Wednesday 2nd August 2017

Manufacturing Index Expands for Fourth Consecutive Month As oil reverses gains Obinna Chima and Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Economic recovery appears on the rise with the Manufacturing Purchasing

Managers’ Index (PMI) standing at 54.1 index points in July 2017, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the fourth consecutive month.

The PMI is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector, which is based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production,

supplier deliveries and the employment environment.

According to the latest PMI released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday, 11 of the 16 sub-sectors reported

growth in the review month in the following order: appliances & components; computer & electronic products; cement; primary metal; chemical & pharmaceutical products;

food, beverage & tobacco products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; printing & related support activities; paper Continued on page 9

Banks to Extend 9Mobile’s Loan Pending New Investors…

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Wednesday 2 August, 2017 Vol 22. No 8140. Price: N250

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In Fighting Corruption, Don’t Focus on Loot Recovery Alone, Says Saraki Stops collecting pension from Kwara Damilola Oyedele in Abuja with agency report Senate President Bukola Saraki has advised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the anti-graft agencies to focus more on stopping corruption in public offices than dedicate time on recoveries alone.

He also said that he had stopped collecting the pension due to him as the former governor of Kwara State, following complaints by some civil society organisations that some former governors in the Senate were collecting both their pension and allowances from Continued on page 10

Battle-ready Military Chiefs Arrive Maiduguri to Tackle Boko Haram Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Paul Obi in Abuja With tension building up in the North-east, especially in Borno State, as a result of the increasing deadly activities of Boko Haram, military chiefs arrived in Maiduguri, the state capital, yesterday to tackle the terrorist group.

The arrival of the military chiefs was in line with the recent directive of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to the security chiefs to relocate to the theatre of the insurgency to assess the deteriorating security situation in the North-eastern part of the country.

Continued on page 10

Tinubu: I Have Not Purchased PROUDLY NIGERIAN RICE… Acting President Yemi Osinbajo; Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu; and the Group Managing Director Any New Airplane… Page 9 L-R: of Wacot Rice Mill, Mr. Rahul Savara; at the inauguration of the mill in Argungu, Kebbi State… yesterday

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House Says Rejection of Power Devolution, A Mistake To be reconsidered in September James Emejo in Abuja Apparently feeling the heat of public anger against the killing of the devolution of powers bill by the National Assembly, the House of Representatives has said the legislative act was a mistake that would be corrected upon its resumption from summer vacation in September.

The House spoke thorough its Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who said the rejection was occasioned by the mistake of lumping many of the powers to be devolved into one single bill, leading to confusion among many members.

Entitled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Fourth Alteration) Bill, No. 3, 2017 (Devolution of Powers), the bill sought

to alter the Second Schedule, Part I & II to move certain items to the Concurrent Legislative List to give more legislative powers to States.

It also delineated the extent to which the federal legislature and state assemblies could legislate on the items that had been moved to the Concurrent Legislative List.

But the bill suffered a massive defeat in the Senate with 46 senators in support and 48 against, falling far short of the 74 votes required to pass. Although it made a good showing in the House, scoring 210 against 71 votes, it was still struck down having fallen below the 240 vote-threshold required.

Public reactions were vehemently opposed to the killing of the bill, which

was seen as a shortcut to achieving the prevailing and deafening clamour for the restructuring of the country.

So loud was the public outcry against the legislative act that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in an attempt to calm frayed nerves had to issue an explanation and a commitment for a review of the decision.

He said many senators struck down the bill due to suspicions actuated by recent hate speeches as well as inadequate consultations, Saraki raised hopes that the decision could be reviewed.

The House followed the same line yesterday as its leader in a statement said lumping the powers for devolution in one single bill was a mistake that would be corrected in September

without fail.

"Many of us will be asking for the issue of devolution of powers to be revisited upon resumption in September," he said, adding: “It's either an oversight or mistake for several items to have been lumped under the devolution of powers bill, a situation that led to the defeat of the bill.”

He explained: "There were about nine items, including railways, pensions, arbitration, stamp duties, parks and others under the subhead and members should have voted on each rather than vote in one fell swoop.

"A member may have agreed to certain items for devolution to states and not to others. The way we voted one would never know how

to pass judgment on each item," he recounted.

He added: "I believe each item should stand or fall on its own merit.

It is important to note that devolution of powers is baby steps and the simplest form of reconstruction not a surgical dismemberment of our country. We must feel the pulse of the nation in moments like this."

Many aggrieved groups had registered their grievances against the rejection of the bill, while others had threatened brimstone.

On Monday, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had at a press conference addressed by its National Leader and Convener, Chief Edwin Clerk, condemned the killing of the bill,

saying it was hostile to the interest of the Niger Delta.

The group called for an immediate reconsideration of the bill.

However, Gbajabiamila said yesterday: "The democratic process was played out as it should be during the voting exercise.

However, the process is ongoing and not concluded."

He said the bill still has a lifeline to succeed, noting: "Under our rules, we do have a mechanism, which allows for rescission of a decision when appropriate or when new unknown facts emerge.

"For me, it was a mistake or oversight to have lumped all items for devolution under one umbrella or subhead titled devolution of powers," he pointed out.

Tinubu: I Have Not Purchased Any New Airplane Ejiofor Alike A former Governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described as false, a report that he has purchased a new airplane, saying the said publication was not impartial and objective in its reportage.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant to the former Lagos governor, Ademola Oshodi, the APC leader also faulted the pictures attached to the publication, stressing that they were doctored and not authentic.

“Tinubu has not purchased a new plane.

He is currently using the

same plane he has used for over a decade now,” he said.

According to him, this is the same plane that was used during the elections of 2011 and more recently in 2015 to help the APC campaign to victory.

He noted that the authors of the publication would have checked the photo it

published to notice that the pictures revealed spaces with different interiors.

“They would have easily seen that Tinubu’s picture was superimposed to a space he has not been,” Oshodi explained.

The statement also described the report as “sensational, shoddy and false,” and was intended at

embarrassing him (Tinubu).

Tinubu argued that if an investigation had been carried out before the publication or if the authors even had a brief acquaintance with the truth and the etiquette of proper journalism, the “false” report would not have been published.

To clear the records,

Tinubu said he had not bought a new plane, adding that a simple investigation would have revealed the correct position.

“But these merchants of fake news are more interested in attacking perceived enemies than in enlightening the public as should be the call of a newspaper,” he said.

recent months, production has increased due in part to recovering output in countries exempt from the deal.

Oil output by OPEC rose last month by 90,000 bpd to a 2017 high, a Reuters survey found, led by Libya, one of the exempt producers.

In a related development, the Managing Director of NLNG Limited, Mr. Tony Attah, has called on engineers to build cutting-edge competence, which would enable Nigeria fully harness the vast natural resources and grow the nation’s economy.

Speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Young Professionals Workshop in Lagos yesterday, Attah, remarked that the country’s oil and gas industry has been pivotal to the nation’s economic wins in the past five decades and still remains so till date, stressing the need for competent professionals who will sustain and develop the sector.

“It, therefore, becomes imperative for the Society of Petroleum Engineers and similar professional associations to stimulate the availability of enabling facilities to nurture and grow the professionals and the technology which will deliver the dividends from the sector to the nation’s economy,” he said.

He added: “In view of this urgent need to support the development of worldclass training structure for engineers, Nigeria LNG

Limited spearheaded the improvement of the study of engineering in Nigeria’s top Federal Universities in the six geo-political zones of the country, through its University Support Programme (USP) through which we recently donated buildings and equipment with a total value of $12 million.

“Under the programme, Nigeria LNG built and equipped six Engineering Research laboratories in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan, University of Port Harcourt and the University of Maiduguri,” he added.

MANUFACTURING INDEX EXPANDS FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH products; electrical equipment and transportation equipment.

But the remaining five subsectors declined in the order: petroleum & coal products; fabricated metal products; furniture & related products; non-metallic mineral products and plastics & rubber products.

In the same vein, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the fifth consecutive month in July 2017. The index at 59.3 points indicated an expansion in production at a faster rate when compared to the level recorded in the previous month.

Fourteen of the 16 manufacturing sub-sectors recorded expansion in production level during the review month.

Also, at 52.7 points, new orders index grew for the fourth consecutive month.

Eight sub-sectors reported growth, one remained unchanged while the remaining seven declined in the review month.

According to the report, the supplier delivery time index for the manufacturing sector, at 51.3 points in July 2017, rose for the second consecutive month. Ten sub-sectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time while the remaining six sub-sectors recorded delayed delivery time.

It also showed that manufacturing employment level index in July 2017 stood at 51.8 points, indicating

growth in employment level for the third consecutive month.

According to the report, of the 16 sub-sectors, eight recorded growth, three subsectors remained unchanged while the remaining five sub-sectors recorded decline in employment level “At 53.6 points, the raw materials inventory index grew for the fourth consecutive month, and at a faster rate compared to its level in June 2017. “Eleven of the sixteen subsectors recorded growth, two recorded no change while three sub-sectors recorded decline in raw materials inventory.

“New orders index at 55.1 points grew in July 2017 for the fourth consecutive month.

Of the eighteen subsectors, 15 reported growth; one remained unchanged while the remaining two recorded declines.

“New orders, employment level and inventory growing at a faster rate; business activity growing at a slower rate in July 2017.

“The business activity index rose to 56.8 points in July 2017 for the fourth consecutive month. The index grew at a slower rate when compared to its level in the previous month.

Fourteen sub-sectors recorded growth in business activity; one remained unchanged while the remaining three declined in the review month Crude Oil Price Drops from Two-month High over Increased Supply

Meanwhile, crude oil price slipped by 1.3 per cent from a two-month high yesterday as ample global supplies countered strong demand and expectations for another drop in US crude inventories.

The global benchmark, Brent crude, according to Reuters, was down to $52.03 a barrel yesterday after trading intraday at $52.93, the highest price since May 25 while the US crude was down 1.2 per cent, to $49.57 a barrel.

This is coming as the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah has called on engineers in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to continuously strive to acquire and demonstrate cutting-edge competence, which would enable the country fully harness the vast natural resources and grow the nation’s economy.

US inventory reports due today (Wednesday) are expected to show crude stocks fell by 2.9 million barrels last week, the fifth straight week of declines.

However, production by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose in July, Reuters survey found Monday, despite a deal to cut output. According to the report, the cost output has helped boost US oil futures by more than 16 per cent since the contract dropped below $43 a barrel in late June.

Reuters reported that the global benchmark, Brent

crude, was down 1.3 per cent, to $52.03 a barrel. It traded intraday at $52.93, the highest price since May 25 while the US crude was down 1.2 per cent, to $49.57 a barrel.

Gasoline and heating oil crack spreads RBc1-CLc1 HOc1-CLc1 were stronger on Tuesday, in part after Royal Dutch Shell said its Pernis refinery in the Netherlands, Europe's largest oil refinery, will remain closed through mid-August following a fire incident.

The latest data point on US inventories comes from industry group the American Petroleum Institute (API).

The US government's official data will be released today.

On the demand side, forecasters, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) have been raising their estimates, lending prices some support.

BP was upbeat, seeing demand growing by 1.4 to 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

"Global demand is looking pretty strong, and prices will firm around the levels seen today," BP’s Chief Financial Officer Brian Gilvary reportedly told Reuters after the company reported earnings yesterday.

OPEC, along with Russia and other non-members are reducing output by about 1.8 million bpd from January 1, 2017, until March next year to get rid of excess supply.

OPEC's adherence to supply cuts has been high but in

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN 0.06 0.67 NASCON 0.83 11.25 DANGCEM 16.25 240.00 C & I LEASING 0.05 0.80 DANGSUGAR 0.62 12.59 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN MORISON 0.12 1.18 FORTEOIL 4.70 57.00 ETERNA 0.20 3.60 JBERGER 1.80 34.20 OKOMUOIL 4.00 76.03 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦ 1,025.00 Volume: 849.603 million shares Value: N94.049 billion Deals: 5,602 As at 01/08/17 See details on Page 40

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Boko Haram Video Shows Terrorists’ Activities in Sambisa Forest A new video reportedly released by Boko Haram, the terror group making life difficult for the people of the North-east of the country, is in circulation, showing renewed activities of the terrorists in the Sambisa Forest.

The sect vowed in the video to sustain the battle with the Nigeria.

According to an online news portal, The Cable, the 29-minute video believed to have been shot in Sambisa forest, showed the terrorists going about their normal business.

Some of them were seen in a local bakery, a few on their farmlands, while others engaged in trading activities.

Items such as foodstuff, books, cement, automobile spare parts were displayed in shops. Armed members of the sect rode on motorcycles, while some were seen operating computers.

The video seeks to contradict the claim of the Nigerian military that it had defeated the sect and cleared it from the vast forest that served as the terror group’s operational base.

To demonstrate its hold on the forest, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, had conducted a civil society tour of the area and boasted that the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship would hold there to consolidate the army’s grip on the area.

He said: “We have been in the North East, fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, and you know the significance of the Sambisa forest to them,” adding: “It used to be one of their centres; in fact, we suspect that their command and control centre was located there before its eventual capture.”

According to The Cable, an old man who spoke in

Kanuri dialect disputed the claim of the military that the group had been defeated. He said the militants had been living well in the forest.

“You can see that we are doing well and living fine.

Look at our crops, they are growing well,” he said.

The video showed some fighters in a training session.

One of the trainees, who spoke in Hausa, said: “We are ready to do everything to protect our territory… we won’t allow an inch of our territory to be penetrated by the infidels.”

It is unclear which factions of the groups released the video as Abubakar Shekau and Abu Musab al-Barnawi were not seen.

Recently, a faction led by al-Barnawi released a video of three staff of the University of Maiduguri

A farmer standing in the middle of his freshly cultivated lush green farm inside Sambisa forest, Boko Haram's stronghold who were abducted last Tuesday.

At least 48 persons were

killed in that attack, which occurred in Maiduguri as the Chad Basin oil

exploration team made their way back to the town from their assignment.

expected to give impetus to the military efforts in the North-east operations.

“Consequently, the Defence Headquarters hereby appeals to the general public and the people in the areas affected directly, by this negative acts of terrorism and criminality, to come forward with credible information, that will further assist the security and response agencies, to tackle this menace," he said.

He explained: "It is necessary to point out some of the key information required, which include the following terrorists sleeper cell locations,

terrorists concentration areas and outpost locations, collaborators and informants to the terrorists.

"Suspicious habitations and living quarters within the rural and urban centres.

Suspicious isolated settlements and camps outside normal living areas.

"In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that, peace and tranquillity is restored to the North east.

Thus, the cooperation of the general public, particularly those in the affected areas is highly solicited."

participation of the private sector in infrastructure development.

“What should happen is that we should try and get the private sector to take over some of these infrastructures so that the money can go into education and health. By doing that, banks like Bank of Infrastructure will come in. We are really pushing the idea of, particularly, the Lagos-Ibadan road, that appropriating that project from the budget does not show seriousness,” he said.

“This is a road that is very viable; that is the centre of commercial activities and we should see how the private sector can participate.

“For example, even if you go by the budgetary allocation on that road, last year was N30 billion, this year, after back and forth, we took it back to N20 billion. This was done so that if they don’t find private funding, we will take it up,’’ he said.

According to him, even if the N30 billion was provided, it will not be enough because that road needs about N100 billion to be completed.

“So, the point I’m making which I want to emphasise is that it is the kind of laws and policies that we pass that will encourage the private sector that will make the infrastructure deficit to reduce. Government alone cannot reduce infrastructure

deficit,” Saraki said.

The Senate President also confirmed that the Senators have met their pledges made in October last year, of N300,000 to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-east.

“I think that to the best of my knowledge, that is happening but it goes beyond just that. I think that we have shown that we will continue to support in form of appropriation of adequate money.

“As you saw just last week, we also approved some foreign loan that will go toward supporting activities in the North-east as palliative means to fight the humanitarian crisis.

“We are close to about $800 million we approved for the executive from that point of view.

“We are always ready to support our men and women in uniform to ensure that whatever they required was provided,” Saraki said.

“We are looking at the possibility of what we can do to create more incentives for Nigerians.

“We are approaching individuals and companies to make more donations and see what kind of concessions they can get for the kind of donations they are making in the North-east,” he said.

BATTLE-READY MILITARY CHIEFS ARRIVE MAIDUGURI TO TACKLE BOKO HARAM Those on the ground are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

The acting president had met with the service chiefs and heads of all security agencies last week, following the resurgence of Boko haram attacks on the North-east, particularly Maiduguri.

The terrorist group recently ambushed and killed about 48 members of an exploration

team, including geologists from the University of Maiduguri, staff members of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), civilian JTF and soldiers, prospecting for oil in the Chad Basin. Boko Haram had also carried out about 90 separate, multiple suicide attacks within and around Maiduguri in the past few months.

The services chiefs led by Olonisakin arrived the Air Force base in Maiduguri about 11 am yesterday and immediately drove in a heavy convoy of armed soldiers to the headquarters of the Military

Command and Control Centre, where the Theatre Commander met and briefed them.

The military chiefs, THISDAY Defence sources said yesterday would review the tactical situation and decide on the next strategy for containing the terrorists who appeared bent on disproving the federal government’s claim that it had defeated and cleared them from the country.

But speaking in Maiduguri yesterday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche said the service chiefs had commenced the command and control

of the operations from the Military Command and Control Centre, in Maiduguri.

He said the Chief of Defence Staff held a briefing session with the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Theatre Commander and senior principal staff officers of the military high command at the Military Command and Control Centre, and reviewed strategic direction and operational plans of the war against terror in compliance with the directive of the acting president.

Enenche explained that the move and action were

IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION, DON’T FOCUS ON LOOT RECOVERY ALONE, SAYS SARAKI the National Assembly.

Saraki gave the advice while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja yesterday.

Saraki said the anticorruption fight being prosecuted was only directed at the recovery of stolen funds and promised that the National Assembly would help to refocus the campaign.

According to him: “Although recovery is good, it will make no sense to allow more money to be looted only to begin another phase of recoveries. Recovery alone cannot amount to anticorruption fight.

“You see, let us separate recovery from the fight against corruption.

“We still believe that yes, recoveries are being done, but are we doing anything to actively stop corruption going on now?

“This recovery has gone out there; they are two separate issues – the focus I am seeing is recovery but corruption is still there; that is the area that we are focusing on as a senate.

“Anybody that brings a case about what is happening now, we will go in, look at those agencies and expose them.

“We want to continue to represent the people in that way,” the Senate President assured.

He said the Senate would support and ensure that more

funds were not stolen in the country.

Saraki said that the Senate already had a roadmap for the remaining two years of the 8th Assembly.

He said that apart from fighting corruption, building the economy and creating jobs were top on the list of areas that the upper chamber would give attention.

The Senate president said: “Over the next two years, we will continue to focus on the economy to see how we can get the economy moving; how we can create jobs for the teeming youths that are unemployed.

“We will also give attention to improvement on health and education. Education is going to take a lot of attention in the next two years.

“We are going to be looking at the social sides, the issue of education and universal health coverage. That is something that we want to push.

“We will continue to support agriculture. We are looking at some bills that we can pass that will give some kind of stability; it is one of the concerns when people invest in agriculture.

“You know agriculture takes years; people are wondering that the federal government can reverse policies, so we are trying to see what laws can give some measure of security in the areas of investment.

“Much of what we are doing is in economy and intervention; we want the people to see, and if you are having a problem anywhere, bring it to your senator. We want to be responding to the issues,” he stressed.

Saraki said the Senate had already intervened in a lot of issues that affected Nigerians like the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) strike, which the upper chamber had brought to government’s attention.

He added that the Senate also intervened when there were concerns about Islam and Christianity; when communication companies tried to raise data rates; and in the fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, the Senate president has said he has stopped collecting the pension due to him as the former governor of Kwara State.

He said he had written a letter to the Kwara State Government to stop the payment.

“No, I’m not collecting a pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension. So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am not receiving a pension from my state,’’ he said.

Saraki, however, declined to speak on whether serving senators who are former governors should tow his path.

“I think I will leave everybody to their individual decision. Morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up until when you are truly a pensioner. What the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that benefit. With this, we will just simplify the matter, Saraki said.

Speaking on other issues, Saraki said the Senate has not had any serious interaction with the Bank of Infrastructure in the country, but it was involved in some projects.

“We are not engaging with them particularly. I think that they were part of those involved in the Lagos-Ibadan Road. But, I don’t think the government should really put funds into that.

“I have this strong view and I feel very strongly about it, that nowhere in the world has a government funded infrastructure. The government cannot, and even if the government can fund infrastructure projects, the social sector will suffer – health will suffer and education will suffer,” he added.

He noted that following complaints of low budgetary allocation to health, education and other critical sectors, the National Assembly has passed bills that would enhance the

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

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NEWS

Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Davidson Iriekpen Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

Atiku Cautions APC, Other Parties against Undemocratic Acts INEC to unleash joker in 2019 polls Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

general election.

The former vice president Former Vice President, Alhaji said he was particularly Atiku Abubakar, has warned worried over the intrusion the All Progressives Congress of the executive at the state (APC) and other political or federal level in the affairs parties in the country not of the party which has led to toy with the issue of internal failure to organise statutory democracy and freedom of meetings for the organs of the party. choice of their members.

Speaking at the 2017 Atiku also cautioned political parties against the annual conference of the Inter selection of candidates for Party Advisory Council of election, adding that when Nigeria (IPAC) on the theme:, they make wrong choice and ‘Internal Party Democracy’, Waziri Adamawa, that it is the entire nation the said no government can that suffers it.

Atiku’s concern came just build democracy on a as the Independent National substructure of dictatorship Electoral Commission (INEC) and intolerance. In an apparent reference said it would unleash a joker by deploying new technology to his party, the APC, Atiku in the conduct of the 2019 said, lack of regular meetings

Osinbajo Appoints Owasanoye ICPC Chairman

and elections has tended to portray it and other parties as a bullying and undemocratic party. “For a number of years now, we have had political parties, even governing ones, which hardly hold meetings of their important organs, including those meant for the democratic selection of their leadership, or even constitute institutions prescribed in their constitution. “In the absence of those meetings and elections, their existing leadership, often under the direction of the executive at the state or federal level, fill the void.

That’s not party building but party bullying. And it’s certainly not a way to democratise parties and aggregate their members’ opinions, interests and aspirations,� he said.

The APC National

Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, was represented at the event by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Shaibu Lawal, while the Secretary of National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ben Obi, represented the opposition party.

While harping on the dangers of lack of internal party democracy, Atiku said a political party that constricts the freedom of its members cannot really offer freedom to the citizens of the nation. On the touchy issue of executive-legislative face-off, Atiku said lack of internal democracy in political parties was one of the reasons for the frosty relationships between parties and their elected representatives and the legislature and the executive.  He said: “The issue of

internal democracy in our Indeed even elements of political parties has been that authoritarian past still with us for a long time, wield power and influence indeed since the restoration in our country as we try to of civilian rule in 1999. In transition from that legacy. long-established democracies “Also the structure those statements would seem of our economy is such trite. But I recognize that that the state remains the our democracy is young, most important source and our parties are also of economic opportunity. rather young.

This heightens the struggle “As a result, they for state power and helps are still wrestling with to shape the relationship issues of party building, between parties and party structures, internal members, among parties democracy and the nature and among the various of the relationship between arms of government. parties and members, parties “The absence of internal and legislatures and parties democracy in our parties is a and government as well as major reason our democracy among parties themselves.  remains fragile and why “We had a very long the quality of leadership period of authoritarian that we produce has not rule in Nigeria, ending in matched our expectations 1999. The legacy of that and the challenges facing period is still with us as us as a nation. It is also can be seen in our various Cont’d on Pg 50 governance institutions.

Redeploys Nta, sets up c’ttee on looted funds Olawale Ajimotokan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, last night made some major appointments into key federal government’s agencies.

He consequently, redeployed the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Director Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi.

In his place, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye was appointed as chairman with a renewable tenure of five years.

Owasanoye was part of the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption.

Also appointed as members of the ICPC are Dr. Grace N. Chinda, Okolo Titus M., Barr. Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, Group Capt.

Sam Ewang (rtd.), Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed and Abdullahi Maikano Saidu.

Others are Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Daud, Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki, Maimuna Aliyu while Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar would serve as secretary. “The appointment of the chairman is for five years, while the tenure for all the members is four years. Also, these appointments are subject to Senate confirmation,� the statement added.

By the directive, Nta is now to proceed to the salaries, income and wages commission as a fulltime commissioner. Other full time commissioners are Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, mni and Hon. Garba Musa Gulma. Part time commissioners are Mr. Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani, Mr. Geoffery Yeilong, Prof. Ropo

Shekoni and Ahmed Mahmud Gumel while the Permanent Secretary, (Establishment), Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) would serve as member.

Other members are Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Isa Aremu (NLC) and Mr. Chuma Nwankwo (NECA). “The new appointments are for a period of five years. The Chairman of the commission is Chief Richard Egbule, while Mr. E. A. Thompson is the Secretary. Both were appointed in August 2014�, the statement clarified. The government also appointed Siaka Isaiah Idoko ad Chairman/CEO Investment And Security Tribunal while Jude I. Udunni, Mr. Nosa Osemwengie, Abubakar A. Ahmad, and Albert L. Otesile would serve as full-time members. Part time members are Emeka Madubuike, Kasumi Garba Kurfi, Edward O. Ajayi, Onyemaechi E. M. Elujekor and Mamman Bukar Zargana. For the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the government appointed Mr. Chidi K. C. Izuwah as DirectorGeneral. “This appointment is also subject to Senate confirmation,� the statement added.

In another development, “the acting president, with powers conferred on the President by Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 has approved the setting up of a Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property. “The Chairman of the Panel is Chief Okoi Obona-Obla, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution.

Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran is the Secretary to the panel.�

CHANGE OF GUARDS

L-R: Executive Director, ntel, Capt. Hosa Okunbo; Vice Chairman, Dr. Olatunde Ayeni; Acting CEO and CFO, Abhulime Ehiagwina; Chairman, General TY Danjuma; Director, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, during a courtesy call on Danjuma by the board to present the Acting CEO in Lagos....yesterday

Foreign Investors Stake N86.1bn on 2.3% of Dangote Cement Goddy Egene In apparent show of confidence, some foreign investors have bought 2.3 per cent stake in Dangote Cement Plc for N86.1 billion ($236 million). The sale involved 416 million shares that was consummated in six off market deals on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday.

This is the third time foreign investors are buying into Dangote Cement, where Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has a controlling stake.

In 2013, South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC) bought 1.5 per cent for  $289.3 million. Similarly, in 2014, Sovereign fund Investment Corp of Dubai (ICD) acquired 1.4 per cent for $300 million.

Although the identity of the new foreign investors who bought 2.3 per cent yesterday could not be ascertained, the news lifted the price of the stock by 7.26 per cent or N16.25 from N223.75 to N240 per share to record highest price gain in absolute terms.

Reacting to the transaction, a leading stockbroker, Mr. David Adonri, said it is good development for both the company and the Nigerian economy. “As you are aware, Dangote Cement is a multinational entity.

It is capable of eliciting global interest. New foreign investment can be viewed from the perspective that the company is performing very well and that the Nigerian economy is

providing it with necessary enabling environment,� he said.

Dangote Cement is the largest company on the NSE, accounting for a third of the bourse’s total market capitalisation. The company closed with market capitalisation of N4.089 trillion yesterday.

Dangote Cement  recently reported a   24 per cent growth and  profit before tax for the half year ended June 30, 2017  to N155.58 billion.

The company had recorded a profit after tax of N187 billion in 2016 and paid  a dividend of N8.50 per share. Dangote told shareholders that the company’s Pan-African diversification has provided cash streams from countries such as Senegal, Cameroon and Zambia, which

have provided them with essential foreign currency as foreign exchange controls made it difficult for them to obtain dollars for operations. “Furthermore, we were able to borrow money in these countries’ local currencies, thus reducing our exposure to foreign currency shortages in Nigeria. In addition, we began to generate foreign currency sales from exports of cement from Nigeria to Ghana,�

Dangote said.

He  noted that the results of strategic decisions taken years ago enabled Dangote Cement to strengthen its business and consolidate its position in 2016  when many others in Nigeria and across the rest of Africa have struggled against economic downturn.

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

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COMMENT

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

WHY THE NGO BILL LACKS MERIT Sonnie Ekwowusi argues that the bill is antithetical to democratic values

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he NGO Control Bill still pending at the House of Representatives lacks merit and therefore should be rejected. It is brought mala fide. It is oppressive.

It is repressive. It is antithetical to democratic values. Above all, it is unconstitutional. The full title of the bill is: A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of a Non-Governmental Organisations Regulatory Commission for the Supervision, Coordination and Monitoring of Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, etc., and For Related Matters. The sponsor of the bill is the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Umar Buba Jibril. The bill first found its way to the House of Representatives in 2016 where it has even scaled first and second readings.

I have read the bill. For all intents and purposes, it is mischievously misconceived. It is aimed at commanding, controlling, blackmailing, intimidating and manipulating Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) such as neighbourhood organisations, families, churches, town unions, village assemblies and other voluntary organisations in order to rob them of their independence and efficacy in the revitalisation of the society. In other words, under the pretext of assisting CSOs and NGOs in Nigeria to fulfil their objectives and to ensure transparency and accountability in their operations, Hon. Jibril’s bill essentially seeks to emasculate or gag NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria. The bill even stipulates that all CSOs and NGOs in Nigeria should register and clear with NGO Regulatory Commission before starting their operations in Nigeria. Which means that the bill does not recognise the registration of NGOs and CSOs under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 (CAMA). Terrible. I hope that the bill will finally find its resting place in the dustbin after the public hearing on it slated to hold at the National Assembly in September 2017. Certainly members of the various NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria will storm the National Assembly in September to proffer cogent reasons why the bill deserves to be killed instantly.

I do not think that Hon. Jibril is well informed about the existing laws regulating NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria otherwise he would have known that there are already existing laws to that effect. In fact, our greatest challenge in Nigeria is not lack of laws but lack of enforcement of laws. For example, CAMA has clearly provided for the various ways of regulating, supervising, coordinating and monitoring of NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria. What is the raison d’être of the Economic and Financila Crimes Commission if not to tackle economic crime or NGO crime? So we do not need Jibril’s law to regulate NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria. More importantly, considering that the objective of the NGOs and CSOs is to promote not-for-profit social, cultural, charitable, scientific and voluntary projects, the objective can best be fulfilled by their Trustees not through government control. Therefore Hon. Jibril’s bill is superfluous. It is an unnecessary interference in the private affairs of CSOs and NGOs in Nigeria in violation of their rights to personal liberty, freedom of as-

THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP SEEING NGOS AND CSOS AS COMPETITORS OR RIVALRIES BUT AS PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

sociation, freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

If the government suspects that a particular NGO or CSO working in Nigeria is an instrument of fraud it should set the law in motion against such NGO and CSO. But what the government cannot do is to send the Department of State Services to harass or arrest the officials of NGOs or CSOs or set up a totalitarian mechanism that robs NGOs and CSOs of their independence and free initiatives that augur well for their growth and societal wellbeing.

It is a big paradox that in an age in which many countries are relying more and more on CSOs, NGOs, closely-bound communities, strong families ties, tightly-knit neigbourhoods and active voluntary organisation in tackling many social problems, the Nigerian government is busy gagging and emasculating the NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria. The laws governing voluntary organisations or what are now known in modern political thought as CSOs and NGOs go back in their origin to ancient times. Besides, registered NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria already posses an independence and legitimacy recognised by existing Nigerian law and successive Nigerian governments. They do not need to register with any NGO regulatory commission in order to acquire a new legitimacy to operate in Nigeria. Their legitimacy to operate in Nigeria is implicitly founded in inalienable rights of associations and expressly founded under the existing Nigerian law.

Since the beginning of the 60s there has been a resurgence of an intellectual and political movement in the United States to resuscitate the American Civil Society and to give it an important place in the American democratic experiments. In fact under the respective administrations of Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and even Barack Obama, the American political landscape was reshaped to accommodate the work of NGOs and CSOs. According to Michael S. Joycee and William A Shambra, every American president since 1964 to date has as a thrust of policy the denunciation of the bureaucratic monstrousity of a centralised government and invigoration of small communities. Bill Clinton, for example, disliked big government and suggested a return to “organic networks”. “Our problems,” he said, “go beyond the reach of government. They’re rooted in the loss of values, in the disappearance of work and the breakdown of families and communities…problems will be solved only when all of us are willing to join churches and other good citizens…who are saving kids, adopting schools, making street safer”. Following the commitments of Carter, Nixon, Clinton, Obama and several American presidents, the United States has been relying on CSOs and NGOs in the rebuilding of its social order. The idea is to empower Americans through the empowerment of CSOs and NGOs. Therefore the Nigerian government should stop seeing NGOs and CSOs in Nigeria as competitors or rivalries but as partners in progress.

Civil Society predates government. Government was created to serve the civil society not to strangulate it. Civil society is not an appendage to government; rather it has priority over the government because it is in the civil society that government finds its origin and justification.

THE FOUR‘CS’OF LEADERSHIP

Leaders must be committed to the task ahead of them, writes Bitrus Plangsat

I

was among the few African’s who attended the first European Conference on Politics and Gender in Belfast, United Kingdom a few years back. Various papers were presented on political parties and representation, gender, power and resistance, challenges to implementing gender, mainstreaming in the EU which could easily be adapted to third world situation and in this case Nigeria in particular. But the most interesting part of the conference for me was the conference dinner which took place on the second day of the conference and Baroness May Blood, a one-time member of the MBE presented the after-dinner speech in the Great Hall inside the Lanyon Building of Queen’s University, Belfast.

Years after the conference, her speech remained fresh in my mind.

Baroness Blood had contributed in so many ways to building bridges of peace as well as assisting women in vulnerable conditions during and after the conflicts in Belfast. Like many others, she believed that leadership could be found in all segments of the society, but the one that comes with a lot of responsibilities and desires accountability at all costs is that which one is elected or called upon to serve in a public office. She recounted what she learnt when she went into politics, which to her, is a reality and all human leaders struggle to deal with it at one point or the other. It is called the “Four Cs” of leadership: Challenge, Change, Compromise and Commitment.

She eloquently recalled how these four Cs kept ringing a bell and it was evident that with leadership comes responsibility. A journey into her world of experience shows that the first thing that comes into one’s mind is the challenge every leader encounters. Often they ask: What do I know? What can I do in this office? Do I have anything to offer?

This, she explained, has much to do with the fact that in every office or position, you have to be sure of yourself and what you think you know and be ready to deliver. This is predicated on the fact that what one needs to deliver at one point in time needs to go in line with situations and particularly in the face of the apprehension of the masses, bearing in mind that their needs are not static.

The second, which is the ‘change’ component, is more or less what is lacking in leadership these days. Each leader, she pointed out, needs to find out if there is anything he or she has to offer that is different from what others are giving or have given that could make the world a better place. She stressed that often, leaders have struggled to change their lifestyles from a simple to a sophisticated one, which is not necessarily any change in value as it relates to leadership, but rather their dressing, their relationship (Often restricted from society and any form of interaction) instead of a change in leadership style itself which has to do so much with a servant relationship of what an incumbent can do to change the society and the lots of others.

A leader needs to bring changes and be interested in the modernisation of key sectors of the economy by collaborating with the citizenry and making them understand their vision for a better society.

The third factor, compromise, means that the leader must work with others without suspicion, and this is largely because working with what you get is an important ingredient in leadership.

Compromise, in this context, simply means constantly allowing oneself to be inconvenienced for the benefit of others; that policies made should be for the good of the society even if it is not of immediate benefit to the leader. This presupposes that a better life for an office holder should flow into a better life for the masses. It equally means trying

at all times to be selfless and be able to listen from the perspective of the other by regularly engaging with constituents and keeping them informed of the policies and actions of government.

The fourth and most important and interesting aspect of politics is commitment. According to Blood, commitment means “stand by it to the end.”

It encompasses all the three aspects- challenge, change and compromise. It also means that a leader must strive to fulfil what he or she promised in political manifesto in line with the common sense that a leader is only as good as their word. The leader must be committed to maintaining integrity by letting the people know who they are. She stressed that this is a hard and moral decision that is not easy to make, because people around you would want to change you but it is possible to work your way through that.

Every leader has his or her own challenges but with determination, a lonely road could be made busy and interesting. Leaders must be committed to the task ahead of them, they must adhere to the rules and regulations meant to assist them in making things go well. Leaders must all learn to be resolute, believing that on this lonely road, people might be there or not and that it might be confusing but with determination and commitment success is certain.

Leaders should be able to learn about people.

In other words, what people expect of them is that they must strive to communicate at all times and let their constituents know possibly those needs that can be met on a short-term basis and long-term.

Leaders must learn about change, because change is constant and thus the need to constantly upgrade all aspects of life to meet up with these changes as they constitute the realities of leadership. Only a shallow minded leader will have a one sided approach or

solution to issues. The world is constantly changing, thus, the need for dynamic and contingent leaders to appropriately deal with emerging challenges.

Blood further emphasised the imperative of leaders talking in the language of the people as one of such challenge. A leader must use words the people can easily understand and interpret at all times. Similarly, leaders should learn to be available at all times and speak even more often even at the most unusual places or occasions like town hall meetings, religious worship places, conferences, etc. They should take advantage of gatherings of all sorts even though in reality, fear of oppositions sometimes capacitates some leaders in taking up the challenge of interacting freely with the citizenry.

To sum it up, leaders must always understand that it is not them but the office and that it calls for caution as they use the office because others will also use it after them. The office can be likened to a car and the driver. The driver should at all times maintain the car because the car must be safe and in good condition to be able to take people to their destination. Thus, patience must be seen as a virtue that must be upheld by all leaders. This has to be displayed from the start of things to the end. A leader has to be strong to pull through and believe in what he or she is pulling through. A leader should have a lovely mental picture of what he or she intends to achieve. But the big challenge, according to Blood, is for a leader to constantly ask himself or herself these questions: Am I ready for what I am going in for? Am I fit for it and am I sure I can get to where I am going? What difference can I make?

The answers to these questions provide a means to overcoming contemporary leadership challenges.

Dr. Plangsat wrote from Department of Political Science and Centre for Gender and Women Studies, University of Jos

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EDITORIAL SECURITY LAPSES AT AIRPORTS Aviation authorities must review their security operations for efficiency

A

nother shocking incident of stowaway was recently reported when a young Nigerian hid himself in the spares and equipment compartment of Medview Airline’s Boeing B747 and travelled to Gatwick Airport in London. The plan of the suspect was to drop on landing in London but he was unable to sneak out of the aircraft because his expectation that the aircraft would be delayed till night did not materialise. Rather, after disembarking its passengers from Lagos, those travelling back boarded the ight. Knowing that if he came out he would be seen and arrested in London, the suspect stayed in the aircraft. On arrival back in Lagos, he was eventually seen, arrested and handed over to the police.

In the past 10 years, there have been several incidents of stowaways and the stories did not always end this way. Although this suspect survived because of where he hid himself, others who attempted to leave Nigeria through similar means died. But the pertinent question remains: supposing the suspect was with a bomb, would he not have succeeded in destroying all the IT IS IMPORTANT FOR lives of the passengers THE AIRLINES TO REVIEW THEIR SECURITY on board that ight in what could easily OPERATIONS FOR have become one of THE SAFETY OF THEIR the greatest tragedies PASSENGERS WHILE THE in Nigerian aviation AUTHORITIES MUST DO history?

EVERYTHING TO END Fortunately, the THE REGULAR FLIGHT TO suspect was only DEATH BY MANY OF OUR desperate to get out of DESPERATE CITIZENS the country to what he believed would be a better place and that has been the drive behind many attempted stowaways. But if there is anything the incident has reinforced, it is the inadequacy of security at the nation’s airports. The suspect, for instance, waded through four levels of security before he could get into

Letters to the Editor

the aircraft. And none of them was able to stop him. Not only have aviation security operatives been confounded by the successful access of the stowaway to the aircraft, they have also admitted that the Lagos airport and other airports in the country are porous.

The stowaway confessed that he accessed the airport terminal through the protocol area that is usually manned by the police between the Hajj/Cargo terminal and the international terminal. The ďŹ rst security buffer is the perimeter fencing, which he scaled through. The second is the close circuit television (CCTV) which ought to monitor movements to the airside and he also escaped this. The third is the aviation security (AVSEC) ofďŹ cials who were supposed to man the tarmac 24 hours and they also did not notice the young man. The fourth is the security in charge of the aircraft. He also beat them.

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oday, many Nigerians are desperate to leave the country by all means possible for assumed greener pastures that in most cases are no longer available. In fact, the situation is so grim that many of our young citizens now give themselves two options: either to arrive at their destination or die trying.

But it is remarkable that out of the number of those who stowed away on international ight to other parts of the world, this suspect was the only person that survived.

While all others died in the wheel-well of the aircraft, this one survived because he hid himself in the spares compartment of the B747, the only aircraft type that has such compartment. But he and others before him who were able to access aircraft ying to international destinations succeeded because of the porous security at the airports.

Given the implications of the incident, we urge the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to review the National Civil Aviation Security Programmes (NCASP) and ensure compliance by all operators. It is also important for the airlines to review their security operations for the safety of their passengers while the authorities must do everything to end the regular ight to death by many of our desperate young citizens.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

THE AGONY OF DISTRESSED NIGERIANS

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s devoted human rights campaigners, our official and private lines are usually inundated with calls from distressed members of the civil society. These callers ranged from house wives confronting different facets of brutal domestic abuses and violence to single girls and men who have wandered the major streets of townships and cities searching for the elusive white collar jobs, but can’t find any.

Sadly, the other frustrating type of calls comes from gravely distressed Nigerians who can’t find three square meals daily.

For 10 years we have administered our organisation as a platform that uses the media to highlight the daily challenges of human rights’ violations that occur daily affecting the ordinary citizens of Nigeria.

But I can confess that the last year and half is obviously the most pathetic in terms of degeneration of the economic wellbeing of Nigerians. Between December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985 when the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari masterminded a military junta, Nigeria witnessed economic austerity measures that led to scarcity of essential commodities such as consumables to the extent that those items nearly became rationed just like what currently obtains in Venezuela.

Yours faithfully as a junior high school student remembers vividly joining the queues to be able to buy confectionery and household items whilst running errands for my parents. That was the memories of the first coming of Muhammadu Buhari as head of state.

His second coming since May 29, 2015 after an incumbent accepted defeat and handed him over the baton of political leadership, the national economy has gone from bad to worse precipitating one of the harshest meltdowns in the political annals of our nation.

Although it is a fact that since 1999 when the extant constitution came into being, the chapter two which emphasises the fundamental objective principles of state policies have never been implemented but never has the national economy reached the threshold it has been in the last one year. This is because on the average, our office receives a dozen communications on daily basis which specifically have to do with complaints from Nigerians that their family members are hungry and indeed economically depressed. Just before committing these thoughts into writing, a call from a family in Port Harcourt and basically the caller wanted to know how we can provide immediate bailout for the family to eat today. “Hello, is that the National Coordinator�, the caller asked from the other end and then added thus: “please send us money to eat. We are starving in my family�.

Immediately I ended the call with the person from Port Harcourt, another call emanated from Jos, Plateau Sate from a family that wants us to assist them to pay a hospital bill for one of the members who needs a medical emergency.

At other times, we have had to struggle to find responses to give some of these callers who are in need of urgent financial bailouts for urgent medical emergencies. The cases of persons not being able to meet the medical emergencies that confront them has to do with the non-existence of an effective national health insurance scheme unlike in most other climes whereby the right to medical insurance is what defines the essence of good governance.

In Nigeria, the NHIS is marred in internal administrative corruption and inefficiency. The Executive Secretary has just been suspended but he has denied all the allegations of wrongdoing.

This last point takes us to the issue of corruption and inefficiency in the system which has crippled the capacity of the health institutions to

dispense health insurance.

Whereas over 165 million of Nigerians are too poor and economically weak to pay for private medical treatments, the public health sector is almost in a stage of comatose.

In some federating units, even the long-existed general hospitals have been sold out to private entrepreneurs at giveaway prices and the populace exposed to early deaths.

Imo State is one bad example when we talk about public health care because the current governor has reportedly auctioned away most of the functional health facilities to his alleged cronies, thereby letting the poor citizens to contend with looking for healthcare from the many quack health facilities that dot the state. Most states are not better off than the Imo State’s experience.

What makes all these experiences very terrifying is that President Muhammadu Buhari has been in and out of private hospitals in London, United Kingdom at public expense.

Only recently the Cable News Network pejoratively stated that Nigeria is the only country whereby the president has been to a foreign medical facility for over two months without returning to his nation. Apart from economic recession which is biting so severely since the current government came on board, the problem of unemployment has spiralled out of control even by official estimates. The National Bureau of Statistics recently issued a report showing how disturbing the unemployment issue has become. In a given month over a million employed persons are sacked because of the rapidly collapsing infrastructure in the country which had not created the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and engage more hands.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, Head of Human rights Writers Association of Nigeria

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

The Travails of Banire

For seeking an inclusive and transparent process in the conduct of primaries for the local government elections in Lagos State, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire, is under attack, writes Shola Oyeyipo

T

he plot to boot out the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) from the party is thickening by the day.

The legal practitioner-academicianturned politician is being haunted because he is a leftist in the Lagos political spectrum. Against all odds, he has continued to insist that things must be done orderly in the ruling party without giving a hoot about whose ox is gored.

Before now, Banire used to be one of the closest political allies of former governor of the state and national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu. He was a commissioner in his cabinet for eight years. However, the relationship broke down when Banire aspired to be governor of Lagos only to discover that his political mentor, Tinubu had a different idea. Tinubu supported Ambode and Banire was left in the cold.

At that point, the reality of how politics is played in this part of the world suddenly dawned on him. He thought of quitting the political arena altogether and concentrating on law practice.

He however, admitted that it was not a do or die affair to be governor. He chose to stay on.

Perhaps, he is playing the game in line with the old tradition of he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. Buoyed by a formidable political structure, Banire hopes that tomorrow will bring good tidings.

But then, he isn’t going to sit idly by and watch. Even if it amounts to stepping on the toes of the godfather , he is determined to put up a fight to change the way politics is played in Lagos. He is now a champion of orderliness in the party. He is a lone voice calling for orderliness and respect for the constitution of the party. Banire is especially against imposition of candidates for elective offices.

That has been his position since the 2014 governorship election primaries. But that cause is going to bring him on a collision cause with his mentor. How prepared is he for the battle?

Does he have the financial muzzle to champion this course? Only time will decide. For now, it appears he has prepared himself to go the long haul.

The no-love-lost relationship between Banire and the APC leadership in Lagos reached a crescendo in the build up to the recently concluded July 22 local government elections. First, he wrote a letter to the state’s APC Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale warning against the decision to conduct primaries election for all the aspirants in a centralised location on the grounds that it would amount to a violation of the party’s constitution to do so.

Going by his position, the unified primary election held on May 27 at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos was alien to the party constitution. He maintained that the local government executives had the powers under the party’s constitution to designate suitable venues for the exercise.

The letter reads in part: “I must say that I do not want to believe that the essence of seeking to centralise the conduct of the primaries is to manipulate and rig the process in favour of certain imposed candidates. I urge transparency and fairness in the conduct of the primaries. It is necessary to avoid any exercise in futility.”

Eventually, the events that ensued at the primaries and the crisis that followed are still points of reference in debates on the primaries.

He was proven right. Angry party’s supporters destroyed ballot boxes over allegations of imposition of candidates at the election. People at the event ran for their lives as fracas escalated.

The protesters turned their anger on a former

Banire…his insistence on following the rules got him into trouble

Commissioner for Tourism in the state, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, who was the chairman of the electoral committee. They attacked him and he was nearly stripped naked before policemen rescued and led him to safety. Some unlucky persons were injured.

There were also protests across the local government over names that eventually emerged as party candidates. It took dexterous moves on the part of the governor and other leaders of the party to do some give and takes that restored some level of peace in the party before the elections.

But that peaceful resolution was not achieved in Odi Olowo Local Development Area where a suit was filed by one Hon Hakeem Abolaji Saka against the APC and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC). He had asked the court to declare that no primaries were held on May 27 in respect of the Odi Olowo APC LCDA chairmanship office and that prayer was granted by Justice Doris Okwobi of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

She ruled that no primaries were held on the May 27, 2017 in the LCDA and ordered the APC to conduct fresh primary elections for Odi Olowo.

During the hearing, Banire, through the office of the National Legal Adviser, told the court that he warned the Lagos State chapter of the party to obey the provisions of the party’s constitution by organising delegates election and to avoid imposition. He also told the court

Even if it amounts to stepping on the toes of the godfather, he is determined to put up a fight to change the way politics is played in Lagos

that the national secretariat of the party had also warned the state chapter to ensure internal democracy by ensuring democratic primaries were held for all aspirants and he told the court that the warnings were not heeded.

It was against that background that Ajomale, accused Banire of being behind the case that brought about fresh primaries in the LCDA, which he described as an ‘ambush’. An allegation Banire denied, but maintained that he acted within his scope as the National Legal Adviser to the APC since Lagos State is not a legal entity in the party constitution.

Constrained to hold the rescheduled primaries with one time vice chairman, Raska Ajala emerging as the candidate, the party had to get the Lagos State House of Assembly to hurriedly amend and pass into law, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017 four days to the July 22 council elections. It was the only way Ajala’s name could be submitted to LASIEC since the time to submit candidates names had lapsed.

Suddenly, protesters from Mushin Local Government Area and Odi Olowo LCDA, Banire’s strongholds started demanding his suspension from the party for alleged anti-party activities.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Femi Martins, claimed that Banire had made public utterances capable of causing disaffection and electoral misfortune for the APC. In a petition addressed to Ambode, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and the state’s APC chairman, the protesters listed 17 crimes allegedly committed by Banire against the Lagos APC to warrant the call for his expulsion from the party.

As if that is not enough, the Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni has again dragged Banire before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja for alleged forgery of his purported withdrawal letter from the 2015 election into Lagos Island Constituency 1 of the house in a suit filed alongside the duo of Babatunde John Kehinde and Alhaji Kazeem Olatunji They are asking the court to declare Banire

as unfit to continue to occupy the office of the party’s National Legal Adviser on the grounds of alleged forgery, anti-party activities and breach of several provisions of the APC constitution.

In a 37-paragraph supporting affidavit detailing alleged atrocities against Banire, Sanni averred that having scaled through the nomination and screening of aspirants processes, he contested the primaries of APC on December 2, 2014 along with seven other aspirants and emerged as the party’s candidate and that upon the announcement of his name as the winner, the party issued him with the nomination form as its candidate for the election, but that in gross violation of his legal right, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully substituted his name with that of Hakeem Masha as the candidate of the party for the election based on a false withdrawal letter purportedly caused to be written by Banire in his capacity as National Legal Adviser.

Sanni said the withdrawal letter dated January 9, 2015 had his signature and name, whereas there was no time he wrote such letter. He said he approached the Federal High Court in Lagos and in a judgment in suit with reference number FHC/L/CS/34/2015, Justice Mohammed Buba upheld the reliefs sought and ordered his reinstatement as the lawful candidate of the APC. He noted that ever since then the party has not made him (Banire) explain why the letter was written.

Sanni also accused Banire of anti-party activities and breach of several provisions of APC constitution. He cited what he called “the unauthorised publicity” of the party’s dispute in Lagos State by Banire in a national daily without reference to Lagos APC or the national executive committee among other reasons. He called on the court to relieve Banire of his job as the party’s legal officer.

But as the battle of wit and strength continues in Lagos APC, the embattled Banire has been receiving some accolades for standing strong against the power brokers in the state. The National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in a published article, commended him for standing up to the Lagos hegemony “like a real man with good balls and eyeballto-eyeball.”

Also, a legal practitioner and deputy convener, United Action for Change (UAC), where Banire is the convener, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, had described those who protested against Banire as engaging in “inglorious show of self-immolation.” Not only did he give kudos to Banire’s exemplary boldness to stand up for the truth in the face intimidation, he said the UAC was fully in support of everything the APC National Legal Adviser did.

The latest development in the strained intraparty relationship is that an executive committee of the APC in Mushin local government area had announced that Banire had been suspended, a move Banire dismissed on the grounds that a local chapter of the APC could not suspend a national officer.

Reacting to the news of his suspension, Banire said: “I have just been told that a press release is circulating around from the state government that I have been suspended. This is another orchestrated lie by the state. I am still the substantive legal adviser of the party above being suspended by any organ but the national leadership of the APC. For those who care, they should watch media outlets tonight and tomorrow to watch me present my constitutional amendment report to the National Chairman. They should ignore the mischief.”

It is now a matter of who will blink first.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

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THE NEWSMAKER

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Shehu Sani: Combining Activism with Politics For the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Shehu Sani, there is nothing wrong with combining activism with politics, writes Segun James

T

o describe Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, as a political activist, will not be out of place. This is because he has not left anyone in doubt of the fact that he joined politics to promote welfare of the people and he is ready to do this either through protest, press conference, lecture of demonstration.

The really surprising thing about the attack on him by thugs as he addressed journalists at the Press Centre of the Kaduna Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is that it took so long in happening. He was attacked alongside Senator Othman Suleiman Hunkuyi and other prominent members of the party.

Sani has been a torn in the flesh of Governor Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State since the two of them came into power after sweeping out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election.

He had always being a social gadfly, but lately, he has assumed the position of a political gadfly who at every turn had put the actions of the governor under heavy scrutiny and criticism, an habit that the governor often finds irritating.

At the end of the fracas, a cameraman with a private radio and television station, Liberty Radio and Television, was seriously injured while several mobile phones and recorders belonging to journalists were allegedly destroyed by the thugs who invaded the conference hall.

In December last year, his campaign office in Kaduna was attacked by unknown gunmen. At the time of the attack, some of his supporters were meeting at the campaign office.

Last Sunday’s attack must be a wake up call for the senator. Sani described the attack as an attempt to kill him and others. But, Sani is not someone who will give up so easily. After the attack, he said: “I will not tolerate sadism or fascism in our party. Those who are afraid of elections deserve no place in a democracy.”

Elsewhere, where security of citizens is a top priority, these attacks should be an indication that security ought to be beefed up around the senator.

But then, who is Shehu Sani and why is he such a political gadfly?

He was born on the 29th October 1967. An author and a playwright, he is also a human rights activist.

He was President of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria (CRCN) and the Chairman of Hand-in-Hand, Africa, a Pan-Africa NonGovernmental-Organisation. He was a leading figure in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. He has been arrested and jailed by past military regimes in Nigeria.

He was released from a sentence of life imprisonment when democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999. He contested and won the Kaduna Central Senatorial District on 28 March 2015. Although, he had wanted to be governor, somehow, he lost the chance to El Rufai.

Sani had his primary schooling at Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Badarawa, and Kaduna between 1975 and 1980.

He enrolled at Government Day Secondary school, Kagara, Niger State (1980–84), and proceeded to Government Science College School, Kagara, Niger State. He gained admission into the Kaduna Polytechnic in 1984, to study Agricultural Engineering up to HND level, in 1993.

During his school days at Kaduna Polytechnic, he was a student union activist. He was Chairman, Central Mobilization Committee of Pan-African Student Organization and President African Democratic Youth Congress. He served as social Director Kaduna State Students Union.

Sani came from a Nigerian middle-class family.

His father was a production manager who trained in the United Kingdom and Germany and had worked with pro-Northern New Nigerian Newspaper for 30 years. Before that he worked as a printer with the Kano-based Daily Mail.

He was also the government printer for Sokoto State from 1976 to 1979.

His father had a well stocked library where he drenched himself and drank from the pool

Sani...under siege for fighting injustice

of literary knowledge, especially books on socialism and politics of the left. At that period, there was a massive inflow of literature from Eastern Europe. The exposure to books helped shaped his thoughts and leftist perception of life, as well as exposing him to the reality and decadence brought to the society by military dictatorship.

Sani was equally influenced by his mother who was a community women’s leader; and the likes of Aminu Kano and the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and PRP (Peoples Redemption Party) radical politics.

From Kaduna Polytechnic, Sani plunged into national activism. He was introduced into the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Nigeria’s umbrella pro-democracy group by activists like Femi Falana and Beko Ransome-Kuti and thereafter served as the Northern Coordinator and National Vice-Chairman of the group.

He was first detained in July 1993 under the regime of General Ibrahim Babagida. His offence then was that he advocated for the revalidation of the result of the 12 June 1993 presidential election polls won by the Late

Elsewhere, where security of citizens is a top priority, these attacks should be an indication that security ought to be beefed up around the senator

Chief M. K. O. Abiola.

Sani was charged at a magistrate court, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna, for sedition. During the interim government of Chief Earnest Shonekan, Sani was arrested and detained for two weeks and later charged to court for sedition again.

During General Sani Abacha’s regime, he was implicated in the 1995 phantom coup and subsequently jailed for life and later commuted to 15 years by the Patrick Aziza Special Military Tribunal that convicted the likes of General Olusegun Obasanjo (later President), Col Lawan Gwadabe (rtd) and Chris Anyanwu and other journalists.

His charges were: “Accessory to the fact of treason and managing an unlawful society (the Campaign for Democracy)”. He was detained in various prisons: Kirikiri, Kaduna, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Aba. Before his several incarceration, Sani co-founded the Movement for Unity and Progress and teamed up with other northern progressives such as Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.), Dr Bala Usman, Mr James Bawa Magaji and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, to fight for the actualization of 12 June annulled presidential election and other causes.

Sani is renowned for providing human rights campaign support to the poor and the disadvantaged and in the process had clashed with security agents and other state power-wielders.

During the religious riots in Kaduna in 2000, he was the only human right activist in Kaduna that came out in the heat of the violence to condemn the massacre. In 2005, he was appointed to reshape the civil society in the national conference.

Traditional rulers in the conference asked that Shehu Sani be barred from further speaking when he asked for their dissolution because of their pliant support for military dictator in the past. The chairman of the commission, Justice Niki Tobi turned down the call. During the riot in Kaduna, he pioneered the distribution of relief materials and initiated the visit to the “war zone” at the time when it was the most suicidal thing to contemplate.

Under President Olusegun’s administration, Sani was appointed as a member of the African Union’s African Peer Review Mechanism, Member of the United Nation Reform Committee. He was also appointed as a member of the Presidential Committee on Prison Reforms, Presidential Committee on the Control of Violent Crimes and Illegal Weapons, Presidential Committee on Petroleum Products Prices, Presidential Committee on Conflict Resolution and Member of the Charles Taylor Investigation Committee.

He was also appointed by the Nigerian Government as a board member of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Sani was a member of the Presidential Committee on National Security and Civic Responsibility.

Today, he is the Senate Committee Chairman on Local & Foreign Debts and also serves as the Vice Chairman on Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Giving his decision to speak for the voiceless and his commitment to a just and an egalitarian society, there is no indication that Sani will be out of trouble very soon. In fact, the course he had chosen for himself is such that will always bring him in clash with the powers that be.

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FEATURES

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

Tutoring the Next Generation Nigeria’s leading lights in the literary world gathered under one roof recently to pass on the baton to the next generation of litterateurs. Luckily, Ijaw children mostly from schools in Bayelsa were the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Addeh reports

T

o many who were fortunate to be present at the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, Bayelsa State, venue of the event that brought Nigeria’s best minds together recently, it was a moment of awe, a mix of reverential fear and a feeling of disbelief.

They had read their books, both young and old, watched their plays being re-enacted on stage and even seen them on television, but being under the same roof with this waning generation of Nigerian writers, its finest breed yet, was a dream come true for many in the gathering.

It doesn’t happen often, but when it did on July 14, 2017, the coming together of Prof.

Wole Soyinka, Prof. John Pepper Clark, Dr. Gabriel Okara, Dr. Odia Ofeimun and one of Nigeria’s finest historians, Prof. Joe Alagoa, to interact with over 1,000 students of Ijaw descent was described as ‘historic’.

For some students in the audience who had the privilege of asking questions that had bothered them about these seemingly ‘mysterious' men for a long time, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would be cherished for a long time to come.

And why not? It is a difficult task bringing such great and accomplished elders to speak on the same podium. Okara, a renowned Niger Delta-born poet, popular for his poem ‘Call of The River Nun and The Voice’, a novel he wrote in 1964, is already 96 years old.

Interestingly also, the session held a day after Soyinka’s 83rd birthday and a cake was promptly cut to mark the auspicious occasion at the venue of the colloquium. To add to the list of sages was, of course Prof. JP Clark, born in 1935 and who is already 82.

Completing the company of ‘wise old men' was Alagoa, who is 84 and then although far younger, Ofeimun, a poet and brilliant polemicist, 67 and author of ‘The Poet Lied’ is by any standards not a young man.

So, it was not just a gathering of brilliant minds, it was one where men with decades of experience in the world of arts came together to light the torch for the next generation.

The British-born Principal of the school, Mr. Charles Johnson, set the tone for the meeting when he told the students that the conversation they were about to have with the men of letters was not ordinary. “Very often, we can learn an enormous amount from great men. And we are going to hear from lots of great men today,� Johnson told the audience. He continued: “I think there is a real difference between the idea of being clever and the idea of wisdom. The ability to be clever is something you have all got. “You have all passed quite a hard and competitive examination to get here. You are some of the most able children of the Ijaw tribe.

But the difference between being clever and being wise is the application of the cleverness.�

It was then Governor Seriake Dickson’s turn to encourage the youngsters and remind them of the rare opportunity of a lifetime they were about to encounter. “Listen and learn from the wisdom of these great icons not just of our own country, but world leaders in their own right. “These great men don’t pay too much attention to mundane things as you can see.

You have seen them. They live simply, yet profoundly. Living lives of great impact,� he informed them.

In his speech which was punctuated by resounding intermittent applauses, the governor quickly drew a line between himself and the literary icons, rather modestly, revealing that he intended to go back to school after his

L-R: A student of Ijaw National Academy during a question and answer session with Prof. Joe Alagoa, Dr. Gabriel Okara and Prof. Wole Soyinka. Over 1,000 students of Ijaw descent were present

Prof. Wole Soyinka (right) receiving a painting of him done by an SS2 student of INA

second term. “Today’s event is not for me. I am not one of these giants, but I intend to go back to school after my service and also aspire to be a professor

Listen and learn from the wisdom of these great icons not just of our own country, but world leaders in their own right.

These great men don’t pay too much attention to mundane things as you can see.You have seen them. They live simply, yet profoundly. Living lives of great impact

because that was really what I wanted to be; to teach and write and contribute to the body of knowledge, but I am not yet qualified to join them,� Dickson said.

A visibly excited governor added: “When we were your age, we read their works and got inspired. They are here to talk to you and expand your horizons. My charge to you is to ask you to soar as high as your dreams can take you.�

He assured them that many more dignitaries, including former and serving presidents will come to have uplifting interactions with them. “Many more presidents will be here, and you know in this great state, we also have a former president (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan).

He too loves education, I know that. We have discussed it. At the appropriate time they will come and interact with you,� he noted.

The occasion provided the students an opportunity to ask the veterans any question bothering them and find answers to them.

Tagged ‘A Day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw Literary Icons�, members of the audience, mostly secondary school students were itching to know how

many books they needed to write to win a Nobel Prize like Professor Soyinka.

They wanted to know the best time of the day to write an award-winning work of art; they wanted to take Soyinka back to how he felt on winning the Nobel Prize 31 years ago.

And as it turned out, the elders were quite ready for the torrents of questions.

But before then, a question was thrown at the octogenarian historian, Alagoa on the right time to write award-winning books.

Do you have any specific (best) time when you feel you should write? , fired one of the anxious students. “I think every writer should develop a pattern of work,� he began. “For me, waking up very early in the morning before others wake up.

That’s about the best time for me to write. “As a historian, I do tell the stories of our people. But not in as engaging and clear and visible and affecting the different emotions of people like the literary people. There is a magic that they can bring to the story,� he said.

This was quickly countered by Ofeimun who described Alagoa, known for his seminal works ‘A History of the Niger Delta’ and ‘The

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FEATURES

Practice of History in Africa’ as a ‘stylist' and not just a run of the mill historian.

Alagoa continued: “This is because the historian has to rely on evidence, something that has come from the past, to interpret and tell the story of humanity; who we are and expecting to give us some wisdom. “For example, our cultures are inextricably linked and joined and we find that we have relations with communities right across the River Niger up to Sokoto. “From excavations that were done in Sokoto and in the Niger Delta, even to Lagos and beyond, I believe our lives, our fortunes, our destinies are all united. That’s a story that we historians can tell,� Alagoa said.

Juliet Johnny, a JSS 2 INA student, Stephen Praise, Ikede Majesty were some other students who were asked to grill the sages.

Johnny fired the second: Sir what does it take to be a Nobel Laureate and how many books do I have to write to have the award? “I can assure you that it is not the quantity,�

Soyinka started. “It’s the quality and very often the relevance and finally the literary taste of that particular work. Because literature is very subjective and very often a lot that happens depends on the taste of any jury deciding on the work. “So, yes, it might be the quality, it is also the relevance, but ultimately, whether we like it or not, it is the taste of the jury which is deciding on the work of art,� he explained.

Little Miss Praise was next. “I have a question for my mentor, Prof. Wole Soyinka,� she quipped. “As a writer what comes first, the title, story line or just a word?

After a long pause, the professor responded, “It’s a very difficult question� even as he attempted to explain his point.

He told the students of the school, a free-boarding, free-tuition institution that how literary minds decide to go about their works depends on the individual. “It’s a very difficult question. Sometimes an idea sticks in the mind and it continues to gestate and you may even think you have forgotten about it, but it’s actually operating in the subconscious. “You go out and do other things, but one day you get the structure through which to narrate the idea and the two things come together. But the idea is (always) there. It may be at home or something you read in the newspaper,� he explained.

But has being a Nobel laureate changed Prof.

Soyinka in any way? Asked Ikede Majesty, one of the senior perfects in the school. “The answer is very straightforward,� he said. “Yes, and in a negative way. Very often I cannot do the things I really want to do because I have lost what is one of the greatest gifts, and that is anonymity. “It means one’s constituency has been enlarged.

Your priorities change not because you want to, but because of the pressure,� he added.

While paraphrasing Bernard Shaw, a 1925 Laureate himself, Soyinka explained that while the effect was not always negative, it had nevertheless created its own challenges. “Let me summarise by quoting Bernard Shaw when he was awarded the Nobel Prize very late in life: ‘It takes a devilish mind to invent such a destructive thing as dynamite , but it must have been a diabolical thing from hell who invented the Nobel Prize, and I agree with

From the recitation of ‘Season’ by Soyinka to ‘Call of the River Nun’ by Okara and ‘Casualties’ by Clark, the students showed that the investment in their training was not wasted

L-R: Prof. Alagoa, Dr. Okara, Prof Soyinka, Governor Seriake Dickson, Prof. JP Clark and Dr, Odia Ofeimun, during an interactive session with students of Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, Bayelsa State

Prof. Wole Soyinka (right), Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson and his wife, Rachel, when the former visited Bayelsa recently

A performance of 'Abiku' one of Soyinka's works by Bayelsa State Arts and Culture

him sometimes , not all the time’, he added.

With most of the posers directed mainly at the celebrated Nobel Laureate, he said the award had robbed him of his privacy and anonymity.

Answering a question asked by one of the students, the Ogun-born playwright noted that the pressure as a Nobel Laureate had made

him reorganise some of his priorities.

But how did he feel when he won the coveted prize as Africa’s first Nobel Laureate and how long before it began to dawn on him that his life had changed forever? “It’s a very long and interesting story, though we don’t have much time. But let me say that it was totally unexpected and I couldn’t believe

that it was happening and when I came back home was really when it began to sink in. “I was met at the airport by my colleagues, including JP Clark. And everybody got excited and that was when it began to sink, but then there was still something woozy about it at the time,� he said, eliciting plenty excitement from the crowd by his use of the word “woozy� in his usual manner of expressing himself in somewhat unconventional English grammar.

It was a day that many thought should never have ended. And it did not go without thrilling performances including reading of some poetic works written in the past by the elders.

From the recitation of ‘Season’ by Soyinka to ‘Call of the River Nun’ by Okara and ‘Casualties’ by Clark, the students showed that the investment in their training was not wasted.

There were also dance performances from the school’s dance troupe and the Bayelsa Council of Arts and Culture which did a rehash of ‘Abiku’, another of Soyinka’s works.

Then the train later moved to Yenagoa, the state capital, where Soyinka and his colleagues were made special ambassadors for education in Bayelsa, where they are expected to use their international goodwill to leverage on the various ongoing reforms in the sector.

For many it was a time well spent with the icons, to others it was an opportunity to engage directly with great men that had mentored them from afar, yet for a handful of people, it went beyond the razzmatazz.

It was a day to ‘commission’ the next generation of great minds; those minds that would proudly fly the nation’s flag and propagate its enduring, but seemingly elusive ideals.

The ideals of fairness to all, sacrifice and selflessness as well as ensuring focused and steady progress of Nigeria, the seemingly dwindling motherland.

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IMAGES

L-R; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyeama; Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu and President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Oluiwaseyi Abe during a OneDay Public hearing by a Joint Committee on Capital Market of the Senate and the House of Representatives on a Bill for a Demutualization of the Nigeria Stock Exchange in Abuja....recently Photo; Julius Atoi/THISDAY IMAges

L-R: Member, Editorial Board of Boundless Magazine, Jacklyn Awobawikun; Chairman, Mr. Osten Olorunsola;Founder/ Publisher, Mrs. Marie-Therese Phido; and Vice Chairman, Catherine Bickersteth; at the media presentation of Boundless Magazine in Lagos...recently ~ etop ukutt

L-R: Marketing and Corporate Communications, personnel FBNInsurance; Bankole Banjo; immediate Past President, Rotary Club of Omole Golden, Titi Sunmonu; Chief Operating Officer, FBNInsurance; John Schalkwyk and Pacesetter President, Abiodun Oshinibosi at the cheque presentation in fulfilment of FBNInsurance’s support of the club’s humanitarian activities in Lagos... recently.

L-R: Glo subscribers, Juliet Uyigue, Aigbokhoevbolo Osahume, Nollywood legend, Richard Mofe-Damijo, other Glo subscribers, Osunde Oduwa and Ahanbuje Ehis, at the Ekpoma edition of the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour held at Cordelia Agbebaku Auditorium, Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Edo State,...recently

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Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R: Wife of Assistant Pastor in-charge of Lagos Province 35, Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mrs. Nana Odejayi; Special Guest and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Wife of Pastor in-charge of Lagos Province 35, Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Mrs. Yinka Morgan and the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmilyo Tejuoso, at a banquet of Pearls hosted by RCCG Lagos Province 35, in Lagosâ₏Œâ₏Œyesterday 17-07-2017

Star Prize Winner of Diamond xtra season 9, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adegbite (right) and Head of Consumer Banking, Diamond Bank Plc. Mrs. Aisha Ahmed at the presentation of star price to the winner in Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

L-R:Chairman Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area,Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, his wife, Pastor Mrs.Modupe Oke; Vice Chairman, Prince Usman Hamzat and his wife Junmoke , at the inauguration party in Lagos...recently dan ukana

L- R: Company Secretary,eTranzact International Plc, Adedurotimi Omowunmi Adetoun ; Chairman, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, and MD/CEO, Mr. Valentine Obi, at the 13th Annual Geberal Meeting of the Company in Lagos...recently

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

ÍŻ Íś Í° ÍŽ ÍŻ Íľ NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

NIBOR 21.3750% 21.0038 %

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

22.5331% 24.6856%

NITTY 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

20.1827% 19.3855%

6-MONTH 9-MONTH

21.3861% 21.5058%

EXCHANGE RATE ͹͎ͳ˛͹ͳ˚˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes Custodian and Allied Grows ProďŹ t

Custodian and Allied Plc has announced an impressive result for the half year ended 30th June 2017. The Group’s proďŹ t before tax improved by 31 per cent from N3.6 billion achieved in the ďŹ rst half year of 2016 to N4.7 billion and proďŹ t after tax rose to N3.8 billion from N2.9 billion of 2016. In the statement ďŹ led with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the directors recommended the payment of an interim dividend of 10 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary share of the company, an increase of 43 per cent, over the seven kobo interim dividend paid in 2016. The directors were conďŹ dent that, barring unforeseen unfavourable circumstances, the positive trend would be sustained for the rest of the year.

Marriott Targets Rapid Expansion

IMPROVING NIGERIA-GERMAN BUSINESS RELATIONS

Head of Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Dr. Marc Lucassen; Director General, Nigerian-German Business Association, Mr. Gbenga Adebija; Managing Director (MD), Amena Trade & Investment, Mr. Holger Vogt, and MD, TTGI, Mr. Johnson Adams at the Roundtable Nigeria Conference in Munich, Germany‌recently

Equities Market: N3trn Gain Boosts Full Recovery Prospects Goddy Egene Stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market are now more optimistic that about its recovery at the end of the year as the equities market has gained N3.094 trillion in seven months.

Having recorded a decline for three consecutive years to 2016, expectations are high that the market would recover in 2017.

Although the market started the year with fall in January and February, it closed in green in March rising by 0.74 per cent. That positive trend has been sustained culminating in a gain of N3.094 trillion in capitalisation as at the end of July on Monday.

Specifically, the market

CAPITAL MARKET capitalisation ended at N12.35 trillion, up from N9.265 trillion at the beginning of the year, translating to a growth of 33.3 per cent.

Similarly, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index rose by same margin of 33.3 per cent from 26,874.62 to close at 35,844 on Monday.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, some operators and market analysts had expressed optimism that investors should expect a positive performance this year.

According to him, the capital market is a subsector of the Nigerian economy and since

it had been projected that the economy would recover from its recession and record a growth this year, the stock market should also recover.

After recording a decline in January and February, the make entered a bullish mode in March rising by 0.74 per cent. It consolidated with an appreciation of 0.95 per cent in April. The market took a major leap in May, jumping by 15 per cent as the new foreign exchange window for importers and exporters introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) attracted more foreign investors. The return of the foreign investors triggered interest among domestic investors, a development that led to

sustained bull run that led to a growth of 12 per cent each in June and July. Consequently, the market gained over N3 trillion in seven months.

In fact, the market had rallied almost three months high last Thursday when the capitalisation hit a new high of N12.84 trillion, while index settled at 37,245.17 before profit taking set in last Friday and Monday.

Within the last six months, the level of foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) rose by 59.8 per cent to N430 billion, up from N269.22 billion invested in the corresponding period of 2016, according to data released Continued on page 24

CEOs Consider Disruption as Opportunity for Business Growth Obinna Chima The KPMG International 2017 Global Chief Executive Outlook (CEO) outlook has revealed that disruption is a reality that has become part of life as more than six in 10 CEOs (65 per cent) saw disruption as an opportunity, not a threat, for their business.

The KPMG CEO survey titled: ‘Disrupt and Grow’, released on Monday, revealed that three in four (74 per cent) of the CEOs also said their businesses were aiming to be the disruptor in their respective sectors.

The survey data was based on a survey of 1,261 CEOs from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US. The

ECONOMY survey was conducted between 21 February and 11 April 2017.

These CEOs operate in 11 key industries: automotive, banking, infrastructure, insurance, investment management, life sciences, manufacturing, retail/ consumer markets, technology, energy/utilities and telecom.

The CEOs in general were confident about the global economic outlook, even though the confidence dipped from last year.

Specifically, the findings showed that two in three CEOs (65 per cent) were confident about global economic growth during the next three years —

down from 80 per cent in 2016.

Furthermore, most CEOs were confident in their own industry’s prospects for growth in the next three years, despite the fact that there has been notable dip over the past 12 months (from 85 per cent to 69 per cent).

According to the 31-page report, more than half of CEOs (53 per cent) revealed increasing penetration in established markets, making this the most highly cited priority for growth.

Innovating new products, services and ways of doing business came second at 47 per cent. “Reputational and brand risk has risen in importance for CEOs during the past year, to become one of the top three

most important risks they face today (out of 16 in total), after not featuring in the top 10 in 2016. “CEOs believe reputational damage will have the secondbiggest impact on the growth of their organisation over the next 3 years. Forty-three per cent of CEOs are reassessing their global footprint as a result of the changing pace of globalisation and protectionism,� it added.

In addition, 52 per cent believed the political landscape has had a greater impact on their organisation then, than they have seen for many years, while 31 per cent -one per cent viewed protectionist.

Also, 70 per cent of CEOs Continued on page 24

Marriott International Hotels has announced the expansion and strengthening of its sales and marketing team for Middle East and Africa.This bold initiative comes on the heels of the successful mega merger between Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts and the fast progressing integration of the two companies.

According to a statement, the revamped Brand, Marketing, Sales and Consumer Services (BMSC) Leadership Team comprises of highly experienced professionals from Marriott International and legacy Starwood Hotels and Resorts, bringing together exceptional talent and expertise from both companies and speaks to the company’s commitment to support its enhanced footprint and aggressive growth plans in the region. Led by seasoned the Chief Sales and MarketingOďŹƒcer,MiddleEastandAfrica,MarriottInternational,Neal Jones, the team would provide dedicated support to the company’s thriving regional portfolio and will be responsible for driving top line revenue for Marriott International brands, ensuring the regional Sales and Marketing strategy was aligned with the company’s vision and priorities.

With a current portfolio of over 240 hotels with 54,000 rooms in 30 countries, Marriott International said it is working towards targeting a projected growth of 150,000 rooms operational and pipeline in 38 countries by 2022 across Middle East and Africa.

Commenting on the announcement, Jones said: “The leadership changes we are announcing today are important to foster greater synergies, teamwork, accountability and nimble decision-making critical to lay a strong foundation that will support our ambitious growth plans in the region. “I am extremely excited to work together with such a talented and diverse group of leaders who bring with them exceptional domain expertise as well as regional insights that will enable us to create a more vibrant organisation that delivers value for all stakeholders.

Africa Prudential Wins Award

Africa Prudential Registrars Plc said it was recently named the ‘Best Registrar Firm in West Africa’ by Africa-CanadaTrade Alliance at the 7th Edition of the West Africa Innovation and Excellence Awards ceremony which held at Abuja recently. According to a letter issued by the organisers, the innovation award celebrates outstanding innovations, brands and personalities in the public and private sectors across West Africa, which includes Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Republic of Benin, Cote ‘devoir, and Gambia. Others are Mali, Senegal, Togo, Guinea Bissau, and Cameroun.

They explained further that this year’s award was based on clear strategic indices, which among others include eďŹƒciency and quality competitiveness, timely delivery of services, customer service excellence, brand value, market and industry capacity, and market rating among competing brands. Based on internationally acceptable methodology, the panel of judges—which included the CEO of Brand Clock, Mr. John Alexander—rated and determined the winners. Africa Prudential Registrars scored above the minimum score line of 75 per cent to clinch the coveted award.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr. Peter Ashade, spoke about the company’s change of name Africa Prudential Plc and roll-out of a new visual identity. “The change of name is a strategic decision which enables the company better harness its emerging potentials, while keeping its service promise to clients, and maximising possibilities for its stakeholders.�

“We are on track to achieve full recovery and return firmly to the path of growth.

Fiscal prudence must be observed at all levels of governance’

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma

24

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BUSINESSWORLD EQUITIES MARKET: N3TRN GAIN BOOSTS FULL RECOVERY PROSPECTS by the NSE. Similarly, domestic investors increased their level of investments to N505.03 billion in 2017, up by 42.19 per cent compared to N355.19 billion in 2016.

In all, total transactions at the nation’s bourse in H1 of 2017, increased by 47.7 per cent to N935 billion, from N624 billion in 2016.

However, domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 7.82 per cent in the month of May. While total domestic transactions increased by 7.53 per cent from N110.42 billion recorded in May 2017to N118.74billion in June2017, FPIs also increased by 6.66 per cent from N95.19 billion to N101.53billion within the same period.

But a further analysis of the domestic participation showed that the institutional composition of the domestic market decreased by 17.09pe cent from N67.95 billion recorded in May to N56.34billion in June2017.

CEOS CONSIDER DISRUPTION AS OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS GROWTH said they were now more open to new influences and collaborations than at any other point in their careers.

It stated that CEOs were evolving their skills and personal qualities to better lead their business as almost seven in 10 (68 percent) said they were evolving their skills and personal qualities to better lead their business. “CEOs are more confident in their understanding of new technologies than they were in 2016, though competition for expert talent is fierce. “As they embed cognitive technologies, businesses are expecting short-term headcount growth. Across 10 key roles, 58 per cent on average are expecting a slight or significant growth in number of employees. “In 2016, 73 per cent expected their number of employees to increase by more than six per cent in the next three years. In 2017, less than half (47 per cent) expect this level of growth,� it added.

Group Business Editor

NEWS

Total Restates Commitment to Nigeria, Puts Investments in Five Years at $10bn Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

oil prices get better than today’s figures but we may still be far from the days when oil prices hovered above $100 a barrel.

Until that time comes and even in an era of prosperity, the benefit of hindsight is that the petroleum industry will have to proceed with more prudence than it did before.�

Terraz added: “Our industry is volatile; the world in a constant flux. And with our different backgrounds and perspectives, these sometimes constitute hurdles in the attainment of common objectives. In spite of this, Total is unflinching committed in the future of Nigeria.

The company is present along the value chain from upstream to the downstream sector where Total is a leader with close to 550 service stations across the length and breadth of Nigeria.�

Furthermore, he said that the Ofon 2 project is one that set several Nigerian Content records with the Construction of the Topsides and other facets of the project in-country. He said that five of the seven Engineering

Procurement and Construction contracts were awarded to companies in Nigeria.

Apart from the gas flare out mile stone achieved on the project in December 2014, it recorded an achievement that earned the 2015 World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction Excellence Award. “We are proud to state that a first in Nigeria was the construction of the living quarters platform that was built in-country and is providing safe and comfortable accommodation for personnel that work in that field�, he stressed.

On the country’s gas-topower initiative in the face of poor electricity supply in the country, the Total Group Chief noted that the company has 15 per cent equity participation in Nigeria LNG Ltd. “TEPNG also supplies a daily contract quantity of close to 20 ms3/day of gas to the existing NLNG Trains 1 – 6 facility with a potential increase in gas supply based on the expansion plans for Train 7�, he added.

Furthermore he said: “In the growing domestic market, the company, as partner in the NNPC/SPDC/TEPNG/NAOC JV, participates in the business of supplying some 0.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. This gas feeds most of the gas-fired power plants in Nigeria today.

In the on-going Gas-to- Power initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, TOTAL, as partner in the SPDC JV, has built the Afam VI, 650MW Power Plant, which currently feeds the National grid. “Total has played a significant role in the drive to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, gas flaring in Nigeria through the Ofon Phase 2 and OML58 Upgrade Projects with start-up dates in 2014 and 2015 respectively. These have contributed to the World campaign against greenhouse gas emissions and its resultant negative impact on climate change, and conversely led to increased monetisation of gas through export.

Total through the NNPC/

TEPNG JV is currently supporting the Nigeria Gas Master plan.

The NNPC/ TOTAL JV has embarked and delivered on critical projects like the 50km Northern Option Pipe Line (NOPL) and Obite-Ubeta-Rumuji Pipeline (OUR), linking our gas supply to Imo River where it joins the domestic gas network in the Eastern Sector of Nigeria.

Total has made a commitment to deliver 300MMscf/day of gas to the domestic market, corresponding to the capacity of its gas transportation infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, TOTAL has received a number of Gas Purchase Orders (GPOs) from the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN). The first GPO was for supply of 100MMscf/d to Alaoji Power Station. The second GPO is to supply 126MMscf/d of gas to Indorama Petrochemicals proposed Methanol Plant for start-up in 2019. A third GPO to cover the remaining capacity of the NOPL i.e. 74MMscf/day, is currently being discussed with GACN.�

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Terraz has restated the company’s unflinching committed in the future of Nigeria, pointing out that the oil giant has invested $10billion in the Nigerian oil and gas sector in the last five years.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2017 Nigeria Annual International Conference & Exhibition of the Society for Petroleum Engineers, holding in Lagos, Terraz disclosed that the current crude oil production from Total JV operations is 195.5kbpd (thousand barrels of oil per day).

He noted that the company’s Egina field development is expected to add 200kb/d to Nigeria’s output when it comes on stream in 2018.

Represented by the Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Services, Mr. Abiodun Afolabi, the Total Group boss said the Egina FPSO is planned to sail away from Samsung Heavy Industries yard in South Korea by the third quarter of this year and is expected in Nigeria in the fourth quarter where integration of six locally fabricated topside modules will be integrated on the FPSO at SHI-MCI Yard (LADOL) before final sail away to Egina site, deep offshore Nigeria.

He said: “The petroleum industry in Nigeria remains viable and would get better with policies that enhance investor confidence even if oil prices falter from time to time; policies that ensure stability of the fiscal regime, sanctity of contracts and other legislations that are consistent with international best practices will increase viability L-R: Finance Director, Mr. O. S. Olufemi; Deputy Managing Director, AVERY Nigeria, Mrs. Ebisan Onyema; Chairman, Chief U. U. Mba; in Nigeria.

Company Secretary, Mrs. A. O. Abiru and Director, Dr Mrs. I. Rahila, during shareholders meeting at the company’s head oďŹƒce in Lagos... “Globally, we hope that the recently

AVERY NIGERIA MEETS WITH SHAREHOLDERS

FUG Pensions Targets N500bn Assets under Management Ebere Nwoji Future Unity Glanvills Pensions Limited (FUG Pensions), said it is targeting N500billion pension Assets under Management (AuM) in its medium term strategic plans.

The firm’s current assets under management have grown from zero position in 2007 to over N57billion in 2017.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director and Chief

Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Usman Suleiman during the firm’s 10th anniversary celebration held at its Head Office in Lagos recently.

Suleiman said the management of the company considers the goal achievable given its initial sterling performance powered by hard work, resilience and perseverance, According to him, the company has put in place both short, medium and long term strategic

plans that would see it grow its portfolio in Assets under Management to N120billion by 2019 and N500billion within the next seven years of its medium term operation.

To drive its expansion programme, Suleiman added that the firm’s management has commenced discussion with some pension funds administrators with a view to acquiring one to actualise the expansion plans.

He said the last 10 years of the firm’s operation, was challenging given the fact that the company came into the market as one of the late entrants.

He however, said with resilience, zeal, perseverance and hard work on the part of members of staff, in addition to the confidence and support of the board and shareholders, FUG Pensions has risen to the occasion as one of the notable pension

funds administrators (PFAs) in the marketplace. “Ten years of resilience, yes it has really been a tough journey but we give glory to God for seeing us through it. It has been a lot of sacrifice, patience, hard work and perseverance but of course, the end result of those attributes, is success and that is what we are seeing today. We started from nothing to what we are today, over N57billion in asset under management�.

Ă’Ă“Ă•Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă¤Ă?Ě‹ ĂĄĂ‹Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;Ă•Ă&#x; AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ ĂœĂ™Ă•Ă? (Labour) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Cap Mkt) ÔÓÙĂ?Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? (Energy) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Nation’s Capital) ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă‹ (Money Mkt) Chineme Okafor (Energy ) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (Maritime)

NewCIINPresidentPledgesIncreasedAwarenessonInsurance Ebere Nwoji The New President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Funmi Babington -Ashaye, has said that her tenure as president of the institute, will focus more on addressing general unawareness problem on Insurance as well as enlightening Nigerians on the relevance of insurance to their daily living.

Babington-Ashaye, who stated

this at her investiture ceremony as the 48th president of CIIN, said she will address the industry’s awareness problem by making every insurance practitioner an ambassador of the industry. “Accordingly, my tenure will make insurance awareness and enlightenment a common issue to be driven by all stakeholders in their various domains.

The only way to educate the Nigeria public is through

enlightenment which is best achieved when every practitioner is made an ambassador of the Industry. I have in preparation for my tenure engaged some of my professional colleagues to transform my thoughts into achievable programmes,� she said. With the team of her presidency as ‘Insurance: Imperative for Education and Enlightenment’, Babington -Ashaye, said her plans towards achieving her

tenure’s objectives are summarised into five point agenda which include regular advocacy, professional development, enhanced insurance awareness, continued efforts on the CIIN buildings and reorganisation of the institute’s secretariat.

She noted that Nigerians lacked knowledge about insurance and its importance in all human endeavours including business undertakings, adding this manifests in

poor patronage of insurance products by the public and the unwillingness to choose insurance as a course of study by the youths.

Expressing her desire to address the problem, the new CIIN President, said as an institute, CIIN must continue to take deliberate steps to address these issues with a view to repositioning insurance profession in the psyche of the people.

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25

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

LASG ReafďŹ rms Commitment to Ease of Doing Business, Infrastructure Devt Jonathan Eze Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode has reassured members of the business community of his administration’s unwavering commitment to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He stated that the state government has made remarkable progress to key into federal government’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) mandate.

The governor restated that the state will continue to initiate policies to support businesses while also commending members of the organised private sector (OPS) for their doggedness and resilience despite the harsh environment for doing business in Nigeria.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Rotimi Ogunleye, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) awards, explained that the OPS is the primary engine of driving economic growth and development.

Earlier, the president, LCCI, Nike Akande, said the purpose of the award was to celebrate private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for their best business practices, growth through innovations, business sustainability and positive impact on the society. “We are today celebrating enterprises that have excelled in the economy amidst multitude of challenges in the investment

environment. We are also excited that many of them are indigenous enterprises.

According to her, there is no perfect time to make an impact in any system, saying that while the government is fixing the power sector, security challenges, foreign exchange issues; the private sector must move on with the business of creating wealth.

She added that the process of selecting nominees and award winners was very painstaking, maintaining that there were many entries from virtually all sectors of the economy. “There were thorough analytical processes involving business intelligence to validate the outcomes of the entries�, she explained.

MacArthur Foundation Visits HarvestPlus as Firm Eyes $100m Grant Ugo Aliogo HarvestPlus Nigeria recently hosted a delegation from the MacArthur Foundation at its country office in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State for an onthe-ground assessment of the delivery of biofortification in Nigeria.

The visit was part of the #100andchange global competition for $100million grant to fund ‘a single proposal that promises real and measurable progress in solving a critical problem of our time.’ The group is one of the eight semi-finalists in the competition, for which a winner would be announced in December. The #100andchange delegation comprises Director, Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Mr. Kole Shettima, and a Lead Programme Officer, Ms. Kristen Molyneaux.

The Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Paul Ilona, led the team on

a courtesy visit to top management of IITA, for close interaction with the Deputy Director General on Partnerships for Delivery, Dr. Dashiell Kenton; Cassava Breeder, Peter Kolakov, Maize Breeder, Dr. Menkir Abebe; Director, Development and Delivery Office, Dr. Alfred Dixon and Director, Research for Development, Dr. Robert Asiedu.

The forum provided opportunity for a better understanding of how the organisation partners IITA in the delivery of biofortified crops in the country.

In her remarks, Molyneaux said that the visit was an opportunity to learn directly from those in the field, noting that foundation assesses semi-finalist in the #100andchange competition.

She added: “This is one of the ways we learn the activities of the semi-finalists.

We are impressed with what we have seen in Nigeria and will be going back with a better understanding of the strategies deployed in

delivery of biofortification in Nigeria.�

The was an interactive session with the organisation delivery partners, where the #100andchange team learned from the partners on how an expansive value chain for delivery has evolved and how the private sector is now promoting adoption, production and consumption of biofortified crops across the country.

Ilona further stated that the visit afforded the organisation an opportunity to showcase the progress on biofortification, stressing that the funding would accelerate the organisation delivery to other West African countries.

He said: “We are delighted to have reach over 1.6 million households reached with biofortified crops and foods. This a testament to the fact that the strategies we deployed in Nigeria are working and we are certain the technology of biofortification would be the way to go in all West African countries in the nearest future.�

Calabar Inferno: NPA Condoles with Victims’ Families, State Govt Eromosele Abiodun The management and board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have commiserated with the Cross River State Government and families of people who lost their lives in the unfortunate fire incident, which occurred at the Linc Oil and Gas tank farm located at the Calabar free trade zone facility.

The NPA said in a statement that it has commenced an investigation into the sad event with the aim of work-

ing with other organisations to prevent a recurrence of such events anytime in the future. According to the NPA, “As part of the measures to forestall future occurrence, the authority has been in touch with the Cross River State Government on the urgent serious safety concerns over Esuk-Utan Beach residences right in the middle of an industrial area. We want to reiterate our commitment to the safety of all customers, operators and agencies

within our facilities nationwide. We also commend the courageous effort of the NPA and Calabar free trade zone firemen, who put their lives on the line to prevent the spread of the terrible inferno. “This is addition to the deployment of our Tug Boat MV Zaria that provided support from the waterfront.

The NPA wishes people who sustained injuries from this incident speedy recovery as we pray for the repose of the souls of the dead.�

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Don’t Lose Your Focus by Looking Back I was recently offered an opportunity that was fantastic. This opportunity was truly tempting. Being a fairly new entrepreneur, all entrepreneurs know how constantly looking for business can be consuming and obsessive because you know that whatever you get is what will sustain you. There is no salary that will come like clockwork every 30 days.

Luckily business has not been bad, but it’s been grueling mentally, so, when this opportunity came it was very tempting because I wanted to relax a bit and just earn a salary. I did not want to concern myself with how the money came about, which would be somebody else’s problem, just pay me for work done.

Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ?ĂŽËœ though I also already had niggling doubts ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—ĂšĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? overwhelming feedback was how can you start your entrepreneurial journey when you seem to be gaining traction. Why will ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă‹ Ă”Ă™ĂŒËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă?Þˣ Ă&#x;ĂžËœ

ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă? Ă“ĂžËœ Ă“Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž

ĂŽĂ“ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘ĂŁËŁ Ă™Ëœ

ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÙ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒËœ Ă–Ă?Þ˪Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? and do it as a project under my company.

Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÙ Ă—Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ it was no longer for me. It was a struggle and my whole system rejected it. It was going back! It was not who I wanted to be or where I wanted to be now in my life. Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă? ĂĄĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂžĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ÞËÕĂ? ÓÞ˛ Ă&#x;ĂžËœ it has to be an opportunity that is in line with where I want to go to or who I want to be. ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ–ĂŁËœ ÞÒËÞ ˍÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ ÚËãĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă• ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— being the person you are meant to beâ€?. My team and I had a discussion on this and we Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞãÖĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ Ă“Ă Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÖÙåĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?ÖÙå˪Ă? Ă“Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ? can turn this gift and passion into money. Ă™ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ăž Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ ËŤ ËŞĂ Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ˪Ă? Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service and working hard. Ă’Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ™ Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÚËÓÎˣ Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? you should start from.

My team and I also used various Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă‹Ă? Ă?âË×ÚÖĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă˜Ă? Ă?âË×ÚÖĂ? ĂĄĂ? ÞËÖÕĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă™ĂžĂ?Ë› While Dangote has been phenomenally Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ëœ ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă–Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ is retail. Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂŁĂ?Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă? objective is to distribute and retail his ÑÙÙÎĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÒÙå he started his business many years ago. Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?âË×ÚÖĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ëœ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ was his passion and he stayed with it and Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ăž ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? to be today – the richest man in the world. Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă’ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ ËŤ Ă™ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÎÙ˛ Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă‹Ăž ÓÞ˛ ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă™ ĂŒĂ?ÞÞĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÓ×Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ×Ù×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ÓÞˏ˛ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;ÙÞĂ? again resonated. Being an entrepreneur is not easy. It is even harder starting in Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂŽËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ×Ù×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ÓÞ˛ Learning from an athlete turned Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœËœ Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă? ÙåĂ?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ

“everything in life is possible if you keep pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.�

He went on to say with additions from me: You can’t play it safe. Instead, keep pushing yourself I have decided that I cannot play it safe or forget what I have purposed to achieve because it is difficult. Nothing good comes easy and we must keep thriving and pushing ourselves hard to achieve our objectives.

Be an entrepreneur with an athlete’s focus Ă™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‘Ă™Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ able to do that makes a big difference in business. ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ë› It is also important to know how to direct ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ë› ÙåĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ëœ ËŤ Ă’Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?ËÖÓÞã˛ Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă?Ëœ you will naturally find ways to create more income. But if you focus on something else you will achieve that thing that is not what you set out to achieve.â€?

Believe in greatness Often people become so daunted or depressed that they give up on pursuing their dreams. ËŤ Ă™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ÞÒËÞ ÓÞ˪Ă? ÞÒĂ? journey from having a dream to finally attaining it where you see the most personal Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ˪Ă? ÒÙå ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžËœËŹ ÙåĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ë› Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; have to embrace the messiness in order to discover the possibilities. ËŤ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ëœ Ă‹ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂšĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞËÖĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? to contribute.â€?

Get clarity

Þ˪Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ideas or get so wrapped up in life that you Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ÖÙÙÕ ĂŒĂ?ĂŁĂ™Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? to be able to have clarity on what you truly ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜ĂžË› ÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă™Ă‹Ă–Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ Ă?Ă™ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă?ÞÓ×ËÞĂ?Ă? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ͳ͎ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ͎͡ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě‹Ě‹ ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ÞËÕĂ? Ă‹ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ÓÞ˪Ă? essential to get clear on what your vision Ă“Ă?Ë› Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂšĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™ Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂŽËœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂ–Ă– ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ë› Start from a place of authenticity Be true to who you are and ensure that you focus on what is authentically you in service and product otherwise you will burnout and lack longevity.

Let your dreams lead the way Pursue your dreams and aspirations.

While the realities of life can be daunting Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹ĂžËœ Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ dreams will leave you with regrets and the painful knowledge that you did not achieve your full potential. ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ù×Ă?ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? that many of us do not even have dreams. Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ëœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž to be and where you are going to and what your destination will look like. Start to dream and nurture more dreams to elevate you to greater heights. . – Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012 TeL: 08090158156 (text only)

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

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FBN Holdings: Improving Risk Management Goddy Egene writes that the strategies adopted by FBN Holdings to reduce its nonperforming loans are already yielding results, as the financial institution recorded lower impairment charges for the half-year ended June 30, 2017 The Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Urum Kalu Eke last June told the capital market community that the financial institution was working hard to improve on its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio from the 26 per cent recorded in 2016 to below 20 per cent this year.

Eke gave the assurance during the company’s fact behind the figures presentation at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The assurance became necessary following an unprecedented rise in the NPL due to impairment charges of about N226 billion in 2016. Going by the half year results of FBN Holdings released last week, the company is on its way to fulfilling that promise of reducing NPL. FBN Holdings recorded impairment charges of N62.9 billion in H1 of 2017, down from N69.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2016.

NPL stood at 22.8 per cent in H1 of 2017, an improvement on 24.4 per cent as at December 2016 and 26 per cent as at March 2017.

Half Year Financial Performance FBN Holdings’ gross earnings grew by 7.8 per cent from N267.9 billion in 2016 to N288.8 billion in 2017, driven essentially by a 37.3 per cent growth in interest income, which was partly offset by a 46.3 per cent decline in non-interest income.

Net-interest income improved by 30.2 per cent to N164.1 billion, up from N126.1 billion in 2016; following enhanced interest income opportunities from treasury activities along with improved yields on the loan book.

Interest expense, however, increased to N68.3 billion, from N43.2 billion.

But net-interest margin increased to 8.5 per cent from 7.2 per cent in the prior period. Fees and commission (F&C) income, represented 72.8 of total non-interest income, in 2017, compared with 36.9 per cent in 2016. The growth in F& C income was driven predominantly increase in electronic banking fees to N10.6 billion (N10.4 billion in 2016); a 35.5 per cent growth in other fees and commission to N10.5 billion (N7.7 billion in 2016); and, to a lesser extent, an increase in credit related fees, funds transfer and intermediation fees, and letter of credit commission and fees.

Electronic banking fees sustained its high contribution to F&C at 28.8 per cent (29.8 per cent in 2016). The company said it expects further growth on the back of improving foreign exchange liquidity and services through alternative channels.

FBN Holdings ended the period with costto-income ratio of 54.4 as against 47.4 in 2016. “Though within our guidance, the higher ratio in the current period reflects a normalised performance from the one-off foreign exchange revaluation gains of the previous period. We remain optimistic on further efficiencies in our business following the implementation of a number of initiatives within the group,� the company said.

Net impairment charge on credit losses declined to N62.4 billion as its asset quality improves and it continued to make progress in its remediation, recoveries and other portfolio management initiatives.

Cost of risk decreased from 6.5 per cent to 5.4 per cent while NPL ratio closed at 22 per cent.

According to the bank, during the quarter, one of the top NPLs, previously provisioned, was written off (not charged –off) with significant progress made on realisation of assets for full recovery, while it will expect a reclassification of another major NPL in the next quarter.

Profit before tax closed 22.4 per cent lower at N35.6 billion, down from N45.9 billion in 2016, while profit after tax (PAT) stood at N29.5 billion, as against N35.9billon in 2016.

The bank thus recorded post-tax return on average equity of 9.9 per cent and post-tax return on average total assets of 1.2 per cent.

However, according to company, in view of its

current initiatives, it is optimistic of enhanced performance in the remaining half of 2017.

MD Explains Results Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, Mr. Eke said: “FBN Holdings has again demonstrated its strong revenue generating capacity in the current economic environment reporting gross earnings of N288.8 billion - up 7.8 per cent. In line with our strategic focus on improving asset quality; cost optimisation; and, enhancing revenue generation, we are beginning to see improvement across a number of metrics associated with these initiatives. Our focus on enhancing the quality of our loan book is reflected in a decline in non-performing loans, a reduction in our impairment charge following improvement in the asset quality outlook, and we will continue to prioritise this area through the rest of this year. Similarly, consistent improvement in the efficiency ratio is testament to the efficacy of our cost optimisation initiatives, though these results have been partly offset by the currency devaluation and high inflationary environment. “Overall, we have seen strong growth trajectory in our Merchant Banking & Asset Management 300 280 260

and the Insurance Group. These businesses complement our Commercial Banking franchise and represent new frontiers for our Group, firmly supporting our aspiration of becoming a leading financial services institution in Middle Africa. We remain committed to maximising returns to our shareholders as well as creating sustainable value.�

A further analysis of results showed that total assets increased by 3.0 per cent to N4.9 trillion, up from N4.9 trillion as at December 2016, this was essentially driven by an increase in investment securities and other treasury activities.

Specifically, investment securities increased to N1.26 trillion, up from N1.25 trillion in December 2016. Loans to banks grew to N731.2 billion, a growth of 64.4 per cent from N444.9 billion at year end.

Total interest earning assets grew by 5.6 per cent to N3.9 trillion from N3.7trillion, representing 81 per cent of total assets. Total customer deposits declined by 3.5 per cent to N3.0 trillion, from N3.1 trillion in December 2016, as the bank focus on ensuring an appropriate deposit mix at an optimum price.

Savings deposit, representing 32.4 per cent

FBN HOLDINGS HALF YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY JUNE 2017 N261.9Bn

JUNE 2016 N224.9Bn

240 220 200 180 JUNE 2017 N156Bn

160

JUNE 2016 N122.7Bn

140 120 100 80

JUNE 2017 N62.4Bn

JUNE 2016 N69.9Bn

60

JUNE 2016 JUNE 2016 N29.4Bn JUNE 2017 N36.6Bn JUNE 2017 N27.8Bn N22.5Bn

40 20 0

GROSS EARNINGS

NET INTEREST INCOME

NET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

PROFIT BEFORE TAX

PROFIT AFTER TAX

of total deposit, grew by 1.9 per cent to N971.1 billion, from N952.7 billion in December 2016.

This, the bank said, reflected the strength of its retail franchise and the ability to keep attracting a well-diversified funding base despite the difficult but improving market condition.

Total loans & advances to customers (net) declined marginally by 4.1 per cent to N2.0 trillion, compared with N2.1 trillion in December 2016.

According to the bank, this was driven by repayments, portfolio rebalancing and write-off of assets that have been fully impaired as “we remain focused and deliberate in growing good quality risk assets supported by our revamped risk management framework. “The sectors that contributed to the decrease in loans were essentially in oil and gas, manufacturing, public sector and general. We are making significant progress towards achieving our strategic targets.

This is evident in the decline in the non-performing loans to 22 per cent from 26 per cent in the last quarter, and we expect this trend to continue over the coming quarters,� FBN Holdings said.

Shareholders’ funds closed at N609.9 billion, up 4.7 per cent from N582.6 billion.

Capital adequacy ratio for First Bank (Nigeria) closed at 17.6 per cent, while the Capital adequacy ratio for FBN Merchant Bank closed at 26.7 per cent above the 10 per cent required by regulation for merchant banks.

Liquidity ratio for First Bank (Nigeria) closed at a healthy 50.4 per cent above the 30 per cent regulatory mark.

In terms of contributions from business segmentations, the commercial banking business contributed 90.3 per cent to gross earnings of the Group and 78.3 per cent profit before tax.

Commenting on the results, the MD/CEO of First Bank and subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, said: “The Commercial Banking group proved its overall earning capacity with a 6.9 per cent increase in gross earnings to N260.9 billion mainly driven by our core business operations with stronger margins.

At the same time, we intensified our credit resolution efforts resulting in the improvement of the asset quality position with the reduction in NPLs from 25.7 per cent in the last quarter to 21.8 per cent at the Commercial Banking group.

We are optimistic about further improvement in asset quality and the general quality of the loan book in the next half of the year, we will be driving enhanced revenue generation, efficiencies and profitability towards an overall improved performance, while remaining focused on sustaining the portfolio management efforts.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Is Nigeria Ready for Industrialisation?

Although policy makers in the country are focused on steering the economy out of recession, Obinna Chima wonders if the country is ready for industrialisation

Since Nigeria gained independence, every government talks about some form of industrial policy aimed at stimulating industrial growth and transforming the economy from being import-dependent to manufacturing.

This has seen successive governments introduce various policies to help drive their quest for industrialisation. Unfortunately, the results have been disappointing as things continue to remain the same.

Some of the factors that have stalled the country’s industrialisation story include policy summersault, market failure, lack of political will and market distortion.

Indeed, the slow pace of Nigeria’s industrialisation is responsible for the nation’s disappointing performance in translating growth into good jobs and poverty reduction.

That is why whenever commodity prices decline and global grow slows, the country is always affected. Its high import dependence explains why the exchange rate is often the bellwether for Nigeria’s economic health.

FG’s Latest Effort As part of efforts to once more drive the federal government’s quest for industrialisation, acting President Yemi Osinbajo, had in May this year inaugurated the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council.

The mandate of the council is to spearhead the industrial agenda that will boost the contribution of manufacturing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 250 per cent over a five-year period.

The ambitious agenda will make Nigeria a manufacturing hub for West Africa and diversify the economy from its over-dependence on oil.

The council is made up of leaders in the private and public sectors and chaired by Osinbajo, while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote serve as vice-chairmen, representing the public and private sectors, respectively.

The broad terms of reference of the council is to provide input to the formulation of sectoral and industrial policy, and government interventions aimed at enhancing the performance of the Nigerian industrial sector.

In addition, the council is expected to provide feedback on government policies and programmes that affect the industrial sector; make recommendations, propose initiatives and bring perspectives that promote competitiveness and growth of the Nigerian industrial sector.

It is also expected to make inputs to Nigeria’s trade negotiations and agreements with a view to ensuring that the view of industry and

industrialisation targets are taken into cognisance.

It is to also periodically review performance, trends and issues within the industrial sector, with a view to proposing interventions to enable investments and competitiveness.

Some other terms of reference included proposing targets for national industrial output and investments across major industrial sectors; and tracking the progress made on specific public and private sector initiatives aimed at transforming the industrial sector and meeting its industrialisation targets.

Renaissance Capital’s Perspective Despite the move by the government, the Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital, Mr. Charles Robertson has expressed concern that policy makers in Nigeria were not ready for the industrialisation of the country.

In fact, the report pointed out that Nigeria’s literacy rate of 60 per cent was too low.

Robertson also urged portfolio investors in Nigeria and other frontier markets to always take literacy rates seriously.

In the report titled: ‘Thoughts from a Renaissance man: Literacy, development and industrialisation,’ Robertson stressed that countries need 40 per cent literacy to grow sustainably and 70-80 per cent to industrialise.

It argued that generally, the situation is most bleak in West Africa.

According to the report, Ghana (77%) is on a comfortable platform than Nigeria. “Elsewhere, we have five countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger) with literacy levels so low that they cannot even rely on sustainable growth, and three countries with secondary school enrolment ratios so low that we think they cannot escape poverty before the 2030s (Mauritania, as well as Burkina Faso and Niger again),� it added.

The report noted: “From Mauritania on the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan on the Red Sea, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, north east Nigeria and South Sudan – the combination of illiteracy and poor secondary school enrolment – have combined to produce a bleak outlook. “Within West Africa, the most important conclusion is that Nigeria is not ready for industrialisation. The literacy rate of 60 per cent is too low. Also the lack of reasonably priced electricity prevents industrialisation except for those able to access their own sources (e.g Dangote). “This may be the main reason why Nigeria lags both Bangladesh and Pakistan in terms of developing industry, even though all three have similar literacy rates. “However, we are not convinced Nigeria’s

oil production condemns it to having a small manufacturing sector. Angola produces far more oil per capita than Nigeria, and this is one reason its manufacturing sector is just 3-4% of value-added (a lot of oil tends to cause Dutch disease). Angola shares more similarities to Venezuela in terms of oil production, while Nigeria is more similar to Mexico. “There might also be regionally different stories within Nigeria. Using National Bureau of Statistics data from 2010 showed how literacy rates vary around the country. The 16 million living in Abia, Imo and Rivers States, and the 12 million living in Lagos have adult literacy rates above 80 per cent, according to a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.

But there are another 12 states (with a total population of 54 million) stretching from Ogun to Cross Rivers, and Oyo to Benue, with a literacy rate of 70-80 per cent or higher, it added.

It estimated that in the north, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Sokoto have a combined 35 million population, and also record adult literacy rates of 70-80% (these literacy rates are often in local languages). “It may be no coincidence then that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has chosen Abia (one of the highest literacy rates in the country) and nearby Akwa Ibom (literacy rate of 70-80%) as the first two model zones for its special industrial parks. Other brownfield zones include highly literate Lagos (over 80%), as well as Cross River and Kano (literacy rates of 70-80%). “It would be a pointless exercise to develop such zones in the west or north-east, where Nigeria’s weaknesses are most acute. Taken together, there are seven states with a population of 32 million and literacy rates of 40-60% and another eight states (across the country) with a population of 27 million and a literacy rate of 60-70%. Pushing these ratios far higher is essential’� the report stated further.

Divergent Views But the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf disagreed that the country’s literacy level is a major factor inhibiting its industrialisation.

To Yusuf, the biggest constraint to industrialisation in Nigeria is infrastructure. “Even people who are not literate, they still find a place in the industrial sector. There would always be opportunity to train people on the job. “So, for industrialisation in Nigeria, the biggest constraint is infrastructure. We don’t have the power; therefore our industries are not competitive,� the LCCI boss stated.

According to him, Nigeria does not have

adequate transportation, therefore cost of goods and services are so high to move goods across the country and even export it. “High transportation cost contributes a lot. That is because over 90 per cent of these movements are done on the roads which are in bad shape.

So, for me, literacy level which you can link to skill could be a factor. “But in terms of the materiality of these factors, I think infrastructure would come up as number one. In fact, lack of basic infrastructure is even one of the reasons why many of the facilities the banks give to the manufactures go bad. “They are not competitive because their cost of production and cost of production are high.

So, that is one of the biggest issues I think we have,� he added.

Yusuf further noted that the country’s industrial sector is too dependent on imports, insisting that the dependency rate is too high. “Ideally, industrialisation should be driven by the resources you have and that will strengthen your position in terms of competiveness. “It will bring about comparative advantage.

So, the way forward is to fix our infrastructure,� he advised. In his view, the Head of Research, SCM Capital Limited, Mr. Sewa Wusu, said the inauguration of the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council about three months ago showed that the government’s target is to industrialise the nation.

If government assembled these people together for a start, that means they are serious, Wusu argued. “Once you industrialise, it would make your economy to be productive. Industrialisation has to do with knowledge. “For any country to develop, knowledge however, is very key. This is because once the human capacity is developed, innovation comes in. “I won’t say we are not ready for industrialisation; government has inaugurated a team which shows they are looking in that direction.

But we must continue to develop our human capacity,� he said.

Wusu pointed out that the world is now moving away from oil. With this, he stressed that policy makers in the country should be focused on industrialising the country. “The UK said by 2040, diesel and fuel cars would be banned. That tells you that they are looking for alternative ways and we should begin to think towards that direction,� Wusu added.

Therefore, for the nation to achieve industrialisation, it must design policies that would encourage exports, continue to drive, promote and lead in its Made-in-Nigeria campaign as well as promote policies that are friendly to investors.

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ANALYSIS

Neglect of a Goldmine Nigeria’s forestry industry, according to experts, has the potential to become a strong foreign exchange earner if government can tap into the opportunities therein. Ugo Aliogo reports Before the oil boom of 1970, the Nigeria agriculture sector contributed a substantial share of the world’s cocoa, palm oil, groundnut, cotton, hides and skin, rubber and other solid minerals. The industry was one of the fast growing subsectors in the economy during that period. Export of wood products and agricultural commodities provided more than 70 percent of the country‘s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The exploitation of the wood resources impacted negatively on the growth of the industry.

Prior to I976, round wood exploitation for export was rife, and the high waste generated by the forest led to significant reduction in industrial round wood availability in the forest reserves. With an average recovery rate of between 45-55 percent, the waste generated in the sawmill industry in form of bark, sawdust, trimming, split wood, plank shavings and sanderdust in year 2010 alone was over 1,000,000m3.

The industry which is divided into formal and informal sectors, have witnessed serious irregularities dictated by sub-optimal deployment of raw materials. The formal sector include the organised wood based industries such as the pulp and paper mills, sawmills, plywood mills, particles board mills and furniture factories.

The informal enterprises are the small wood based enterprises operating without formal corporate entity and include enterprises that engaged in production of firewood, charcoal, chewing sticks, sculptured wood and in some cases, artisanal cabinet makers and lumber converters.

Research showed that in 2010, the number of sawmills in Nigeria stabilised at 1325.With an average recovery rate of between 45-55 percent, the waste generated in this subsector from end products such as bark, sawdust, trimming, split wood, planer shavings and sanderdust was over 1,000,000m3 in 2010.

The sawmill accounts for a large volume of wood produced in Nigeria, statistics stated 93.32 percent.

In terms of wooden products demand internationally, Nigeria is lacking behind unlike her counterparts in the developed world. Our furniture products and raw wood are not exportable to Africa and the Europe market due to finishing and quality. Experts argued that one of the reasons responsible are the out-dated technologies used in wood processing, lack of government’s participation, low private sector investment.

They further argued that the energy sector is also contributing to the low productivity of the industry. Their argument is that there is low energy distribution to power industries with technological equipment in order to process high quality woods. Therefore, many industries depend on alternative power generation to process and this increases the cost of production and sales of their products. These twin challenges make it increasing difficult for Nigeria sawmills and wood industries to compete in the international market especially in the area of finished products. Sadly, research has revealed that even household item such as the wooden matches are being imported from Malaysia, China and Indonesia. The continuous importation of this product is hampering the productive capacity of the local industries.

If Nigeria is to become a leading exporter of wood and furniture products, there is need for government to critically invest in the sector through intervention initiatives such as Public Private Partnership (PPP), drafting of a suitable policy framework, sectorial review and implementation of international best practices in the industry.

Okobaba sawmill is one of the biggest sawmills in Nigeria. With a production capacity of 600 cubic feet of woods during peak of high production, the sawmill contributes to 80-90 percent of woods used in Lagos State. It is located at the Lagos lagoon in Ebute-Metta. With genuine federal

government involvement the sawmill has the potentials to produce large quantity of woods for the local and international market.

This can help boost wood export to Asia and Europe.

The logs of timber sawed in the sawmill are transported through the water from hinterlands of Baysela, Rivers, Ondo and Delta States. It takes 3-12 months to arrive Lagos. The salted sea water ensures that it doesn’t rot away while been transported.

There is a huge challenge carrying the woods from the hinterlands.

Tackling Workplace Risks Yemi Debo was a timber merchant who eked out a living at Okobaba sawmill. According to colleagues, Debo was exceptional because of his zest for hardwork. But he had a very poor scorecard on workplace safety.

His colleagues complained of his nonchalant attitude in handling electric wires, including unprotected wires. “The guy was calling me, but I was confused on what to do and the operator switched off the buzz-saw. The operator confirmed that he was electrocuted and he died in my arms as he was being taking to the hospital,� noted a depressed Adebowale Samuel, owner of a zinc store. The milling business is associated with a lot of risks, but if sufficiently managed, they can be averted. The machines used are powered with the aid of electricity therefore workers are expected to put on protective gloves and boots. But these measures are taken with levity and most times flaunted.

These protective gloves help to minimise the risks of electrocution.

There is also the challenge of health hazards in the environment through the emission of dust into the air which can be inhaled by residents in the area. Medically, this could pose a challenge, but often times it is taken lightly and everyone seems to be less concerned.

However, saw millers said though they don’t have any record of it, but noted that it could be due to the continuous emission of saw dust into the air, which is being inhaled by the residents in the area. Like the saw millers, a source familiar with the operations at the sawmill, shared a similar view point. His stated that there company

does not pose health challenges as alleged

by Adebowale Samuel, owner of a zinc store.

He explained that the few cases occurred as a result of industrial accidents as the saw dust are burnt at dumpsite.

Contributions to the Economy Economically, the saw mill contributes 80-90 percent of timber used in the state.

It was gathered that during the period of high production, they can produce 600 cubic feet of woods. Presently, the production is very low and output has dropped to 100 or 200 cubic feet daily. This is a paltry amount for an industry which if well supported by government, can become a viable revenue earner for the state.

In terms of revenue generation, the sawmill contributes to the revenue purse of the state through payment of taxes to various government agencies such as the Lagos State fire service, the state ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant bodies. Added to this, the sawmill generates employment opportunities for unemployed youths.

Like every formal organisation, the sawmill is an organised establishment with clearly defined structure and hierarchy. There are independent timber merchants who own sawing machines with apprentices working under them, but all independent operators are answerable to the union executives. The union stands as the established government and runs the affairs of the sawmill. The union executives interface on behalf of the saw millers to the state government.

The President Sawmillers Association of Nigeria (SAN) Lagos state chapter, Abdul Ganiyu Onikeku, said when an individual becomes a full fledged worker, it does not qualify an individual to own a sawmill. He explained that owning a sawmill requires huge financial investments. Onikeku added that before becoming a saw miller; the individual is expected to train for some years as a sawyer.

This process involves buying timber and sawing the timber into planks for sale, and the monies realised at each sawing, can be saved to own a saw mill.

He further noted that owning a saw mill is the first stage, adding that the individual needs to buy machines that would saw the

logs and pay the charges accrued in sawing the logs.

Onikeku added: “The amount of money needed to start the milling business is very huge, for instance N200, 000 for a start is small, but it can help to kick start the process.

You will have to save towards earning more money. The more money you have determines your purchasing to buy logs and the higher your chances of getting more profits. For the various workers in the saw mill, they didn’t begin one day, they grew through the process of learning. Within six months and one year, you will become a full fletched master of where you are learning. Therefore, it is a gradual process. If you decide to work here, there are many things you have to learn first you have to begin from the level of apprentice.�

Shoddy Activities of Chain Saw Fellers Like every other profession or trade that faces infiltration by quacks, there are people in timber business who engage in indiscriminate felling of woods thereby leading to deforestation.

The Secretary-General of SAN, Ikuejamoye Titus, said there are specified sizes for any roofing such as two by two, two by three, two by four and two by six, and the genuine chain sawyers have a gauge, but the shoddy chain sawyers don’t have a gauge, they saw a piece of wood that is supposed to be half inch to become one inch, therefore, they reduce the price of what they are selling in order to make it cheaper.

He stated that when they noticed these sharp practices, they bring them to the attention of Lagos state government, but nothing has been done to stem the tide of indiscriminate felling of trees.

He said: “Many of these timbers are purchased by housing developers to minimise cost. The woods we sawed here are of high standards and normal measurements. Many of the timbers that are felled down are not good for building houses because they are not matured enough; despite this unethical practice, people still prefer to use it because it is cheap. We have brought the issue to the Continued on page 31

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Anyaoku Commends IBN Insurance Brokers for New Brand Identity Stories by Ebere Nwoji A former UN Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has commended Nigeria’s premier insurance broking firm, Insurance Brokers of Nigeria (IBN) for the innovation it brought into the insurance broking market through the unveiling of its new brand identity.

IBN, an insurance service firm offering premium services to individuals, businesses and government agencies since 1955 recently unveiled its new earth and gold logo type at a colourful brand identity launch held in

Lagos.

Elder statesman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who chaired the brand identity launch commended IBN for the innovative rebranding effort just as he urged the brand to be at the forefront of propelling insurance and risk management to loftier heights in Nigeria.

Anyaoku, commended the Board, Management, Staff and Clients of the firm led

by Otunba Adekunle Ojora for the successful historical development of the company through the thick and thin of the evolution of Nigeria as the

pioneer of insurance broking service in Nigeria since 1955. “This trailblazing company is still waxing stronger to date as a leading Risk and Insurance advisory firm. IBN has survived and developed all along with the history of Nigeria as a leading integrated risk and insurance advisory company with a brighter future. “I urge the Board, Management and Staff of Insurance Brokers of Nigeria Limited to remain innovative, steadfast and committed not only to satisfying the needs of your various clients but also to remain in the

forefront of taking insurance and risk management in Nigeria to loftier heights.�

Ojora said the brand remained committed to meeting client’s needs with innovative and customised insurance services and solutions. “We have been consistently serving the Nigerian people and corporate enterprises over the last 62 years and recognise how much has changed since we started in 1955.Our clients are more diverse than ever, their operational risks and business dynamics are varied, and always changing.

“Throughout our evolution, one thing that has never changed is our commitment to create and delivering innovative risk and insurance management solutions that make each of our clients’ enterprise become more successful. “Our solutions are unique to each business, and every decision we take is done with the best interest of our clients.

Our success is derived from the strength of support of IBN Board, leadership, loyal and happy and committed professional colleagues that are always satisfied at giving

the best to our clients.�

Speaking on IBN’s new colours, earth and gold, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, IBN, Chief Prosper Okpue said the brand would deepen efforts to make clients maximise business opportunities and rejuvenate insurance in Nigeria. “Our story as Nigeria’s premier insurance and risk advisory firm is a great journey of commitment, resilience and foresight towards improving everything associated with insurance in our country and at the international stage.

Niger Insurance Announces N5.96 premium Niger Insurance Plc has announced a gross premium written of N5.963billion for the year ended December 31, 2016.

This shows significant drop from the N10.498billion gross premium written by the company in 2015.

Operating profit for the group was N99.045million against N736.031million recorded in 2015.The group’s net operating profit after tax stood at N42.13 million in 2016 against N600.912 million in 2015 while total assets increased by 7 percent to stand at N22.511 billion against N20.990 billion in 2015.

These results were announced by the Niger insurance Plc Chairman Yusuf Abubakar at the 47th annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos recently.

Addressing the shareholders on the reason for the less impressive result made by the company in the 2016 business year, Abubakar stated that the year 2016 was very challenging for the insurance industry According to him, certain factors including shrinking federal/ state governments’ revenues, unavoidable devaluation of the Naira and high energy cost resulting in inflationary landscape, access to forex by businesses and individuals adding that all worked together to make things tough for the industry during the period under review.

On how the Niger Insurance group fared in the face of these, Abubakar said: “Despite challenging economic indices, the group delivered a modest performance in 2016 with the overall result reflecting

a fairly strong and sustainable company built on solid fundamentals indicating that strict implementation of its strategic initiatives will take it to greater heights,�

He said the company, during the period, managed to break even as a result of its prudent underwriting management.

On the future outlook of the company, the Niger Insurance boss, said the company’s management, would ride on the van of various economic growth strategies and positive policies and efforts of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) especially the enforcement of compulsory insurances to grow the company in the current year. “We will navigate the path to meet our medium -term business strategies and retain our ability to deliver value creation to our shareholders.

Our main focus shall be to enlarge our customer base and enrich our customers by proving more value-added products in a faster and more efficient manner following recent regulatory proclamation. The company, is now set and poised for the sale of annuity insurance,� he said.

He also said the capital raising project of the company is ongoing, adding that this has become more apt in view of the pending adoption by NAICOM of the risk based supervision. “The regulator has muted the idea of imminent mergers and acquisition in the industry, strong capital base will put your company in better stead to underwrite more business thereby creating more value to shareholders�, he said.

WE ARE IN BUSINESS

L-R: Chairman, Cloud Exchange, Dr. Akindele; CEO, Cloud Exchange, Glad Dibetso; Executive Director, Huawei Nigeria Enterprise Business, Welsion Yang and Vice President, Global Partner Business Department of Huawei, Todd Liu, at the signing of a partnership deal by both companies in China...recently

AIICO Insurance Resumes Underwriting of Life Annuity AIICO Insurance Plc said it has resumed writing of Annuity business after the short embargo placed on the business against insurance operators by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The company said it has resumed PenCom regulated Annuity business in collaboration with its appointed First Pension Custodian (PFC), having obtained the nod of PenCom to recommence the sale of the product nationwide.

Head, Retail Operations of AIICO, Mr. Sola Ajayi, who briefed journalists on the positive development said: “We are open for business nationwide and have already started booking new annuity

sales from all pension fund administrators (PFAs).�

According to Ajayi, AIICO Insurance is one of the pioneers of annuity in Nigeria, having started Annuity sales since 2013 with over 7,500 annuitants who are being paid their monthly annuities. “The AIICO annuity product is designed to pay customers for the entire duration of their life no matter how long they live. We are committed to the eradication of old age poverty in Nigeria, one person at a time,�

Ajayi stated. He said AIICO Insurance asset backing annuity liabilities is in excess of N30billion which is a testament to AIICO’s commitment to ensure that all future commitment will

be met as at when due.

On the development, Ajayi thanked the existing annuity customers of the company and assured them that the company would continue to be there for them .

He also welcomed all intending customers, saying AIICO Insurance will not disappoint them.

PenCom had on November 3, 2016, issued a circular, directing life insurance companies underwriting Life Annuity business under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 “to transfer all annuity assets under their custody to licensed Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) as mandated by the pension law.�

The Circular, stated that the

custody of annuity funds, has to reside with PFCs and insurance companies underwriting annuity, should transfer the same to PFCs of their choice within three months ending January 31, 2017. In addition, approval and release of funds for new annuity requests was put on hold pending when insurance companies would open operational accounts with PFCs to receive any new premium.

Before the Circular was issued, PenCom, had on October 26, 2016 communicated to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), of its resolve to bring annuity assets of insurance companies under the custody of PFCs and by extension under its purview.

entitlements whilst alive�.

The ARFESPON Chairman, in a letter titled; ‘Plight of the Nigerian Federal Civil Service Pensioners’, unanimously written by the members recalled various inhuman treatment and comments pensioners had received from government officials on account of demands for their rights.

“It was once mentioned by a top government functionary during the administration of Good Luck Jonathan when he was approached for the payment of the entitlement of the pensioners that the government has more than enough at hand rather than the issue of “Unproductive Pensioners.�

ARFESPON Demands Payment of Pensioners’ Benefits The Association of Retired Senior Public Officers of Nigeria (ARFESPON), has appealed to the federal government, to abate the pensioners out of their current unpleasant situation by ensuring immediate payment of outstanding 18 months of the 33 percent increase in their benefits effected by the Good Luck Jonatan’s administration.

The body is also demanding immediate payment of the illegally deducted 20.4 percent of pensioners’ increment from July 2010 till date, as well as the placement of the computation of the pension on the corresponding payable salaries of the serving workers to avoid further disparity.

ARFESPON Chairman,

Olufemi Odewabi, who made the call in a statement issued at the end of the association’s meeting in Lagos recently, said against the back drop of the above situation, many pensioners die daily due to their financial incapability to maintain the acquisition of their medication and others.

Asserting that the spirit of

their members who departed without seeing the fulfillment of the above outstanding payment they supposed to receive from government will not be happy even in the grave, Odewaby stated: “It can be envisaged that the spirit of the departed souls of this vendetta will always be after those that deliberately denied them of their rights and

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‘FOI Act Should Be Exploited for Effective Budget Monitoring’ Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garuba Abari, has said that effective budget monitoring can only be achieved if Nigerians take advantage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Abari made the remark in Abuja while playing host to a delegation from African Centre for Leadership, the Centre, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), led by its Executive Director, Dr. Otive Igbuzor in his office in Abuja.

The team had visited to seek

partnership with the agency on the implementation of Open Government Partnership (OGP) process in Nigeria.

The Director General said that the partnership with the Centre was a welcome development, noting that the agency was committed to the objectives 12, 13 and 14 of the OGP process.

According to him, “Recently, I was in Jos at the National Council for information. We came and presented a memo on how we will drive the OGP programme to the States and Local governments and all the Commissioners of Information

adopted our memo. We are going to be working with them very closely at the State level and this will dovetail down to the local government level.�

He added that the agency has so many platforms it could deploy to engage the citizens.

He stated: “The local government assembly is one of the platform we are using. The local government assembly is an assembly that we convene at the local government level where we bring the local government establishment, we bring the labour organisations available, the National Union of Teachers

(NUT), the village Heads, CSOs, youth group among others, we bring together to engage directly about government policies and programmes.�

Abari expressed worry that the local government system has completely collapsed due to the concentration of power at the state level. “For example, we discovered during the local government assembly that for little things like cleaning of the drainages, people talk about the governor, that tells you that local government has completely collapsed at the local level, the emphasis is on the governor. The

control of power at the state level to the total exclusion of a government is constitutionally recognised. “The use of FOI Acts is very key, but unfortunately citizens do not seem to know how very powerful such an instrument is in their hands. You cannot do effective budget monitoring without understanding what powers the FOI Act has,� the DG said.

Earlier, Igbuzor said in line with the anti-corruption position of the government, and in order to promote transparency and accountability, Nigeria joined other countries across the world to sign the OGP.

The Executive Director described the OGP approach as unique, saying there were three key areas about co-creation, which include; dissemination of information; spaces and platform for dialogue and cocreation; co-ownership and joint decision making. He explained that some of the commitments focus on citizens’ engagement, and these include; commitments 12, 13 and 14. He stressed that while there are lead agencies for the implementation of some of the commitments, NOA is the Lead agency for commitments 12, 13 and 14.

Rotary DG Advocates Collaboration for Effective CSR Raheem Akingbolu The Rotary Club of Lagos has been described as the flagship of Rotary International District 9110. The club has also been commended for upholding the ideals of Rotary International and urged to move beyond its comfort zones to impact other clubs in the district.

District Governor of District 9110, Nigeria, Dr. AdewaleOgunbadejo, who made the observation during his visit to the Club at Lagos Motor Boat Club, Ikoyi Lagos, said he was impressed by the conduct of the club and urged them to continue to sustain its leadership position in the District. The DG was received

by President of Rotary Club of Lagos, Rotarian Soboma Ajumogobia, President Elect, Mr. Ehi Braimah, board members and other members of the club. The District Governor, who is expected to visit about 100 clubs that fall under the District, said visitation to all clubs in the District is one of his major responsibilities that he was committed to achieve during his tenure. He commended the organisational skill displayed by the Rotary Club of Lagos during the meeting and called for collaboration between the clubs and other clubs in the district. “Visitation to various clubs is one of my primary responsibilities as District Governor.

It is statutory. Through the visits, I will be able to get firsthand information about the state of various clubs and will know the advice to give

and steps to take to address important issues. Today’s visit is particularly unique because of the status of the Rotary Club of Lagos as the flagship club of the district and father and mother of all clubs. I hereby advise them to continue sustaining the tempo and use their position to boost the image of Rotary Club by working in line with this year’s theme; Rotary: Making a Difference.�

While commending the leadership of the club for transparency and clarity in running the affairs of the club, he called on them to go out and scout for new members so as to deepen the growth of the club and become a mega club with at least 100 members.

Speaking on the legacy he would like to leave behind as District Governor during his tenure, Ogunbadejo again referred to the 2017 theme of Rotary club which is on making a difference. ‘’In line with this year’s theme of Rotary International, by the time my tenure ends, I want to leave behind a legacy that will represent what Rotary is all about –humanitarianism.

Again, in line with Rotary Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Rotary International that is concerned about doing good in our various countries under me would have impacted well on the society. I want to be remembered as a District Governor whose tenure witnessed developmental projects that touch the lives of people in various communities.

9MOBILE MARKET ACCESS FORUM

L-R: Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Opaluwa John (representing the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment); Head, Enterprise Segment, 9mobile, Chinelo Mbanefo and Coordinator, Growth Employment Project, Ugo Ikemba, at the 9mobile Market Access Forum held in Abuja ... recently

NESREA, Rivers State Applaud Notore on Environmental Standards, Control Emma Okonji The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment have expressed satisfaction with the commitment of Notore Chemical Industries Plc in Onne, Rivers State to environmental standards and control.

The commendation came on the heels of the company’s certification by the International Standards Organisation to be ISO 9001:2015 compliant.

Addressing journalists at the Notore plant in Onne at the celebration of World Environment

Day and commencement of the company’s three-day Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) awareness programme, the South-south Zonal Director of NESREA, Mr. Ralph Nnam, said his agency is satisfied that there was a conscious effort by Notore to protect the environment in all their operations.

According to him, “Notore is doing well. The fact of observing this week also shows some consciousness about the protection of the environment.

So far, in the course of our inspection of their facilities, we have found Notore compliant to all the advice that we gave.

They take responsibility in

protecting the environment in their operations. So, I will say their operations are commendable.�

Nnam, who also delivered a lecture titled, ‘ Principles of Circular Economy in Managing a Sustainable Industrial Environment’, said Notore remained one of the pacesetters in sustainable management of the environment in its operations.

Also, the Director, Pollution Control Unit of Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Maurice Ekwulo, commended Notore for keeping to standards in every aspect of its operations.

Ekwulo, who also witnessed the QHSE quiz among staff of

the company as part of activities marking the World Environment Day and the company’s QHSE Week, said most international oil companies could not meet Notore’s impressive standards.

He said: “Right from when I started coming to Notore, and based on reports from communities around them, I notice that Notore is keeping to standards in every aspect of their operation.

They are very environmentally compliant. “In terms of this green economy we are talking about, they do not produce anything that brings out carbon. Most of their activities are recycled.

iSON Technologies Implements Oracle Property Manager Solution Emma Okonji iSON Technologies is implementing the Oracle property manager solution through its recently acquired GTS Technologies, at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) Dubai, UAE. The DWTC Oracle property manager implementation project went live on 14th Sep 2016 despite the complexity of

implementation, tight timeline.

Chief Growth Officer at iSON Technologies, Mr. Akshay Grover, said: “The real estate industry value chain spans across site development cycle, construction life cycle, sales and leasing cycle, facility management cycle. “GTS, now acquired by iSON Technologies has made property management, maintenance and leasing simpler with our Oracle property and CRM solutions.

iSON GTS is fully equipped and continues to add value to its client base in the construction and real-estate sector across these four areas. “Through this implementation, DWTC is geared up to have a unified view of the tenant contracts and agreements. The system enables DWTC to intelligently manage their real estate portfolio by streamlining and automating lease administration

and space management.

According to Grover, the objective of the project was to implement a system to manage the DWTC properties in terms of customer relationship management, pre-leasing, leasing and property management and billing and also eliminate many of the manual processes and automate the tasks and reminders at different milestones.

Speaking more about the

project, the company said; “DWTC being one of the major Oracle customers, is a very prestigious account for us.

We approached the project with lot of care since the solution had to cover diverse business areas including leasing of retail, commercial and residential properties, house keeping contracts, car parking, among others. Real Estate is one of the verticals in which iSON GTS

demonstrates its expertise but we still approach each project on its merits. Each project is unique and comes with its own set of challenges. In case of DWTC Project, time line was a constraint and the client expected us to deliver the project in five months including the additional customisation and we are happy we were able to deliver the same in the defined timeframe, the company said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

Medview to Airlift Pilgrims from Ilorin Zone Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole has said the airline will airlift pilgrims from the Ilorin zone to the Holy Land from Thursday, August 3, 2017.

Bankole said the pilgrims that would be airlifted from the zone include those from Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti , Osun and Kogi to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next week Thursday.

Speaking in Ilorin on the level of preparations of the airlifting of the intending pilgrims, Bankole said: “The airline has made available large body aircraft, including Boeing B747 with a capacity of 460 passengers, B777 with a capacity of 300 passengers and B767 with a capacity of 200 passengers. “Some of the packages put in place for this year’s pilgrims is direct flight from the Ilorin International Airport to Prince Muhammed bin AbdulAziz International Airport, Medina for stress free pilgrimage while their luggage would be delivered at their hotels�.

He said that all these arrangements would reduce the stress pilgrims go through after arrival at the airport and later go back for their luggage and therefore urged pilgrims to see their visit to the Holy Land as purely spiritual and offer prayers for the leaders

, the government, themselves and their families.

On the present facilities at the Ilorin International Airport, Bankole said that everything has been done by the airport authorities and security operatives to guide against hitches as all hands are on deck and appealed to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to open the cargo terminal at the Ilorin International airport to serve as a window for all the pilgrims that would be airlifted from Ilorin zone.

He observed that if the cargo terminal is function, it would also improve the economy and trade for the state, adding, what is paramount to Medview Airline, which operates into seventeen destinations across the world is delivery of quality services and ensuring that passengers have a clean , safe and secure environment and aircraft that is air worthy.

He described the Nigeria airspace as safe, noting that there have been a lot of improvements done from the aviation regulators, despite that there is still the need to do more to meet international standards.

Bankole also warned pilgrims against travelling with prohibited goods as measures have been put in place to detect such illicit goods and advised the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of their family and the nation.

NEWS

eTranzact Gross Revenue Hits N10.4bn, Declares Dividend Emma Okonji At its 13th annual general meeting held last week in Lagos, eTranzact, an e-payments solution provider, declared gross revenue of N10.4 billion for the year 2016, representing a 20 per cent growth, compared to 2015.

It also declared operating profit of N620 million and profit before tax (PBT) was N449.4 million.

The board of directors therefore approved the payment of 10 kobo dividend to shareholders for the period.

The key drivers of eTranzact’s growth in 2016, according to the company, were strengthened collaboration with partner banks, with major innovations across its mobile banking suite, new product releases and strategic alliances.

While unveiling the future plan, the company said it would take steps to increase profitability of new relationships, enhance and deepen

existing ones, and explore new partnerships locally and internationally.

Speaking on the company’s performance for the period, its Board Chairman, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, said: “As a company we will continue to demonstrate our understanding of the benefits of strategic alliances and the potential business opportunities these can create.

We have fostered new relationships, enhanced and deepened existing ones and explored newer opportunities within our ongoing associations with existing partners. Our alliances contributed significantly to some of the improved financial performance we achieved in 2016.�

He informed shareholders that the 2017 AGM would be his last as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Board. “From the beginning, the Board in collaboration with the management team has worked hard to build a world

class organisation with global operating standards. We have made a lot of progress over the years and we keep getting better.

We are poised and committed to be a regional leader in the medium term and in the long term, a global leader in the electronic and mobile payment industry. To this end, we will continue to deliver secure, cost effective and innovative electronic and mobile payment services that are compliant with globally recognised standards,�

Ohiwerei said.

Founder and CEO of eTranzact, Mr. Valentine Obi said; “I will like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of the eTranzact board, for his outstanding service and commitment to the vision, mission and values of our company.

He said Ohiwerei had over the years, shown the true meaning of value-based leadership, by demonstrating a continuous commitment to excellence, stra-

tegic planning and hard work.

He leaves a strong legacy that we will work hard to keep up with and we will continue to execute our long term strategy and deliver on the mission and vision of the company, Obi said, while appreciating the board, management and staff of eTranzact for their doggedness, continued innovation, drive and commitment to the vision and mission of the company.

According to Obi, 2016 was a year that required special focus as we launched new products and extended our philosophy of making payments simple to other more complex industries as part of our innovation drive. “The rewards of our efforts have stayed consistent with an annual revenue growth rate of 70 per cent that we hope to continue. We promise to continue to make payments simple, and innovating and creating solutions that transform the lives of people in Africa,� Obi assures shareholders.

NEGLECT OF A GOLDMINE ministry of agriculture in Lagos State, but they complained of sufficient manpower to monitor the activities of these individuals.�

Sectorial Performance According to experts, the export revenue from forestry grew at 4.1, 8.0 and 28.8 percent between 1950-60, and 1960-70. Although, African sawn wood prices were under downward slide in late 2006, due to stable demand from India and China, the export value earnings from timber is obtained from products like log, sawn wood, veneer and pulp wood. Forestry sector provides employment opportunities for many Nigerians. The estimates of people engaged in different types of forestry activities ranged from 170,000 in 1933, 360,000 in 1947 and 568,000 in 1961. These include management staff, and the labour force in all forest based industries. About 80 percent of the rural population of Nigeria is engaged in agro-forestry and other agro-allied activities.

A data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which contained estimates for the four quarters of 2015, the annual figure for 2015 and estimates for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2016, revealed that the agriculture sector accounted for 88 percent in the fourth quarter and crop production.

The data also stated that in nominal terms, the sector grew by 6.45 percent year-on-

year. This was lower than the growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015, and also lower than that in the preceding quarter, by 3.05 percent points and 0.92 percent points respectively.

Growth in the sector was driven by output in crop production, which accounted for 87 percent of overall nominal growth of the sector.

Agriculture contributed 21.26 percent to nominal GDP during the quarter under review. This was lower than shares recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 and the previous quarter at 22.56 percent and 24.09 percent.

It further explained that real agricultural GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 4.03 percent (year-on-year), which was an increase of 0.56 percent points compared to growth in the same quarter of 2015 of 3.48 percent. However, it was slightly less than the real growth rate of 4.54 percent recorded in the previous quarter. In contrast to the economy as a whole, for full year 2016, real GDP in agriculture grew by 4.11 percent and this growth rate was higher than that recorded in 2015 of 3.72 percent.

From the data above, it is obvious that no attention was paid to the forestry industry as a result the subsector has been lagging behind in terms of contribution to the GDP. The likelihood of this is government may not be able to tap into the opportunities in the sector in order to boost growth.

A NEW OFFERING

L-R: Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State, Mrs. Oluwayomi Ogunwo; Zonal Business Coordinator, South-West, SouthSouth, and Abuja/ North Region, Agent Banking, Heritage Bank, Oluwakemi Adewunmi; promoter of Layeni Folayemi Enterprises, Corner Shop, Mrs. Layeni Folayemi and Experience Centre Manager, Ibadan, Oluwaseun Talabi, at the Heritage Bank’s launching of an agent banking corner shop, Layeni Folayemi Enterprises in Omu Ijebu, Ogun State‌recently

Boundless Business Magazine Launched Peter Uzoho Boundless, first thematic business magazine in Nigeria has been introduced into the industry.

The magazine, which will be based in Lagos would be published every two months and would be disseminated digitally via online and social media platforms.

It is to cover such areas as business (strategy and operations, innovation and technology, sales and marketing), the economy, health and fitness, lifestyle/entertainment, among others.

However, it does not have room for politics. The July 2017 edition was its first edition, and it was focused on the theme: ‘Made-inNigeria’.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Publisher/Editor of the

magazine, Marie- Therese Phido, said boundless seeks to close the gap created by lack of business magazines in the country that focus on themes. She stated that Boundless as a company would favourably compete with other leading brands in the magazine publication industry in Africa and strive “to be seen as the go to magazine for thematic business issues,� saying each issue will be based on trending business themes. “As a magazine, we will go the extra mile to bring on board some of the finest professionals to contribute and steer the magazine. We will at all times demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, by actively integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible. “We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable

to the highest standards by meeting our customers’ needs precisely and completely whenever they patronise our magazine,� Phido said.

She noted that the plan of the company “is to position Boundless to become the leading brand in the online magazine business in Nigeria while also aiming to be amongst the top three leading magazines in the country before its third anniversary.

She disclosed that the competitive advantage of the magazine is to set a high standard in the industry, which would make its readers view it as a must read for thematic business issues. “We have carved a niche for ourselves by focusing on business and will exploit the internet and online platforms to position ourselves. Our competitive advantage also

lies in the power of our team. “We have a team of creative and highly proficient, content creators/contributors, and graphic designers; a team with excellent qualifications and experience in their specialist areas. “Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected team, our content will be guided by best practices in the industry�.

The magazine’s editorial board comprises Chairman, Osten Olorunsola; and Vice Chairman, Catherine Bickersteth.

Other members include Gbayode Somuyiwa, Usen Udoh, Stella Ojekwe, Jacklyn Awobayikun, Ifeanyi Uddin, member, and Marie-Therese Phido. “Boundless has its target audience as corporate executives, government officials, business people, celebrities, young adults, tourists/business visitors, and online enthusiasts,� she added.

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EDUCATION Utilising Engineering to Stimulate Socioeconomic Devt in Africa The need to ensure that engineering enhances the socio-economic development of the African continent and prepares students and the citizenry for knowledge economy underpinned by science, technology and innovation, was the focus of the third African Engineering Deans’ Council (AEDC) 2017 summit, which held recently, at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state. Funmi Ogundare reports For two days, stakeholders drawn from the academia, African Union (AU), UNESCO, African Engineering Education Association (AEEA), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria(COREN), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others, recently converged on the African Leadership Development Centre (ALDC) Covenant University, Ota, for the third African Engineering Deans Council(AEDC) 2017 summit.

The summit themed, ‘Engineering For Socio-Economic Development of Africa’, seek to increase synergy, collaboration, networking and partnerships among Engineering deans, professors, educators, policy makers and captains of industry in order to catalyse the growth and advancement of engineering education in Africa.

The Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo who declared the summit open enumerated the challenges confronting humanity, saying that engineers must take responsibility to address them. “Most developed countries in the world begin with engineering , it is the core of any meaningful development. Engineering is moving from what it used to be, to innovation, and trying to catch up with what is needed today using present day technology, �he said The President , Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC), Dr. Peter Kilpatrick McCloskey said Africa needs engineers to innovate and lead to solve pressing challenges of income inequality, sustainability, energy , water, housing, food and employment for billions of people who will need to be served over the next 30 years. “If engineers do not lead in these endeavours, which will require great technological innovation and skill, who will?,� he asked, adding that it is also imperative that students are trained and motivated to serve their countries and the people. “We need to start training engineers to become employers that will transform the society and also understand how we can help create the leaders that Africa needs for the 21st century,� he said.

Earlier in his keynote address, former President and Chairman AU, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo stressed the need for Nigeria to increase investment in higher institutions of learning to produce engineers that will be job creators rather than job seekers.

He said the leaders must also understand what it takes to keep tab with the 21st century and reform engineering education while supporting research for best practices.

He however expressed concern that our society is experiencing serious deficit due to the dearth of the will to come together and seek ways of working solutions to our problems without any political undertone.

According to him, “the engineering curriculum of the 20th century is no longer sufficient to address the engineering challenges of the 21st century. Certain engineering competencies such as problem solving, design and analytical thinking have become essential.�

He recalled that in many parts of Africa, young engineers have not been trained for specific roles in the industry saying, “we have to teach them to convert the technical knowledge acquired into useful artifacts that are needed in the industry and to learn also how to transform manufactured products into viable business ventures.�

Obasanjo argued that women are underrepresented in technology and engineering careers in most industrialised countries around the world, as well as admission into the programme in tertiary institutions. “The image of engineering as a masculine

Front row L-R: Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Professor Michael Faborode, President of COREN, Mr. Kashim Ali, The President , Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC), Dr. Peter Kilpatrick McCloskey, Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other members of African Engineering Deans Council(AEDC), during its 2017 summit held in Covenant University, Ota,Ogun state‌recently

profession has reproduced the perception that engineering is unsuitable for women. While various strategies have been used to try to increase the number of women entering engineering education and employment, their success has been limited.�

The President AEDC, Professor Adagboyin Obiazi noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be developed with defined structures and framework for implementation that will foster synergy, partnership and winwin collaboration between the academia and industries.

According to him, “this will surely turn things around and create the required impetus and momentum for industrial growth, research funding and national development. It is our firm hope that the successful implementation of the MoU will become a model to be replicated across the African continent.�

He opined that since the council is buoyed by the acceptance of the chairman of the African Union, it would help to place engineering and technology in the front burners of AU agenda and programmes, noting, “Africa needs to invest massively in engineering and technology in order to drive her development and take her away from third world nomenclatures.�

The President of COREN, Mr. Kashim Ali affirmed that engineering is very essential to improving human livelihood, while expressing concern that Africa currently lacks the critical mass of graduates in scientific disciplines. “Statistics show that there is one or less scientist or engineer per 10,000 people compared with 20 to 50 in the industrialised countries. This ratio, if calculated for technicians and artisans is even worse. This is the reason why COREN became concerned with the dearth of technical education in Nigeria within the last decade.�

As engineers, he said the council has a collective responsibility to improve the quality of living around Africa and the world, adding that teachers of engineering have greater responsibility to impact the basic knowledge that would ensure continuity for the 21stcentury.

While pledging his council’s commitment to support Africa’s progress towards the attainment of socio-economic development objectives, Ali said, “it is my hope that as we look at engineering and African development, this workshop will

be a contribution to the process of addressing challenges and identifying opportunities for constructive, creative and positive engagement of the huge engineering human resources in Africa.�

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta who described the engineering sector as the bedrock of many other sectors, said it plays a prominent role in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but expressed concern that a major challenge for developing countries is in preparing the citizenry for knowledge economy; a world where technology dominates and activates every aspects of life. “Engineering educators must take a closer look at how its students are being prepared to enter the real world. Current graduates will be called upon to make decisions in a socio-geo political environment quite different from that of today. Artificial intelligence and robotics are a reality today, cars drive themselves, drones master the airspace, every equipment is ‘smart and cognitive’, and everything is getting internetworked with everything,� he said.

He stressed the need for the council to collaborate with manufacturers, vendors, innovators, operators, among others so as to develop an enduring engineering curricular and policy that will place the continent at the same pedestal as the developed world. The Secretary General of Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Professor Michael Faborode who emphasised on achieving effective research and innovation, said there must be a collaboration between the industry and the university, adding that agencies must be set up to ensure that the products and patents impact and change lives. “We must all realise that there is a challenge which must be solved. Universities must take research seriously, they must be adequately funded and accorded the needed recognition and challenged to deliver on their mandate, � he said.

The Chair, Local Organising Committee(LOC), Covenant University, Professor Christian Bolu told THISDAY that the council would work within the framework of the African union to solve African problems, as well as improve on the curriculum so that the students being

produced will be relevant for the industries.

Asked what the summit would achieve at the end of the day, he said, “we have started achieving them, we have got the attention of AU through the chairman who has invited us to Conakry for us to discuss further. We have also gotten the attention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the vice chancellors.

We also need to get the involvement of Nigerian manufacturers and organised private sector; and set up the structure for us to collaborate, and use the model for Africa.�

He said the committee will work on making its curriculum to be Outcome Based Education (OBE), in order to benchmark it for international best practices. “The former president has said it that our curriculum has been accepted in large numbers of areas. The only area we are trying to work on is to make our curriculum to be outcome based education.�

Bolu described its quality of engineering graduates as good saying, “that is why we are meeting with manufacturers to be able to understand their requirements and see whether we can change or modify our curriculum for it to be useful.�

Asked about the role the industry plays in the training of engineers, the Chair said, “it is to provide the information that is required for us to train people and provide the platform where students can get hands-on experience.�

On how exposed the lecturers are to practices in the industry, he said, “our lecturers need to get in touch with the industry and see the way they do things and come back for the training.�

The programme witnessed a brief award ceremony where plaques were given to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for being an ‘Achiever in Engineering’, President of the Republic of Guinea, Professor Alpha Conde for being the ‘Champion of African Renaissance’.

Others are the Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo for ‘Restoration of the dignity of the black man’, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta for ‘Africa Outstanding Achiever in Communication’, as well as Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) for being ‘African’s Ground breaker in Engineering’.

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EDUCATION

NANS Chides Kogi Governor Over Scrapping Of ASUU Kuni Tyessi in Abuja A faction of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), has questioned and condemned the move of the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello over his recent decision to scrap the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the state owned institution, Kogi State University (KSU).

Also, the Association disclosed that it has been holding talks with stakeholders involved in the closure of the institution which has been reopened, in order to forestall

possible challenges that might affect its academic calendar.

The President of the association, Comrade Aruna Kadiri, who briefed Journalists in Abuja, on the attempt by some politicians to derail the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the lawful exercise of its constitutional mandate, said, “they have opened our campus and our campus is running. Our major problem now is that government has scrapped ASUU and we have been telling the governor that he cannot fight ASUU because we are going to join ASUU to

fight this one and that is the major problem. We are trying to collectively sort things out as we speak. We have been on the issue and have been ironing it out.�

Similarly, the association has called for the rule of law in the recall process of the senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye, and has stated in unequivocal terms that INEC should be allowed to carry out its statutory functions in the recall of an erring representative and the wishes

of the people being represented should be respected.

While alleging that some politicians had resorted to the use of blackmail against the INEC boss and erstwhile Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in order to stop the recall process of Sen. Melaye, the association revealed that it has commenced mass mobilisation of Nigeria students to be watchful of the developments.

According to him, “It must be stated without equivocation

that it is the constitutional right of the people to recall their representatives where such representative is not performing. It is also within the legitimate mandate of INEC to follow through the process upon receipt of the petition signed by the required number of people. “The Senate is going to probe the activities of TETFund. It is within the competence of the distinguished senators to do so. However, we seriously frown at the attempt of some

persons to twist and attempt to purport that the INEC halted process because of the mooted probe of TETFund. This is a failed blackmail and we reject it completely. “NANS has therefore commenced mass mobilisation of our students and Nigerians to be watchful to ensure that this plot by certain political jobbers who have failed our country and democracy does not get a foothold in their attempt to hijack the 2019 general elections in order to perpetuate themselves in power.�

Caleb Varsity Partners Lagos Govt on Environmental Issues Ugo Aliogo The Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Prof. Aina Ayandiji Aina has expressed the institution’s desire to partner with Lagos state government in addressing critical environmental issues facing the state.

Briefing Journalists recently, in Lagos, said they have mapped out plans to partner with the government to do a research on Ojota dumpsite located at Ojota Local government area, with a view to addressing the health challenges it may cause.

He noted that his institution is also collaborating with some institutions in Canada, US, South Africa and Ghana and their sister universities in the country in order to address other environmental issues facing the state, adding that they would also get some of their researchers to collaborate with those from the US and Canada to do an environmental impact analysis on the site, and the future implications, while focusing on how to carryout damage control mechanism and properly advise the state government. “We are currently drawing a proposal on the dump site and other environmental issues. We have spoken to government and they are excited about it. The Commissioner of Environment has said he wants to see the proposal first so that work can

begin in earnest.�

Ayandiji said the university is also collaborating with government and other security agencies in its drive to ensure the safety of lives and property in the community.

He added that such collaboration with the security agencies begins from the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) to the Department of State Security (DSS), Lagos state government, as well as the community security watch.

According to him, “our interactions with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have yielded a very robust relationship. We have a rapid response team that is constantly on ground in the university community.

They have been stationed here in the school to provide security.

There are times when the area commander leads a patrol team to the university by 3 a.m. We have our security network which ensures that before things happen in the larger community, we get wind of it. “We are not 100 percent reliant on perimeter fence because sometimes, these constructions can be pulled down and armed robbers can wreck havoc on the university.

Therefore, what is needed is having the appropriate intelligence report on time to act as a shield. Therefore the next step is to put the necessary measures in place.

The Founder/Proprietor, Nana Aisha College of Education, Ilorin, Dr. Issa Raheem Adebayo, and Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NACCE), Prof. Bappa Aliyu Muhammadu ( middle) anked by the management and stas of the college, during Professor Bappa’s visit to the college, in Ilorin, Kwara State‌recently

Monarch Lauds Foundation for Computerising Rivers Premier College Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt A Monarch, the Amayanabo of Kalabari, Professor Theophilous Princewill has commended the Daba and Orlando Foundation for rehabilitating one of Nigeria’s oldest colleges, the Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, Rivers State.

He made the commendation, recently, at the inauguration of a computer laboratory installed for the college by the foundation.

The Royal father, who was represented by Chief Ibiba Princewill, expressed delight that the computerisation of the college, and restoration of its dilapidated library, will stimulate readership and improve learning by students

in the institution.

He called on the students to exploit the computers and restored library for serious studies so as to actualise their life ambition, rather than relapsing to inactivity, delinquency and crime. The National President of the Buguma Internal Affairs Society (BIAS), Alabo Charles Numbere who has been collaborating with the foundation in its development drive in the area, commended its life enhancement projects in the riverine community, noting that the foundation had few months ago concluded a rural water project for the community while its scholarship for indigent students has been a long-running programme.

The Chairman of the

foundation, Mr. Tein George said the aim of the non-profit organisation, is to drive rural development.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mrs. Doris Tom- George said, “ the endeavours of the foundation cover scholarships, technical and scientific education, empowerment of rural people, rural water and electrification projects as well and culture promotion. “Daba and Orlando Foundation was founded in 2012,

by Tein George, in memory of his late parents, Prof. Orlando and Mrs. Daba George, who had a vision of a thriving society where everyone is able to actualise his/her potential.�

In her welcome address,

the Principal of the KNC, Mrs. Sunday Prince Dateme, thanked the foundation for encouraging the school authority in its re-positioning efforts through the donation of the 26-computer laboratory with full infrastructure .

Dateme, who conducted visitors round a refurbished library of the school, said the library would improve reading culture while ensuring that pupils are fully engaged throughout school periods.

Cutting the tape to inaugurate the computer laboratory, Dr. Davidcon Briggs, Director, Rivers state secondary schools management Board, lauded the foundation for filling the gap in governments’ community development efforts.

While calling on political office holders to emulate the gesture, Comrade Adeiza said the director general was able to organise the programme as a result of his positive orientation towards human development and capacity building.

Earlier, the National President of Ihima Students’ Union, Comrade Isah Amoto Bala thanked Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Abdulmalik for creating an enabling environment for the programme which he said was meant to foster

peace among the students.

He noted that the remarkable milestone recorded in the annals of the state and Ebira land was made possible through the people-oriented new direction blueprint of the governor.

He urged the people to support the administration of Governor to attract more dividend of democracy. At the end of the competitions, various prizes were won by some of schools that participated in the competition.

35 Students Get Education Grant in Kogi Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja No fewer than 35 students from various Secondary Schools in Ihima, Okehi local government council of Kogi State have received educational grants to enable them further their studies.

The Director-General, Kogi State Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulmalik who made this known, recently, during the grand finale of chains of

academic competition that featured quiz, spelling drills and debate among students , held at Ihima Community Science Secondary School(ICSSS), Ihima, said the only way leaders can foster unity and peace among the diverse clans of the community is through healthy academic competition rather than empowering thugs to disrupt the peace of the society.

He recalled the good old days when students were drilled on the basic spelling skills, map reading and debate, noting that

such virtues have given way for trivial clanish considerations that tend to divide the society.

He said if a peaceful society would be achieved, there is an urgent need for leaders to play their roles in revitalising communal living and brotherhood, adding that it will serve as guiding principles employed by the leadership of Ihima Students’ Union (ISU) in the selection of beneficiaries that cut across all sections of Ihima community.

According to him, “Governor

Yahaya Bello is a leader who is passionate about education and had instructed all members of his cabinet to impact positively on the students especially the less privileged.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Kogi State chapter, Comrade Momoh Jimoh Adeiza in his remark expressed excitement about the ingenuity of Alhaji Abdulmalik to give scholarship to the school children and foster unity among the different sections of the community.

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Model College Student Wins NNPC National Quiz Contest A student of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, Master Durojaiye Oluwasegun Ayomide, has emerged the winner of the state finals of the annual Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sponsored national quiz competition.

He will be representing Lagos state at the zonal final on September 22, at Ado-Ekiti.

Durojaiye scored 84 percent to beat other contestants clinching the first position and leaving Dara Ogunmola of New Hall International School, Lekki and Uwosu Olumide of Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon, Badagry, who scored 82.5 and 81 percent to second and third positions respectively in the keenly contested competition.

His victory at this level of the competition will fetch him a scholarship award worth

N100,000 from NNPC. The competition is organised annually in collaboration with all the state ministries of education in the country, to promote the teaching and learning of sciences in schools and also stimulate student’s interest in science subjects.

Congratulating the winners at the end of the event, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omobola Babs-Akinyeye noted that students of Lagos state owned schools have been participating and recording successes in the competition since inception in 2001.

According to her, “the competition has laid solid foundation for science development in Nigeria and one encouraging trend observed was that the quality of performance of the schools had been on the increase since the competition began�

She urged the winner to study harder to

win at the zonal and national competition.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adebayo Ibiyeye said this year’s edition of the competition started on July 15, 2017 at the grassroots level in 10 centers across the state, adding that the students were subjected to written examinations in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and English language and 60 best students were selected; three per local government to participate at the state finals which took place on the July 24 at Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja.

The students who commended their teachers for impacting on them, promised not to relent in their efforts as their eyes are set on greater heights that will bring glory to the state and the nation in the area of scientific discoveries and technological inventions.

Cross section of graduands of God First International Schools, Itele Ota, Ogun State during its 2016/2017 graduation ceremony... recently sheriff balogun

Yahaya Bello Flags-off Construction of Blocks of Classrooms Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has flagged-off the construction of 240 blocks of classrooms in 80 primary schools across the 21 local government areas of the state under the GYB model primary schools programme.

Performing the ground breaking ceremony held at St. Luke Primary School , Adankolo, Lokoja the state capital, governor Bello said the project was designed to improve educational infrastructure for the poor and vulnerable children whose parents can not afford private schools .

According to him, “it is sad that the public education system in Nigeria has now become almost exclusively for children whose parents can not afford to send them to private schools. Private

schools are necessary, but they should mainly fill gaps in the educational needs of society, rather than become the preferred choice as it is done in Nigeria today.�

The governor who said the level of decay as a result of neglect of basic education by previous administrations made him to initiate the GYB model primary schools projects, added, “in my inaugural address on the January 27 , 2016, I promised that we would overhaul our educational system. The project is intended to further enhance the capacity of our public schools to deploy solutions for our society.�

Earlier, the Chairman of State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Deborah Osetimehin said education is the only legacy any responsible government can offer to the society, adding that Governor Bello’s quest to revamp education

particularly the basic education, made his administration to take the sector top most in the five thematic area of the new direction blueprint of the present government. “The 240 block of classrooms will go along with solar power that will make the schools the best in the country.�

The SUBEB chairman who said the governor has been making conscious efforts to wipe out illiteracy in the state , pointed out that the project will remove the burden of heavy school fees on parents .

The Administrator of Ijumu Local Government Area(LGA), Hon. Taufiq Isah appealed to the people of the state to always embrace the laudable projects initiated by the governor, saying that the education project will go a long way in benefiting children yet unborn.

School Gives Posthumous Honour to Late Teacher Sheri Balogun in Abeokuta God First International Schools, Itele Ota, Ogun State, recently honoured one of its late teachers, Mrs. Bolanle Sodunke posthumously as the best overall teacher in the school The late teacher who died recently of undisclosed circumstances was praised for her hard work and dedication towards the upliftment of the school’s goals and the academic excellence of the pupils in particular.

The Chairman, Parents Teacher Association (PTA), Mr. Michael Olubode who presented gift on behalf of the school

management said Sodunke who also doubles as the Secretary of PTA was always punctual and meticulous in all her dealings.

While praying for Sodunke, he implored guests and parents at the graduation ceremony to observe one minute silence in her honour as her colleague received the gift on her behalf amidst tears.

Meanwhile, guests at the graduation ceremony were entertained by various cultural displays by the pupils while parents who were impressed with the pupils performances showered gift items on them. The school graduated a total of 60 students, 19 pupils from kindergarten

class, 27 from primary class, as well as 19 others at the senior secondary school level.

The Head Teacher, Primary section, Mrs. Omobolanle Oyejide advised the graduands to be good ambassadors of the school by been responsive and responsible , while maintaining decorum at all times.

The event witnessed presentation of gifts to Mrs. Idowu Adetunji and Mrs. Aminat Yusuf who emerged best and most punctual teachers at the primary school level, respectively.

Also, management of the school presented gifts items to Pupils who excelled in their academic performance.

We Do Not Need To Incense Our Children An ever shouting and restless teacher who always harangues her class will infect the children with negativity. To children, teachers are semi-gods who ought to be obeyed and emulated.

Children that are forever shouted at will shout at others to get on daily. They will become aggressive adults. Have you noticed how much harsh words flow freely from our lips these days? It’s appalling. The boss at work, the bus conductor, the market-sellers, stressed up parents, clerks in offices who are forever expecting, traffic wardens, policemen and soldiers at checkpoints, everyone talks harshly. Car engines are shouting, horns are hooting these days too. What with the harsh petrol scarcities coupled with the third or fourth hand spare parts transporters have to work with.

This country must change for the better. This change must not only be in terms of a better standard of living for the average Nigerian, but change also in terms of content and manner of our discourse with one another. Our speech should always be seasoned with grace, with good will and with encouragement.

I admire and have emulated a good trait in the British - this is politeness. The expressions: yes, please; thank-you, beg your pardon, mind if I, excuse me, and the like are utterances I hear from them daily and I observe too that these are not said to colleagues only but also to the children as the need arises.

Fellow teachers, we have these children in our care for at least five hours daily. Let’s drill politeness into them. In our Nigerian cultures, we have the legacy of polite expressions. The Yorubas, for instance, have the word which not only is a plural pronoun referring to more than one person but can be used to address and indeed should be used to address anyone irrespective of age or affluence.

All these, I’m afraid, are fast disappearing. Can you beat the rudeness of the primary six child awhile ago who dared me to send him to the quiet room in isolation (the naughty corner)?

I had told him that he’d have to go into the quiet room if he continued to make distracting and rude noises with the latches of his locker during my lesson.

Our headmistress then, I remembered clearly, was stunned but handled the situation like the teacher that she was. Here was a lanky boy, from a rich home, who, from his childhood, displayed disrespect for authority. On the other hand, I was grateful for the incidence because it was yet another opportunity to understand the child better.

He was most probably from a home that flowed with milk and honey where nannies, cooks and drivers were plummeted with orders and threats from master and madam or either of the two and where their namby-pamby children must not be disciplined by teacher.

The Ancient Truth says “Train your child and he shall give you rest�. Mind you, I do not at all mean to hit with the cane, as they are not animals, but rather I am for discipline which sets out to instruct, teach by words and actions, deny if that would pass on the lesson to be learnt and reward immediately any good behavior.

Omoru writes from the UK

Gbajabiamila Advises Students to Pick Between CRS, IRS Shola Oyeyipo Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has advised students in secondary schools in the country to opt for any preferred subject between Christian Religious Studies (CRS) and Islamic Religious Studies(IRS) Gbajabiamila who gave the advise while speaking with students, parents and principals of the 23 senior secondary schools in Surulere one federal constituency at the town hall meeting held recently, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, affirmed that parents will be held responsible for the misconduct of their children. “On the issue of IRS and CRS, the House has resolved that they should not be made compulsory subjects and as such, students are at liberty to

study any religion they desired to study.

The constitution guarantees freedom of religion. “The bill that is on the front burner now, the issue of school curriculum, whether students should take both CRS and IRS or make a choice of any one they like has generated some debates in the country. “I want to know what your thoughts are, so that I can articulate your position in the House. But for now, the House has decided that the two should be separated.

Whoever wants to study the Bible let him study it, whoever wants to study the Koran let him study it. “The House of Representatives agreed on this, I do hope this will be the position of the other chamber, if it is not, we will find a way out of it by talking to the other people,�

Gbajabiamila stressed.

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Malpractices: Obaseki Orders Arrest of Two Teachers in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has ordered the immediate arrest of two teachers who were allegedly involved in examination malpractice at Ologbosere Primary School in Ikpoba -Okha local government area of the state.

The governor who was accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), however assured of his determination to improve in the quality of basic education in the state.

Obaseki made the order during an on-the-spot inspection of the Primary 6 school leaving examination which held across the state weekend, said the two teachers will be prosecuted according to the laws of the

land just as he expressed dismay over corruption in examination process.

According to him, “as a policy we have started by ensuring that the exams is organised better and professionally, we have private and public schools been tested and because of the key motivation we have private schools trying to come and influence the exams to claim that children from private schools are better in standard exams. “We are also bothered about the corruption in the exams process so all parents were kept outside because there was confusion in one of the schools, however our officials ensured that the process was not undermined.

Other schools inspected were Ebenezer Primary School, Ivbyenova Primary School, S.t

Saviour, George Idah Primary School and Ologbosere Primary School.

At the school, Obaseki said the manner in which the pupils comported themselves was in compliance with the state government’s policy to improve education system. “We decided that we will have the examination for primary six pupils which is a standard exam properly monitored.

As a policy, we have decided that this exam should be reorganised and made a lot better and professional.�

He assured of his administration’s readiness to improve the quality of basic education in the state, stressing that the process will be tedious and rigorous but the children in the long run would be better for it.

He however warned parents against examination malpractices while assuring of government’s policy to improve the quality of basic education, which would see them through life.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Osayuware Idahosa, said the challenge of shortage of examination materials was mitigated, noting also that the turnout was very impressive.

She commended the governor and his entourage for participating actively in the monitoring exercise.

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mallam Alli Suleiman, also expressed appreciation to the governor who with his collaboration had helped the board to strengthen basic education.

Front row L-R: Vice Principal, Academic Martha Okafor; Special Guest of Honour, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli; Out-going Head Girl, Rolake Tomoye; Principal, Ms. Meg Isebor; Secretary, Nigerian Association for Women Advancement (NEWA), Ms Loretta Ikuenobe and other graduants, during the 2017 graduation ceremony of The Lagoon School, Lekki, Lagos... recently. kolawole alli

FG’s Decision to Takeover Missionary Schools Led to Collapse of Education System Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Bishop of Diocese of Kubwa, Abuja, Dr. Duke Akamisoko, said the decision of the federal government during the administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to take over the missionary schools in the country led to the collapse of the country’s education system.

The Anglican bishop who described the level of the deterioration of the country’s education sector ‘a national disaster’ noted that educating a man without the fear of God is a dangerous education.

He made this known, in Abuja, while delivering a paper on ‘Repositioning Christian Education’, at the 9th graduation ceremony of the Africa International College.

According to him, “it’s quite clear, the evidences are there, early 70s under the administration of Gowon I think, as at that time about 60 to 70 per cent of secondary and primary schools were owned by Christian organisations, churches and all that and they took them over and the first thing they do was to say no more Christian prayers, no more Bible and it became the beginning and the result is here with us today.� “Thank God some states are giving back those schools to the missionary to reinvigorate and put more life into them. As I said when you are educating somebody without the fear of God in him, then, it’s a dangerous education. “ Akamisoko said the way out is to bring back the Bible and instill the fear of God

into the children at the early age.

The Anglican bishop described the myriads of problems facing the country in all the sectors as a national disaster. “It’s a national crisis that we are in and from every evidence, the government as of now, I don’t see them giving us any solution, I don’t see any solution in place for what they are doing for us, it’s a national disaster in education and health.

Bearing his mind on the decision of the federal government to bring back Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK), he said,� the issue of bringing it back is another issue, when you bring it back, there are no teachers to teach this subject.

Go to universities, colleges of education today, nobody is doing CRK. The north is worse, it is worse that in all schools that there are no CRK teachers.�

Earlier, the School Principal, Mr. Mike Salazar said the graduating set was the best in the history of the school, adding that the set received the highest score in JAMB with 297.

He added that 47 graduating students scored 211 and above, while Cowbellpedia Mathematics completion overall best student in FCT with 98 percent was also a student of the school. “We work very hard, no tricks, it’s just hard work.

My teachers work very hard, my students work very hard and the parents contributed a lot for us to be able to do this. It just a matter of setting goals, knowing where you want to go and heading that direction.�

Bauchi Students’ Crisis: 10 Persons, Soldier injured Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi No fewer than 10 persons were injured including one military personnel during the recent students’ crisis at the College of Education, Kangere, in Bauchi local government area of Bauchi state, the Chairman, High-Powered Committee on the crisis, Alhaji Ibrahim Sule has said The Chairman disclosed this recently, during the committee’s presentation of the report to the Acting Governor and commissioner of Education, Engr. Nuhu Gidado who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Nadir Mohammed Yalwa in Bauchi.

Sule who is also a Permanent Member 2 at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB),Bauchi, said the committee during the course of its assignment met with the college’s management, Students’ Union Government (SUG), village head of Kangere, victims, military personnel and the public for possible comments on the purported incident that happened on May 24,,2017 at the college premises.

Receiving the report on behalf of the Acting Governor and Commissioner of Education, his Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Nadir Mohammed Yalwa promised that the report would be studied carefully and justice will be

done accordingly by the government for all parties involved.

He commended the chairman and his members for timely completion of their assignment saying the report would be given due consideration.

Meanwhile, Bauchi state government has released 100 per cent WAEC fees for the year 2017,the Deputy Governor and commissioner of education, Engr.

Nuhu Gidado has revealed.

He made the revelation during the 60th Anniversary of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) held at the General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College, Bauchi.

Lagoon School Graduates 82 Rebecca Ejifoma The Principal, Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki, Lagos, Ms Margaret Isebor has appealed to graduating students to make a difference in the society they find themselves and ensure they become greater, through achieving their set goals. Isebor who gave this advise , recently, at the 2017 graduation ceremony of the school, said, “after six years of being here, today, you have developed into beautiful young ladies. So, go out there and make a difference and we will be proud of you.�

She added; “we believe in you because you have Christ in you. You are nothing without

God. Take Him along in all you do. Have a sound relationship with him because the best knowledge in life comes form God. You should know that we are not only particular about your education, but also about your spiritual lives.�

A total of 82 female students graduated from the school. Some of the students expressed excitement about the period when they were in the school. One of the graduands, Miss Olive Iwegbu, 17, who intends to study Accounting and Finance in the university, expressed joy saying, “It is finally over. It has been very long, coming from Ikeja to Lekki daily for six years, its no joke.�

She described Lagoon school as one of

the best in the country with very competitive status. “The competition here is really tough; I must say. You have to study really hard and keep up with daily news report both local and international. This is a very big testimony after six years of intense and challenging studies within the walls of the school.�

Some of the graduating students who did well in their academics, received laptops and cash prizes ranging from 30, 000 to N100,000 donated by parents. A science student, Miss Anjola Olutomilayo emerged overall best in Physics, Further Mathematics and Computer Science, got a cash prize of N100,000 prize and a laptop.

Whitesands School Graduates 80 Whitesands School, Lekki, weekend, held its 12th graduation and prize-giving day ceremony, where a total of 80 boys graduated.

The programme which was well attended by many dignitaries, including the Minister of Power, Works and Housing and former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, also saw his youngest son, Olayinka Malik graduating.

The best student was Master Efeziono Elutabe who got the highest academic honours topping several science subject including Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Further Mathematics.

Also present among the graduates was Master Eustace Imafidon, a two-time Lagos State champion of Cowbell Mathematics competition who won at the junior and senior categories at Whitesands School.

Other students in the junior classes also received prizes for their achievements during the academic session.

In his remarks, the Chair-

man of the occasion, Mr. Bolaji Medessou presented the current state of the Ikota Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that owns Whitesands School, while emphasising the need to support the new school project in Enugu; Hillrange Secondary School.

The Guest Speaker, Professor Chris Ogbechie of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, encouraged the graduates to look at Nigeria’s opportunities rather than getting bogged down by its problems.

The Principal, Dr. Lorenzo Manuel David, who gave a report on the school in the last academic session, advised the graduates on the need to build on the virtues they learnt at home and school and challenge themselves with big dreams.

Being the outgoing Social Prefect, Olayinka Malik Fashola presented awards to Raphael Okocha-Ojeah for dedicated service to the school and Efeziono Elutabe for highest academic honours.

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CITYSTRINGS

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A Worthy Home Coming The Mboho Edemaya clan in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State recently celebrated one of their own, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Obong Nsima Ekere, writes Ejiofor Alike

Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere (2nd right) with wife, Ese and daughter, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah (2nd left) and his wife, Peace and former Minister of Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet (behind), at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Ekere held at the Methodist Church Ikot Abasi Diocese‌recently

T

he Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Obong Nsima Ekere is a prophet with an honour in his homestead. He is loved by his people, celebrated by his community, respected by both the elders and the youths, admired by those who have had cause to interface with him.

It is for this reason that the entire 23 villages that comprise the Mboho Edemaya in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, came out recently to honour their illustrious son who has made them proud, at a grand reception, held at the Methodist Central School, Ekpene Enin in Edemaya.

To the people of Mboho Edemaya Clan, Ekere is God’s gift to his community, a biblical Joseph who has brought good fortune to his people.

The unobtrusive community of Ekpene Enin was literarily shut down as thousands of dignitaries from across the country trooped into the community to honour Ekere whose worthiness and respectability has remained a signpost in all his endeavours at a two-day event, which culminated in a thanksgiving service at the Methodist Church Ikot Abasi Diocese.

As an entrepreneur and innovative thinker with impactful public service career, the NDDC

boss has attracted numerous accolades from all over the country and beyond.

His Edemaya community, as a show of the value and high premium placed on their son chose the occasion of the grand reception to bestow the chieftaincy title of Obong Unwana Edemaya, by the Mboho Edemaya Clan Council of Chiefs, upon him as a mark of honour for his contribution to his community and service to the nation.

The National President of Mboho Edemaya,

Judging from Ekere's devotion to God, I want to assure the Niger Delta region that he will not disappoint Nigerians in his duty as the Managing Director of NDDC. He is scrupulously performing his duties with integrity, honesty and diligence

Mr. Edidiong Ubeh, in his speech at the occasion stated that Ekere represents the best in Edemaya Community.

He said the occasion of his honour was unique and ordained by God as the date coincided with the date the people of the clan gathered to rededicate their land to God. Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, Ekere, thanked his people for the honour done him.

He expressed surprise at the huge turnout for the reception which according him was to be small reception by his community.

Speaking during his thanksgiving service conducted by the Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) at Government Field, Ikot Abasi, Ekere attributed all his accomplishments in life to the grace of God. While assuring the Mboho Edemaya people of a fair share of developmental projects, he cautioned them to always co-operate with contractors handling projects in their communities Ekere traced his life story from his humble beginning in life to his experience in the private and public sectors and declared that it was only God that has brought him so far. “There is absolutely nothing I would have accomplished but for the grace of God. I am extremely grateful to God. The grace of God has always been sufficient and enormous. We have come here to give God all the adoration,�

he said.

Ekere, a Knight of John Wesley (KJW) of the MCN, also thanked the church for being a pillar of support to him right from childhood and his wife, Ese, for her love, patience, tolerance and support over the years.

The NDDC boss recalled the long wait for their three children and encouraged other expectant parents that “God answers prayers.�

On the 2019 elections, the NDDC boss said it was too early to focus on the elections. “Many speakers talked about 2019 today.

My message to Akwa Ibom people is that the time for elections has not yet come. Allow me and other government officials to do the job we are doing for you. When the time for elections comes, if you make that demand again, I will respond. But for now, allow me work in NDDC,� Ekere said.

Even when the turn out at the grand reception organised by the Mboho Edemaya community had almost overwhelm the community, the turn out at the thanksgiving service by the Ekere family of Ikot Oboroenyin, was humongous as distinguished Nigerians across the country including top political office holders, senators, former governors, governors, ministers, captains of industries, traditional rulers and security chiefs across the country.

Ekere was adjudged a worthy son of Akwa

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CITYSTRINGS

Ibom State and the Niger Delta region at the thanksgiving service.

In their separate speeches, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Prelate Samuel Kalu Uche and the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, expressed their satisfaction at the achievements of Ekere since assuming office as the CEO of the NDDC. Prelate Uche, while speaking during the thanksgiving service said Ekere’s devotion to God, his sincerity and dedication to his current assignment, have provided hope for the Niger Delta region. “Judging from Ekere's devotion to God, I want to assure the Niger Delta region that he (Ekere) will not disappoint Nigerians in his duty as the Managing Director of NDDC. He is scrupulously performing his duties with integrity, honesty, and diligence,� Uche said.

Citing Luke 12:48-49, the Prelate advised Ekere on faithful service to God and humanity, adding that it is only when God ordains a person that one can attain such a position.

"God has made you the MD to provide succour to the people of Niger Delta region, endeavour to make the church, the state, the nation proud. Everyone in position of authority has to answer to God. Many in offices have disappointed the people,� Uche added.

Uche commended Ekere, for deeming it necessary to hold a thanksgiving service to appreciate God for his blessings on his life and prophesied that he will have another cause for thanksgiving. “Your thanksgiving shows you are a child of God. It shows that you love God, that you put God first and that you revere God. You will have occasion to gather again for another thanksgiving. I don’t know what God will do,� Uche said.

The Prelate expressed the belief that the NDDC boss will perform creditably, meticulously, diligently, transparently and studiously.

Uche advised the NDDC boss and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Uguru Usani, to do a comprehensive survey of the Niger Delta region to determine the infrastructural and other needs of the people of the region.

He called on the National Assembly to appropriate enough funds for the NDDC to develop the nine member-states evenly.

Uche also prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery and condemned those wishing the President dead.

He used the occasion to encourage the federal government to translate its change mantra to food sufficiency, uninterrupted electricity supply, and job availability for the teaming unemployed youths. He assured that if such opportunities are achieved, the church will use prayers to destroy anybody that would come with campaign of acrimony in 2019.

His words: "Only those who delivered on their promises will be returned to office.

Fire those who do bad roads, find those who do good job, find those who have the best intentions in project execution. Nigerians need only transparent people to change the country.

Every Nigerian needs repentance."

On his part, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Attah stated that Ekere’s performance is positively affecting the lives of people in the Niger Delta through people-oriented projects and other humanistic interventions which have qualified him for higher offices in future. “This thanksgiving is not just ordinary thanksgiving. You can see the outpouring

This thanksgiving is not just ordinary thanksgiving.You can see the outpouring of support for a man who has successfully restructured NDDC. Akwa Ibom people are very proud of him. Akwa Ibom people say Nsima Ekere has brought a lot of joy and hope to the people

L-R: Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, NDDC Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and Minister of the Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Ekere held at the Methodist Church Ikot Abasi Diocese

President of Mboho Edemaya, Barr. Edidiong Ube (L), congratulating the MD of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, on his investiture as Obong Unwana Edemaya...recently

of support for a man who has successfully restructured NDDC. Akwa Ibom people are very proud of him. Akwa Ibom people say Nsima Ekere has brought a lot of joy and hope to the people,� he said.

The Leader of Ibibio Nation declared that having done well at NDDC, Ekere could be entrusted with more responsibilities. “Nigeria is talking about restructuring today.

If Nsima Ekere can successfully restructure NDDC, there is every possibility that he can restructure a few more institutions,� he added. “I want to appeal to Akwa Ibom people. He has come here to thank God by himself. We must call him to appreciate him,� Attah said.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who was accompanied by the President of Akwa Ibom Community in Jos, described Ekere as a true friend and brother and prayed God to continuously bless him and his family.

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, represented by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Engr. Segun Oni, congratulated Ekere

and his family for his success story at NDDC and expressed optimism that the NDDC boss will completely turn round the commission.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Patrick Nwaoboshi, said Ekere’s thanksgiving service symbolised unity in the country as it brought together Nigerians from across ethnic and partisan lines.

The occasion was attended by a host of personalities from within and outside the state including the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Edidem Udo Joe Ntok Obom, the state Chairman of the APC, Dr. Amadu Attai, and the member for Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Obongunwana Emmanuel Ukoette., the Paramount Ruler of Eket, Oron and Onna.

Among Ekere’s friends from outside the state present at the occasion were the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai

(Borno Central) and a former Senator for Kogi Central, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman.

Others include Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Edo State governor represented by Commissioner for Oil and Gas Edo State, Hon. Joesph Ugheoke, Ondo State Deputy governor, Agbola Ajayi, Hon. Leo Ogor represented the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wife of the Minister of Transport, Mrs. Judith Ameachi, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborebwori who represented the Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs, Rivers State APC chairmen, D.r David Ekenya, Cross River, Bayelsa and Delta.

Also in attendance include Dr. Amadu Atai, the Akwa Ibom State APC chairman, Chief Umana Okon Umana, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Don Etiebet, the NDDC Chairman, Senator Ndoma Egba, former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Ambassador Etim Okpoyo and representative of APC leadership in the state and the Diaspora.

T H I S D AY Ëž , AUGUST 2, 2017

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Katsina Defends $110m Loan Request from Islamic Bank James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Katsina State Government yesterday defended its $110 million (about N34.5 billion) loan request from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) before the House of Representatives Committee on Debt.

The State Commissioner for Health, Mariya Bala Usman said the proceeds would be used to erect 136 health centres in the 34 local government areas, including a teaching hospital for the three universities in the state; a nursing school; an infectious

disease centre among others.

She said the loan, which is to be implemented under a four-year programme, would be converted to a grant by IDB should the government implement the loan agreement to the letter within the specified timeframe.

She said: “This loan will be used to finance the Katsina State Health System Programme, which is largely to address maternal mortality. “The second phase is for the establishment of a teaching hospital for the three universities

in the state. We also want to establish an infectious disease hospital.�

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi (APC, Osun) said from the presentation, it appeared the government got its priority right at a time when many states are battling with health issues.

The Kaduna State Government team led by the Commissioner of Finance, Suleiman Abdul Kwari, was further commended for defending the over N45.3bn foreign loan proposal to be borrowed from the World Bank.

Heritage Bank Targets 1,000 Agent Banking Partners Heritage Bank Plc said it has taken aggressive approach to support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s initiative to curb the unbanked Nigerians in the rural areas by 20 per cent by 2020.

Part of the bank’s efforts to achieve this is to offer financial services to the nooks and crannies of Nigerian communities as well as in providing access to underserved markets.

Heritage Bank which launched its agency banking programme about two years ago, disclosed during the signing up of two agents’ corner shops that it would bring on board 1,000 agent partners by the end of 2017.

The two corner shops opened over the weekend were High Rise Business Centre in Simawa community behind Redeemed Convention Camp and Layeni Folayemi Enterprises in Omu

Ijebu, both in Ogun State.

According to a statement, as at June 2017, the agent base had grown at an average rate of 50 new agent sign ups monthly bringing the total number of active agents to about 450 and growing. At the steady growth rate of approximately 17.5 per cent new agent per month on can say that hitting the long term vision of 100, 000 active agents in five years is well within reach, the bank stated.

Speaking at the inauguration of the agent, Zonal Business Coordinator, South-West, SouthSouth, Agent Banking, Heritage Bank, Oluwakemi Adewunmi, noted that there was indeed a gap in the community without any financial institution to service the need of the people.

Adewunmi assured that with the new development, accessing banking services in Omu Ijebu

and Simawa areas have become easier for all the people in the community. “It does not matter whether you have your bank account with Heritage Bank or otherwise, the mobile POS deployed by the agent will make banking at the people’s doorstep so easy and stress-free,� it added.

The latest however came with a peculiarity as a community leader and politician, Olatunde Rotimi Paseda, an indigene of Omu Ijebu released a property to the bank for the purpose of financial inclusion.

Paseda, a governorship aspirant under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 2015 general elections, released the building to the bank in order to cushion the stress the indigenes of the locality faced anytime they wanted to transact banking business.

ITF Rewards FCMB’s Role in Human Resource Devt First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has bagged the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Merit Award as the ‘Best Contributing Employer’ in Human Resource Development (HRD) for the year 2016.

The award, which was conferred on the bank at a ceremony held recently, was in recognition of the lender’s compliance with best practices, being up-to-date in its training programmes for staff and timely payment of annual financial obligations to the Fund.

The ITF is a federal government parastatal established in 1971.

Among its objectives is to set training standards, promote and encourage the acquisition of

skills in industry as well as commerce. This is with a view to generating a pool of indigenously trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.

A statement from the bank explained that the bank qualified for the award on account of its timely submission of a comprehensive annual training plan in compliance with the ITF regulations for review and approval, alignment of training curriculum with the standard competency framework for the banking industry, effective design and implementation of ITF approved trainings, diversification of learning methodologies and channels

which include e-learning portal.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director/Area Manager of the ITF in Lagos Central, Mr. Chuwang Pam, commended FCMB for distinguishing itself as a viable corporate organisation committed to a culture of continuous learning and professionalism of employees.

He added: “We have identified FCMB as a leading organisation committed to enhancing the capacity of employees. The bank has never failed in the discharge of its responsibilities in line with the mandate of ITF. “Following our assessment, we discovered that FCMB met all the requirements of this award.

We are proud of FCMB.�

Wema Bank Assures Customers of Satisfaction Wema Bank Plc has assured its customers in Minna of its commitment to working with them to ensure they achieve their financial and personal goals. Some management staff of the bank led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Segun Oloketuyi, who were in Minna on Tuesday at a customer forum event, reiterated the bank’s resolve to nurture a long-lasting value-driven relationship with the customers. “At Wema Bank, we value relationships, and so we have taken note of what the people of Minna want,� Oloketuyi said. “Our strength is in relationships built with customers over

decades. We will continue this.

Do not forget that Wema Bank was founded by Nigerians to cater to the needs of Nigerians.

We are your Bank. And like we have always promised; we will be with you all the way,� a statement quoted Oloketuyi to have said.

The bank said it was aiming at long-term customer engagement that would help, not only to encourage customer loyalty, but also turn customers to passionate promoters of the Wema brand.

Wema Bank reopened the Minna branch in September 2016, almost 10 years after it closed the branch due to the

scaling down of operations to the South-west and South-south region. With the bank now expanding with purpose, the new Wema Bank is reengineered to serve customers better with innovative solutions. To ensure it achieves this aim, the Bank has committed to listening more to customers.

Speaking further at the event attended by the Chairman of Morris Fertilizer, Hassan Shiroro and the Executive Director of the State Investment Company (NSIC) Ahmed Kure, Oloketuyi emphasised that Wema Bank’s resolve was shown in the kind of products and services the Bank offer.

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 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

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 Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MON, 31 JULY 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $49.97 a barrel on Monday, compared with $49.46 the previous Friday, 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), ZaďŹ ro (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

39

˾ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

1-Aug-17

31-Jul-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 31-Jul-17

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

35,844.00 12.35

36,720.62 12.66

2.45% 2.45%

151.70 11.81

151.67 11.81

-0.02% -0.02%

01 Dangote Cement Plc

222.22

223.75

-0.68%

3,786,741,555,539.10

10.95

22.37

6.79

3.27%

5.24

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

167.01

167.00

0.01%

1,324,239,139,304.88

3.58

46.29

4.19

2.17%

7.93

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

38.99

39.05

-0.15%

1,147,521,677,943.76

4.49

8.81

2.81

4.47%

2.31

1,025.00

1,003.70

2.12%

812,472,658,300.00

10.00

91.02

3.97

3.19%

23.36

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

05 Zenith Bank Plc

24.65

24.61

0.16%

773,923,571,824.90

4.13

6.20

1.58

7.03%

1.14

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

06 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

36.99

35.90

3.04%

369,900,000,000.00

2.85

12.95

2.36

0.27%

2.62

Stock

07 United Bank for Africa Plc

9.88

9.70

1.86%

358,441,720,061.36

1.99

5.06

0.95

5.95%

0.82

08 Presco Plc

76.95

76.86

0.12%

305,528,208,612.75

0.03

2,342.70

3.81

1.90%

6.50

09 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

16.51

16.50

0.06%

302,951,090,559.65

0.68

23.28

0.49

3.94%

0.46

9.99

10.05

-0.60%

288,990,436,593.69

13.18

0.80

0.80

5.21%

0.67

488.00

488.00

0.00%

270,015,432,744.00 -82.02

-5.91

4.23

3.28%

0.71

12 Lafarge Africa Plc

55.00

57.72

-4.71%

250,519,599,550.00

3.71

16.44

1.26

4.92%

1.12

13 FBN Holdings Plc

6.01

6.00

0.17%

215,730,709,679.92

0.21

28.34

0.40

2.55%

0.34

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc

40.00

39.66

0.86%

151,331,850,000.00

0.81

47.19

2.08

0.13%

12.40

15 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

12.59

11.97

5.18%

151,080,000,000.00

1.20

7.84

0.67

5.31%

1.71

16 International Breweries Plc

34.00

33.13

2.63%

112,004,475,520.00

0.02

1,331.44

3.71

0.83%

9.01

17 Guinness Nig Plc

66.55

65.05

2.31%

100,216,858,911.40

-3.06

-20.60

0.92

5.08%

2.41

7.80

7.98

-2.26%

93,870,027,373.20

0.29

28.93

0.22

8.93%

0.53

19 Total Nigeria Plc

270.00

270.00

0.00%

91,670,895,990.00

43.58

6.15

0.31

5.22%

3.86

20 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

253.00

253.00

0.00%

91,230,601,286.00

22.61

11.19

0.97

2.85%

4.25

21 Forte Oil Plc.

57.00

61.70

-7.62%

74,241,422,871.00

2.22

28.34

0.55

5.48%

1.89

22 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

28.00

29.00

-3.45%

73,478,641,236.00

-1.19

-24.67

0.18

6.80%

0.78

23 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

76.03

80.03

-5.00%

72,525,777,300.00

5.15

13.77

4.71

0.14%

3.97

24 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

90.30

91.89

-1.73%

57,845,309,778.90

-0.05 -1,975.04

0.62

2.44%

2.60

1.41

1.44

-2.08%

54,596,606,369.25

-0.03

-53.25

1.01

0.00%

0.69

34.20

36.00

-5.00%

45,144,000,000.00

-2.89

-12.45

0.34

4.17%

0.68

1.29

1.25

3.20%

37,361,735,542.68

0.39

3.33

0.25

12.40%

0.20

17.20

16.60

3.61%

33,038,867,456.40

3.37

5.04

0.43

5.88%

0.43

1.30

1.29

0.78%

30,108,505,658.40

-0.29

-4.29

0.14

0.00%

0.13

11.25

10.42

7.97%

29,806,181,752.50

0.91

10.20

1.35

5.91%

3.06

31 Sterling Bank Plc

1.02

1.02

0.00%

29,366,226,488.52

0.18

5.58

0.26

9.00%

0.34

32 FCMB Group Plc

1.25

1.25

0.00%

24,753,388,476.25

0.72

1.80

0.15

7.69%

0.14

33 Cap Plc

34.99

34.99

0.00%

24,493,000,000.00

2.29

15.47

3.64

3.24%

10.86

34 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

24.15

23.00

5.00%

24,150,000,000.00

5.69

4.06

1.61

0.43%

0.62

35 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

20.00

20.00

0.00%

23,917,529,760.00

3.51

5.69

1.66

1.50%

1.40

2.20

2.10

4.76%

23,100,000,000.00

0.25

8.37

1.06

2.38%

1.09

11.51

10.97

4.92%

21,618,105,480.40

-0.16

-80.79

0.80

10.20%

2.17

38 Wema Bank Plc

0.54

0.53

1.89%

20,830,211,683.74

0.07

8.19

0.39

0.00%

0.44

39 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.50

3.50

0.00%

20,586,524,682.50

0.91

3.75

0.52

4.12%

0.66

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

2.28

2.20

3.64%

18,080,850,660.24

-0.40

-4.95

0.33

8.00%

0.48

41 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.42

1.43

-0.70%

14,729,296,923.04

0.42

3.12

0.61

9.16%

0.73

42 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.34

8.33

0.12%

10,480,692,568.44

0.22

44.31

1.10

1.03%

1.13

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.65

0.68

-4.41%

9,022,195,916.50

-2.93

-0.26

0.06

40.00%

0.10

44 Unity Bank Plc

0.58

0.61

-4.92%

6,779,816,006.36

0.19

3.16

0.08

0.00%

0.08

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.18

2.78

0.85

6.00%

0.41

46 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

0.03

17.71

3.72

0.00%

1.94

47 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

2.88

2.75

4.73%

4,949,999,985.60

-0.90

-3.25

0.79

23.89%

0.15

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

2.91

2.78

4.68%

4,726,476,562.50

0.36

8.36

0.61

6.69%

0.75

49 Fidson Healthcare Plc

3.07

3.22

-4.66%

4,605,000,000.00

0.21

16.05

0.66

1.47%

0.77

50 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.59

0.57

3.51%

4,088,820,643.20

1.48

0.37

0.14

9.26%

0.43

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

10 Access Bank Plc 11 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

18 Oando Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 26 Julius Berger Nig. Plc 27 Fidelity Bank Plc 28 U A C N Plc 29 Diamond Bank Plc 30 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

36 Mansard Insurance Plc 37 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

TOTAL

11,809,161,928,925.00

TOTAL MARKET CAP

12,655,787,936,961.20

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

93.31%

Close 1-Aug-17

Open 31-Jul-17

National Salt Co. Nig. Plc Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc Cadbury Nigeria Plc Mansard Insurance Plc

10.42 11.97 23.00 10.97 2.10

Change %

Close Change 1-Aug-17 % 11.25 12.59 24.15 11.51 2.20

7.97% 5.18% 5.00% 4.92% 4.76%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open 31-Jul-17

Forte Oil Plc. Julius Berger Nig. Plc Okomu Oil Palm Plc Unity Bank Plc Lafarge Africa Plc

61.70 36.00 80.03 0.61 57.72

Close Change 1-Aug-17 % 57.00 34.20 76.03 0.58 55.00

-7.62% -5.00% -5.00% -4.92% -4.71%

NSE Index gains 2.45% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today- Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 ended bullish as the market record positive changes. The equity market closed green due to positive performances from the NSE Subsectors: Banking, Insurance and Consumer Goods (Save Oil & Gas). Correspondingly, trading activities increased in volume as 849.60 million shares worth N94.05 billion in 5,602 deals exchanged hands today.

This is an increase from the 470.16 million shares worth N5.27 billion in 5,558 trades carried out on Monday.

Topping in volume terms are: FBN Holdings Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bank For Africa Plc; while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and International Breweries Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms. Brent crude oil price today shows downward signal as it dips to US$51.79 per barrel while it rose to $52.72 per barrel at its previous closing.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with 2.45% (+876.62) increase to close at 36,720.62 from 35,844.00 the previous trading day. Market capitalization appreciated in tandem to N12.66 trillion from N12.35 trillion of prior trading day. However, the Thisday BGL 50 Index closes with a borderline decrease of 0.02% to 151.67 from 151.70 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N11.81 trillion from N11.81 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 32 stocks gained on the bourse today while 20 stocks declined, leaving 53 stocks unchanged. National Salt Co. Nig. Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 7.97% to close at N11.25 per share. It was followed by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc with a gain of 5.18% to close at N12.59 per share.

Others on the gainers chart include: PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Mansard Insurance Plc. On the decliners’ list, Forte Oil Plc led with a loss of 7.65% to close at N57.00 per share. It was followed by Julius Berger Nig. Plc with a loss of 5.00% to close at N34.20 per share. Others on the decliners’ list are: Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY Ëž , AUGUST 2, 2017

40

MARKET NEWS

Med-view Airline Grows Half-year Profit to N857m Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Med-view Airline Plc has reported a growth of 27 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) to N857 million for the half year ended June 30, 2017, compared with N672 million in the corresponding period of 2016.

The results of the only airline

listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), indicated that gross revenue grew by 48 per cent from N8.7 billion to N13.007 billion in 2017.

Operating cost shot up from N7.748 billion to N9.982 billion, propelled by rise in aviation fuel cost and cost of lease of aircraft for local operations.

For instance the airline spent N1.257 billion on lease

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

of aircraft in H1, compared with nothing in the corresponding period of 2016.

Similarly, N4.506 billion was spent on aviation fuel, showing an increase of 60.2 per cent above the N2.811 billion recorded in 2016. The amount spent on aviation alone accounted for 45 per cent of the total operating cost in 2017, compared with 37 per cent in

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 DiversiďŹ ed Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. DiversiďŹ ed 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--DiversiďŹ ed CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--DiversiďŹ ed 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

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

19 19 31

2016.

Administrative expenses increased marginally from N1.914 billion to N1.978 billion, while finance cost jumped to N171 million, from N55 million in 2016. The rise stemmed from a growth in interest charges on overdraft that soared from N21.3 million in 2016 to N114.636 million in 2017.

Med-view Airline therefore

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

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

ended the H1 with a profit before tax (PBT) of N945 million, from N739 million and a PAT of N857 million as against N672 million.

The Managing Director of Med-view Airline Plc, Alhaji Muneer Bankole recently told the shareholders at the annual general meeting (AGM), that the company’s growth in aviation industry had continued with

accelerated efforts and has stood out significantly among her contemporaries.

According to him, the company has continued to soar higher from the maiden flight in 2007 with Hajj operation.

Bankole explained that the airline has been able to spread to various parts of the world covering domestic, regional and international flights.

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

41

˾ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

MARKET NEWS

C & I Leasing Overcomes Challenging Environment, Posts N580m Profit Goddy Egene Shareholders of C & I Leasing Plc should expect improved returns at the end of the current financial year as the company has reported impressive results for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Revenue grew by 32.3 per cent to N11.5 billion in 2017, from N8.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2016. Net operating income of N3.4 billion went up by 33.1 per cent to N3.4 billion as against N2.6 billion. But

profit before tax grew faster, jumping by 248 per cent from N176 million to N614.9 million, while profit after tax soared by 298 per cent to N580 million, compared with N145.4 million in 2016.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Andrew OtikeOdibi attributed the financial performance to the strength in the diversity of its business.

He said: “Our three business lines namely, Marine, Fleet management and Outsourcing are gaining strength

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

in their different markets with each contributing positively to the overall performance of the business. This is not without the difficulties faced in the operating environment with rising financing and operating costs coupled with continuous pressure on turnover. We remain focused on sustaining delivery of superior customer service and continued diversification of earnings, to take advantage of growth opportunities in the markets and business segments we operate in.”

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 31-July-2017, unless otherwise stated.

He said explained that despite inflation averaging 17.2 per cent in the period under review, its operating expenses grew by a meagre two per cent - underscoring the strength of the cost control and efficiency measures the company has put in place. “ F u r t h e r m o re , demonstrating the benefits of diversification, our subsidiaries (Leasafric, Ghana and EPIC International FZE, United Arab Emirates) contributed 27 per cent to the Group’s revenue

for the period relative to 22 per cent in 2016. Our plan for the rest of the year includes improving on cost efficiency while growing market share in our areas of operation. We are therefore investing a lot in technology based solutions that will help improve operational efficiency in the business,” Otike-Odibi noted.

He added that they are also exploring additional avenues to provide exceptional support services to our numerous clients in meeting

their diverse business needs, whilst maintaining the high quality of our product offerings, declaring “we remain optimistic about our growth prospects.”

The company said fleet management continues to grow the business across the country, despite the high price of new vehicles, personnel outsourcing continues to record stable revenues and has expanded across several industries including oil & gas, telecommunications, banking, manufacturing and agriculture.

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 173.32 173.63 36.33% Nigeria International Debt Fund 231.79 232.11 9.01% 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 0.80 0.81 14.38% 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 18.79% 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 17.09 17.61 38.43% ARM Discovery Fund 362.33 373.26 26.17% ARM Ethical Fund 25.66 26.43 14.83% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.79% 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 139.95 140.93 33.06% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.57% 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 18.81% Paramount Equity Fund 11.34 11.63 21.15% Women's Investment Fund 93.53 95.92 10.56% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.57% 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 1,103.36 1,104.46 8.96% FBN Heritage Fund 137.98 139.18 23.78% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.95% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $109.12 $110.10 6.12% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $108.35 $109.34 6.11% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 153.59 155.70 36.36% 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 1.32 1.35 42.02% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.81 2.81 9.32% 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 2,757.63 2,805.80 25.18% Coral Income Fund 2,305.53 2,305.53 9.56% 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 14.03% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.32% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.11 24.14% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.37%

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 1.10 1.12 11.60% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,027.88 1,027.88 6.97% 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 13.06 13.15 35.02% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 19.10% 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 1.14 1.16 14.89% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.67 10.73 2.65% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.30% 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 123.65 125.97 22.09% 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 1.34 1.34 7.60% 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 2,154.37 2,167.43 17.68% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 161.19 161.19 4.70% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 27.92% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 204.65 204.65 9.50% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 174.01 176.40 34.08% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.50% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,438.61 9,549.59 24.47% 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 1.28 1.30 14.83% United Capital Bond Fund 1.37 1.37 12.26% United Capital Equity Fund 0.81 0.83 20.94% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.14 1.14 3.51% 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 12.43 12.64 28.07% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.01 13.16 18.85% Zenith Income Fund 18.40 18.40 11.28%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 128.78

1.01% 3.88%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.57 103.00

10.67 104.94

22.54% 35.93%

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

4.61 8.38 17.29 22.84 130.51

4.65 8.46 17.39 23.04 131.51

66.43% 19.09% 44.59% 42.93% 0.86%

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.

42

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2, 2017

47

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Scaramucci Out as Trump’s New Chief of Staff Takes Reins Foul-mouthed spin doctor Anthony Scaramucci was axed as White House

communications director Monday, just 10 days after being named to the post

Trump ‘Dictated’ Son’s Statement on Russian Lawyer Meeting President Donald Trump personally dictated the statement his son gave on his talks with a Russian lawyer during the election campaign, US media report.

It said Donald Trump Jr and the lawyer had mostly discussed the adoption of Russian children in June 2016.

Mr Trump Jr later revealed he had agreed to meet her after being told he could receive damaging material on Hillary Clinton.

President Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia.

The Senate, House of Representatives and a special counsel are all investigating alleged Russian interference in the presidential election which took the form of attempts to undermine Mrs Clinton - a claim denied by the Kremlin.

The reports about Mr Trump Jr’s statement came in the midst

of further turmoil at the White House.

White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci was fired on Monday after fewer than 10 days in the post.

The former Wall Street financier had drawn criticism after calling a reporter to give a profanity-laced tirade against his colleagues.

Reports that President Trump had himself dictated the statement his son issued about the meeting with lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya first emerged in the Washington Post. It cited multiple sources.

The initial plan was that Mr Trump Jr fully disclose what he knew about the meeting, the Post says, but that decision was reversed and his first statement said they had discussed the adoption of Russian children, not campaign issues.

and hours after Donald Trump installed a new chief of staff.

The 53-year-old New Yorker -- whose profanityladen rant against colleagues gained him global notoriety -- was fired as four-star general John Kelly began his quest to impose order on an administration

careening out of control.

During its first six months in office, Trump’s White House has been beset by scandal, investigations, infighting, leaks, sackings, resignations, stinging legislative defeats and historically low approval ratings.

Scaramucci was brought

in a little over a week ago to get the White House back on message, but quickly prompted negative headlines of his own.

He publicly called then colleague and chief of staff Reince Priebus -- who was forced out last week -- a “paranoid schizophrenic” and denounced chief

White House strategist Steve Bannon in lurid sexual terms.

The White House refused to say whether it was Trump or Kelly who precipitated Scaramucci’s shock departure, but it seems clear that both were unhappy with his presence.

Jihadi Glamour: Pakistani Taliban Launches Women’s Magazine The Pakistani Taliban on Tuesday released the first edition of a magazine for women, apparently aiming to convince its target readership to join the militant group and take up jihad.

The first edition of“Sunnat E Khaula” -- which translates as ‘The Way of Khaula’, referring to an early female follower of the Prophet Muhammad -- published by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) features a picture of a women veiled from head to toe on its front cover.

Inside is an interview with the TTP’s leader’s wife, who is not named, in which she talks about being married to the head

of the militant group, Fazlullah Khorasani, at the age of 14.

“I ask you why now everywhere there is hue and cry about underage marriages... We have to understand that mature boys and girls if left unmarried for too long can become a source of moral destruction of the society,” the militant leader’s wife tells the interviewer.

“We want to provoke women of Islam to come forward and join the ranks of mujahideen e (holy warriors of) Islam,”reads the opening editorial of the magazine, which includes an advice column for would-be lady jihadists.

“Organise secret gatherings

at home and invite like-minded jihadi sisters,”the column suggests.

“Distribute literature reflecting on the obligation of jihad, arrange physical training classes for sisters.

Learn how to operate simple weapons. Learn the use of grenades.”

The English-language magazine also includes an article written by a Pakistani female doctor describing her decision to shun her western education and embrace Islam, titled“My journey from ignorance to guidance”.

At the height of the Taliban’s influence in Pakistan, the militant group regularly put out publica-

tions in Urdu and English, hoping to attract recruits to its ranks.

The militant group was also active on Facebook and Twitter, but most of its social media pages have now been closed.

Pakistan’s military launched an offensive against insurgent groups in the country’s northwest in late 2014 after the Taliban attacked a military-run school killing more than 150 people, mostly children.

Security has since improved, though the Taliban continues to sporadically launch attacks, including one last month on a market in Lahore that killed 26 people.

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Banks to Extend 9Mobile’s Loan Pending New Investors Obinna Chima åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž A group of Nigerian banks has agreed an extension to a $1.2 billion loan made to 9mobile,

formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria, pending the mobile operator finding new investors.

Reuters quoted First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to have disclosed this yesterday.

Ex-President Jonathan: Six Television Sets, Not 36 Stolen from My House Obinna Chima Contrary to reports on the items that were stolen from the Abuja residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the ex-president clarified that only six television sets, three refrigerators and one gas cooker were stolen by the thieves.

Jonathan explained this in a statement from his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze. According to the former president, being that the house is a modest fourbedroom duplex, it couldn’t have been fitted with “36 Plasma television sets and about 25 refrigerators as falsely reported by some media outfits.�

He said the clarification became necessary following series of enquiries from journalists and other concerned Nigerians on the extent of the reported vandalisation and theft in his house located in Gwarinpa Abuja.

He said the theft was discovered last month upon which a report was duly lodged with the relevant police authorities.

According to him, the police immediately commenced investigations which led to the arrest and detention of some suspects, six of whom were policemen, even as investigations continue.

He said the house which the former president bought from CITEC estate developers in 2004, “was totally stripped bare by the thieves who stole every movable item in the house including furniture sets, beds, electronics, toilet and electrical fittings, as well as all internal doors and frames. “However, contrary to exaggerated reports in some media, only six television sets, three refrigerators and one gas cooker were stolen. “Being that the house is a modest four-bedroom duplex, it couldn’t have been fitted with “36 Plasma television sets and about 25 refrigerators� as falsely reported by some media outfits. “We thank all Nigerians for their show of concern and wish to convey the former president’s goodwill to all Nigerians.�

Nigerian regulators stepped in last month to save Etisalat Nigeria from collapse and prevented lenders placing the country’s fourth biggest telecoms group into receivership, prompting a board, management and name change.

Etisalat Nigeria took out a $1.2 billion loan four years ago from 13 local banks to refinance existing debt and expand its mobile network, but it struggled to repay due to currency crisis and recession in Nigeria.  FCMB, which is owed N4.5 billion by the telecoms group, said lenders had put a hold on taking provisions on the debt and that they were working with the regulators. “In terms of provisioning, there is hold on that. What we have agreed all is an extension and we have agreed to extend pending the sale to new investors,� the bank told an analysts after it published half-year results.

The banks, many of which

are reporting first-half results, have been trying to work out the value of 9mobile before deciding whether to impair the loan or wait until the company finds new investors.

Banks involved in the loan deal include: Zenith Bank, GT Bank, First Bank, UBA Â Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Union Bank. Â GTBank with $138 million in outstanding loans to 9mobile and Access Bank with $131 million are among the most exposed.

9Mobile’s Chief Executive, Boye Olusanya, told Reuters he was focused on getting the telecoms group back on track to make a profit, while working on the paperwork to eventually raise new capital.

He has also asked the telecoms regulator for concessions on spectrum and foreign exchange access to help shore up revenues.

The telecoms group has asked Citigroup and Standard

Bank to find an investor to buy into the firm and three companies have shown interest, a banking source close to the deal had said.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had last week explained that the CBN’s role in the 9Mobile’s (formerly Etisalat) debt crisis was aimed at safeguarding the interest of over 20 million subscribers and more than 4,000 employees of the network operator.  Emefiele said CBN’s intervention alongside the regulator in the telecommunications sector – Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) – was worth the while, considering the ripple effect not doing so would have had on major stakeholders in particular and the economy as a whole.

Emefiele had also said with a subscriber base in excess of 20 million and a workforce of more than 4,000, any likely adverse impact, directly or

indirectly, would have been enormous to bear by the subscribers, workers and their dependants. “It’s important that we don’t just allow any creditor to hurt any other stakeholder,� he said, adding that the NCC had observed that the attempt by the creditors to take over the telcoms company was going to jeopardise the interest of the over 20 million subscribers and more than 4,000 workers. “That was why the NCC, supported by the CBN, decided to intervene,� Emefiele said, noting that the intervention had been positive.

According to him, 9Mobile has not only retained its subscribers but also the entire workforce while the company’s operations have continued and revenue sustained.

He stated that the interim board would not exceed 180 days as efforts were underway for a new investor to acquire the company.

ATIKU CAUTIONS APC, OTHER PARTIES AGAINST UNDEMOCRATIC ACTS one of the reasons it has been very difficult to hold leaders to account. “But we know that power wielders hardly voluntarily enlarge the democratic space. That is why I’ve often opined that internal party democracy will only come with genuine electoral reforms in the country.�  Meanwhile, INEC, said yesterday that it would deploy new technology in the conduct of the 2019 general election, adding that it will however hold it close to its chest to avert smart Nigerians finding their ways around it.

Speaking at the IPAC conference, the chairman of the commission, Prof.

Mahmoud Yakubu, warned that though the number of political associations seeking registration as political parties had hit over 103, the commission would not however hesitate to deregister any of the existing 45 political parties that fail to meet the provisions of the law.

Chronicling the challenges facing electoral commissions in Nigeria and other parts

of the world, the Electoral Management Board (EMB) boss warned politicians against  deploying resources in winning elections at the polls since the new technology would checkmate all their antics.

According to him, “I want to reassure Nigerians that no election result will be announced either at the state offices or headquarters before the conduct of the elections.

All election results will continue to reflect the will of the Nigerian people.

The commission will continue to approach the responsibility with courage and will never fail. “We will continue to be guided by the provisions of the law and any qualified association must be be so registered. When we presented certificates to the newly registered political parties, that where parties qualified to be deregistered under the law, we shall also courageously deregister political parties since the provisions of the law is very clear in that respect.�

WELCOME TO NIGERIA

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (right), welcoming the visiting Ghana President , Nana Akufor – Addo, during his courtesy visit to acting president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ....yesterday

PDP: We Didn’t Lose 2015 Poll Due to Obasanjo, Atiku’s Exit Party targets 30 states in 2019 Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and some governors elected on the platform of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not responsible for its loss of the 2015 presidential election.

Rather, the party said despite their exit, PDP still remains a viable political option for Nigerians to restore the country to path of glory.

The National Organising Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of

the party, Senator Abdul Ningi, who stated this yesterday when he issued a nomination form to an aspirant for the party’s ticket for the November 18 Anambra State governorship election, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, said the PDP has risen from the ashes of the defeat and was now ready to return to power in 2019. “We said one of our cardinal principles is that PDP is not a one-man party. This party has individuals that left beginning with Obasanjo, Atiku, and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died. “That has been our plight.

This party can do without a single individual or groups

of individuals. Five of our governors left, we were wounded but not defeated, and we are rising up from ashes of those who have left,� Ningi boasted.

On the recent leadership crisis in the party, Ningi said it has strengthened the PDP as it had given it an opportunity to do a sober reflection. “We are also happy that the crisis has given us the opportunity to look inwards, to look at mistakes, look at where we went wrong and try to make amends. “This party has also left it doors open for those who have left to come back because PDP

is their natural turf. Alot of them have discovered that where it matters is this party,� he stated.

The spokesperson of the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said PDP would win 30 states in the 2019 governorship elections.

The party has however, lowered its governorship nomination form from N10 million to N5 million but still retained the expression of interest form (EOI) at a million naira.

Alex became the first to pick the nomination form yesterday, assuring the party that he would win the November 18 governorship election if he is given the PDP ticket.

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NIS: No National ID Registration, No Int’l Passport from 2018 Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday in Abuja said beginning from January 2018, any citizen who does not possess National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) number can no longer obtain or renew international passport.

Making this disclosure yesterday after a meeting with the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Department of the Presidential Villa, NIS Comptroller General, Mohammed Babandede, said the nation had been confronted with the challenge of data harmonisation.

According to him, in pursuit

of data harmonisation, once a citizen is captured by NIMC, there will be no need for him/ her to be captured again by NIS, explaining further that the same principle applies to foreigners as the overall objective is to achieve e-government in Nigeria.

“The bulk lies on all our table. It is the harmonisation of data and requires all of us to act but the biggest problem we are facing is that everybody is deploying his own technology.

There is a practical commitment to this. We have agreed that from 2018 1st January, anybody who is going to apply for Nigerian Passport, whether renewal or fresh must first have an NIMC number, national

Thugs Invade Kogi Assembly as Speaker Escapes Death I’m not part of it, says Bello Yekini Jimoh ÓØ ÙÕÙÔË

chamber, chasing out all the lawmakers, as people ran There was pandemonium for their lives.

The Speaker, Hon. Imam yesterday at the Kogi State House of Assembly when Umar Ahmed, and his thugs numbering about 100 security aides ran helterinvaded the assembly, beating skelter to find a way out up assembly members and of the assembly.

The member representing destroying items worth millions Igalamela/Odolu, Makama, of naira.

The Speaker, it was gathered who was the target of the thugs, was not so lucky this narrowly escaped.

Meanwhile, the state time around. They descended Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello, him on him and stripped has condemned the attack, him naked.

His aides were also saying he would never be part attacked by the thugs as of such barbaric act.

Journalists were not they destroyed vehicles spared as the thugs attacked belonging to him.

The security agents, the cameraman of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) particularly the police, were Lokoja. A reporter with the watching as the thugs carried Daily Times, Mallam Ahmed out their action without any Idris, was manhandled while resistance.

Most of the newly fixed a reporter with Silverbird Television was chased out chairs at the assembly gallery were destroyed. of the chamber.

In the interim, the speaker, As early as 8a.m., fully armed policemen led by the Umar, has condemned the state Commissioner of Police, attack on the assembly.

Addressing journalists Mr. Wilfred Inalegwu, were at the premises of the after the incident, he said assembly following a security it was unfortunate that this report that some thugs were was happening in the state.

He stated that a committee planning to invade the place.

According to the in the assembly would commissioner while speaking investigate the crisis Also speaking, the with journalists before the crisis, the security report state Governor, Bello, has reaching him and unusual condemned the invasion presence of people at the of the assembly, saying he assembly prompted him will never be party of such to bring his men to the barbaric act.

Addressing journalists assembly, adding that they would not allow thugs or on the crisis, Bello said uninvited guests to create whatever is happening in the assembly was an in-house any problem.

However, a member of the fighting, adding that there state assembly representing was never a time he wanted Igalamela/Odolu, Hon. to impeach the speaker.

The governor who spoke Friday Makama, who was suspended for six months through his Director General, by the assembly but later Media and Publicity, Mr. won the case in the court, Kingsly Fanwo, noted that was the target of the thugs the state government would as effort was made to attack investigate those behind the problem and bring them to him before the sitting.

It was the presence of the justice.

He said his government security men that saved him before he finally joined his would not welcome anything colleagues in the hallow that would put the state into crisis, warning that chamber.

However, the plenary had whoever was involved will hardly commenced when be arrested by the security thugs invaded the hallow agents in the state.

identity number.

“Why we are doing this is we want to ease business for Nigerians. There is no need for you to go and have your bio-metric captured by NIMC and then you come and capture again with the Nigeria Immigrations.

“Once you give us your NIMC number, we will collect the bio-metric from NIMC and produce your passport. That is the intention to do in all other agencies. I have also given directive that any foreigner, non-Nigerian resident in Nigeria will not get his permit renewed. He or she will not get his passport renewed until he has a NIMC number. To achieve this, NIMC and passport numbers will be harmonised and we are committed to allow NIMC in Immigration.

“All NIMC staff can work in our passport office so when you come to get the passport, you can also get the national identity card. The NIMC has also allowed immigration staff to work in their offices so that anybody who is coming to claim Nigerian citizenship, they will help to identify that citizen.

That is the cooperation that we have had so far,” he said.

Babandede also stated that the objective of the harmonisation policy was to ensure the entrenchment of one functioning central system in the country where anyone can secure needed facility from any of the agencies of government.

He also said the system would make it easier to identify any citizen who is a regular taxpayer or defaulter.

“We are not talking of tax, we are talking of e- government. We want to have one e-govenrment. What government is saying is that when you want to collect any facility from any government agency, you don’t need to look for the document from any other government agency.

“We should be able to access it. We should be able to know whether you have paid your tax or not. If you are coming through the airport and you want to leave Nigeria, we should be able to know that this guy has not paid his tax and you should be able to pay your tax before you depart. We are looking at one e-government and it is possible,” he added.

In his own submission, Senior Special Assistant to the President on ICT, Lanre Osibona, said the country

was making progress on data harmonisation which he said would give Nigeria a leap on security matters, innovation, social and financial inclusion as well as financial and national planning.

Osibona who added that Nigeria was working with the World Bank and Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation with the intention of capturing 180 million Nigerians in three years, further disclosed that so far, only about 20 million Nigerians had been captured.

“We just had a good meeting in terns of national identity which we know is a great asset for the country and so much work has been ongoing with respect to harmonising all the silo data bases.

“We are making progress finally. The benefits of national identity is immense security, innovation, social inclusion, financial inclusion. This concerns our citizens and it helps in forecasting budget, better planning. So, we are determined to ensure that we deliver full concise database for all Nigerians,” he said.

“It is good to also share with you that when we came in about two years ago, there were 5 million records of NIMC but

today, we have moved it close to 20 million and we intend to have up to 30 million by the end of this year. We are working with the World Bank and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to have a proper approach of how we will be able to capture over 180 million over a three-year period.

“Something else that is very worthwhile to mention is part of the effort of government with regards to digital economy. What we have also captured here is the Public Key Infrastructure which will sit within NITDA. An intention of this is to allow for digital signing of key documents being able to authenticate our document digitally.

Again, this helps meet the effort of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on ease of doing business. So, we will be able to have Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), be able to issue certificates digitally, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), tax clearance, etc. So, the resolution as part of the meeting here is that this will be driven

by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),” he stated.

GREAT ALUMNI

R-L: Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Founder, Nigeria and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honors (NESH), Emeka Ugwu-Oju; and Head, Department of Economics, UNN, Prof. Stella Madueme, during the second Home-Return to the Department, UNN where some distinguished alumni were honoured at the Nsukka Campus...recently

Okorocha Begs Nigerians to Give APC More Time The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, said yesterday that it was too early for Nigerians to judge elected officials on their performance.

“We want to appeal to Nigerians not to judge us from past sins or within the two years we have been in the mantle of leadership of this great country.

“You should judge us when the mandate entrusted to us expires,” Okorocha said at the opening of a retreat on policy synergy between states and the federal government, holding in Birnin Kebbi.

The governor reminded Nigerians that those presently at the helm of affairs came on board when the country

was at the brink of collapse due to security and economic challenges.

He promised that the APC-led administration would meet the expectations of all Nigerians.

“Our party has the best governors ever produced in the history of this country – from Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Lagos, Imo, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kogi and others.

“When you visit those states, you will know that Nigerians have not made mistake electing us to lead their states affairs.

“We have resolved to fix the economy and it has already being fixed,” he said.

The chairman of the progressive governor explained that they are working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture

to put resources together to stamp out hunger in the country.

“We are united and Nigeria will always remain an indivisible nation.

“We don’t know who is Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, our determination is only to stamp out hunger and bring democratic dividend to our citizens.

“Hate statements should not be taken serious or regarded from anyone,” he said.

Okorocha commended Kebbi farmers for saving the country a lot of foreign exchange through their agricultural activities especially rice production.

Earlier, Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu, said the governors would continue to work diligently in line with the APC manifesto.

He said they would intensify efforts to eradicate poverty.

“The enthusiasm and patriotism of President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, demonstrate that Nigeria is getting its footsteps right.

“All that helps Nigeria to develop is now brought to debate and discussion table, and we should always cherish what we discuss significantly in order to enhance our development,” Bagudu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the retreat was to evaluate current challenges faced by state governments in accessing opportunities and resources provided by various policies of the federal government.

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Aregbesola’s Mother Dies at 85 Amosun, Ajimobi, Tinubu, others mourn Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ Mother of the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola, is dead.

She died in the early hours of yesterday in Ilesa, Osun State at the age of 85.

THISDAY gathered that before her death, his son, Aregbesola, was away in Kebbi State for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors’ meeting.

It was not clear yesterday if she would be buried today in Ilesa according to Muslim rites.

Meanwhile, many dignitaries have consoled Aregbesola over the demise.

For instance, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunke Amosun, in a statement said the governor’s late mother, popularly called Iya Olobi, was a devout Muslim, who dedicated her life to the relentless teaching and zealous practice of the core values of Islam.

According to him, “Alhaja Aregbesola’s death is a big loss not only to her immediate and extended family members, but also to the Islamic community.

“I therefore urge the family to be consoled by the fact that she fulfilled her purpose in life by raising God-fearing children.

Her exceptional humanitarian

services also stand as an external testimonial, which her community will forever cherish.”

In the same vein, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, condoled with the family.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, the governor described the late Aregbesola’s demise as depressing and disheartening.

Ajimobi, who said he received the news of Mama Aregbesola’s death with disbelief, described the deceased as a pride to womanhood and pillar of support to her son.

He prayed that Allah should grant the deceased Aljanah Firdaus and the Aregbesola family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Also, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun, expressed shock over the death of Aregbesola’s mother.

He described the deceased as a quiet mother whose life was exemplary to others as she struggled so hard to raise her children and ensured they are well protected and placed in the society.

“Mama would also be

fondly remembered for life of a worthy mother who nurtured a brilliant and friendly politician like Governor Aregbesola,” he said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wole Oladimeji.

According to him, the late Aregbesola would forever remain a veteran of democratic struggle, judging by the oppression she suffered during the 2007 election.

On his part, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commiserated with Aregbesola over the passing of his mum.

Tinubu described Mama Aregbesola as a great mother who always wanted the best for her son and stood by him in prayers.

In a condolence message issued by his media office, Tinubu said: “Mama Aregbesola was a great mother, an epitome of motherhood.

She always wanted the best for her son and stood by him in prayers through thick and thin.

“Mama was like a mother to me as well. We would miss her and her prayers. She passed on while her son was away in Kebbi State in the course of national duty.

“Governor Aregbesola was very close to his mum. I wish I could find the right word to comfort him. I have been through that way too. I know how it feels to lose a mother.

A mother’s place is huge in our life. No one can take the place of our mother.

“No matter how old she may be, we never wish that our dear mother leaves us. My prayer is that our prayers help comfort Aregbesola.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitam Ogunwusi, has also commiserated with the governor, describing her mother as an epitome

of motherhood worthy of emulation by any reasonable woman with desire of raising successful children through whom she would be forever celebrated.

Ooni Ogunwusi who is currently on a private visit in London, expressed condolence in a statement signed by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, urging the good people of the state and Yoruba race in general to join Aregbesola and siblings in the celebrations of their mother who had laboured to raise him with discipline, virtues and Godliness which has reflected in the life the governor whom he called an Omoluwabi per excellence.

Also, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has condoled with the governor Aregbesola over his mother’s death.

Omisore, in a condolence message issued by his media office in Lagos, noted that the

late Alhaja Aregbesola popularly known as Iya Olobi, was a devoted Muslim who lived a life worthy of emulation.

“I commiserate with our state Governor, Aregbesola and his siblings and other family members on the death of their matriarch today. I extend my deepest sympathy and pray that the Almighty Allah grants her Al-jannah Fidau. No matter how old our parents lived, when they die, they leave a sore pain in our hearts. I pray God grants the families the fortitude to bear the loss,” Omisore consoled.

The Osun State House of Assembly, in a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye described Governor Aregbesola’s mother as a very charitable and benevolent woman who not only love his family, her God and people in her community

FAA to Re-validate Nigeria’s Aviation Safety Status Chindu Eze The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will this month carry out an audit on Nigeria’s aviation industry to revalidate the Category One safety status given to the country about six years ago.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which made this known yesterday, said a four-man team representing FAA would audit the regulatory body to ensure that the industry aligns with the given standard, which Nigeria met in 2011 when it was awarded the certification for the first time.

The spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said in a press conference held in Lagos that the visit was to re-validate the Category One safety rating on Nigeria.

According to him, the team would comprise operations specialists, airworthiness specialists and an attorney.

The leader of the FAA delegation would be Louis Alvarez.

Other members of the team are – Benjamin Garrido and Jeffrey Klang.

Adurogboye said the last time the FAA visited Nigeria for similar exercise was in 2014, noting that the objective of the audit would include assessment of Nigeria’s level of compliance with international regulations on general aviation policy and procedure, aircraft maintenance organisation and flight operations.

He said the team would utilise the checklist approved for International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) already sent

to NCAA. Adurogboye said the checklist contains questions which the NCAA was expected to provide answers.

The template for the checklist include critical elements on aviation legislation, regulation, organisation, technical staff, quality and training. Others are technical guidance tools, licensing certification, approval, continuous surveillance and resolution of safety concerns.

NCAA said the FAA team would use Medview Airlines as reference operator, disclosing that it has already activated its audit team under the Flight Standard Group to facilitate the exercise.

“The mission of FAA is to assess the states ‘ aviation law, regulations and oversight capability in accordance with the eight critical elements as defined in ICAO document 9734. The NCAA is expected to complete the latest IASA checklist and return completed form to FAA before the team’s arrival.

“The FAA team will visit the maintenance organisation of Medview Airlines and any other necessary airline operator. The director general has therefore activated the standing audit team and they have swung into action. Meetings are being held in readiness for the exercise to ensure a successful outing. The director general has assured Nigerians that NCAA would acquit itself successfully as usual. There will be a de-briefing at the end of the exercise and a written report will be sent from the FAA headquarter to the NCAA thereafter,” Adurogboye said.

WELL-DESERVED

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left), receiving the “Most Prestigious Stakeholder” Award from the National President of Music Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sharon Essco-Joshua, when the association paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja...yesterday

Counter-Insurgency: NSCDC Deploys Personnel on Liberated Communities The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed its personnel on some liberated communities and University of Maiduguri in Borno State.

The state Commandant of NSCDC, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure during a visit by Senior Police Advisor United States Embassy, Mr. Michael Bonner, to the Command in Maiduguri.

Abdullahi said the command had recorded significant success towards providing civic protection in the state.

He recalled that at the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency, personnel of the command were not allowed to carry arms, noting that the trend did not deter them from their duties.

The NSCDC commandant said the command had recorded successes in various operations against the insurgents in the state.

“We have arrested a lot of high profiled Boko Haram insurgents, their food and fuel suppliers; we also intercepted some cow rustlers and recovered a spiritual book which the insurgents used to hypnotise new recruits,” he said.

Abdullahi added that the command had also resolved more than 15,000 cases under its dispute resolution exercise.

The commandant listed lack of patrol vehicles and obsolete equipment as some of the challenges facing the command.

He stressed the need to rehabilitate offices of the

command vandalised by the Boko Haram insurgents in the 27 local government areas of the state.

Speaking during the visit, Bonner stated that the US would train and provide technical support for personnel of NSCDC to enhance its operations in the counter-terrorism campaign.

Bonner said such support had become necessary in view of NSCDC’s contributions in promoting national security, especially in the protection of critical infrastructure.

“Absolutely, when you talk about safety and security in Nigeria, the primary concern is the Northeast, and the state that needs attention the most right now is Borno.

“It is a great opportunity to meet NSCDC officers and

hear from you how the US can assist you.

“We are also planning to train the NSCDC personnel on post-bomb blast investigation techniques.

“We have already put in place some courses that will run strictly for the NSCDC on critical infrastructure protection.

The course is designed to train about 25 officers of the NSCDC who will also train other officers of the command,” he stated.

According to him, we are also looking at providing a joint training for the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force.

“The training includes counter-terrorism techniques to enable you identify potential threats and protect people in soft targets as well as prevent terror attack,” Bonner said.

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NEWSXTRA

Restructuring will End IPOB, Arewa Youths Agitations, Says Kalu Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has sought for the understanding and support of every segment of the country towards the cause of restructuring as a way of resolving the challenges facing the nation.

He reassured Nigerians, especially southerners living in the 19 northern states that there was no cause for alarm over the October 1 quit notice issued to Igbos by the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG).

According to him, elaborate

efforts are being made to quash the notice and to douse the tension it has created in the minds and psyche of the people.  Kalu, who gave the assurance at a meeting with the leadership of the CNG, in Abuja, said the idea is to get them to withdraw the quit notice. “When they say Igbos in the North, you don’t know who is Igbo or Urhobo or who is from Bayelsa State. All of them are Igbos as far as I am concerned. So I want to assure the southerners who are living in the northern part of Nigeria that we will continue to put our

PDP, IPC Decry Attack on Journalists in Kaduna The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday decried rising spate of attacks on journalists while on duty, and urged security agencies to adopt stringent measures to check the trend.

Its Chairman in Kaduna State, Mr. Hassan Hyet, while on a solidarity and sympathy visit to the Kaduna chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the consistent attack on media men was an assault to the entire society. “Journalists have a statutory duty to educate and inform.

Any attack on them will deny Nigerians the right to be educated and informed. That should be everyone’s concern,� Hyet said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that thugs invaded the NUJ secretariat last Sunday, when top members of the APC, including senators, House of Representatives members and party officials were addressing a press conference.

The press conference had centred on the delegates election conducted by the party on Saturday, July 29.

The thugs beat up journalists, broke cameras and midgets, and also destroyed part of the NUJ building.

Hyet, who described the attack as “very unfortunate,� advised politicians to learn the act of tolerance. “Politicians must be tolerant of divergent views. In a democracy, people must be allowed to air their views and voice out grievances. “Nigeria is not a jungle; people should not use their fists, instead of their voices, in countering others’ positions on issues. “The journalists were merely performing their duties at the NUJ. It was wrong for anyone to have even allowed strangers into the NUJ premises,� he said.

Hyet said no society could exist without information, “whether such information is pleasant to those in authority or not�, and stressed the need to respect the freedom to express opinion. “If you feel someone is giving the wrong information, go to the same media and state your side of the story. The law does not allow anyone to take a cutlass and start chasing other people just because of a political disagreement,� he said.

He opined that the Nigerian society would only progress and

prosper if everyone was allowed to contribute his own ideas in national discourses.

NUJ chairman, Yusuf Adamu, who thanked Hyet for the visit, said that the Sunday attack was the first of its kind in the history of the NUJ in Kaduna.

He wondered why innocent journalists doing their jobs should be attacked when they were ready to equally state the side of the “attacker� in the political dispute.

Adamu said that the NUJ shall continue to discharge its duty to Nigeria and Nigerians by remaining the voice of the downtrodden, declaring that the media shall continue to stand by the people in line with the core values of journalism profession.

The NUJ official advised politicians against using youths as political thugs and hoodlums, “instead of mobilising such youths into positive ventures that will make them assets to the nation.�  Also, the International Press Centre (IPC) has decried the unwarranted attack on journalists and the invasion of the Kaduna State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) by alleged political thugs during a press conference by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state July 31, 2017 The journalists, Lawal Mohammed of Liberty TV and an unnamed cameraman with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) were brutalised while their working tools including cameras, cell phones and recorders were also reportedly destroyed.

The Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said the action of the thugs and their sponsors was not acceptable as they should have sought other means of ventilating their grievances within the structure of their political party of which the NUJ secretariat is not one. “The press unions exist to uphold the tenets of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, instead of the aggrieved members taking laws into its hands and unleashing attacks on the journalists, they should avail themselves by the opportunity provided for right of reply in the media,� Arogundade added.

He called on the state police command to urgently investigate the matter and ensure the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.

efforts, nothing will happen to them,� he said.  Kalu used the opportunity to call on the Arewa youths to support dialogue on the issued of restructuring of the federation, adding that it would be the most effective way of ending the frequent agitations bedeviling the country. “Yerima, I will also like you to take this message as you go; Restructuring does not mean breaking the country. There are some certain things we have outgrown; we need to look at readdressing issues of how our economy should be run. Poor people will benefit from efforts of restructuring,� he said.  According to Kalu, this is the time for all Nigerians to come together and make frantic effort to salvage the country from the

current conflict situation. “The discussion was very fruitful. You know the diversity of this country is the strength of the country. Demography of this country is very essential to what we are doing. People who think that any part of the country  has nothing to contribute to its development are making a mistake. “If this country wants to be serious, agriculture can make more money for this country more than anything on earth. Agriculture can make more money. And second to agriculture where we can make money would be tourism. “It is interesting to see us as a very big country. Ours transverse from Sahara desert to the to Atlantic ocean. This is the only country that can proudly boost

of having the two. Some people are asking God to give them one of it. But we have the two - we have the Sahara desert and we have Atlantic Ocean.�

The leaders of the coalition who attended the meeting include the Chairman, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shetima, Abdulazeez Sulieman, Aminu Adam and Balarabe Rufai, who are representatives of other northern groups.

Kalu who lamented the heavy economic losses resulting from the tension and anxiety caused by the agitations and counter agitations by the various groups in the country, promised to reach out to the southern groups fuelling the agitations with a view to achieving amicable settlement of the raging conflict.

“I have access to all of them and I will be talking to them and in due time, they will listen to the voice of reason and allow peace to reign. I am going to speaks to Nnamdi Kanu and I know that he will one day listen to wise counsel.

In his remarks, the leader of the group, and Chairman of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shetima, said they had very fruitful discussion which would end the current impasse.

Yerima, who assured that the country would remain one Nigeria, added: “We will work within the framework to ensure nobody holds the country to ransom. We have embarked on a lot of consultations to review our position on the quit notice and ultimatum.�

INVESTMENT MEETING

L-R: Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and Senior Minister of State for Trade and lndustry, Republic of Singapore, Dr. Koh Poh Koon, during an investment meeting between the state government and the Republic of Singapore in Lagos....Monday

Inland Waterways: Lagos Issues Boat Operators, Dredgers Seven-day Ultimatum Says Appeal Court judgment clear, unambiguous, victory for fiscal federalism The Lagos State Government yesterday issued a seven-day ultimatum to boat operators, dredgers and all stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to comply with all the applicable laws, rules and guidelines concerning their operations failure of which appropriate, stiff sanctions would apply. Â Addressing a press conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on the recent Court of Appeal judgment which upheld the power of the state government to control inland waterways within the state, the state government declared readiness to aggressively enforce the relevant laws for the regulation of waterfront infrastructure development and all connected purposes, and urged all boat and dredging operators to be law abiding and fully comply with the resolve of the government to sanitise the sector for the overall benefit of the people. Â Speaking at the briefing jointly addressed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy,

Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Ade Akinsanya; Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA); Ms. Abisola Kamson; and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Ferry Services, Hon Paul Kalejaye, Kazeem said the state government was very pleased with the judgment which he described as clear, unambiguous and a victory for resource control and fiscal federalism in Nigeria.  He said there have been varied attempts by those who lost out especially the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to whittle down the effect of the appellate court judgment, but that in as much as the state government was not out to antagonise or fight anybody, it would however be “uncowed, unbowed and fiercely protect the God-given resources within the state and never relent in championing the cause of true

federalism in the country.�

Reacting to claims by NIWA that the judgment did not favour the state government, Kazeem said the quest by the federal agency to keep on controlling the resources of the state from Abuja despite the judgment was totally absurd and cannot stand when viewed from moral, legal and economic grounds.

He said the same NIWA that claimed on the one hand that the judgment did not favour the state government, had also indicated interest to appeal, and queried the intention of the agency in seeking to take the resources of the state.  “Looking at the import of these laws which you can find in the constitution is that the federal government controls maritime and international navigation which is to clear the high seas for international carriers to be able to move freely. In so far as bodies of water within a state do not obstruct those international routes, those bodies of water within the exclusive preserve of the state are left to their control and that is

what that Appeal Court judgment affirmed. It said clearly that the Lagos State House of Assembly has powers to legislate on its intra-inland waterways and the LASWA law is very clear about its powers and authority to control boat operation.  “You can imagine that a federal government agency in Abuja intend to control how boat operators operate here. This is just the same thing as saying that the federal government agency should control the buses that ply your road. If you say you have a right to control land transportation, should you not have right to control water transportation.

Secondly, if you have a coastline that is very important to you and then some people are eroding that coastline by unregulated dredging cutting into the coastline, causing flooding, causing environmental nuisance and then you say that an agency that is situate in Abuja should control that, that is absurd.

So, on a moral, on a legal, on an economic standpoint, it is not right,� Kazeem said.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT Lagos CJ Frees 80 Minor Inmates from Badagry Prison Aknwale Akintunde Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, yesterday granted amnesty to 80 under-age inmates of the Badagry Prisons.

The minors, whose ages range from 12 to 17, were said to have been arrested and charged with offences bordering on breach of public peace and no means of livelihood.

Justice Atilade said the amnesty granted them was in tandem with the resolution of the judiciary to protect the Child Rights and also decongest prisons nationwide.

Only 28 names out of the 80 minors released yesterday were sent to the Lagos State Prisons Decongestion Committee headed

by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye for a review of their cases.

But a visit to the prison showed that 90 per cent of the inmates in the prisons were actually under-age and the chief judge had to painstakingly review more cases together with her team.

Justice Atilade who was very surprised at the total number of minors in that prison condemned the act of imprisoning under-age irrespective of their offences.

While setting the inmates free, the chief judge admonished them to be of good behaviour and to “go and sin no more.

“I pronounce, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are all hereby released from custody,” Atilade said.

The chief judge thanked various stakeholders including Office of Public Defendant (OPD), Prisons Decongestion Committee and numerous nongovernmental organisations that have worked tirelessly to ensure the freedom of the inmates.

Justice Atilade specially thanked, Mrs. Dupe Olubanwo, a social worker, who she said initiated the emergency prison visit due to her outcry of the overwhelming under-age inmates languishing in Badagry Prison.

Justice Yetunde Idowu, who is the head of Family Court Division of the Lagos State Judiciary also condemned underage imprisonment, According to her, the Lagos State and the judiciary have zero tolerance for child abuse

of any sort.

“Keeping a child in prison for more than 24 hours traumatises such child and such should not be condoned at all in the state.

We don’t want to encourage delinquency and we are starting today.

“The aim of the Criminal Justice System in respect of child offender is rehabilitatory

and reformatory. We are urging everyone to quickly bring these kind of cases to our attention The state Solicitor-General, Mr. Funlola Odunlami, also stressed that the state especially Governor Akinwumi Ambode frowned at child abuse and will not condone child imprisonment.

Odunlami also promised the prison authority that even

though the prison is a federal agency, the state would look into all of their demands as always.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Badagry Prison, Mr. Oyeniran Famuwagun decried the decongestion of the prison He said the prison which now house 584 inmates was built to accommodate 320 inmates.

He explained that 195 of the inmates are on the awaiting trial list. 389 others are convicts with a working staff population of about 70 staff.

Famuwagun also complained of inadequate funding, lack of potable water and overstretched infrastructure at the prison particularly vehicles for conveying the inmates to courts.

NAPTIP Begs for Improved CONSULTATION Executive Secretary, Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG), Tony Uranta (left), and Director General, National Agency the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli, during a courtesy call by the DG, NAPTIP to Funding from Government, for Uranta’s residence in Lagos...yesterday Corporate Organisations Abia Shooting: FRSC Seeks Prosecution of Abia as investigation on many are Jonathan Eze still on-going.

The DG stated that over Speaker, Others The Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ms. Julie Okah- Donli , has called for more funding from government, private and corporate organisations noting that the scope of its operations has broadened hence, the need for adequate funding to achieve its mandate.

According to her, “Trafficking in person has gone beyond sexual exploitation and domestic servitude; it has now extended to organ harvesting.

These days, they kill people and sell their organs. They believe it is easier for them to get money that way than to start waiting for a prostitute to bring returns. So, it has taken a frightening and scary dimension.’’

The NAPTIP boss spoke in Lagos when she paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Secretary, Nigeria National Summit Group, Mr. Tony Uranta, urging him to use his influence locally and internationally to rally support for the agency especially with a view to helping it with food, drugs and other basic necessities for their shelter homes.

Okah-Donli identified funding as a major challenge for the agency, adding that the burden should not be left to the government alone.

She noted that NAPTIP has convicted no fewer than 325 persons, and that many cases are still pending in courts, just

12,000 victims passed through NAPTIP shelters, adding that, “In 2017, we have witnessed the mass deportation of Nigerians from various countries specially Libya. This is further draining our very lean budget. The private sector has not joined in the fight and we call on them to come on board.

“When we talk about human trafficking, many people are looking at external trafficking and they just situate it around ladies going to Italy, but they don’t seem to realise that there is so much internal trafficking going on in Nigeria especially in Lagos State because it is a transit and destination state.

When you don’t pay your housemaid or you hit her, its trafficking.”

In his response, Uranta, who was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue during the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan, commended the leadership of the agency, stating that there was need for NAPTIP to improve its advocacy.

He added that he had been concerned about the issue and threat for over 10 years.

He called on government and the National Assembly to increase the budgetary allocation of the agency, stressing that he would mobilise major actors and stakeholders in the nation and the corporate world to commit to the burden of human trafficking.

Tobi Soniyi The Federal Road Safety Commision (FRSC) has called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the shooting of two of its officials in Abia State.

The Public Education Officer and spokesman of the Commission, Bisi Kazeem, made the call yesterday while reacting to the reported dismissal of Police Corporal Iroh Orji over the incident.

Orji, who was an orderly to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, allegedly pulled the trigger on the FRSC officials at their duty post on July 15.

The state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, had

last Monday announced Orji’s dismissal from the police, saying he was found guilty after an orderly room trial.

FRSC said it welcomed the policeman’s dismissal, however, wanted the authority to prosecute him and others, including the speaker, his wife and an operative of the Department of Security Services, (DSS).

Kazeem said: “the corporal’s dismissal is a welcome development which shows that the police have zero tolerance for acts of indiscipline and lawlessness among their men.

“But we call on the police to institute criminal proceedings against him and others involved in the act of criminality against our men.

“We have made this demand in writing to the Director of DSS in the state, who said he had made recommendation to headquarters for disciplinary action against the operative.

“The director said the recommendation had to be verified and approved by headquarters before action could be taken.’’

He said FRSC had also written to the police command in the state for the arrest of the speaker, his wife and the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident.

The speaker, Kalu, is alleged to have ordered the shooting of the FRSC officials, an allegation he denied.

The incident occurred at Arungwa Junction (near Aba) on the Enugu-Port-Harcourt

highway.

Kalu’s wife, Victoria, was said to be travelling to Aba when the FRSC men flagged down her vehicle and attempted to book her for seat belt violation.

A heated argument ensued during which she allegedly pounced on the road safety officials with the help of a female DSS operative, who was travelling with her.

Witnesses said the woman called her husband, who arrived at the scene and allegedly ordered his orderly to shoot the FRSC officials.

When the speaker visited the victims at the hospital the next day, he was said to have been denied access into the ward where the FRSC officials were receiving treatment.

Generator Fume Kills Family of Four in Kogi Yekini Jimoh ÓØ ÙÕÙÔË

to have been last seen on July 28, 2017.

Apprehension reportedly Dead bodies of a family of four have been found inside their set in when the deceased was building already decomposing not seen by his neighbours for at Obajana community of Lokoja sometimes. His Cousin, Chief local government council of Kogi Richard Asaje, said they have State caused by generator fume. gone to check on him at home The decomposing bodies of a following the stench that was man, his wife and two children emanating from his house were found inside their building after his phone line was not yesterday by their neighbours. connecting.

Consequently, policemen from The man was identified as John Oluwasegun Ayodele. Obajana Division were alerted, They were suspected to have and when the door was forced been killed by fume from a open, the decomposing bodies power generator in the house. were discovered.

Asaje explained that power The late Ayodele was reported

generator fume was suspected as the cause, following the discovery of a power generator there.

According to him, “The incident happened between last Friday/Saturday. It should be around 12 midnight last Saturday.

“He put a generator inside his toilet and locked the door.

The house is a concrete building and it was discovered that he also locked the window.

“Unfortunately, we never knew something had happened the second day, so we forced the door open following the stench

emanating from the house.”

The deceased cousin said their corpses have since been deposited at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja.

“The husband should be around 35, but the wife is less than 30 years.

The daughter who also died is around four years and the last born, boy, is about three months.

“To us as a family, it is a shocking thing, but there is no suspect because their death was caused by the fume of the generator. It has indeed thrown the family into mourning mood,” he stated.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

55

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Okagbare Arrives London with Hopes for Medal IAAF clears Tosin Oke Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s biggest medal prospect at the 16th IAAF World Championships starting in London on Friday, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, arrived the British capital yesterday with high hopes.

The double medalists in the long jump and 200m at the 2013 edition of the Worlds in Moscow began her final preparations almost immediately her plane touch down in London.

Okagbare is expected to open her quests for podium placement in the women’s sprint with first round heats in four days time.

This is her fourth time outing at the summit of athletics expected to attract the best sprinters from around the globe to London.

She won a silver medal in the long jump and added a 200m bronze at the Moscow edition four years ago to make her Nigeria’s most achieved athlete at the Worlds.

The reigning Commonwealth Games double sprint champion is to also feature in the long jump as well as anchor Team Nigeria’s 4x100m women’s relay team next week Saturday.

Meanwhile, former national triple jump champion, Tosin Oke, has been cleared to compete at the championships.

IAAF confirmed Oke’s eligibility as area champion in an e-mail to the AFN yesterday.

Oke, who holds a personal season’s best of 16.70m and qualified for the championships as an area champion following his victory at the African Championships last year

in Durban, South Africa.

He will be making his third competitive trip to the championships after making his debut in 2009 at the 12th edition of the IAAF flagship event in Berlin, Germany. He was a finalist two years ago in Beijing, China at the 15th edition of the championships where he hopped, stepped and jumped

Home-based athletes yet to get UK visas 16.81m to end up as the eighth best triple jumper at the event.

Oke’s addition has increased to 18 the number of Nigerian athletes that will compete at the championships following the addition of sprint hurdler, Lindsay Lindley in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m women’s relay team which has reigning national

100m champion Aniekeme Alphonsus Etim, Wisdom Igbinosun Isoken, Jennifer Madu and Maria Thompson Omokwe and Okagbare.

As at press time last night, the British High Commission was yet to issue entry visas to the homebased athletes who are scheduled to leave for London from Nigeria

with only two days before the start of the championships.

AFN Secretary General, Amaechi Akawo, confirmed to reporters yesterday that he has not received any positive response from the Embassy as at the close of work on Tuesday but believes the visas will be issued before the championships get underway

on Friday.

“I am regularly in communication with the IAAF and I believe the embassy will realise the athletes and officials whose passports are before it are representing the most populous black nation on earth and a strong member of the Commonwealth nations,” he said.

Iheanacho Faces Two-year Jail Term in USA Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, 20, who completed medical at Leicester City yesterday is facing problems in the US after allegations were made against him that he may have misled a court in Pennsylvania.

With the medical concluded, it now appears that Iheanacho’s switch to Leicester City is almost a done deal with just some paperwork left to complete the transfer believed to be worth around £25 million.

Iheanacho was linked with a move to West Ham and other Premier League clubs before Leicester, the 2016 English champions who parade Nigerians Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi, stepped in.

But the transfer to Leicester could be marred following the legal battles with his previous representatives, American-based First Eleven Management, after pulling out of a contract with

them two years ago to sign with Stellar, who look after Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale.

Iheanacho filed pleadings that denied he knew or spent time with Henry Galeano, who separately claims he is his former agent.

He was alleged to have claimed he believed Galeano was an alias used by First Eleven Management co-owner Robert Zanicky.

New Yorker Galeano was the company’s registered FIFA-licensed agent.

UK’s SunSport and the American court have been handed a series of photos and documents that will require an explanation from the Nigerian international.

The crucial legal question for Iheanacho will be whether he did more than merely meet Galeano or happened to be with him on occasions. It certainly seems clear they at least met.

Iheanacho during his medical at Leicester City… yesterday

Bolt Insists He’s Still FG to Pay N314m for Completion of ANOCA Secretariat World’s Fastest Man Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Jamaican Usain Bolt, 30, who is hoping to draw curtain on his illustrious track career at the World Championships in London insisted yesterday that he is still the fastest man in the world.

Bolt, an eight-time Olympic champion and icon of world sport, will run the 100m and 4x100m relay at the Worlds, which begin on Friday, before retiring.

“You guys know if I show up for a race that means I’m 100 per cent confident,” he said.

“I’m finally here, I’ve got the hype, I’m really excited and am looking forward to it.

“For some reason I am the underdog again, because that is what I keep reading, what my team keeps telling me, so I have got to prove myself once more.

“But I am ready. It’s go time, so let’s go.”

The men’s 100m final is on Saturday, August 5, while the men’s 4x100m relay race - which will mark the end of Bolt’s career - is on the following Saturday.

Bolt has won the 100m, 200m

and 4x100m gold at the past three Olympic Games - Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

However, his unprecedented ‘triple triple’ of nine gold medals was downgraded to eight after Jamaican team-mate Nesta Carter, who was part of the quartet that won the 4x100m in Beijing, tested positive for a banned substance.

Carter has appealed against the decision.

Nevertheless, Bolt’s exploits remain unprecedented and he also holds the world record in the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19).

Asked if he still believes he is the fastest in the world, the Jamaican replied: “Yeah, without a doubt.

“The last race I ran was a 9.95, so that shows I am going in the right direction. After the two rounds leading up to the 100m final, which always help me, it’s all about who keeps their nerve.

I have been here many times. I know I am ready,” stressed Bolt yesterday as he stepped up his final preparations.

The Federal Government has graciously offered to bankroll the completion of the headquarters of Association of National Olympic Committees for Africa (ANOCA) in Abuja.

While declaring open the 52nd Executive Committee/ Ordinary Session yesterday, Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, said that Nigeria was prepared to spend additional N314 million ($872,277) to complete the headquarters project.

The proposed cost is different from the N50 million ($138,888) earlier released by government to fast track the completion of the complex.

Dalung’s speech was delivered at the session by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Abdul Razak Salau.

The minister said with the financial guarantees by government, the ANOCA office would be commissioned

in due course.

He also offered government readiness to collaborate with the continental body in its mission to uplift sports in Africa.

The meeting in Abuja scheduled to end on Thursday is the inaugural meeting of the board since the members were elected in Djibouti in May. ANOCA President, Gen. Lassana Palenfo, thanked the Nigerian government for building the headquarters for sports in Africa in Abuja.

The executive committee has scheduled a working visit to the headquarters construction site today.

Palenfo also lamented that hosting the flagship All Africa Games was becoming expensive and difficult for African nations.

He said ANOCA was negotiating with the African Union (AU) and would table the matter at a meeting in Addis Ababa on August 17-18.

The army general similarly

echoed doubts about the ability of Africa hosting the Olympic Games in the futute given the cost of staging the biennial and multi-sport events.

“I must confess you need money and infrastructure to host Olympics. Are you ready to hold it in Nigeria? You need communication, stadiums, security and so on. It is not easy; you must be a realist,” Palenfo counseled.

The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, said

the meeting would discuss the development of sports and the African strategy for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where it hopes to improve on its medal haul at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Other matters on the agenda include, consideration of ANOCA Constitution and proposals for amendments, updates on the 3rd African Youth Games, proposals on setting up of ANOCA legal and ethics commissions and discussions on maiden African Beach Games.

2017 AITEO CUP FIXTURES (National Preliminaries) TODAY Minda FC (Benue) Vs Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) – Jos Moyero FC (Ondo) Vs Fashmog FC (Ekiti) – Ibadan Young Talent (Sokoto) Vs Haifa FC (Jigawa) – Kaduna Ayade Babes (Cross River) Vs Lexington FC (Taraba) – Lokoja Kaka FC (Kaduna) Vs Potiskum Academy (Yobe) – Bauchi FC Galadima (Kebbi) Vs Jarma FC (Zamfara) – Sokoto Sam Daddy FC (Imo) Vs Coal City FC (Enugu) – Nnewi George Turnah FC (Bayelsa) Vs Ngwa FC (Ebonyi) – Umuahia Spartan FC (Lagos) Vs JCTC FC (Ogun) – Akure IfeanyiUbah Feeders (Nnewi) Vs Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) - Owerri

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Wednesday August 2, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Adejare to Landlords “It is now of paramount importance that owners of buildings or structures impeding the free-flow of storm water, wherever they exist in the state, are advised to voluntarily quit forthwith in the overriding public interest or risk being removed by the state government” – Lagos state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare reading the riot act to Lagos landlords whose houses are impediments to free flow of rain water leading to flooding in some areas in the state.

LAWSONOMOKHODION GUEST COLUMNIST

State of Anomie or Governance?

I

t appears that the federal government of Nigeria has surrendered its powers and might to violent criminals. It is incredulous that there is no part of the country that can be considered safe for any citizen anymore. Even the mega city-state of Lagos with its excellent managers is also not free from the violent upsurge. Businessmen and students are taken away by kidnappers at will. In Rivers state the norm is to kill, maim and bully while herdsmen and kidnappers roam the streets with impunity. In Kaduna state particularly southern Kaduna it appears the violence in that part of the state is a policy of government. In Taraba state the orgy of violence in the state required both the military and police to contain it. Both state actors and non-state actors have a common interest – to make money by destroying and killing. Every facet of our national life has drifted into a state of normlessness. The country is in a state of anomie. The moral compass is broken. The acceptable standards of measuring human behavior in Nigeria have been distorted. The Nigerian state has been compromised.

There is violence in the land. Both in temporal and spiritual matters chaos and anomie have taken over. Even churches have become the temple of criminality. Prosperity preachers, money crazy pastors, false prophets, deluded messengers of ‘God’, and magicians and sorcerers have taken over churches while ‘alfas’, native doctors, amulets and charms experts have taken over mosques. Money, materialism, riches no matter how ill gotten, naked and base acquisition of property and unearned wealth are eulogized by churches and mosques and the larger community is polluted beyond words.

Violence is stalking the Nigerian state.

Everywhere you turn, a phenomenon of violent cattle herdsmen using their herds of cattle to invade farmlands in the southern and middle belt states of the country has become a constant in our lives. Cattle Fulani herdsmen known for their meek and friendly disposition in the past are now armed and ready to kill without provocation. These herdsmen take off from states like Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano and joined by their brothers from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger etc. head to the southern states of Oyo, Delta, Edo, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Bayelsa etc. to graze and in the process destroy crops, farmlands and then follow up with killing, raping, and maiming men, women and children on their farmlands. When these killings and destructions are reported to the law enforcement agencies the police are not able to make any arrest and no one is punished for killing and destroying.

Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbe recently frightened me to the point of a seizure. Audu Ogbe said that the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons across boundaries make it impossible for the Nigerian government to control the foreign elements amongst the herdsmen. Ogbe seems to say that arms and ammunitions, diseased and sickly herds of cattle and criminal herdsmen can move across boundaries without restraint. It means that even when the government forbids its citizens from possessing unlicensed firearms it allows herdsmen from neighbouring countries to wander over Nigeria with unlicensed AK-47 with no fear of arrest. So these foreign herdsmen can join the Nigerian herdsmen to kill and destroy and the federal government says it cannot do anything to stop them.

President Muhammadu Buhari For killing Nigerians and destroying their farmlands the government says it cannot visit any repercussions on the criminals from ECOWAS states. It can also not visit any repercussions on the herdsmen from the northern states because they are state protected herdsmen. People affected are crying out and their cries are met with a deafening silence. How can agri-businessmen dealing in livestock believe that their own business is more important than agri-businessmen dealing in food/cash crops?

Yet in all these killings and dispossessions by the cattle herdsmen no one has been arrested brought to trial and punished. Impunity has been allowed to reign supreme. Recently, herdsmen were sighted strolling with their herds of cattle along main streets in Abuja, the federal capital. They then went further, the herdsmen led their herds of cattle to graze on the football field of the national stadium, Abuja. The attack by the herdsmen seems to be so pervasive that everyone is alarmed. The herdsmen can shoot and kill anywhere they face and anytime they want. Husbands and wives are weeping for the murder of their spouses by herdsmen. Men and women are crying for losing loved ones. Farmers in Midwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria have deserted their farmlands. No farmer is safe in the Midwest.

The herdsmen invade farms; their herds of cattle eat up crops, and turn green vegetation into desert by voracious consumption. When these herdsmen as much as sight the farm owners they shoot them at sight and if the women are available they are raped and butchered and the federal government says it cannot take any action because the herdsmen are special. The violent cattle herdsmen have expanded their territory of operation. They have no fear of police. They kill policemen as much as they kill civilians. The government

The country is at a crossroads... Its people are divided and in torment on all fronts

apparently believes police death in the line of duty is acceptable.

In the Nigerian Police force of the glorious past anytime a criminal or fleeing robber killed policemen, the police force, in its traditional esprit de corps would pursue that criminal until he is apprehended and punished.

These days the police are as helpless as the ordinary people. Indeed, a few years ago some members of the department of state security were butchered in their prime in Nasarawa state by a known cult group and there were no repercussions. Indeed, these days when reports are made to a police command regarding the atrocities of herdsmen, the police would tell the people that the policemen must first access the firepower of the herdsmen before confronting them. Herdsmen should never have firepower. They illegally bear arms. The Sultan of Sokoto recently asked the federal government to probe the sources of arms used by the herdsmen. The right approach must be that all herdsmen nationwide must be disarmed and anyone carrying weapons must face the armed robbery courts for bearing firearms without license and the penalty is death sentence. Recently women were raped and beheaded in the cities of Ewu and Ekpoma in my own dear Edo state and till today no one has been arrested and yet we all know where the herdsmen have their settlements in the forests. Owners of these herds of cattle must set up grazing ranches for their cattle.

The times when herds of cattle roam the forests covering thousands of kilometers are gone. We must move with the times. If the Nigerian state cannot land somebody in Mars, must it not be able to control rampaging herdsmen? The Nigerian state must wake up.

If illiterate herdsmen maim, kill with impunity the federal government must as well allow every Nigerian to bear arms and defend them.

Recently in Edo state, cattle Fulani herdsmen led their herds of cattle to take over the classrooms of a community primary school. The frightened students fled from their classrooms while their teachers ran for their lives. The herdsmen destroy farmlands and if allowed they are ready to make learning impossible for our children. Neither the state government nor the federal ministry of education has thought it fit to make a statement condemning the invasion of a school by herds of cattle led by their herdsmen. The federal ministry of interior has no statement to make on the invasion of the Nigerian territory by herdsmen. Even when the federal government reluctantly speaks to acknowledge the existence of criminal activities it never mentions the murderous destruction and economic despoliation caused by herdsmen as part of the problems. As herdsmen overwhelm the land, kidnappers have emerged as an equally virulent danger we face in the country. School children are kidnapped at will. Businessmen are kidnapped and only released when ransom of considerable amount is paid. People are kidnapped on the highway; as they enter their homes; in places of work and everywhere imaginable. Herdsmen take over the highways and kidnap motorists only to release them when huge ransom is paid. Nigerians can no longer travel to their villages. The problem is compounded by bad and un-motorable roads. Catholic reverend fathers and sisters are being kidnapped daily. Petty kidnappers are in every nook and cranny of the country.

Again a new dimension of the crisis has emerged pitching northern Nigeria against

southern Nigeria. The federal government is alarmed. State governments are confused.

Nigerians are frightened. Communities that have lived together in peace for generations are preparing to tear at each other. When in 1992/3 citizens of the republic of Rwanda called each other disparaging and dehumanizing names little did the world know that a massacre of unearthly proportion was gathering momentum. When it came the conflagration was uncontrollable. Nigerians are playing with fire. We must return to reasonableness and let our young ones live instead of sending them to war to die. Any war that breaks out in Nigeria today will signal the end because the OECD countries and Russia have loads of arms and ammunitions to supply to all sides of the conflict on credit and at a very attractive discount.

Nigeria is in a state of anomie. The country is at a crossroads. The society is steeped in infamy. Its people are divided and in torment on all fronts. We yearn for a way out. The country and its people cry for justice, fairness, equity and humanity. As we reflect on the perplexing state confronting the country, we need to join in praying for Nigeria. Nigeria has been in distress for such a long time. At both individual and family levels we have to pray for Nigeria and with good intentions in our hearts. The times are very delicate.

As Nigeria attends to major initiatives to reenergise itself the federal government must live up to its billing and handle security of life and property more firmly. If it has the political will the federal government can roll out the armed forces, the police, DSS, civil defense corps, Customs, FRSC, etc. to tackle criminalities and promote security in the land.

But it seems that the federal government has itself collapsed. Meanwhile, we must begin to address the clamour for a restructured federation.

The country needs the creation of state government controlled police force and to avoid abuses it should be circumscribed by a proper delineation of what constitutes federal crimes to be handled by federal police.

With state police armed herdsmen will be afraid to act and move with impunity across autonomous states.

The country needs a workable constitution.

The immunity clause on criminal offences for elected president, vice-president, governors and deputies must be thrown out. Slush funds known as security votes must be wiped out.

Presidents and Governors must be taken to court for criminal breaches while in office. The exclusive legislative list must be pruned so that the concurrent and residual lists will take in more responsibilities. The federal government takes in too much money from the federation account, which is misused. Fiscal federalism is imperative and the time for genuine resource control has come.

The federal government is too over-stretched and has lost the capacity to manage Nigeria.

The government cannot secure Nigeria. The bi-cameral legislature is too expensive and unworkable. The national assembly operates outside the Nigerian reality and it is too foreign and insulated. The federal government cannot continue to fund it. The Government needs to move fast on fixing the broken parts of the Nigerian vessel otherwise more Nnamdi Kanus may emerge. r $IJFG 0NPLIPEJPO JT B SFUJSFE CBOLJOH FYFDVUJWF

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