aiding Badoo Cult, Kidnappers Pledges to flush cultists out of Lagos Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday disclosed that intelligence report revealed that some local chiefs were working with kidnappers to abduct residents in remote areas of the state.

Ambode also lamented the recent cases of killings perpetrated by a faceless dreaded cult, Badoo, though promised that his administration would flush out every member of the cult from Lagos and its suburbs.

He expressed grave concern over the nefarious activities of the cult at the inauguration of a rehabilitated fire station in Epe, where he said members of the cult “are not spirits that are invisible.”

The governor also inaugurated the Jubilee Chalet in Epe originally constructed under the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration and an ultra-modern Access Bank branch specifically designed to stimulate the socio-economic activities in

Epe and its suburbs.

At the inauguration, Ambode disclosed that some of the local chiefs “are colluding with kidnappers to kidnap people in remote areas. It has come to the point that traditional rulers in the state must come together and speak to local chiefs in Ikorodu to nip kidnapping in the bud.

Specifically, he noted that intelligence reports showed that some local chiefs “were backing the activities of kidnappers. It is the responsibility of the traditional rulers to speak up against such happenings within their vicinity.

Members of the group were not spirit, but human beings.

“Most of our traditional rulers are here. This is a good opportunity to say this. We want to pass a message that we need to come together and ensure that we speak to all our local chiefs in the communities that we are having issues and also in Ikorodu to say that we must speak to ourselves.

“We also have intelligence that

some of these things are coming from within. Our traditional rulers need to do something as quickly as possible to arrest this decadence that we have here.

“We are doing everything possible. We do not run the government on the pages of the newspapers. That is why we do not make comments on the pages of newspapers. But we are trying as much as possible to ensure that we get the children back safely,” he assured.

On Badoo, the governor noted that it had anything “to do with a disappearing ghost. I do not believe that the rituals can be taking place, without some people not being behind it.”

He, therefore, challenged all traditional rulers “to arrest this situation as quickly as possible and show that traditional value that we have always been known for and then we would continue to support you.”

At Jubilee Chalet’s inauguration, Ambode said his administration

reconstructed the old Government VIP Chalet built by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration, in line with its objective to strategically reposition Epe to take advantage of huge investment in Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Aside the Jubilee Chalet, Ambode added that his administration was taking deliberate actions to promote tourism, leisure and recreation, including the construction and upgrading of road projects in Epe, adding that ongoing Epe Marina project would soon wear a new look.

“As we are changing the face of Epe, we are doing the same thing in Badagry in a twin-pronged approach to promote tourism in the State.

“The Government VIP Chalets in Badagry is being rehabilitated and will be commissioned early next year. Work is going on at Badagry Marina to prepare it for investors and tourists that the Badagry Deep Sea port will attract.”

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Scores of Nigerians Feared Dead as Thousands Flee Bakassi

Osinbajo orders reinforcement of security operatives to C’River

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Bassey Inyang in Calabar

There are fears that scores of Nigerians have been killed, and over one thousand of them forcibly evicted from Abana the headquarters of Bakassi peninsula which is under the sovereignty of Cameroun.

Some of the affected people who said most of the adults have fled Abana to Cross River State, and Akwa Ibom, lamented that the Camerounian gendarmes, aside from killing Nigerians in Bakassi, destroyed their homes,

and fishing boats and nets, and other property.

At Ikang jetty in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, over 100 of the fleeing Nigerians were seen standing in groups discussing their plight.

One of them, Chief Umoh Umoh Inyang, who spoke with journalists at the jetty, said he and other people fled their community, Akankanya in Bakassi yesterday when it became obvious that their lives were in danger.

Inyang said scores of the Bakassi people in Abana had been killed by the Camerounian

Nigeria will Remain United, Say Obasanjo Solomon Elusoji Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has condemned those calling for the break up of Nigeria, noting that the problem of the country is not in its structure, but in the ‘mentality’ of its citizens.

Obasanjo, who was speaking at the official opening of King’s Celia Hotels and Suites in Lagos, yesterday, said if he had a magic wand, “I would make one wish that God should change our mentality; I believe that is the problem of this country.”

He advised Nigerians not to be deceived by those calling for war, noting that they have not witnessed one before.

The former president went

on to state that his wish is for the country to remain as one, an opinion assented to by the former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo and legal practitioner, Greg Mbadiwe, who built King’s Celia in honour of his late father, the Nigerian nationalist, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe and the late Cecilia Mbadiwe.

“Anybody who thinks Nigeria is going to be breaking up is wrong,” he said. “I don’t think so.” However, he pointed out that the recent clamours for restructuring were legitimate. “We need to do more about the equity of this country.

We need to see ourselves as our brother’s keepers. We need to share our natural God-given resources together.”

gendarmes, saying the current problem has to do with what he described as outrageous taxes imposed by the Camerounian authorities on fishermen in the their home communities.

Inyang said he escaped at night to Nigeria. Speaking in Efik language through an interpreter who gave his name as Linus Asuquo Essien, he said: “The Cameroonian gendarmes have been harassing us so much.

They destroy our things, destroy our boats, beat us up and shot many of us. They made a lot of trouble for us in Akpankanya in Bakassi.

“They would not let us carry on with our lives and livelihood in peace. The sufferings we have received are so great we had to come back. They would not let us go to the sea for our fishing, and in our houses where we were just staying they came and asked us to pay N100,000 each for each boat engine. When we said we do not have such money, they started beating us up and shot a lot of us. We had to leave suddenly,

and so many people missed their children and members of their families. We got to this Ikang jetty around 2a.m. today. They even raped our wives.

“So many of our people have been held captive there. They have killed about 97 people. So many people ran into the bush, so many others are scattered along the waterway. We came in all these boats you are seeing here.

We were over 2,000 that were scattered over there. Right now, we don’t know where so many others are. Some of us managed to land here around 2a.m. The others are scattered all over the place.”

Another fleeing Nigerian, Mr. Nse Edet Okon, who also lamented the ordeal they passed through said: “They came to our place, we are staying from house to house, and asked us to pay N100,000 and when we said we do not have the money they descended on us and killed many of us. We just managed to escape to this place.

“At least 94 were killed in Atabong that we were. We don’t know about other areas. We were hearing gunshots all over the place.

“We have about 137 that landed here in Ikang. The number is actually growing because we were 132 when we first got here.

“There was so much pandemonium. They destroyed everything. In 2008, they killed three canoe boys who worked with me while the rest escaped by jumping into the water. This time around the came and told me to pay N100,000 tax for my engine. And I said I don’t have that kind of money; that I have not even been going for Christmas. That is why they started beating us.”

Appealing to the Nigerian authorities to come to their rescue, he said: “The Nigerian government should intervene urgently in this matter.

Please they should come and help. Let the international commnuniy also intervene in this matter like the United

Nations.

Meanwhile, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has ordered reinforcement of security forces to quell the raging communal conflict between the Wanikade and Wanihem communities in the Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Consequently, Osinbajo, according to a statement late last night by his media aide, Mr. LaoluAkande, who condemned the wanton loss of lives and property in the crisis, directed the security agencies to take urgent measures to avert a further breakdown of law and order.

He also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to liaise with the state government with a view to sending relief materials to the affected communities.

The acting president equally appealed to the warring communities to give peace a chance in order to enable government find a lasting solution to the crisis.

Court Orders Kashamu to Submit Himself for Police Investigation Alex Enumah in Abuja

Kashamu said the lawmaker did not place sufficient The Federal High Court sitting materials before the court upon in Abuja yesterday ordered which an order of perpetual Senator Buruji Kashamu to injunction can be issued against submit himself to the police the police on his invitation.

Dimgba held that based on for investigation in an alleged attempt to assassinate a House the materials placed before the of Representatives member, Hon. court, the fear expressed by the senator that the police Oladipupo Adebutu.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba wanted to use the petition gave the order yesterday as a ploy to extradite him to while delivering judgment in the US to face drug charges a fundamental human rights suit was unfounded and has no brought by the senator against foundation.

In refusing relief one of the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Adebutu. the applicant, the court held Justice Dimgba who refused that the police have the power to stop the police from to interrogate based on any investigating Kashamu on suspicion and that any attempt the alleged crime, however to curtail police powers the held that any attempt by that regard was dangerous.

The court further held that security agents to arrest the senator and extradite him to the petition dated August 16, the United States of America 2016 authored by the House to face alleged drug related of Representatives member offences is unlawful and that the senator attempted deemed to be in flagrant to assassinate him in Port disobedience of court orders. Harcourt has nothing to do Delivering judgment in a with the alleged drug case in suit filed by the senator, the the US. The court held that whatever judge held that the police under the 1999 Constitution might have been his experience and Police Act have statutory in the past in relation to powers to invite any Nigerian his extradition cannot for interrogation on any be used to remove the statutory function of the criminal allegation.

The judge in refusing police in investigation of the reliefs sought by an assassination attempt.

CEMENTING DIPLOMATIC TIES

L-R: Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade, Mr. Liam Fox; and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, at the Conservative Party’s summer party in London....Wednesday

Patience Jonathan Petitions N’Assembly over Repeated Harassment

by Security Agencies James Emejo in Abuja The former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, yesterday petitioned the National Assembly over what she described as “persistent, consistent, unwarranted personal and physical attacks” on her by officials of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other agencies of the federal government.

The petition which dated June 9, 2017, was signed by her legal counsel, lead by G. I. Abibo (SAN) and 15 others, was read on the House of Representatives floor by Hon. Gogo Bright Tamuno (PDP, Bayelsa).

The petition accused the acting Chairman of the

EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, of orchestrating the agency’s onslaught on the former first lady.

The petition further listed several injustices purportedly meted out to Mrs. Jonathan including an EFCC’s endless pattern of freezing all accounts belonging to her in every bank with spurious court orders including accounts of her relations, friends, associates or her non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which are charitable entities.

It stated that of all the former first ladies in the country, only the NGOs of Mrs. Jonathan, the ARM Foundation or World Peace Outreach groups had been singled out and targeted by the EFCC with repetitive raids

and freezing of accounts without court orders.

It stated: “It is to be observed and restated that in the political history of Nigeria, our client is the only former first lady to be singled out for ill-treatment, persistent, consistent and unwarranted attacks on her person and property ipso facto the only first family of the past presidents/heads of state to be treated with so much disdain and contempt.”

Continuing, it said: “It is in light of the foregoing that we petition you, our dear excellency to use your good office to call to order these agencies of the federal government which have been misusing and /or abusing their powers by in fringing

brazingly the constitutional rights of our client and her relations in total contravention of the rule of law and the tenets of the practice of democracy in this country.”

Among several other accusations, the petitioner noted that on November 3, 2016, the EFCC physically raided and attacked the premises of Mrs Jonathan and her relations located at no 2, Igbeti street, Maitama, Abuja in the absence of the occupants of the house, carting away valuable items.

On same day, officials of the NDLEA also carried out another raid on the same premises and in the absence of the occupants in the guise of searching for drugs which were allegedly kept in the house.

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Melaye’s Recall: Court Refuses to Stop INEC Kogi APC leaders pass vote-of-confidence on senator

Damilola Oyedele and Alex Enumah in Abuja Embattled senator, Dino Melaye, yesteday failed yesterday in his bid to stop his ongoing recall process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice John Tsoho, in a ruling on the ex-parte, rejected Melaye’s motion for a temporary injunction restraining INEC from proceeding with the recall process until the determination of his (Melaye’s suit) challenging his recall.

Instead, the judge ordered parties in the case to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued Melaye’s ex-parte motion yesterday.

The judge adjourned to September 29 for hearing of Melaye’s motion on notice

and applications filed by three individuals, led by Chief Cornelius Olowo, who applied to be made parties in they suit.

They said they were necessary parties and would be affected by the case’s outcome, hence the need for them to be heard before the court pronounce on the case.

In the main suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/587/2017, with INEC as the only defendant, Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial, faulted the process to recall him, arguing that it was tainted by political malice and initiated by his political enemies.

He denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was being targeted for standing up for the oppressed in Kogi State and the many workers who have not been paid their salaries by the state government.

The senator is praying the court to declare the petition

submitted to the Chaiman NEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, as “illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

He also wants the court to void the recall process on the grounds that it was commenced in breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing.

Stalwarts of the Kogi State chapter oftheAllProgressivesCongress(APC) have passed a vote-of-confident on the embattled senator representing Kogi West in the NationalAssembly, Dino Melaye,andalsoexpressedsupportfor his opposition for the state Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

Melaye is being threatened by a recall from his constituents in a plot allegedly orchestrated by Bello.

The party leaders urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to waste scarce resources on the recall process, which they described as a fraud being

perpetuated by the state government, fraught with forgeries and absurdities.

In a communique issued by the leaders at the end of a meeting on Wednesday evening in Abuja, they lamented that the gains made by the party in the 2015 general election have been eroded by the anti-party activities of the governor.

Theleadersnotedthatthegovernor’s anti-party activities have led to the loss of two APC senatorial seats, one House of Representatives seat, and two state House of Assembly seats to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Thepositions,theynoted,werewon during the 2015 elections before Bello joined the party and subsequently emerged as governor.

They further expressed worry at whattheydescribedaspoliticalbickering and parlous state of affairs in the state, under Bello.

“That the only senatorial seat left for the Kogi State APC family in the

Senate is being harassed by Bello and cohorts as evidenced by the on-going charade, known as re-call exercise, which is pregnant with forgeries and absurdities,” the communique read.

The communique obtained by THISDAY yesterday, was signed

by Senator Alex Kadir, Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Senator Dangana E Ocheja, Senator Abdulrahman Abubakar, Hon Clarence Olafemi, Hon Abdullahi Bello, Hon. James A Faleke, Hon. Mohammed Idris, Prince Mohammed Audu, Hon. Duro Meseko, Alhaji Abubakar Rajab, Mr. A. Zakari, Chief Michael Ozovehe, Chief Lawrence Gbenga Asagun, Hon. Idris Jimoh, Engr. S. A. Ezekiel, Dr. Tom Ohikere, Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar and Alhaji Haddy Ametuo .

It read further: “That we are in total approval of all the steps taken so far by the state executive of the APC in Kogi State led by its Chairman,

Alhaji Haddy Ametuo.

“That the state government under Governor Bello is not only in a confused state of affairs, but heading towards political cul-de-sac,” “That we are concerned that many weeks after the submission of the Chief Tony Momoh’s Reconciliation Report, the national leadership of our party, APC, is yet to take any step towards the implementation of its recommendations,” it read.

“That we are in total support of all the positions canvassed by Melaye in matters of Kogi State.

“That Melaye took up the struggle onbehalfthegoodpeopleofKogiState.

He is not alone and we are with him in this struggle at all times,” “That we, the leaders of APC in Kogi State, unequivocally hereby pass a vote-of-confidence on Melaye representing not only the good people of Kogi West senatorial district, butthe overallinterestofKogiStateindigenes,” it added.

Kano Govt Names University after Maitama Sule FG pledges to extol late statesman’s virtues Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Government yesterday renamed the North West University of Kano after the late elder statesman, Yusuf Maitama Sule.

The decision was unanimously agreed at the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday night to immortalise the late Danmasanin Kano due to his immense contributions to the development of the state, Arewa and Nigeria at large.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mohammed Garba, told journalists in Kano yesterday that the council also approved the renaming of Dawaki Road where the residence of Sule is located to Yusuf Maitama Sule Road, while the current Yusuf Maitama Sule Link Road has been renamed Jafaru Dan Mallam Link Road.

The decision was reached after an extensive deliberation at the extraordinary council meeting, and taking into account calls from within and outside the state, for the state government to honour late Danmasanin Kano since his demise.

He said Governor Ganduje’s administration is determined to honour the sons and daughters of the state who have sacrificed their lives to the development of the state.

Meanwhile, the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has pledged the federal government’s commitment to sustaining the virtue of unity as exemplified by late Danmasanin of Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule.

Osinbajo spoke in Kano yesterday when he paid condolence visit to the family and relatives of late Sule at his private residence saying the deceased lived a life of

simplicity and humility despite his worth of wisdom that command global respect.

“My visit is not only in my capacity as acting president, I am here as son of late Danmasanin Kano. I met this great man for the first time in my life when I was 15 years old, later, during my university days as lecturer and at the Aso-Rock in Abuja.

He also described the late sage as bridge builder who fought profoundly for political and human development of the country The acting president stated that the vacuum left behind by the former Nigeria Permanent Representative to United Nations would be difficult to fill.

“I can tell you that it is difficult to find a role model and rare gem in this country, but I have the privilege to let you know that Alhaji Maitama Sule is my role model and a rare Nigerian.

“Kano will truly miss an illustrious son and Nigeria will also miss a great nationalist.

For me, I will rather want to celebrate instead of mourning.

I actually received a call when he was being taken to Cairo for treatment but it is sad that that was the last I would hear about him,” Osinbajo said.

In his remarks also, Kano State Governor, Ganduje, told the acting president that Sule had lived all his life in a mud house in the city after serving the nation meritoriously before he moved into the present family house some 15 years ago.

Osinbajo also paid homage to Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace to console him over the loss of Sule.

UNDERSTUDY MISSION

L-R: Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan; Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Chairperson, Cape Verde Electoral Commission, Maria do Gonclaves; and Chairman, INEC/Chairman ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a courtesy visit by ECONEC to the Senate President o to brief him on the workings of the commission in Abuja.... yesterday JuLius Atoi

Onu, Adewole Visit Traditional Healer Who Healed Prostrate Cancer Patient, Seek Residues Adedayo Akinwale in Lokoja To have a breakthrough in some terminal diseases that have defiled medical solutions, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and his Ministry of Health counterpart, Prof. Isaac Adewole, yesterday visited a traditional medicine practitioner, Pa Adai Giwa, in Okene, Kogi State, who healed a man of nine-year prostrate cancer, seeking residues.

Onu, while speaking on the purpose of his visit, said the government was interested in what the 90-year-old man was doing, saying he would be in a position to help many Nigerians.

According to him, “We want a situation where he can transfer his knowledge to his children and he can also let our natural medicine development agency

to know about these herbs, so that we will do more research, and from it, we will be able to identify the active ingredients and use that to create jobs for Nigerians.

“It will help save lives and improve quality of life. It is wonderful that the secrets embedded in the herbs and roots in our forest can now come out to solve problems that the world thought could not be solved and this will help the world know that Nigeria is truly a great nation. When all the investigations are done, this will be a major contribution to knowledge, and we believe healthcare delivery will benefit a lot.”

Onu promised that government would meet the challenges that Giwa has complained about, including

building a four-bedroom bungalow for him, and also give him a car to make his work easier.

The minister explained that gesture was being made to encourage other Nigerians know that they should release the secrets that could help cure diseases so that it can be worked on by working with the ministry of health, and also call pharmaceutical companies to develop them into drugs.

Onu noted: “The gesture we are making here is not just for him but for people like him who have kept these secrets and make them know that it is better to make the secrets available to research institutes so it can be utilised for ourselves and the rest of the world.

“We cannot be a great nation when we depend on other

people to solve all our problem, we need to make contributions to the world to make foreigners know that Nigerians are very intelligent and as a nation, see knowledge as something important.”

The minister, however, promised that whoever makes his work available, after the necessary research might have been carried the patent would be written in a way that the originator of the idea would have certain percentage after it might have been commercialised On his part, Adewole said there was no conflict between orthodox medicine and science, adding that they can collaborate to ensure effective health care delivery, provided the orthodox methods have been subjected to scientific research.

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Eagles Goalkeeper, Ikeme, Diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia NFF shocked by the news, prays for his recovery

Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has been being diagnosed with acute leukaemia and is to begin chemotherapy immediately.

The Championship club announced yesterday that Ikeme, 31, returned “abnormal blood tests” during pre-season testing and further checks confirmed the diagnosis.

Since taking up the number one goalie’s responsibilities for Nigeria following the sudden retirement of three-time World Cup star Vincent Enyeama from international football in October 2015, Ikeme has remain consistent and dependable for Eagles.

Many football aficionados believed his absence from Eagles due to injury was why South Africa’s Bafana Bafana recorded their 2-0 famous win over Nigeria last month in an AFCON 2019 qualifier in Uyo. He was in goal for the Super Eagles over two legs of the 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary round against Swaziland, as well as the 2-1 defeat of Zambia in Ndola at the beginning of the group phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup race.

Ikeme was also in action against Tanzania and Egypt in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, and in friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe last year summer.

While reacting to the news of Ikeme’s ailment yesterday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed shock and dismay.

A stunned NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi,

was lost for words after the sad news broke in the international media. “What? This is very, very sad. Carl Ikeme diagnosed with acute leukemia? This is harsh.”

Sanusi stated that the NFF and the Nigerian football family would rally round the energetic shot –stopper in his difficult period.

“Our thoughts are with Carl at this difficult period. The NFF and the football fraternity in Nigeria are taken aback by this sad development, knowing how strong Carl has been in goal for Nigeria since he made his debut in 2015.

“We have been told that he will start chemotherapy immediately.

We want him to stay strong and remain the self –assured man that he has always been, and we will continue to pray for him and wish him the best with regards to the treatment,” Sanusi concluded.

Ikeme’s club Managing Director, Laurie Dalrymple, also said everyone at Wolves is in shock and sadness at the moment.

“It would be an understatement to say that everyone at Wolves has been shocked and saddened to hear the news of Carl’s diagnosis.

“That relates to both players and staff as Carl has been at the club for a very long time and remains such an integral personality within the group.

“At the same time, we all know what a fighter and a competitor Carl is, and I have no doubt that he will take all of those attributes into this battle,” Dalrymple told BBC. Ikeme has been with Wolves for his entire career, making more than 200 appearances for Wanderers.

1960BET Prepares for New Football Season with Vigour 1960BET, one of the largest sports betting companies in Nigeria has announced an infrastructure overhaul while the company is aiming at repositioning the foremost brand into its rightful place of pride.

Speaking at the annual preseason retreat with 1960Bet Super Agents in Lagos, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Dotun Ajegbile, revealed that “We at 1960BET are ready for the new season and we really want all our Super agents and Agents to get prepared for what we have in the offing for them this season. Online Customers too are not to be left out, as the global award-winning software that we will be introducing, promises to be the ultimate game-changer in the industry, with customers benefitting from wide range betting offers, bonuses and promotions” ‘‘We have massive plans being worked on to ensure the company regains its top spot as Nigeria’s number 1 Sports Betting brand.

“It is in light of this, we are pleased to inform you that we have on board a new COO, Mr. Federico Caboni, who alongside his new retail team has been saddled with the task of ensuring operational stability, infusing a sense of purpose, efficiency and business transformation across all the business.

“There has been a companywide restructuring and we believe this will strengthen our operations, with renewed emphasis on improved customer experience and a clearer line of sight between company and the people looking after our agents’ networks.”

Mr. Ajegbile revealed that the stakes have become higher in the industry and as such the company intends returning to its roots, by embracing some of the methodologies that made the company highly successful.

He promised that it will adopt the best of global betting trends to ensure at all times that the brand delivers on its promises.

Ikeme… down with Leukaemia

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Remains Sixth in Africa

Three-time African champions, Super Eagles retained their sixth spot on the continent in the latest FIFA world ranking released yesterday.

Nigeria is behind leaders Egypt, Senegal, Congo Democratic Republic, Tunisia and reigning African champions, Cameroon.

However, Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to South Africa in the AFCON 2019 qualifier may have been responsible for why Eagles dropped to the

39th position in the global ranking.

On the African scene, Congo Democratic Republic (28th, up 11) and Mauritania (81st, up 23) registered their highest positions to date.

Germany climbed to the world number one spot after two solid years in the shadow of other challengers.

Following their 1-0 win over Chile (7th, down 3) in St Petersburg, the newly crowned FIFA

Confederations Cup champions overtook Brazil (2nd, down 1) and leapfrogged Argentina (3rd, down 1). Switzerland is 5th while Poland (6th, up 4) also has cause to celebrate, having risen to their best-ever ranking. Colombia (8th), France (9th) and Belgium (10th ) complete the global Top Ten ranking.

The next FIFA world ranking will be published on Thursday, August 10.

AFRICA’S TOP TEN Egypt Senegal Congo DR Tunisia Cameroon Nigeria Burkina Faso Algeria Ghana Cote d’Ivoire

TRANSFER

Man Utd Agrees £75m Fee with Everton on Lukaku Manchester United has agreed a fee of around £75m with Everton for striker Romelu Lukaku, senior club sources have told the BBC. The 24-year-old Belgium international scored 25 Premier League goals last season.

United, who has been chasing Lukaku for most of the summer, will not now be pursuing their interest in Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.

Everton sources however

hinted that no deal or agreement has been reached.

The move for Lukaku is not connected to talks aimed at taking United forward Wayne Rooney to Everton.

Jose Mourinho’s side is hopeful of concluding a deal in time for Lukaku to join the squad before they depart for a pre-season tour to the United States on Sunday.

The striker was on a list of

forward options Mourinho gave to Executive Vice-chairman Ed Woodward before the end of last season.

It had been thought Lukaku would return to his former club Chelsea, who he joined from Anderlecht in 2011.

The striker was sold to Everton for £28m by Mourinho during the Portuguese manager’s second spell in charge of Chelsea in 2014.

Lukaku is a client of agent Mino Raiola, who also looks after Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan - three players all signed by United last summer.

The Belgian turned down the most lucrative contract offer in Everton’s history in March and later said: “I don’t want to stay at the same level.

I want to improve and I know where I want to do that.”

CA F C O N F E D C U P

Rivers Utd’s Duo Promise to Redeem Image in Morocco Today

Rivers United Skipper, Festus Austine, and forward, Bernard Ovoke, strongly believe they can redeem their image when they play Moroccan outfit, FUS Rabat, on the last match day of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage today.

Although, United lost for

the first time at home to Club Africain, the duo see the last match as a must-win.

“Rivers United will fight hard to redeem lost image against FUS Rabat,” Austine stated.

Enterprising Bernard Ovoke said: “We created chances, but lost to hard luck. We promise to

do better on Friday (today). ” The Stanley Eguma side must win well in Rabat to qualify from this group and hope result between Club Africain and KCCA favours them.

Namibian referee, Jackson Pavaza, will handle Friday’s crucial match in Rabat.

Although United failed to convert chances created against the Tunisians, today’s match must produce desired goals to boost their chances.

United edged FUS Rabat 1-0 when both sides clashed during the reverse fixture in Port-harcourt on May 24.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JULY 7, 2017

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MISSILE Obasanjo to Military, Extremists “Nigeria has had enough of bloodshed and enough of sacrifices by those victims (of the coups and violence)… Nigeria deserves peace, unity and progress.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the presentation of a book, “The First Regular Combatant: Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari” suing for peace and making a case against coup-plotting by the military in Nigeria.

ISSA AREMU GUEST COLUMNIST

Blessed are the Dead H

ow the Comrades and Compatriots are dying? It is bad enough to write on the demise of anybody, but more painful to reflect on the eternal exit of your comrades.

Having witnessed the passing of most loved ones in quick succession in recent times, yours comradely had appreciated that death keeps no calendar and (as the received wisdom has it!); “all our pomp, the earth eventually covers”.

Certainly it’s not yet the end of history when it comes to its surprise elements.

The news of the serial deaths of three great Nigerian patriots and pan-Africanists namely Dr. Abubakar Momoh, (1965 - 2017), Funminiyi Adewunmi (1960 – 2017) and Yusuf Maitama Sule (1929 – 3 2017) in quick successions further point to the inevitability (no less the unpredictability) of death. Both Momoh, who until his death, was the Director General of the Electoral Institute of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja and Adewunmi of University of Ibadan were non-state good friends, comrades and teachers. Sule (the Dan masanin of Kano), was among the last founding fathers of Nigeria, elderstatesman, and unarguably a colorful acclaimed orator and diplomat. Certainly there would be no gathering of progressive and democratic forces in Nigeria and Africa (and indeed in the world) without mentioning these great Nigerians separated by both birth and death days but bonded by the uncommon commitment to humanity, African liberation, justice and equity. True to his earned, deserved progressive and radical reputation, Abubakar easily came to mind as hundreds of members of the National Union of Textile and Garment Workers, (NUTGWN) civil society ally members, women and youths gathered to observe the official Democracy Day at Textile Labour House, Nasarawa Expressway in Kaduna on Monday May 29th.

More than twice, as the pioneer DG of Electoral Institute, Abubakar had enthusiastically supported our initiative on improving on the political and electoral literacy of thousands of our members.

Naturally I recalled my last conversation with him a month earlier about the need to continue on our electoral literacy workshop series to which he was ever enthusiastically ready. We had invited my good friend, radical activist lawyer, Barrister Festus Okoye to lead the discussion on the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Barrister Festus Okoye , a member of Uwais Committee on Electoral reform and a delegate to 2014 National Conference was the guest speaker.

Few minutes after we exchanged pleasantries, Festus’s mood hitherto up-beat changed for the low. He then showed me a series of text messages indicating that Abubakar was dead early that morning. It is now an open knowledge that the late patriot was buried same day at Auchi as a Muslim. May Almighty Allah grant him the mercy the holy month of Ramadan in which he died on both the living and the death. Abubakar’s death is a loss to his wife, Tawa and his son, as well as his students, and the privilege to have associated with this great African and global citizen. Africa and Nigeria have indeed lost an

Momoh

Adewunmi

Sule

intellectual democrat on an officially declared Democracy Day. Only the death of Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, a pan African progressive intellectual, (also a friend of Abubakar) who died in an auto accident on May 25th Africa Liberation Day in 2009 in Nairobi Kenya invoked similar spiritual paradoxes and coincidences. Similarly , the death of our friend and comrade, Professor Funminiyi Adewunmi of University of Ibadan after a brief illness came to all as a shock.

A brilliant scholar, committed activist and socialist, Funminiyi lived a life dedicated to the upliftment of the working class and service to humanity. His academic sojourn took him across several universities in Nigeria and abroad including prestigious universities like the University of Ibadan, Osun State University, University of Lagos and University of Namibia. He deployed his intellect researching and publishing in critical areas of Labour Relations in relation to Globalisation, Trade Union Development, Workers Right and Decent Work.

Even in their passing, they still remind us of their core principles; Unity and liberation of Africa and Equal rights and justice for all respectively.

What core principles do the living stand for?

Blessed are the late comrades for they lived and stood for not just something but many positive things worthy of recalling today. The demise of both were huge losses to the labour movement, academic community and the country in general which they diligently served in various capacities for many years. The labor movement has truly lost resource fellows and activists of the labour movement. General elections in Nigeria since 1999 have become periods for anxiety and tension about what the outcomes would be. Would the elections be free, fair, credible and devoid of violence? Undoubtedly there have been noticeable improvements in the conduct of elections since the emergence of Professors Attahiru Jega and Mahmood Yakubu at the leadership position of

INEC. But further improvement can be achieved through mass mobilization and sensitization of workers and the self-employed on basic voters’ rights and responsibilities. Given this background and the fact that majority of Nigerian workforce constitutes the Nigerian voters, our union partnered with INEC on Voters Education Project for Workers and the self employed in Lagos and Kaduna on 14th and 20th February 2015 respectively. The pioneer Director General of the Electoral Institute, the training arm of INEC, Professor Abubakr Momoh was the lead Resource Person. He explained the voting processes and time schedule for registration and voting and counseled workers to remain good citizens by coming out en mass to exercise their civic right.

He urged them to resist the temptation to vote based on inducement or even sell their voters card.

The workshops had in attendance key non-state actors like the distinguished former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Comrade SOZ Ejiofor and Representatives of INEC in the States.

In Lagos, the resident electoral Commissioner, Mr Akin Orebiyi addressed the participants and assured of INEC’s preparedness to conduct the 2015 free fair and credible elections.

Abubakar was a regular star resource fellow at our 30-year old Annual Education Conferences.

With his bagful of academic accomplishments, a Professor of Political Science, a Ph.D in Political Theory and value adding intellectual work since 1988, Africa has lost another human capital. As an organizational man, his imprints are indelible; he served on various Boards and scientific committees including those of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). He was Vice President of African Association of Political Science (AAPS). He was also the National Treasurer, Academic Staff Union of Universities (1991-1995). Funmi Adewunmi as an accomplished academic, served in international and

national development and labor market institutions like Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Students (MINILS) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to further support the struggle of working people for Decent Work and humane society.

Paradoxically it was at the tribute session for both Abubakar Mommoh and Funmi Adewunmi on Monday by Lagos state university and progressive forces that the death of Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, acclaimed orator, diplomat and elder-statesman was announced. and the Dan masanin Kano. Alhaji Maitaima while in his 30s was in the forefront of the struggle for liberation of Nigeria against century long British colonialism. In 1960 he lead the Nigerian delegation to the Conference of Independent African States. In 1976, he became the Federal Commissioner of public complaints, a position that made him the nation’s pioneer ombudsman.

He was appointed Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations during the second Republic and commendably championed the campaign for the struggle against apartheid in both Namibia and South Africa. Again the death of Alhaji Maitaima Sule was a huge loss to my union, where during the pointed military dictatorships of Sanni Abacha, he courageously identified with the working people to demand for decent work and life and independent and democratic trade union movement. He was a special Guest of honor at the last 11 Delegates conference of the Union in Kano in March 2015 who at his age came promptly with quotable quotes of wisdom and patriotism for the participants.

At a time Nigeria seems to be under attack by misguided local and external centrifugal forces of various hues, Nigeria has indeed lost voices in the departed compatriots. The best tribute in honor of the late patriots is for the living 170 million compatriots to rise and heed the clarion call of our national anthem; “To serve our fatherland, With love and strength and faith” such that the “The labor of our heroes past, Shall never be in vain”.

Blessed are the dead, for they shall no more be suspected of promises of nation building, not kept, persistent interrupted electricity supply, corruption, de-industrialization and growing divide between the few often corrupt and majority working men and women. May their souls rest in peace.

• Aremu, mni, is the General secretary, National Union of textile, Garment and Tailoring workers, affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC

Blessed are the dead, for they shall no more be suspected of promises of nation building, not kept; persistent interrupted electricity supply; deindustrialization and growing divide between the few often corrupt and majority working men and women

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