Thursday 28th September 2017

With Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye Given the All Clear, Anambra Guber Race Takes Shape Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of the incumbent governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Oselola Obaze, the candidate of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP); and Tony Nwoye, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with 34 other candidates who will be contesting in governorship election in the state on November 18.

In a statement issued yesterday, the commission also said it has given the nod to 38 domestic and six

international observer groups to monitor the election.

This, according to the commission, was in accordance with Section 31(3) of the Electoral Act. A cursory look at the list revealed that other than the three leading candidates, five female candidates will also be Continued on page 10

Obiano

Nwoye

Obaze

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Ajimobi: Why North is Against Restructuring… Page 49

NJC Appoints Justice Ayo Salami to Head Monitoring C’ttee on Corruption Cases Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Judicial Council (NJC), under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, has established a Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) to monitor judges and courts handling corruption and financial crimes cases in the country.

The council also appointed

a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami as the chairman of the committee.

Justice Salami retired under controversial circumstances, following the refusal by former President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate him after he had been cleared by the NJC over his alleged links to chieftains of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Continued on page 10

Nigeria Declares UN Security Council Obsolete, Undemocratic Okechukwu Uwaezuoke with agency report Nigeria has decried the obsolete and old-fashioned composition of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, describing it as undemocratic.

The country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, speaking to newsmen in New York recently, said there was urgent need to reform the body.

The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful organ with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the UN. It is vested with the powers to establish peacekeeping operations and impose international sanctions.

The council has the Continued on page 10

Terrorism Has No Boundary, FG Replies US Govt on IPOB... Page 50

AFRICAN LAWMAKERS MEET...

L-R: President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Mr. Martin Chungong, during the opening session of the African Regional Conference of the IPU Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), held at the National Assembly… yesterday

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PAGE TEN NJC APPOINTS JUSTICE AYO SALAMI TO HEAD MONITORING C’TTEE ON CORRUPTION CASES Prior to his clearance by the NJC, the council had suspended him over allegations that he was involved in telephone conversations with chieftains of ACN during the appeal in the governorship election suit between the former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola who at the time was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor of the state and then ACN candidate.

When the NJC lifted his suspension, Jonathan refused to reinstate him until he attained the retirement age of 70.

The establishment of the monitoring committee also comes on the heels of the directive by Justice Onnoghen to the heads of courts to establish special courts in their jurisdictions solely for the purpose of handling corruption and financial crimes trials.

A statement issued yesterday by the NJC Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye said the decision to constitute the committee and appoint Justice Salami as its chairman was taken yesterday at the 82nd

meeting of the council held in Abuja.

The committee, which has fifteen members, will operate from the council’s secretariat in Abuja.

Among other functions, the committee will conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of proceedings at designated courts for financial and economic crimes nationwide.

Other members of the committee are the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah, the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice P.O. Nnadi, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marsahal Umukoro, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice M. L. Abimbola, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and another former NBA president, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

Others are Mr. Joseph Daudu, (SAN) and Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) – both former NBA presidents, a member of the NJC, Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN), NJC Secretary, Gambo Saleh, and a representative of NonContinued on page 48

SMALL TALK BEFORE CABINET MEETING L-R: Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Interior; Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, at the Federal Executive Council meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja‌ yesterday godwin omoigui

NIGERIA DECLARES UN SECURITY COUNCIL OBSOLETE, UNDEMOCRATIC authorisation for military action through Security Council resolutions and remains the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.

However, Bande said the UN Security Council must conform to the global reality of democratic principles and lead by example. “First of all, the fundamental question is that in the current global reality, where everybody is talking democracy, the United

Nations must show example. “Clearly, it is an anachronistic notion to have a body composed of a few countries that can veto the entirety of the global community though the council is not representative. “It is an anomaly and I think that has been recognised but the politics of the reform not just of the UN in terms of the powers of the General Assembly and its functions,� he said.

The Nigerian envoy declared that Nigeria and some countries currently left out of the council,

“rightly deserve a permanent seat on the council considering the current realities�, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “But this journey, at the official level, started 25 years ago. Nigeria is at the forefront of that effort and doesn’t read this as a selfish move. “This (permanent seat) is the right of Nigeria and other serious nations to push and this is what other countries are also pushing. “Be they small states which

are pushing, be they Africa that has no representation, this is not something that would not go away. “Nigeria and others are committed and we cannot have a democratic system which does not represent the majority of countries. “Our continent is completely out of contention; whether we get two or three seats, the debate is we have to be on the Security Council,� Bande said.

The body has five permanent members – Russian, the United

Kingdom, France, China and United States of America – and 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms.

The five permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolutions, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.

This, the Nigerian ambassador stressed, means a few countries overruling the entirety of the global

community. “The debate is still ongoing whether it is even right to have veto power,� he said.

The Nigerian envoy, however, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances of getting a permanent seat on the council based on its global credentials or through the Africa’s slot. “We have every reason to be hopeful in terms of the contributions of Nigeria to the global community since 1960. I think we have good credentials,� he said.

WITH OBIANO, OBAZE, NWOYE GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR, ANAMBRA GUBER RACE TAKES SHAPE contesting for the governorship poll, while eight other female candidates have been picked as running mates.

A breakdown of the list of the parties and candidates showed that Obiano and his deputy, Nkemakonam Okeke, will fly the flag of APGA, while Obaze was listed to run on the ticket of the PDP with his running mate, Chidi Alexandra Onyemelukwe.

Also on the list is Nwoye of the APC and his running mate, Dozie Arinze Ikedife. Other parties and their candidates include the United Peoples Congress (UPP) – Osita Chidoka and running mate, Okeke Marcel Ogbonnaya; Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) – Godwin Ezemmo and running mate, Leonard Uchendu; and the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) – Chibuike Yul Edochie and running mate, Oluchukwu Okeke.

Some of the international observer groups accredited by INEC for the election include the British High Commission, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), American Embassy, European Union, High Commission of Canada, and African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council, while domestic groups include African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, and the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness.

The commission said it would start the issuance of Form EPMC 002 to the approved groups next week.

INEC also said it had approved the change of name and adjustment of logo of the All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) to the All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP).

It said it had approved the issuance of a certificate of registration in the name of AGAP. Although INEC has approved 37 candidates for the Anambra governorship poll, in reality, the contest is expected to be a three-horse race between Obiano, Obaze and Nwoye.

Obiano Aided by Incumbency Factor Of the three major contestants, Obiano, a former banker and governor of the state for four years will be aided by the power of incumbency and a deep war chest to contest the election.

He also has the advantage of controlling the state structures of APGA, which has ruled Anambra for 12 years.

This could enable him to deploy human and financial resources to coast home to victory with the minimum of fuss.

However, Obiano has been criticised by his opponents, especially his predecessor, former Governor Peter Obi,

who remains popular in Anambra, of running the state aground in the last four years.

A major draw back is the allegation that he has frittered away the resources of the state in four years, despite inheriting assets and cash to the tune of N75 billion from Obi. Several Anambra indigenes also complain that he has failed to deliver on his promises to improve on the projects and programmes left behind by his predecessor, such that several contractors remain unpaid and rising unemployment in the state remains a concern among the electorate.

He has also been accused of concentrating most the development in Anambra North, his senatorial zone.

Obaze Enters Race on Divided Platform Obaze, a former Secretary to the State Government under Obi and Obiano, will be entering the race on the platform of a party whose members have already headed to court to challenge the primary that threw him up as the candidate of the PDP. For instance, Ifeanyi Ubah, who tried to secure the ticket of the PDP, has filed a lawsuit challenging the outcome of the primary, despite attempts by the party to patch up any divisions.

Should Ubah decide to remain a spoiler, this could turn out to be a stumbling

block to Obaze’s ambition to emerge governor of the state.

It is also uncertain if Obaze’s campaign organisation has the financial muscle to outspend Obiano and even Nwoye who will have the backing of the federal might and ruling party at the centre.

Anambra is a state where elections are fiercely contested and the amount of money deployed by a contestant is just as critical to his/her victory or loss.

However, Obaze, a former United Nations technocrat, gentleman and widely seen as a man of substance who can turn around the fortunes of the state, will be going into the contest with the backing of Obi who will move mountains to unseat Obiano.

Obi who also has deep pockets will mobilise the PDP state structures, which he controls to get Obaze into the Government House, Awka.

As it stands, Obi has hardly slept a wink since his protĂŠgĂŠe secured the ticked of the party.

Obaze is also confident that despite Ubah’s posturing he can win him to his side, arguing that the PDP primary held earlier this month was the first without a parallel primary in recent memory. He deems this as a positive development that could give him the momentum he needs.

Another factor in his favour is his choice of running mate in the person of Mrs. Chidi

Alexandra Onyemelukwe, the daughter of former VicePresident Alex Ekwueme.

Although Ekwueme has evolved into a statesman in recent years and has slowed down due to age, the presence of his daughter on the PDP ticket who is from Anambra South Senatorial District, could galvanise the electorate into upstaging Ubah’s antics and getting the votes for Obaze.

Nwoye: Backed by the Federal Might Nwoye, a consummate politician and former PDP contestant for the governorship of Anambra State in 2013, has now docked his ship with the APC. He emerged the candidate of the APC from a line of strong contestants, including Senator Andy Uba. Nwoye’s main advantage is his deep pockets and the backing of Chief Arthur Eze, a business mogul, who has handed Nwoye a blank cheque, so to speak, to make a run for the governorship post.

Nwoye will also be coming into the race with the backing of the APC at the centre and federal might, which could galvanise resources – financial and human – from other parts of the country.

As a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), he remains popular among

the youths who constitute a sizeable chunk of the electorate.

Despite his popularity, nonetheless, Nwoye is contesting on the platform of the APC, which has generally not fared well in past elections in the South-east, more so now that several Igbos are unhappy with the federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari over the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast and proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has a cult-like following in the region.

TOP GAINERS CHAMPBREW NEIMETH LINKAGE ASSUR FIDSON C & I LEASING TOP LOSERS MORISON UPDC UNIVERSITYPRESS

NGN NGN 0.18 2.39 0.03 0.68 0.03 0.69 0.14 3.24 0.06 1.45 NGN NGN 0.06 0.66 0.15 2.85 0.13 2.57 CAVERTON 0.05 1.04 A.G LEVENTIS 0.03 0.65 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,210.06 Volume: 136.403 million shares Value: N1.669 billion Deals: 2,860 As at yesterday 27/9/17 See details on Page 42

% 8.1 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.3 % 8.3 5.0 4.8 4.5 4.4

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COMMENT

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

‘PAN-AFRICA FIRST TO COMBAT‘AMERICA FIRST’ Okello Oculi argues that President Trump’s labelling and crude language must be challenged

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magazine titled PAN-AFRICA FIRST was published by an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation, AFRICA VISION 525 INITIATIVE, earlier than candidate Donald Trump’s election war cry: ‘’AMERICA FIRST’’ rang out. The matter of intellectual property rights arising here will be considered later. We shall, however, exploit the usefulness of his broadcast of it within the hallowed chamber of the United Nations General Assembly in his tribal city, New York.

The foreign minister of North Korea angrily and inelegantly reacted to this speech by President Trump as the yelp of a ‘’barking dog’’. My immediate response to his bombast and crude depictions of opponents was to recall an earlier epoch when South Americans labelled with angry disgust a citizen of their colossus to the north as ‘’The Ugly American’’. Former President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, at a meeting of the Organisation of American States, echoed the economic rampage in that relationship by walking over to President Barack Obama and presenting him with a copy of a book titled ‘’OPEN VEINS OF A CONTINENT’’. The book exposes a long history of brutal exploitation of South America by Euro-Americans, and assassinations of its leaders who resisted ‘’Yankee imperialism’’.

From an African location I was expecting Trump to repeat a threat he uttered at a campaign rally that it would be necessary to ‘’re-colonise Africa’’ since bad governance by its leaders had driven waves of African immigrants who take away jobs from Americans. In its place came the rebuke that just as he puts America’s ‘’sovereignty’’ above all else in his policies at home and in relations with countries that exploit his country; and he expects African leaders to do the same in defence of the interests and welfare of their peoples.

That celebration of sovereignty as a right for all oppressed peoples was first waved vigorously by President Woodrow Wilson to justify his country fighting in the 1914-1918 World War. W.E.B. Dubois - the father of Pan Africanism led by those he called ‘’THE TALENTED TENTH’’ among black peoples - soon concluded that Wilson and his allies among colonial powers did not include black people in the Americas and colonised Africa among those entitled to ‘’sovereignty’’.

President Trump as a billionaire businessman lacked the finesse of language and polished eloquence of Wilson, a professor of Political Science. Yet there was a bitter sweetness in his blunt sarcasm thrown at Africa’s rulers who view global diplomacy as fraternal picnics with former colonisers; and give no value to the public interest. A moment of bitterness was recalling that, in 1963,Euro-American rulers bullied and lured Emperor Haile Selassie, William Tubman, Leopold Senghor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Julius Nyerere - and other newly independent African leaders - to reject Kwame Nkrumah’s call for a United States of Africa by surrendering their little sovereignties.

Kwame Nkrumah was keen to take Africa along the imagination of the 13 states that signed the proclamation of a ‘’united’’ and federated United States of America. Its borders would be hungry and ready to swallow more states by consent and conquest. In 1963, Africa also

PRESIDENT TRUMP AS A BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN LACKED THE FINESSE OF LANGUAGE AND POLISHED ELOQUENCE OF WILSON, A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE. YET THERE WAS A BITTER SWEETNESS IN HIS BLUNT SARCASM THROWN AT AFRICA’S RULERS WHO VIEW GLOBAL DIPLOMACY AS FRATERNAL PICNICS WITH FORMER COLONISERS; AND GIVE NO VALUE TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST

created a ‘’Liberation Committee’’ to vanquish racist rule by European immigrants.

Trump was quick to reveal bare fangs of ‘’America First’’. It runs on George Orwell’s angry cynicism that ‘some animals are more equal than others’, namely: that America would ‘’completely destroy’’ a nuclear North Korea; and with her allies, trample on sovereignties of Venezuela, Iran and Cuba. He spoke what Iran’s leader described as vulgar lies by a ‘’rouge’’ new on the global diplomatic arena. Globally negotiated strategies for combating hazards in Climate Change would be smashed; likewise, and Iran’s nuclear power. Global cooperation is dead. Exultations about ‘humanity’s common welfare’ are merely a cover for exploiting America’s wealth.

This attitude has severely weakened African diplomacy. Foreign interests either use intimidation, debt-traps and bribery; or stoke residues of inferiority complexes in African officials, to subvert collective decisions taken at meetings of the African Union. The African Union invented the ‘’Peer Review Mechanism’’ a mechanism for assessing a member state’s record of performance, and recommend remedial measures. Since acceding to it is voluntary, several countries exist outside its promise of benefits for the realisation of good economic and political governance. This negative protection of ‘’sovereignty’’ fails to meet even Trump’s selfish notion of sovereignty for promoting a people’s domestic and external interests.

In relation to Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which by President Trump’s prediction are ‘’going to hell’’there is a clear manifestation of the barbarism in America’s legacy of relations with Africa. Both countries have committed the ‘’sin’’ of having economic links with China. South Sudan has allowed Chinese companies to drill for oil and explore the promise of road and rail linkages between Juba and Lamu on Kenya’s coast.

D.R. Congo has signed barter contracts with Chinese companies exchanging various mineral resources with their construction of rail, road, educational and healthcare facilities. Unlike North Korea being promised destruction by military invasion, they are being destroyed by support for child soldiers fed with cocaine and AK 47 guns to slaughter villagers located in territories with valued minerals under their soils. German and French colonial officials and companies had earlier committed similar genocidal crimes in Namibia and Equatorial Africa, respectively.

Ultimately, Trump must have Field Marshall Idi Amin as his hero: playing the buffoon to enjoy perpetual publicity and survival. He utters very vulgar threats likely to be a valuable brain vaccine for African leaders and officials who are deluded by fictions of a common wealth with Euro-America.

Idi Amin Dada envied global respect for Nyerere. Trump detests an African-American, Barack Obama, being president before him with the audacity to be popular among Americans and globally. Both men tapped into real pain lived by those threatened by looming poverty and humiliated by illiteracy. Trump’s ‘’America First’’ has already been destructive to Africa. PAN-AFRICA FIRST must combat its barbarism.

Prof. Oculi is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

THE FINGERS OF GOD

Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of MFM, dedicates a branch of his ministry in Abuja, writes Ofem Uket

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he Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) is a full gospel ministry devoted to the Revival of Apostolic Signs, Holy Ghost fireworks and the unlimited demonstration of the power of God. It is is a do-it-yourself Gospel Ministry where your hands are trained to wage war and your fingers to do battle.

At MFM, aggressive prayer is considered as an aid to spiritual focus and a check against being overwhelmed by the flesh. At MFM Prayer City, prayer goes on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Soon after completing his Ph.D. in the United Kingdom, and while working at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya (DKO) summoned a prayer meeting. This was on a Wednesday in 1989.

Some 24 brethren showed up at the meeting. The venue of that meeting was in the living room of DKO. After that meeting, the voice of providence kept calling for subsequent meetings. At these meetings, the power of God came down and verifiable miracles began to happen in the lives of the attending brethren. The power of God began to evangelise the prayer meetings and a spiritual explosion began with people coming from far and wide to seek the face of God. With more and more people attending the prayer meetings, a larger location was required.

The prayer meetings moved to 60, Old Yaba Road, Yaba, Lagos. Here, the teeming crowd of believers grew in even more amazing proportion necessitating a second relocation.

The prayer group was offered and purchased

an abandoned slum located at 13, Olasimbo Street, Onike, Yaba. It was a fairly large piece of land near the second gate of the University of Lagos. That slum has now been transformed into the International Headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries of which Dr. Olukoya is the General Overseer. The name “Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries� was revealed to DKO during normal prayer and the church had its first service on April 24, 1994.

Even at the new location, believers and those seeking help kept coming leading to a very large congregation. This situation posed a challenge of crowd, growth and expansion management to the leadership of the church. Thus, under the direction of the Lord, MFM evolved a strategy of a network of branches in every state capital, local government headquarters, senatorial district and locality. Till this day and across the world, MFM is one of the fastest growing churches of this generation. International church branches first started in London before spreading to the United States, Canada, and the rest of Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. On every continent, MFM is profoundly visible and greatly impactful.

However, the history and the foundation of the MFM Kubwa regional headquarters shares similar experience; the branch started from a house fellowship centre and later moved to a primary school in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council.

The fellowship had increased daily with a number of people within Kubwa environs and those coming from neighbouring communities.

Today the region boasts of a population strength of over 5, 000 members with an auditorium of over 25, 000 sitting capacity.

The journey which led to this triumphant

entry into the FCT today wasn’t easy. It started in 1999, as mentioned earlier, in a primary school with less than 15 members shepherded by Pastor Wole Dahunsi who was a civil servant before he resigned to become a full time minister and pastor of the Kubwa MFM. He was a dedicated servant of the Lord who knew early enough that the development of church infrastructure like members auditorium, children and youth buildings and the deliverance hall were significant to evangelism and to attract high profile personalities in the society to serve God. He therefore did not live any stone unturned to ensure delivery in creating needed and a harmonised atmosphere that encourages big time crusades and evangelism to populate the kingdom of God. Pastor Dahunsi was later moved to Calabar in a re-structuring exercise of the MFM and replaced by Pastor Wale Olumuyiwa, another servant of the Lord who contributed his quota by attempting to complete the deliverance hall, a project initiated by his predecessor. As God would have it, before the pioneer pastor Wole Dahunsi was transferred, he conceived the idea of constructing a befitting auditorium, but could not commence the project before he was redeployed. A Senior Regional Overseer was posted from Lagos to Kubwa in May last year, a man of vision and energy, to advertise God in person of Pastor Olumide Oni. On arrival he applauded his predecessors for the wonderful work in infrastructure and soul winning, but made a commitment which was incredible but turned out to be realistic.

In one of those his prophetic moments on Sunday he announced to the whole congregation

that he was going to pull down the church auditorium and rebuild it in nine months. And the structure which the man of God was to demolish was worth millions of naira. Less than two per cent of members actually believed he was serious about the proclamation and even if he was serious, were there signs of available resources to execute such big infrastructure project for over 25, 000 members and seating capacity auditorium? Only time will tell.

Pastor Olumide Oni was not unaware of the fact that the church had less than a million naira in the treasury at the time God asked him to build a house for him, and in the following week the man of God had pulled down the auditorium and set out to perform the groundbreaking ceremony to kick-start the project.

He worked alongside with the architects, mechanical, civil, electrical, construction and water engineers day and night to ensure completion period of the project estimated to last for nine months.The funding came from among members who donated based on ability and capacity ranging from N500, to any amount affordable.

There is a portion of the Bible that has always inspired me so much and has helped in transforming my life, “Who will say a thing and it will come to pass when God has not commended it?� This shows clearly that the man of God must have communicated with God. The decree of the man of God came to pass eight months later.

Today, the MFM Kubwa regional headquarters is poised to dedicate the 25, 000, -member and seating capacity auditorium, deliverance hall, three schools and colleges of the ministry.

Uket wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL THE DESPERATE MOVE AGAINST NGOS The NGO regulation bill is in bad taste

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otwithstanding the arrogant and patently misleading reaction of the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Buba Jibril over his proposed controversial “NGO Regulation Billâ€?, there is already a consensus by majority of Nigerians that the brazen attempt to limit freedom of thought and expression in the country will be resisted. The bill which seeks to militarise the civic space and make it impossible for anyone who harbours views different from that of the government, is a move towards dictatorship to which Nigerians have said an unequivocal No! That many NGOs, both local and international, are playing critical roles in the on-going reconstruction work in the areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency is not in doubt. But nothing can be more dishonest than Jibril’s claim that the bill intends to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of resources by the NGOs involved in such humanitarian efforts; especially when the federal government has failed to act on the WHAT THE PROPOSED National Assembly LEGISLATION SEEKS report indicting the TO DO IS TO DESTROY suspended Secretary THE RIGHTS ALREADY to the Government of the Federation, Mr GUARANTEED IN OUR Babachir Lawal, who CONSTITUTION ďŹ ddled with the funds meant for the internal displaced persons (IDPs) in the same location.

We want to put it on record that we subscribe to the view that NGOs cannot be above the law of the country. But we feel comforted by the fact that there is already a strong body of laws regulating them in Nigeria. Therefore, as most commentators have said, what the proposed legislation seeks to do is to destroy the rights already guaranteed in our constitution and it will impact on all NGOs in the areas of welfare, research, relief, agriculture, education, industry, supply of amenities, etc.

Recognised by the United Nations (UN) to which Nigeria is a member, a non-governmental organisa-

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tion is a non-proďŹ t, voluntary citizens’ group that is task-oriented and motivated by people with a mutual interest. They carry out a multiplicity of service and humanitarian functions, like bringing citizen concerns to governments, advocating and monitoring policies and encouraging political participation through provision of information. It is therefore very clear that such organisations cannot be subjected to the control of a board of government appointees.

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gainst the background that a combination of independence from government and collaboration with the media and civil society helps in making NGOs to be effective in their role, this dangerous bill is targeted against the people. Besides, it could not have been a coincidence that the proposed legislation came at the same period the federal government was also toying with the sinister idea of creating a commission to regulate social media content. A similar measure earlier sponsored by Hon. Jibril’s counterpart in the Senate, Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, had failed to pass through the upper chamber. Yet, many social media activists are routinely persecuted across the country with the public space being increasingly circumscribed by a government that came to power on the agenda of “Change�.

Therefore, we share the view that the NGO Regulation Bill is the latest among measures that seem designed to coerce the civic space and destroy dissenting voices. It is against the dictates of democracy. We hold strongly that any bill that will suffocate NGOs with exponential and needless bureaucratisation at a time when ofďŹ cial government policy is to ease transaction costs for small entities must not be allowed in the country. This bill does more than merely seek to stie free speech, freedom of association and freedom of assembly. It will kill the incredible network of voluntary organisations holding the nation together.

Even in the best of societies, democracy withers when the alternative channels of civic action and expression provided by non-governmental groups is threatened. To consciously enact laws designed to ofďŹ cially muzzle these organisations is to court dictatorship and nourish absolutism.

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.

REVAMPING THE NATION’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

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t is often said that we eat to live and not live to eat. Indeed, food, clothing and shelter are universally believed to be the most essential of man’s fundamental needs. In actual fact, the necessity of food to man’s existence is not by any means debatable. In the words of Scottish anatomist, Arthur Keith, ‘the discovery of agriculture was the first big step towards a civilised life’. In other words, agriculture is crucial to civilisation.

In Nigeria, the immediate post-independence years were the golden era of agriculture in the country. In the early 60s, service accounts for 32%, manufacturing, 11% and agriculture over 30% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The productiveness of Nigerian soil, enhanced by conducive climate and weather, has over the years supported the production of variety of food and cash crops. Until early 1970s, Nigeria was leading in the production of cash crops such as cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, palm oil/kernel, rubber, etc., which were mostly exported to Britain, United States of America, Canada and Germany.

Till the early 80s, animal husbandry, fishing and poultry contributed more than 2% to the country’s GDP. According to a 1987 report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, there were 12.2million cattle, 13.2 million sheep, 26 million goats, 1.3 million pigs, 700,000 donkeys, 250,000 horses, and 18,000 camels in Nigeria around this period. Most of these live stocks were owned by rural dwellers. Unfortunately, with oil as the mainstay of the nation’s economy, emphasis gradually shifted from agriculture.

This placed many communities at disadvantage, especially in areas

where oil exploration was massive as their land was no longer suitable for agriculture.

The evolving trend of mechanised agricultural production, storage system and preservation of agricultural production have been abandoned for tempting local and foreign income of oil revenue generated from oil sale. Instead of using oil revenue to further harness the numerous potential and build infrastructure needed, the reverse has been the case. Oil, the geese that laid the golden eggs became special delicacy on the table of leaders who had no value for agriculture.

So, rather than being a blessing to agriculture and other sectors, the discovery of oil was more of a curse. When in 1976, the federal government launched ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ (OFN), it was meant to boost food security and provide employment, but sadly the scheme could not achieve its expected goals after two years.

At the heart of its failure is the fact the real peasant farmers who had sustained the sector before the oil boom were estranged from the scheme while the whole scheme was tainted with fraud and diverse other allegations that made it largely unsuccessful.

As earlier stated, the coming of oil seriously hampered the growth of agriculture as subsequent governments merely pay lips service to investment in the sector. Even in instances where succour in the area of fertilisers subsidy was made available for farmers, it was often hijacked by middlemen, who sold to peasant farmers at exorbitant prices. Also, budgets earmarked for the sector never translate into increased food production for local consumption not

to talk of meeting up with export demands. The agony of farmers is further worsened by poor infrastructure which makes transportation of produce from the various farms across the country a very cumbersome and frustrating experience.

Provision of vital agriculture infrastructure is crucial to the renewal of youth interest in the sector, especially now that unemployment is biting so hard across the country. If road network and agriculture settlements are massively opened up and developed, youth interest in the sector would no doubt receive a huge boost.

Another essential infrastructure that could add value to the sector is storage facility. With growing concern over wastage of agricultural products in season of harvest and scarcity, there is an urgent need to build storage facility with enormous capacity for storage, in and out of season. Similarly, improved power supply is also an indispensable necessity for an improved agriculture sector.

The 21st century agriculture that will be driven by our youth is not one that practiced using outdated implements such as hoes/ cutlasses. It is rather a mechanised one. A system where local governments can take up responsibilities of acquiring agriculture equipment for the purpose of hiring and leasing to farmer and idle youth who are now threat to the security of the nation must be put in place. It is worthy to note that institutions such as the prison service, NYSC and various colleges of higher learning must be made to invest hugely in agriculture Bolaji Odumade, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Beware of Hypocrites, Sani Warns Buhari The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, in an interview with Mohammed Aminu, reveals how top members of the All Progressives Congress plotted to find a replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari while he was in London for treatment hoping that he would not return alive. Excerpts: A group in the South-east has been agitating for Biafra. What do you think is the way out of this quagmire?

We must admit and accept that Nigeria is facing serious socio-economic problems that cannot be only solved by a ruling party.

There are structural, economic, historical and social problems. Therefore, addressing them requires an overhaul of the system. A system that has over the years only benefited a class of Nigerians and a clique. A system that defies changes of government, policies and programmes of different governments. What is clear to us is the need for us to redesign and reshape the country so that the system can work. Anyone who is against a united Nigeria is against peace and our togetherness.

If Nigeria must remain a united nation, we must implement structural, political and economic reforms that will entrench peace and re-enforce our solidarity and unity as a nation. The winner takes all syndrome is not going to work. That All Progressives Congress (APC) removed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power in 2015 does not mean that the party (APC) has monopoly of wisdom and solution to the problems of the country.

Once you are in power, you are to preside over a nation and not political party.

The crisis within the ruling party is seriously affecting governance. We have an incoherent and inconsistent opposition that is not on a good moral, political and economic footing for it to give a serious challenge. The PDP finds it difficult to adjust to being in the opposition that will lead the awareness for people to hold their government accountable.

They have being used to power for long and unable to adjust. Tthat has created a lot of problems. There is a disconnect between the thoughts of people in government and the reality on ground. It is not all well for the ruling party.

The recent outburst by the Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Aisha Alhassan who has contributed very well to the success of the party and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar should not be brushed aside. A lot of people in the APC are seriously aggrieved and complaining of not being carried along.

There are crisis and violence in Kano and Kaduna states that had not been resolved.

APC is in crisis in 85 percent of the states and that has not been addressed. The ruling party’s life and heart beat is still hinged on the credibility, moral standard and integrity of Buhari. If President Muhammadu Buhari is out of APC, then the party will be simply like others. But what we are taking for granted is the fact that the masses are still attached and aligned to the APC because of Buhari.

Some people have started calling on Buhari to contest in 2019. What is your view?

Those in position of authority calling on Buhari to contest are doing so for their own personal gain, interest and political privileges. This is because their political existence, future and relevance is dependent on Buhari contesting in 2019. It is high time he called his campaigners to order because if care is not taken, public resources will now be diverted for his campaign and governance at states and federal level will come to a halt. Buhari should focus on delivering the promises made to Nigerians.

You can see the hypocrisy, the double dealing on the side of the political elite within the ruling party. When Buhari was on sick bed in London, you can see the inactivity of the political elite within the ruling party. How

Recently, El-Rufai boasted of being a dogged fighter and that he fought late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former president Goodluck Jonathan. The reality is that during the time of late Yar’Adua, El-Rufai was abroad.

It is unfortunate for a governor of a state to make such a statement about Yar’Adua.

That is why I insisted that Buhari should set up a panel to investigate circumstances surrounding the death of Yar’Adua.

I have been supporting Buhari when El-Rufai described him as an unelectable old man and a dictator who should not be trusted with power. El-Rufai is a toxic to Buhari. He has the resources but he cannot have Shehu Sani.

He is the only governor in Nigeria that did not go into primaries until Buhari raised his hands.

Is it true that the party made efforts to reconcile both of you?

There are APC chieftains that have issues with El-Rufai and not me alone. This is a man that is fighting many people. He is fighting religious leaders, labour unions, traditional leaders, people of Southern Kaduna and demolishing people’s houses. It is true that the party made efforts to reconcile us and bring peace to Kaduna. But he sees himself as stronger than the party. He is arrogant. Katsina Governor Bello Masari was mandated by the party to reconcile us but El-Rufai never respected him or the APC national chairman. All the aggrieved party members respected Masari and attended the meeting except El-Rufai .

He is not a progressive politician at all.

Shehu Sani

the political elite in the ruling party were not sure that Buhari would come back. They were scheming, holding meetings, trying to choose a successor or provide an alternative . And then when he came back, they rushed to him organising stage- managed and mock prayers as well as protest for him. This is just to please him something that was never organised when he was on sick bed.

As far as I am concerned, I will prefer Buhari to show his intention first whether he wants to contest or not. I must make this clear that the masses calling for Buhari to contest are doing so out of genuine intention that he has done much and has a lot to offer as they see him as a messiah that will take Nigeria to the promise land. But the political elites urging Buhari to contest see him as an instrument that will give them the lever to return to power. El- Rufai is one of them.

He cannot win election without mentioning the name of Buhari. He solely depends on

Those in position of authority calling on Buhari to contest are doing so for their own personal gain, interest and political privileges

Buhari because that is the only way he feels he can win.

El-Rufai doesn’t like Buhari but want him just to win elections. They are opposites. Buhari is a leftist who doesn’t believe in policies of the World Bank and IMF, privatisation, devaluation and liberalism while El-Rufai is a core capitalist and liberal, a rightist. He wants to privatise everything, retrench workers and demolish people’s houses.

These are people that came from the PDP that are disgruntled. We were brought together by the common need to remove former president Goodluck Jonathan. After we have done away with the common enemy, our differences have started manifesting. Buhari, Bukola Saraki, Bola Tinubu all think differently. We have become the enemy of ourselves.

Is your plan to dislodge Governor El- Rufai from his position?

There are ideological and political differences between us. I am a leftist while he is a capitalist.

You see, after winning elections, I now became a threat to him that should be fought because he is a rightist and I am a leftist. He has been instigating members of the party against me and sent thugs to my constituency office in Kaduna. You are aware of what happened at the NUJ Secretariat in Kaduna when thugs sent by El-Rufai attacked us. You can see the level of desperation. Kaduna journalists are under siege of El- Rufai not to write stories or end up in jail if you dare write any report.

I am not afraid of him. You know my antecedent as an activist that I have been speaking about mis-governance for decades since the time of Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. I fought Babangida and was arrested and went to jail. I was convicted and sentenced during Abacha regime. So, I cannot change because I am now Senator.

Some groups are agitating for the restructuring of the country. What is your view?

Nigeria must remain one. We are a nation with a regional and global responsibility as a black power. First with a duty to ensure that other west African states toe the line of freedom, democracy and liberty. There is no doubt that our unity and the existing political and social order is being challenged by some issues that are seriously undermining those structures that our founding fathers laid. It is natural that when you build a structure and it is faced with some defects, that necessary changes need to be made in the area of reinforcements for it to truly stand the test of time. Many things need to be done. We don’t need 36 states, bicameral legislature and 36 ministers, we can do with less.

Almost 60 percent of the nation’s revenue is used to service overhead of political office holders and changes need to be made. We cannot continue to run a system that benefits few people while the masses are in poverty.

Go to the states and see how our industries, those areas they call industrial zones have turned into bushes now and many factories have been leased out to churches and event management halls and that is very unfortunate.

All we do is trade goods from other places.

How do we get Nigeria working? Structural political changes are necessary to reduce cost of servicing political office holders. Every state or region must have a source of generating revenue to address its own issues, policies and programmes. But advocates of restructuring have forgotten one fundamental issue that Nigeria is not simply all about North and South, it is also about the few elite and the oppressed masses who have not benefited from the Nigerian enterprise but victims of one policy or another. So, the solution to Nigeria’s problems hinges on implementing those reforms or face revolt from the masses.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

POLITICS

Oni: APC Constitution Supersedes Zoning The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress and a former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has warned those banking on zoning to get them elected into office, reminding them that they have the party’s constitution to contend with. He spoke with Victor Ogunje. Excerpts: The National Bureau of Statistics recently released some data showing that the country was out of recession. What message does this convey to Nigerians?

It is message of hope. When they said we were out of recession, it does not mean the economy has jumped. You know how economies move, gradual by gradual. Out of recession means, it is no longer going down and the first thing that will happen in business circles, for those who did economics, economy moves in circles, it will pick, and when it goes down, that is what we call recession. It will bottom out and it will begin to go up, so we have bottom out economic movement as we speak. What that means is that, we are not expecting the economy to fare worse. It does not immediately guarantee that all things will begin to bubble, but it means we are not expecting the economy to get worse.

Other people had acknowledged it, even the international agencies had acknowledged the fact that Nigeria and South Africa are out of economic recession. We are out of recession and our people as Nigerians should believe it.

When there are good news people don’t always like to acknowledge it but, if it is the bad ones, we will always prefer such. The truth is that, Nigeria is out of recession. Out of recession does not mean that magic will happen.

But prices of food items are still very high.

Why? No, I disagree with you. I was in Benue and I saw their farmland and so on, just like when I was in Kebbi and some other places across Nigeria. I asked the governor, he confirmed it and said they were expecting a very good harvest, that is a part of it and food prices have started to drop, it won’t drop overnight. When people are saying that food prices are too high, it is the law of demand and supply that played out. If somebody has a hundred tubers of yam to sell and another has a hundred tubers of yam to sell and the third has a hundred tubers of yam to sell and they get to the market and the one that is smartest believes that look, if he had to wait to take turns with these people he won’t do well and he wants to pay school fees, and he says, if it is five naira for five tubers I will make my own four naira for five tubers, people will rush it, nobody will teach the others to also reduce their own prices and before you know it, price will go down. When supply is appreciably higher than demand prices will fall.

So, I just want to say that yes our economy is out of recession, we can feel it gradually from the fact that things are no longer high as prices are now dropping, it will first bottom out and it will now start to move up.

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State had just picked the Deputy Governor, Prof . Kolapo Olusola as its preferred candidate for gubernatorial election. Is there a lesson for your party from this?

There is no lesson for us to learn, because we are a party guided by our own constitution and our constitution will prevail. So, whatever they do is guided by their own constitution, whatever we will do, will be guided by our own constitution. We don’t have any lesson to learn from any party other than from our own constitution and our constitution will guide us on what we will do and that is what we will do.

Some gubernatorial aspirants from your party planned to have a consensus candidate from the southern part of the state. What is your take on this?

My take is that, it is very good if they can do it, simple! It is very good . I wish them the best of luck. But just like I said the other time, our constitution won’t be substituted on the altar of zoning or any other sentiments.

What is your reaction to the south-west leaders’ position on restructuring?

I advise that we must give a name or names to the restructuring we want to see, not amorphous designation. Now, some people have come up

Oni...APC constitution is superior to zoning

to say that going back to the old regions is what their own restructuring means . Let other people also talk about it, if that is it, people will be for or against it and they will debate it.

Do we want to go back to regions? There will be yes, there will be no, but, I think it must go beyond talking in one meeting. We must also get people to be involved. I congratulate them.

That is the first firing shot, and I believe they will go further than that .What I would also want us to do in other part of the country, is to involve the people in doing it. The one that my party APC is doing, you would have seen how it is coming. First, they will go round the country and do public hearing and they have broken the word restructuring into specifics, because if you say restructuring, some people would have been in the market place dancing for hours and if you stop them, what are you dancing about? They will say restructuring.

What does it mean? They will go blank, they

I advise that we must give a name or names to the restructuring we want to see, not amorphous designation

will go dry, not knowing what to say. It. is becoming a bandwagon that people are just joining. Everybody wants to say something to show that they are also a part of it . But I like the way the Ibadan thing happened, if they did not include many things but at least, they included regionalism. I am also a Yoruba man and when the time comes, I will talk whether I want the regional system or not.

Other people who are also Yorubas will look at its merit and demerits and how we can harmonize the advantages of regions with the advantages of state and probably have something that will work both ways. One thing I must say without mincing words is that the debate is just starting, because people are now calling restructuring names, names that are practical and that people can identify with. I must congratulate the people who put together the Ibadan thing and I want the rest of Nigerians to also follow suit, what do you want? Say it and let people know but, I want to warn, it will not be that just a few people will decide what we want, they must include the fact that they must find out from the vast majority of people what they want.

What of the one set up by your party, I mean the one led by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. How far can it go?

I want Nigerians to take interest in what the APC is doing. The committee will go round the whole country, find out what does Restructuring mean to the people? What is their attitude to devolution of powers for example and so on.

They will collate all the opinions. Please, we also want you to also sensitize people and rally people to go there to submit memoranda.

I also want to implore students especially and younger people to take interest. We made a mistake when we were young, when the 1979 constitution was being done, we as younger people, who were students then did not take interest in it, because we thought that constitution was for Chief Awolowo and others and that they were the ones to operate the constitution but, the constitution gave birth to the one we are operating right now. So, if the young ones do not take interest, the burden would fall on them. They should take interest and try as much as possible to do research as well as collate ideas about how Nigeria can get better, because everybody wants a better Nigeria.

You made reference to the Ibadan meeting, but APC didn’t attend it. As a principal stakeholder in the south-west, do you want to say it was a meeting of the Yorubas in PDP? Well, I will say it is a meeting of the Yoruba people. Don’t let us give it any colour . But , what I have said I have said that by the time we come to a conclusion, they should invite everybody, otherwise, they won’t be speaking for everybody. If you want Yorubas to go to regions it should involve a broad spectrum of the Yoruba people all over the place and we must show that it is a preponderance of opinions, otherwise, it won’t be for all of us. It does not matter who starts it but they should know that it will not end with them, because, they are going to be talking about what will involve the future of all of us together and if there is a way they did it that just a few of them were there, they must also find a way of ensuring that a broader number of south-west population.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

A Lifeline for the Vulnerable Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has distinguished itself through the support it gives to vulnerable women, youths and children, especially in rural communities. Seriki Adinoyi writes

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orried by the increasing rate of maternal and child deaths especially in rural communities in Nigeria, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI) , a non-governmental organisation, recently took love and care to the door steps of two rural communities in Jigawa State, where the people, especially women of child-bearing age were educated on the necessary precautions they need to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding of their babies to reduce avoidable deaths.

During the event, which held on the 20th of September, 2017, the SLNI adequately empowered the women of childbearing age with the basic and requisite knowledge they needed before, during and after pregnancy, and later distributed 400 packs of Birthing Kits for pregnant women at Sundimina Primary Healthcare Centre and General Hospital, Birnin Kudu, both in Jigawa State.

The talks, which centered mainly on educating the women in the community, included topics such as; the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, good nutrition during pregnancy, importance of ante-natal healthcare, essence of personal hygiene and clean environment and demonstration of proper hand washing procedure.

Rural women at the healthcare education lecture organised by SLNI...recently Speaking at the event, representative of Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative, Mr. Uba Salahu said the purpose of the event was to improve the lives of women and children in rural communities by equipping them with the right knowledge on simple strategies to live healthy for themselves and their children, and to educate pregnant women on the different stages in pregnancy and the differences in their experiences.

He reiterated that the event aims at reducing maternal and child mortality rate in Jigawa State by distributing birthing kits and encouraging delivery in health facilities, to create more awareness on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and proper nutrition for both mother and child, and to emphasise the importance of routine immunisation as the best way to reduce child mortality in the state.

Ms. Amina Adam, another staff of SLNI said, “Our sole mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable women, youths and children in rural communities through campaigns and interventions on healthcare, education and empowerment. We are working towards ensuring that no mother or child dies needlessly as a result of pregnancy or pregnancy related issues in Nigeria.”

Rural kids at SLNI section for children SLNI officials teaching participants on hand washing She also advised the women to take their ante-natal care seriously and should also washing of hand should be done to avoid earlier, urging it to keep up the good job. She try to do some exercise to keep fit during contamination with germs and diseases. She also solicited for assistance on behalf of the pregnancy. She emphasised the need to take also advised that mothers should ensure they hospital for items such as cooker, refrigerator, their routine medication seriously to avoid wash their children's hands, adding that hands and disposable hand gloves.

Zayyana Muhammed, the matron in charge congenital malformation associated with should always be washed properly rather than just running them through water or using of the PHC, also appreciated SLNI for living newborns.

While explaining that the birthing kits given the same water in the bowl to rinse hands. their dreams of living above the obvious Our sole mission is On exclusive breastfeeding and good nutri- limitations in Nigeria. to them were not for home use, Adam advised to improve the lives Sagir Musa Ahmed, founder of Jigawa Young them to go along with them to the clinic on tion during pregnancy, Salahu advised that Professional Forum (JYPF), who was also in poor nutrition by mothers during pregnancy the day of delivery. of vulnerable women, She also told them that the ante-natal care could affect the babies’ developmental process, attendance, appreciated SLNI’s commitment youths and children was to ensure that mother and child were warning his audience to take proper vitamins to reducing maternal mortality in the state by properly taken care of to avoid any form of and balance diet to enable the proper growth educating the women and distributing birthing in rural communities of their unborn babies. “This proper feeding kits to many pregnant women throughout avoidable deaths. through campaigns Earlier in a welcome address, Abdullahi also encourages the production of breast milk the state. “The birthing kits distribution in Malami a healthcare provider in charge of for the babies when they are born. And the Birnin Kudu today is a continuation of the and interventions on Sundimina Primary Healthcare Centre told breast milk builds a strong immunity for great project initiated by the Founder/CEO healthcare, education and the women to make utmost use of the op- the babies against infections and childhood SLNI, Hauwa Abbas and her wonderful team. portunity provided them by SLNI, adding that diseases such as pneumonia, measles, diarrhea, Thanks to the SLNI’s generosity because it empowerment. We are has helped in combating maternal mortality the organisation was a trusted one that has and the like.” working towards ensuring carried out a lot of programmes in different The women, who were also given the and improving mother-child healthcare across opportunity to ask questions in order to the state.” states within Nigeria. that no mother or child Indeed, the recent programme in Birin Kudu Adam took her time to demonstrate the get clarifications on grey areas, appreciated was not the first in the line of humanitarian dies needlessly as a result proper way for hand washing, and strongly SLNI for the birthing kits.

Hajiya Amina Mohammed, the Nurse in activities organised by the group. the women on its importance before of pregnancy or pregnancy advised Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) breast feeding their babies, cooking, eating, charge of the General Hospital, Birin Kudu and after using the toilet, noting that proper appreciated SLNI for helping to make their job of Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative related issues in Nigeria

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FEATURES (SLNI), Hauwa Abbas said his organisation is a non-profit organisation established in 2009 to promote the spread of humanitarian aid amongst the impoverished through its broad spectrum of projects. She added that her organisation works to improve the standard of living of Nigerians, with particular interest in Youths, Vulnerable Children (YVC) and women. “Our mission is to implement projects towards realising the dreams of living above limitation in the society," she stressed.

SLNI core mandate, according to Abbas, includes; to subsidise for school tuition/ boarding fees, giving HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness through voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in communities, distribution of food supplies, drugs, utilities and other items to the less-privileged, annual Summer School activities for the kids at orphanage homes, and vaccines-related programmes (promoting routine immunisation against pneumonia, measles, poliomyelitis, and others).

Others are fun, outdoor activities and trips to amusement parks for disadvantaged children, to improve the lives of children and ensuring their health and development ought to be a prime concern to all communities, to ensure the health of women preconception, during and the postnatal period, and family planning for adolescents and women to ensure child spacing in order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Operating along three broad areas; social development, healthcare, and women empowerment, SLNI has for instance, been involved in similar activities across all the geopolitical zones in the country in the past eight years during which it has reached out to the needs of many Nigerians, especially the women.

It had organised several other medical outreaches in Nigeria where the organisation carried out voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS, malaria awareness, distributed condoms and IEC materials as well as mosquito nets to 280 people in Mpape community, Abuja.

A similar outreach was also conducted for artisans and traders at the Karu Motor Park, in Abuja where over 62 persons agreed to be tested for HIV. The recent World Humanitarian Day saw SLNI donating about 300 birthing kits and mosquito nets to the pregnant women at three communities in Mangu Local Government area of Plateau State to assist the women meet the requirements for delivery and for malaria prevention for mother and child.

The event which held at Primary Healthcare Centres in Kwombe, Kopal and Bungun-Gida communities witnessed a large turnout of women, who were on ground to learn on ante-natal and post-natal healthcare and life style. During the 2011 World Pneumonia Day celebration, SLNI partnered with Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) to execute an innovative programme with the theme ‘Fashion for Pneumonia’. The event was sponsored in partnership with International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC).

In the same year, the organisation undertook a summer school at Bema Homes, Piwoyi with 67 children between the ages of 3 to 18 years in attendance. It lasted for two weeks and presented a unique learning experience for each participant.

With the help of a donor agency, Quanteq Computers, SLNI donated six new desktop computers to the ICT centre of Bema Homes for the less-privileged, and sponsored five children through secondary school education in selected state boarding schools in the FCT-Abuja. All of whom graduated in 2014.

Also, in January 2017, Silver Lining collaborated with Michael Falade, the lead investigator on breastfeeding practices for Sick and Vulnerable Children between the ages of zero to 12 months in Nigeria (an independent study among breastfeeding mothers, health facilities and caregivers). Fieldwork for data collection was conducted in communities and healthcare facilities in Pwoyi and Zhayi II, in Abuja. The national study was expected to document information on breastfeeding within an hour of birth, typical daily diets of babies, breast-milk expression practices, challenges babies/mothers have with breastfeeding and the management practices.

It was also meant to document how health facilities and practitioners support mothers and babies in terms of access to lactation support, to pumps, and to donor breast milk. Partners on this project include; Leith

SLNI in action at Primary Healthcare Centre

BeneďŹ ciaries displaying birthing kits

Greenslade (Just Actions LLC), Dr. Francis Ohanyido (WAAPH), and Felicity Ukoko (Wellbeing Foundation).

Recently, SLNI in partnership with Vitamin Angels, worked to promote and ensure healthy lives and well-being of 3,000 children under the age of five by distributing micronutrients such as multivitamins, vitamin A, and albendazole (de-worming tablet) in urban slums, among vulnerable groups and hard to reach rural population groups.

Expanding its frontier to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria, SLNI opened its Jigawa State office in March 2016 where it carried out community programmes tagged saving mothers and babies in Nigeria; the programme targeted pregnant women in rural communities.

Similar gesture has been extended to Dutse Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Zhayi-1(PHC), Zhayi-2, Piwoyi (PHC) and Aleyita (PHC) communities in Abuja; Ambursa (PHC) and Ujariyo (PHC) communities in Kebbi State; as well as Sakwaya (PHC), Yalwan damai (PHC), Unguwar'ya (PHC), Kofar Arewa (PHC), Gauna (PHC) in Hadejia Emirate; and other communities in Dutse, Jigawa State where over 3,000 birthing kits, long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets, vitamin supplements and chlorhexidine gels were distributed to the pregnant women.

Throwing more light on SLNI programmes, Abbas said, “We also provided support for several community projects in Nasarawa State where we donated birthing kits and chlorhexidine gels to pregnant women.�

She said that in an ongoing partnership with Marie Stopes Nigeria, SLNI has conducted eight community health outreach programmes for cervical cancer screening and uptake of family planning in eight communities (Piwoyi Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), Daki-biu, Gishiri, Zhayi-1 (PHC), Zhayi-2, Jikoko (PHC), Kagini and Dutse-Alhaji communities within Abuja FCT, adding that a total of 189 women have been screened for cervical cancer and 236 have taken up a type of family planning.

Demonstration of proper breastfeeding procedure

Abbas revealed that “Since the inception of an SLNI programme - Pearl ACTS Support Group in 2012, it has shown unprecedented success in empowering and encouraging women who have been recently diagnosed with HIV, such that in the first quarter of 2016 alone, a total of 36 women were supported and empowered. “As part of our health development initiatives, SLNI has also partnered Rotary Clubs within Abuja for medical outreach programmes to raise awareness, support interventions and educate the people, especially mothers in rural communities about vital aspects of their health and development as well as that of their children. “In the first three months of 2016, we partnered with Rotary Club of Wuse Central, Rotary Club of Abuja, Rotary Club of Maitama, Rotary Club of Abuja Federal and Rotary Club of Abuja.�

In terms of raising vibrant youths, SLNI had embarked on Youth Matters; an insightful programme focused on adolescent and young people between the ages of 12-24 years who make up the majority of Nigeria's population. A series of town hall meetings aimed at generating nationwide conversation on substance abuse, sexual health issues, youth mental health and its effect on the health and development of young people in Nigeria were held.

In the South-east, SLNI partnered with The Great Foundation, to execute a two-day health awareness programme in Umuoshi community, Umuahia, Abia State where 203 pupils and their teachers were educated on how to prevent communicable diseases such as pneumonia, cholera, diarrhea and many others.

Ten desks and benches were also donated to the school, even as gifts were presented to the top three pupils in all the classes, 100 widows and widowers as well as 112 orphans and vulnerable children had access to free medical services, including eye test, blood pressure tests, free medicated glasses and anti-hypertensive drugs, and all participants were presented with gift bags.

SLNI became one of the major partners of the Federal Ministry of Health which planned for the three-day event to celebrate World Prematurity Day, which also included a one-hour live radio talk show to educate the public on prematurity issues.

On World Pneumonia Day, SLNI partnered with FMoH, Save One Million Lives (SOML), Wellbeing Foundation, Little Big Souls, UNICEF, USAID, WHO and other partners to conduct a seminar on how the government and other partners could collaborate to reduce the pneumonia death toll of children in Nigeria.

It also organised an outreach for flood victims in Taraba State in January 2013, during which medical, sanitary and food supplies as well as stationery were donated to victims of the flood disaster in Ibi Local Government Area of the state.

Recently highlighting on the vision that gave birth to SLNI, Abbas said it was conceived to provide free healthcare services for women, children and youths in rural communities in order to reduce pregnancy related complications, maternal and childhood mortality in these communities, and to provide health and moral support for women living with HIV/AIDS in rural communities in Nigeria.

She added that aside from raising awareness and educating people living in rural communities on health related issues, especially preventable communicable diseases. “The organisation was to provide support in healthcare for orphans and vulnerable children as a way of reducing childhood mortality in Nigeria, and empower communities to be self-sufficient through a wide range of community and social development programmes.�

To think that a Nigerian non-governmental organisation, owned by a Nigerian lady, has made this giant stride is something that should excite every Nigerian, and should indeed encourage everyone to believe that with focus and resilience the nation can collectively be changed into the ‘Nigeria of our dream’. Thumb up for Hauwa Abbas! She is indeed the face of a true Nigerian woman.

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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: Representatives of Access Bank, Suleiman Ibrahim; Ngozi Nsofor; Peter Diejomaoh; Head, HR Business Partner, Nigerian Breweries, Emete Tonukari; and Kingson Elendu, at the 6th Civil Society Organisations, CSOs Professionalism and eectiveness therapy (C-PET) workshop organised by CSR-in-Action in partnership with Access Bank to develop capacity for CSOs in Nigeria...recently

L-R; Mr. A. K. Mirchandani; Second Secretary and Head of Counsellor Services, Indian High Commission, Mr. Ramesh Subbu; Mrs. N. Subbu; President, Indian Cultural Association, Chief Sanjay Jain and Mrs. Renu Jain, during a special reception organised by the Indian Community in Nigeria in commemoration of India’s 71st Independence anniversary in Lagos...recently

L-R: APC Party Leader, Esan West LGA, Elder Pius Omofuma; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Amiolemen Osahon, Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie and Project Engineer, Engr. Joel Egbon during the governor’s inspection of ongoing road projects in Edo Central Senatorial District ...recently

L-R: Glo subscribers, Aknimurele Temitope Juliet and Estelle Nnanna Kalu; Nollywood legend, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and other subscribers, Adedeji Adeola Grace and Chris Iheuwa, at the FESTAC edition of Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour held in Festac, Lagos...recently

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Ogun State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Olatokunbo Olopade (3rd right) and other judges after a service to usher in the Legal Year 2017/2018, at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta...recently

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed(right) and Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the APC North Central Zonal Public Meeting of True Federalism at State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.... recently

L-R: Oyo State Director, Department of State Services, Mr. Abdullahi Kure; State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; immediate past State Director, DSS, Mr. Andrew Yakubu; and State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo, shortly before the state security council meeting, at the Governor’s OďŹƒce, Ibadan...recently Photo: Governor’s OďŹƒce

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Quick Takes NCC Reassures Investors Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™ Ěš Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ʨĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă‘Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă• ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ú˛ Ă’Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂœËœ ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ăž Ëœ ĂœË› Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ™Ă?Ë› Ă—Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹ĂœĂŒĂ‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŒĂ‹ĘľĂ‹Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?ÙÖĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù××Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ëœ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ÍœÍ´Íś ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? ËÞ×ÙĂ?ÚÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĘŽĂ™ĂĄĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ åÓÞÒ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœËœ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă–ĂŁ ËÚÚÖÓĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂŽË› ËŤ Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓʾĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ʨĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ËœËŹ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË›

WOOING FOREIGN INVESTORS

L-R: Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao and Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, during the Nigeria Day open at the ITU Telecom World 2017, held in Bussan, South Korea...recently

Nigeria Needs Enabling Policies, Right Institutions to Achieve Digital Transformation Emma Okonji in Busan, South Korea The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Danbatta has said that Nigeria must create enabling laws, and put the right institutions in place, for it to attain digital transformation.

Danbatta who made the remark at the ongoing ITU Telecom World, holding in Busan, South Korea, where over 500 exhibitors from 65 countries are showcasing new technologies that are currently shaping the world, said developed nations of the world are driving economic advancements, using modern technologies.

ICT He said Nigeria could do same, if only there are enabling policies and institutions that will spur such development.

Aside right polices and institutions, Danbatta said the country also needs the right human capital to drive the digital transformation initiative.

Addressing the issue of enabling laws to drive digital transformation, the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission, Hon. Abubakar Yunusa, said the National Assembly boldly supports technology development and would be glad to create and enforce laws that would promote technology development in Nigeria. “All old laws

that seem to stifle the growth of technology advancement in the country will be amended to allow government create the enabling environment for technology business to thrive, Yunusa said.

According to Danbatta, the National Broadband Plan has placed on NCC, the responsibility to drive the broadband penetration initiative, designed to enhance technology development and digital transformation.

He commended Nigeria for the additional two per cent increase it recently attained in broadband penetration, from the initial 20 per cent penetration to 22 per cent penetration.

He insisted that Nigeria will attain the additional eight per cent penetration before the end

of 2018, to meet up with the attainment of 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, as enshrined in the National Broadband Policy.

According to him, Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million, had already attained 92 per cent internet penetration, but still grappling with low broadband penetration.

Danbatta said the Nigerian delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Abdulkadir Mashi, attended the ITU Telecom World 2017 with important message from the Nigerian government to sell Nigeria’s potentials that will in turn attract more foreign Continued on page 24

Economic Recession: Investment in Advertising Dropped to N80bn in 2016 Raheem Akingbolu Against the N103.858 billion spent on traditional advertising in 2015 by advertisers in Nigeria, the figure dropped to N80.446 billion in 2016, the 2017/18 Nigerian Media Advertising Guide (NMAG), has revealed. This, according to the report represents 23% decrease over the 2015 traditional advertising spending. The decline was blamed on 2015 elections and the economic recession of the second quarter of 2016.

An annual publication of Media Perspectives, NMAG, is a compendium of global and local marketing research data, with complementary actionable insights and market intelligence that will help industry practitioners make informed business

ECONOMY decisions that ultimately impact positively on the bottom-line.

In this edition which covers this year and next year, the report also established that the top seven brands across all media were representative of the top spending categories.

The highest spenders come from telecoms, banking and finance, beer and dairy products sectors.

While it posited that terrestrial TV stations in the country have grown to over 160 from 150 in the previous year, with NTA still dominating with about 107 stations pan Nigeria, the report slammed the print media for currently facing stiff competition from online news blogs and sites. It however concluded that online versions

of the various newspapers remain an inevitable weapon to sustain readership.

Though, the report stated that the top TV advertisers in the country are mostly telco brands, it admitted that apart from other corporate advertising, the banking sector had the overall highest activity by any category in the print media options. According to the report, the need for banks to build and sustain brand equity with corporate stakeholders by featuring regularly on newspaper and magazine pages remained the major push for their visibilities.

On the influence of Telcos on TV, the report stated that: “This was expected, given the audio-visua effect that is highly desired to drive sales of Telco products over a relatively short

advertising response period.

Most telecoms & FMCG advertisers rely strongly on TV to drive consumer response over a relatively shorter duration.�

As a result of TV digitalisation, the report urged business owners and advertisers to consider consolidating on Pay TV, which is increasingly affordable due to the availability of low-end consumer platforms and cost of data. It noted that internet holds a high degree of usage, especially among the young and middle-aged population, which are increasingly considered very important in terms of purchasing power.

The report also established that digital media is an effective Continued on page 24

ATCON to Hold Industry Awards Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš åÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœËŞĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— Ě™ Ěš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ě™ ̚˛ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă—Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͎ͯÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ùà Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?Ëœ ÒÙÖÎĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͯͯÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ùà Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœË›

Ă˜ Ă“ĂžĂ? ʨʰÒ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ĘľĂœĂ‹Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ě‹Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ă™ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă™Ă˜ ÚÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ÚÙÖÓĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂž ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ë› ntel Names Brand Advocate Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ͳ Ëš Ě‹ ĂŽĂ Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ě‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă–Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă™ ×ÙÞÙãÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ Ă‹Ă•Ă‹ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› ×ÙÞÙãÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?̋Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’ ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă“Ăž Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÞËÕĂ&#x;Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ÒÙÚĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ăœ ʨÖ× Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? ĚŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ëã˪˪̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ̚˞ Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ÚÙÞĂ?˪˪̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ̚˞ ËŠËŠ Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ËŞËŞ Ě™Í°ÍŽÍŻÍłĚšËœ ËŠËŠ ĂŽĂ‘Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?ËŞËŞ ̙Ͱ͎͎ʹ̚˞ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËŠËŞ Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ̚˛ Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ă ĂŁĂĄĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă‘ ĂŽĂ&#x;ÞËãÙ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă– Ă˜Ă“Ă‘Ă‹Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă•Ă•ĂŁ ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžËœ ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă? ÓäĂ&#x;Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă’Ă“Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë›

CentrespreadGrey Wins New Accounts Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ÙÙÎĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă?ÞÓÖÖĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ ĂœĂ?ĂŁËœ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă‹ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÚÓÞĂ?Ă’ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă‹ Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ?ËÞÓà Ă? Ę¨ĂœĂ— Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ÙÚĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ?ËÞÓà Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ÙÙÎĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă?ÞÓÖÖĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ÓʨĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă™Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ÚËĂ?Ă•Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ÞÓÖÖĂ?ĂŽ Ă–Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă™ĂœËœ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ùʰ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ë› ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‹ ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ëœ Ă—ĂšĂ’Ă™ĂœĂ‹ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ÙåĂ?Ăœ Ă“ĘľĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂœĂ‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂžËœ Ă¤Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĘŽĂ‹Ă Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë›

Experiential marketing companies in Nigeria are willing to collaborate with government to further showcase the nation’s potentials to the world.

President, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Kehinde Salami

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

NIGERIA NEEDS ENABLING POLICIES, RIGHT INSTITUTIONS TO ACHIEVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Nigeria Woos Foreign Investors at ITU Telecom Conference

investment into the country. “We come to ITU Telecom World every year to tell our story, share our experiences and borrow a leaf from global best practices to address our concerns, engage and collaborate with the global community to strengthen the growth and impact of the Nigerian telecoms industry.

This year, we came to enlist the support of other players, governments, regulators and the global community from whom there is always a basket of ideas to take back home to Nigeria. The implementation of these ideas will ensure a better regulatory environment,�

Danbatta said.

Our engagement with the global community during this event will include creating awareness of the investment opportunities in Africa’s biggest telecom market, as well as guarantee of adequate Returns on Investments (RoIs), Danbatta added.

Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, said Nigeria’s presence at this year’s ITU Telecom World, would impact businesses, especially the small and medium enterprise (SME) business, which he described as the engine for economic growth of every nation.

The Nigerian delegation to this year’s ITU Telecom World, the biggest telecommunication conference and exhibition across the globe, has engaged foreign investors at various fora to attract foreign investments into the telecoms sector.

The engagement commenced with the official opening of the Nigeria Pavilion, where Nigeria showcased her innovations and products.

The event, which is holding in Busan, South Korea, also provided the opportunity to engage with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporates as well as top government officials.

The Nigerian delegation also engaged foreign investors at the Nigerian Investment Forum, where the country’s potential were made known to foreign investors so as to encourage them to invest in Nigeria’s broadband plan and other areas of interests.

The Nigeria Pavilion, which became a beehive of activities, showcased six SME startups and corporate sponsors who thrilled participants and investors with their unique products and services. They were later selected to join other 21 SME startups, making a total of 26 startups selected from 12 countries of the world to contest for the final pitch at the event.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof, Umar Danbatta, said the Nigerian delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications,

ECONOMIC RECESSION: INVESTMENT IN ADVERTISING DROPPED TO N80BN IN 2016 engagement platform that has an ROI advantage as it is more accountable compared to traditional media. It also stated that exposure to media is higher amongst the southern region (with Lagos blazing the trail), compared to the north, due to ongoing insurgence.

In a statement issued by Media Perspective on the industry publication, its Chief Operating Officer, Jude Odia, was quoted as saying that “there is urgent need to democratise media research data as it will helps grow market appreciation and the potential of the industry in Nigeria.�

Group Business Editor

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˜ (Maritime) 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) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ăœ (Energy) Reporters

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

Stories by Emma Okonji in Busan, South Korea

Abdulkadir Mashi, attended the ITU Telecom World 2017 to sell Nigeria’s potential that will in turn attract more foreign investments into the country. “We come to ITU Telecom World every year to tell our story, share our experiences and borrow a leaf from global best practices to address our concerns.

This year, we came to enlist the support of other players, governments, regulators and

the global community from whom there is always a basket of ideas to take back home to Nigeria. The implementation of these ideas will ensure a better regulatory environment,� Danbatta said.

During the Nigeria Investment Forum, the Secretary General, International Telecoms Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao, commended Nigeria’s mission, commitment and participation at global events to woo foreign investors, and

called on foreign investors to see Nigeria as a good destination for investment. “Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become indispensable.

In our digital era, ICTs drive the world’s economy and the transformation of our societies.

Investing in ICTs, especially in newer technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), will go a long way to speed up technology developments in

developing countries,� Zhao said.

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Yewande Sadiku, who presented the keynote address at the Nigeria Investment Forum, said: “Nigeria has all it takes to drive economic growth across Africa, despite the recent rating on the ease of doing business, which placed Nigeria at 169, out of 189 countries studied.�

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Head, Training Facilitator, EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation, Ekpa Aniekan; Group Head, Specialised Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Fidelity Bank Plc, Ndubuisi Onuoha; General Manager, Business and Strategy, EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation, Bright Osakwe and Regional Bank Head, Abuja II, Fidelity Bank Plc., Halilu Malabu at the Press Conference to herald the Empretec Entrepreneurship Training Workshop for over 300 youths facilitated by Fidelity Bank Plc, in Abuja ‌recently

African Govts Challenge VodacomProffersSolutiontoTelcosDwindling Revenue Stream ITU over Hosting Rights African governments have urged the Secretary General of ITU, Mr. Houlin Zhao to bring ITU Telecom World Conference to Africa, to enable African countries benefit from it.

The global conference and exhibition seek to address the telecommunication needs of member countries, which Nigeria is part of.

Minister of Communication and Postal Services for South Africa, Siyabonga Captain Cwete, who raised the concern about denial to the hosting rights among African countries at the ongoing ITU Telecom World Conference in Busan, South Korea, challenged Zhao to consider bringing the global telecoms conference to Africa in the coming year.

Since the inception of ITU Telecom World in 1971, up to its 40th anniversary in 2011, and the current 2017 event holding in South Korea, the African continent has never played host to the global event, a situation that is already raising concerns among African governments, including Nigerian government.

ITU Telecom is part of the International Telecommunication Union, which is the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). ITU Telecom organises the global ITU Telecom World event, the platform for innovation showcasing, high-level debate, knowledge-sharing and net-

working for the governments, industry leaders, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and regulators that form part of the world’s ICT community, but Africans have been denied the hosting rights since its inception.

According to the South African Minister, “Now is the time for Africans to host the global event to enable African countries fully benefit from the fourth industrial revolution, that is knowledge driven. ITU in Africa will further boost technology development in the African continent and empower technology startups and small businesses to catch up with global trends, where technology is driving global advancements.� Other African governments present at this year’s forum, supported the need to give Africans the opportunity to further explore technology by hosting the ITU Telecom World.

Responding to the challenge posed before him, Zhao said Africa has recorded tremendous improvement in ICT in the last few years and deserves to host ITU Telecom World. He however encouraged Africans to further develop in such a way that would attract the hosting rights. He said he would be glad to take ITU World conference and exhibition to Africa, when all preparations must have been concluded.

Following the significant decline in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), in the telecoms business and across other enterprise businesses, leading to a drastic business change that is threatening the survival of telecoms operators, the Managing Director of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Kolade has advised telecoms operators to key into the technology of Internet of Things (IoT) in order to change the business narrative and remain competitive.

Kolade who made the suggestions during his keynote speech at the just concluded NigeriaCom 2017 conference, organised by Informa Telecoms Group, said: “There have been substantial declines in user spending on voice and text services, causing a decline in telco revenue. IoT has delivered a big growth opportunity for the industry due to the volume of connections expected and experts have projected the market will reach $14.6 trillion global market size by 2020.�

Kolade called on telecom operators to adapt to the changing times and source other revenue streams to replace what is being lost in the continuing revolution of communications. “The Internet of Things offers significant growth potential and the opportunity to take a role in new vertical markets, such as automotive, healthcare

and smart cities. As these sectors seek to adopt more IoT services, the opportunities that exist are vast.

He added: “Whether you are a hardware manufacturer or connectivity reseller, adding IoT solutions to your portfolio will open up new revenue streams from selling hardware, software and connectivity services, to a broad range of value-added services, such as consulting, integration and support. Telcos will have to look at the Internet of Things as a potential revenue generator to offset the declining revenues from core services.�

According to him, a lot of enterprise businesses are moving towards value added services as alternative means of generating money for their businesses, and the telecoms operators, must take decisive steps to move in that same direction, using the IoT technology, since the free services currently being offered

by Over the Top Technology (OTT) operators are already eating deep into their revenue streams.

Across all industries, IoT solutions have been adopted to provide a host of different benefits, from increased Return on Investment (ROI) to developing stronger relationships with customers, with far reaching benefits projected for the future, Kolade said.

Telecoms operators had in the past, raised the concern

that the free telecoms services offered by OTT operators, like WhatsApp, Skype, Yahoo Messenger among others, while riding on the infrastructure of legacy telecoms operators, was fast robbing them of their revenue streams. The telcos had even suggested that OTT technology should be regulated in order to tame their incursions into telecoms business, but the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, made it clear that it was not ready to regulate the OTT technology in order to avoid a process that would lead to the stifling of technology advancement in Nigeria.

Kolade however advised telecoms operators not to panic about the incursion of OTT players into telecoms business, but warned that telcos must source for alternative revenue streams, using IoT technology.

According to him, by 2020, more than seven billion people and businesses, and over 30 billion devices, will be connected to the internet.

The question is no longer about the adoption of IoT but rather its application to drive business success. “Vodacom’s IoT solutions support wireless payment devices and e-readers, energy usage and smart metering, chilling cabinets, remote asset monitoring systems and community health management solutions,� Kolade said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Transforming Businesses with Cloud Technology and Artificial Intelligence Emma Okonji writes that the move by Microsoft to digitally infuse cloud and artificial intelligence technologies across its products, will not only help customers to envision and create the future of businesses, but will also help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges Microsoft, a software technology giant and productivity company for mobile and cloud, on Monday this week, held its annual Information Technology (IT) forum in Orlando, Florida, in the United States of America with over 25,000 business customers from around the world in attendance. Microsoft used the forum, tagged ‘Microsoft Ignite’ to showcase how it is infusing cloud, artificial intelligence(AI) and mixed reality across its products to help customers envision and create the future of businesses.

Microsoft also shared how quantum computers could help solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.

The software giant also announced the expansion of Microsoft 365, which brings together Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility plus security to provide a complete, intelligent solution for empowering everyone to be creative and work together, securely.

The mission of this year’s forum, according to Microsoft, is to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Addressing business complexities As new business opportunities open in the eCommerce space, many businesses have shifted to the internet, using cloud computing to drive their operations. But the new business opportunities did not come without their challenges, which continue to slow down the speed of businesses when browsing online.

The Microsoft Ignite conference, however, saw the need to address the business challenges by infusing different technologies across its products and services to drive business agility.

According to Microsoft, a new intelligent search experience for Office 365 and Microsoft 365, has been developed, which uses AI and the Microsoft Graph to deliver more relevant search results based on organisational context.

The new experience from Bing, designed for enterprise, school, and organisations, helps users save time by intelligently and securely retrieving information from enterprise resources such as company data, people, documents, sites and locations as well as public web results, displaying them in a single experience. Bing for business can be used with a browser on any device, transforming the way employees search for information at work, ultimately making them more productive.

Bing for business is available for private preview and will be available as part of existing subscriptions to Office 365 Enterprise E1, E3, E5, F1, Business Essentials, Business Premium, and Education E5 subscriptions. “For administrators, we wanted to provide something that is easy to deploy and manage, offers enhanced protection for business search traffic while reducing costs associated with help desk calls. Bing for business provides these benefits to users and administrators with quick and seamless access to internal company information directly within Bing’s web results while keeping the results protected,� Microsoft said in a statement.

Era of quantum computers Microsoft also shared how quantum computers could help solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges. The focus is around Microsoft’s commercial businesses such as Office 365, Windows 10, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft AI, with an in depth focus on how the company is empowering people and organisations to succeed in a rapidly evolving workplace, and enabling customers to harness data, AI, hybrid and cloud technologies to evolve business process.

Addressing large crowd of business customers who attended the forum, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Satya Nadella, said: “Digital technology is impacting all aspects of our society and economies, creating unprecedented opportunity for organisations of all sizes. I am optimistic

A display of cloud and artiďŹ cial intelligence network and inspired by the ingenuity of customers, partners and developers everywhere that are pushing the frontiers of what is possible with mixed reality and artificial intelligence infused across Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure, to transform and have impact in the world.â€?

The next frontier of computing Following 12 years of investment in its vision to create a scalable computer based on quantum physics, Microsoft, at the forum, announced the creation of a new programming language optimised for exploiting scalable quantum computers and deep integration of the programming language into visual studio, providing developers with debugging and other support and state-of-the-art simulators that can run locally or on Microsoft Azure. The tools will be available for free by the end of the year,�

Microsoft said.

Empowering employees In order to empower employees and foster a

The Microsoft 365 F1 brings together OfďŹ ce 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility and security to empower more than two billion ďŹ rstline workers worldwide who serve as the ďŹ rst point of contact between a company and its customers or who are directly involved in making product

new culture of work, Microsoft also announced the expansion of Microsoft 365 with two new solutions to empower firstline workers and education customers. The company also introduced new intelligent search capabilities, a vision for intelligent communications centering on Microsoft teams, and security and IT management enhancements to help customers stay secure and compliant, including meeting the general data protection regulation.

The Microsoft 365 F1 brings together Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility and security to empower more than two billion firstline workers worldwide who serve as the first point of contact between a company and its customers or who are directly involved in making products.

The education edition of Microsoft 365, gives students, faculty and staff everything they need to create and collaborate, securely.

Microsoft 365-powered devices, including new commercial Windows 10 S devices from HP Inc., Lenovo, Acer and Fujitsu starting at $275, offer self-service deployment and simplified management, staying always up-to-date, resulting in a low total cost of ownership for businesses. Designed for cloud-based identity and management, these devices are ideal for firstline workers, students and educators.

Skype for business online capabilities Microsoft also introduced a new vision for intelligent communications, including plans to bring Skype for business online capabilities into Microsoft teams along with cognitive and data services, making teams the true hub for teamwork in Office 365, including persistent chat, voice and video.

The intelligent search experiences use AI and machine learning to deliver more relevant search results everywhere that people search across Microsoft 365. New LinkedIn in Microsoft profile cards now provide the ability to see information from LinkedIn profiles in Microsoft apps and services. This new experience, rolling out now for first release customers in Outlook Web Access, SharePoint and OneDrive for Business, enhances the way customers collaborate and build relationships by providing insights about

the people they are working with, inside and outside the organisation, right from within Office 365.

Hardware experience According to Microsoft, HP Inc. and Lenovo will join in supporting Windows AutoPilot by providing device IDs to companies on select orders beginning January 2018. This enables users to easily set up a new device complete with the company configuration and apps ready to go and remove the need for information technology to touch the device or manage updates in person.

Addressing advance threat The Microsoft 365 is also delivering improved advanced threat protection (ATP) features like enhanced anti-phishing capabilities; expanded protection to SharePoint online, OneDrive for business and Microsoft Teams; and integration between cloud and on-premises identity threat detection capabilities.

Microsoft expanded Dynamics 365 with new AI solutions that transform critical enterprise scenarios and apps and services to help business users reinvent the processes they use every day.

The Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI solutions are designed to tackle high-value, complex enterprise scenarios and tailored to existing processes, systems and data. The first solution includes an intelligent virtual agent for customer care, an intelligent assistant for customer service staff and conversation management tools, all powered by Microsoft AI. According to Microsoft, Australian Government Department of Human Services, HP, Macy’s and Microsoft are already using the technology to improve overall customer satisfaction and handle more requests, in a shorter amount of time.

Microsoft cognitive services This is a collection of intelligent APIs that allows developers to easily add AI capabilities to their applications. Today’s updates include the general availability of text analytics, a cloudbased service for language processing, such as sentiment analysis, key phrase extraction and language detection of text.

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Chislett: Satellite Technology Will Drive Internet Access in Remote Communities Executive Director, Africa, Middle East and Asia at Yahsat, Mr. Boyd Chislett, was in Nigeria recently for the NigeriaCom conference. He spoke with Emma Okonji on the importance of satellite-driven internet access for high speed connectivity in underserved and remote communities. Excerpts: NigeriaCom, is a global telecommunications event organised annually by Informa Telecoms Group, and Yahsat participated fully in the 2017 edition that just ended. What is the importance of the conference to Yahsat and its customers?

NigeriaCom is important to us as a business, to further strengthen our business relations with existing and intending customers. We do not necessarily see it as a platform to sell our products, but as a forum to further communicate with customers and relaunch Yahsat and its solution called YahClick, which is our flagship product that offers internet connectivity to several millions of people, via the satellite. We used the occasion of NigeriaCom to further strengthen our business relationships with customers and partners.

So the idea to attend this year’s NigeriaCom, was not actually to sell our products, but to demonstrate to the Nigerian market that our entry into the Nigeran market in 2012, was a calculated plan to have a long term business in Nigeria, and to help Nigerians and the rest of Africa to enjoy real time internet access and connectivity. So being in the market for five years, we want to be the true leader in internet, providing internet access to the people.

You talked about Yahsat and YahClick concurrently. What are the differences and similarities between them?

Yahsat is the organisation with a host of subsidiaries under it, while YahClick is the product, which is the high speed internet connectivity, using VSAT, via Satellite. YahClick drives the content and ensure that customers get the best out of Yahsat. So we can say that YahClick is the brand of the product offered by Yahsat, throughout Africa.

Yahsat uses the K band instead of the C and KU bands. What could be the reason for your choice of K band frequency in providing internet services to your customers?

Our choice for K band has more to do with the speed of internet services that we offer our customers. For us, the K band operates at high speed internet connectivity with low power consumption and the technology allows us to deliver our technology solutions to the customer that needs speed in his or her operations. It enables us to provide cost-effective solution to the customers. On top of that, all the equipment that we use are low power consumption equipment, which allow us to deliver services to our customers on the back of effective technology that will enhance customer experience. In running any kind of business, effective cost management is the key to the survivability and growth of the business, hence we were careful in our choice of equipment, because we want good returns on investments for our clients.

So we considered better and cheaper ways of bringing technology to the customers, hence our choice for the K band.

Yahsat is known for providing internet services via the satellite broadband. Why the choice of satellite and what makes it different from providing internet services through the fibre optic broadband?

Broadband in the traditional sense of it, had always focused on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, through the deployment of fibre, WiMAX and other top solutions. But broadband has a meaningful role to play in internet connectivity and our satellite services complement it. This truth is that operators cannot successfully rollout broadband internet services in rural communities, using fibre optic, hence out choice of satellite broadband that can penetrate remote areas of any economy and bring internet services at best quality. But our focus is not to compete with fibre optic operators, but to complement their services, especially in providing internet

Chislett

services in far remote areas. So with the satellite broadband internet service, we are able to make internet services available to the underserved in various communities. It also enables us to provide internet services to schools, hospitals, individual homes, offices, and organisations, with a strong focus to connect them in areas where they do not have access to the telephone.

That is the importance of VSAT in broadband internet service and that is the role we play as a technology solution provider, via satellite.

Why do you say satellite service offering does not compete with fibre optic service when actually the service providers are different in operations with different ideologies, but operating in the same market and offering the same kind of services to the same kind of customers?

What I mean is that both service offerings from satellite and fibre do not compete with each other, even though both may compete in terms of the different technologies driving them. I see satellite service offerings as complementary services to fibre operations in all the markets that we operate.

Broadband penetration in Nigeria, which is currently put at 21 per cent, is still on the low side. How will satellite broadband help to deepen broadband penetration in the country?

Let me give you a bit of my background. I started business with the offering of broadband services, using fibre, before entering into the satellite business. Satellite, because of its numerous advantages to penetrate faster into rural communities. So it is a compelling factor to deploy internet connectivity using satellite. For sure, satellite broadband will certainly facilitate faster penetration of broadband services across the country.

Communication is fast shifting from voice to data. How will satellite service offerings further boost data communication?

In West Africa specifically, satellite plays a huge role in data communication. It plays this role in several ways. Firstly is by connecting various schools, hospitals, and public institutions in remote areas that have no access to telephony.

So, we are currently rolling out services in rural communities through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) by our partners locally. We have connected several schools in the process, using satellite solution. So we had to select satellite because in most cases, we operate in places where there is no fibre optic presence. We use satellite to provide better quality of education to the rural schools. It has brought about the design of relevant curriculum for schools, and it allows us to provide consolidation records for the healthcare section of the Nigerian economy.

This is one of the key benefits of our satellite data service connectivity.

SMEs are drivers of every economy and several of them have sprung up in recent times. How can they key into Yahsat technology solution?

Recent studies have shown that the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), need access to broadband, because they need data for the kind of business that they do. SMEs play a unique role in growing any economy and they need to be supported with easy and cheaper broadband access.

To achieve this, Yahsat partnered local service providers in Nigeria to help drive SME business in Nigeria. We try to make solutions available to them and at affordable price. Without satellite it will be difficult for the SMEs who serve the rural communities to remain competitive in business.

Who are your local service providers in Nigeria and how far have you been able to drive your solutions through local partners?

We are currently expanding our footprint in the area of local partners. Our approach in market penetration is that we will first understand the market in which we operate, and we will ensure that customers get the desired fast internet connectivity. In Nigeria, we have partners like Hyperia, Coollink and another partner that we recently signed on board. But I cannot share the details of other partners that we have, for strategic reasons.

Businesses are looking for solutions that will reduce overhead costs. How will Yahsat help service providers reduce their overhead costs?

What we offer as satellite service, is part of

consumer metrics and we offer in two ways.

Firstly, we provide a primary solution and we also provide a secondary redundancy. So we try to provide services at very low cost. We try to simplify our technology and reduce cost to a great extent. Again, we work with schools and create a Local Area Network (LAN) for them. We see our service offerings as enabler that drive business processes.

Yahsat was a gold sponsor to the NigeriaCom 2017 that recently ended. How will the sponsorship impact on your business and that of your customers?

As sponsor to the NigeriaCom event, it will help us as a company to better achieve the goal of connecting one billion people in Africa.

Our solution is designed to connect the unconnected, so the sponsorship was critical for us to showcase the kind of business that we do, but not at the level of commercial concept because we are investing in the various economies, including that of Nigeria. So we are happy that we sponsored and we will continue to sponsor. Our desire is to provide better solutions that will drive business processes in Nigeria.

The kind of service that you offer, drives content, and content is key to digital transformation. So what is your take on content development in Nigeria?

Content is key like you rightly said and what we want our partners to do in this direction, is to empower value added service providers to create content that is relevant to today’s digital world. We monitor our partners and ensure they deliver quality device and content to our customers.

Satellite, no doubt, has high quality delivery, but many perceived that satellite services are more expensive than fibre optics. What is your view on this?

Yes, satellite is expensive but the quality delivery is also the key. What we have done is to invest in equipment that will further reduce cost of service offerings.

The equipment we use makes our satellite service offerings a lot cheaper, when compared with the initial high cost of deploying satellite services.

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Nigeria to Showcase 10 Startups at GITEX 2017 The federal government, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), will be promoting 10 startups at this year’s GITEX technology expo and conference holding in Dubai from October 8-12.

The country’s tech-ambassadors were carefully selected after a highly competitive process anchored by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE), which is an arm of NITDA. All 10 startups will join their peers from over 60 countries at the second edition of the GITEX Startups Global Movement, which was launched last year.

GITEX is the premier annual technology event in the Middle East, Asia and Africa hosting over 185, 000 visitors from more than 140 countries.

This year’s edition holds at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with the theme: ‘ReImagining Realities -Discover, Transform,Innovate.’ Nigeria is promoting three thematic activities for its participation this year on Information Technology (IT) investment and exposure of indigenous. The activities are the Nigerian Pavilion, the Startup Innovation Hub, and the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) being put together jointly by the Nigerian government through the NITDA and the UAE government through the DWTC, organisers of GITEX. While the AIF is designed to attract to investments, the AIF will highlight Nigeria’s investment increasing portfolio for ICT investment as the continent’s largest economy and market for ICT. The AIF will be drawing participation from the technology business communities in Asia, Europe, the Americas and the rest of Africa.

NITDA’s Director General, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami said agency remained committed to its mandate to build a technology ecosystem

that thrives on indigenous manpower connected to the global IT community. Pantami said young people are a critical focus of NITDA’s agenda to develop the IT sector. “Our young people are highly talented. With more training, exposure, funding and mentorship, a thriving IT industry can be encouraged to grow within international standards so that we can not only meet our local needs but also become an IT exporting nation,� Pantami said.

The startups on Nigeria’s Gitex list this year include: Cloudoria, a web based operating system, helping to improve access to computing in developing countries like Nigeria; SIX –IoT, which is an electronic device using Raspberry Pi, Microcontrollers, Sensors and some electronics components.

The SIX –IoT device provides Internet of Things (IoT) based solutions to road safety problems; Nicademia, an online distribution platform for Africa based inspired cartoons; Beat Drone, a drone service provider in the agricultural sector, the solution enable farmers eliminate death of crops before harvest periods using the drones to execute 3D mapping of the farmland to enable proper planning.

Others are Dropque, which is a single-to-use one-way video interviewing tool that enables companies to assess candidates fit early on in their talent acquisition/recruitment process; MTK e-Learning is a rich learning, and teaching platform for running a versatile online training and collaboration program for students, employees, partners or customers in time and tracking of training results; Wardmonitor, which seeks to bridge the gap between parent and child while the child is in school. The solution allows children to be monitored by parents not just by schools or teachers alone.

Spectranet 4G LTE Unveils Customer Loyalty Programme Spectranet 4GLTE has announced the launch of its new long-term customer loyalty programme, an incentive aimed at rewarding existing and new customers for their patronage by awarding points that can be amassed and used to redeem gifts and cash discounts.

As a special promotion, Spectranet announced that the customer that amasses the most reward points by 31st December, 2017, will win a trip to Dubai or, if preferred will get a one year free subscription to Spectranet’s Unlimited Gold plan.Customers need to register only once for the scheme after which, every month, points will automatically be awarded whenever a subscription is renewed, upgraded or topped-up. Extra points will also be awarded for all sorts of actions, which include paying on time, introducing a friend and paying on-line.

Spectranet will also award points just for registering on the scheme. Customers will be

invited to register through a personalised email that will be sent out during the month of September 2017, the company said. Head of Marketing, Spectranet, Mr. Mike Ogor, said: “Our goal is to reward our customers for returning, to enjoy the Spectranet quality service offering and for supporting us�.

Points can be redeemed in exchange for Spectranet Mifi, Data bundles, movie tickets, “branded mug or to credit an account. To demonstrate the transparency of the scheme, customers can check their accumulated points and activity undertaken via a customer portal on its website,� Ogor said.Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, Mr. David Venn, said: “We have a special relationship with our customers and we wanted to provide avery unique benefit, only available on our award winning platform, to reward customers for staying with us, supporting us and sharing our values.

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FG to Deepen Governance with Digital Platform Stories by Emma Okonji The federal government on Thursday in Abuja, reiterated its commitment to expand governance to all sectors of the economy, using digital platforms driven by data centres.

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said efforts are on to expand the number of data centres in the country as part of government’s plan to expand its presence on a digital platform, 1-gov.net.

According to the minister, the digital platform, apart from consolidating existing government ICT infrastructure, also enables ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs), to exchange data in a seamless manner while allowing each other to remain independent and maintain its privacy and the security of its

operatives.

Shittu who made the disclosure during his keynote address delivered at the 2017 Microsoft Digital Government Conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said through the 1-gov.net, government has become more participative and accessible where citizens can participate in policy process through discussions, suggestions and online-polls. “Various government departments are using the platform to seek inputs on a wide range of issues. Using the 1-gov.net platform, government has been able to save 30 per cent of what it would have expended on a unit per unit cost. As at date 90 per cent of all MDAs within Abuja are linked with fiber backbone and 3,500 locations of different MDAs have been touched across the country.

About 270 MDAs websites and applications are being hosted on the network,� the minister said. “Government has recorded success in 1-gov.net, we now focus on some services that have direct bearing on the present administration’s priorities, and we determined to continue with the shared ICT infrastructure and services initiative in the MDAs. The 1-gov.net is promoting Whole-of-Government approaches in the information age based on shared services.

This approach will enhance productivity of government officials, increase experience of patrons of government services, enhance security and drive out the menace of corruption,� the minister added.

He said government would continue to recognise the urgent

need to increase efficiency and transparency, improve and align processes, smart government and smart cities, attract new investors, bridge the digital divide, transform government transaction services, data-driven government, better access to and management of information, in such a way that would enhance citizen satisfaction and trust, meeting the needs of rapidly changing demographics and balancing costs while optimising efficiency.

According to him, digital government is a vision statement that seeks to bring about citizen empowerment by harnessing the potentials of ICTs as well as seeking to transform government into digitally empowered society and knowledge economy in a manner that government is available on the palm of every citizen.

FOR TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT

L-R: Managing Director, BCX Nigeria, Ayo Adegboye; Marketing Manager, CISCO Nigeria, Morenike Alder; Channel Manager, CISCO Nigeria, Isioma Udeozo, and Sales Director, BCX Nigeria, Olatayo Ladipo-Ajai, at a technology forum organised by BCX and CISCO in Lagos...recently

NCS Donates Computers to Public Schools in FCT The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Abuja Chapter has commenced the presentation of the first phase of its 2017 Computer 4School Project Initiative (C4SPI) for select public primary schools across the six area councils of Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

Making the presentation of the first set of 46 computers to the management and staff of Festival Primary School in Abuja, through the Director, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Adamu Jatau Noma, the Chairman of the Chapter, Mr. Rex Abitogun, said the initiative was geared towards promoting the use of ICT among children, while contributing to bridging digital and technology divide among the underprivileged in rural areas and between Nigeria and the developed nations.

He said another set of 60 computers including printers would be donated to LEA Primary Schools in Luku and Bwari. “We felt that there is need to work closely with government to bridge the digital divide that exists in the society and one way to do this is to get to the grass root and catch

them young and impact the right knowledge in them so that they can compete with their counterparts globally,� he said.

While calling on other companies to support the Chapter’s initiative through assisting with computer tools and accessories, Abitogun commended the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that made the first phase a success.

According to him, it is appalling that the recipient of the first set of computers has a population of 700 pupils, and hitherto had less than five computers in its computer laboratory, adding that in developed climes, it usually a ratio of two pupils to one computer.

He said the chapter would constantly carry out capacity building across the schools and also help the children to develop applications to enhance and promote the knowledge economy.

BCX, ‘CISCO’ Collaborate on New Business Innovation BCX, an end-to-end technology solution provider, has partnered CISCO, a global Information Technology (IT) and networking company, to provide the latest model of business innovative solution that will help reduce the total cost of running businesses.

Managing Director, BCX Nigeria, Ayo Adegboye, while addressing technology companies at the business collaborative forum in Lagos recently, explained that most businesses driven by technology, invest so much in IT, without achieving the commensurate returns on investment, a situation he said, has grounded several businesses in the past, while some are still struggling to make ends meet. He said the best way to address the situation was for businesses to embrace innovation that would drive growth and returns on investment. “It is for this reason that BCX and Cisco have collaborated to provide new model of business solutions that will cutdown cost of running businesses, as much as 70 per cent,� Adegboye said.

Channel Manager, CISCO Nigeria, Isioma Udeozo, explained the the need for

businesses to adopt innovative solution that would help them save money on operational expenditure (OPEX) and deploy solutions that would ease their businesses.

In her presentation, Senior Presales Specialist, BCX, Abiola Adefila, spoke on innovative solutions put together through the collaboration of BCX and CISCO, that would further empower organisations’ workforce, create digital organisation, reduce operational cost and address all transaction processes. She said both companies have come up with new business solutions for digital network like Business Agility Solution; Software Defined Access Solution; Software Defined Wide Area Network Solution; Software Defined Analytics, among others solutions that provide services on demand and as well help business managers to save money and business time, which she said, were critical to business survivability and growth. She further said the new solutions could manage several branches from a single point and allow business managers to understand what is going on in each location, using a single interface.

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Jitters in Auto Sector over North Atlantic Hurricanes Weeks after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked havoc on some parts of the United States, stakeholders in the Nigerian automobile industry have expressed fear that Nigeria may become the dumping ground for the flood-damaged vehicles if measures are not put in place to check the likely influx. Raheem Akingbolu reports

DG, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma

Within the last days of August and the early days of September 2017, the world held its breath as violent tropical storm; Hurricane Harvey and Irma, wreaked havoc across Eastern Texas in United States of America as well as North Eastern Caribbean and Some parts of Florida.

The natural disaster, which is believed to be an extremely destructive Atlantic hurricane, had within a four-day period impacted negatively on the areas affected. According to reports, many areas received more than 40 inches of rain as the system meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing catastrophic flooding.

With the blame game going on between US government and various interest groups, stakeholders in the Nigeria’s automobile industry have raised alarm that the problem may impact negatively on the industry. Though Hurricane Harvey destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses, billions of dollars-worth of property including an estimated 40 lives, industry watchers believe that the one that will have direct impact on Nigeria is the hundreds of thousands of vehicles damaged by the flood. ‘’You may be wondering, what has this to do to with the automotive industry in Nigeria’’, Simon Ekom, a consumer advocate based in Oregun, Lagos had opened a discussion on the subject during a recent forum in Lagos. ‘’It will shock Nigerians that in the next few months, our markets will be bombarded with flood-damaged cars,’’ he said.

Facts and figures The activist, who quoted Fortune magazine, as stating that over 100,000 insurance claims for cars impacted by Harvey have already been filed, with the number of claims expected to rise, added that others have estimated that Harvey had destroyed up to five times more. ‘’For instance, Cox Automotive chief economist Jonathan Smoke told USA Today he believes 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles were destroyed by Harvey’s path. This has serious implications for Nigeria’s automotive industry. Nigeria’s auto industry depends on imports from overseas.

More than 70% of these vehicle imports, according to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, come from United States of America,�

Meanwhile, a recent report released by PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), stated that in 2016, 450,000 vehicles were imported into Nigeria from US, according US Census Bureau. To this

Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Ahmed Ali

end, Nigeria’s professional services firm, has however pointed out that one important thing to note about these statistics is that more than 70per cent of these imports are used cars, also known as tokunbo.

According to PwC, American Specs, Toyota and Honda dominate the tokunbo car market in Nigeria as they satisfy the criteria of price, durability and resale value.

Speaking on this development in an interview with THISDAY, an auto industry analyst, Mr. Fadare Adekanmi said the fear of Hurricane Harvey vehicles finding their way into Nigeria is more so because, Texas, the main spot of the Hurricane Harvey, hosts a huge percentage of Nigerian Americans. ‘’Check it, Texas, where the disaster struck

As the issue continues to generate controversy, experts have called on consumers to be wary if they are looking to buy a tokunbo vehicle within this period or the next couple of months.

To this end, they have identified a few things that can help prospective car buyers spot the ones damaged by flood

is the home of our people and most of them rely on business of used vehicle export to their home country. Statistics shows that the cities of Houston, Fort Bend, Tarrant, Dallas, and Travis counties have some of the largest Nigerian population in America. This is in addition to the fact that the Houston port tops the list of shipping ports in the US for shipping of cars that cannot move,’’ he said.

Speaking further, he stated that it will not be entirely surprising to start seeing some of the flood-damaged vehicles entering Nigeria before the end of this month, with unsuspecting buyers assuming the liability of owning one of them. He also called on government through various relevant agencies like the Custom and Standard Organisation of Nigeria to be at alert to forestall unnecessary influx of used cars from the areas where the disaster took place.

Varied opinions Are flood-damaged cars dangerous? This is the question curious consumers will want answers to as the issue ranges on. While it is believed in some quarters that there is nothing wrong with it, some believe they are not only dangerous to the environment but that they can also cost more than money.

James Olowo, a dealer in tokunbo cars at Ilupeju, Lagos, was of the opinion that there is no difference between other fairly used cars being brought to the country before and the ones that may be brought in as a result of the flood. ‘’We should avoid unnecessary creating fear where there is none. To me, the natural disaster will not affect our market in any way. After all, we all know that some of the fairly used cars that are being brought into the country are accidental cars. So, what are we saying?’’ Olowo said.

But to the Director of Operations at Cars45. com, Chinedu Okwuosa, flood-damaged vehicles are nothing but liabilities and death trap. He said:“In today’s hi-tech vehicles, a car submerged in flood does not only compromise its engine, both electrical and electronic systems are also destroyed. This is besides the corrosion that would have started affecting the body.� “Just imagine what will happen after you have subjected such vehicle to the Nigeria terrain with all the bad roads and hot weather condition,� he added.

Speaking further, he pointed out that at best,

some of these vehicles should be classified as totaled and sold as scraps, urging businessmen not to get carried away as to pass on these flood-damaged cars as clean titled vehicles.

Tip for prospective car buyers As the issue continues to generate controversy, experts have called on consumers to be wary if they are looking to buy a tokunbo vehicle within this period or the next couple of months.

To this end, they have identified a few things that can help prospective car buyers spot the ones damaged by flood.

One, consumers have been urged to speak to dealers because of the belief that a dealer that has formidable reputation will not risk it to rip his customer off. ‘’Ask the dealer if the car you are eyeing is flood-damaged. Any answer that is not a firm ‘No’ should be of concern to you,’’ the statement stated.

Prospective car buyers have also been advised to check the title to know if the car is coming from a region affected by flood. Related to this is the advice that those willing to buy cars should endeavour to check the smell of the vehicle they are willing to buy because it is believed that the quickest way to sniff out whether or not a car has flood damage is to literally sniff it. ‘’It’s very difficult to completely rid a flooddamaged car of its moldy aroma, and mildew formation is a sure sign that the car was exposed to significant amounts of water. This unpleasant smell is a helpful clue for prospective buyers,’’ the statement further stated.

Another advice given to consumers is that they should look out for rust. ‘’ The time it takes to export the car from America to Nigeria would have been enough for some parts of the car to start rusting. If you go to buy the car with an experienced inspector, it should not be hard to spot the emerging corrosion,’’ Perhaps to play safe, the advice of the CEO of Cars45, EtopIkpe might be worthy of consideration.

Ikpe had stated emphatically that if anybody is willing to buy a tokunbo car within this period, such a person may want need to think twice and settle for registered vehicle, saying it may be far safer than the shiny tokunbo cars.

This, according to him is because, “all too often, such vehicles get, at best, cosmetic repairs that mask, rather than resolve, longer-term issues, such as rust, mold, and mechanical problems that could plague buyers later-on�.

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Innovation as Catalyst for Repositioning the Building Industry As part of a strategy to expand its global market share of the Saint-Gobain brand, its promoters have raised salient issues on innovation and creativity and charged experts in the building industry on new technologies. Raheem Akingbolu writes What have innovation and creativity have to do with the building industry? Are there rooms for expansion in the nation’s building market and what are the challenges currently facing stakeholders in the industry? These are some of the questions that were answered recently at a one-day workshop themed ‘Creating Great Living Spaces: Innovative Solutions for Greater Wellbeing’ organised for stakeholders in the building industry by the management of SaintGobain, in Lagos. The company, a leader in the habitat and construction markets, had ride on the platform to announce its expansion plan in Nigeria.

The workshop was packaged to showcase Saint-Gobain’s innovative products with a demonstration of the techniques of mounting and finishing plasterboards from start to finish.

This is an alternative to current building methods, bringing thermal, acoustic, fire resistance and aesthetic comfort, as well as easiness of installation.

The occasion provided a unique opportunity for the company to interact with members of various professional bodies who make use of their products and seek better ways to meet their ever growing needs.

At the workshop, which was attended by professional bodies that included Architects, Civil Engineers, installers and major distributors, Saint-Gobain Product Manager, Heidi Olivier, admitted that Nigeria market is a major destination for brands that want to excel in Africa.

According to her, “Nigeria is no doubt the biggest market in sub-Saharan Africa, and as such we are happy to be here to expand our business scope in partnership with our major distributor of Gyproc plasterboards in the country. The whole idea of this workshop is to bring together various professionals who use our products and service in the course of doing their jobs and to also bring them up to speed with our latest offering in the market.�

She further stated that Saint-Gobain has made a name for itself in the industry with the production of high quality plasterboards which are second to none in the industry, pointing out that the achievement has earned the brand a lot of recognition globally.

Significance of the brand’s arrival After being in existence for 352 years, with spread in many countries of the world, many wondered why it took the company this long to explore the Nigerian market. Beyond this, questions were also raised on the timing of the company’s final arrival, considering the current economic situation. But according its regional director, Westtar Kapito, the company believes in the country despite the recession.

He also pointed out that its products were not entirely knew in Nigeria as the company had in the past worked with notable distributors to handle some projects in Nigeria.

He said: “For us we have always believed in the Nigerian market despite the recession.

We believe in the economy, the people and resurgence of the Nigerian market. That is why we have decided to make substantial investment in the Nigerian market. We have been working with our partners because we believe in what we can bring into this market.

More importantly, I think the timing couldn’t have been any better. For us, we have upbeat appetite for Africa, and Nigeria seems to be one of those countries where we just have to be present. Should we have done this five, ten years ago? Perhaps ! But this is the right time.’’ Meanwhile, to cross section of professionals, who attended the workshop, the coming of Saint-Gobain into Nigeria with its modern innovative technology in the making of plasterboards and other construction materials would be of immense benefits not just to stakeholders but the entire construction sector which they believed to be in dire need of innovative technologies to drive the industry.

L-R: Managing Director, Tormek Global Services Limited, Umeojiaka Kingsley; Product Manager, Saint-Gobain, Heidi Olivier, Chairman, Tormek Global Services Limited, Ifeanyi Udeogu; Regional Director, Saint-Gobain, Westtar Kapito; Technical Marketing Manager, Fuchs Nicolas, and Business Development Manager, Sub Saharan Africa and Americas, Francois Accambray, during Saint-Gobain’s Stakeholders workshop in Lagos‌recently

“Consumers can be rest assured that Saint-Gobain’s range of products would offer them a new value chain in the long run. This global company is reputed for contributing to the development of sub-Saharan Africa in

offering an array of its products and services.

Saint-Gobain’s range of products has become part of everyday living, making up public and private buildings, transportation system, massive infrastructure and most industrial hubs around the world. Their products and activity scope include; plasterboards systems, building plasters, industrial plasters, gypsum ceilings and mineral wool & metal ceiling, mortars, insulation, pipe systems, glass, and abrasives,’’ Ayo Akinyemi, a civil engineer and participant said.

After being in existence for 352 years, with spread in many countries of the world, many wondered why it took the company this long to explore the Nigerian market. Beyond this, questions were also raised on the timing of the company’s final arrival, considering the current economic situation.

But according its regional director, Westtar Kapito, the company believes in the country despite the recession

Testimonials Attesting to the expertise of Saint-Gobain, another expert at the workshop and the Executive Director at Avalon Intercontinental, owners of Renaissance hotel, Ahmed Tajudeen, said: “It was indeed a great experience having Saint-Gobain as part of the finishing of the hotel, which today stands tall as one of the best in Lagos. As a matter of fact, the company helped in designing and also provided an installation team for all materials required including gypsum boards, walls, ceilings, cross and main tee, insulation, finishing solutions, flooring solutions. Saint-Gobain brought specific solutions matching our needs: standard regular boards (ceilings), firestop boards (corridor walls and bedrooms), moisture resistant boards for wet areas (bathroom and kitchen walls), glass wool insulation for acoustic performance in walls and ceilings. In the course of the project they actually flew some of their personnel all the way from South Africa to train our men in Nigeria, which for me is quite remarkable.

It will interest you to note, that Saint-Gobain supplied virtually everything from the kitchen finishing, to the bathroom down to the nails.

It is on that ground that I highly recommend Saint-Gobain brand to everyone.�

Earlier, Kapito had said that the company had come a long way in mastering the art of designing high quality plasterboards to suit all categories of customers. He said for the moment, the company’s focus in Africa was to provide innovative solutions.

“We are not talking about finishing and smoothening; we’re talking about providing walls and well being. These walls have characteristics that make them fit in a living space. We want to emphasise that we are not providing products only, there’s a destination for our solutions in all aspects of construction.

We are not pretending that we are going to make everybody’s life better, but we think that through those innovations, we can provide more comfort in terms of fire protection, aesthetics and air quality.

He concluded that products coming from the stable were reliably made with the finest raw materials one can get anywhere in the world, adding that they could indeed stand the test of time. To this end, Kapito said the company was in Nigeria to replicate what it had achieved in other markets.

Meanwhile, over the years, Saint-Gobain was said to have built a reputation for itself creating a unique positioning through its industrial and distribution expertise which has been brought to the fore, as well as up scaling its research effort in the area of materials and energy efficiency.

The company was also said to have mastered the art of creating a network of professionals using its existing distribution network team across the world.

It was indeed an eye opener for participants who attended the event to the various areas of business opportunities that abound in the industry, as well as equipped them with the processes involved in making plasterboards and the distribution networks available in the country and how to locate them.

Saint-Gobain is in partnership with Tormek Global Services limited, a major dealer in Gyproc plasterboard in Nigeria, with a showroom in Lagos. Before the end of the year the company has promised to hold yet another event basically for installers to bring them on board. It has also been announced that plans are already underway to open a customer experience centre in Lagos.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Promoting Peaceful, Inclusive Societies for Devt The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a Nigerian non-governmental organisation, recently launched its global office in the United States, and also unveiled a shadow report on the realisation of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which seeks to promote peaceful, inclusive societies. Abimbola Akosile reports

Stakeholders advocating peace at the new CISLAC global office in New York Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

Landmark Launch The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has been registered in the United States as a 501(c)3, and officially launched its global office on September 22 in New York. This launch coincided with the UN World Peace Day and the launch of its Shadow Report on SDG 16.

The launch was attended by the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijani Muhammed-Bande, and His Deputy, HE Mr. Sunday Itebode; House Committee Chair on Poverty Alleviation and member of the SDGs Committee, Hon. Muhammed Ali Wudil; and the Africa and Middle East Coordinator of the UN SDGs, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna.

Others included Ms. Hauwa Umar of the United Nations Environment Programme, New York, CISLAC Global Trustee Members - Dr. Afia Zakiya and, Mr. John Francis, Mr. Seing Falu Njie - UN Coordinator National think Tank, as well as other development partners, civil society organisations and media within and outside the United States. All these were contained in a communique issued after the office and shadow report launch jointly signed by the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani); CISLAC Global Board of Trustees members, Mr. Francis John, and Dr. Afia Zukiya.

Right Context During his opening remarks, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim Musa aka Rafsanjani, welcomed all participants and noted the significance that the launch of CISLAC global office coincides with the UN General Assembly 72 and the International Day for Peace.

He recognised that Nigeria is enmeshed in a critical period where the country is threatened by ethnic and socio-cultural turbulence, and observed that the civil society has the mandate to advocate for peace, fairness and social justice as this will bring the much needed development.

Rafsanjani further intimated that sharing the Shadow Report was to key to inform the current anti-corruption efforts of the present government and entrench sustainable development.

He further urged on the civil society and all other stakeholders to lend their voices to the clarion call on peace and stability and eschew corruption.

Positive Remarks In his welcome address, the Permanent Representative to Nigeria in the UN, Prof. Tijani Muhammed-Bande, commended CISLAC on her giant strides and efforts at strengthening the work she does. He observed that corruption was the bane of underdevelopment and social unrest in the country. He said corruption was the worst epidemic among religious, ethnic and socio-cultural factors affecting the country’s development. He remarked that Nigeria has been plunged into conflict for the past three years and said there cannot be peace if there is injustice. The envoy further observed that Nigeria has had a string of leaders without transparency, and that paradoxically, where there has been strong leadership, everything revolves around the leader but not around creating strong institutions. He opined that strong institutions should be everybody’s business, and urged Nigerians to launder their image abroad by highlighting the great achievements made by Nigerians while not losing sight of the challenges.

Hon. Wudil, in his remarks, commended CISLAC’s effort in setting up a global office.

He observed that any form of government without a legislature is not a government. He spoke about the government programme on

social investment which targets the poorest of the poor and urged CISLAC as a foremost civil society group working on legislative advocacy to support the programme and further lend its voice to the Poverty Alleviation Bill at the National Assembly. He further urged civil society groups to play their role of being a voice of the people. During his presentation, Mr. Ogbonna expressed satisfaction on the fact that Nigeria is strongly interested in engaging with the SDGs. He stated that the SDG 16 is a development enabler that would propel Nigeria, if implemented, to become the leader in Africa and not just a middle income country.

Ogbonna expressed fear that this task may be eroded since implementing SDGs is costly. He observed the need for Nigeria to attract technical expertise and also buttressed the point on the pivotal role of the civil society in bridging the gap between the executives and the legislature.

Board member, Dr. Zakiya, shared in her overview of CISLAC and the critical rationale for setting up the CISLAC global office. She said the global office would consolidate CISLAC’s huge experience, knowledge and expertise in implementing regional and global outreach programmes and partnerships.

Zakiya also noted that it would strengthen global networking among Africans in the Diaspora,

provide a platform to address governance challenges internationally, and increase its regional Africa and global advocacy and partnerships with the UN Missions/Institutions, Development Partners, Diplomatic Community and Relevant Committees in the US Congress.

She further said he CISLAC has the pre-requisite competence to mobilise the African Diaspora and other entities and individuals to leverage their expertise and spheres of influence to the benefit of the African continent. Furthermore, in his presentation on role of the legislators in revitalising SDG 16, Mr. John Francis gave rationale for parliamentary engagements which included their legal mandate as representatives of the electorate and voice of the citizens, their leadership roles in policy formulation, fiduciary powers in appropriation and the legitimacy of the legislative oversight role for the purpose of transparency and accountability and strengthening institutions for good governance at all levels.

He further stressed the need for a holistic approach to the SDGs which would enable effective and efficient implementation and sustained development.

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

RANDOM THOTS Lopsided Bargain Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœËœ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹ĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ĂœĂŁ Ă‘Ă™Ă‹ĂžĚ‹Ă˜Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă™ Ă™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ę¨Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă”Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă‹ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ? ÖÙÙÞĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ ÒÓÑÒÖã̋ÚÖËĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ÚÞ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÔËÓÖ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă•ĂŁ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞÙÖĂ?Ă˜ ÖÙÙÞ˛ ÙÞÒ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă‹Ă?Ă• ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă”Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž Ă“Ă˜ Ă•Ă?ÔË ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă’Ă? Ă™ĂŒĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?ĂŽ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ×ÓÑÒÞã Ă Ă“ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ˊÑÙÞ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ

åÓÞÒ Ă—Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂœËŞ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ?Ë› Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÚÖĂ?Ă‹ ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ ÞÙÚ ÚÙÖÓĂ?Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜Ă• Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă?Ăž Ùʼ ÞÒĂ? ÒÙÙÕ Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă? ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÚËã ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ě‹Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁË› Ùå ËÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ě‹Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ăž ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœËœ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă?ÙÖà Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ ÚÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ëœ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž ËŠĂĄĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ÞÓ×Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžËŞ Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ÞËâ̋ÚËãĂ?ĂœĂ?ËŞËœ Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ

ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ËÚÚÖã Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? ÞÙÚ ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ě‹ĂšĂœĂ™Ę¨Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ăž ËÎÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÚÖĂ?Ă‹ ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă?Þ̋Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂŁË› Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ÑÙÙÎ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙÙĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÑÙÙÎ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœËž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?âË×ÚÖĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ÑÙËÞ ÞÒÓĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞÙÖĂ?Ă˜ ÑÙËÞ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÔËÓÖ ÞÓ×Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹ ÖÙÚĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?ײ˛˛ÔĂ&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ -Abimbola Akosile

33

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

Ëš

Nigerians citizens protesting bad governance

Best Devt Lessons Learnt in 57 Years?

To some, past mistakes, if not corrected, are bound to re-occur, seemingly apply to Nigeria. In the present scenario, where agitations and conflicts are stifling overall development in the country, there is the belief that those development lessons learnt during the 57 years since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, should be brought to the fore to help the nation overcome her present challenges and move forward as expected. To you, what are those past lessons in development that Nigeria can benefit from at this trying period?

THE FEEDBACK

Abimbola Akosile * Very poor leadership qualities, avarice, unpatriotism, dishonesty e.t.c forced Nigeria down on her knees over time. Now petroleum is rapidly getting dis-favoured, globally, so de-emphasising oil crave and arms proliferation is overdue. We must diversify into agriculture, trade, tax, security e.t.c instead. Production of pencils, sports equipment and wears e.t.c will catapult our gains therefrom geometrically considering the economic laws of comparative advantage, diminishing oil returns and economic downturn, our huge human resources and vast market potentials etc. call for restructuring now.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos. State

Top lesson:

Change in citizens’ orientation

Second:

Continued economic diversification

Third:

Harness national resources properly

Radical tip:

Punish bad, selďŹ sh leaders!

Number of respondents:

10

Male:

7

Female:

3

* Nigeria has had a relatively long experience in development planning beginning with the Colonial Development Plan (1958-68) the medium-term development plans and national rolling plans. Other major initiatives include - the Structural Adjustment Programme; the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy; the Strategy for Attaining the Millennium Development Goals; and the 7-Point Agenda - and the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 which seeks for Nigeria to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020. In addition there is increasing investment in critical infrastructure and efforts on the development of a framework for joint financing of infrastructure projects between the tiers of government, and encouraging private investment in infrastructure. We also have the separation of powers between the legislative and executive arms of government and the civic engagement and citizen participation in government policy, programmes and the effective election which leads to peace and democratic handling over to the incumbent government and in the agricultural sectors that is registration of farmers that improved the supply of inputs. Good governance in terms of war against in discipline, upgrading the internal security of government, and enhancing the efficiency of their operations promoting private sector-led non-oil growth to build the foundation for economic diversification by the present government.

- Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder of Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Abuja

Highest location:

Lagos (5)

* The aftermath of the Nigerian civil war

was not properly addressed and it’s a clog in the wheel of our progress. Until this is adequately addressed, we may still continue to be divided as a nation, which is not in our best interest both for the short and long-term.

- Ms Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * Our collective corruption-filled mindset, lack of accountability and transparency, religious extremism, tribalism, nepotistic tendencies, failing institutions, and disobedience to the rule of law, are all as a result of our collective selfishness which can never be addressed by separation of even restructuring. The question is can restructuring or separation end corruption; will it stop drug pushing, kidnapping, crime and failure to obey the law? The lessons to learn vis-a-vis the current agitations are that until the ordinary citizens change our mindsets, any separation or restructuring will only lead to more ethnic strife, marginalisation and poverty. For example, is there a region in Nigeria today where most governors and public officers at all levels are not corrupt?

Remember, our leaders are all a product of the society that produces them, restructured or not.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * As we mark our 57 independent as a nation, it is not time for celebration but to have sober reflection on how to move the nation forward.

Where we are at 57 is disappointing because we have abundant resource to move higher

than where we are but because of corruption in governance where looting has become priority to our leaders. Until we change our orientation in governance over stealing, Nigeria will still remain where we are in development.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Total and genuine attention to agriculture and reformed agro-economic policies properly structured, which we’ve missed so much, will take us to the Promised Land. Instead of over-dependence on our now fading oil, other minerals resources must be tapped now.

Like division of labour properly reformed nonoil sector especially at the local government level has tremendous gains still fallowing.

Our rudderless leadership must face realities and act fast now.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * Marketing Boards in the past were there to fix and control price of commodities. It is sad that today poor farmers receive little for the goods they sell to the rich who dwell in the cities; thus increasing the poverty of the poor, despite insufficient supply of fertiliser, seedlings, insecticide, and loans to boost his/her manual farming, while the advanced countries are using machinery. Kidnappers, Boko Haram insurgents and Fulani herdsmen are major hindrances to farming and harvesting, as farmers cannot go to their farmland.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State * At 57, we should have advanced in every sectors of endeavour to move the nation forward, especially with regards to the abundant resources at our disposal. It is very unfortunate. What is the rationale behind the setback? Time will tell.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State * We should go back to our former roots.

The North should go back to its groundnuts, cotton, hides and skins, beniseed; the West should return to its cocoa, timber e.t.c, while the East should go back to its coal and oil palm e.t.c. The lack of development we experience today is for us turning our backs on these God-given resources and total dependence on oil that was not there before. Our disunity is because we have deviated from the right to the wrong. The earlier we reverse the current

trend, the better for all of us.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * In the 57 years of Nigeria’s independence since 1960, the major development lesson we have learned is that Nigeria has no business being a poor country full of deprived and frustrated citizens, simply because the ruling class has consistently robbed and denied the masses of their share of the commonwealth.

This looting and selfish practice has persisted since independence although the earliest leaders did well in sincere governance. So, to move forward, this culture of impunity in high places has to stop, and the wicked leaders must be held accountable and made scape-goats for crimes against humanity. This is the reason for the agitation for secession and the anger in the land.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: Your Next Step for Nigeria at 57? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă? ͖͘ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă?Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ÞÒ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?×ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă•Ă“ĂŽĂ˜Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÚÙà Ă?ĂœĂžĂŁËœ Ă?ÓÞÓäĂ?Ă˜Ă?ËŞ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă‘Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă™ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ë› Ă™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăš Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ă– ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ăž ͖͘ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?ËŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ëœ ÞÓÞÖĂ?Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã Ě™ Ă?ÚÞĂ?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í“Í™ Ęś Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í“Ěš ÞÙ abimbolayi@ yahoo.comËœ greatbimbo@gmail.comËœ abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive. comË› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ?âÞ Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ 08023117639 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08188361766 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08114495306Ë› ÙÖÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í–

34

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

A water-logged bad road at Egan, Igando area of Lagos State

PRAISE ADESINA

EFCC Takes Anti-corruption Crusade to Ghana, Seeks Regional Collaboration As CISLAC, GII canvass for greater transparency Abimbola Akosile The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken the war against corruption to Ghana, in a bid to tackle the anti-development scourge ravaging the West African region and the rest of Africa.

The crusade was spearheaded by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Adegboyega Aremo, who was part of a delegation of the Transparency International, Nigeria Chapter, who visited Accra, Ghana on a three-day exchange visit between TI Nigeria and TI Ghana.

The visit was facilitated by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) which is the focal organisation for TI Nigeria, and coordinated

by Mr. Lukman Adefolahan, a senior Programme Manager with CISLAC. Aremo, who was accompanied by some top members of the

Local Advisory of TI Nigeria, including the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Centre for Democracy and Development, and the Media (THISDAY) visited various relevant organisations in Accra, including the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) led by Mrs. Linda Ofori-Kwafo; the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO); the Private Enterprise Federation, Ghana (PEF); and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

The EFCC number-two man used the exchange visit to enlighten the Ghanaian organisations about the operations and latest updates in EFCC’s war against corruption in Nigeria, including the recovery of stolen funds to the tune of N750 billion so far this year, the current personnel status of the EFCC, which he put at 4,000; the introduction of

assets confiscation and forfeiture and also plea bargaining which has helped the agency to recover more funds and has also reduced the cost and time of corruption trials back home in Nigeria.

Aremo called on the agencies visited to collaborate with the EFCC in the interest of regional security and in an effort to stop illicit flow of funds from Nigeria to Ghana and vice-versa, in a bid to curb corruption in the region and around Africa.

According to him, “There must be a political will and official support to fight corruption, whether in Ghana, Nigeria or any other country in the region. The current President in Nigeria has the political will to fight corruption. “There is need for the AntiCorruption Agencies (ACAs) to forge a common regional partnership to discourage crossborder corruption. Approval

has already been received to establish EFCC Television and a Radio station to take off in January 2018. Currently, we have about 4,000 officers in EFCC and there are 750 more undergoing training. “The fight against corruption is not for one country alone. We must face it together through a common consensus. The issue of assets tracing and forfeiture and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) are found in both Nigeria and Ghana. The problem of corruption is deep particularly with regards to our culture. “There is need for greater collaboration across the region in fighting corruption. The EFCC academy is open for training for people and ACAs across the region. This will hasten cross-border fight against corruption. And unless the political class supports the fight against corruption, very little

can be done,� Aremo added.

Speaking to some media organisations in Accra, the EFCC chieftain said media ownership and non-interference is also crucial in boosting the fight against corruption, including the judiciary.

According to him, “Media ownership is also an issue and an obstruction to corruption reporting. But where the media owner does not interfere with information on corruption, much can be achieved. Before now, some public officials, especially the military, were untouchable. But the scale of corruption became too much which attracted media attention and widespread condemnation. “The judiciary also has a role to play especially on the issue of politically exposed persons (PEPs) who secure plea bargain. Recent directives in the Judiciary called New Practice Directives (NPD)

now give speedy hearing to issues of treason, corruption and terrorism. “There must be an interface between the anti-corruption agencies and the Media to ensure progress in the anti-corruption fight. Money laundering is a cross-border phenomenon. It is difficult to keep illicit flows in Nigeria right now because of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and a strong Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Whistleblowers are also helping in the fight against corruption�, he added.

He also informed the agencies about a coming programme where the EFCC would invite all anti-corruption agencies across Africa to a summit in Abuja, to fashion out more effective strategies on combating illicit financial flows and corruption across the various regions and the continent as a whole.

Unemployment: ITF Commences Training of 11,000 Youths under NISDP As scientists, investor advocate use of bio-fertiliser to boost agric Seriki Adinoyi in Jos As part of its continued efforts to create jobs in line with the policy focus of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced the training of 11,000 youths nationwide under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

According to the Head of Public Affairs Unit of ITF, Mrs. Suleyol Fred Chagu, the training which commenced on September 18 follows the second phase of the 2016 NISDP that trained 10,000 youths from 18 states.

Chagu said under this phase, 300 youths each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would be equipped with requisite skills in tailoring and fashion designing, plumbing and pipe fitting and welding and fabrication, adding that all the expected trainees have turned up for the exercise across the 3,700 centres in the country.

She added, “In order to ensure that trainees of the programme realise their potentials and dreams, supporting equipment in the trade areas will be provided to all trainees as starter pack. This is to serve as

empowerment to all participants of the programme to set up on their own and boost the entrepreneurial sector of the country.�

While urging all selected trainees to make good use of the opportunity of the training by displaying high commitment throughout the period of training in order to achieve the intended result, Chagu added that the NISDP, which is the hard skills component of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) has equipped over 100,000 Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Contec Global Agro Limited (CGAL), a subsidiary of Contec Global, Dr. Benoy Berry and the Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigeria Biotechnology Society (BSN) who is also the Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Jalingo, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, have called on both the federal and state governments to use bio solutions and inputs to boost the country’s agricultural production. Berry made the disclosure while conducting the BSN board members round the company’s tissue culture and microbiological facilities in Abuja, recently.

He explained that using and deploying bio solutions or inputs sourced locally, using microbes and bacteria from Nigeria’s soil, was the safest way to guarantee the country’s food security.

According to him, the global trend of agricultural production is the application of organic fertiliser to boost food production, stressing that chemical fertiliser is gradually being phased out as farm input because of its health implication.

Tenebe and the President of BSN, Prof. Benjamin Ewu Ubi, who were impressed with the state-of-the-art agro solution

facilities, commended Berry for investing in the agriculture sector. Tenebe said: “The executive members of BSN are highly impressed with the performance of Contec Global Agro Ltd. The society is ready to collaborate with the company to further actualise the company’s objective of meeting farmers’ need for high agricultural yield.�

Also speaking, Ubi noted that the application of bio-based innovation to drive food security in the country can be achieved through partnership and collaboration, to upscale science and technology innovation in the country.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Certainly,thegovernmentwants tosee more investments in the power sector, you would have heardfromthepresidentand from the vice presidentthatour role reallyis to enable private sector leadoureconomy.Atthe NationalCouncilon Privatisation recently, we approved the privatisationofanotherofthepowerplants-theAfamPowerPlant.Soitshowsyougovernment wants tosee investment�

- MINISTER OF POWER, WORKS AND HOUSING, MR. BABATUNDE FASHOLA, SPEAKING IN ABUJA

Act on SDGs, Citizens, Others Urge Govts Abimbola Akosile

After General Debate, UN Assembly President Seeks Greater Action Abimbola Akosile The United Nations General Assembly has wrapped up its 72nd annual general debate in New York, USA, with a greater call for action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

After the debate, UNGA President, Miroslav Lajóåk underscored prevention of conflicts before they break out; support for UN peacekeeping; sustainable development, and respect for human rights and gender equality among the major priorities raised by the 196 Heads of State, Government and delegations, who attended the forum. “You reaffirmed your commitment to the UN, and to each other. You said we are stronger together, in a system based on dialogue and multilateralism,â€? Lajóåk declared in the vaulted Assembly Hall before the golden column with the UN logo of a world globe, which served as the backdrop for all 196 speakers. “And you stressed that any alternative would risk repeating the mistakes of history,â€? he added, while noting that not all the messages delivered were positive, with many criticising other countries or the UN. “But that is part of the package. It is your right to do this. And regardless of size, or population, or economy, all delegations have access to the same platform, for the same amount of time. They can speak freely, without censorship,â€? he said, summing up the main thrust of the debate whose theme was ‘Focusing on People – Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.’ “We addressed many challenges over the past week. You talked about their impact on the countries of the world. Importantly, you also talked about their impact on people. We heard about people running from gunshots – or the force of exploding bombs. People living for a week on the same amount some of us spend on a cup of coffee,â€? he said. “People forced to make the decision between risking their lives to stay, or risking their lives to flee; people wondering when the next

Quality education is vital to realise the SDGs hurricane will hit, or if their village will be under water in a few decades; people who are beginning to lose – or have already lost– hope in international peace processes; and people still waiting for justice and human rights to become a part of their daily reality.�

Turning to the work that lies ahead for the Assembly’s 72nd Session, Lajóåk cited several milestones, including the high-level event on Sustaining Peace, in April, the adoption of Global Compacts related to Migrants and Refugees next September, and the High-level meeting on human trafficking this week.

In a related development, world leaders have pledged to tackle the education crisis that is holding back millions of children and threatening economic development, at a high-level event at the UN headquarters in New York aimed at securing finance for this critical goal. “Financing education is indeed the best invest-

ment we can make for a better world and a better future,â€? stressed UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres in his remarks to the event, titled “Financing the Future: Education 2030,â€? held on the margins of the General Assembly’s annual debate.

More than 260 million children, adolescents and youth are out of school. Despite some progress in achieving gender equality in the world’s poorest countries, far more girls than boys still do not have access to a quality education, according to a news release. Also addressing the event was UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai, who said girls in many parts of the world are pushing back against poverty, war and child marriage to go to school. “We have big goals, but we will not reach any of them unless we educate girls,� she said, referring to the SDGs, adopted by UN Member States in 2015.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the second year of adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), civil society organisations in Nigeria are calling on the Federal, State and Local Governments to act on the SDGs. It has been two years since September 25, 2015, when the Nigerian Government joined other United Nations world leaders to agree to a definitive plan for the planet and its people by adopting the Agenda 2030 and the 17 Goals.

The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

In different parts of the country civil society organisations are organising events from Lagos to Benue, to Bayelsa and Abuja to mark the second anniversary.

According to the Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, Mr. Oyebisi B. Oluseyi, “Citizens across the country are calling attention to the many forms of inequalities everywhere/ “If our governments (at all levels) don’t act in time, we stand the chance of not meeting the goals and our growing pains -- disparities in the incomes of the poor and the wealthy, limited access to education, health and basic social services, increasing vulnerabilities of the poorest to human-induced climate change and disasters, and the growing repression of human rights and civic participation would have exacerbated.� “Our celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the SDGs is with mixed feelings; we are glad that two years ago the world came together to care for people and the planet. It is however worrying that between then and now we have as a country witnessed increased social injustice with more people going hungry. With an estimated 184 million inhabitants in Nigeria, 112 million of these live below the poverty line; this is unacceptable and it calls for urgent action on the part of our government. “Now is the time to break the cycle of poverty in our land! As President Muhammadu Buhari returns from the UN General Assembly, we want to share our concerns with him and to remind him of the urgent need to accelerate action on the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria. “We need action at all levels. First, we need to increase awareness, then public policies that create real changes to reduce inequalities in and between states. We must also change production and consumption patterns, in order to make development sustainable for the environment and for people. “While the Federal Government is to be commended for its social protection programme and the adoption of the national social protection policy, we hope that the programme will cover all sections of the population in need of this.

With the Government’s effort in raising revenue through taxes, we recommend fair and equitable tax system that is people-centered and devoid of multiple taxation. “Women’s and girls’ rights is an important first as we move to attain the SDGs, this is the bedrock of our national development. Freedom of civil society and political participation is a critical foundation to the stakeholder partnership that is needed to attain the ambitious Agenda 2030. A shrinking civic space is bad for development�, Oluseyi added.

On his own part, Director, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Ijebu Ode, Rev. Father John Patrick, said, “We remain concerned about the growing threat to the nation’s peaceful co-existence.“

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Saving Nigerians from Hepatitis With over 20 million Nigerians said to be infected with Hepatitis, and one in every 10 persons chronically affected by the various types of the disease, experts say more awareness is needed to tackle the growing prevalence of the disease in the country. Martins Ifijeh writes

Vaccine and healthy lifestyle can prevent hepatitis

W

hile the world continues to dread the Human Immuno Virus (HIV) and health issues like tuberculosis and Zika virus with nations echoing this sentiment through their various interventions in these areas, little is relatively known of Hepatitis, a condition 50 to 100 times more deadlier than HIV/AIDs and many other global health issues already gaining attention.

As at the last count, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 28 per cent of the 7.4 billion persons worldwide are infected with hepatitis, which means almost two billion people are at one point or the other positive to the disease, while over a million persons die yearly from the disease, with low and middle income countries, like Nigeria bearing the highest burden of the indices.

No wonder statistics have shown that of the almost two billion persons infected by the scourge globally, not less than 20 million are in Nigeria, suggesting that the deaths from the disease in the country is also on a large scale.

Recently the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), reported that at least one in every 10 Nigerians is chronically affected by the various types of hepatitis, leading to liver disease, cancer or even death.

Hepatitis, according to health experts, is described as an inflammatory disease of the liver which can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer, adding that it may start and get better quickly or may become a long lasting condition that could ultimately lead to death.

Experts also suggest that Hepatitis viruses are the most common causes of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can as well cause Hepatitis.

But with the increased prevalence of the disease in Nigeria, there is the opinion that the only way out of the high incidence level

of the disease in the country is if priority is given to its prevention and management by the stakeholders, various institutions and the Nigerian populace. Speaking at a hepatitis awareness creation programme by the Nigerian Military in Lagos, the Corps Commander Medical of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abimbola Amosun, said the prevalence of the disease was increasingly becoming a national health emergency, hence the need for institutions like the Nigerian Army to take leadership in reducing the disease through awareness campaigns.

She said if people were aware of the causes, prevention and management of the disease, it will go a long way in reducing its prevalence, as well as deaths. “We intend to continue this campaign until there is a drastic reduction of the disease in Nigeria,” Amosun added.

But why is hepatitis common in Nigeria and how can it be managed, prevented, treated and possibly cured? Dr. Oluwadare Rotimi, a virologist with Roche provides a guide. He believes an awareness on personal hygiene, vaccination, treatment procedures and general management were keys to preventing and surviving hepatitis.

While noting that there exist several types of hepatitis viruses, ranging from A,B,C,D,E and CMV, he explained that Hepatitis B, a common type of the disease, is a silent killer, and could be deadly, as it does not show visible signs until it has spread to the organ. Adding, he said Hepatitis C, one of the strands of the disease, was referred to as the slow killer because infected persons could look healthy while the damage is being done to his or her organs.

According to him, the hepatitis infection is caused by acute illness; which resolves itself quickly without causing long term liver damages, and chronic illness; which lasts for more than six months, and in some cases can result in cirrhosis, (hardening of the liver), liver cancer, liver failure and ultimately death, adding that about 200,000 Nigerians die annually from Hepatitis B.

“Every hand must be on deck to tackle Hepatitis B virus as it is 100 times more infectious than HIV. It is also very dangerous because it contains carcinogens which lead to liver cancer. It also has the capacity to survive outside the human body for at least seven days.

“On mode of transmission, Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother-to-child at birth, childto-child or through transfusion of contaminated blood products. It could also be transmitted through injection drug use that involves sharing of needles, as well as through contact with blood or open sores of an infected person,” he added.

For Hepatitis C, Rotimi explained that some of the easiest ways of transmission include blood transfusion, re-use of inadequately sterilised needles, syringes or other medical equipments, circumcision and tattooing with inadequately sterilised equipment, as well as through sexual transmission.

He called for increased awareness on vaccination, as it represents a strong wall against the disease. Adding, he said Nigerians should be aware that viral hepatitis was eminently preventable and by embracing the preventive strategies it would be easy to control it.

According to SOGHIN President, Prof. Musa Borodo, in an earlier report, said the neglect of Hepatitis B and C could lead to complications like swollen organs, vomiting of blood, yellowing of the eye and tiredness, among others.

While advising patients to go for checkup and if positive, seek urgent medical attention, he said negligence and late presentation has stalled the intended progress against the health condition.

He stressed on the need for the country to adopt a comprehensive research presentation on hepatitis and liver related health issues, adding that diseases associated with the liver were wide, hence requires detailed knowledge and skill for addressing them. “Globally, Africa has about 75 per cent of liver diseases and Nigeria has the largest population with over 23 million

persons infected by the disease,” he added.

He advised Nigerians to go for screening to know their status, adding that, “people should do screening at least once in a while, and if infected, they should get treated immediately. If not infected, they should get vaccinated against being infected,” he said.

Borodo also called on pregnant women to go for regular screening for hepatitis so that if infected, mothers do not pass the virus to their unborn children.

Nigerians were also advised to stop the spread of the virus by avoiding the sharing of personal items such as razor, toothbrushes, needles, straws or other related objections to reduce the spread. Other notable acts to avoid are transfusion of unscreened blood, casual and unprotected sexual intercourse.

The WHO in one of its recommendations called for early vaccination, adding that this should be done as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. It also said the birth dose should be followed by two or three doses to complete the vaccine series.

“Those who are at increased risk of hepatitis should be vaccinated. These categories of people include those who frequently require blood or blood products (for example dialysis patients), healthcare workers, people who inject drugs, household and sexual contacts of people with chronic Hepatitis B, and people with multiple sexual partners,” WHO recommended.

Studies show that safe and effective vaccination can prevent Hepatitis B for life, as it can be taken by both infants, children and adults.

The health body also called on member countries, including Nigeria to educate the populace about Hepatitis B and C especially on the need for its prevention.

Unlike HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are backed by donor funds, but control is not yet subsidised for hepatitis, as patients have to bear the cost of their testing, vaccine and of course treatment for those who must be on treatment

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

NEWS

EU Releases £20m to Tackle Water Challenges in Niger Delta Kuni Tyessi, in Abuja In order to promote socioeconomic activities in Niger Delta and promote peace through increased access to safe and sustainable water supply, the European Union has released 20 million euros to the region.

This was revealed recently

in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital during a media dialogue on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) by UNICEF WASH specialist, Engr. Moustapha Niang.

He said the project which is called the Niger Delta Support Project (NDSP) is a five-year project aimed at mitigating the conflict in the

Niger-delta region by addressing causes of non-availability of potable water and bring lasting solutions.

He said “In Nigerian only about 57.48 percent of the total population have access to improved water supply and of this percentage, the Niger-delta region make up of only 16.57 per cent (32

million) of the population (190 million) with access to improved water supply. “It is a peculiar project which has being designed to address the challenges in the region with an overall funding which is 20 million euros.

The objective is to mitigate the conflict in the region by addressing the main causes

and bringing lasting solutions.”

Others include “to increase access to safe and sustainable water supply services in rural communities and the selfselected Local Government Areas, as well as to improve sanitation and proper hygiene practice in rural communities and schools amongst others”

he said.

He said of all the Niger-delta states, Bayelsa is worst hit with serious issue of ground water contamination (either chemical or biological) with some parts having problems of iron. “There are cases of feacal contamination some months after boreholes are drilled and in use.

Nurses Can Drive Improvements in Quality Healthcare, Says Ambode Martins Ifijeh The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that nurses are well positioned to drive effective improvements in the provision of quality healthcare and attaining optimal patient and population outcomes.

Ambode who stated this recently while declaring open the 2017 Nurses Week celebration at the Conference Hall of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Ikeja, noted that the decisions nurses make multiple times a day in practice can make a vital difference in the efficiency of the health system.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, noted that nursing as a career is not just a backbreaking job but a vocation that requires a lifetime of sacrifice, compassion and love.

“I therefore want to appreciate all nurses and midwives for the commitment and compassion with

which you have continued to discharge your responsibility to humanity.

It is not your hard-earned license that has made you a nurse, it is your compassion and hard work which no award or accolade can qualify,” he said.

Ambode stressed that nurses as professionals in the health sector have an important role to play in ensuring that the required standard for implementation of the Lagos State health services delivery is upheld to facilitate the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

The governor while assuring nurses of his administration’s commitment to the provision of enabling environment for quality service delivery and their welfare stated that the Lagos State Government will reward excellent performance to encourage greater commitment and dedication. “I congratulate you on this year’s celebration and urge you all to continue the remarkable job you have been doing,” he said.

Hussaini, Cancer Researcher to Headline Pharmacy Academy’s Investiture Martins Ifijeh The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has concluded arrangements to induct six professionals into its ranks with a world-renowned cancer researcher and professor of pharmacology, Marte Hussaini headlining the investiture.

According to the ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Caleb University, Professor Fola Tayo, who doubles as General Secretary of the Academy, Hussaini’s work is particularly hallmarked by its focus on the use of local herbs in cancer therapy.

Tayo said cancer is a chronic disease condition for which the scientific community is still grappling with the need to better understand in order to proffer more effective preventive, management and curative approaches. “Professor Hussaini’s work is a tribute to academic excellence and apart from informing society about the progress he has made so far, we also want to inspire the rest of the scientific community and keep the quest for research into problems that afflict mankind, on the front-burner,” he added.

The six professionals billed to

be inducted into the Academy, said Tayo, have been painstakingly selected from a diverse pool of practice areas. “Beyond the fact that they are distinguished in their various practice areas, each inductee possesses a mindset and disposition that align with the Academy’s mission and reason for being.”

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy is a specialised academy that among others, seeks to promote scientific research and professional development especially in the health, pharmaceutical and related sectors in order to help overcome challenges posed by pain and disease as well as fast-track social and economic development in Nigeria and beyond.

Last July, it brought together, professionals drawn from the health sciences – medicine, pharmacy, nursing, medical laboratory sciences, physiotherapy and others – to brainstorm and proffer solutions on the subject of inter-professional collaboration, against the backdrop of the animosity and inter-professional rivalry that exists in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The investiture is billed to hold today, September 28, 2017 in Lagos.

L-R: Deputy Director, Food and Applied Nutrition, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Simidele Onobanjo; Director, Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor; and Director, Special Duties, NAFDAC, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, at the media briefing on seizure of fake products by NAFDAC in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

NBMA DG Tasks Scientists on Modern Biotechnology Says GMOs are not poisonous

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Director General and Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba, has described as erroneous the impression that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) products are dangerous for human consumption.

While challenging Nigerian scientists to come out in their numbers and defend the usefulness of modern biotechnology to the growth and development of the country, Ebegba blamed the upper hand antagonist of consumption of GMO products are having on silence of scientists.

Ebegba, who was represented

by Mr. Alex Abutu, in his keynote address at the Second South West Agroecological Biosafety Awareness workshop at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife recently, stressed that Nigeria was not in isolation of the global community in biosafety regulation.

“The voices of those against the technology are louder while those of pro are not much heard. Scientific evidence should guide the facts about GMOs, therefore it is imperative for scientists to come out of their laboratories and tell Nigerians the inherent benefits of this technology and how it will transform our quest for food self sufficiency.

“The global debate on the environmental and health safety

issues surrounding the practice and products of modern biotechnology will continue for a long time, but most importantly, the arguments should be based on scientific evidence not rumours, emotions, sympathy or hearsay,” he added. According to him, “the NBMA was established by government as a safety valve that will ensure the practice of modern biotechnology did not pose any harm to Nigerians or the environment, adding that the public should trust government position in the regulation of modern biotechnology practice and GMOs. “The NBMA is well positioned to effectively manage and ensure safety in the application of modern biotechnology and use of genetically modified organisms in Nigeria, with a view to averting any adverse impacts on human health and the environment,” Ebegba said.

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, said the workshop was timely and appropriate especially at a time the federal government is diversifying the economy to reposition agriculture as the mainstay.

He reassured of the university’s readiness to further support research in molecular and biotechnological applications, maintaining that OAU will no longer play second fiddle in the cutting-edge technology.

OAM Advocates End to Stigmatisation of Albinos Empowers them with 50 Eye Glasses The Onome Akinlolu Majaro (OAM) Foundation has called on Nigerians to stop stigmatising people living with albinism, stressing that the condition is not a disease but only a genetic disorder.

Speaking during presentation of 50 eye glasses and frames to Albinos at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) recently, the Executive Director OAM, Mrs. Rita Okagbare, said it was high time people stop discriminating against albinos even in marriages and relationships.

She called for continuous awareness programmes as a way to end stigmatisation.

Okagbare said while OAM would continue to educate, advocate and empower albinos in the country, the major challenge of the organisation was financial issues, as they have more to give to the special Nigerians, but limited. “We call on the government, organisations and individual for support,” she added.

Head of Department, Ophthalmology, LUTH, Prof.

Adeola Onakoya, on her part explained that people living with albinism were having sight problems due to the arrangement of their nerves, adding that their eyes can be corrected by giving glasses or low visual aids, but not surgery.

“People living with albinism are peculiar. The way God

made them, the arrangement of the nerves that helps with seeing in them is slightly different and that’s one of the reason why they have poor vision.

“Some of them have no issues with vision. But often times we advise very light skinned children to come to the hospital for examination. For those who are severely visually impaired, we can still improve their visiona bit, not with surgery, but by giving them glasses or through low visual aids to aid them,” she said.

The Head of Department, Dermatology, LUTH, Dr. Olusola Ayanlowo emphasised on proper education for parents so they don’t expose their children to sunlight in order to avoid skin burn which may cause cancer.

“The skin problem with albinos is still all about the sun. The melanin protect the skin from hazards of the sun but people with albinism have a very low or complete absence of the pigment. So when they get exposed to sun light, they have damages on their skin and the eyes.

“Parents need to know that their albino children are normal and can have challenges of the skin. So as soon as they are born, they should desist from exposing them to the sun.

Teachers should be educated as well.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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HEALTH

Unfair Attitudes to Children with Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria Odimegwu Onwumere writes on how some health workers, parents and the society unfairly relate with Nigerian children with cerebral palsy, which in some cases lead to torture and even death of the kids with special need In what may appear like a Hollywood or Nollywood film, Nigerians stood dead recently watching a leaked video recording of a renowned Nigerian physiotherapist going berserk against a child with cerebral palsy (CP). The physiotherapist assaulted the child several times.

The CCTV that uncovered the inimical behaviour, showed that the child was slapped and pushed around the ground several times.

The mother of the child whose name was given as Mrs. Bukola Ayinde – Founder of P4:13 Foundation and author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum – could not bear the pains of watching the manhandling of her daughter with special needs.

Ayinde’s voice echoed amid bitterness. “Such was a primordial behaviour of a health worker who was supposed to save life,” she cried out.

“I could not believe that it was my daughter that was maltreated the way the physiotherapist did. The most annoying part was watching my daughter hit her head on the tiles and others several times.”

It was noted that the physiotherapist happened to be Ayinde’s family therapist. To further the humiliation of the child, the physiotherapist used other objects like cell phone on the child.

According to a report dubbed ‘My Daughter with Cerebral Palsy was Battered by the Therapist I Trusted’ credited to Ayinde, she claimed that the physiotherapist warped her daughter’s hands quite a lot of times.

“At a point she sat on my daughter’s hands, at another point she tied her hands behind her head. I watched as my daughter fell from her chair while her neck was stuck in between the space at the vertical back rest and the flat wood used for sitting down. Did I mention that she took out time to take her selfie? Up to five times.”

It was however learned that the authorities under the auspices of Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba had apprehended the victimiser of the child. But some of the people who watched the video said they could not finish watching the video given its pitiable nature, heart breaking. To them, they were of the view that the health worker should not have seen any mother that gave birth to a child with special need as her wish.

Having children with special needs is not the preserve of any woman, be her poor or rich, they said. In February 2017, there were reports of the wife of Kogi State Governor, Barrister Amina Oyize Bello, the founder of Hayat Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, named after her first son, Hayatula Olarize Bello, saying that she was “mocked and stigmatised” for the reason that

Children with cerebral palsy deserve love and care

her fate bestowed a CP child to her.

“I have a son named Hayatula Olarize Bello.

I gave birth to him sometime in 2007 and he has Cerebral Palsy,” Bello said. “Initially, we didn’t know, we were just living in denial. We travelled from one country to the other, seeking solution and of course, we went through all those challenges and discovered that he had Cerebral Palsy.”

In a chat with the media, Mrs. Bello frowned at conjectures that most parents lock up their children with special needs inside their homes and would not want any stranger to notice they have such a child.

“The major challenge was a society that was not accepting his kind. When we showed him too much love, people began to say that we must have used him for money rituals and when we don’t, it is like we are hiding him,”

she added.

While many parents would hide such a child, Mrs. Kawan Aondofa Anjira, the Founder of SEEDOO Initiative, a group that sees to children with special needs, while fielding questions from journalists on the issue in Abuja, last year, claimed that children with special needs were not only hidden by their parents, but also killed.

“Children born with CP are killed every day in Nigeria, whereas they should deserve a right to survive,” Anjira claimed.

Mrs. Bello conversely testified that she could not imagine being wicked let alone practicing wickedness. She said that she was humane and loved people so much beginning from when she was growing up, hence she loved her son so much not minding his nature-given fate.

“I grew up with empathy for people and I

love my son regardless; and my husband had to really put his feet down and insisted he is my first son,” she said. “Eventually our journey took us to Kennedy Craig in the United States and Johns Hopkins respectively. There, not just the hospital, but society was so loving and for the first time I realised there was nothing wrong with my son.”

While Mrs. Bello said that the country she travelled to loved children with special needs, Air Vice-Marshall Femi Gbadebo (Rtd) who had a 20-year-old son suffering from CP, stated, “Having managed my son’s condition for quite some time and travelled extensively around the world, I came to the conclusion that something is fundamentally wrong with the way disability is being managed in Nigeria.”

Those who know better said that CP patients are common in Nigeria. According to Freeman Osonuga, Founder/Executive Director, Heal The World Foundation Nigeria, “The prevalence of cerebral palsy among pediatric neurology clinic of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital from 2000 to 2006 was a dashed 50.3 per cent.”

Just in 2013, Nigeria was said to have 700,000 children with cerebral palsy, as according to Consultant paediatrician, Prof. Afolabi Lesi while speaking at the maiden National Cerebral Palsy (CP) family forum organised by a CP initiative, Benola, Lesi, Dean of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

“60 to 80 per cent of such children would have co-morbidities such as seizures and intellectual disabilities, among others,” said Lesi.

This was even as Gbadebo sermonised that about 17 million people were passing through CP around the world; it’s believed that where there is a CP patient, the household is affected, especially in Nigeria where the healthcare is unsatisfactory.

Arguing that the mindset of Nigerians must change if cerebral palsy would be ultimately defeated, Gbadebo said, “We need to get the federal government and the private sector involved in this fight. I believe that it is ignorance that gives rise to the fear and stigma associated with disabilities in this country.”

However, while the physiotherapist that assaulted the child perhaps saw CP as a crime, this is then again not the view of experts, advising, “Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical disability that affects movement and posture.

It is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move.

CP is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.”

Malaria: 3m Treated Nets for Distribution in Upgrade Ebonyi General Hospitals, NGO Tells Ondo Umahi James Sowole in Akure About three million Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) will be distributed free to families in communities of Ondo State between October 28 and 2nd November 2017.

The distribution is in fulfillment of the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the use of LLINs is one of the most effective ways of preventing malaria.

Already, a campaign team of health workers drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health, Ondo State Ministry of Health and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) had arrived the state to kick off the exercise with

household mobilisation from October 7 to 15, 2017.

Mrs. Nneka Ndubuisi from the Catholic Relief Services, disclosed the plan for the distribution at a media sensitisation programme on the exercise and which had participants from media organisations in and outside the state.

She said each household would get a maximum of four nets during the exercise saying the census of households would be done before the distribution.

According to Ndubusi, malaria which is the most common preventable health problem takes a lethal toll of 97 per cent of Nigerians especially

children under five years of age and pregnant women.

She said apart from the huge social and economic burden to our communities and country, billions of naira are lost to malaria annually in form of treatment, prevention and loss of man hours.

She stressed that WHO has said that the best way for scaling-up malaria prevention is the use of the LLINs. During the campaign period, she said household mobilisers will visit each household, register them and issue net cards adding that a net will be given to two persons and maximum of four nets to a household.

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy For Good Governance, has called on Ebonyi State Government to immediately upgrade the 13 general hospitals to provide efficient healthcare service delivery to the people and save the hospitals from imminent collapse.

The group advised the state government to develop a strategic master plan to revive the health sector by equipping the general hospitals for efficient healthcare service delivery in the state. In a press conference in Abakaliki, the state capital,

the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the group, Comrade Okenwa Uka who disclosed this also called on the government to relocate the South-east Virology Centre situated at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki to a secluded environment so that patients of Lassa fever admitted in the centre would not infect others in the hospital.

He stressed that the group was formed to enthrone positive change and to ensure that the tenets of democracy and accountability are entrenched in the present administration of Governor David Umahi.

Ukah emphasised that the platform was not to antagonise the Umahi’s-led administration

but it was expedient to redirect the focus of the administration to suite interests and demands of the people. Another member of the group, Prince Uche Ali Ega called on the state government to immediately convene a stakeholders meeting to address all the perennial issues affecting the state. and support the campaign to save lives of the people.

However, they listed some of the benefits of sleeping inside the nets as prevention from mosquito bites and spread of malaria, sound and undisturbed sleep and saving of lives, money and stress. The nets according to the team would last for three years if used properly.

39

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

HEALTH FG Reiterates Commitment to Improved Healthcare Delivery Ugo Aliogo, Omotayi Ajayi and Afolabi Lawal The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, has reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve healthcare delivery in the country, while expressing desire to support the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria (MRTB) in its efforts at addressing rehabilitation challenges in the country.

He disclosed this recently in Lagos at the International Conference for Medical Rehabilitation Professionals Board of Nigeria (MRTB) with the theme: ‘Medical Rehabilitation in Community and Primary Health Care in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa’.

Adewole, who represented by the Minister for State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the present administration places high priority in growing human resources in all areas especially the health sector, adding that the backbone of the administration policy is the renovation and equipping of 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country.

He noted that the drive of the administration is to strengthen its health systems and rapidly increase the number of communities in which citizen can enjoy high quality health services.

The minister explained that the MRTB’s input in line with policy regulations and individual mentoring is vital.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of MRTB,

Olufunke Akanle, said in 2015, the board organised a policy development technical working group on the formulation of a disability policy and bill for its inclusion in the national health policy.

She added that a fraction of that policy appeared in the National Health Policy, and their desire is that a Bill of Disability Concerns would have exhaustive pages wholly addressing matters concerning persons living with disabilities and their access to health.

Akanle explained that through the conference they have been able to push for the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centres across the country, adding that ideas have been properly outlined and an architectural structure presentation on the proposed national rehabilitation centres was delivered in the course of the conference.

Continuing, Adewole added: “The National Health Act which was signed into Law in 2014 provides for citizens to have access to basic healthcare package. This should in time come with innovative ideas of MRTB. It should also include access to medical rehabilitation services in rural areas. All profession groups are very important to many medical and surgical interventions. There should be attention paid to data collation for persons living with disabilities and related services to aid in research. The federal government will continue to provide the enabling environment to support the board.”

TDCF Campaigns against Childhood Cancer, Solicits Better Healthcare System Martins Ifijeh A non-profit organisation, The Dorcas Cancer Foundation (TDCF), has raised alarm over the burden of cancer on children, while agitating for proper attention and better healthcare services for children living with cancer.

The founder of TDCF, Dr. Adedayo Joseph during the Childhood Cancer Handbook Series Launch, organised by the foundation recently, noted that children were dying of cancer as a result of expensive treatment which many Nigerian parents cannot afford.

“There should be awareness to the existence of these things, not just the disease of childhood cancer, but the dearth of treatment,” she said.

Speaking on the book, she explained that the book will provide information about cancer in general, things to watch out for adding that the book explains how the parents are the most valuable player as regard children cancer.

“With the launch of our three handbooks on childhood cancer today, we open our hearts and hands to bring information to anyone to have come into contact with childhood cancer and does not know where to turn. These books will go a long way into letting them know that they are not alone, and

the Dorcas Cancer Foundation is rooting for them, until every single Nigerian child will no longer be at dire risk of dying from childhood cancer,” she said.

A Board Member, TDCF, Dr. Peju Daudu, explained that most times the parents are not conscious of their children’s cancer status on time, adding that early detection is key.

“The first way out is early detection.

Many parents don’t know what to look out for. When a child is sick, they take the child to the hospital and the doctor may not know the exact problem of the child and instead of referral, they keep managing the child. When the health issue persists, you find out that some parents will start looking for various avenues, including going to religious homes or trado-medicals. And by the time they are properly diagnosed in the hospital, it will then be too late.”

Speaking on the same vein, an Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Remi Adekingbe called for early detection and diagnosis.

Adekingbe urged for private and government partnerships to secure the lives of cancer patients, stating that treatment and drugs for cancer are very expensive.

FG to Provide ARV for 50,000 Additional People Living with HIV Yearly As NACA, UNAIDS lauds move Martins Ifijeh The Nigerian government has made new commitments to use domestic funds to provide antiretroviral drugs to an additional 50,000 people living with Human Immuno Virus (HIV) each year in the country.

Government’s commitment was announced in a speech

by President Muhammadu Buhari at the just concluded high-level side event convened by the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, in collaboration with UNAIDS, during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. The side event was meant to accelerate action and get countries on the fast track to

end AIDS by 2030 The Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sank Aliyu, who read the statement on behalf of President Buhari at the event, said: “We recognise the impact of the global financing environment and the need for shared responsibility in order to end AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.

“Thus, we have committed to increased domestic resourcing of the AIDS response. In the light of this, we are committed to maintain the current 60,000 plus clients on life saving medicines and an additional 50,000 new clients per year,” President Buhari said.

He announced that Nigeria had already put more than one million people living with

HIV on treatment.

Meanwhile, various local and international health organisations have lauded the move, describing it as a positive way to eradicating HIV/AIDS in the country. Dr. Aliyu in a statement on behalf of NACA, said the Agency was encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by the federal government towards putting more of its own financial resources to the HIV response. “This is one sure way of helping Nigeria end AIDS by 2030,” he said.

The Country Director, United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS), Dr. Erasmus Morah said the UN body was thrilled by the new momentum and firm commitments that President Buhari is bringing to HIV response. “We are eager to

support the process of putting more people living with HIV in Nigeria on treatment,” he added.

Other important new commitments announced by President Buhari included working with partners to conduct a national population-based HIV survey to gather new evidence to guide Nigeria’s response, a plan to establish a private-sector funded AIDS Trust Fund as well as securing of HIV funding commitments from the States.

He also expressed commitment to offering an enabling environment for the local manufacture of antiretroviral drugs in support of Nigeria’s policy to immediately put any person who tests positive for HIV on treatment.

L-R: Board Member, Dorcas Cancer Foundation (DCF), Mr. Olusola Oyedokun; Chairman, DCF, Rear Admiral Oladehinde Joseph; Founder, DCF, Dr. Adedayo Joseph; Professor of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Aderemi Ajekigbe; and Board Member, DCF, Prof. Durosinmi Etti, during the book launch on child cancer, organised by DCF in Lagos recently

NAFDAC Arrests Manufacturers of WHO: Edo Tops Nigeria’s Routine Immunisation Unregistered Products Ayodeji Ake The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as part of its efforts to rid Nigeria of counterfeiters, has arrested the Managing Director, Tasty Time Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Kole Isaac, for the production, distribution and sale of unregistered Tasty Time and Glucozeaid Energy Drink with fake registration number 01-2474L. Giving a detail of the raid at a press conference in Lagos recently, the Acting Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Yetunde Oni, said the agency has uncovered offending product with 17 other unregistered products in the company’s warehouse and factory, adding that the MD could not produce evidence of registration of any of the products with NAFDAC. “Following the intelligence report by the agency’s Pharmaco vigilance and post marketing surveillance, a facility suspected in Mile 12 area of Lagos to be producing Lamjib Herbal Medicine using the NAFDAC registration number, while the suspect claimed the product is duly registered with NAFDAC and even tendered registration

certificate to the investigators,” she said. She said the fake NAFDAC certificate was forged by one Mr. Yahaya in collaboration with two others; Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim a.k.a Lamido and Mr. Idris Adamu based in Sokoto through a computer, where they printed and way billed it to the company.

Oni, who was represented by the Director of Investigation, NAFDAC, Mr. Kigsley Ejiofor, noted that the agency has been on the path of ensuring that Nigerians have rights to good quality, safe, effective and wholesome regulated products.

“NAFDAC is taking steps to arrest the situation of fake registration numbers on regulated products, forgery of NAFDAC documents and other unauthorised finished products through renewed enforcement drive and post registration market surveillance,” he said.

Addressing the issue of fake registration numbers, Director for Special Duty, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh noted that NAFDAC registration takes a very stringent process that may take over three months due to the processes involved to ensure the products are of good quality.

Coverage Chart Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Edo State has been adjudged the best-performing state in routine immunisation coverage in Nigeria, with no variation between its administrative data and the outcome of the National Immunisation Coverage Survey conducted in 2016. This was disclosed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Edo State, Mrs. Faith Ireye, during the flag-off of routine immunisation intensification project by Governor Godwin Obaseki, at Egor Local Government Area of the state.

The National Immunisation Coverage Survey is a joint review by WHO and UNICEF to ascertain variations between empirical data and the immunisation performance system or where data might be misleading.

The administrative coverage data is reported by national authorities and based on aggregated administrative reports from health service providers on the number of

vaccinations administered during a given period and reported target population data.

This was compared with data based on estimated coverage from household surveys among children aged 12-23 months or 24-35 months.

Ireye said there has been a huge reduction in vaccinepreventable disease rate in the state, adding, “Edo has been able to achieve the measles elimination target of less than one measles case per 1,000,000 population.”

She hinted that the state’s performance could be attributed to Governor Obaseki’s championing of an incentivebased system to accelerate results in healthcare delivery, with the yearly cash award to the best performing LGAs in routine immunisation.

She commended the governor for the initiative, stressing that it would spur local councils and health workers to be at their best as they carry out routine immunisation programme in the state.

40

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 Ëž T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Benin Republic Seeks Stronger Trade Ties with Nigeria Olawale Ajimotokan Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Cynthia Oor Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The President of the Benin Republic Chamber of Commerce, Jean Baptiste-Satchivi has called for improved commercial ties with Nigeria to sustain the future of consumers in the two countries.

Satchivi made the call at the 12th Abuja International Trade Fair, where he was the guest of honour. He said the collaboration between the two countries will impact on the enormous West African region market.

He also stressed that the collaboration should exploit the various opportunities in the different sectors of economy including vocational training

to engender growth. “We need to do business with Nigeria and be together. My dream for the corporation with the business leaders of Nigeria is that together we should be able to feed our people by making agriculture a key component in our development initiatives.

I want us to go further by developing the business sector,’’ Satchivi, said.

The President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce (ACCI), Tony Ejinkeonye said the activities of the chamber had impacted positively on agriculture, technology, invention strategies, sectorial linkages and trade facilitation.

Ejinkeonye, represented by the

First Deputy President of ACCI, Adetokunbo Kayode, said the chamber had created the Abuja Trade Fair as an avenue to offer direct services to both local and international audience.

He said ACCI had remained resolutely supportive to the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in view of their critical role over the years to the national growth.

The Chamber is emphasising on promotion of the non-oil exports at the fair in view of the recovery of Nigeria from economic recession in the second quarter of 2017, driven by improved performance largely in agriculture, manufacturing and the trade sector.

Oando Supports US-Nigeria Business Relations in New York The US Nigeria Council (USNC) for Food Security, Trade and Investment, an organisation dedicated to strengthening commercial ties between Nigeria and the United States recently hosted an exclusive dinner in New York with top US investors displaying keen interest in Nigeria.

The event was held on the sidelines of the recently concluded 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It was a platform to dialogue and build US-Nigeria commercial relations, with the aim of significantly deepening a new era of understanding and cooperation between the US and Nigeria. According to a statement, the Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu was in attendance at the private dinner that created a platform for US and Nigerian companies to deliberate on ways to build on

Nigeria’s return to growth and deepen diversification.

The event was co-hosted by the Chairman of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, John Coumantaros; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji, and the Vice-Chairman of McLarty Associates, Ambassador John Negroponte. Council members and dinner participants focused on an urgent need to further developthe Nigerian economy, especially after a recession.

Speaking on the success of the event, Tinubu said: “As we know, global firms and investors are increasingly drawn to Nigeria, Africa’s largest and most dynamic market, but navigating the rapidly changing business ecosystem requires strategic partnerships. “Collaboration is essential to

not only maximise an organisation’s potential, but also to grow and diversify the Nigerian economy. Meetings like these encourage tangible partnerships across both borders and allow for an upward drive of the economy.� Tinubu applauded the Council for facilitating transactions between a very diverse set of stakeholders and expressed his hopes for even stronger and more impactful relationships in the near future. “The commitment of Nigerian businesses to the USNC was demonstrated by the active participation of Tinubu Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, Tunde Folawiyo of Yinka Folawiyo Group, Abdulrazaq Isa of Waltersmith, Kola Karim of Shoreline Energy, and Oscar Onyema of the Nigeria Stock Exchange,� the statement added.

Protea Hotels Expands Footprint with New Property in Owerri Protea Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott International, has announced the opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott in Owerri, a development, which the promoters said further consolidated their presence in the country.

The 90-room hotel, developed

by African Capital Alliance, a leading investment firm, and Kunoch Limited, is located in Owerri city, the capital of Imo State.

Imo State is commonly referred to as the “Heartland� and is regarded as the entertainment capital of Eastern Nigeria. The

state is also a producer of oil and natural gas and is home to a large number of regional oil and financial services offices.

Commenting on the opening of the hotel, the Vice President Protea Hotels by Marriott, Mr. Volker Heiden said: “The opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott, Owerri Select, illustrates our confidence in the potential of Nigeria and is in line with our commitment to grow in strategic secondary cities across the continent. The recent expansion of the city’s airport, will give the city better accessibility,

which we are confident will further drive business travel.�

To the Principal and Head of Real Estate at African Capital Alliance, Mr. Obiora Nwogugu, the new hotel is an important addition to the hotels the company already own in the cities of Lagos and Benin in Nigeria, and Takoradi in Ghana. “We are pleased to partner yet again with Protea Hotels by Marriott, which enjoys strong regional brand equity and awareness coupled with the global distribution of Marriott International,� Nwogugu added.

PTAD Debunks Alleged 33% Arrears to Pensioners The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has refuted reports regarding the payment of 33 percent arrears to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

Initial reports had suggested the federal government had released various sums of money to PTAD for the settlement of 33 percent pension arrears to pensioners, claiming that the agency was holding on to the money. But PTAD in a statement said: “Nothing could be further from the truth.�

It clarified that “PTAD is not in arrears in the payment of Monthly Pension to Civil Service, Parastatals, Police and Customs, Immigration and Prison pensioners. The Director-

ate pays monthly pension as at when due. “That PTAD does not operate any account outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and all payments are made via GIFMIS or Remita, depending on the mode of release, as the Directorate is 100 per cent treasury funded. “That PTAD has settled the 33% arrears for at least one year for each of the Pension Departments. The most recent payments made were to the Police (9 months) and to 22 treasury funded agencies, health institutions, universities and polytechnics which had hitherto not been paid anything out of the 33% arrears. The payment made to the latter group was for

12 months and brought them to par with other pensioners in their category.�

It added:�That the balance of the outstanding 33% arrears was included in the total pension liability established and reconciled by the Inter-ministerial Committee on Pension Liabilities which was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by the Minister of Finance (HMF). “The Executive Secretary of PTAD served as secretary of the Committee. The minister of finance is working tirelessly to ensure that funds are made available to settle these obligations which have been graciously approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).�

Broad Street, Lagos

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 26, TUESAY 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $56.43 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $55.62 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), 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

41

˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

26-Sept-17 25-Sept-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

01 Dangote Cement Plc

206.00

213.00

-3.29%

3,510,344,525,430.00

13.34

15.95

4.93

3.76%

4.40

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

167.00

168.00

-0.60%

1,324,159,848,296.00

3.58

51.23

4.64

1.96%

8.77

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

39.60

39.50

0.25%

1,165,474,697,270.40

4.49

8.79

2.78

4.48%

2.16

1,205.30

1,225.00

-1.61%

955,388,580,535.60

10.00

122.02

5.32

2.38%

31.32

05 Zenith Bank Plc

22.12

22.01

0.50%

694,490,442,546.32

4.13

5.52

1.41

7.89%

1.02

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

06 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

39.50

39.50

0.00%

395,000,000,000.00

2.85

14.20

2.59

0.25%

2.88

Stock

07 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

18.00

18.00

0.00%

330,291,921,870.00

0.68

26.61

0.56

3.44%

0.53

08 United Bank for Africa Plc

8.65

8.70

-0.57%

313,817,902,685.30

1.99

4.81

0.91

6.26%

0.78

09 Access Bank Plc

9.55

9.60

-0.52%

276,262,129,076.05

13.18

0.76

0.76

5.50%

0.64

450.00

450.00

0.00%

248,989,640,850.00 -82.02

-5.88

4.21

3.30%

0.71

11 Presco Plc

59.00

57.06

3.40%

234,258,145,655.00

0.03 2,338.93

3.81

1.90%

6.49

12 Lafarge Africa Plc

50.02

50.00

0.04%

227,836,188,536.20

3.71

15.36

1.18

5.26%

1.04

13 FBN Holdings Plc

5.60

5.61

-0.18%

201,013,639,635.20

0.16

35.99

0.35

2.55%

0.35

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc

44.29

44.10

0.43%

167,562,190,912.50

0.81

49.26

2.17

0.13%

12.95

15 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

13.70

13.80

-0.72%

164,400,000,000.00

2.01

6.92

0.77

3.60%

2.19

16 Guinness Nig Plc

99.28

99.28

0.00%

149,504,579,304.64

-3.06

-25.17

1.12

4.16%

2.94

17 International Breweries Plc

35.68

37.55

-4.98%

117,538,814,310.40

0.02 1,642.11

4.58

0.68%

11.11

231.00

231.00

0.00%

78,429,544,347.00

43.58

5.43

0.28

5.92%

3.41

5.99

5.80

3.28%

72,087,367,175.06

0.29

23.59

0.18

10.95%

0.43

20 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

26.55

26.55

0.00%

69,673,497,314.85

3.71

7.82

0.14

6.90%

0.72

21 Forte Oil Plc.

49.90

49.90

0.00%

64,993,807,039.70

3.66

13.66

0.50

6.90%

1.38

170.00

170.00

0.00%

61,301,194,540.00

22.61

7.69

0.67

4.14%

2.92

23 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

63.21

63.21

0.00%

60,296,651,100.00

5.15

12.75

4.36

0.15%

3.68

24 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

90.02

90.00

0.02%

57,665,944,477.26 -21.86

-4.21

0.52

2.39%

5.47

1.24

1.26

-1.59%

48,014,036,807.00

-0.03

-43.98

0.83

0.00%

0.57

29.33

29.33

0.00%

38,715,600,000.00

-2.89

-11.83

0.32

4.39%

0.64

1.30

1.30

0.00%

37,651,361,399.60

0.39

3.54

0.26

11.68%

0.21

28 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

13.10

12.50

4.80%

34,707,642,751.80

0.91

14.26

1.88

4.23%

4.28

29 U A C N Plc

15.19

15.19

0.00%

29,177,930,038.53

3.37

4.44

0.38

6.68%

0.38

1.00

1.00

0.00%

28,790,418,126.00

0.18

5.86

0.27

8.57%

0.35

22.00

22.00

0.00%

26,309,282,736.00

3.02

6.95

1.67

1.43%

1.50

1.13

1.14

-0.88%

26,171,239,533.84

-0.29

-4.02

0.13

0.00%

0.12

33 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

25.22

25.22

0.00%

25,220,000,000.00

5.69

4.73

1.87

0.37%

0.72

34 Cap Plc

33.00

33.00

0.00%

23,100,000,000.00

2.17

15.89

3.54

3.33%

16.77

35 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.63

3.63

0.00%

21,351,167,027.85

1.06

3.35

0.51

3.93%

0.64

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.00

1.91

4.71%

21,000,000,000.00

0.25

7.57

0.96

2.63%

0.99

37 FCMB Group Plc

1.06

1.06

0.00%

20,990,873,427.86

0.09

13.13

0.13

8.93%

0.12

11.00

11.00

0.00%

20,660,222,440.00

-0.64

-18.74

0.70

10.77%

2.15

39 Wema Bank Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

19,287,233,040.50

0.07

7.59

0.37

0.00%

0.41

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

2.04

1.95

4.62%

16,177,603,222.32

-0.40

-5.19

0.35

7.62%

0.50

41 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.50

1.57

-4.46%

15,559,116,468.00

0.30

4.51

0.54

8.96%

0.69

42 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.80

8.80

0.00%

11,058,764,340.80

1.29

6.96

0.70

1.11%

0.90

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.54

0.53

1.89%

7,495,362,761.40

-2.93

-0.21

0.05

49.18%

0.08

44 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.18

2.78

0.85

6.00%

0.41

45 Unity Bank Plc

0.56

0.54

3.70%

6,546,029,247.52

0.19

3.16

0.08

0.00%

0.08

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

3.00

3.00

0.00%

5,156,249,985.00

-0.90

-3.23

0.79

24.05%

0.15

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

3.03

3.03

0.00%

4,921,382,812.50

0.36

9.51

0.69

5.88%

0.85

49 Fidson Healthcare Plc

3.10

3.15

-1.59%

4,650,000,000.00

0.50

6.46

0.41

1.56%

0.69

50 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.54

0.55

-1.82%

3,742,310,419.20

1.48

0.38

0.14

8.93%

0.45

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

10 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

18 Total Nigeria Plc 19 Oando Plc

22 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 26 Julius Berger Nig. Plc 27 Fidelity Bank Plc

30 Sterling Bank Plc 31 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc 32 Diamond Bank Plc

38 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

TOTAL

11,449,591,314,821.20

TOTAL MARKET CAP

12,130,399,898,006.60

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

94.39%

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion) Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open Close Change % 25-Sept-17 26-Sept-17 35,358.73 12.19

34,951.27 12.05

-1.15 -1.15

148.78 11.58

147.05 11.45

-1.16 -1.16

Open Close Change % 25-Sept-17 26-Sept-17

National Salt Co. Nig. Plc Mansard Insurance Plc Honeywell Flour Mill Plc Unity Bank Plc Presco Plc

12.50 1.91 1.95 0.54 57.06

13.10 2.00 2.04 0.56 59.00

4.80 4.71 4.62 3.70 3.40

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change % 25-Sept-17 26-Sept-17

International Breweries Plc Continental Reinsurance Plc Dangote Cement Plc AIICO Insurance Plc Nestle Nigeria Plc

37.55 1.57 213.00 0.55 1,225.00

35.68 1.50 206.00 0.54 1,205.30

-4.98 -4.46 -3.29 -1.82 -1.61

Market Slides by 1.15% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today - Tuesday, September 26th, 2017 ended negative as the market closed red. This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Subsectors: Banking, Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Insurance). However, trading activities increased in volume as 500.30 million shares worth N3.62 billion in 3,120 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 107 million shares worth N1.37 billion in 2,848 trades were carried out on Monday.

Topping in volume terms are: Sterling Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and Mansard Insurance Plc; while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with 1.15% (-407.46) decrease to close at 34,951.27 from 35,358.73 the previous trading day. Market capitalization depreciated in tandem to N12.05 trillion from N12.19 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index closes with an increase of 1.16% to 147.05 from 148.78 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N11.45 trillion from N11.58 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 16 stocks gained on the bourse today while 19 stocks declined, leaving 62 stocks unchanged. Leading the pack again was Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc led with a gain of 4.84% to close at N0.65 per share. It was followed

by National Salt Co. Nig. Plc with a gain of 4.80% to close at N13.10 per share. Others on the gainers’ list include: Mansard Insurance Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc and C&I Leasing Plc. On the decliners’ list, International Breweries Plc led with a loss of 4.98% to close at N35.68 per share. It was followed

by McNichols Plc with a loss of 4.76% to close at N1.20 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Continental Reinsurance Plc, A.G. Leventis (Nigeria) Plc and LAW Union & Rock Insurance (Nig.) Plc. National Salt Co. Nig. Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 4.80% to close at N13.10 per share. It was followed by Mansard Insurance Plc with a gain of 4.71% to close at N2.00 per share.

Others on the gainers chart include: Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Presco Plc. On the decliners’ list, International Breweries Plc led with a loss of 4.98% to close at N35.68 per share. It was closely followed by Continental Reinsurance Plc with a loss of 4.46% to close at N1.50 per share. Others on the decliners’ list are: Dangote Cement Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc and Nestle Nigeria 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

42

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Nigerian Equities Market Rebounds, Index Rises 0.44% Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie The Nigerian equities market yesterday recorded its first gain in the week following bargain hunting and appreciation posted by Dangote Cement Plc. The market declined in the first two trading days of the week, falling by 1.15 per cent on Tuesday.

However, the market rebounded yesterday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index appreciating by 0.44 per cent to close at 35,103.40, while market capitalisation added N52.1 billion to close higher at N12.05 trillion.

It was tight contest between the bulls and bears as the market recorded 24 price gainers and 22 price losers.

T H E MAIN BOARD Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal Bond Name 15.54% FGN FEB 2020 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals DEBT Board Totals Bond Activity Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Building Construction Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 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. JAIZ 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 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

However, the gains posted Dangote Cement Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Transcorp Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings lifted the market to close in green.

“We attribute the gains recorded in the market to the positive sentiments in the industrial goods space, specifically on Dangote Cement. Despite the positivity in

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

No. of Deals 1 1 2 2 2

Current Price 98.7 135

Quantity Traded 105 100 205 205 205

Value Traded 103,815.41 137,197.80 241,013.21 241,013.21 241,013.21

No. of Deals 11 4 15 No. of Deals 5 5 20

Current Price 44.18 46

Quantity Traded 41,208 5,201 46,409 Quantity Traded 153,470 153,470 199,879

Value Traded 1,887,024.20 240,161.40 2,127,185.60 Value Traded 119,266.60 119,266.60 2,246,452.20

Current Price 0.78

No. of Deals 1 1 4 56 48 110 110

Current Price 0.78 0.66 3.77 0.78 15.1

Quantity Traded 100 500 10,000 4,840,952 350,363 5,201,915 5,201,915

Value Traded 78 315 35,900.00 3,807,735.66 5,054,510.34 8,898,539.00 8,898,539.00

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 5 5 No. of Deals 65 65 71

Current Price 4.79

Quantity Traded 200 200 Quantity Traded 10,272 10,272 Quantity Traded 1,656,711 1,656,711 1,667,183

Value Traded 958 958 Value Traded 375,647.04 375,647.04 Value Traded 3,493,667.49 3,493,667.49 3,870,272.53

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 3 64 7 208 282 No. of Deals 18 18 No. of Deals 33 22 32 15 11 113 No. of Deals 25 98 123 No. of Deals 14 14 No. of Deals 26 17 43 594

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000 Quantity Traded 5,160 288,915 51,123 1,386,914 1,732,112 Quantity Traded 6,947 6,947 Quantity Traded 616,050 345,909 84,482 1,028,600 117,500 2,192,541 Quantity Traded 136,880 133,592 270,472 Quantity Traded 140,811 140,811 Quantity Traded 203,505 43,451 246,956 4,689,839

Value Traded 50,000.00 50,000.00 Value Traded 11,558.40 17,613,098.61 801,955.76 156,078,414.27 174,505,027.04 Value Traded 675,390.11 675,390.11 Value Traded 2,410,595.00 2,125,832.90 1,491,827.07 1,128,310.00 833,010.00 7,989,574.97 Value Traded 1,172,206.13 79,110,103.35 80,282,309.48 Value Traded 289,850.97 289,850.97 Value Traded 2,596,373.80 1,424,799.57 4,021,173.37 267,813,325.94

Quantity Traded 11,476,994 1,149,393 58,189 8,142,068 20,039,315 1,081,695 25,994,229 5,772,233 251,225 350 800 73,966,491 Quantity Traded 214,682 503,100 200 3,000 44,144 900 5,100 1,000 401,000 1,000 384 1,174,510 Quantity Traded 1,000 25,100 26,100 Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000 Quantity Traded 450,576 325,400 1,000 3,530,043 12,830 8,474,959 12,794,808

Value Traded 76,018,367.81 990,711.98 560,377.50 6,806,919.19 477,105,071.95 1,417,729.20 18,222,090.30 27,705,413.04 1,185,050.41 276.5 408 610,012,415.88 Value Traded 126,611.20 530,295.00 100 4,770.00 36,196.64 450 2,550.00 500 200,500.00 500 192 902,664.84 Value Traded 2,700.00 27,111.00 29,811.00 Value Traded 1,440.00 1,440.00 Value Traded 1,399,304.19 1,084,759.00 500 4,689,332.14 211,696.60 31,174,405.94 38,559,997.87

No. of Deals 167 26 27 69 219 24 1,530 73 33 1 1 2,170 No. of Deals 9 6 2 2 5 1 2 1 2 1 2 33 No. of Deals 1 2 3 No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 31 16 1 68 6 132 254

Current Price 34.83 Current Price 2.12

Current Price 2.35 60.92 16.15 117.5 Current Price 106.5 Current Price 4.1 6.1 18 1.1 7.03 Current Price 9 600 Current Price 2.08 Current Price 12.16 34

Current Price 6.6 0.86 9.8 0.84 23.8 1.31 0.7 4.8 4.9 0.83 0.5 Current Price 0.59 1.05 0.5 1.59 0.79 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Current Price 2.58 1.08 Current Price 1.47 Current Price 3.05 3.32 0.5 1.31 17 3.7

the general market, we note that the market would have lost 0.18 per cent Ex-Dangote Cement,” analysts at Meristem Securities said.

However, the Champion Breweries Plc led the overall price gainers’ chart with 8.1 per cent, trailed by Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc with 4.6 per cent, while Linkage Assurance Plc and

STO C K

Fidson Healthcare Plc went up by 4.5 per cent apiece.

C&I Leasing Plc and NEM Insurance Plc chalked up 4.3 per cent, just as Jaiz Bank Plc and Learn Africa Plc garnered 4.2 and 4.1 per cent respectively among others.

Conversely, Morison Industries Plc led the price losers, declining by 8.3 per cent.

UACN Property Development

Company Plc shed 5.0 per cent, while University Press Plc closed 4.8 per cent lower.

Caverton fall by 4.5 per cent, just as A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc, May & Baker Nigeria Plc and First Aluminium Plc shed 4.4 per cent, 4.3 per cent and 3.8 per cent in that order.

Meanwhile, investors traded 136.4 million shares worth N3.62 billion in 2,860 deals.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC MEYER PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals NATURAL RESOURCES 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. MRS OIL NIGERIA 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 Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Hotels/Lodging TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services NEWREST ASL NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC C & I LEASING PLC. Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services OMOLUABI MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES 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

2,461 No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 13 12 4 6 2 37 38

Current Price 0.5 Current Price 1.01 14.75 1 0.66 1.95

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.3

No. of Deals 7 2 7 11 1 20 48 No. of Deals 15 15 No. of Deals 3 1 4 67

Current Price 11.25 6.08 29.6 4.28 0.87 42

Current Price 0.5

Current Price 1.45 Current Price 36.45 9.69

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

87,962,909

649,506,329.59

Quantity Traded 738,000 738,000 Quantity Traded 5,177,490 110,135 5,015 11,000 900 5,304,540 6,042,540

Value Traded 369,000.00 369,000.00 Value Traded 5,178,570.00 1,551,318.88 4,770.10 7,063.20 1,836.00 6,743,558.18 7,112,558.18

Quantity Traded 2,438 2,438 Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000 102,438

Value Traded 3,023.12 3,023.12 Value Traded 50,000.00 50,000.00 53,023.12

Quantity Traded 11,405 2,997 1,215,127 141,429 300 23,390 1,394,648 Quantity Traded 792,168 792,168 Quantity Traded 70,030 100 70,130 2,256,946

Value Traded 130,100.00 17,322.66 35,970,022.30 604,431.24 249 987,177.40 37,709,302.60 Value Traded 1,142,840.30 1,142,840.30 Value Traded 2,552,593.50 1,016.00 2,553,609.50 41,405,752.40

No. of Deals 1 1 1

Current Price 9.75

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 18,540.00 18,540.00 18,540.00

No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 76 76 No. of Deals 16 20 229 20 1 16 302 No. of Deals 2 2 382

Current Price 0.5

Quantity Traded 18,000 18,000 Quantity Traded 1,722,434 1,722,434 Quantity Traded 35,100 284,436 905,220 12,017 100 8,826 1,245,699 Quantity Traded 5,150 5,150 2,991,283

Value Traded 9,000.00 9,000.00 Value Traded 8,234,046.51 8,234,046.51 Value Traded 1,190,988.64 886,497.72 56,399,639.77 3,215,511.70 3,708.00 2,400,901.12 64,097,246.95 Value Traded 2,045,501.50 2,045,501.50 74,385,794.96

Quantity Traded 55,000 55,000 Quantity Traded 575 29,090 29,665 Quantity Traded 1,000 13,000 14,000 Quantity Traded 500 1,000 1,500 Quantity Traded 101,050 46,801 147,851 Quantity Traded 274,973 1,000 275,973 523,989 111,640,921

Value Traded 27,500.00 27,500.00 Value Traded 2,645.75 26,607.80 29,253.55 Value Traded 3,550.00 61,623.60 65,173.60 Value Traded 355 2,190.00 2,545.00 Value Traded 275,866.50 114,662.45 390,528.95 Value Traded 242,233.86 500 242,733.86 757,734.96 1,056,068,322.88

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 2 3 5 No. of Deals 1 3 4 No. of Deals 1 1 2 No. of Deals 7 6 13 No. of Deals 14 1 15 40 3,786

Current Price 4.71 Current Price 35.49 3.24 62.5 275.99 39.03 270 Current Price 380

Current Price 0.5 Current Price 4.4 0.91 Current Price 3.65 4.98 Current Price 0.68 2.19 Current Price 2.73 2.57 Current Price 0.9 0.5

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1

Current Price 0.9

Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000

Value Traded 90,000.00 90,000.00 90,000.00 90,000.00

No. of Deals 279 279 No. of Deals 140 140 419

Current Price 15.01

Quantity Traded 48,467,690 48,467,690 Quantity Traded 1,684,690 1,684,690 50,152,380

Value Traded 727,624,234.12 727,624,234.12 Value Traded 5,345,599.68 5,345,599.68 732,969,833.80

No. of Deals 10 10 10 429 4,216

Current Price 169

Quantity Traded 45,766 45,766 45,766 50,198,146 161,939,067

Value Traded 7,736,239.30 7,736,239.30 7,736,239.30 740,706,073.10 1,796,864,395.98

Current Price 3.2

43

˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Lafarge Africa to Merge UniCem, Atlas for Efficiency Goddy Egene Lafarge Africa Plc has decided to merger the operations of two of its subsidiaries to reap more benefits and operate more efficiently. The subsidiaries are United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (UniCem) and Atlas Cement Company Limited (Atlas).

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, Lafarge Africa Plc said the merger would enable

the enlarged company to take advantage of the benefits arising from various synergies.

“Lafarge Africa hereby notifies the NSE of the decision of the board of the company to merge UniCem and Atlas with Lafarge Africa Plc. UniCem and Atlas are wholly owned subsidiaries with the company holding 100 per cent of the equity in both companies,” the cement manufacturing firm said.

It explained that the enlarged company will also

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

take advantage of benefits from efficiencies arising from streamlining the operations of UniCem and Atlas. It said the company would continue to efficiently service its large, diversified customer base.

According to the company, the merger will be way of court sanctioned scheme of merger.

“The company has received the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s approval-inprinciple to the scheme of merger.

An application will be submitted

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 26Sept-2017, unless otherwise stated.

imminently to the Federal High Court in respect of obtaining an order to convene the respective meetings of shareholders of Lafarge Africa, UniCem and Atlas,” the company said.

Lafarge Africa Plc recently got another of its subsidiary, Ashaka Cement Plc delisted from the NSE. Ashaka Cement had last year notified the exchange of its intention to exit and gave shareholders options. The shareholders of Ashaka Cement,

who exercised their option to exit the company prior to the delisting received 57 Lafarge Africa Plc shares for 202 Ashaka shares, as well as a N2.00 per share cash consideration.

The Board of Directors of Ashaka Cement Plc had opted for a voluntarily delisting of the company from the NSE in violation of the exchange’s Free Float Deficiency provision of 20 per cent.

According to the directors, Lafarge Africa Plc held 84.97 per

cent of Ashaka Cement, bringing the free float that is tradable on the NSE to 15.03 per cent as against 20 per cent stipulated by the exchange.

The directors explained that is not improbable that given this free float deficiency, the NSE could take enforcement action and initiate a regulatory delisting, given that the free float deficiency is not likely to be remedied, hence the decision to delist and operate as an unlisted company.

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 169.22 169.98 33.28% Nigeria International Debt Fund 232.73 233.59 10.06% 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 13.96% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 79.39% 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 18.84% 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 16.61 17.11 34.56% ARM Discovery Fund 353.98 364.66 23.26% ARM Ethical Fund 25.16 25.91 12.59% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.41% 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 140.43 141.42 33.51% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.60% 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 19.04% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.87 23.63% Women's Investment Fund 94.94 97.47 12.28% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.70% 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 1,139.72 1,140.85 12.30% FBN Heritage Fund 140.25 141.49 25.82% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.39% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $148.79 $150.95 44.69% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.39 $111.39 8.08% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 110.94 111.94 -1.74% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.31 1.33 40.43% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.88 2.88 12.07% 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 2,834.97 2,877.57 29.02% Coral Income Fund 2,367.93 2,367.93 13.64% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.95% 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 18.27% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.03 2.05 20.65% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.92%

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 1.12 1.14 13.64% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,042.42 1,042.42 8.41% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.36 12.47 27.97% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.96% 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 1.17 1.20 18.08% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.81 10.87 3.99% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.40% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 119.89 122.00 18.31% 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 1.38 1.38 10.58% 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 2,138.78 2,150.84 16.80% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 166.54 166.54 8.17% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.93 0.94 21.43% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 210.57 210.57 12.67% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 164.82 166.91 26.93% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.53% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,120.60 133.31 -39.34% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.04 1.04 4.00% SIAML PENSION 40 130.51 133.31 31.91% 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 1.31 1.32 16.82% United Capital Bond Fund 1.42 1.42 16.20% United Capital Equity Fund 0.83 0.85 24.15% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.43% 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 12.28 12.46 26.44% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.96 13.10 18.37% Zenith Income Fund 18.50 18.50 11.90%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 130.42

1.01% 5.20%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.42 101.44

10.52 103.34

20.84% 33.86%

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

4.25 9.00 16.41 19.38 133.40

4.29 9.08 16.51 19.58 135.40

53.57% 27.86% 38.81% 21.37% 5.36%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

47

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Iraqi Kurds Must Give up on Independence or Go Hungry-Erdogan Turkey’s president has said Iraqi Kurds could go hungry as a result of the punitive measures it is considering after Monday’s independence referendum.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government of “treachery” for pressing ahead with the vote despite international opposition.

Massoud Barzani should now “give up on this adventure”, he said.

Mr Erdogan has previously threatened to cut a vital Kurdish oil pipeline and stop lorries crossing Turkey’s border.

Turkey fears that the emergence of an independent Kurdish state

on its border will stoke separatist feeling in its own Kurdish minority.

The results of the referendum are yet to be declared, but a “yes” vote is expected.

Kurdish leaders say that would not automatically trigger a declaration of independence, but rather give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession with the central government in Baghdad and with neighbouring countries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ruled out any such talks on Monday night, saying he would not discuss the referendum’s results because it was “unconstitutional”.

In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan said he had expected

Vegetative-state Patient Responds to Therapy A man in France has regained some degree of consciousness after being in a vegetative state for 15 years.

Doctors treated the 35-year-old, injured in a car accident, with an experimental therapy that involved implanting a nerve stimulator into his chest.

Within a month, he could respond to simple instructions, turning his head and following an object with his eyes.

Experts say the results are potentially very exciting, but need

repeating.

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may not work as effectively in patients with different patterns of brain damage. But Angela Sirigu, from the Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, in Lyon, said it had chosen a really challenging patient to try the treatment out on.

The vagus nerve connects the brain to many parts of the body and helps control automatic or subconscious functions, including alertness and wakefulness.

“until the last moment” that Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani would postpone the vote.

“This referendum decision, which has been taken without any consultation, is treachery,” he said.

“If Barzani and the Kurdish Regional Government do not go back on this mistake as soon as possible, they will go down in history with the shame of having dragged the region into an ethnic and sectarian war,” he warned.

Mr Erdogan said Turkey, which has long been the Kurdistan Region’s main link to the outside

world, might now impose sanctions to persuade Mr Barzani’s administration to “give up on this adventure that can only have a dark end”.

“It will be over when we close the oil taps, all [their] revenues will vanish, and they will not be able to find food when our trucks stop going to northern Iraq,” he added.

Cross-border trade between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey was worth some $5bn (£3.7bn) in the first six months of 2017, according to Kurdish officials, while hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil flow daily through a pipeline from Kurdish-controlled oil fields to

the Mediterranean via Turkish territory.

Iraqi soldiers also joined Turkish troops for military exercises in south-eastern Turkey on Monday, near the border with Iraq.

The US earlier said it was “deeply disappointed” that the Kurdistan Region held the referendum, but stressed that their “historic relationship” would not change.

The referendum was held in the three Iraqi provinces that make up the Kurdistan Region, as well as in adjoining disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the Arab-led central government that are controlled by

Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdish news agency Rudaw reported that 72% of the 5.2 million Kurds and non-Kurds registered as resident in those areas had voted. Ballots were still being counted on Tuesday, with initial results expected by the end of the day.

Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East but they have never obtained a permanent nation state.

In Iraq, where they make up an estimated 15% to 20% of the population of 37 million, Kurds faced decades of repression before acquiring autonomy in 1991.

US Rejects North Korea War Allegations as ‘Absurd’ The US has dismissed North Korea’s accusation that President Donald Trump has declared war against the country, calling it “absurd”.

The comments come as South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said that Pyongyang had moved to bolster its coastal defences by relocating its warplanes along the east coast.

Regional leaders on Tuesday warned that war on the Korean Peninsula would result in “catastrophic consequences”.

The warnings came after Pyongyang said on Monday that it was ready to defend itself by

shooting down American bombers, and accusing Trump of declaring war on the country.

Speaking to reporters outside his New York hotel, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho responded to Trump tweeting at the weekend that North Korea’s leadership “won’t be around much longer” if it keeps up its threats.

Ri, who attended this year’s UN General Assembly session, said the international community had hoped that a “war of words” would “not turn into real actions”.

“However, last weekend,

Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer,” Ri said. “He declared a war on our country.”

Later on Monday, the White House rejected Ri’s interpretation of Trump’s tweets.

“We have not declared war against North Korea and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

Alarm over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes dominated this year’s gathering of world leaders at the UN, amid fears the heated rhetoric

could accidentally trigger a war.

Those fears were sharpened after US bombers flew off the coast of North Korea on Saturday - going the furthest north of the demilitarised zone that any US aircraft has flown this century.

“Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take counter-measures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country,” Ri said.

“The question of who won’t be around much longer will be answered then.”

48

THURSDAY, ÍşÎ€Ëœ ͺ͸͚Ϳ Ëž T H I S DAY

STARTERS

Ambode Inaugurates First DNA Forensic Lab in W’Africa Says facility will help unravel unresolved crime

Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday unveiled the first DNA & Forensic Centre in West Africa, which he said would help to unravel unresolved crimes, cater to paternity tests and other issues using world class technology.

He inaugurated the facility alongside the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, U.S. Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, among others.

He explained the rationale behind the establishment of the lab, saying the state government had set up the facility to end the entrenched culture of delayed justice and unresolved crimes in the state.

According to him, the opening of the centre was a significant milestone and a symbolic manifestation of the government’s policies in reforming the justice sector and was in line with his vision to make Lagos safe for residents and investors.

He said with the centre, Lagos has joined the league of advanced countries that have embraced technology to make life easier for people in all spheres of existence.

The governor noted that he specifically approved the project because it would serve as an effective method of bringing perpetrators of crime to book and ensuring quick dispensation of justice He said security was central to good governance and sustainability of investment to make life better for the people, noting that the state had invested in equipment, recruitment and training of security personnel to assist law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of public peace and security.

He acknowledged that the intervention “has translated into tremendous success by the reduction of crime in the state�. “The centre is another move demonstrating our resolve to stay ahead of criminals through scientifically-led investigations. “The facility has the capacity to provide the police, prosecutors, defence attorneys and private citizens with crime scene processing; serological screening for blood and semen; DNA analyses of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship DNA analyses; expert witness

Membership of International Bodies The federal government yesterday said it had set up an inter-ministerial committee to review Nigeria’s membership of 310 international organisations to save the country from the embarrassment of unpaid financial obligations and subscriptions and in order to cut down on cost. Page 49

TEMBER 28, 2017 Ëž T H I S

NEWS

D AY

FG Sets up C’ttee to Re view Nigeria Membership ’s of Internatio Says it was igno rant of phone nal Bodies taps of former officials Email davidso

Omololu Ogunmad

News Editor

n.iriekpen@thi

49

Davidson Iriekpe

sdaylive.com,

0811181308

n

1

e in Abuja

that the amount was The federal governmen Adeosun also more. “The initial committee t yesterday said it had set up said the disagreeme made procedure committee to an inter-ministerial directive nt resulted in FEC’s the recommendations that for committing of Nigeria membership review Nigeria’s should that another committee 310 organisations, 220 should the to donations to of further investigate international with United States President retained while be organisation organisations 310 international amount Donald membership should Trump, s. The to save the country and make its the exact be withdrawn committee is due inter-ministerial Trump’s the president solicited those funds illegally stashed from the embarrassm final report from to the council until you suddenly help in recovering to come back “But the council the rest. in two the next two weeks have the ent of in unpaid financial directed The minister also weeks. with the final funds stashed in U.S. banks.illicit under the Panama revelations obligations and disclosed that more work should be that figures on the findings subscriptions papers.

The foreign following “So it’s really and in order affairs minister and the to cut up with the trend, FEC had come particularly since there done ministers will then down on cost. and then new an ongoing thing was a recommend look at those further revealed that the dispute as to stringent measures ones coming current how much is Briefing administration on the status up owed. organisatio ations of internationa “The first committee did not know all the time. As you saw House make of individuals who could l that correspondents State ns that we recently has a figure we never knew financial commitme of about $122 at the end want to the the U.S. was listening withdraw yesterday’s million but we of behalf of telephone conversatio to eavesdropping about the U.S. Federal Executive Nigeria, pointing nts on clear from the are work on from and we will finalise Council (FEC) Ministry of Finance on some of members this issue. out ns telephone some of those meeting in of the Goodluck who had made that that it is far more conversations “Basically Presidential the Jonathan , this is about prudence financial such members administration of Villa, “So the directivethan that. on some governme of the previous Minister of Finance, Abuja, the Nigeria commitments on behalf of “suspicious� investments of the council and value for money. in the past were is that Nigeria the Mrs. Kemi made in private nt and those in the Adeosun, said directors those we should go and reconcile doesn’t have to be a member country. the review had and ambassadors. sector talking figures and come every single organisation of become compelling Onyeama about She put investments back to that that were made we are members but those was making said the government the country’s persistent in view of the obligationsNigeria’s total financial council and have a payment in United States, efforts to recover made the decision of, we have funds it just its annual financial failure to meet organisation to such international plan and avoid Nigeria stolen came stashed away at FEC being must out like that, suddenly abroad. such bodies which obligations to now seeks s annually, which FEC embarrassed internationally. pay our obligationsthat we so Asked it’s an ongoing thing,� to put a figure to reduce “Also, was bringing . “We must he explained. its image to disrepute “Basically, Nigeriaat $70 million. issued on a circular needs to be prioritise our much had been stolen to how Last July, an indicting among the from the comity of nations. country, he said: telephone of 310 internation is a member because who can commit Nigeria obligations as regards the nation’s “On the issue conversation between the According to of how much and a committeeal organisations that in what we identified was image... The subscription former Minister of Petroleum is stolen from is $70 some cases, it million per annum was set up to situation had Adeosun, the actually might be a and there are country, it’s an ongoing thing, the Diezani Alison-Mad Resources, director or an ambassador review the rationale lots of arrears,� to constitute prompted FEC our continued ueke, and her have been discovering we associates she attending an – Kola Aluko membership of for a meeting who all the time Also briefing, said. committee with inter-ministerial a large because committed a and Jide such subscriptio number of organisatio the responsibili Foreign Affairs, the Minister of that thereyou see the sophistication Omokore – was leaked. of reviewing Nigeria’s ty particularly ns and of n on behalf of Nigeria is today Alison-Madueke Mr. Geoffrey in the light of membership Onyeama, who course the internation of such organisatio around the worldin hiding money chiding was the that in many al Muhamma spoke on President Aluko for beingheard cases, we were fact organisations begin is amazing. ns and paying also determinin “Even du Buhari’s address to chase us not extravagant too our the just concluded and flamboyan at themselves western countries membership g those whose subscriptio financial obligations and for the money. warning that should be retained have a 72nd “So we’ve ns which was he was attractingt, or withdrawn causing tightened the of the United Nations session and it takes them lot of problems attention embarrassment . a lot of time and General they and scrutiny. to Assembly, said She said an earlier discovered image abroad. Nigeria and our while having lunch This followed about the Panama committee had recommend the seizure of papers, nobody “In particular, some assets ed that Nigeria’s knew about membership all Alison-Mad allegedly belonging to that there were it was discussed of ueke and her associates. some commitmen bodies be retained,220 out of the 310 to internation al organisatio ts should withdrawwhile the country made ns by former presidents its membershi of 90 others, adding p were not which cash-backe that the first committee had when our delegations d and so, put the arrears Nigeria’s indebtedne turn up at of those organisatio ss to such ns, it becomes organisations embarrassi at her ministry $122 million but informed ng and that was what disagreed, insisting the setting inter-ministerial up of the new committee.

Politicians Behin d Nigeria’s Suspension from Egmont Group, Says EFCC Paul Obi in Abuja

passed in seven days,� he said, The Economic and Financial Crimes adding that it was “a Commission (EFCC) has never happened practice that Nigerian politicians yesterday said of the in any part world.� were behind the suspension Magu of the country from EFCC further stressed that the the Egmont Group. was not at loggerheads Its acting Chairman with the NFIU. Ibrahi M

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ÍŽÍŻÍľ

EDITORIAL

15

THE DESPERA

Notwithstanding the arrogant and patently misleading reaction of the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Buba Jibril over his proposed controversial “NGO Regulation Bill�, there is already a consensus by majority of Nigerians that the brazen attempt to limit freedom... Page 15 I

TE MOVE A GAINST N GOS

The NGO regulat

N

ion bill is in bad otwithstanding taste the arrogant and patently misleading reaction of the Deputy of the House, Majority Leader Hon. tion is a non-proďŹ over his proposed Buba Jibril t, voluntary task-oriented “NGO Regulatio controversial citizens’ n Billâ€?, there interest. They and motivated by people group that is already a consensu is s by majority humanitarian carry out a multiplicity with a mutual Nigerians that to limit freedom of of the to governm functions, like bringing service and will be resisted. of thought and expressionbrazen attempt ents, citizen concerns in the country and encourag advocating and monitorin space and makeThe bill which seeks to militarise g policies provision of ing political participat the civic views different it impossible for anyone ion through information. from that of who harbours such organisat It is towards dictatorsh the governme ions cannot therefore very clear that nt, ip to which a board of governm be subjected unequivocal Nigerians haveis a move to the control No! ent appointee said an of That many s. playing criticalNGOs, both local and gainst the backgrou international, roles in the work in the nd that a combinat independence areas affected on-going reconstruction are ion of gency is not by the Boko tion with the from government and in collaboramedia and civil est than Jibril’s doubt. But nothing can Haram insurmaking NGOs society helps be claim more dangerou to that in dishontransparency the bill intends s bill is targeted be effective in their to ensure role, it could not against the resources by and accountability in have people. Besides,this the managem the legislation came been a coincidence that efforts; especiallyNGOs involved in ent of when the federal such humanitarian ment was also at the same period the the proposed federal governgovernment WHAT THE commission toying with the sinister has PROPOSED to idea of creating failed to act LEGISLATION measure earlierregulate social media on the content. A similara National Assembly sponsored SEEKS the Senate, TO DO IS TO Deputy Majorityby Hon. Jibril’s counterpa report indicting had failed to rt THE RIGHTS DESTROY the pass through Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah,in suspended ALREADY social media Secretary the upper chamber.

GUARANTEED activists are to the Governm routinely persecute Yet, many the country CONSTITUTIONIN OUR with of the Federatio ent TH d across circumscribed the public space being EDITOR I S DAY DEPUTY EDITORS

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share the EDITORIAL (IDPs) in the Regulation BOARD EDITOR NATION’S We want to Bill is the latest view that the NGO CAPITAL

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coerce the civicamong measures that ing voices. seem space and country. But NGOs cannot be above subscribe to It is we feel comforte the law of the hold strongly against the dictates of destroy dissentis already a d by the fact democrac strong that there with exponentthat any bill that will suffocate y. We Nigeria. Therefore body of laws regulatin T H I S DAY NGOs g them in N E W S PA a time when ial and needless bureaucr EDITOR-IN-C what the proposed, as most commen PERS LIM ofďŹ cial governm IT GROUP EXECUTIVE HIEF/CHAIRMAN atisation at tators have transaction

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Letters to the Editor

REVAMPING

t is often said food, clothing that we eat to live and not most essential and shelter are universally live to eat. Indeed, believed to the necessity of man’s fundamental needs. In actual be the of food to man’s existence debatable. fact, In the words is not by any of Scottish ‘the discovery means anatomist, of agriculture civilised life’.

Arthur Keith, was the first In other words, big step towards In Nigeria, the immediate agriculture is crucial golden era to civilisation a post-indepe of agricult nden i

POLITICS Beware of Hypocrites, Sani Warns Buhari

and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analyses; cold case file review; and mass disaster human identification,� the governor said.

With its inauguration, Ambode added that the state government would now move to the second stage of building extra capacity in the areas of toxicology; trace evidence and controlled substance analyses; fingerprint and latent prints; firearms, ballistics and tool marks; digital forensics; and questioned documents examination.

He said the development of other forensic sections at the facility “will complement the DNA forensic section and enhance the level of services offered today�. “Before now, most, if not all DNA analyses and testing were performed outside Nigeria, a situation that caused longer turn-around times and higher cost of bringing closure to a case. “I am therefore convinced that the establishment of the Lagos DNA & Forensic Centre will improve the speed

conduct background checks on judges selected for the designated courts, and evaluate the performance of the designated courts.

Oye said the committee would drive the council’s new policy on the anticorruption war.

Justice Onnoghen, had in his speech last week at the Special Session of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to mark the commencement of the 2017/2018 Legal Year, noted the concerns expressed

where oil exploration was massive suitable for as their land agriculture. was no longer The evolving storage system trend of mechanised agricultural been abandonedand preservation of production agricultural , production revenue generatedfor tempting local have and foreign from il i f h

RAL SECTO R

to talk of meeting

is further worsenedup with export demands.

The agony by poor infrastructu tion of produce of farmers re which m from the c b k i

T H I S D AY

Ëž THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER

28, 2017

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

PERSO

Beware of Hy N A L I T Y I N T E R V I E W pocrites, Sani Warns The Senator

Buhari

representing Kaduna Centr Mohammed al Aminu, revea replacement ls how top memSenatorial District, Shehu for President Sani, in an bers of the Muhammadu interview with would not return Buhari while All Progressives Congress alive. Excerpts: he was in Lond plotted to find on for treatm ent hoping that a he

A group in the South-eas for Biafra. t What do you has been agitating out of this think is the quagmire? way We must admit is facing serious and accept that Nigeria socio-econ that cannot be only solved omic problems Recently, El-Rufai There are structural by a ruling boasted of fighter and social problems. , economic, historicalparty. being a that and Therefore, addressin Yar’Adua and he fought late Presidentdogged requires an overhaul of Umaru former president Jonathan. the system. g them that has over Goodluck The reality A time of late is that during of Nigerians the years only benefited system Yar’Adua, the El-Rufai was It is unfortuna fies changes and a clique. A system a class that to make such te for a governor of abroad. programmes of government, policies dea state and That is why a statement about Yar’Adua is clear to us of different governme nts. What . set up a panelI insisted that Buhari and reshape is the need for us to redesign should surrounding to investigate circumsta can work. the country so that the Anyone the death of Nigeria is against who is against system I have been Yar’Adua. nces a united peace and described himsupporting Buhari when If Nigeria must remain our togetherness. a dictator whoas an unelectable old El-Rufai we must implemen a united nation, man power. El-Rufai should not be trusted and economic reforms t structural, political with is a toxic to and that will the resources and re-enforce Buhari. He our solidarity entrench peace has He is the onlybut he cannot have Shehu nation. The and unity as winner takes governor Sani. a not go into in Nigeria going to work. all syndrome primaries until that is not hands.

(APC) removedThat All Progressives Buhari raised did Congress his (PDP) in power the Peoples Democrat ic Party Is it true the party (APC) in 2015 does not mean that that has monopoly reconcile both the party made efforts and solution of wisdom to There are APC of you?

Once you areto the problems of the country.

El-Rufai and chieftains that have issues over a nation in power, you are to not preside and with is fighting many me alone. This is a The crisis within not political party. man that leaders, labour people. He is fighting affecting governan the ruling party is seriously unions, traditiona religious ce. We have people of Southern and inconsiste an incoheren l leaders, Kaduna and t people’s houses. good moral, nt opposition that is demolishing not on a It is true that efforts to reconcile for it to give political and economic the party made footing a serious challenge us and bring Kaduna. But finds it difficult . The PDP peace to adjust to the party. Hehe sees himself as stronger to opposition being in the that than Bello Masari is arrogant. Katsina Governor people to hold will lead the awarenes was mandated their governme s for reconcile They have by the party nt accountab us being to le. Shehu him or the but El-Rufai never unable to adjust. used to power for Sani respected APC Tthat has createdlong and aggrieved party national chairman problems.

There is a a lot of the members respected. All the and attended the thoughts disconnect between not political elite in the Masari of people He is not a the meeting except the reality ruling party sure that Buhari El-Rufai . progressive on ground. in government and were would come were politician at It is not all the ruling back. They Buhari because that is party. all. well for choosescheming, holding the only way he can win.

Some groups meetings, trying The recent a successor he feels to or provide turing of the are agitating for the . And then Women Affairsoutburst by the Minister El-Rufai doesn’t an alternativ when he came restrucof to him Nigeria must country. What is your has contribut Hajiya Aisha Alhassan back, they rushede just to win elections. like Buhari but want view? remain one. him with who prayersorganising stage- managed They is a leftist the party anded very well to the success We are a a regional as well as and mock who doesn’t are opposites. Buhari former Vice-Pres of just to of the World a black power. and global responsib nation believe in Abubakar should please him protest for him. This policies ility as Bank and First with something is devaluatio not be brushedident Atiku organised of people in a duty to that was n and liberalismIMF, privatisation, that other west African when he was aside. A lot the freedom, democrac states toe the ensure and complain APC are seriously aggrieved on sick bed. never core capitalist while El-Rufai As far as I am concerned line of ing of not being is a doubt y to privatise and liberal, a rightist.

Buhari to show There are crisis that our unity and liberty. There is carried He wants his intention, I will prefer demolish everything, retrench no and Kaduna states and violence in Kanoalong. he wants to first whether workers and and social order is being the existing political people’s contest or not. that had and clear issues that APC is in These are people houses.

I must make that the masses are seriously challenged by some crisis in 85 not been resolved. this are disgruntle that came from calling for contest are percent of undermining and that has the PDP that structures that our Buhari to doing so out the states d. We were not been addr those founding f the c is nat l that h h of g brou h part ’ l i h d

Ambode

with registration number BRK 53 MF was arrested along with the tusks at Nigeria’s border with Benin Republic in Lolo, Kebbi. “The price of raw ivory in the international market is estimated to cost $730 per kg, which brings the duty payable value of the seizure to a total of N14,472,250.00,� he said.

According to him, the

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

THE NATION ’S AGRICULTU

POLITICS

A group in the South-east has been agitating for Biafra.What do you think is the way out of this quagmire?We must admit and accept that Nigeria is facing serious socio-economic problems that cannot be only solved by a ruling party. Page 18 and quality of evidence collected to assist our courts in the quick dispensation of justice. “This centre is a definite boost to our administration’s justice sector reform programme. It shows that our covenant with Lagosians to create a safe and secure state is being kept,� he said.

Also speaking at the inauguration, Kazeem said the centre would assist the state to have a reliable DNA database that would enable investigators and law enforcement officers identify crime patterns and suspects, and also help to exonerate or convict suspects.

Bray congratulated the people of the state for successfully completing the first DNA forensic lab not only in Nigeria but in West Africa, saying the development would enhance the dispensation of justice.

Bray said the Ambode administration should be commended for undertaking such a project, adding that there was no question that the facility was of world class standard.

Customs Area Comptroller, Nasir Ahmed inspected the tusks at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto.

Mailafiya said that the comptroller described the seizure as part of the Customs’ contribution to the fight against poaching of endangered species in Africa where the trade in elephant tusks constitutes part of the illegal ivory trade.

He also quoted the comptroller as commending the efforts of the operatives of the NCS at the Lolo border for intercepting the tusks, and urged them to remain alert in order to prevent the illegal importation of small arms and light weapons.

The spokesman said the command had begun investigations into the source of the two tusks.

NJC APPOINTS JUSTICE AYO SALAMI TO HEAD MONITORING C’TTEE ON CORRUPTION CASES Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Mrs. R.I Inga.

The Ministry of Justice and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) will also have a representative each on the committee.

The committee will also advise Justice Onnoghen on how to eliminate delays in the trial of corruption cases.

In addition, it will give feedback to the NJC on the progress of cases in the designated courts,

NEWS FG Sets up C’ttee to Review Nigeria’s

EDITORIAL The Desperate Move against NGOs

Customs Intercepts Two Elephant Tusks The Sokoto state Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted two elephant tusks weighing 65kg and valued at more than N14 million.

The public relations officer of the command, Mr. Magaji Mailafiya, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Sokoto.

Mailafiya said a vehicle

Two-Minute BrieďŹ ng

by members of the public on the snail-like pace in which corruption cases were being heard or determined by the courts.

Consequently, he directed all heads of courts to compile and forward to the council comprehensive lists of all corruption and financial crimes cases being handled by their various courts.

He also directed them to designate in their various jurisdictions, one or more courts as special courts solely

for the purpose of hearing and speedily determining corruption and financial crimes cases.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Court of Appeal were equally directed to fix special dates each week for hearing and determining appeals from such cases.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in the past accused the judiciary of not helping in the fight against corruption.

FEATURES A Lifeline for the Vulnerable

Worried by the increasing rate of maternal child deaths especially in rural communities in Nigeria, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI), a non-governmental organisation, recently took love and care to the door steps of two rural communities in Jigawa State, where the people... Page 20

BUSINESS Nigeria Needs Enabling Policies, Right

Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSW NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

Institutions to Achieve Digital Transformation The ExecutiveVice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Com- mission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Danbatta has said that Nigeria must create enabling laws, and put the right institutions in place, for it to attain digital transformation.

Page 23

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Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă? rs Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™ Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ú̙ Ěš Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ʨĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă‘Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă• Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă Ă“ Ă?Ă“Ăž ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ú˛ Ă’Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂœËœ Ëœ ĂœË› Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă‹Ăœ ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ™Ă?Ë› Ă—Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù××Ă? ÙÖĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂœĂŒĂ‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŒĂ‹ĘľĂ‹Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă’Ă? Ëœ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă“ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ͜ʹ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?ĂœÍś ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂžĂ˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĘŽĂ™ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ åÓÞÒ Ă—Ă™Ă?ÚÒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ËÚÚÖÓĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœËœ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž Ă–ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă–ĂŁ ËŤ Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓʾĂ?ĂŽ Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂŽË› ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ʨĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x; Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“ Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› ĂŁ Ă?Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ËœËŹ

INVESTORS

L-R: Chairman, International Board of Commissioners, Telecommunication Nigerian Communic Nigeria Day open Union (ITU), Houlin ations Commissio at the ITU Telecom World 2017, held Zhao and Executive Vice n (NCC), Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; Chairman, in Bussan,

ATCON to Hold

Industry

Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?

Awards Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂĄ ÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŞĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— Ě™ Ěš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă—Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂĄ Ă—Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ě™ ̚˛ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă— ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͎ͯÞÒ Ă™Ă? ÚÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă—Ă? Ùà Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒ ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ëœ ÒÙÖÎĂ? Ă‹Ăž Ă? ͯͯÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ùà Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœË›

Ă˜ Ă“ĂžĂ? ʨʰÒ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœËœ

Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ĘľĂœĂ‹Ă?Ăž Ă’ Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ă™ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŽ Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ě‹Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ? that seem to The Executive ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ stifle the growth Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă™Ă˜ ÚÙÖ He said Nigeria ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Vice Chairman, of technology of Nigerian Communic 2018, could Ă“Ă?ĂŁ advancem Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ to same, Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— do if only there ent in attainmen meet up with the ÖÙÑã Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ mission (NCC), ations Com- policies are enabling the country will be amended t of 30 per Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă• ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? to allow governme and institution Prof. Umaru Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? broadband penetration cent Danbatta has s that the ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? nt create said that Nigeria will spur such developm enabling by 2018, must create ÚÙÖÓĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ent. technology environment for as enshrined in the National ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x; Aside right enabling laws, Broadband polices and put the right and institution business to Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂž ÞÒĂ?

Policy. thrive, place, for it institutions in country s, Danbatta said the Yunusa said.

According to Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž to him, Nigeria, According to transformation. attain digital human also needs the right Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ë› Danbatta, the with a population of ntel Names National capital over Brand Advoca Danbatta who digital transformato drive the placed Broadband Plan has million, had already attained170 Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ͳ Ëš Ě‹ ĂŽĂ made the te on remark at Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ě‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă–Ëœ Ă’Ă‹ Ă–Ă‹Ă™ ×ÙÞÙãÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ Addressing tion initiative. bility to NCC, the responsi- per cent internet penetratio92 the the issue drive the broadband but still grappling Telecom World,ongoing ITU enabling Ă‹Ă•Ă‹ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă˜ n, Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŁ of penetration laws to drive holding in with Ă?Ă?Ëœ broadband Busan, South initiative, digital to ×ÙÞÙãÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ?ÞËĂ? Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ë› penetration. low Korea, where transformation, the enhance technology designed over 500 exhibitors Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Danbatta said Chairman, House Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ̋Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ? developthe Nigerian from 65 Road Committee on Federal ment and digital transforma delegation, countries Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÞËÕĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’ ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă“ Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜ĂžĂ? led by the Permaare Safety tion. nent He commend new technolog showcasing Abubakar Commission, Hon. Secretary, Ministry ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž the additional ed Nigeria for Communi ies that are Yunusa, said currently shaping of ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ÒÙÚĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ĂŒĂ“Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ë› two Ă?Ăœ ʨÖ× Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ the world, National Assembly boldly the increase it recently per cent Mashi, cations, Abdulkadir ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ said developed attended the sup- broadband attained in Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ÚÙÞĂ?˪˪̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ̚˞ ËŠËŠ Ă“ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? nations of the ports technology developme Telecom ITU ĚŽ world are penetration Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ëã˪˪̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ World ̙Ͱ͎͎ʹ̚˞ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËŠËŞ Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ËŞËŞ Ě™Í°ÍŽÍŻÍłĚšËœ nt , from the driving economic and would be glad to create initial 20 per cent penetratio important message2017 with advancements, ËŠËŠ ĂŽĂ‘Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?ËŞËŞ ̚˞ and enforce Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ăš ̙Ͱ͎ͯʹ̚˛ to 22 per cent laws that technologies. using modern promote ĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂŁ penetration. n Nigerian governme from the ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă‘ ĂŽĂ&#x; Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ă ĂŁĂĄĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă– technology would He insisted Nigeria’s potentials nt to sell developthat ÞËãÙ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă– ment in Nigeria.

Nigeria Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă– will in turn that will “All old laws attain the additional attract more ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžËœ ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă? Óä Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÙÖÖãåÙÙÎ eight per cent penetration foreign Ă&#x;Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă–Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă– Ă˜Ă“Ă‘Ă‹Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă•Ă•ĂŁ before the end ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă’Ă“Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Continued on page 24 CentrespreadG rey Wins New Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ÙÙÎĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Accounts Raheem Akingbolu Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă“Ă?ÞÓÖÖĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?

ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁĂ‹ĂœĂ?ĂŁËœ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă—Ă‹ ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?

ECONO MY Again t th Ę° Ă•

Secretary NCC, Prof. Umar South Korea...rec Nigeria Need Garba Danbatta, General, ently during the Achieve Digi s Enabling Policies, Right Institutio tal Transform ation ns to ICT

Emma Okonji in Busan, South Korea

Economic Dropped to Recession: Investme N80bn in 2016 nt in Adv ertising

HEALTH Saving Nigerians from Hepatitis

HURSDAY, SEPTEMB

ER 28, 2017

HEALTH & LIF ESTYLE Savin g Nigerians

36

Acting Featur es Editor Charle Email: charle s Ajunwa s.ajunwa@this daylive.com

from Hepa titis

With over 20 chronically million Nigerians said to tackle theaffected by the various to be infected with Hepa growing preva types lence of the of the disease, expe titis, and one in every rts say 10 persons disease in the country. Mar more awareness is needed tins IďŹ jeh writes

While the world continues to dread the Human ImmunoVirus (HIV) and health is- sues like tuberculosis and Zika virus with nations echoing this sentiment through their various interventions W in these areas, little is relatively known of Hepatitis... Page 36 Vaccine and

healthy lifestyle

can prevent

hepatitis

hile the world continues to dread the Human of the disease Immuno in the country Virus (HIV) given to its and health is if priority prevention sues like tuberculos is- stakeholde is and manageme “Every hand is and populace. rs, various institutions nt by the Zika virus must be on B virus as deck to tackle and the Nigerian it echoing thiswith nations creation Speaking at a hepatitis through their Hepatitis HIV. It is also is 100 times more infectious persons infected programm sentiment various interventi awareness areas, little e than by the disease,� carcinogen very dangerous because ons in these in Lagos, the Corps by the Nigerian Military is relatively He advised s which lead it condition known of Command the Nigerian has the to liver cancer.contains know their Nigerians to go for he added.

50 Hepatitis, er Medical Army, Major a Amosun, HIV/AIDs to 100 times more deadlier screening to status, adding of body capacity to survive General Abimbola and outside the It also do screening said the prevalenc for at least that, “people than already gainingmany other global human infected, at least seven days. should “On mode health issues was increasingly becoming e of the disease attention. they should once in a while, and As at the emergency transmitte of transmission, a national get last count, , hence the health to-child d from mother-to- Hepatitis B can be not infected, they should treated immediate if ganisation the World ly. If (WHO) says being infected,�

Health Or- the Nigerian Army to need for institutions child get vaccinated the 7.4 billion like blood or through transfusion at birth, childtake leadership about 28 per the disease against Borodo also he said. products. through awareness of contamina in reducing cent of with hepatitis, persons worldwide called on She said if ted through injection It could also be are infected campaigns. pregnant women which means transmitted go for regular screening people are drug use that prevention people were aware of almost two of needles, to at one point if infected, and involves sharing the billion management causes, as well as the disease, mothers do for hepatitis so that or the other will go a blood or open through contact of their unborn not pass the yearly from while over a million positive to as well long way in reducing the disease, it he sores of an children. with virus to as deaths. added. persons die the disease, its prevalence Nigerians infected person,� “We income countries, with campaign , For Hepatitis spread of were also advised until there intend to continue this like Nigeria low and middle the the C, burden of to stop the Rotimi is virus a bearing the drastic reduction disease in the easiest explained by the of personal highest items such avoiding the sharing No wonder indices.

But why is Nigeria,� Amosun added. of transfusio ways of transmission that some of needles, as razor, toothbrus statistics have hepatitis common include blood n, re-use of straws or almost two how shown that needles, syringes other inadequat hes, billion persons reduce the in Nigeria of the and can it be managed, globally, not spread. Other related objections and circumcisi infected by or other medicalely sterilised are prevented possibly to less the notable transfusion scourge than 20 million cured? Dr. on and tattooing , equipmen acts suggesting Oluwadare treated sterilised are in Nigeria, a virologist with that the deaths with inadequat ts, unprotected of unscreened blood, to avoid equipment, Rotimi, Roche provides the country sexual intercours casual and believes from the disease ely as well as through transmission. is The a guide. He e. in vaccinatioan awareness on personal Recently the also on a large scale. sexual called WHO in one of He called n, treatment its recommen hygiene, for for early Hepatology Society for Gastroente increased procedures dations vaccination, cination, as in Nigeria (SOGHIN) rology and management were and general adding it represents awareness on vac- should be done as at least one soon as possible that this the , reported that surviving hepatitis. keys to preventin in every 10 g and be disease. Adding, he a strong wall against preferably within 24 affected by Nigerians is after birth, While noting hours. said Nigerians the various aware that dose should chronically that there exi types of h to liver di viral he be follo d It also said the bi th should hepatiti p t i

INTERNATIONAL Iraqi Kurds Must Give up on

SEPTEMBER

H I S D AY

email:foreigndesk

Independence or Go Hungry-Erdogan Turkey’s president has said Iraqi Kurds could go hungry as a result of the punitive measures it is considering after Monday’s independence referendum. Page 47

SPORTS Eagles Will Get the Job Done in Uyo,

Says Mikel Super Eagles’ Captain, John Mikel Obi, has declared that though the three-time African champions have respect for 2012 AFCON winners Zambia, the total commitment to ensuring early qualification for the 2018 FIFAWorld Cup finals will see Nigeria wrap up the campaign next weekend. Page 54

28, 2017 Ëž T

INTERNATIO

NAL Iraqi Kurds Mu Go Hungry-E st Give up on Independ ence or rdogan

47

@thisdaylive.com

Turkey’s president has said Iraqi Kurds could on its border will go hungry as stoke result of the punitive measuresa feeling in its own Kurdishseparatist “until the last it is considering moment� that minority.

The results of world, might the referendum Kurdistan Regional independence after Monday’s are yet President now impose Massoud Barzani to be declared, referendum. the Mediterrane but a “yes� would postpone sanctions to persuade Mr Recep Tayyip vote is expected. the vote. an via Turkish Barzani’s territory. administration the head of the Erdogan accused Kurdish Peshmerga to Kurdish leaders Kurdistan Regional “This referendum adventure that “give up on this forces.

Government say that Iraqi soldiers also would not can only have The Kurdish decision, dark which has been of joined Turkish a troops for end�. pressing ahead “treachery� for a declarationautomatically trigger Rudaw reported news agency military exercises any consultation taken without with the vote of independen that 72% of the “It will be over despite internationa in 5.2 million , is treachery,� ce, but rather give them when we close south-eastern Turkey on Monday, Kurds and non-Kurds the oil taps, all a mandate to start he said. near the border Massoud Barzani l opposition. negotiations [their] revenues registered as resident with “If Barzani and on secession “give up on this should now central The US earlier Iraq. the Kurdish vanish, and they will not be will had voted. Ballots in those areas government in with the Regional Governmen adventure�, he said it able “deeply to find food when were said. and with neighbourin Baghdad go back t do not disappointed� was counted on Tuesday, still being going to northern our trucks stop the Kurdistan on this with initial that results g countries.

Mr Erdogan Iraq,�

Iraqi Prime expected by as possible, they mistake as soon Minister Cross-border trade he added. referendum, Region held the the the end of threatened to has previously al-Abadi will go down day. but stressed between cut in ruled out any Haider history with the oil pipeline and a vital Kurdish on Monday such talks dragged shame of having Kurdistan Region and Turkey the “historic relationship that their Kurds are the stop â€? would not was worth the region into fourth-large Turkey’s border. lorries crossing not discuss night, saying he would ethnic group an ethnic first some $5bn (ÂŁ3.7bn) in the change. and sectarian the referendum’s in the Middle st six months of war,â€?

The referendum Turkey fears that results East because it was Mr Erdogan said he warned. was held in the but they have never obtained to Kurdish officials, 2017, according three Iraqi “unconstitutional�. of an independen the emergence Turkey, permanent a provinces that In a speech while hundreds which of thousands has long nation t Kurdish state make the Kurdistan of barrels of oil Erdogan said on Tuesday, Mr Region’s been the Kurdistan In Iraq, where state.

Region, as well up flow daily through he had expected main link to the they make as in an estimated a pipeline from adjoining disputed areas outside Kurdish-con 15% to 20% of up claimed by the Kurds and trolled oil fields population of the 37 million, to government the Arab-led central faced that are controlled decades of repression Kurds by acquiring autonomy in before 1991.

The US has dismissed A man in France North Korea’s accusation that has regained some degree of consciousnes President Donald shooting down American repeating.

Trump has declared bombers, and accusing s after being in a vegetative Trump of declaring Trump claimed our Vagal nerve stimulation the country, calling war against war on state for 15 years. leadership would not the country.

Doctors treated (VNS) may not work be around much could accidentally trigger The comments it “absurd�.

Speaking to longer,� injured in a car the 35-year-old, with differentas effectively in patients come as South a war.

Those fears accident, with his New York reporters outside war on Ri said. “He declared a were sharpened patterns of brain Korea’s National Intelligence experimental therapy an damage. hotel, North after US bombers our country.�

Service (NIS) said that flew off the implanting a nerve that involved the InstitutBut Angela Sirigu, from Pyongyang had Foreign Minister Ri Korean Later on Monday, coast of North Yong-ho des Sciences Cognitives moved to bolster its stimulator into his chest. coastal defences responded to Trump tweeting House rejected Ri’s the White - going the Korea on Saturday Marc Jeannerod, by relocating furthest north interpretation at the weekend in Lyon, said it its warplanes Within a month, of the demilitarised had the east chosen a that North Korea’s of Trump’s tweets. along leadership zone that any coast. respond to simple he could to try the really challenging patient “We have not “won’t treatment Regional leaders declared war aircraft has flown this century.US longer� if it keepsbe around much against turning his head instructions, on Tuesday North Korea “Since the United The vagus nerveout on. up its threats. and following and frankly Ri, who attended connects the warned that war on the Korean the suggestion an object with war on our country,States declared brain to many this year’s of that is his UN General parts of the body Peninsula would Experts say eyes.

Assembly session, White House spokeswom absurd,� every right to take we will have and helps result “catastrophic counter-meas an Sarah including consequences�. in said the internationa potentially very the results are subconscioucontrol automatic or l community Huckabee Sanders said. exciting, but need the right to shoot ures The warnings s functions, including had hoped Alarm down came after US that a “war alertness and Pyongyang said wakefulness. words� would of nuclear over Pyongyang’s theystrategic bombers even when on Monday and ballistic are that real actions�. “not turn into it was ready missile border not yet inside the airspace to defend itself programmes dominated of our country,� by this “However, Ri said. last weekend, gathering of world leaders year’s “The question of who at the UN, amid fears the heated rhetoric be around much longer won’t will be answered then.�

Vegetative-st ate Patient Respo nds to Therapy

US Rejects Nort h Korea War

THURSDAYSP ORTS

WORLD

CUP 201 8 QUALI FI

Eagles Will Ge t the

Allegations as ‘Absurd’

T H I S D AY

Ëž THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER

28, 2017

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ik hazuagbe@th isdaylive.com

ER

Job Done in Uy o, Says Mikel

Super Eagles’ Mikel Obi, hasCaptain, John qualifying declared that races, the former though the three-time Chelsea FC of African pin-pointe champions England player fourth goal came via an own 2012 AFCONhave respect for determina d professionalism, goal by Guizhou Hengfeng Former tion and ambition Jie Wang in the ’s Nikica JelavicEverton striker the total winners Zambia, as the 92nd minute. minute. commitment factors that have ensuring early Hengfeng’s scored Guizhou to swung The goal in the qualification the pendulum Nigeria’s for the 2018 85th Tianjin win means Mikel’s spot on 22 points whilst also way, in the 16now occupies team heaping finals will seeFIFA World Cup on 14th gamesleague with just four Technical Adviser, praises the campaignNigeria wrap up Rohr. left.

Gernot next weekend.

Captain Mikel, “We have who has had a marvelou all shown s run in the professionalism, dedicatio qualifying and commendableseries, playing the determination to be n pole position at said yesterday leadership role, tagged in a group that ‘Group he is fully dedicated to of Death.’ “Commendations of leading the assignment to the entire team must go out on the his teammates coach, turf of Godswill but we must and the Akpabio Stadium finish to secure in Uyo and secure our it up the sole ticket right there,� ticket in Group B October 7. he concluded on with finality. “I must Meanwhile, Mikel provided applaud the admit that I an assist as his the Zambiansresurgence of League Chinese Super the qualifiers. this late in relegation club gave their Beating Algeria fight a huge home and away is no mean with a 4-1 home win boost feat. We will against take them very Guizhou Hengfeng serious on October yesterday.

Mikel, who 7 because made his ninth they clearly league It is time wehave a new spirit. season appearance of the CHAMPIONS observed the wrap this up,� Liyu in the game, assisted Tianjin Teda Yang who scored Basel 5-0 BenficaLEAGUE China midfielde of Teda’s third goal in Tianjin r.

CSKA 1-4 Man Speaking further the 88th minute.

Utd on the relative smooth-ru Anderlecht Other scorers 0-3 Celtic n the Eagles have for had in this Teda were Mbaye Tianjin PSG 3-0 Bayern campaign Diagne (61st minute) earlier FIFAcompared to midfielder and Ghanaian Qarabag 1-2 World Cup Roma Frank Achampo in the 80th Atletico 1-2 ng Neymar minute. Tianjin’s Chelsea Jr scored Juventus 2-0 Group B match Paris Saint Germain’s Olympiacos third goal in in Paris‌ last the 3-0 defeat Sporting 0-1 night Barca of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Joshua Bondo, referee from a 39-year old Henriques Super Eagles from South has been anBotswana who will goalkeep Africa arbiter for the international whilebe the Referee Assessor Ikechukwu Ezenwa er Cup qualifica said in tion ticket. has past 10 years, Sudanese “The qualifica will take charge Cup is concerne Osama terms no unmistakable tion of the 2018 Hassan Ataaelmanan, that it is FIFA World d. We too late commenced at the race do not want who in the Cup qualifying was Match Commiss same distractio time for everyone any form of to explain or understa day for cracker between their what happene and Nigeria and for the Match-day ioner Zambian n. nd Zambia in 4 clash Chipolop counterparts, we are at the summithere “I think we between the d in the WAFU Cup the group. have olo, to Saturday. Uyo next week and Super of case start for qualifyina better hosts Ghana.final against the Indomita Eagles positioning “It will be most World football-ru ble Lions themselves g for of unfair for the World Cup than “We have Zambia or any FIFA has appointeling body on Cameroon in Yaounde for the 2018 FIFA World Zambian the Cup qualifica September d Bondo to think that other person World s. Going to the decided to see thehowever alongside 4, will repeat tion ticket. the same role we will allow massive Ezenwa, who Cup defeat the Oamogetsehis countrymen October in Uyo on askance to Zambia is important days as one of those worst is still slip golden opportunity Godisamang as claimed 7. in football (40, over to are yet off our the an Nigeria will hands. thumbing 1-4 to be at the they to forge ahead. in order international “The assistant referee at seal a sixth of World the Black the hands strong, hype has been Cup but it‘s more important “We cannot since year FIFA World Cup appearanc 2010), who to rightly so Stars of with the minimum e Ghana in the will serve from centus too as up to 78 per history but strive rewrite Assistant as Uyo, 2017 WAFU the Zambian camp win of Referee Cup to in my one learn in final, said teammates a clash that is allowed 1, and see that yet to Tirelo Mositwa it will are the or two lessons from in will be at the unfortunate “We do notfootball. international ne (30, an 2012 the winners of the most unfair for anyone be “World CupWorld Cup. in Ghana,â€? event 2013), who referee since and Africa Cup of Nations expect Nigeria to give to luxury of time have the summit is the IfeanyiU said the FC the summit will serve the champio to begin to up of football, Fourth Official. bah shot stopper as 2013 ns of the everyone position after listen to what the Zambians it will to enrich our curriculum supersport.com. are saying Souru face edition come face-toPhatsoane from and our children vitae concerning World Cupkicked off the match. in a match Nigeria is the be the AssistantLesotho will significanc campaign will be Cup of at the World at focus Ours is to stay proud of us.

Referee 2. e. Kick –off huge the same time. group’s Mr. Carlos and concentr is 5pm “Right now at the Godswill Manuel Neves “I think it’s points, three summit on 10 ate on looking we are too late for the game.

Akpabio Zambia International forward to keenly challengers above closest to start dreaming “It’s a decisive Stadium.

Zambia. Victory match- for for the 2018 game for day to finish the ga Nigeria ag us as fa FIFA i ll h

FIFA Appoints Bondo of Nigeria, Zamb to Take Charge ‌ Ezen wa: World Cup ia Showdown Ticke

t Too Late for Chip olopolo Now

SPORT

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWS

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

FG Sets up C’ttee to Review Nigeria’s Membership of International Bodies Says it was ignorant of phone taps of former officials

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it had set up an inter-ministerial committee to review Nigeria’s membership of 310 international organisations to save the country from the embarrassment of unpaid financial obligations and subscriptions and in order to cut down on cost.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the review had become compelling in view of the country’s persistent failure to meet its annual financial obligations to such bodies which was bringing its image to disrepute among the comity of nations.

According to Adeosun, the situation had prompted FEC to constitute an inter-ministerial committee with the responsibility of reviewing Nigeria’s membership of such organisations and also determining those whose membership should be retained or withdrawn.

She said an earlier committee had recommended that Nigeria’s membership of 220 out of the 310 bodies be retained, while the country should withdraw its membership of 90 others, adding that the first committee had put the arrears of Nigeria’s indebtedness to such organisations at $122 million but her ministry disagreed, insisting

that the amount was more.

Adeosun also said the disagreement resulted in FEC’s directive that another committee should further investigate the exact amount and make its final report to the council in two weeks.

The minister also disclosed that following the trend, FEC had come up with stringent measures on the status of individuals who could make financial commitments on behalf of Nigeria, pointing out that some of those who had made such financial commitments on behalf of Nigeria in the past were directors and ambassadors.

She put Nigeria’s total financial obligations to such international organisations annually, which FEC now seeks to reduce at $70 million.

“Basically, Nigeria is a member of 310 international organisations and a committee was set up to actually review the rationale for our continued membership of such a large number of organisations particularly in the light of the fact that in many cases, we were not paying our financial obligations and subscriptions which was causing embarrassment to Nigeria and our image abroad.

“In particular, it was discussed that there were some commitments to international organisations made by former presidents which were not cash-backed and so, when our delegations turn up at those organisations, it becomes embarrassing and that was what informed the setting up of the new inter-ministerial committee.

“The initial committee made the recommendations that of the 310 organisations, 220 should be retained while membership should be withdrawn from the rest.

“But the council directed that more work should be done particularly since there was a dispute as to how much is owed.

“The first committee has a figure of about $122 million but we are clear from the Ministry of Finance that it is far more than that.

“So the directive of the council is that we should go and reconcile those figures and come back to council and have a payment plan and avoid Nigeria being embarrassed internationally.

“Also, a circular needs to be issued on who can commit Nigeria because what we identified was that in some cases, it might be a director or an ambassador attending a meeting who committed a subscription on behalf of Nigeria and of course the international organisations begin to chase us for the money.

“So we’ve tightened the

procedure for committing Nigeria to donations to international organisations. The inter-ministerial committee is due to come back in the next two weeks with the final figures on the findings and the ministers will then look at those recommendations of international organisations that we want to withdraw from and we will finalise work on this issue.

“Basically, this is about prudence and value for money. Nigeria doesn’t have to be a member of every single organisation but those that we are members of, we have made the decision at FEC that we must pay our obligations.

“We must prioritise our obligations as regards the nation’s image... The subscription is $70 million per annum and there are lots of arrears,” she said.

Also briefing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, who spoke on President Muhammadu Buhari’s address at the just concluded 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, said while having lunch

with United States President Donald Trump, the president solicited Trump’s help in recovering illicit funds stashed in U.S. banks.

The foreign affairs minister further revealed that the current administration did not know that the U.S. was listening to the telephone conversations of members of the Goodluck Jonathan administration on some “suspicious” investments made in the country.

Onyeama said the government was making efforts to recover stolen funds stashed away abroad.

Asked to put a figure to how much had been stolen from the country, he said: “On the issue of how much is stolen from the country, it’s an ongoing thing, we have been discovering all the time because you see the sophistication that there is today in hiding money around the world is amazing.

“Even western countries themselves have a lot of problems and it takes them a lot of time and they discovered about the Panama papers, nobody knew about all

those funds illegally stashed until you suddenly have the revelations under the Panama papers.

“So it’s really an ongoing thing and then new ones coming up all the time. As you saw recently we never knew about the U.S. eavesdropping on some telephone conversations of members of the previous government and those in the private sector talking about investments that were made in the United States, it just suddenly came out like that, so it’s an ongoing thing,” he explained.

Last July, an indicting telephone conversation between the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her associates – Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore – was leaked.

Alison-Madueke was heard chiding Aluko for being too extravagant and flamboyant, warning that he was attracting attention and scrutiny.

This followed the seizure of some assets allegedly belonging to Alison-Madueke and her associates.

Politicians Behind Nigeria’s Suspension from Egmont Group, Says EFCC Paul Obi in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said Nigerian politicians were behind the suspension of the country from the Egmont Group.

Its acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, stated this when he received the Director General of Inter-Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Adama Coulibaly.

Magu noted that the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group was based on “misinformation,” by those who are hell-bent on handicapping the EFCC, and it is a case of “corruption fighting back.”

According to him, “politicians are behind the NFIU crisis, because they want to destroy the achievements recorded by the EFCC.” In a statement late yesterday, EFCC Head of Media and Information, Wilson Uwujaren, quoted Magu saying: “The frantic move by the Legislature to take the NFIU out of the EFCC was suspicious, and borne out of an ulterior motive.

“There is a complete misunderstanding about the workings of the NFIU, and it is surprising that the new bill by the legislators pushing for removal of the NFIU from the EFCC was

passed in seven days,” he said, adding that it was “a practice that has never happened in any part of the world.”

Magu further stressed that the EFCC was not at loggerheads with the NFIU. “I have confidence in the management of the NFIU and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, and the relationship is very cordial and professional,” he said, adding that the EFCC was “very much in support of the NFIU’s autonomy.”

Coulibaly pledged support for EFCC’s efforts and the Nigerian government to ensure the lifting of the suspension in the NFIU from the Egmont Group in the shortest time possible.

While commending the EFCC for championing the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria, Coulibaly said the agency’s achievements were not only for the country, but for the African continent.

According to him, EFCC was a “key player” to GIABA, and “if this suspension is not lifted early, it is going to have a negative impact not only on Nigeria, but the West African region.

“We are here to express our support to Nigeria on this noble objective of fighting corruption,” he said, adding that Nigeria will host GIABA’s plenary between November 13 and 19, 2017,” he said.

WHEN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS CAME CALLING...

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Chief Head of West Africa Division in the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) Headquarters, Mrs. Ella Schieber; Governor Ibikunle Amosun; and Country Director of GIZ and ECOWAS, Dr. Thomas Kirsch, during a courtesy visit to the governor in his office in Abeokuta...yesterday

Ajimobi: Why North Opposes Restructuring Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday gave an insight into why the North is against the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Ajimobi, at the third annual lecture of Dauda Adegbenro Foundation in Ibadan, said the North opposed the agitation because it wanted the status quo of which it is a great beneficiary, sustained.

The theme of the lecture was titled: ‘Transparency in the Extractive Industries: Driving wealth creation and sustainable revenue as solution to economic The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Gbade Ojo, said there were many things wrong

with the present Nigeria’s political system that restructuring would put right.

According to him, the country’s present political system has robbed states of revenues, and unless there is a reform, the second tier of government will continue to depend on handouts from the federation account.

Ajimobi said ordinarily, solid mineral deposits are supposed to belong to states where they are found but the 1999 Constitution had given that ownership rights to the federal government.

He added that without a constitution amendment or restructuring, the states would

remain parasites.

He said amending the constitution would make states get involved in the extractive industries and boost their revenues.

The governor also said Nigerians must decide on the type of federalism they want to practice as no two federalism are the same.

In addition, the governor urged the federal government to intensify efforts at diversifying the economy as Nigeria’s continued reliance on a mono-product economy will not bode well for the country.

In his lead paper at the lecture, Executive Secretary, NEITI, Mr. Waziri Adio, listed areas Nigeria

should focus on to drive sustainable growth and development on the extractive industries and in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria should fully optimise the opportunities offer by resource endowments by pursuing value optimisation.

The executive securetary also called for more openness in the extractive industries, especially not only revenue transparency, but also ownership transparency, contract transparency, expenditure transparency and assets transparency.

Adio added that there should be a shift from “a sharing and extractive mind-set to a productive and value-adding mind-set.”

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Terrorism Has No Boundary, FG Replies US Govt on IPOB Kanu’s lawyer seeks court’s order compelling Buratai to produce IPOB leader in court Olawale Ajimotokan and Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government has decried the position of the United States that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist organisation.

The Nigerian authority outlawed the group which is demanding an independent state of Biafra and declared it a terrorist organisation, following the outcry that trailed the military exercise: Operation Python Dance II, launched by the military in Abia State, on September 11.

Giving his insights on BBC Focus on Africa yesterday night, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, described the US position on IPOB as “unfortunate.”

Mohammad said terrorism has no boundary and called on all nations to work together to ensure it is defeated.

“It is (US opinion) unfortunate, because if countries decide to pick and choose which organisation is terrorist and which is not, bearing in mind that terrorism has no boundary. I think what we should do is that every country should work together to ensure that terrorism doesn’t strike,” Mohammad said.

The minister’s echoed his view just as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, on a separate BBC platform, queried the selective treatment accorded the arm-bearing Fulani herdsmen, who often ransack farm settlements, kill and maim their victims.

Nwodo reiterated Ohanaeze’s position that IPOB was not a terrorist group and the government clamp down on them was excessive.

But Mohammad deferred, saying that the Fulani herdsmen’s criminality should not be misconstrued for terrorist act.

He said IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, had already crossed the red line, when it confronted the Nigeria Army, set up its own parallel force, openly solicited for arms all over the world, and was already issuing its own passports and printing its currency.

“Acts and utterances of IPOB were act of terrorism. For instance, Nnamdi Kanu said he wanted Biafra, not peacefully, but by force.

And that if they don’t get Biafra,

Somalia will be a paradise to the kind of mayhem they will unleash.

He is the same man that set up his own Biafra National Guard and Biafra Security Service,” Mohammad said.

The minister said Nigeria is a fragile polity and the whole nation could be embroiled if there are reprisal attacks all over the country by ethnic groups opposed to IPOB. Meanwhile, Ifeanyi EJiofor, counsel to Kanu has approached the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for an order compelling the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce Kanu in court on his next trial date.

In a motion filed before the court, Ejiofor stated that the whereabouts of Kanu remain unknown since the day Kanu’s home was invaded by men of the Nigerian Army.

Troops of the Operation Python Dance II had on September 12, 2017, allegedly invaded the family home of Kanu in Afaraukwu, Abia State.

Also not spared in the attack was the palace of Eze Israel Kanu, the traditional ruler of the Afaraukwu community and father of the IPOB leader.

Since the invasion the whereabouts of Kanu and his parents remain unknown.

In the originating summons, Kanu through his lawyer is praying the court for an order compelling the COAS to produce him (Kanu) in court on the next adjourned date to enable him defend himself in the terrorism charges preferred against him by the federal government and to make further orders which it may deem fit.

The motion which is predicated on five grounds is asking the court to take judicial notice of the fact that Kanu have lawfully exercised his constitutional right of freedom of association, peaceful assembly and self determination.

EJiofor claimed that his client was still “enjoying the bail granted him by the court, when the prosecution in his trial requested the court to revoke his bail which was granted him by Justice Binta Nyako.

The lawyer also accused the Nigerian army of acting under express command handed down by Buratai and violently invaded the applicants home in Afara Ukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, killing several people while others

FG Declares Monday Public Holiday Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has declared Monday, October 2, 2017 as a public holiday in commemoration of Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and urged them to sustain the collective efforts towards maintaining and strengthening the unity of the country.

In a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abubakar Magaji, the minister emphasised on government’s commitment to promoting

national unity, economic growth and political development on democratic principles.

He noted that in the past 57 years, Nigeria has made a lot of progress and positive impact not only on its citizens but also on human development globally.

Danbazzau therefore enjoined all Nigerians to remain steadfast in the love and care of the country, noting that strong sense of ownership of one’s country is vital to the sustainable development of every nation.

He also expressed profound appreciation to Nigerians and the international community for the support and co-operation to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

were left injured.

Grounds for the relief read in part: “That on September 14, 2017, the Nigerian military led by soldiers of the Nigerian army invaded the applicants house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenceless populace, leaving about 28 persons dead and abducting many.

“The applicant, who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack on his home by the agents of the

respondent since September 14, 2017.

“That the invading soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the applicant is caught in the attack, climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

“The invading soldiers who had direct contact with the applicant on this fateful day (September 14, 2017) should be in a position to produce the applicant before the court. It is either the respondent’s rampaging soldiers abducted the applicant during this raid or must have killed him

in the process.

“Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act empowers this court to order that a Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Subjiciendum; (A Writ directed to someone detaining another person and commanding that the detainee be brought to court) be issued on the respondent, to produce the applicant in court, particularly now his substantive criminal trial is coming up on October 17,, 2017.

“The court is vested with inherent powers under Section 6(6) (a)- (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as (amended

2011) to entertain this application and grant reliefs sought herein.”

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had approached the acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, with an ex-parte application asking him to proscribed all the activities of IPOB and declare it a terrorist organization.

Responding, Justice Kafarati in granting the application also ordered that the federal government gazette the order and published it in two national dailies.

GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Chapter, Mr. Deji Elumoye; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and representative of Lagos State Governor, Hon. Fola Adeyemi; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; National Chairman, NUJ, Mr. Waheed Odusile; and former Chairperson, NUJ, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Olufunke Fadugba, during the unveiling of the NUJ multi-million naira two-storey building complex, in Lagos ....yesterday Abiodun Ajala

Adeniran Launches Bid for PDP Chairmanship Fayose to declare presidential bid today Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former Minister of Education, Prof.

Tunde Adeniran, formally unveiled his plans to contest for the position of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The event which was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, attracted many PDP bigwigs who came to show their support and solidarity for Adeniran’s aspiration.

According to the party’s current zoning arrangement, the position of the national chairman is zoned to the South, although there have been claims and counter claims as to whether the plumb position will be further zoned to any of the three geopolitical zones in the south-South-west, South-south and Southeast.

Similarly, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, is set to launch a bid for the presidential ticket of the PDP at an event to be held in Abuja today.

For Adeniran, the December 9 convention is an opportunity for the PDP to bounce back to power if the party is able to get its acts right.

He said doing so requires reconciliation, unity and a rebuilding process.

While soliciting for massive support across the six-geo-political zones, Adeniran, a former Ambassador to Germany, pledged to work tirelessly to “reaffirm and entrench the founding principles of our great party; restore the sanctity of internal democracy and rule of law and return the party to the people in tandem with the spirit and intent of its slogan-Power to the people.”

Also speaking at the event was a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, who lauded the leadership qualities of Adeniran, and tasked the party to stand by him.

He said in good and bad times, the chairmanship aspirant has proven to be a loyal party man since the formation of the PDP in 1998.

“Since we were given flags to establish the party in our various states in 1998, Adeniran has not wavered. We want to open a new chapter, where democracy will flourish, where the choice of the people will determine who leads them,” Waziri stated, urging the party faithful not to forget that the road to the presidential villa is not an easy one.

“Don’t be deceived. It is not easy to reclaim Aso Villa in

2019,” he warned, charging party supporters to work assiduously for the task ahead.

In his goodwill message at the unveiling of Adeniran’s chairmanship bid, the former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, described the former minister as a man of impeccable character.

Mantu who addressed Adeniran as the “incoming national chairman,” said he decided to settle for him as the best choice after fasting for 30 days.

He said for someone to be considered for the next national chairman of the PDP, he or she must be a person whose character and antecedent can be verified.

A remorseful Mantu regretted that PDP was offered the opportunity to rebuild the country in 1999 after the damage caused by the military juntas but that the party derailed midway and had to be kicked out in most dramatic manner ever witnessed in Nigerian politics.

“Since 2003, we have not conducted a free and fair election to elect our candidates for election and for this reason, in 2015, Nigerians decided to kick us out of power. It was impunity and imposition all the way. One would have expected

by now that the party would have learnt its lessons but the signs are not encouraging,” he said.

The former deputy senate president said going forward, the party must ensure that whoever is its chairman must be someone with impeccable character.

According to Mantu, “I have known Adeniran for the past 25 years, and I have never seen anything questionable in his conduct. For me, I have become a born again and anything I say now is the truth and nothing but the truth.

“What happened in Anambra State is bad news and we should not be seen doing that anymore.

“I was telling my wife yesterday that if we don’t get it right in the next convention, I wonder what I will be telling the founding fathers of the party like Solomon Lar when I die “We must take the power from those people who think that they have become more powerful than the people. I fasted for 30 days and asked God to show me among all these who are jostling for the national chairman of the PDP and the lot fell on Adeniran.”

He asked party members to be vigilant and ensure that whoever that would emerge as the chairman of PDP is a credible person.

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HRW Report Exposes Cameroonian Torture of Nigerian IDPs Cameroonian military has carried out a mass forced return of 100,000 Nigerian asylum seekers in an effort to stem the spread of Boko Haram, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released yesterday.

The deportations defied the UN refugee agency’s plea not to return anyone to Northeast Nigeria “until the security and human rights situation has improved considerably,” and leaves deportees facing spiralling violence, displacement and destitution.

The 55-page report, ‘They Forced

Us Onto Trucks Like Animals: Cameroon’s Mass Forced Return and Abuse of Nigerian Refugees; documented that since early 2015, Cameroonian soldiers have tortured, assaulted, and sexually exploited Nigerian asylum seekers in remote border areas, denied them access to the UN refugee agency, and summarily deported, often violently, tens of thousands to Nigeria. It also documents violence, poor conditions, and unlawful movement restrictions in Cameroon’s only official camp

APC Campaign Council for Anambra Election Runs into Hitch Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) may be having some problems constituting its campaign council to lead the way for the party’s bid to win the coveted governorship seat in Anambra State.

THISDAY gathered that following the controversy which trailed the outcome of its governorship primary for Anambra State, some key APC members are not happy with the National Working Committee (NWC) led

by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for recognising Tony Nwoye as the party’s candidate.

According to a party source, the NWC had earlier fixed the inauguration of the campaign committee for last Monday but had later cancelled it without giving any reason.

However, THISDAY learnt from the party source that the

inauguration had to put off following the decision of some the key members of the committee not to show up for the event.

He said the boycotting of the campaign committee might not be unconnected with the anger and suspicion over the unsubstantiated allegation that some of the national officers took bribe before the primary.

It was also alleged that these officers got a bribe of about N150 million to skew the outcome of the appeal panel scrutiny of the primary result in favour of one of the contestants.

The source also added that some of the members appointed to serve in the campaign committee said they would not want to identify themselves with the campaign of APC for Anambra State governorship due to the alleged faulty process which led to the emergence of Nwoye as candidate.

for Nigerian refugees, as well as conditions recent returnees face in Nigeria.

“The Cameroonian military’s torture and abuse of Nigerian refugees and asylum seekers seem to be driven by an arbitrary decision to punish them for Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon and to discourage Nigerians from seeking asylum,” Gerry Simpson, Associate Refugee Director at HRW, said.

“Cameroon should heed the UN’s call on all countries to protect refugees fleeing the carnage in Northeast Nigeria, not return them there.”

In late June and July 2017, HRW interviewed 61 asylum seekers and refugees in Nigeria about the abuses they faced in Cameroon.

According to Premium Times, they said soldiers had accused them of belonging to Boko Haram Sect, a Nigerian militant Islamist group, or of being “Boko Haram wives” while torturing or assaulting them and dozens of others on arrival, during their stay in remote border areas, and during mass deportations.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it had heard similar accounts from Nigerians living in Cameroon’s border areas.

Some said their children, weakened after living for months or years without adequate food and

medical care in border areas, died during or just after the deportations, and others said children were separated from their parents.

An asylum seeker who was deported from Mora in March 2017 described how without warning, Cameroonian soldiers rounded up 40 asylum seekers “and severely beat us and forced us onto a bus.

“They beat some of the men so badly, they were heavily bleeding.

When we got to the Nigerian border they shouted ‘Go and die in Nigeria.’”

Refugees who reached Cameroon’s only designated camp for Nigerian refugees in Minawao, have also faced violence from Cameroonian soldiers. While they have some protection as refugees, the approximately 70,000 people there have had limited access to food and water and abusive restrictions on their movement. In April and May, 13,000 returned from Minawao to a displacement camp in Banki, just across the border in Nigeria. Some were killed in early September when Boko Haram attacked the camp.

Although UNHCR does not have reliable access to most of Cameroon’s border areas with Nigeria, in early June it said its monitoring partners found Cameroon had forcibly returned almost 100,000 Nigerians to their

country since January 2015.

In late June, the Nigerian authorities responded to Cameroonian pressure by sending military vehicles over the border to help Cameroon deport almost 1,000 asylum seekers.

That made Nigeria complicit in the unlawful forced return of its own citizens.

Tens of thousands of deportees from Cameroon end up in insecure militarised displacement camps or villages in Borno State, where conditions are dire, and women and girls face sexual exploitation.

These sites are surrounded by the ongoing conflict between Nigeria’s armed forces and Boko Haram, which as of mid-September had displaced almost two million other Nigerian civilians.

Cameroon’s forced returns are a breach of the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits the forcible return of refugees and asylum seekers to persecution and, under regional standards in Africa, to situations of generalised violence, such as in North-east Nigeria.

Since 2014, Cameroonian armed forces have carried out operations against Boko Haram in the country’s Far North Region.

Cameroon has the right to regulate the presence of non-nationals on its territory, including those proven to be threat to its national security. The

authorities also have an obligation to carefully investigate attacks in Cameroon by suspected Boko Haram members. However, it may not block refugees from seeking asylum and summarily deport them.

After staying publicly silent on the situation for two years, in late March, UNHCR publicly criticised the authorities for their mass forced refugee returns. The criticism was triggered by deportations after Cameroon had signed an agreement that month with Nigeria and UNHCR confirming that it would ensure that all refugee return was voluntary.

As of mid-September, the Cameroonian authorities had allowed UNHCR only to preregister asylum seekers in some border communities, leaving those pre-registered and tens of thousands of other asylum seekers without access to meaningful protection and putting them at risk of deportation.

The Cameroonian authorities deny any forced return or abuse of Nigerian asylum seekers and have not replied to a HRW request for a response to the report’s findings.

Cameroon has had a reputation as a generous country toward refugees since the early 1970s and it has hosted tens and then hundreds of thousands of refugees since then.

Omokri: Sagay Has Exposed APC for the Rogues They Are Ejiofor Alike A former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Mr. Reno Omokri, has stated that the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, has exposed the hypocrisy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Omokri recalled in a statement yesterday that when he responded to APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi’s, attack on the record of the People Democratic Party (PDP) administration and challenged his credibility, some members of the public had felt that he was just playing politics.

The former presidential aide said he had been vindicated, in that a political appointee of the APC and a confidante of President Muhammadu Buhari, in the person of Sagay, has corroborated his stand.

“As a man who should know, because of his close proximity to the APC, Professor Sagay has described the party as a ‘come and chop party’ peopled by the likes of John Odigie-Oyegun and Bolaji Abdullahi who he said lacked credibility and who ‘dine with the devil’ and defend evil. Not stopping there, Professor Sagay, a man intimately aware of the inner workings of the APC, said that the party is “weak and unable to confront evil,” he said.

Omokri urged Nigerians to note that not only is Sagay a confidant

of President Muhammadu Buhari, he has also never been associated with the PDP and former President Jonathan.

“Professor Sagay is just a man that was hoodwinked by APC’s propaganda, just like the millions of Nigerians who voted for them, but has now seen them and their government for what they truly are.

A government that campaigned on restructuring but governs by denying knowledge of what restructuring is. A government that promised three million jobs per annum, but has lost six million jobs according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS). A government headed by a man who banned government officials from going abroad for health tourism yet ended up being the single greatest health tourist in the history of Africa, prompting CNN to use him as an example of hypocrisy.

A party that promised to rebuild the economy, but gave the nation a recession and has in two years, acquired more debt than any of the PDP administration’s before it,” Omokri explained.

Omokri added that with such an odious and unenviable record, it is no surprise that Sagay called the APC a party that is “encouraging and accepting rogues.”

“If the APC wishes to reject that label, I will kindly ask them to tell Nigerians what has happened to the report on the former Secretary to the Federal Government’s alleged grass cutter corruption or the fabled Ikoyi billions,” Omokri added.

SMES PROMOTERS

L-R: Faculty Member and Coordinator, Export Management Programme (EMP), Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Frank Ojadi; Divisional Head, Operations, Fidelity Bank Plc, Martins Izuogbe; Divisional Head, Managed SME, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ken Opara; Zonal Coordinator, South-West, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Babatunde Faleke; Deputy Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mohammed Balarabe, at the press conference to announce the commencement of the Export Management Programme (EMP) - Stream 5 organised by the bank in conjunction with LBS and NEPC in Lagos....yesterday.

Fani-Kayode: Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation Owes My Company N24m, Says Witness The Managing Director of Paste Poster Company Limited, Mr. Olusegun Idowu, has alleged that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation owes his company N24m for the printing of posters for the 2015 presidential election.

This sum, according to him, was part of a total of N54million poster pasting and consultancy jobs which his company did for the campaign organisation in the build-up to the last general elections.

Idowu made the claims yesterday while giving evidence before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where the then Director of Media and Publicity of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi

Fani-Kayode, is being prosecuted for an alleged fraud of N4.9bn.

Idowu, a media consultant, was the first witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prove its case against Fani-Kayode and three others.

He said his company was paid N30m cash in tranches of N6million and N24m for consultancy and printing of the ex-president’s campaign posters, while another N24m remained unpaid till date.

While being cross-examined

by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), Idowu told the court that his company got the poster printing job from the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign

Organisation through referral by a member of the organisation, Aderemi Ajidahun.

The media consultant, whose company’s office is on Lagos Island, said one Oke related with his company on behalf of the campaign organisation.

He said his company received the cash payments of N24million and N6million from Oke. When asked by Quakers whether he had any direct dealing with Fani-Kayode, Idowu said he never had any direct dealing with him.

The case was adjourned till November 20, 21 and 22 for the continuation of trial.

Standing trial alongside FaniKayode for the alleged fraud

relating to the ex-president’s campaign is a former minister of state for finance, Nenadi Usman, as well as one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Ltd. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on 17 counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the charges, Fani-Kayode was accused of conspiring with the other defendants to, directly and indirectly, retain various sums which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of crime.

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Ohanaeze Leader, Nwodo at Chatham House, Insists on Restructuring Says terrorist tag on IPOB unfair, discriminatory Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has maintained that restructuring of Nigeria is the answer to the wave of agitations currently hitting across Nigeria.

Nwodo who delivered a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in London yesterday, said the country is ripe for restructuring now more than before because all indicators point to that fact.

In his paper titled: ‘Restructuring Nigeria: Decentralisation for National Cohesion’, Nwodo took a historical look at Nigeria’s political journey and concluded that the present structure in operation has failed because it’s not created by the Nigeria people.

“Our present constitution is not autochthonous. It was not written by the people of Nigeria. It was not approved in a national referendum.

In jurisprudence, its effectiveness will score a very low grade on account of its unacceptability.

Regrettably, it continues to hold sway and begins with a false proclamation, ‘We the People of Nigeria’,” he said.

While answering questions from the Chairman of the occasion and the Editor of African Business Magazine, Mr. Lanre Akinola, on the imperatives of the restructuring now, Nwodo said never in the history of Nigeria has there been harmony to reshape the country as it is now.

In his speech, Nwodo said the entire southern Nigeria and parts of the middle belt are unanimous

New Findings Reveal Reduction In HIV/AIDS Transmission from Mother to Child George Okoh in Makurdi New findings have revealed that continuous quality improvement (CQI) using a Breakthrough Series (BTS) approach, increased uptake of PMTCT services and retention in care of HIV-infected pregnant women and mothers at six and 12 months postpartum have led to a reduction of mother to child transition of HIV/AIDS. This was made known by the Principal Investigator and Chief Executive of the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP) in Nigeria, Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, at a workshop in Makurdi.

Represented by Mr. Frank Oronsaye, he maintained that the dissemination of the findings of the Lafiyan Jikin Mata (LJM) study was the climax of the whole exercise which sought to take a look at retention among HIV-positive women in care six months postpartum.

She noted that one of the highlights of the study was bringing up of definitions that those who

would want to carry out a study on retention among HIV-positive mothers could research on it.

In her remark at the workshop, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo, said the findings of LJM was a strategy that would help in reducing the scourge of HIV and AIDS among women and children.

Represented by the Coordinator, State HIV and AIDS Programme, Dr. John Ugboju, the commissioner noted that the findings of the study would not only be beneficial to the state alone but the country as a whole while commending the CIHP for the study which began since 2012.

On her part, Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Isegbe Ladi Ajene, stressed the importance of women’s health, saying it was not only far beyond sexual and reproductive health but about them generally.

She promised government’s support and patronage of CIHP while commending them for the study.

Group Warns Nigeria May Fail If Not Restructured Now Solomon Elusoji The Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG), a civil society organisation, has decried the politicking surrounding the issue of restructuring, noting that a lack of action might lead Nigeria towards the Somalia path - a failed state riddled with violence.

In a statement released yesterday after the group’s National Executive Council meeting in Lagos, NNSG mourned the National Assembly’s pretence position on the nonnegotiable unity of the country, despite the presence of “very loud secessionist agitations ongoing in at least three of Nigeria’s six zones.”

“At this stage in this country’s life,” NNSG’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Uranta, who signed the press statement, said: “we must stop sticking our heads in the sand, pretending that all is well with

Nigeria. We must all agree that there is a need to so restructure Nigeria, that we will have a necessary devolution of powers, fiscal federalism and review of the many unjust laws that hold the country from attaining its maximum potential economically, politically and socially.”

The NNSG statement noted that there was no need to panic or reinvent the wheel and recommended that the National Assembly should immediately commence the process of amending the present constitution, “such that future amendments, or creation of a brand new constitution, must be submitted to a National Referendum by all Nigerians; and, let the president send the Report of the 2014 National Conference to the National Assembly, as an executive bill for urgent consideration, without delay or histrionics.”

for the restructuring of the country.

He also said the disenchantment in the country over the existing structure is such that it would be gloomy if the desires of majority of the people are not met or continue to be deliberately ignored.

The Ohanaeze leader berated the federal government for declaring the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation when their activities do not merit them such status, adding that the same government overlooked the activities of more dangerous armed militant groups like Fulani herdsmen whom they merely branded criminals.

“The declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation is in my view, hurried, unfair and not in conformity with the intendment of the law. Whereas I am not completely in agreement with some of the methods of IPOBits inappropriate and divisive broadcast-the uncontested evidence given by the Attorney General of the Federation in an interlocutory action claiming that IPOB members attempted and/or actually snatched guns from law enforcement agents are, if proven,

merely criminal offences. They do not constitute enough evidence to meet international law definitions of a terrorist organisation. Happily, the United States Embassy in Nigeria only three days ago shared this conclusion and asserted that the US government does not recognise IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

“This same unarmed IPOB that is being stigmatised by the Nigerian Government had its members murdered in Asaba, Nkpor, Aba and Port Harcourt simply for having public demonstrations without the federal government ordering a judicial inquiry. Instead, after I called for one and Amnesty International provided evidence that 150 of them were killed, the Chief of Army Staff Yusuf Burutai, set up an inquiry composed of serving and retired army officers thus abandoning the rules of natural justice which prescribes that you cannot be a judge in your own court,” he stated.

Speaking on the need for restructuring of the Nigerian federation, Ohanaeze leader said: “A model based on sharing of government revenue must give way to a new structure that will

challenge and drive productivity in different regions across the country.

This new model must take into account that the factors driving productivity in today’s world are no longer fossil oil rather it’s the proliferation of a knowledge-based economy.”

He noted that the restructuring of Nigeria into smaller and independent federation limits and the devolution of powers to these federating units to control exclusively their human capital development, mineral resources, agriculture and power (albeit with an obligation to contribute to the federal government), is the only way to salvage Nigerian fledging economy.

Nwodo expressed regret that those campaigning against restructuring in Nigeria have painted an unfortunate and untrue picture that those of us in support of restructuring are doing so in order to deny the Northern states which have not yet proven any oil reserves of the ability to survive.

“This is unfortunate! The new model we propose for Nigeria recognises that revenue in the world today is promoted by

two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture.

“Ten years ago, the top 10 companies in the world were the likes of Exxon Mobil, Shell and Total. Today the top eight companies in the world are represented by technology-related companies.

They are Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Amazon,” the Igbo leader said.

On the deployment of federal troops to the region, Nwodo said: “Our endurance has been stretched beyond Hooke’s gauge for elastic limit. The deployment of the Nigerian army under the guise of Operation Python Dance II to the South-east was unconstitutional under Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution,” noting that it was intended to provoke the people.

Nwodo charged President Muhammadu Buhari to rise up to the challenge and lead the process of restructuring this country.

The discourse at Chatham house was witnessed by a cross section of Nigerians resident in UK as well as the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe.

GOOD TO SEE YOU

Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam (left), in a handshake with Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, shortly before the start of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting in Abuja...yesterday. With them is Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru.

Senate to Probe Alleged Attempt to Cause Disaffection among Lawmakers The Senate yesterday mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to probe an alleged attempt by some people to pit southern lawmakers against their northern counterparts.

This followed a Point of Order by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, on the floor of the Senate.

He alleged that there were plans to cause disaffection among the lawmakers.

Abaribe referred to a newspapers publication on an alleged query given to him by the Senate over Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at their closed-door meeting last Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported he urged the upper

chamber to probe the newspaper on its source of such misleading information.

“This morning Mr. President, I was surprised to find ‘IPOB: senators query Abaribe over Kanu’s bail’.

“Mr. President, we have always said on this floor that anything the presiding officer says at the closed-door session is the sum total of our discussion.

“I remember yesterday that three points were made as a result of our discussion, which was Nigeria’s unity and effort by this Senate to make sure we help in bringing peace to this country.

“The headline that purports to say that this is what happened in our closed-door session which of

course did not happen does not in any way advance the course of peace in this country.

“My constituents have been worried, they have called me and they have been asking me.

“I have told them that it is not true and I will bring it up on the floor and ask the entire Senate to please help us to ask the newspaper to produce whoever gave them this erroneous and misleading information,” he charged.

Abaribe said it was the tradition of the Senate not to query any of its members, which showed the failure of the report, adding that each senator knew what was discussed during the session.

The senator urged the Senate

to look at the attempt at driving a wedge between the South-east senators and Northern senators.

“Some people are bent on making sure that there is no peace but I know that God will not allow them,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, urged the media to be responsible.

He said: “We expect our journalists to show high level of responsibility with the way they do their work.

“Publishing rumours will be the highest form of responsibility.”

Ekaweremadu thereafter referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

NBA: Special Courts for Corruption Cases Should Be Given Special Attention to Succeed Inaugurates NBA constitution review committee Alex Enumah in Abuja The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), has said for the proposed special courts for corruption cases to succeed, the court must be given adequate resources and infrastructural support.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, had at the opening of the new legal year of the Supreme Court announced plans to designate a special court to

handle corruption-related cases as part of efforts to speedily determine cases in the country.

The NBA president while declaring support for the move by the judiciary in fighting corruption, however urged the judiciary to ensure the effectiveness of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, noting that the act has a lot of potential in aiding speedy dispensation of justice in the country.

Mahmud stated this in response to journalists’ questions on the position of the association on the

Truck Kills Seven in Kogi, Students Burn DownVehicle Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja An articulated truck loaded with bags of cement yesterday morning rammed into vehicles, killing seven persons in Lokoja along the AbujaLokoja highway.

An eyewitness account disclosed to THISDAY that the accident occurred at about 8a.m. at Feleke-NATACO Junction when the people, including students, were busy going to work.

The sources further disclosed that the truck which was coming from Obajana loaded with cement, was heading to the northern part of the country when it lost control as a result of brake failure.

In an effort to avoid casualties, the driver of the truck took one way and on getting to NATACO junction, the truck rammed into another oncoming lorry, smashed two tricycles and another two commercial vehicles, killing seven people on the spot.

Among those killed were three

school children and some occupants of the tricycle and a female student of Kogi State Polytechnic, whose identity was unknown as at time of filling this report.

Also, several people sustained injuries as men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were at hand to evacuate the dead persons while those who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to the hospital for medical care.

However, some students of the Kogi State Polytechnic who were said to have been irked by the killing of their colleague, went on rampage as they barricaded the Abuja-Lokoja highway, burning tyres which created a heavy gridlock on the road.

Two Dangote trailers were allegedly attack and burnt by the students. It took the intervention of security men to put the situation under control as they were able to dispatch the students from the federal road.

proposed special corruption court at the inauguration of two special committees of the NBA in Abuja.

“There has been a lot of agitations for special courts, of course as you know this is not the first time we would be having special courts in the country, we have had special courts before.

“Essentially, what is important is that the courts are given enough resources and infrastructural support, I mean power support to undertake speedy trials, especially corruption cases,” he said.

Mahmud acknowledged that there are a lot of dissatisfactions over the speed of the trial of corruption cases hence the support for their creation.

“So we don’t have any objections to such special courts been set up but in addition we must not loose sight of the wider issues involved in criminal justice administration.

“We have a new criminal justice act which came into force in 2015, a lot of innovation have been introduced, the NBA is now in the process of organising a summit to really review the progress of the implementation of this act to see what lessons have been learnt so far and what areas needed to be improved.

“The whole idea is that we need a more effective and more speedy criminal justice system,” he added.

The NBA National President disclosed that the inauguration of the two committees; the Disciplinary / Prosecution Committee and the NBA Constitution Review Committee is aimed at making the association more effective.

Mr. Yussuf Alli (SAN) was announced as Chairman of Constitution Review Committee, while Jubrin Okutepa (SAN) chairs the Disciplinary /

Prosecution Committee.

Mahmud commended Okutepa and his team for doing a great job, adding that the inauguration was to expand the committee with the view of speeding up disciplinary process of its members.

“We are happy with what the current team is doing and we felt given the volume of the work involved we need more hands and we really need to encourage them to do more,” he said.

Mahmud however, stated that the Constitution Review Committee on its part was essentially set up to address all the lingering issues affecting the NBA constitution.

“It was a decision of the annual general meeting, at our meeting in Lagos on August 24th to review the NBA constitution, I constituted this committee following the approval of the

annual general meeting.

He said: “The committee is to be responsible for collecting the votes of our members and contributing as to what and what needed to be amended or change as far as the NBA constitution is concerned.”

Areas of urgent attention he advised the committee on include, succession pattern and the structure of the NBA branches which according to him is not viable.

He expressed hope that the committee would conclude its job quickly and submit it’s report that would be consented at the annual general meeting slated for early November.

Responding, the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Alli, thanked the association for the opportunity to serve and promised on behalf of others to do the association proud.

Bill Recommends N540bn Annually for Police Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Senate yesterday passed through second reading, a bill seeking the establishment of the Nigeria Police Development Fund (NPDF), which also proposes the sum of N540 billion annually to fund the Nigeria Police Force for enhanced provision of security.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South).

It recommends that when established, the NPDF, should be entitled to 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the federation account amounting to N370 billion, 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating in the country; N50 billion and 30 per cent of money accrued to the Cyber Security fund which is N120 billion.

Ibrahim argued that from the three sources, the police would get N540 annually, which would ensure adequate training of personnel, provision of barracks, offices and equipment for the law enforcement outfit.

The fund would also oversee disbursement and utilisation of aid and grants to the police from national and international agencies, he added.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu,

however argued that the allocation of 0.5 per cent from the total revenue accruing to the federation account, to the fund, is in contrary toSection 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Such provision, he said, would therefore require an amendment to the constitution.

Ekweremadu instead, harped on the decentralisation of the police to allow for state police, for better service delivery.

The position of the Deputy Senate President on state police was opposed by Senator Adamu Aliero who said the main challenge of the police is funding.

He also argued that the constitution has to be amended to provide for 0.5 per cent revenue allocation to the fund.

The bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Police, Judiciary, Human rights and Legal Matters for further legislative duties Presiding, Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the relevant committees to ensure the full involvement of states and local government at the public hearing on the bill.

“Whatever we want to do to address the problem must be within the constitution,” Saraki said.

PROMOTING DIGITAL LITERACY

L-R: Guest of Honour and District Governor, Rotary International (District 900), Adewale Ogunbadejo; Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mrs. Edith Udeagu; President, Rotary Club of Iponri, Shina Badaru; and Member, Executive Board of Director, NIRA, Mr. Biyi Oladipo, during the official launch of Rotary digital literacy advocacy in partnership with NIRA, in Lagos….. yesterday Kola Olasupo

IPOB: Group Restates Confidence in Military’s Ability to Protect Nigerians Sunday Okobi and Ugo Aliogo Concerned Professionals’ Congress, (CPC) yesterday said the recent military’s successful engagement of the now-proscribed Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has again raised hopes that the armed forces have the will and capacity to protect citizens against harassment.

The group in a statement jointly issued to THISDAY yesterday by the Chief Media Strategist, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa and the Regional Rapporteur (North), Mallam Baba Al-Kasim disclosed that the swift deployment of troops by the nation’s military command effectively arrested the recent IPOBorchestrated mayhem in the South

east and South south.

The group argued that following IPOB’s proscription and the nearfragile peace across the nation, the statement had become necessary to in order reassure citizens of the readiness of the military to ensure the safety of every Nigerians.

It lauded the military’s Operation Python Dance 11 which was successfully embarked to checkmate crimes in the South east, while also commending the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for deploying its officers to prevent possible reprisal as fallout of the violent activities of the now-proscribed militant group.

It further stated that the IPOB’s fall started as soon as it began to drive the Igbo marginalization message with frightening mayhem, hate rhetoric,

intemperate language and militant secessionist posture.

CPC in the statement urged Nigerians to rise above primordial sentiments and ignore Kanu’s illadvised excesses to re-examine strident calls across the country for a major national reformation aimed at revisiting obvious conflicts areas and fault lines.

It warned that since IPOB has been outlawed because of its militant terrorist profile, anyone found to be associating or hobnobbing with it risked being declared as an enemy of the State.

Nwankpa commended the Defence Headquarters whose quick intervention and timely public notice of September 15, by the spokesman, Maj.Gen. John Enenche, literally pulled the nation

from the jaws of danger and disaster triggered by IPOB’s monumental misadventure.

“We salute the pro-active and tireless Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, whose synergy- driven leadership and robust collaboration with the service chiefs and other security agencies has galvanized the nation’s entire security architecture to combat emerging national security threats effectively. Their efforts are visible and laudable.

“But for the strategic move by the DHQ, the nation could have been on fire by now. So we agree with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu who said that God averted the world’s greatest bloodbath in the South East last week. We cannot thank God enough,” it said.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFIER

Eagles Will Get the Job Done in Uyo, Says Mikel Super Eagles’ Captain, John Mikel Obi, has declared that though the three-time African champions have respect for 2012 AFCON winners Zambia, the total commitment to ensuring early qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals will see Nigeria wrap up the campaign next weekend.

Captain Mikel, who has had a marvelous run in the qualifying series, playing commendable leadership role, said yesterday that he is fully dedicated to the assignment of leading his teammates out on the turf of Godswill Akpabio Stadium to secure the sole ticket in Group B on October 7.

“I must admit that I applaud the resurgence of the Zambians this late in the qualifiers. Beating Algeria home and away is no mean feat. We will take them very serious on October 7 because they clearly have a new spirit.

It is time we wrap this up,” observed the Tianjin Teda of China midfielder.

Speaking further on the relative smooth-run the Eagles have had in this campaign compared to earlier FIFA World Cup

qualifying races, the former Chelsea FC of England player pin-pointed professionalism, determination and ambition as the factors that have swung the pendulum Nigeria’s way, whilst also heaping praises on Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.

“We have all shown professionalism, dedication and determination to be at the pole position in a group tagged ‘Group of Death.’

“Commendations must go to the entire team and the coach, but we must finish it up in Uyo and secure our ticket right there,” he concluded with finality.

Meanwhile, Mikel provided an assist as his Chinese Super League club gave their relegation fight a huge boost with a 4-1 home win against Guizhou Hengfeng yesterday.

Mikel, who made his ninth league appearance of the season in the game, assisted Liyu Yang who scored Tianjin Teda’s third goal in the 88th minute.

Other scorers for Tianjin Teda were Mbaye Diagne (61st minute) and Ghanaian midfielder Frank Achampong in the 80th minute. Tianjin’s

fourth goal came via an own goal by Guizhou Hengfeng’s Jie Wang in the 92nd minute.

Former Everton striker Nikica Jelavic scored Guizhou Hengfeng’s goal in the 85th

minute.

The win means Mikel’s Tianjin now occupies 14th

spot on 22 points in the 16team league with just four games left.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Basel 5-0 Benfica CSKA 1-4 Man Utd Anderlecht 0-3 Celtic PSG 3-0 Bayern Qarabag 1-2 Roma Atletico 1-2 Chelsea Juventus 2-0 Olympiacos Sporting 0-1 Barca

Neymar Jr scored Paris Saint Germain’s third goal in the 3-0 defeat of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Group B match in Paris… last night

FIFA Appoints Bondo to Take Charge … Ezenwa: World Cup Ticket Too Late for Chipolopolo Now of Nigeria, Zambia Showdown Super Eagles goalkeeper Cup qualification ticket. Cup is concerned. We to explain or understand Joshua Bondo, a 39-year old referee from Botswana who has been an international arbiter for the past 10 years, will take charge of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying cracker between Nigeria and Zambia in Uyo next week Saturday.

World football-ruling body FIFA has appointed Bondo alongside his countrymen Oamogetse Godisamang (40, an international assistant referee since year 2010), who will serve as Assistant Referee 1, and Tirelo Mositwane (30, an international referee since 2013), who will serve as Fourth Official. Souru Phatsoane from Lesotho will be the Assistant Referee 2.

Mr. Carlos Manuel Neves

Henriques from South Africa will be the Referee Assessor while Sudanese Osama Hassan Ataaelmanan, who was Match Commissioner for the Match-day 4 clash between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Yaounde on September 4, will repeat the same role in Uyo on October 7.

Nigeria will seal a sixth FIFA World Cup appearance with the minimum win in Uyo, in a clash that will see the winners of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and the champions of the 2013 edition come face-toface in a match of huge significance. Kick –off is 5pm at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa has said in no unmistakable terms that it is too late in the day for their Zambian counterparts, Chipolopolo, to start positioning themselves for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification ticket.

Ezenwa, who is still askance over the 1-4 thumbing at the hands of the Black Stars of Ghana in the 2017 WAFU Cup final, said it will be most unfair for anyone to expect Nigeria to give up the summit position after everyone kicked off the World Cup campaign at the same time.

“I think it’s too late for Zambia to start dreaming for the 2018 FIFA World

“The qualification race commenced at the same time for everyone and here we are at the summit of the group.

“It will be most unfair for Zambia or any other person to think that we will allow the golden opportunity to slip off our hands.

“The hype has been strong, rightly so from the Zambian camp that is allowed in football.

“We do not have the luxury of time to begin to listen to what the Zambians are saying concerning the match. Ours is to stay focus and concentrate on the game.

“It’s a decisive game for us as far as the qualification for the 2018 FIFA World

do not want any form of distraction.

“I think we have a better case for qualifying for the World Cup than the Zambians. Going to the World Cup is important to Zambia as claimed they are yet to be at the World Cup but it‘s more important to us too as up to 78 per cent of my teammates are yet to be at the World Cup. “World Cup is the summit of football, it will enrich our curriculum vitae and our children will be proud of us.

“Right now we are keenly looking forward to matchday to finish the game as well as pocket the ticket.

“I can tell you up to this moment we are yet

what happened in the WAFU Cup final against hosts Ghana.

“We have however decided to see the massive defeat as one of those worst days in football in order to forge ahead.

“We cannot rewrite history but strive to learn one or two lessons from the unfortunate event in Ghana,” said the FC IfeanyiUbah shot stopper to supersport.com.

Nigeria is at the World Cup group’s summit on 10 points, three above closest challengers Zambia. Victory for Nigeria against the East Africans will make the last group match at the North African side, Algeria, a mere academic exercise.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Dalung Urges NASS to Revisit Legislation on Tax Rebate Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has called on the National Assembly to revisit the bill supporting tax waivers for investors in sports development.

Dalung made the call when the Nigeria Hockey Federation led by its President, Senator Abdul Ningi, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The bill, if passed and assented to will have a tax rebate for any company that supports sports. This is expected to generate funds for sports development while waiving a per centage of taxes

paid by sponsors.

“Elsewhere around the world, financial institutions pick athletes, adopt them and spend their money on the development of those athletes.

“We must have such traditions in Nigeria. Here, multinationals make billions in Nigeria and none of them plough back the interest or the profit of their investments into sports, yet, they put billions supporting sports in other countries.

“That is unacceptable and that is why I will lend my voice to call on the National Assembly to revisit that legislation which was concluded but did not receive

the Presidential assent, because it is a desirable legislation for sports development.

“If we have that bill passed and assented to by Mr President, definitely our sports development will be rapid and massive,” observed Dalung.

The minister also commended NHF for bringing hockey back to life and for soliciting funding for their various programmes.

“Despite the challenges being faced by the federation, you have been able to make indelible landmarks as far as hockey is concerned in Nigeria and Africa. All that needs to be done is justice for other federations in Nigeria.

“Over the years, we deliberately embarked on policies of elimination of other sports and this went down to even the elimination of institutional sports. This situation was compounded by the inequitable policy of only appropriating more funds to choice sports while others were abandoned to their fate.

“I want to assure you that having successfully conducted the elections of the national federations, we will move to equity and justice in sports administration,” pledged the minister.

Earlier, the President of the NHF, Senator Ningi said that since coming on board,

the federation has been able to meet all its domestic competitions on the calendar.

“We have taken part in the Super league, League One, National League and club competitions. In spite of the problems of funding, the federation members are still doing their best to ensure that we are always represented at competitions,” revealed the NHF chief.

The Senator also solicited support for the upcoming Nations Cup competition billed for Egypt.

“It is our flagship competition and it was initially scheduled to take place in August in South Africa but

because of the international league that took place there, it was moved to Egypt.

“Our ambition is to put Nigerian hockey back on the African continent and global limelight. Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa get endorsements from their private sector but in Nigeria, it is only football and basketball that they invest in and therefore we must do whatever we can to get the business sector to come up with how to move other sports forward,” he noted with regrets.

He called on the Minister to assist the federation with sponsorship for the Nations Cup.

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Price: N250

MISSILE Tinubu to Federal Government “The secular decline in oil prices revealed our extant economic model for the travesty it is. Should we continue along its sad path, history will write of us that we chose selfdestruction over progress for no reasons other than inertia and arrogance. Future generations will utter ‘there went the best chance of Nigeria.’ This is not a verdict I want attached to my name and our generation” – APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, calling for a restructuring of the country.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of Corruption, Insecticide and Deodorant W

hen on 19th April this year President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, he instituted a three-man committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the allegations against the duo. For those who felt that setting a committee to deal with straight-forward matters was needless, they were comforted by the fact that there would be a quick closure on the matter since the committee had just two weeks to submit its report.

However, more than five months after, the opposition politicians who dismiss President Buhari’s war against graft as insincere in conception and selective in implementation may be having the last laugh. In case the president is not aware, the talk in town is that the much touted war against corruption of his administration is more a weapon to deal with political opponents than an agenda to enthrone transparency and accountability in Nigeria. And he has done so much in the last two years to prove them right.

Regardless of all the tales about the former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and Dame Patience Jonathan, which is all that the corruption war has been reduced to lately, what discerning Nigerians can see is the same hypocrisy, deceit and double standards of the past. While I support all genuine efforts to rid our country of corruption and all forms of abuses within the system, such efforts must be blind to personal or political affiliations of the leader if it is to be enduring. Selective application of those to hold accountable and those to allow free reign can only undermine any attempt to fight graft. Unfortunately, that is what is happening in Nigeria today.

Indeed, there is a general perception that this administration protects its own and that may explain why many opposition politicians who have corruption cases against them are trooping to the All Progressive Congress (APC) where the broom is evidently big enough to sweep any and every act of corruption under the Aso Rock carpet. In a way, the statement by Senator Shehu Sani has become prophetic: “When it comes to fighting corruption in the National Assembly and the Judiciary and in the larger Nigerian sectors, the President uses insecticide, but when it comes to fighting corruption within the Presidency, they use deodorants.”

Against the background that President Buhari came to power with his personal integrity and a campaign promise that he would fight corruption in office, Senator’s Sani’s description, which fits, should compel introspection in Aso Rock. After several political big wigs in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been called to account, including some of them being handcuffed to court, the big one came when a committee of the Senate, controlled by the same ruling party, indicted the SGF of fiddling with the money meant for the most vulnerable of our society: those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Buhari The expectation was that the president would use the opportunity to prove the credibility of his anti-corruption war. One, the president said, and quite correctly, that Lawal had a right to defend himself against allegations of impropriety, a right he believed the Senate denied his man before coming up with the report. So, one cannot fault the president’s decision to subject the Senate report to his own investigation. Two, the person involved is close to President Buhari who has a reputation when it comes to dealing with friends and associates. It is said that if you have the trust of the president, you can get away with any wrongdoing because he would defend you regardless of the evidence.

Given the foregoing, Nigerians waited eagerly to see how the president would handle this scandal. In the statement signed by presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, a three-man committee comprising the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the National Security Adviser and headed by the

The burden for the president at this most critical period is twofold: first to salvage the credibility of his wobbly administration and, most importantly, to restore public confidence in his personal integrity as a genuine national leader and moral beacon

Vice President was directed to investigate “the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).”

The same committee was also directed “to conduct a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.” The investigation, according to the statement, “is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.”

As it turned out, the investigations commenced the day the president was travelling out of the country on a medical vacation that lasted more than a hundred days. But upon return, the report was submitted to him on 23rd August with so much song and dance. In fact, the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) that was scheduled to hold the next day was cancelled because, as we were told, the president was busy reading the report.

Unfortunately, more than a month after receiving the said report, the president has

done nothing about the matter thus confirming Senator Sani’s declaration. Yet, if the war against corruption in Nigeria is to have any meaning, the targets of those to scrutinize and the reward system cannot continue to be selective. You cannot treat some corruption cases with insecticide and some others with deodorant and expect anybody to take you seriously.

To the extent that justice is the anchor of peace and the premise of social development, it is easy to locate some of the current problems in the country in the arbitrary use of power and the promotion of selective application of justice. And when such becomes manifest in the public space, as it is in Nigeria today, what follows is that the people will begin to lose trust in both the leader and the system.

The most significant appeal of President Buhari’s candidacy in 2015 was the national consensus then that he would be principled, decisive, firm and precise on matters of public morality. Sadly, his failure to act promptly and decisively at critical moments when the public expected clarity has dulled his original appeal and cast doubts on his sincerity. In the process, the dividing line between right and wrong in our nation has further blurred. Therefore, the burden for the president at this most critical period is twofold: first to salvage the credibility of his wobbly administration and, most importantly, to restore public confidence in his personal integrity as a genuine national leader and moral beacon.

The Perils of Social Media

I was at the BAZE University, Abuja on Tuesday, where I spoke to an enthusiastic collection of faculties and students on the topic: “Leadership and responsibility in the age of social media”. The lecture provided an opportunity for me to dissect the intricacies of social media uses and abuses, in a world of continuing revolution in technologies of communication. And I had an exciting time with the students some of who argued that I dwelt too much on the negatives rather than the positives of social media.

The lecture, according to the Master of Ceremony and long-term friend, Dr. Abiodun Adeniyi, was pursuant to the university’s culture of regularly providing the space for the expansion of understanding on topical subject matters. As it would turn out, the session did not just provide a space for the examination of an interesting subject matter, it became another unique opportunity to interact with a crop of competent hands assembled by the University founder and Pro-Chancellor, Senator Yusuf Datti BabaAhmed.

As I wrote in two years ago on this page, I admire Baba-Ahmed’s determination to make a difference in the educational sector of our country by building a world-class university that boasts of modern classrooms and auditoriums with smart boards, audio visuals, intercom, and biometric attendance.

For a university that started with just 17 students and three faculties, it is a testimony to the vision of Baba-Ahmed that Baze is now one of the most sought-after institutions running

26 fully-accredited programmes under four faculties: Management and Social Sciences; Law; Computing and Applied Sciences; and Engineering. I was delighted to be on the campus on Tuesday to share my thoughts.

Aside Baba-Ahmed, others in the parked audience were the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tahir Mamman; the registrar and former Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major-General Inuwa Idris (rtd); Deputy Vice Chancellors, Professors Peter Umoh and Charles Ogbonna; and Dr. Dele Babalola of the International Relations Department. Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the University’s MBBS programme, Dr Fatima Kyari was also in attendance and so was my aburo, Dr Aminu Gamawa who, like Dr Sam Amadi, former Chair of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) now teaching law at BAZE, is a product of the Harvard Law School. There were of course others with whom I am not familiar.

As I explained to the students, immense benefits abound with social media and the breadth of content is as vast and limitless as the boundaries of outer space while the potential connections, possibilities and opportunities are also endless. However, several people are still yet to terms with the fact that we are living in a different world; a world where the concept of privacy is quickly losing its relevance and becoming more of an illusion. And that is why they get their fingers burnt.

Interested readers will find the speech in the online edition of my column.

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