Thursday 5th October 2017

Oil Marketers to Shut Down Depots over N800bn Unpaid Subsidy Claim Unions issue strike notice over looming job losses Ejiofor Alike Oil marketers have initiated moves to shut down depots nationwide over the inability of the federal government

to settle the lingering accumulated debts of over N800 billion subsidy claims.

This is just as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria

(PENGASSAN) and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have issued notices of an indefinite strike to the marketers in protest

over the backlog of salaries owed their members and the looming job losses in the downstream sector, THISDAY has learnt.

The notice of indefinite

strike action by the oil workers, which was contained in a joint communiqué issued by the marketers after their joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held

in Lagos on Tuesday, followed what the unions described as the continuous deteriorating welfare of its members working Continued on page 48

Medical Doctors, 10 Others Quarantined in Bayelsa over New Viral Disease, Monkey Pox… Page 49 Thursday 5 October, 2017 Vol 22. No 8204. Price: N250

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Senator Misau Accuses IG of Impregnating Serving Policewoman, Having Affairs With Two Others… Page 49

AGF: Bringing Alison-Madueke Home to Face Trial Unnecessary Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Malam Abubakar Malami yesterday said the demand by the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke that the federal government should extradite her to Nigeria to face corruption charges was needless.

Continued on page 48

L-R: Hon. Gabriella O. Igbinedion, Hon. Rita Orji, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Hon. Yusuff Lasun, Hon. Joan Mrakpor, Onyemaechi, Hon. Boma Goodhead and Hon. Asebe Vilita Bashir, when members of the House joined the deputy speaker to celebrate his 57th birthday at the National Assembly complex… yesterday

Senate to Probe Baru over $24bn Contract Awards, Insubordination Industry experts blame Buhari’s retention of oil portfolio for feud between Kachikwu and NNPC boss Damilola Oyedele and Chineme Okafor in Abuja Following the dust raised over the letter written by

the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu to President Muhammadu Buhari, in which he accused

the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Maikanti Baru of illicit

contract awards to the tune of $24 billion and insubordination, the Senate yesterday constituted a nineman ad hoc committee to

probe the allegations made against the NNPC boss.

The committee is to be chaired by Aliyu Wamako, while its members include

Tayo Alasoadura, Akpan Bassey, Samuel Anyanwu and Ahmed Ogembe.

Continued on page 10

Presidential Council Begins Next Phase of Ease of Business Plan…

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STARTERS

Lagos, Stakeholders Endorse 14-Point Resolution to End Apapa Gridlock Insist on restriction of tankers, trailers, trucks in state Gboyega Akinsanmi After ordering all articulated vehicles to stay away from the state, the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders have agreed to a 14-point resolution to restore order and sanity to Apapa where the nation’s busiest seaports and oil depots are all located.

The stakeholders comprising the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Nigeria Police Force and terminal operators, among others, have resolved that all tankers, trailers and trucks should remain in truck terminals outside the state.

The decision was contained in a communiqué THISDAY obtained yesterday after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Apapa Local Government Secretariat to end the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa Central Business District and its environs.

The meeting was convened at the instance of the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to work out a lasting solution to the perennial traffic congestion caused by truckers within Apapa.

At a news conference a fortnight ago, the state government had ordered all trailers, trucks and oil tankers to stay off all roads within the state after a weeklong outright blockade of all access roads to Apapa and the intractable gridlock resulting from it.

Consequently, it directed the operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, among others, to deny all articulated vehicles access to the state.

In a communiqué after the meeting, the stakeholders lamented that the perennial traffic congestion caused by truckers within Apapa ports and its environs was a major concern as many lives had been lost and businesses paralysed.

In order to find a lasting solution to the menace, the state government called for a stakeholders’ meeting involving government agencies, port regulators,

NEWS Senator Misau Accuses IG

of Impregnating Serving Policewoman, Having Affairs with Two Others The Senate yesterday constituted d a seven-man ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of massive corruption and misappropriation… …

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EDITORIAL The Growing Illiteracy in Nigeria The deplorable state of education in Nigeria came to the fore again recently when Governor Nasir el-Rufai revealed that 50 per cent of teachers in Kaduna State who were due for re-appointment failed the primary four test set for them as pre-condition…

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POLITICS Anambra is Greater Than Ambode truck owners’ associations, terminal operators, clearing agents and other stakeholders.

After an exhaustive session and inspection of facilities at the terminals, the stakeholders agreed that the NPA, NSC and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), being the regulatory bodies, would enforce the use of holding bays as a pre-requisite for the shipping companies.

The stakeholders equally agreed that only consolidated shipping companies would henceforth be allowed to bring empty containers from the holding bays into the ports.

They also agreed that the shipping companies “must write and get approvals in advance from the NPA and port managers at Apapa and Tin-can Ports, respectively, for the number of containers expected into the port on a daily basis”.

“The NPA is mandated to inform the cargo owners to liaise with the shipping companies on the return of the empty containers which must be enforced.

Henceforth, Equipment Interchange Report (EIR) must indicate the destination point for the return of empty containers and must be enforced by the terminal operator,” the communiqué said.

The stakeholders agreed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) must be operational on a 24-hour basis within the port premises, regardless of public holidays, which they said would help improve the ease of doing business in Apapa and its environs.

They further agreed that truck barriers should be erected at the entrance and exit of identified inner roads within Apapa axis, stressing that all articulated vehicles – tankers, trailers and trucks – would be restricted to truck terminals in Ogun State.

They agreed that the restricted movement of the trucks outside Lagos State “will be closely monitored and enforced by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), law enforcement committee and other stakeholders”.

The stakeholders agreed to set up an enforcement committee at all entry point into Lagos State, which they said would regulate the activities of the truckers within the Apapa metropolis.

The stakeholders directed the authorities of the LASEMA Rescue Unit and Apapa Local Government Authority “to collaborate in securing an operational base for the operation of LASEMA in Apapa”.

S E N ATE TO P ROBE BAR U OVER $24 BN C ON T R ACT AWAR D S, I N SU B OR D I N AT I ON Others are Chukwuka Utazi, Rose Oko, Baba Garba and Kabir Marafa.

The committee was also mandated to undertake a holistic investigation into the finances of the corporation.

The resolution followed a motion by Senator Anyanwu who called for an investigation into the allegations made

by Kachikwu.

The minister in the letter had accused Baru of failing to adhere to due process in the award of several multibillion dollar contracts and of sidelining the board of NNPC, which Kachikwu chairs, in the award of contracts.

Kachikwu further accused Baru of undermining his authority and appointing senior executives of NNPC without his input and board approval.

In his motion, Anyanwu also emphasised the need for the Senate to investigate Baru’s involvement in the alleged corrupt activities of Duke Oil, a component of the NNPC Trading Limited, noting that the company was incorporated in 1989 in Panama and therefore does not pay tax in Nigeria.

He said the company enjoys the massive support of NNPC in crude oil trading in the international market in spite of grappling with the basics of what it was registered to do.

Anyanwu further drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that NNPC Trading

Two-Minute Briefing

Limited is a joint venture subsidiary, which has Duke Oil, Hyson/Carlson (JV), NAP Oil (JV), and West Africa-Gas LTD (JV) as shareholders.

“The Senate is aware that Duke Oil, which was incorporated in Panama in 1989 and does not pay tax in Nigeria, is still grappling with the basics of what it is registered to do in spite of the support from the NNPC,” he said.

“We are aware of the decision by the current GMD to allocate almost all crude oil lifting to Duke Oil; this is in addition to its automatic inclusion in the lifting of crude oil, gas, etc, which will make Duke Oil a money-spinning outfit that is accountable only to NNPC,” the lawmaker added.

Anyanwu, speaking further, said Duke Oil is the sole importer of diesel for the Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC) and NNPC Retail – both wholly owned NNPC subsidiaries – but the company (Duke Oil) executes the contracts through third parties since it cannot import the product by itself.

This, the lawmaker added, had impeded the growth of indigenous companies who are trying to make inroads into the sector.

“The Senate is also aware of the general lack of transparency and level playing field in favour of Duke Oil to lift products without payment, as against its competitors

in the sector.

“We are further aware that these have combined to make Duke Oil the highest money earner and at the same time the highest money ‘waster’ because of the massive corruption in the way and manner they transact business.

“The Senate is concerned that this relationship has helped to greatly stifle the growth of indigenous companies operating in the sector. Duke Oil lacks the requisite credentials to trade internationally; it therefore makes Duke Oil a giant commissioned agent only.

“We are also concerned that the net effect of the above arrangement is that NNPC and by extension Nigeria earns less than it would have if the process was open and transparent, where products are sold directly to indigenous oil traders.

“The Senate is further concerned that money so far earned by NNPC Trading Limited through its subsidiaries such as Duke Oil is not made public and is only known by NNPC officials,” Anyanwu said.

Contributing to the motion, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, noted that NNPC has always acted like it is a law onto itself and was not accountable to any authority.

“NNPC for the past 10 to 15 years has lived above everybody in this country. They Continued on page 48

Obiano and I, Says Obaze As the Anambra State gubernatorial election draws closer, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oseloka Obaze has called on voters to put sentiments aside…

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FEATURES Giving Back to the North East

Mohammed Indimi is giving back to his community, writes Solomon Elusoji Page 20

BUSINESS Senate: Legislation on Closure e

of Telcos’ Cell Sites Not Necessary Chairman, House Committee on n, Federal Road Safety Com- mission, Hon. AbubakarYunusa has said that the best approach to the indiscriminate closure of telecomss cell…

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Reducing Cardiovascular

Diseases in Nigeria Recent research has shown that cardiovascular disorders have overtaken infectious diseases as Nigeria’s number one killer. But experts at Grays Cardiology…

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INTERNATIONAL Pro-independence Catalans Defy King Felipe VI’s Warning Pro-independence Catalan leaders are pressing ahead despite an emphatic warning from King Felipe VI. Page 46

SPORTS Eagles go into Final

Strategising Behind Closed Gates With the arrival ofVictor Moses and the four other players that missed Super Eagles first training session in Uyo, all the 25 players invited for Saturday’sWorld Cup… Page 45

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͳ˜ 2017

COMMENT

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

KOLADE, CADBURY AND THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Simbo Olorunfemi pays tribute to Christopher Kolade, a broadcaster and administrator of repute

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here was just that something, intangible as it was, about the Cadbury of the 1990s and early 2000s. It was in the minty air over its factory at Agidingbi in the capital of Lagos state. The ‘Buttermint’ fragrance clung to the air, dominating everything else made there, wafting beyond the premises to its immediate vicinity It was right there at the ever busy reception manned by Austin and another colleague of his, as they struggled to maintain their cool in spite of the flowing stream of visitors, and the noticeable restlessness on the part of many, frustrated at the inability to make it beyond the reception desk.

It was there in the Cadbury Boys and Girls, as Dr. Christopher Kolade, former Chairman and Managing Director of the company, fondly calls them, even now. With them was that sense of self-assuredness, a confidence that could be easily mistaken for cockiness. They interacted with one another on the basis of initials, with Dr. Kolade himself known as CK. Once you meet one of those Cadbury Boys and Girls, chances are you have met most. Easy to tell you were dealing with men and women who have been carefully put through the crucible that socialised them into this peculiar corporate culture. The camaraderie was difficult to miss. This was a family that had been put through a process of deliberate acculturation, seemingly sworn to a set of values which guided their conduct and work ethic.

But as much as one tried decoding what it really was about the Cadbury Boys and Girls of those days and Cadbury itself, it was difficult. A knife through the sweet air which hung over Cadbury did not reveal much. It was not tangible but it was there. One was simply unable to cut through. It was difficult to decode what it was. One could feel it even if it was impossible to touch it.

It is not until you meet Dr. Christopher Kolade in person, that you things will fall in place and you are able to conclusively tell what it was about Cadbury and the Staff then. Their dedication to work, commitment to excellence, the high values which they stood for, their keen sense of integrity, the self-confidence they exuded, could all be found in that one man. That polite, no-nonsense attitude and fidelity to properly conducting oneself is what you will find in CK. The self-assurance in their gait is from him. That all-round comportment that set apart the Cadbury Boys and Girls is from Dr. Kolade. He largely personifies and embodies what we saw and felt then that we could not decode then.

Dr. Kolade belongs to that generation of gentlemen, many of whom have now sadly passed away. His record of service across the fields of broadcasting, management to diplomacy is one that would three lifetimes for many to accomplish. Yet, he is as self-effacing as you can ever find. A gentleman in every respect, his simplicity and humility, in spite of all that he has accomplished, is beyond belief. A master communicator and an excellent elocutionist, you cannot miss the ‘swagger’, even at 83 (Dr. Kolade will be 84 in December). He must have been on his feet for over an hour last week, delivering a lecture. One could have

IT DOES STRIKE ONE THAT THE CASE OF CADBURY, BACK THEN, WAS THAT OF A STRONG MAN WHO SET UP A STRUCTURE, BUILT A SYSTEM AND PROCESSES THAT DELIVERED VALUE BUT MOULDED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS

said he looks really good for his age, but he has jokingly said that amounts to us saying he does not have to be that fit for his age. So, I won’t say that.

President Barack Obama had argued that Africa does not need strong men, but strong institutions. But we have wondered aloud if we do not, in fact, need strong men to be able to build strong institutions. It does strike one that the case of Cadbury, back then, was that of a strong man who set up a structure, built a system and processes that delivered value but moulded young men and women into consummate professionals. The management trainee programme he introduced at Cadbury as a means of recruiting young graduates to train as managers was highly regarded for its integrity that with time, it was taken for granted that there was no way external influence could be brought to corrupt the process.

Dr. Kolade recalls how some of the staff would come to thank him after promotion and he would say to them that they had only themselves to thank, because if they did not merit the promotion, there was no way they would have gotten it. Such was the thoroughness and integrity of the system he set up.

Such was the impact Dr. Christopher had on the young men and women recruited and trained under his watch that many years after, while both he and them had since moved on from the organisation, they found it necessary to come together and set up what is now known as the “Cadbury Nigeria Alumni Association”, under the leadership of Mr. Lampe Omoyele, one of the brightest minds in marketing in Nigeria. Many of them have moved on to great professional careers in different capacities and organisations, but they insist that Cadbury experience largely defined them. In Dr. Kolade’s words, it is obvious they “managed to bring something to life that is emotionally powerful.”

Last week, the Alumni Association organised its inaugural lecture at which Dr Kolade, as one would expect, spoke on “The Pursuit of Excellence”. As the Cadbury boys and girls mingled and reminisced, there for all to see what one man’s commitment to the right values could birth. That something that we struggled to decode was evident.

It was the spirit of excellence, which Dr. Kolade reminded us, is not something you arrive at but what one must keep doing it and keep getting better at.

Dr. Kolade’s name rings a bell for integrity and all that he has accomplished in the fields of broadcasting, management and diplomacy, but it just might be that his greatest legacy is, in fact, these men and women, making giant strides here and there who see themselves as products of the Kolade school of excellence and are determined to ensure that what he stands for is shared with the world, for more far-reaching impact. As Dr. Kolade himself put it, “the real test of what you have done is the people who have experienced you.”

Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publishers of Africa Enterprise

WORRIED IN TARABA

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s re-deployment of officers raises eyebrows, writes Amos Agada

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vil political seeds are being sowed by enemies of Taraba State ahead of the 2019 elections in the state. The youth wing of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Taraba State recently uncovered the plot and raised the alarm. The group has established, to the surprise and consternation of all peace-loving people of Taraba, cases of ill-motivated redeployment of many officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who are Christians in many local government areas of the state. All the re-deployed staff were replaced by Muslims, according to the group’s findings.

At a well-attended news conference addressed in Jalingo, September 22, 2017, Pastor Ephraim Kwanchi, chairman of the CAN youth wing, said the re-deployments were part of a grand plan being masterminded by some religious bigots in and outside Taraba State to manipulate “the ongoing processes of producing the updated voters register nationwide by the national electoral body.” The plot, the group said, “is aimed at disenfranchising Christians in Taraba State and possibly inflating the number of prospective Muslim voters through the registration of under-aged persons. The entire plot is aimed at influencing the outcome of future elections in the state in favour of Muslim candidates.

The group quoted statistics on past and recent deployments of INEC electoral officials in the state to support its allegation of bias and injustice against Christians. It said that during the 2015 general election, “only three out of the 16 electoral officers were Christians. The remaining were Muslims. But following the post-election review carried out which saw to the reshuffling

of electoral officers nationwide, 12 out of the 16 officers posted to or retained in Taraba State were Christians while the remaining four were Muslims.”

The group observed that the most recent re-deployment of six out of the 12 Christians who have now been replaced with Muslims now brings the number of Muslim electoral officers to 10 leaving six Christian officers. It then asked a pertinent question: “Why is INEC removing six Christian electoral officers now and replacing them with Muslim electoral officers when it did not deem it necessary to do same during the 2015 general election when there were 13 Muslim electoral officers and only three Christian electoral officers?” The group said it found it curious that the six affected electoral officers were deployed only two months after they were posted to the local government areas affected by the recent postings.

The development, according to the group, is worrisome because of the potential threat it poses to peace and security in the state. “It is very clear to us that the motive behind this unacceptable action of INEC is for these Muslim electoral officers to ensure that non-Muslims are denied the opportunity of registration and the permanent voter card. We suspect that this is part of the grand design to manipulate the outcome of major future elections. This is unacceptable to the Christian community in Taraba State.” It condemned these deployments as an attempt by religious bigots to manipulate the voter registration exercise and the entire electoral process and warned those behind it to retrace their steps.

In case INEC leaders in Jalingo and Abuja do

not know, the CAN youth wing that addressed the press on this sensitive issue spoke the minds of millions of Christians in the state.

They demonstrated a huge amount of courage and patriotism by taking the bold, mature and legitimate steps they have taken to draw the attention of INEC authorities to this highly explosive issue. They deserve commendation for their choice of this very mature approach of channelling their complaints. Some other groups would take to the streets in protest and in the process cause mayhem. It is now left for INEC to heed the advice the group has voluntarily offered on this issue. It must act fast in nullifying the suspicious re-deployments and halt further similar actions that are suggestive of religious bias.

There are two lessons to be learnt from the patriotic action of the CAN youth wing in Taraba on this issue. One is that, Nigeria is a religiously sensitive country. Taraba State is no exception. Any important institutional arrangement such as elections must not exhibit any form of bias against any of the two main religious persuasions – Christianity and Islam. What INEC has done with the clearly ill-motivated re-deployment of INEC officials in Wukari, Kurmi, Karim Lamido, Ussa, Ibi and Jalingo amounts to sowing the seeds of political discord that is destined to lead to bitter and regrettable consequences in future. We all must thank God that these youths are drawing attention to this political landmine in good time.

Election, as members of the group observed in the press statement, is the major ingredient for the sustenance of democracy. It is also the best means of political recruitment for service to

the people. If election is flawed, democracy will be gravely hampered. Therefore, nothing must be done to put the electoral process in jeopardy.

The deliberate advantage that the replacement of re-deployed Christian INEC officers by their Muslim counterparts seeks to guarantee Muslim candidates in future elections is a clear attempt to bastardise the electoral process in the state.

It amounts to rigging the elections right from the voter registration stages. Tarabans are not as politically naive as those behind this unfortunate rigging plot probably think.

The second lesson is the need to avoid anything that will threaten peace and security which the Governor Ishaku administration has achieved for the state through hard work. There cannot be peace if there is no justice. This obviously biased re-deployment of INEC electoral officers is one clear case of injustice done against the Christian community in the state. It has evoked impassioned sentiments which, if not promptly and properly redressed, could threaten peace and stability in the state.

The issue is now at the door-steps of INEC. What it does with the points raised by these patriotic young Christians will go a long way in determining the peaceful conduct and the legitimacy or otherwise of the election of 2019.

It will also determine whether the people will go into the elections in peace or in crisis fuelled by injustice and mutual suspicion. The choice is INEC’s to make. And it must do so quickly by nullifying the controversial re-deployments and resist further attempts to be cajoled into making unfair decisions capable of inducing tension and crisis in the polity.

Agada wrote from Jalingo

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EDITORIAL THE GROWING ILLITERACY IN NIGERIA Government must invest adequately in education

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he deplorable state of education in Nigeria came to the fore again recently when Governor Nasir el-Rufai revealed that 50 per cent of teachers in Kaduna State who were due for re-appointment failed the primary four test set for them as pre-condition for re-absorption into the civil service. Unfortunately, the situation is not restricted to Kaduna as it is a nationwide problem. Yet, if those who are expected to impart knowledge are themselves illiterate, how do we create the necessary balance of skills and knowledge that would drive national development?

While the challenge goes beyond the quality of teachers, what is not in doubt is that there is need to revamp the education sector in Nigeria. The policy thrusts for such action can be found in the outcomes of several summits and their reports lying around in many ofďŹ ces and agencies in both Abuja and at the various state capitals. The learning environment, academic outcomes and the capacity of monitoring institutions are critiYET THE PROVISION cal to revamping the OF QUALITY AND education sector. But AFFORDABLE EDUCATION it is also a problem IS ONE OF THE SACRED that not many of our DUTIES OF GOVERNMENT people want to take teaching as a profesSINCE THEY PROVIDE sion while majority THE NEEDED HUMAN CAPITAL NECESSARY FOR of those currently doing the job are DEVELOPMENT those who cannot ďŹ nd employment in other (more lucrative) sectors.

Receiving a children advocacy group, Save the Children to his state last year, the Zamfara Education Board Chairman, Hon. Adamu Jangebe told his visitors that the state was in chronic shortage of primary school teachers. He lamented that as a result, not fewer than 300 public primary schools in the state were manned by a single teacher each.

Many more schools in remote rural communities, he said, had no teacher at all leaving the children to their own devices and with all the dire conse-

Letters to the Editor

quences for the future of our country.

As depressing as the revelation was, nobody should think that it is only Zamfara State that is facing such challenge. Across the country, several studies and reports speak volumes about the abject neglect of infrastructure in schools. And to worsen matters, it does not appear as if the relevant authorities as well as critical stakeholders are paying attention. In many rural communities, classrooms are an essential commodity with the result that children study under trees. In the urban centres that have the luxury of being provided with classrooms, many of them are dilapidated with leaking roofs, cracked walls and without windows. In many cases, children sit on the oor as there are no reading tables and chairs for them.

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KPODO’S JIBES AT BAYELSA LEADERS

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erekeme Kpodo, former security adviser to former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, is in a hurry to return to the consciousness of the good people of the state.

In a recent media chat, Kpodo, who was also head of the infamous and defunct internal security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbe (OFT), attempted to denigrate his former boss, Sylva; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Timi Alaibe.

In an incoherent bid to pose as one with a political voice, he told his listeners that none of these men would be allowed to vie for the governorship of the state under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020. According to him, the three men have lost their political value and the trust of the people and members of the APC in the state. “All these persons cannot win election in the state. They have offended a lot of Bayelsa people,� Kpodo said.

How laughable! On the contrary, Kpodo is the person that has offended every adult Bayelsan because his Operation Famou Tangbe, intended to protect the people, became so high-handed that it turned into an instrument of oppression.

As a Bayelsan who had a front row view of his infamous reign, I find it most disgusting that he thinks that Bayelsans had forgotten so soon his high-handedness, which had made

iven such an unfriendly and harsh school environment, it is only natural that children would resist going to school even as other social and economic factors collude to restrain primary school enrolment nationwide, but particularly in northern Nigeria. In some situations, children who, in spite of the unattractive conditions of their schools, still wanted to learn are unable to do so because government is unable to provide them with teachers. Meanwhile, there is a consensus that the deplorable state of education in the country is traceable to the fact that politicians do not care about ďŹ xing the sector because they can afford to send their children overseas.

Yet the provision of quality and affordable education is one of the sacred duties of government since they provide the needed human capital necessary for development. Without basic education, the future of children in the state is already mortgaged with the attendant danger of making them susceptible to anti-social vices. Indeed, ample evidence exists that the social miscreants and religious bigots, including the Boko Haram insurgents that have marooned the North-east of the country today, are largely recruited from the army of uneducated people who grew up without any hope for their future.

them sworn that his ilk will never rear up their ugly heads in the state again. Witnesses to his strong arm tactics were a legion of civil society organisations (CSOs), including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), which documented not a few of his overbearing attitude towards his job as an internal security operative.

One of such was the curious arrest and detention of three youths from Amassoma, relations of one Dr. Azebi, the Chairman of NMA Bayelsa State at the time, on September 12, 2011. Even the medical doctor himself was molested and threatened with detention that same day. At the end of their ordeal, operatives of OFT allegedly collected the sum of N1million from them before they were released. Azebi can easily be reached to confirm this unfortunate and traumatising experience. The CLO also wrote several damning reports about Kpodo’s OFT, accusing it of human rights abuse of suspected criminals, who ought to have been presumed innocent until their quilt was proved.

According to the human rights body, judging from the way operatives of OFT handcuffed and loaded their Hilux vans with victims and taken to their high-walled premises, the internal security outfit exaggerated the crime rate in the state, especially in the capital, Yenagoa and was, therefore, unjustified in stripping thousands of its victims of their dignity and human rights.

Ebiowei Tolofari, Yenagoa

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NIGERIA AT 57: DO WE LAUGH OR CRY?

s there anything tangible to celebrate in Nigeria? Celebrating our inability to curtail the menace of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen?

Or celebrating the inability of average Nigerians who couldn’t afford three square meals daily?

I am a Nigerian, but I have chosen to be sober on this day rather than celebrate the unseen and unfelt. At 57, all we hear is the cry of marginalisation and the horror of war drums. At 57, terror is walking freely in the street of Nigeria, and chooses whoever will be the next victim.

At 57, Nigeria is stratified into first class citizens, second class citizens, third class citizens, and some classless surviving-beings.

At 57, Nigeria has failed woefully in the hands of visionless and missionless mediocres who parade themselves as leaders; and under a failed system that makes a politician a billionaire overnight of joining politics and winning an election in the same country where civil servants

and professionals work all through their life without being able to afford a decent home.

At 57, the nation is polarised, the economy is somersaulted, the education sector is in a shambles, justice is costlier than gold; free flow of blood with the military, paramilitaries and all security agencies politicised and doing the bidding of government.

At 57, Yoruba’s would say, “When you use 20 years to prepare for madness, when actually are you going to do the madness properly?�

A nation founded on lies, modern slavery, deceptiveness, marginalisation, weak and faulty foundations can never stand focused on development and growth.

It is so pathetic that in Nigeria at 57, there is nothing to celebrate for an average Nigerian, except that we are alive, which is a privilege from Almighty God. Bamidele Williams, Ibadan

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2017

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Anambra is Greater Than Obiano and I, Says Obaze As the Anambra State gubernatorial election draws closer, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oseloka Obaze has called on voters to put sentiments aside and focus on the urgent need to make the state the best in the country. He spoke with Politics Editors in Lagos. Tobi Soniyi was there and presents the excerpts: will only serve for four years. I will complete the four years left for Anambra North. By April next year, I will be 63, I shouldn’t be running for office now, but we must lay a solid foundation and groom young people to take over. If the foundation and resources we handed to Obiano had been built on, I probably wouldn’t be here.

I don’t recall a governor anywhere in Nigeria leaving N75 billion for his successor.

We laid a foundation and wanted young people to take over and continue in that trajectory, but it has been derailed. Lagos State has been transformed because of careful and systematic planning; short, medium and long term. That was what we set in place in Anambra, but that trajectory is no longer on because the government in place has deviated and our worry is that if we don’t bring government back on track to follow that trajectory, we are not going to catch up with other states. Anambra, by its human capital and natural endowment, deserves to be ranked among the first three if not the first state in Nigeria by all accounts.

What motivated you to join the Anambra State governorship race?

We are a gifted people, very enterprising and we have the environment, which we need to leverage on to deliver the best dividends of democracy to our people as well as drive what goes on in the state, both industrially and economically. We are not there yet. And because I’ve had the privilege of living abroad, travelling to many countries and being asked to come back to serve as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under Peter Obi and partly under Willie Obiano, I understand the state of play, the narrative and trajectory, which was laid for Anambra State to continue beyond 2014. Governor Obiano has done about three and half years of his tenure, but as I look down the line, what I see does not suit the narrative and that was why I have come out.

I am from Anambra North like Obiano and we campaigned to get the governorship for the zone. I led that campaign and it is either I fold my hand and allow that campaign to die or I come out and fight.

We started a process several years ago with Obi, where we had a medium and long term plan, but if we continue on the current pace, we will never meet our target. But if we can change the narrative and the drive, we should be able to bring the state back to the trajectory that it is supposed to be in the next four years.

I know that it is difficult to fight an incumbent, but it is either you are very courageous or you are very foolish or a combination of both. But the most important is that Obiano and I put together; the state is greater than us. If we stand alone, the state is also greater than us. The right of Anambra youths to enjoy those privileges, which I enjoyed while growing up in the then Eastern Region is not debatable. So, what do we do? We have to turn Anambra State around and put it on the pedestal, which it is supposed to be in terms of human capital development, industralisation and information technology, to assist every child to be educated and to empower every man and woman in the state.

When you consider the political dynamics in the state, are you under any illusion that the election is going to be a walkover for you? Otherwise, what are the challenges you foresee and what measures are you putting in place to tackle them?

Of course, there are challenges. There is an incumbent governor in place and he has the power of incumbency. But, an incumbent, who is running for a second term must run on his record. He must say that he came in, met this and built that. He must say that he started this and completed that. Yes, I was part of the Obi administration and started with the Obiano administration, but I left after 15 months, when things were not on the trajectory they were supposed to be. If Obiano had stayed on the trajectory that we mapped out to take the state where it ought to be, may be we wouldn’t have been here. For instance, in the area of education, we were ranked 26th several years ago, but we fought from that position to number one in both the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) and we stayed on the position for three years. In three years of the Obiano administration, we have slipped from the number one position in both examinations to number six and seven, respectively. If we allow the progression at that rate, in the next for four years, we will be number 10 and 12 in both examinations, respectively. That is reverse progress and we don’t want that. If education is funded properly, we should be able to get

Will four years be enough to achieve the goals you have set for yourself?

Four will not be enough, but it will be enough for me to lay the basic foundation. I told you that we had a vision several years ago, which has been derailed. My job now is to bring that vision back and allow whoever that will come after me, who will come from my party and certainly from Anambra South to continue with the work. It is not about me or the incumbent, but about the state, our children and children’s children, who deserve nothing but the best.

Obaze....Obiano not leading Anambra in the right direction

our state back to where it used to be as well as produce graduates, who are employable, marketable not just in Nigeria but globally.

Don’t you see the possibility of the other zones opposing your ambition as you are likely to go for a second term if you win the election, thereby giving Anambra North 12 straight years?

Again, you were part of the Obi administration; why did he leave you for Obiano as his suitable successor?

The incumbent governor and I are from Anambra North, but since the creation of the state, the south and central senatorial zones have produced the governors we had until 2013, when we started the campaign for the governorship to come to the north. I was an aspirant, we campaigned and financed it, Obiano was never part of it. But, when some intra-party issues led to some kind of accord between Obi and the then National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, he (Umeh) decided that all those who were on the side of the governor during the crisis would not be the candidate of the party and I was one of them.

That was how Obiano became the compromise candidate from the north and that was why he became the governor. Unfortunately, the down side of it is because he was not part of the

process, he did not understand the trajectory we had mapped out for the state in terms of where to go. He assumed power and starting running the office, but somewhere along the line, he derailed and that is why we are where we are now. More than half our development partners have gone and the process of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been abandoned.

What administrative experience do you have apart from having worked at the United Nations (UN) that qualifies you to take over from the incumbent?

People refer to my UN background, but before I left for the UN in 1991, I served in the federal civil service under the Shehu Shagari administration and when Muhammadu Buhari was the head of state and also during the Ibrahim Babangida regime. At the state level, I served in the last two years of the Obi administration and my job as the SSG was to make sure that there is efficient and effective policy adherence and cohesion.

Still on the issue of balancing of political interest, how will assure the people of the other senatorial zones that Anambra North would not be having 12 straight years in power?

I have said it and it is in my manifesto that I

There is the belief that you are being used to fight a proxy war as result of the person behind you. How do you reconcile this with your ambition?

In life, somebody must be behind somebody.

Having a godfather is not a crime or evil because we have godfathers and godmothers even in the church. It only became a negative issue, especially the way we’ve had it Anambra State. There was a particular window in our politics, when it assumed a negative connotation.

That aside, I’ve had a brilliant career and I had mentors. Today, I mentor young people and nobody will tell me that it is wrong to do that. In politics, you get mentored also. When I started this campaign, the first person that I went to was Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who I have known since I was seven years old. Why didn’t people see him as my godfather? And, will there be anything wrong for a man, who has attained the highest level in politics by an Igbo man in Nigeria to be the one who is advising me? Who will put a negative thing to that?

I worked with Peter Obi, who was my junior in secondary school. He got into secondary school the year I was leaving and throughout the time I worked for him as SSG, he never addressed me by my first name; he addressed me as senior which was the school tradition. It took him over a year to get me to leave my job at the UN to come and work for him. I didn’t work for him because of the pay. I had to take a 900 per cent salary cut because of my love for the state. So, I don’t see anything wrong for him to appreciate that I made that sacrifice to come and work for him and to say that he will support me because he knows that I can do the job.

Some people are making issue out of godfather because they want to cause confusion, but I want to ask a question: Who is Obiano’s godfather?

Is it not Obi? So, why are they not making issue out of that? I want to make it clear that I am running for governor on my own steam and funding.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCOTBER 5, 2017

POLITICS

Isiaka: Ogun State, Not for the Highest Bidder Aformer Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Gboyega Isiaka has warned those ficounting on deep pockets to win the state in 2019 to back off, arguing that voters are now more discerning than before. He spoke with Tobi Soniyi and Femi Ogbonnikan. Excerpts: What is your assessment of Ogun State at present?

Well, the way I have put this lately I wish I would still put it is that the full assessment and all of that is still ongoing. But clearly, I think the state, from the totality of what we have seen, seems to be putting emphasis on infrastructure, particular roads and urbanisation of the state capital. This is not bad on its own, Abeokuta is our capital city and no state government or state governor would not want to make the city look good. But I think the area that the state government should have looked at the more is spreading these projects across the state and also, in terms of the pace and setting the priority right. I think despite all that you do on infrastructure, we would still have to know, at the end of the day, it is human capital development that is going to determine who we are in the future. But I will still believe that, a lot needs to be done in the area of that, particularly in the area of education and health which would add up to who we are as a people and what the future holds for us as a state and as a people. Our founding fathers have given us a lot of head-start in the area of education and I think we should do everything to make sure that we protect this and defend this because at the end of the day that is what determines us as a state. That is the area that I think the state government still needs to do a lot more than what they have done presently. Yes, we can see some bridges being constructed here and there and that on its own is not what we can wish away. But quite a number of localities or local governments within the state still need some basic roads that can make life a lot better and a lot easier for them than we presently have. The state government should have set its priority right in this area.

But by and large, like I said, at some point in the future, the full details of our impression or opinions about the state government will be made known to the public.

You made two attempts to be the governor of Ogun State, do you still have that ambition?

Yes! Yes!! I am still in the race. I still want to govern the state. I still believe that the reason and the motivation for me during that 2011 is still very much there, even if not more now.

And I still want to be given the opportunity to do that and I still want to give it a trial in 2019, In Sha Allah.

Do you have the finances to embark on this campaign?

There is nobody or no person that spends all the money that require for this thing. It is for people that believe, in you. And in any case, Ogun State is not for sale. So, we are not necessarily looking for that person that has the deepest pocket. If you go back to the history of Ogun State, even since I joined partisan politics, there are quite a number of deep pocketers that have not made it, in one way or the other, even in election for the House of Representatives level or even when Sen Ibikunle Amosun was contesting in 2011, he was definitely not the one that had the deepest pocket. And there are a lot of examples in that area. For me, I have a message, I have the vision which I am trying to pass across to the people, that are part of what we are doing, either putting their energy into it, their financial support into it, they are working into it, and I believe if we put all of these things together, we will be able to get there. So, when you talk about that, my answer is that, yes, if we know, we would not be able to take it then, we would not start it. But I also know that, this thing is not for sale. Whereas I know that quite a number of resources are also required, in terms of how that will be done, I have no problem in doing that. I am not sure Ogun State people are looking for the person that put the highest price tag on them but rather, they are looking for the person that will take them to the next level and I think, I have what it takes to do that.

about it. Once we have the sincerity, why not?

And then, let that now provide or produce the right kind of candidate of the party that is acceptable, not only by the party executives but also by the people of the state in terms of the right person they are looking for and coming from the right part of the state. I think if you put all of these together the party can still carry the day. Like I said, all the other parties have their own issues and it is for is to wait for another a couple months or more than a year and then, we will now know the shape and the nature of the parties or the kind of candidates they want to vote for. And I think that is where we are to determine who carry the day.

Isiaka... plans to take another shot at the Ogun State Government House

Ogun West has not produced a governor for the state and there seems to be a consensus of opinion that the governorship should come from the district. Do you subscribe to this consensus opinion?

Definitely, with fairness and equity in order to have a unified world and a unified environment, so I believe that, in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, in that part of the state, which is Ogun West now, comprises of five local governments, should be given an opportunity to have a slot at the governorship of the state. That is my opinion but of course, I have always said that as a person, my running for the governorship is not solely based on that and that can best be an added advantage. I want to run for the governorship because I believe I have what it takes to run because I have a prerequisite experience, a prerequisite knowledge and the prerequisite capacity to govern the state and to take it to the next level. And that is basically what I am putting forward. Of course, having come from Ogun West, that would come as an added advantage and I think, I will be willing to take that advantage as part of my criteria, if given the opportunity to run the state.

We want to assume that you will be running under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is that correct?

Well, I am in PDP and I am a member of the PDP but in all of this, in the history of our

There is no party of note today in Ogun State or in most parts of the country that doesn’t have its own issues. Even the ruling party, APC, has its own internal issues

country, in the history of our state, you can’t begin to put your hands or fingers down on what would happen down the line. So, I wish and I pray that is the thing but we will have to wait till that time before we know precisely which is going to be. But as we speak, I am a member of the PDP. Being a member of the PDP, do you think that the party stands a better chance of governing the state?

Well, I think at the end of the day, it is about the person and it is about the circumstance.

As at the time Senator Ibikunle Amosun won in 2011, the 236 wards in state were under PDP. The 26 House of Assembly members were under PDP. The nine representatives and the three senators were under PDP. But the circumstances at that time provided or gave the ACN the opportunity to win the state. Of course, his own person too, we can’t overrule that. So, to say that, whether the party has a chance, and it is the party and the candidate that make up electoral victory. Yes, I don’t see any problem with that but it has always depended on the person who is flying the ticket or that is carrying the banner or symbol of the party, as at that time we would also see. I think these are all the things that make it up.

There is nothing wrong about it and it is not impossible. I believe it is a possibility.

PDP seems to be enmeshed in some internal crisis in the state. Are there moves to resolve this internal crisis? And don’t you think that the crisis will work against the party?

Well, there is no party of note today in Ogun State or in most parts of the country that doesn’t have its own issues. All parties, all of them do. Even the ruling party, APC, has its own internal issues which we are all aware of. Even the smallest ones that are not the major ones they also have their own issues. PDP has its own share, may be, more than a fair share of that. But I know that this I have said a couple of times, the PDP that we have today is better than the one we had about six weeks ago, when we even had two national chairmen. I think today, there is only one national chairman of the party. Attempts have been made now to go into congress and conventions. As for Ogun State, yes, I am aware there is quite a number of attempts as reconciling these various groups.

And I think that they have a good chance of doing that. My hope and prayer is that, the people that are involved are also very sincere

How truthful is the rumour that the leadership of the PDP in Ogun State plans to zone the 2019 governorship to Ogun East district?

Well, the leadership of the party has not made that pronouncement, but an individual did. In any case, the leadership of the party today is in the hands of a caretaker committee. And that caretaker chairman is not even from Ogun State. He is from Osun State. And it is just now that they are trying to put together a congress that will now produce the leadership. Even if anybody is speaking now, he is speaking in his own personal capacity. And of course, everybody is entitled to his own opinion. So, it is their own opinion. But God forbids, if that comes up, of course, individuals also have right to take their own destiny into their hands.

Like I said, I am not aware of such a decision.

The recognised party executives of today is in the hands of a caretaker committee and that is the thing. And any other thing outside that I am not aware of.

If you become the governor of Ogun State, what are you going to bring to the table?

We have emphasised what we termed lifemore-abundant. Because we believe that we have to look at it holistically on how to make things better for our people. And that is why our emphasis is actually on human capital development, that is education and health. But of course, we also know that, we need to look at our employment generation as a state. We have quite a number of young men and women, just like in most part of the country too, who are not working because we need to create an environment by deliberately creating opportunities for them, by inviting the private sector to make the kind of inputs that are required. And of course, we intend to utilise the opportunities. As a former Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Plc, we did quite a number of these, by inviting and attracting investments to the state. I think, we need to do a lot more of these, while government concentrates on areas of developing human capital. Of course, developing our infrastructure, rationally, in a way that will be in line with the development of the state. But all in all, our emphasis is actually in the areas of education and health, human capital development and employment generation, by bringing the private sector into it. We have done quite a number of these in the past. We will also give a lot of emphasis on the weak in the society, by deliberately going into some social development projects that can be targeted, particularly at the women and our elderly in our environment.

I think, these are the summary or the area of the things to be done. Over and above these, or the summary of all these, is the sincerity. I think there must be sincerity of purpose in all that we do. We do know that a government or any government can not have all the resources that it needs to turn around the state for good within a space of four years or even in eight years but at least, whatever that is available must be used sincerely, judiciously and taking into consideration, the priorities, those things, that will meet the better of today and the best of tomorrow for our people. I think those are the things, that we really we want to put into it. And also it depends on the person that is there, either for one reason or the other.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Giving Back to the North East Mohammed Indimi is giving back to his community, writes Solomon Elusoji

Women from various Maiduguri IDP camps receiving relief packages directly from Mohammadu Indimi Foundation

I

n March 2016, oil billionaire, Mohammed Indimi, made headlines for donating a hefty sum of $14 million (then about N5 billion) to Lyn University, a school in the United States, while universities in his hometown suffered from a lack of funding. In one of his columns that month, the Chairman of THISDAY’s Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, described Indimi as a “Prodigal Billionaire”, as a man who features every year on the Forbes List as one of the richest men in Africa but not known to have supported any worthy cause in Nigeria. “Yet, we are talking about a man who made his money from our oil and gas industry that has, for decades, been run on the basis of man-know-man,” Adeniyi wrote.

About two months later, in May, Indimi responded by denying the value of the donation. Instead of $14 million, it was $900,000, he said, in a letter sent to Adeniyi. He also argued that his businesses have contributed billions of naira to the communities where they operate: Nigeria. These contributions, he argued, included scholarships to students in South-south universities and infrastructure development in said schools, as well as donations to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in North-east Nigeria, the region he hails from.

The ethics of Indimi’s donation is good straw for debate, but the strides of the Mohammed Indimi Foundation, despite the lack of a Google-recognised website, is commendable, especially in the area of alleviating the pains of IDPs. The long-standing conflict in North-east Nigeria caused by insurgency, since 2009, has left more than two million people displaced in the region; making Nigeria the host of the world’s sixth largest IDP population.

Since the conflict began, several government and non-governmental agencies have taken up the obligation of providing protection and relief interventions to the IDPs,

especially women and children. For close to a decade, various organisations, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its state counterpart (SEMA), United Nations, Victims Support Fund and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have rallied support from national and global partners to improve security, rebuild the states and make tremendous impact in abating the humanitarian crisis.

Borno State was the worst hit and host to most of the IDPs, with more than 1.4 million displaced people in the state, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Hundreds of thousands of IDPs have been returning to their homes since 2016, largely to the tireless efforts by organisations, federal and state governments.

Despite these efforts, the last two years have been the direst for about 120,000 to 130,000 people remaining in Maiduguri and satellite camps in Borno, as living conditions worsen day after day.

Reports by the Borno Emergency Manage-

The displaced people touch my heart deeply and we will not rest until the people are settled back in their homes, with the support they need to make meaningful livelihoods and rebuild their legacy

ment Agency in 2016 stated that hundreds of children had died of severe malnutrition.

The case did not improve months later when in 2017 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced that tens of thousands more children were endangered daily. UNICEF labelled it the world’s most under-funded humanitarian crisis. Severe malnutrition and diseases were killing the people, particularly children, faster than the insurgency.

And just when it seemed the humanitarian support trickled, a brother of the people and son of the North-eastern soil rose to the occasion.

Established in 2013, the Mohammadu Indimi Foundation was created to unlock Northern Nigeria’s potential through the alleviation of hunger and illiteracy. The founder, Indimi, is a native of Borno State and holds firm to the belief that charity begins at home. That is why the Indimi Foundation has been prioritising the Northeast in its efforts to rebuild the nation one state at a time.

“All my life is dedicated to helping people in Borno State,” he said during one of the Foundation’s visit to the region. “There are more than 200 students the Indimi Foundation is taking care of in various stages of education. I visit home often and proudly take my guests along to the city.

Governor Kashim Shettima has been doing wonders in completely changing the face of Maiduguri, despite its meagre resources.”

The non-governmental organisation has saddled itself with the mandate of supporting the state government with consistent and relevant social protection and economic reintegration.

“The displaced people touch my heart deeply and we will not rest until the people are settled back in their homes, with the support they need to make meaningful livelihoods and rebuild their legacy,” the founder said.

The Indimi Foundation’s first project was an intensive injection of crisis relief support directly to the IDP camps in form of food, medical supplies and cash. The Indimi Foundation also donated materials to the federal government flood relief and rehabilitation committee as part of its overarching support to persons in need. In June 2017, volunteers of the Foundation spent three days visiting more than 10 camps in Maiduguri, distributing relief items to 28,000 families from 11 local government areas who found shelter in Maiduguri IDP camps.

As part of its skills acquisition and manpower development, the Indimi Foundation has supported hundreds of students. A look at tertiary education level shows that more than 20 students have benefited from full scholarships to higher institutions outside the country. The students qualified for the opportunity of choosing any study field including Minerals and Petroleum Engineering, Agriculture, Arts, Communications, Education and Medicine.

Since inception, more than three billion naira has been dedicated by the Indimi Foundation to the support of victims of terrorism in Nigeria. However, the Foundation sees its milestones as only a tip of the iceberg and is geared to contribute more.

In May 2017, Governor Shettima revealed that Boko Haram insurgents had destroyed 156,453 houses in Borno State. The destruction included 5,344 classrooms in primary schools, 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions and 201 health facilities.

Speaking during a recent initiative in the state, the senior executive director of the Indimi Foundation, Ameena Indimi, revealed plans for a 100-housing unit for the IDPs with provisions for health and education facilities. “The Mohammadu Indimi Village in Bama features three rooms per building for each family. Next is a similar project in Ngala Local Government Area.

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FEATURES

Women in one of the Maiduguri IDP camps receiving relief items from Mohammadu Indimi Foundation

Women receiving relief items from Mohammadu Indimi Foundation, during a humanitarian initiative by the Foundation

Indimi (left) with Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, during the former's courtesy visit in Maiduguri

We have been privileged enough to get the support of Governor Shettima. The state donated the land.

We hope that other North-east governors will emulate his footsteps. Our vision is to see the remaining IDPs return to their homes

and resettle. That would be the beginning of a wider initiative to do more housing units across North-east Nigeria over the

next 10 years,” Indimi said.

Meanwhile, 1,000 to 2,000 hectares in Bama have been earmarked to build modern farms for about half of returnees from the IDP camps. This was revealed by the Indimi Foundation shortly before a visit to Borno by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who said that Borno State remained a very promising agricultural state despite the many setbacks it has suffered due to the Boko Haram insurgency. “Despite the devastating degree of harm done by Boko Haram to Borno State, it has remained one of the most prepared states to face the future through agriculture,” the minister said.

Another critical area of resettlement in the state is healthcare. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, noted in 2016 that hundreds of deaths were recorded across the camps because of malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia, measles and severe malnutrition.

The Indimi Foundation plans to unveil a healthcare outreach programme in the North-east in partnership with indigenous and global health organisations to ensure a rollback in maternal and infant mortality, an increase in hygiene awareness among the people and provision of materials they need for their well-being.

To tailor efforts to relevant needs in the North-east, the Indimi Foundation has been conducting research through engagement with the state governments, crisis management officials, indigenous and global consultants, camp coordinators and the IDPs themselves.

In ending his March 2016 article, Mr. Adeniyi had written that “while Indimi’s charity begins abroad, it is my hope that it doesn’t end there!” It appears the billionaire took that to heart.

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Head, Strategic Brand Manager, Access Bank PLC, Amaechi Okobi; Founder /Director, ART X Logos, Tokini Peterside; Advisory Board Member, ART X Lagos, Femi Lijadu; and Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Craig Van Niekerk, at a press announcement of the 2017 edition of ART X Lagos, in LagosÖ. recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Moses Ekpo ; Group Head, Micro Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited, Uloma Ike ; Special Assistant to the Vice President on MSMEs, Tola Johnson, and one of the beneficiaries of the GEEP MarketMoni , Roseline Inyang during the presentation of disbursement certificates as part of the MSME clinic in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State...recently

L-R: MTN Nigeria Brand ambassador, Praiz; General Manager, Brand & Communications, MTN Nigeria Richard Iweanoge; Chief Operating officer, MTN Nigeria, Muhammad Zia Siddiqui and Falzthebahd guy at MTN Nigeria Independence day celebration in Lagos...recentlyy SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Guests, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe; Mrs. Mavi Isibor; Wife of Lagos State Governor & Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Guest Speakers and State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal and Mrs. Janet Adetu, during a capacity building for members of the committee, at COWLSO Retirement Villa, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos....recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R; Manager, Shared Services Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Babatunde Ajiboye; Divisional Head, Transaction Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe; Product Manager, Cash Management in Transaction Banking Division, FCMB, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oyekan; Head, Transaction Banking Products, FCMB, Mr. Dennis Ezaga; Marketing Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa, SAS Institute, Vijayne Govender and Lead, Continuous Improvement Department, FCMB, Mr. Folarin Lewu, at the presentation of ëíExcellence Award in Alternate Channel Bankingíí to FCMB during the New Age Banking Summit and Awards in Lagos...recently

L-R CEO Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria & Regional Head West Africa, Michael Larbie; Chairman, ICCN Banking Commission, Chief(Dr.) Raymond Ihyembe; Vice Chairman, ICCN Banking Commission, Dr. (Mrs) Omolara Akanji and Secretary General ICCN Banking Commission, Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi, during the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria(lCCN) National Commissionís meeting hosted by Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria in Lagos... recently.

L-R: Chairman, Aveda Technologies Limited, Femi Sanusi; Director, Banking Payments Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dipo Fatokun and Chief Executive Officer, Aveda Technologies Limited, Fola Olufemi, during the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF) in LagosÖrecently

L-R: Publisher, Todayís prime news, Chief Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara; Convener, Nigeria Woman for peaceful coexistence and Unity in Nigeria, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; and former Lagos State Deputy governor Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, at a press conference by Nigeria Woman for peaceful co-existence and Unity in Nigeria led

by Senator Ita-Giwa, in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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ͰͰ˛ͳ͹͹ͯ ͰͲ˛ʹ͜ͳʹ

Group Business Editor ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157, 08057161321

S E P T E R B E R NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH 3-MONTH

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2 0 1 7 EXCHANGE RATE ͹͎ͳ˛͹ͳ˚

Quick Takes National Big Data Summit Holds ËÞË Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ăš Ă‹Ă“Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ËÚËĂ?ÓÞã Ă‘Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂžĚ‹Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂžĂ’Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞÓĂ?ÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÎËÞË Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš ÞÙ ÚÙĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂŒ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ͱ͎ͯ͡ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă”Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ ÍŻÍŽ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ăš Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ ÍŻÍ° Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ ÍŻÍł Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă•Ă•Ă“ ËâÓĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ÞËÞĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ăš ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?̋ÞÙ̋Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă Ă“ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ě‹Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ÓÖÓÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă’ Ě‹Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă–ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă—Ă“Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘ ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÒÙåĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÒÙå ÞÒĂ? ËÚÚÖÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă?ÓÙ̋Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ?˛˛

Golden Pen Awards Hold Friday

EXHIBITION GALLERY

Executive Director, Jude Monye, representing the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, IďŹ e Sekibo; US Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Stuart Symington, Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his wife, Betsy, during the opening of Exhibition Gallery at National Museum Benin by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in collaboration with the Edo State Government, and the Smithsonian Institute, United States of America, which Heritage Bank was one of the lead sponsors‌recently

Senate: Legislation on Closure of Telcos’ Cell Sites Not Necessary Emma Okonji Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission, Hon. Abubakar Yunusa has said that the best approach to the indiscriminate closure of telecoms cell sites across the country by government agencies was conflict resolution.

According to him, issues such as the indiscriminate closure of telecoms cell sites would be best handled by the Senate Committee on Conflict Resolution, and not through legislation.

Incessant and indiscriminate closure of telecoms cell sites by some government agencies have been a source of concern for telecoms operators as the situation is currently affecting

ICT service quality in some locations that are connected to the affected cell sites. The most recent of them all, was the closure of over 100 cell sites in Ogun State, belonging to telecoms operators and infrastructure collocation companies that acquired most of the telecoms cell sites that hitherto belonged exclusively to telecoms operators.

In Ogun State, the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning, penultimate month, closed down over 100 cell sites belonging to telecoms operators and infrastructure collocation companies. The ministry is demanding between N100, 000 and N200,000 per cell site as fine for non-payment of

permit fee before the cell sites were installed.

Although the cell sites were long installed, the ministry decided to shut down the cell sites in the state indiscriminately.

Worried about the situation, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) intervened in the matter, but the ministry maintained its ground on the issue.

Yunusa told THISDAY that enacting laws on the issue would not address it in an amicably way.

He therefore advised telecoms operators to rather report the matter to the Senate Committee on Conflict Resolution, to address it. He said the committee is open to members

of the public and had resolved individual and collective issues concerning Nigerians in the past. “Telcos must take full advantage of the activities of the Senate Committee on Conflict Resolution to address telecoms issues.

They must engage the Senators representing various constituencies where issues are arising from to address the issue without going through legislation. We have listening ears and we pay attention to public petitions, and work on them speedily,� Yunusa said. “Nigerians should see the National Assembly members as a group of people workContinued on page 24

NIMASA Vows to Appeal Court Order on NLNG Tax Holiday The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has expressed the agency’s dissatisfaction with the judgment of a Federal High Court Justice M. B. Idris in the case between NIMASA and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, (NLNG).

Dakuku who stated the management’s intention to appeal the judgment, noted that the agency’s legal team was waiting for the certified true copy of the judgment, which would be studied before making appropriate response.

NIMASA had in 2013 requested the NLNG to pay all statutory levies accruable to the agency, including the 3 per cent levy on gross freight on inbound and outbound

ECONOMY international cargo, 2 per cent cabotage levy and sea protection levy, stating that the NLNG was not exempted from payments of statutory levies after its tax holiday ended many years ago.

Section 2 (1) of NIMASA Act states that “This Act shall apply to ships, small ships and crafts registered in Nigeria and extended to ships, small ships and crafts flying a foreign flag in the Exclusive Economic Zone, Territorial and Inland Seas, Inland Waterways and in the Ports of the Federal Republic of Nigeriaâ€?. The only vessels exempted from levies under the NIMASA Act are â€œâ€Śwarships and military patrol shipsâ€?.

Head, Corporate Communications at NIMASA, Isichei

Osamgbi, said in statement that NIMASA had portfolios of statutory revenues that it collects from shipping companies/ ship operators, manning agents and seafarers. “This the agency pays into the coffers of the government. It is within these funds generated that the agency uses to develop and police the maritime sector. NIMASA does not receive any government allocations,� he said.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday ruled that NLNG was not liable to make the said payments to NIMASA, and that all such payments already made by NLNG to NIMASA should be refunded to NLNG forthwith.

Justice Idris further held that NIMASA was wrong in blockading the Bonny Channel

for the purpose of enforcing the payments against NLNG. NLNG, had in 2013, sought a judicial determination on, among other things, the legality or otherwise of the levies sought to be imposed on NLNG by NIMASA, and the consequent blockade of the Bonny Channel by NIMASA and its agents as a result of the dispute.

NLNG had also sought a court order restraining NIMASA from further blockade of the Channel. An Interim Injunction granted in favour of NLNG by the Federal High Court was disobeyed by NIMASA,which again effected a blockade of the Bonny Channel for over a three week period whilst the Continued on page 24

Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă? ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ÒÙÖÎ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ÙÖÎĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă“Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í´Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľËœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ùà Ă?Ăœ Ͱͳ͎ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœËŞĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍ´Ë› Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁËœ ÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ÙÖÎĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŹ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?ĘľĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Í°Ëœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ ĂĄĂ™ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĚšËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ăš Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂŁ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?ĘľĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍŻËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹Ěš ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ăš ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?ĘľĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍľÍłÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ę°ĂŁ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĚšË› Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ËŤ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ÙÖÎĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ ÒÙÞÙÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŹ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?ĘľĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍŻËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹ĚšËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ăš ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă?ĘľĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍľÍłÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ę°ĂŁ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹Ěš ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ăš ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÍłÍŽÍŽËœ ÍŽÍŽÍŽ Ě™ Ă“Ă Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹Ë›

Uber Celebrates 4yrs in Africa ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹Ăœ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă˜Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ͯ˛͜ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? ĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ËÚÚ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂ‘ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ÚÞĂ?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ͱ͎ͯ͹˛ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÒËÞ ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ ÖÙÞ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĚ‹ Ă‹Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ʨʾĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŒĂ?ĂœËŞĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹Ă–Ë› ÓÞÓäĂ?Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄËœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ʨʾĂ?ĂŽËœ åÓÞÒ ÚÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŒĂ™Ă˜ Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË›

Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?×ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ?ĂœËŞĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ă’ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;ÚÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŒĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë›

mediaReach OMD Releases mediafacts Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Í°ÍŽÍŽÍŻË› Ă Ă?Ăœ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ&#x;ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă—Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ë› Ă“Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜Ě‹ ĂŽĂ?ÚÞÒ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄËœ Ă?Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ëœ ÞÙÚ Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă“Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ? à ÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞÓĂ?ÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă•Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹ĘľĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă?Ë›

There is urgent need for FG to apply principles of Public Relations to address various interests and agitations in the country

President, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

SENATE: LEGISLATION ON CLOSURE OF TELCOS’CELL SITES NOT NECESSARY ing for the common good of the country. We represent our constitutions at various levels and we will continue to represent them well. Let me state categorically that the eight Assembly, which we represent, has done better than the past Assemblies Nigeria ever had, in terms of what we have done, based on the quality of lawmakers that make up the eight Assembly,� Yunusa added.

Speaking on the roles of the National Assembly in creating laws, Yunusa said: “The Senate is conscious of its responsibilities to enact laws that will enhance business transactions in the country.�

He cited instances where the Senate debated on the executive bill that seeks to address telecoms infrastructure as national infrastructure, insisting that such infrastructure needs government protection because of its importance to economic development.

NIMASA VOWS TO APPEAL COURT ORDER ON NLNG TAX HOLIDAY matter was pending, thereby preventing NLNG vessels and other vessels doing business with the Company, from entry and exit through the Channel.

NIMASA had filed a Counterclaim restating its suppose Sovereign Trust Insurance plc, said it grew its total comprehensive income for the year ended December 31st, 2016 from N19million in 2015 to N186million in 2016.

This is just as the company’s chairman Oluseun Ajayi, has observed that Nigeria’s growing population and untapped nature of insurance market are pointers to potential success of the industry.

Ajayi, who made the remarks at the 22nd annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos, said the expensive nature of Nigerian economy and growing population offer great opportunities to businesses in the country. “The potential of the economy cannot be underestimated even in the face of renewed interest from international investors.�

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?

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NACCIMA: With Reduced Imports, Nigerian Economy Can be Turned Around in Six Months Laleye Dipo in Minna Nigeria can turn around her economy in six months if “we can reduce our taste for foreign goods� the Director General, Niger state Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Adamu Salihu has said.

Salihu, who made the remark in Minna on Monday, said at the moment the country is expending a lot of foreign exchange on goods that have the same quality with those that are made in Nigeria thereby depleting the nation’s foreign reserve. “Some parents even send their children to neighbouring Benin republic to read English, a course that is offered in all Nigerian universities. “There is so much pressure on the foreign exchange and when these children come back to Nigeria, they are not better than those that studied in the country. “If there is pressure on the foreign currency, it always has adverse effect on our reserves; when our external reserve is low, our rating will be low internationally�.

Salihu also said that manufacturers should be made to source their raw materials locally, noting that it would create employment and also generate incomes for the government and the factories. to him, the economic gains already recorded by the country was

mainly from the agricultural sector, stressing that with the expected bumper harvest this farming season, prices of food items would also drop.

He commended the Niger

state government for creating the enabling environment for investors especially with construction of roads across the state, which he argued has contributed to the ease

of doing business in the state.

Adamu Salihu however pleaded with the federal government to prevail on the contractor handling the dualisation of the Minna- Suleja road to

facilitate faster movements of goods and services between the state and the federal capital territory.

This, he said, will further open up the state to investors.

GET TOGETHER DINNER

L-R: Deputy British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ms Laure BeauďŹ ls; a former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Hon. Secretary, Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA),Prince Adeniyi Aromolaran; President, N-BA, Mr. Funmi Onabolu; Hon. Financial Secretary, N-BA, Piyush Nair; President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Chief Bintan Famutimi and Chief Akintola Williams at N-BA Presidential Dinner in Lagos ... recently

NCC to Take Internet Penetration to South-south Hinterland Emma Okonji in Lagos and Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it would take its campaign for usage of the internet as a means of communication and wealth creation to all the hinterlands of the South-south zone of the country.

The NCC stated that this was aimed at creating employment opportunities for thousands of youths in the region through the use various opportunities provided by the internet.

The disclosure was made at a two-day workshop on Information and Communication Technology Utilisation and Sustainability for SouthSouth zone, staged recently in Calabar, by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), with the theme: ‘Information and Communication Technology Engagement through knowledge-based Development.’ Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, said that the commission was currently implementing an eight-point agenda with the strategic vision of 2015-2020, which included promoting innovation, investment, competition and consumer empowerment.

Danbatta, who was represented by the Head of Strategy, USPF, Mr. Kelechi Nwakwo, said, for a start, the NCC has commenced the penetration of the rural communities with a project tagged “Community Resource Centre and School

Knowledge Centre are the programmes.� He said the workshop was a strategic step towards providing the necessary information to the youths in the state on how they can use Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially the social media to become economically self reliant.

Stressing that there are so many things that can be done with the social media to generate wealth, Danbatta said: “Advertisement on Goggle is much more than any media company in Nigeria can think of. That is basically why we are doing this workshop to build capacity for young Nigerians to be involved in the ICT. “Not just for social media events, but as a tool for business, and to make money and grow the national economy. We will be building capacity for people on how to develop Applications that they can use for profitable business. “Our agenda is for everyone everywhere to have the opportunity to acquire ICT knowledge that is why we are reaching the rural areas and un-served areas but the action of some people is stalling that effort. However, we will remain undaunted in our effort to increase internet penetration across Nigeria.�

In his remarks, the Secretary of the USPF, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, said that the programme was aimed at “providing universal access to information and communication services in un-served areas and community links.� However, Shuaibu lamented in some rural communities the ICT

equipments were not being protected and utilised. “We spend a lot of money replacing stolen and vandalised equipment in rural communities where we set up resource centres to bring ICT close to everyone, but some people have formed the habit of stealing the equipment while schools simply lock up their knowledge centres without putting them to use,� he said.

In another development, the NCC and its sponsored small and medium enterprise (SME) Startups, brought honour to Nigeria during the just concluded ITU Telecom World 2017 in Busan, South Korea.

NCC was named the most Valuable Partner by the ITU for its commitment and participation in ITU Telecom World events over the years.

The commission was also awarded a certificate of Appreciation for the ITU Telecom World 2017 National Pavilion and thematic Pavilion as well as Loyal Participation and supporters of the yearly ITU Telecom World in a number of years.

Nigeria also won the ITU Telecom World Government Award for being the government with the most innovative SMEs that featured at this year’s’ ITU Telecom World.

Five out of six technology startups, who were groomed and selected from Nigeria by the NCC for global pitching at the ITU Telecom World conference in Busan, South Korea, were eventually selected for the global pitching by the organisers.

The five SME startups, from Nigeria scaled through the rigorous selection exercise,

organised by a team of judges representing various countries of the world.

Sovereign Trust Insurance Grows Income to N186m Ebere Nwoji Sovereign Trust Insurance plc, said it grew its total comprehensive income for the year ended December 31st, 2016 from N19million in 2015 to N186million in 2016.

This is just as the company’s chairman Oluseun Ajayi, has observed that Nigeria’s growing population and untapped nature of insurance market are pointers to potential success of the industry.

Ajayi, who made the remarks at the 22nd annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos, said the expensive nature of Nigerian economy and growing population offer great opportunities to businesses in the country. “The potential of the economy cannot be underestimated even in the face of renewed interest from international investors.�

All of these in addition to the low penetration rate of insurance market are pointers to great opportunities available in our country and industry�, he added.

He said that despite the harsh operating environment during the year, Sovereign Trust Insurance, grew its balance sheet size by 3.3 per

cent from N9.2billion in 2015 to N9.5billion in 2016 and its investment income from N214million in 2015 to N281million in 2016 representing a 32 percent growth.�

According to Ajayi, 2016 was tough on business operators including the insurance industry especially on the not steady foreign exchange which affected the Naira and as a result the company recorded a downward shift in its profit and gross premium written.

Gross premium written of the company stood at N6.3billion as against N7.1billion in 2015, representing about 12 percent drop in revenue for the year under review.

He added: “As a result of the increase on our foreign currency exposure and the drop in the consumption of insurance by the hitherto insuring public, our profit for the year under review was greatly impacted.

From a profit before tax of N454million in 2015, the figure dropped to N44.98million in 2016 while profit after tax was N23.59million from N557.85.�

He, however, noted that despite the challenges, the total comprehensive income for the year net of tax rose to N186million against N19million in 2015.

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Impact of Telecoms 57 Years After Despite the huge challenges in the telecoms sector since independence in 1960, stakeholders are of the view that the industry has impacted on the Nigerian economy in several ways, writes Emma Okonji Although the Nigerian economy is still grappling to catch-up with the rest of the world in the area of technology development that is currently driving global economies, the Nigerian telecoms industry is one industry that has greatly impacted on the Nigerian economy.

The sector has contributed to the economy positively through job creation, infrastructural development and contributing over $70 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) since the inception of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in 2001.

The sector has equally changed the personal and business lifestyles of Nigerians in a most suitable way, through voice and data communications.

Taking a retrospect of the growth trajectory of the Nigerian economy from 1960, when the country gained independence from the British colonial government, to 2001, when GSM was introduced by the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and compared with the present growth rate of the telecoms industry, it becomes absolutely clear that telecoms industry has tremendously impacted on the Nigerian economy in several ways.

In 1960 when the country gained her independence, Nigeria had 18,724 fixed telephone lines. But between 1960 and the year 2000, the active subscriber base grew to 400,000 fixed lines. Between 2001 when GSM was introduced and 2017, telecoms subscriber number jumped to over 150 million, with a teledensity of 102 per cent and contributing over $70 billion to GDP, driving mobile internet connectivity in the country to over 92 million, and became the fastest growing telecoms market in Africa and the entire globe.

Telecoms growth after Independence Before Nigeria gained independence, communication was mainly through the telegraphic wire initiated by the colonial masters. But after independence in 1960, the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), was established in 1985, following the separation of postal services from telecommunication services.

As at that time, telecommunication was the exclusive right of the affluent in the society as only few people had access to telephony.

People had to queue for hours and days, just to make international and sometimes local calls with the 090 NITEL line.

However, the advent of GSM in 2001 eventually demystified telecommunications, and gave every Nigerian the access and right to communicate.

Following the coming of GSM, Nigerians could sit at the comfort of their homes and offices to make instant calls within and outside Nigeria, through their personal hand-held devices called the mobile phones. Banking activities are now transacted on the mobile phones without the customers visiting the banks.

From 2001, Nigeria witnessed quantum growth in telecommunications, as subscription moved from 400,000 lines to several millions of lines within a short period of time. Today telecoms subscription has reached over 150 million active lines, with a teledensity of 102 per cent.

Based on the growth trajectory, industry stakeholders are proud that the telecoms sector has impacted lives, businesses and the Nigerian economy, since independence in 1960, despite the late entry and its attendant challenges in service quality, broadband penetration and weak infrastructure rollout.

Telecoms’ impact Sakeholders in the telecoms industry are of the strong view that the sector has impacted immensely on the Nigerian economy through job creation, several communications channels, infrastructural development and contribution to GDP. Although between 1960 and 1990, there was little economic impact from telecommunications activities but from 1991 to 2000, Nigeria witnessed the advent of some Code Division Multiple

Danbatta Access (CDMA) operators like Intercellular, MultiLinks, Reltel, Starcomms, Visafone. However, all the CDMA operators have gone under as a result of their weak technology model, which slowed down growth while competing with stronger technology like GSM technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, and Over the Top Technology (OTT) among others.

Intercellular, however bounced back last year, while concentrating on data communication service delivery in some targeted markets in the country.

The most eventful period was between 2001 and 2015 when the telecoms sector was liberalised.

In 2001, the first set of GSM operators were licensed. They are: Econet Wireless (now Airtel), MTN and NITEL. In 2003, Globacom was licensed and in 2008, Etisalat was licensed, while ntel was licensed in 2014, but rolled out services in 2016, after its successful privatisation process through a guided liquidation exercise.

Following the inability of NITEL to cope with competition from GSM operators, it folded up its operations and was eventually sold to NATCOM in 2014, which currently trades as ntel.

Although the deregulation of the sector began in 1993 when the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was established by Decree 75 of 1992, the full deregulation was in 2006, after the five years exclusivity period given to telecoms operators by the NCC elapsed and the market has been opened up more operators.

The struggle since Independence Having attained the status of an independent nation since 1960, precisely 57 years ago, one will be quick to say that Nigeria is still backward in the area of technology development, given what developed countries of the world have achieved through technology.

Today, developed nations of the world are driving their economies through emerging technologies and governance is highly driven by technology. Systems are automated both in the public and private sectors and technology is used to tame corruption, reduce fraud and to fight insurgencies that threaten the unity of their collective existence. However, such is not the case with Nigeria as the country still struggles to play up the catch-up role in the area of technology development.

Although Nigeria has the market for speedy technology development based on the large size her population that is over 170 million people, the will power and commitment from the previous government have failed the county technology wise because past governments deliberately did not invest in technology, probably because they were overwhelmed by the country’s oil wealth.

But counting the struggles and gains from

Teniola 1960 to 2001, industry stakeholders felt that governments that existed within that period did not invest in technology, a situation that kept Nigeria far from countries that actually invested in technology. Adebayo, however, said Nigeria later realised the error and commenced actual investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in 2001. He explained that from 2001 to 2017 the telecoms industry significantly impacted on the Nigerian economy in the area of GDP growth, infrastructure development and job creation, despite being a late starter in technology investments.

He said the progress made by the Nigerian economy since 1960 largely depended on ICT investments.

“Governments at all levels and the private sectors, all depend on ICT for their growth and development. This is true because ICT has since become the fundamental and most reliable public infrastructure that we have in the country today,” Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said.

Broadband penetration In 2010, MainOne and Glo 1, landed their submarine cables from Europe through the western coast to Nigeria, and this was closely followed by the landing of MTN West African Cable System (WACS) in Nigeria, which were addition to the Nigerian SAT-3 Cable System that was resuscitated by ntel. All these were submarine cables, also known as fibre optic cables, designed to drive broadband penetration.

“Despite the avalanche of submarine cables at the sea shores of the country since 2010, Nigeria cannot boast of nationwide broadband access because of lack of investment on the part of government to build a national backbone infrastructure that will carry broadband capacities from the shores of the country to the hinterlands, where the services of internet broadband providers are heavily needed. The situation has contributed to the high cost of internet bandwidth in the country,” Adebayo said.

Today Nigeria has 22 per cent broadband penetration with a plan to attain 30 per cent broadband by 2018, as enshrined in the National Broadband Plan of the country.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said: “Broadband penetration in Nigeria is largely mobile, which makes it necessary for government to provide backbone infrastructure.” He however said government has refused to invest in broadband infrastructure, thus compelling telecoms and internet service providers to rollout their own broadband infrastructure in order to provide broadband services for

Adebayo Nigeria, with over 92 per cent mobile internet connectivity.”

Service quality Since independence, Nigeria has been battling with service quality, but it became more prominent after the licensing of GSM operators in 2001.

Since the rollout of GSM services, subscribers have been experiencing poor service quality offerings across networks. It is either subscribers are unable to effect calls, unable to recharge their phones or they are burdened with intermittent drop calls and non-delivery of text messages, as well as unsolicited text messages.

To address the challenges, NCC came up with several measures, which included the introduction of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and fines, as well as ban on telecoms promotions, yet the mobile network challenges continue to bite hard on telecoms subscribers.

But considering different measures put in place by the regulator and the telecoms operators, Adebayo said there has been significant improvement in service quality delivery. He said right of way permit from various governments has been a barrier to broadband penetration and better service quality. He called on the various state governments in the country to consider removing right of way barrier in telecommunications to enable faster broadband penetration and better service quality delivery in data and voice communications.

ICT growth and disruptive technologies Addressing the issue of ICT growth and disruptive technologies, the President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola said: “ICT is the bedrock of any society and the tremendous growth in the application of ICT has helped many countries in the world to solve poverty and create new industries. Right now we are moving to the Industry 4.0 era. Lots of opportunities exist in training our burgeoning youth and creating an ecosystem that will act as a supplement to our extractive industry’s ecosystem.”

He said since independence, disruptive technologies like Over the Top Technology (OTT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), have been evolving, causing some forms of disruptions in the industry, occasioned by the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications.

The convergence in technologies, he said, was all as a result of the power of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the advent of the World Wide Web (www). The internet technology Continued on page 27

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Nwaulune: Spectrum Licence Remains a National Resource Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigerian Communications Commission and Chairman Local Organising Committee, ITU Telecom World 2017, Mr. Austin Nwaulune, spoke with journalists during the just concluded conference in Busan, South Korea, on the controversies revolving around spectrum administration and allocation. Emma Okonji who was there brings the excerpts: the future. We are looking at auctioning the 700MHz spectrum next, but the spectrum is still being used by the broadcast industry and we are hoping that by the time Nigeria fully migrates from analogue to digital broadcasting, the spectrum will be freed and auctioned to mobile operations.

What does it take to organise international conference like the ITU Telecom World 2017, which just ended in Busan, South Korea, which Nigeria participated in?

It takes intelligence and people of like minds to organise the Nigeria Pavilion and programmes, including the Nigerian Investment Forum at ITU Telecom World 2017. The Chairman LOC is just a coordinator and everyone has to do his or her own job, and that was what gave us huge success at this year’s’ ITU Telecom World in South Korea. My major role was to coordinate all members of my committee and it turnout to be successful because all members of the LOC showed full commitment to their duties.

The Nigeria Pavilion at ITU 2017 was very outstanding and full of activities all through the period of the conference, as foreigners were trooping in to make business enquiries.

How did you manage all of these and what were the challenges in putting the pavilion together in terms of logistics?

Like I said earlier, my duty was to coordinate and I will give kudos to my team who worked tirelessly, attending several meetings to ensure that all went well. As for the logistics, we had to work with the ITU approved infrastructure providers who were on ground in Busan, South Korea and we went for the best and got the best of pavilion, and that was the point of attraction, combined with quality activities at the pavilion that attracted ITU participants from different parts of the world to our stand. For instance, the NCC, in its wisdom, selected the best SME Startups cutting across various sectors of the economy, numbering six and sponsored them to this year’s ITU Telecom World conference.

So because the startups had good solutions that address global needs, investors were trooping into the Nigeria Pavilion to have a chat with the SME Startups. Six of them were presented to the ITU body for pitching at the global level and five were selected to pitch with other selected startups from other countries. Nigeria had the highest number of SME Startups that were selected, after the host country, South Korea, which had eight contestants selected for the global pitch.

The five selected contestants from Nigeria, joined other 21 SME Startups, making a total of 26 startups selected from 12 countries of the world to contest for the final pitch in South Korea.

Among the 26 global contestants from 12 countries, South Africa had three contestants, Rwanda had two, Poland had one, Indonesia had three, United States of America had 3, Sudan had one, Azerbaijan had one, Japan had one, Benin Republic had one, China had one, Nigeria had five, and the host country, South Korea had eight contestants.

The six SME Startups from Nigeria that were sponsored by NCC, were given individual stands inside the Nigeria Pavilion, and because they had good solutions, participants were attracted to the Nigeria Pavilion among other side attractions. So the Nigeria Pavilion was a beehive of activities all through the four days that the conference lasted.

This year was not the first time that NCC sponsored SME Startups to ITU, what has been the value added to the economy?

The value added is enormous because we are using them to showcase local technology innovations from Nigeria that could address global issues. Last year, some of them won awards after pitching and shortly after that they were talking with foreign investors that were interested in becoming partners. The whole essence is to give them global exposure and that is what NCC has been doing over the years.

Is there any fixed date for the full migration from analogue to digital?

I do not know about that, but the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed was saying the full migration process would soon be completed and we are hoping that when that is completed, we will have more spectrum to auction to telecoms operators.

Nwaulune

Although we saw foreign investors during the Nigeria Day and the Nigeria Investment Forum Day at ITU, how do you intend to increase foreign investors’ participation in subsequent years, especially at a time that Nigeria needs foreign investors to drive the country’s broadband plan?

Last year, I was still the Chairman of the LOC, and this year, we came up with new strategies to improve on last year’s participation by foreign investors, and I can tell you that there was an improvement and we will continue to strategise to make our participation a lot much better every year. We will not say we were satisfied with the turnout of foreign investors to the Nigeria Investment Forum and the Nigeria Day at this year’s ITU conference, but I know there is always room for improvement and we are ready to improve on that, going forward. What we will do next is to review our performances and see how best we can improve on them.

Every year, Nigeria attends ITU Telecom World conference to woo investors. To what extent has this added value to the Nigerian economy?

The zeal to woo foreign investors is a continuous exercise and we are sure that Nigeria is passing the message each time we attend the ITU conference. The opportunities for investments are huge and the federal government is doing everything possible to make the business environment around the country, a lot friendly to attract more foreign investments. We will continue to sell the potential of our country to the outside world and convince them why they should invest in Nigeria. If we get one investor each year, it will be an incentive for others to come. Last year we had foreign investors that indicated interest to invest in the Nigerian telecoms market and we will continue to woo them to come and invest in Nigeria.

There is a general belief that spectrum is scarce and that operators do not have enough spectrum to rollout their telecoms services to the people. Did the Nigeria delegation to this year’s ITU seek for more spectrum allocation from ITU? It is true that spectrum is scarce and the operators need spectrum to rollout services. It is also true that it is the duty of the regulator to seek for more spectrum allocation from ITU at international fora, but the ITU Telecom World is not the forum to

seek for spectrum allocation. The international forum to seek for spectrum allocation is the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC), which are held every three to four years. It is the job of WRC to review, and, if necessary, revise the radio regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous world radiocommunication conferences.

Member countries attend WRC to also seek for addition spectrum for their countries, and Nigeria is not an exception, because we have done it in the past. So what we go there to do is to ensure that the particular spectrum, which is like a pool for several countries, is properly harmonised for all countries in a particular region. We have three ITU regions and if any spectrum is adopted in any region, countries within that region will share it and this will enhance economy of scale within countries in that region, which will lead to reduction in the cost of spectrum.

NCC had promised to complete the auction of the remaining eight slots in the 2.6GHz spectrum. Is the auction likely to be completed anytime soon?

The process of auctioning the remaining eight slots in the 2.6GHz spectrum has been concluded. What we did as a regulator, was to do postmortem on the level of participation of the initial auction and to find out why most operators declined to participate in the auction exercise. While the postmortem was going on, some operators indicated their interests to buy the remaining slot and we invited them, discussed with them and sold them out. So we eventually sold to Intercellular. During the initial auction exercise, we advertised for 14 available slots in the 2.6GHz, and MTN bought six slots during the bid auction, remaining eight slots, out of which six slots were sold to Intercellular and the renaming two slots were used to compensate OpenSkies, the operator who was on 450MHz initially.

Is there going to be another spectrum auction soon?

Yes, there will be more spectrum auction in

As at the time MTN acquired Vsafone in January 2016, Visafone had a spectrum, which MTN claimed it also acquired in the process.

Is it possible for an operator to acquire a company and its spectrum, which is a national resource?

Spectrum licence is a national resource and the processes of acquiring a company and its Licence or spectrum, are in two stages. What MTN did last year concerning Visafone, was about shares acquisition. It acquired 100 per cent of Visafone shares, but that does not stop Visafone from operating under the licensed name. But if the acquirer wants the acquired company to stop to exist with its brand name, then the acquirer will have to also acquire the license of the company. So by the time the license is transferred to the new owner, it can decide to rest the brand name of the acquired company. So what MTN did was to acquire 100 per cent shares of Visafone, without acquiring its licence, which of course does not give MTN the right to use the license of the acquired company. If MTN wants to acquire the license of Visafone, it has to apply to the regulator for transfer of spectrum licence.

Should NCC apply for the transfer of Visafone licence, what is the possibility that it will it?

Well they have applied already but as a regulator, we are still studying it, to ensure that it will not jeopardise competition, should the licence be transferred to MTN. We must ensure fair play in considering MTN’s application for transfer of Visafone spectrum licence. As a regulator, we will promote competition and not jeopardise it.

Do spectrum licences have lifespan, or are they something that operators could buy and hold on to them permanently?

As a regulator that is mindful of technology evolution and changes, we do not give out spectrum licences for permanent sale, the reason being that technology is changing. So want we do as a regulator, is to fix a time limit for all spectrum licences, which make them have lifespan of between 10 years to 15 years, depending on the type of spectrum.

After the lifespan and timeline, the regulator will decide whether to allow the operator to renew it or not.

Can you share information on the number of expired licences so far and the move to renew them with the existing operators?

That is something I cannot share with you because it is not meant for the public domain.

However, should you write to the commission, indicating why you need such information, then the commission may or may not release it.

But I can categorically tell you that there is no telecoms operator whose license has expired that is still doing business with the expired licence.

The practice is that once a licence expires, then it must be renewed immediately.

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IMPACT OF TELECOMS 57 YEARS AFTER

has disrupted the classical plain old telephony services that have controlled the telecoms industry for more than a century. “Now we can render universal services over Internet Protocol (IP) technology much better than we deemed possible in 1960. With this reality, it opens up many exciting areas for the rendering of applications and productive tools that makes the introduction of new voice applications relevant. Instant messaging and other OTT unified messaging platforms especially on smart phones and other portable devices, create a new paradigm that telecom operators will have to contend

ADVAN Expresses Concern over Shortage of Data in Marketing Industry The President of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney has stressed the importance of effective data application in marketing campaigns. While pledging the commitment of the association’s new executives towards partnering with relevant stakeholders to build capacity and create more values for industry stakeholders, the ADVAN boss attributed the failure of some campaigns in the past to the wrong application of data in planning and execution of campaigns. Ani-Mumuney is the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank Nigeria Plc. Ani-Mumuney, who replaced David Okeme, as ADVAN’s president at the association’s 2017 Marketing Day, held in Lagos, recently, argued that through data, businesses are able to predict their customers and attract clients to their side. “Data provides the insight to make informed decisions. And ultimately, if you do not make informed decision, marketing will not be effective, and if it is not effective our return on investments will be challenged and questioned by our chief financial officers,� she argued.

The new ADVAN boss warned that data, riding on the speed and ubiquity of the internet, had come to significantly challenge traditional marketing beliefs and practices, adding that it had become imperative for marketing practitioners to hone their skills to enable them remain relevant and profitable in the new age. “Giving that we are in the cyber age where the internet operates and artificial intelligence has come to disrupt what we know as traditional marketing, big data and policies that govern what we do with big data will become more important as time goes on and that will be a key area ADVAN will focus on,� she said.

On ADVAN’s prospects during her tenure, she said the association would focus on knowledge-sharing and the creation of the right atmosphere among stakeholders to deepen the market.

with,� Teniola said. “The challenge is that OTT business models are based on advertising revenue and not on minutes of usage. The advent of OTT players offering free telecoms services, while riding on the network of legacy telecoms operators, is an interesting development that the regulators around the world will have to manage.

Proffering solution as to how Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will further advance technology development in Nigeria,� he said.

He said machine learning and AI are very powerful

technologies that would determine the way and manner Nigerian companies can service their customers. According to him, the social media activities and the speed at which news travels, is digital in nature, virtual in reality and massive in data science. “IoT is the enabler for all these and requires significant investments in low latency networks to connect and properly process the volumes of transactions and events from these devices,� Teniola added.

The rise of technology startups Teniola, who commended the recent rise in technology

startups in Nigeria, explained that it would boost technology development, if given the adequate attention. Nigeria had in the past, missed out in several global evolutions, but insisted that should Nigeria invest in startups and get the initiative right, the country shall be on the cusp of great things. “We however still need to create an enabling environment that promotes a true startup ecosystem and our financial system needs to change to include more risk friendly criteria to allow failures to happen to find the big winners, otherwise, Nigeria might suffer another

brain drain of youth talent to more friendly countries,� he added, stressing the need for government to restructure the education needs of the country, in order to address science technology deficit that exists in the Nigerian society.

Stakeholders’ position Speaking from the perspective of a regulator, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has said the telecoms sector has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s economic growth, despite the challenges.

Speaking at the Nigerian Investment Forum during the

just concluded ITU Telecom World Conference in Busan, South Korea, Danbatta said investments in the telecoms sector had grown from a mere $50 million in 2001 to about $70 billion, and reassured foreign investors of safety in their investments, since most of the investments were Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), that needed full protection.

According to Danbatta, “The NCC is assuring the investors that our doors are open and that we will do whatever we can within the regulatory mandate assigned to us to ensure that their investment is safe and secure.�

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Surviving Against the Odds RaheemAkingbolu writes on how specialisation has deepened professionalism in the marketing communications industry in the last 57 years of Nigeria’s independence but concludes that government is yet to give the profession its due recognition At the beginning, marketing business was in a single basket, with a single agency handling all legs of communications. According to the President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Rotimi Oladele, the foundation of what is today known as Marketing Communications industry in Nigeria was laid by the colonial masters, who used their established broadcasting stations as platforms to relay their programmes and activities. ‘’It will be difficult to discuss the evolution of marketing communication industry and how communication helped midwife the Nigeria nation without making reference to the role played by the colonial masters. The British colonial administration in Nigeria prior to 1960, established media organisations to convey the queen’s wishes to Nigerians. If we look at it very well, an organisation like WNTV was playing PR roles in the colonial administration and that is why I have always insisted that one of the roles that supposed to be played by various media organisations in Nigeria is Public Relations roles.

They should be able to position their founders and influence opinion and perceptions. This was exactly the role played by the Daily Times and the New Nigeria when the newspapers were still relevant in the market. To this end, I will KankaroďŹ say that the modern marketing communications we are having today in Nigeria sprang from standards. This was what gave birth to sectional the seed sowed by colonial masters through associations like Broadcasting Organisation of their media platforms,’’ he said.

Nigeria (BON), Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), Advertisers Advertising at the beginning Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Newspapers Many schools of thoughts in the industry have proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and agreed that professional advertising started in 1928 Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria with the birth of West African Publicity Limited. (OAAN),’’ he said.

The company was said to be an offspring of UAC to cater for the needs of the colonial masters in Specialisation Nigeria and West Africa. In 1929, the company The carving out of Media Buying agencies from transformed to an advertising agency named the general advertising business was a step Lintas with two other subsidiaries; Afromedia, towards widening the scope of the business. the outdoor medium and Pearl/Dean, the cinema Though the decision seems to have today created arm. In the 1950’s new advertising agencies array of problems to the traditional agencies emerged. The medium of advertising was in as a result of threat pose by the former but it its infancy in those days Federal Government has also deepened professionalism. owned National Broadcasting Corporation Sometimes in the early nineties, an agency (NBC) which was the only television station chief executive would expect his head of strategy that operated in the four regions of East, West, to prepare both media plan and public relations North and later Midwest. With the increase in support for client. Fast forward 2013, a clear practitioners, an agency regulatory body had twenty years after, there exists a different scenario to be formed to standardise their practices. A in the conduct of the business of marketing meeting of the agencies held at Ebute Metta, Lagos communications. Today, the days when one outfit in 1971 led to the formation of the Association prepares the creative material, plan its exposure of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN) in the name of media planning, organises public with the objective of protecting practitioners relations support for the campaign seems to against unfavorable business. The association have gone and gone for good. was later renamed Association of Advertising In an interview with the Chairman, of TPT Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN).

International, Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, in the last In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer ten years, the client has had to deal with different and Registrar of the Advertising Practitioners ‘agencies’ with specialisation in these areas.

Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba ‘’Now there exists in the market outfits whose Bello- Kankarofi, he said the need to establish sole business is media planning and buying and APCON by Decree 55 of 1988, later renamed the same vein, there are PR firms whose main Act 55 of 1988 by the civilian administration business is helping organisations sending their on November 1989, brought about the first corporate messages across to their targets via meeting of the association held in Lagos and third party channels. They also help organise culminated to the birth of APCON. media presence and engagement for brands and According to him, in the 1990’s the sector came also help shore up the image of both brands alive, it began to expand beyond advertising and corporate outfits “Gradually too, there is as full services public relation firms. a slow but growing emergence of shops which ‘’Also the era witnessed the mad rush of main business is generating creative materials foreign affiliations. Media Independent Practitio- for clients. They do not bother themselves with ners Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), outdoor other variables in the marketing communication Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) later mix. Also, there are brand activation agencies emerged. Today, Nigerian advertising industry that involve mainly in direct marketing. Aside is making efforts to ensure that they measured the fact that these set of people are into what up to global industry practice. Affiliations also is loosely referred to as experiential marketing, avails them of technical knowhow in the areas they get instant feedback from consumers.’’ of creativity and training. The industry has According to the President of Experiential grown to shooting their adverts locally and Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Mr. injecting a lot of local content in their campaigns Kehinde Salami, in an economic environment the regulatory body of advertising, APCON, whereby consumer resistance is on the rise. is living up to expectations by the measures ‘’It is no surprise that most of the companies put in place to sanitize the industry. that are into experiential marketing are doing ‘’Of note is professionalising the practice to well as many brand owners want to reach end ensure that quacks are reduced if not flushed consumers directly by cutting off the stress of out completely. Again measures are adopted to going through media advertisement or public ensure practitioners operate within set advertising relations support,’’ he said.

Oladele

It is the above scenario that has left many to begin to wonder if the traditional agency is not on its twilight. While many are complaining of low business and lack of jobs as far as the traditional agency is concerned, the fact is that most of its businesses have been taken away by the emergence of these specialised areas in marketing communications outfit.

Industry worth If considered from the point of view of business billings and proliferation of agencies and media houses, then one can conveniently say the Marketing Communications industry has witnessed tremendous growth in recent times.

In advertising industry for instance, while major players have hit the billions of naira billings mark, the collective billing for the industry has since jumped over the N50 billion targets of eight years ago. But in the last two years, things suddenly took a dramatic trend when first rated agencies started recording decline in their businesses as a result of the harsh economic climate that has bedevilled the private sector where the industry draws its revenue. Asides, practitioners have also been criticised for not upping their game in the area of creativity, a situation which has made them lost businesses to foreign and younger agencies.

For instance, leading advertising and PR agencies that used to be among the top five in the industry are now grappling with challenges of retaining their prime positions.

In international rating, Nigerian agencies like, DDB Lagos, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Insights, PR Nigeria, Leo Burnet Lagos and X3M Ideas have made the country proud in the recent times by attracting international recognitions.

Indices for growth The growth in the entire marketing industry in recent years could be attributed to the recapitalisation exercise by banks, a directive of the apex bank –The Central Bank of Nigeria and liberalisation of the telecommunication industry which broke NITEL’s monopoly thereby attracting private investments in the industry. The two key economic development engendered tremendous marketing communication activities with agencies raking in millions of naira worth marketing billings. In short, it has witnessed significant growth especially in terms of billings and number of agencies. But the sector has also witnessed many challenging moments from 1960 to date.

However, contrary to the N103.858 billion spent on traditional advertising in 2015 by advertisers in Nigeria, the 2017/18 Nigerian Media Advertising Guide (NMAG), published

by Media Perspectives, has revealed that the

figure dropped to N80.446 billion in 2016. This expenditure represents 23% decrease on 2015 traditional advertising spending. The decline was said to have largely caused by 2015 elections coupled with the recession of 2016 in Q2.

Challenges Cutting corners among practitioners, influx of quacks and indifferent attitude to regulatory authorities are persistent problems in the marketing communications industry. But despite the odds, the industry has recorded tremendous growth over the years. It has also thrown up many professionals and contributed in no small measure to the nation’s economy. Besides, digital technologies have redefined the industry and boost its global profiles. Aside weak regulations that still stand as barrier, poor entry requirements and proliferation of agencies, are also posing challenges to the growth and development of the marketing communications industry.

Stakeholders are still concerned about how the gap between the second generation agencies and the new ones has continued to wide by the day.

Record shows that major advertising businesses in the market are still under the control of the top agencies with the smaller ones feeding on the crumbs. The outdoor industry has also grown from the era of pasting posters on the wall and the period of erecting planks along the roads.

The trend has now gone digital; with local and international agencies making efforts to catch up with the global phenomenon.

After years of misconception about public relations and its practitioners, the profession is beginning to earn credibility and attract local and international recognition. As a result of this, hardly there is any company in Nigeria that has no link with one or two PR agencies to manage its affairs. Speaking on the major setback in the Marketing Communications Industry, the Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Dr. Jide Johnson, said the poor utilisation of public relations by the government and its agencies is still a big problem of the industry.

He said: “All over the world, government is the highest spender and a situation where it looks away from local communication practitioners will not augur well for the industry. This also affects political parties and candidates during elections that often resort to PR or Advertising only when they are in crisis. There were very few structured political communication campaigns properly anchored by recognised agencies under the AAAN and PRCAN folds. It is believed that trained Advertising and PR practitioners can help government agencies and politicians communicate their programmes better to the public.’’

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Sterling Bank Unveils Judges for Recyclart Competition As Nigeria’s premiere national competition for young and emerging artists draws near, Sterling Bank has unveiled the judges for the recyclart competition

As Nigeria’s premiere national competition for young and emerging artists, Sterling Bank Recyclart relies upon an esteemed panel of judges to select the best work from the thousands of entries received from across the country.

Meet Olu Amoda, Rom Isichei, Deola Sagoe and Ndidi Dike, the four judges scouting for four Grand Prize winners that will receive N1,000,000 each and a chance for a solo exhibition in a Sterling Bank public park, roundabout or space in either Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Abuja/North Central.

The judges are looking for ingenuity and ability to create an original piece of art from recycled and repurposed materials. Choice of recyclable and repurposed materials aims to force artists and their audience to rethink daily choices that impact the environment.

The shortlisting has started and let’s take a moment to meet to the esteemed judges of the Sterling Recyclart competition!

Olu Amoda He is an internationally celebrated Nigerian sculptor, muralist, furniture designer, and multi-media artist whose iconic work using repurposed materials and metal expresses the very best of modern African sensibility. Amoda was born in Warri in the Niger Delta in 1959 to a goldsmith father with evidence of some subtle interdependence apparent in the art of both father and son.

His works are housed locally and internationally as part of collections in iconic art houses. Amoda has also exhibited around the world and has had his works featured at the Skoto Gallery, Museum of Art & Design in New York, Georgia Southern University, Didi Museum, Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institute, Nimbus Art Centre, 6th Biennale de L’Art African Contemporain in Dakar, World Intellectual Property Organisation [WIPO] Headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, and with the current touring exhibition of “out of the ordinary� organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the United Kingdom.

He is Founder and Chief Executive of Riverside Art and Design Studios in Yaba, Lagos, and has taught Sculpture & Drawing at the School of Art, Design and Printing at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos since 1987. Amoda has received numerous awards including the Delta State Honor for The Most Innovative Sculptor of The Year.

An alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic, Amoda was

awarded a Masters of Fine Arts from Georgia Southern University in the United States in 2009. He has worked as an Artist-in-Residence in Villa Arson in Nice, France (2000), the Bag Factory in Johannesburg, South Africa (2003), at the Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina (2006) and at the New York Design Museum (2010).

Rom Isichei He is one of Nigeria’s bestselling artists with his works sold exclusively by the prestigious Nike Art Gallery. Rom has had seven solo exhibitions and over nine selected group exhibitions within and outside of Nigeria. He is listed in the “Who’s Who� of contemporary Nigerian art, the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in Washington, DC and the Alfred Spinler’s Collection/Publication of Contemporary Art in Nigeria and Ghana.

A renowned conceptual artist, Rom’s practice has persistently engaged object and material exploration. He utilises the varied media of painting, sculpture, collage, and photography, with a leitmotif inextricably linked and continuously intertwined as a consequence of his sustained experimentation, self-direction, and professional development.

He is best known for his highly textured

The judges are looking for ingenuity and ability to create an original piece of art from recycled and repurposed materials.

Choice of recyclable and repurposed materials aims to force artists and their audience to rethink daily choices that impact the environment

segmented faces, however due to the demand for this style he made a decision to stop producing the segmented faces so that he doesn’t devalue his clients investments. His works are investment pieces, and every year the demand for his work, as well as the price, increases.. You will notice his style due to his thick and confident strokes and high textured oil and acrylic on canvas.

Without physically touching his work, one can feel the texture. His works are featured in diverse publications and included in numerous public and private collections. In many pieces, he creates a shroud of mystery that becomes evident when viewed from a certain distance.

His artistic style pulls his audience out of an armchair analysis to active participation in the creative process and as a result forcing them to make their interpretations.

Rom was born in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. He currently lives and works in Lagos.

He earned an HND in Fine Arts from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria and a Post-Graduate Diploma and Masters of Fine Arts MFA from Chelsea College of Art and Design, (UAL) London.

Deola Sagoe She is one of Africa’s most celebrated and adored haute couture fashion designers. A fashion visionary with footprints across continents, Deola’s unique approach to her craft endeared her to followers and critics all over the world.

She is acclaimed globally for her lively, and colorful designs.

Her authentic and globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientele that ranges from Africa’s first ladies, to society ladies like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. Using African hand-woven materials in which she brings to life a range of distinct cultures; contemporising almost-lost traditional African techniques, Deola’s designs present a unique vision and attitude for the well-rounded modern woman.

A winner of the MNET Anglo Gold African Design award, Deola was nominated by the legendary US Vogue Editor, Andre Leon Talley as one of four designers from Africa to show their work at the New York Fashion Week in 2000. She later went on to be the first Nigerian to have her own standalone show at the New York Fashion Week in September 2014.

Deola is also the first black woman to present

a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week back in 2004. She frequently exhibits her couture collection at Cape Town Fashion Week and continues to lead the way in carving a space for Nigeria on the global fashion map.

She studied Business Administration at the University of Miami and returned to Nigeria to get a Masters Degree in Finance and Management from the University of Lagos.

Deola Sagoe was inspired by her mother’s tailoring house called Odua Creations which was known for producing meticulously embroidered traditional Nigerian menswear. In 1989, she joined her mother with a view of expanding the label’s repertoire to encompass more contemporary designs for the ever developing, cosmopolitan Nigerian society. The following year, Deola began designing under her name.

Ndidi Dike She is a visual artist working in sculpture and mixed-media painting. She is one of Nigeria’s leading female artists.

Ndidi has had 10 solo exhibitions between 1986 and 2002 and 57 group exhibitions between 1986 and 2005. She has participated in exhibitions in Nigeria, Africa and internationally, including Women to Women, Weaving Cultures, Shaping History (2000), University Art Gallery, Indiana State University; Totems and Signpost, Goethe Institute, Lagos (solo), 2002 and Seven Stories about Modern Art in Africa (1995), Whitechapel Gallery, London. Her works are part of public and private collections in Nigeria and abroad.

She first became interested in art as a very young child taking art classes in primary school. She completed secondary school in England, further exploring her creativity in interdisciplinary art classes.

Ndidi Dike graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a Diploma in Music Education (voice), followed by a B.A Fine and Applied Arts in 1984 (major Mixed Media Painting).

After her mandatory year in the National Youth Service Dike make the choice of becoming a professional studio artist in her home of Owerri. The artwork she created while in service was the majority of work that she put in her first solo exhibition, titled Mixed Media Expose, 1986. Dike is a member of the Guild of Fine Arts, Nigeria (GFAN), and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

NAZAS: Empowering the Poor with Cash, Tools Sixty-four beneficiaries went home recently with various gift items and cash donations at a Muharram disbursement exercise organised by the NASFAT Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS), a non-governmental organisation founded to take care of the downtrodden in the society; during its quarterly programme held at Ipaja area of Lagos. Abimbola Akosile reports Since inception, its slogan has always been to be its ‘brother’s keeper’ and it has kept to this over the past three years, putting smiles on the faces of the less-privileged in the society, irrespective of their religious affiliations.

The situation was not different on September 24, and not even the heavy downpour could dampen their spirit as Moslem faithful under NASFAT Zone 2 converged on Ipaja area for the Muharram disbursement of Zakat and Sadaqat, a quarterly exercise organised by the NASFAT Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS), a non-governmental organisation established three years ago to take care of the needy in the society.

Some of the items and cash donations distributed to the 64 beneficiaries, which comprise 36 female and 28 males, including two Ibos and four Hausas, were industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines and cash donations to the tune of N10 million.

Positive Impact Incorporated on January 31, 2014, NAZAS commenced operations in May 2014 with the recruitment of the pioneer general and operations manager, and eight members of the board of directors who are specialists in their field. The agency was formally launched on June 21, 2014, which coincided with the first day of Ramadan.

At the commencement of the programme in 2014, the agency doled out over N36 million on empowerment while in June 2016 during Ramadan, it also gave out N6 million. Last October, the organisation also carried out its third intervention empowerment programme where over N8 million worth of items including industrial machines, sewing machines, wiping machines, deep freezers and cash donations were given out according to the needs of individuals.

The past 235 beneficiaries impacted by NAZAS’s gestures range from 86 students on educational scholarship support across primary, secondary, tertiary institutions, the visually impaired, Law school and prison inmates.

It also embarked on empowerment and business support for SMEs, debts bail-out, health-related cases/medical support, business and accommodation support for converts/reverts to Islam.

And presently, over 50 students are on regular annual scholarship list, THISDAY has learnt.

The agency’s benevolence is not limited to individuals alone as it had reached out to the vulnerable within the society. In March 2016, it dispatched the first batch of relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Borno, Yobe and Gombe States.

The same gesture was repeated in February this year.

Beyond empowerment and cash donations, the agency through its public health initiative and in partnership with MPAC (Muslim Public Affairs Centre) is collaborating with the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) in providing free medical services to the downtrodden in underserved locations across Lagos State. In February, over 500 persons benefitted from its medical mission carried out at Akasoleri area in Ikorodu while another programme is scheduled for next month (November).

Headed by its chairman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, the agency was able to achieve all of this with the support and commitments of donors and kind-hearted Nigerians who have volunteered some of their yearly earnings in form of Zakat.

So far, the agency has spent over N100 million in giving succour to the less privileged in the society.

Happy Beneficiaries In interviews with THISDAY, some beneficiaries who received cash donations ranging from N50,000, N100,000 to N300,000 and vocational skill items such as industrial and sewing machines, deep freezers and so on could not believe their luck.

An anonymous beneficiary from Iyana Ipaja, a widow who lost her husband in 2008 and was left with five children displayed excitement

L-R: Director, NAZAS, Alhaja Suwebat Kupolati; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Omotayo Abdullahi Bello, presenting cheque of N300,000 and sewing machine to a beneficiary, Nnenna Abdullahi, as another NAZAS Director, Dr. Daud Oniyide, looks on during the disbursement of Zakat and Sadaqat at NASFAT Zone II, Ipaja, Lagos‌recently to be part of this kind gesture from NAZAS. “This is a double blessing for me because my son received a scholarship from the same agency last year, and today, I have just received N50,000 to boost my petty trading.

What shall I say? God will continue to enlarge the coast of the donors�, she said and prayed for continuous success of the agency.

For Tajudeen Pedro, a security man who lives at Sasha area of Lagos, the NAZAS gesture is a timely intervention. “I am a security officer and also do petty trading of supply of soft drinks and beverages. But I am currently out of business due to lack of fund. With this N100,000 intervention received this Sunday afternoon, I will revive my business,� Pedro enthused.

Akorede Kehinde, a tailor and fashion designer who first filled the application form three years ago, said he got a cheque of N101,000 and a wiping machine. “This gesture will surely play a key role in my life because apart from boosting my fashion business, it will give me extra income by using the wiping machine to work for others. I am grateful to NAZAS.�

Corroborating Kehinde, another beneficiary, Akinronbi Azizat who also received a cheque of N100,000, said this intervention would alleviate her suffering. In an emotion-laden voice she prayed for the programme organisers as they continue to improve humanity.

Admonishing all the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors in their business endeavours, one of the elders of Chairman Council Committee of NASFAT in the zone, Alhaji Kehinde Agunloye enjoined them to use the money and items given to them judiciously as this would encourage the agency to reach out more to others.

Official Satisfaction Basking in the euphoria of a successful outing in the newly-inaugurated zone, chairman of the agency, Niyi Yusuf who said assisting humanity gives him satisfaction and sense of fulfilment, disclosed that it has been three years since the agency was founded but it was divided into two zones having realised that NASFAT is a society with many branches in several locations. “NASFAT activities have always been carried out in Alausa, Ikeja headquarters. We decided to divide Lagos into two Zones: Zone I and

Zone ll. Zone 1 comprises of Surulere, Eti-Osa, FESTAC, Amuwo Odofin and Ikorodu Branches while Zone ll starts from Agege, Egbeda and so on. Today, we are distributing items and cash donations worth N10 million to 64 beneficiaries for the needy in Zone Two Ipaja Branch. We are delighted to expand our tentacles.�

As the agency continues its humanitarian projects in Lagos and its environs, Yusuf said plans are on the way to expand beyond Lagos as Ogun State where a pilot scheme has been inaugurated while there is an ongoing plan to go to other states.

Speaking on its latest project, he said the agency is currently partnering the Muharram Sisters, a group of Muslim women and other non-governmental organisations to set up vocational facilities and welfare scheme for the inmates in Ikoyi Prisons. Their impact, according to him, is already being felt as the group provided meals and training equipment for the inmates during last Ramadan.

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

RANDOM THOTS Grassroots Autonomy Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í“Í— ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ? à ÙÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? Í“Íš ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͚͚͚͒ Ă™Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂšĂ? ÞÙ ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ–Ă™ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ? Ă?ËÚÓÞËÖ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;ĘĽĂ?Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĚ‹ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă’Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÓĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ó×ÚÖÓĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂŁ

Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÑÙÙÎ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?×ÙÞĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹ĘŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™ĘľĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ë› ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ?ÞËÓÖĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂŽ ÒÙå ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă– Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚËĂ?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ËŠĂ—Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă?ËŞ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ę¨Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ÒÙà Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ?Ë›

ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ

Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;ĘŠĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÚËã Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ÖʨÖ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?ĂžĂ“ĂœĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂžĂ?ËŞ Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?̋ÙʼĂ? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙÚĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă– ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞËÖÖĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂœË› ÙåÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă™ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽË› Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă– Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞËÕĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ăš ĂœĂ™Ă™Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ËÖÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœË›Ë›Ë›Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ ĂœĂ?ËÖÓÞã -Abimbola Akosile

33

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

Ëš

In Nigeria, progress is possible where unity reigns

Your Next Step for Nigeria at 57?

Many Nigerians believe the current situation can be better as the nation marks 57 years of independence from colonial domination. With the present threats of corruption, religious intolerance, rising crime, youth unemployment, kidnapping, ritual killings, mounting poverty, citizens’ anger and agitation, the status quo needs change. To you, what is the next step for Nigeria to ensure better overall development at 57 years?

THE FEEDBACK

Abimbola Akosile * Our colonialists have come and gone, we must move on. Looking back is bad manners; 57 years are enough to become wise. I think we have done very well as an independent nation so far though there is still vast room for improvement. We must remain focused and avoid all the unnecessary self-inflicted distractions challenging Nigeria today. We must also improve on leadership, energy, education and food, urgently. Secession agitators must look at South Sudan twice.

God bless Nigeria.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State

Top tip:

Rebuild broken walls of unity

Second:

Kick-start structural reforms

Third:

Eliminate corruption scourge

Radical tip:

Block all leakages!

Total no of respondents:

12

Male:

9

Female:

3

* There is an urgent need to embark on federal reforms entailing devolution of powers and resources to the federating units. This is to be preceded by elite consensus on the imperative of transparency, open government and good governance as foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

- Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Abuja

Highest location: Lagos

Lagos (5)

* We need to restructure the country into regions. Agriculture, health, education, minerals resources e.t.c. have been ignored, educational sector have just suspended their national strike over poor facilities and enumeration.

Agriculture that was sustained by real farmers was hijacked by middlemen/politicians who sold fertilisers to farmers at exorbitant prices, while subsequent governments merely paid lip service to the sector. There is corruption in governance where looting has become priority to our leaders and pensioners are still earning less than N10,000 as monthly pension stipends. Can that amount pay house rent, feeding of self-family, children school fees e.t.c? Let us restructure, so that we can all harness the God-given mineral resources our country is endowed with all over the States and local government areas.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * Insecurity lapses need to be addressed as we mark our 57 independence; without security there will be no meaningful development.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos * The next step is to bring down those walls that separate us by developing a system where every interest is taken care of. A system where laws are enforced not only

made. Federal character must be strictly adhered to in political appointments and developmental projects. At the same time Nigerians must shift from the mentality of claiming marginalisation based on political appointments and not developmental projects or employment opportunities. Blocking of leakages approach should be so institutionalised that corruption in every sector is greatly reduced.

Nothing decimates corruption like blocking of leakages. A look at the recent disparity between what JAMB remits to the Federal Government now and what it did before now is an astonishing indication of how effective blocking of leakages can be. A disparity of N3 million to N5 billion in remittances in just one government agency shows what is possible.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Our strength lies in our diversity. We must commit to genuinely rebuilding our broken walls and global image, as a nation and people united by a common destiny.

- Ms. Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * The threats of corruption, religious intolerance e.t.c. are all signs of lack of trust of who we are; the country we belong to, and the love we have for ourselves and for one another.

God has blessed Nigeria with all that any can deserve but many of us are blind to seeing that due to our selfish ambitions. The next step for Nigeria at 57 is for us to throw away our differences and re-unite to come together and harvest the abundant blessings God has

provided for this nation.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * This year’s independence anniversary was rather low-key with nothing to celebrate after 57 years of nationhood. The average Nigerian citizen both here and in the Diaspora around the world can admit that the current situation doesn’t allow any joyful celebration, in the face of serial looting and persistent corruption among top government officials, rising spate of ritual killing and kidnapping for ransom, communal conflicts and nationwide instability caused by the quit notices issued to other settler tribes and ethnic groups around the country.

The way forward now is for government to ensure widespread reforms in the governance structure and make this happen in the most peaceful manner possible. That should be the next step before any other thing.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * The next and best step for Nigeria is physical and fiscal federalism as well as affirmative action rights for minorities of whatever description. In particular the result of fiscal federalism would mean hard work, accountability and less corrupt practices.

- Barr. DYN Maigari, Abuja * Vigorously reformed, modern and Nigerianised policies, quality leadership, security, available food, patriotism, social infrastructure, honesty, virile job creation across board, genuine love, peace and unity are all very vital and urgently needed now. Watch and check arms proliferation across our porous ports especially as general elections in Nigeria are fast approaching. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * Nigeria at 57, we have seen the good, bad and ugly but we pray that good things will continue to come our ways as a nation. We must have sober reflection as we celebrate our 57th independence anniversary on how to move Nigeria forward in the diversification of the economy from oils to agriculture and other sectors. At 57, we would have gone far in development because we have the required resources, but corruption in governance has reduced us to an undeveloped nation. We must stop corruption now.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Though there are various problems right

now in Nigeria, but we will surely overcome this. The National Economic Development Plan will analyse the country’s objectives and priorities in relation to all these sectors. Any national economy is built up of several sectors and key strategic policies as a framework for local planning. We need to emphasise developmental issues, citizens’ participation in developmental projects, plans to secure our country’s prosperity and unity, wealth creation, increasing investment in social amenities, i.e. good roads, water, health, schools, universities, devolution of power, minerals and waste management e.t.c. There should be plans for effective use of the scare resources and timely use of the budgets, with better housing schemes.

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

Next Week: Are the Elites Nigeria’s Major Problem? ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă?ÞËÑÑĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÚÖĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂšĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ËÚËÞÒã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ë×ÙÕ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă— Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă™Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂŁËŁ 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?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Í– Ęś Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ͚̚ ÞÙ abimbolayi@ yahoo.com, 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’Í“

34

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Small-scale entrepreneur on duty at a motorbike repair spot in Accra, Ghana

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

Food Assistance Remains Critical Safety Net for the Poor, Says W’Bank Report Abimbola Akosile A new World Bank report has revealed that food and voucher programmes provide an important lifeline for the poor and vulnerable, with 1.5 billion people covered globally.

The report also noted that understanding how those programmes work, and how they connect to wider social protection systems is key to ensuring food security and helping the poor.

Nigeria, which recently marked its 57 years of independence from colonial domination, is still battling the issue of food security, despite its classification as Africa’s largest

economy and its description as a middle-income nation.

Social protection systems include programmes that help manage shocks, connect vulnerable people to jobs, and address poverty and food insecurity, according to a World Bank release issued in Washington D.C., USA. Food, which claims about 61 per cent of the poor’s expenditures, is a pressing daily concern for people at the bottom of the income ladder.

An effective food-based social assistance programme can make a critical difference and help release household resources for other needs, it added.

The study, titled The 1.5

Billion People Question: Food, Vouchers or Cash Transfers?, reveals that, while countries increasingly support people with cash as a form of safety net, food-based programmes are still important interventions in some contexts. The analysis highlights how food and voucher programmes remain relevant, and in most circumstances, have improved over time.

“This report explores how to successfully integrate social protection mechanisms and food assistance,” says Michal Rutkowski, Senior Director for the World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice.

“Understanding

how programs have evolved and learning from different country experiences enables us to adopt an evidence-based approach to protecting the poor and vulnerable, and helps policymakers deliver effective interventions.”

The study shows that cash, vouchers, and food transfers are effective in improving food security; with the former two more likely to achieve these goals at lower costs. The report also discusses how the use of modern technology in food programmes shows enormous potential for improving these delivery systems.

For example, in some low-income states in India,

technological tools helped to expand the coverage of food distribution and curb rates of exclusion of the poor from the programme.

Vouchers and cash transfers are shown to complement food-based transfers to support additional policy goals such as in nutrition and agriculture.

“Food and cash-based assistance are often portrayed as alternatives. Yet no social protection system is entirely in one form or the other. The report sheds light on why that’s the case, and what factors shape decisions around food based programmes” says Ugo Gentilini, World Bank Senior Economist and one of the

co-editors of the study.

The diversity of contexts within countries - for example the availability of food in local markets - may call for maintaining flexibility in programme choices. Political and economic factors, past practices, and the multiplicity of objectives can also help explain why governments retain food-based interventions.

Case studies of programmes in six countries, namely Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and the United States are presented in the study.

Although these include middleand high-income countries, the lessons are relevant to lower-income countries as well.

After 62 Years, Corona Expands, Launches Creche and Afterschool Temitope Omabegho After successfully providing qualitative education to teeming young Nigerians from nursery up to secondary school levels in the last 62 years, one of the renowned educational institutions in the country, Corona Schools’ Trust Council has expanded its services to crèche, playschool and after -school.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina, in a statement, said the Trust decided to expand its tentacles in response to

the changing dynamics of the environment and needs of parents to have their babies and toddlers constructively engaged, while they are at work or for an additional period after school hours, in productive and supervised activities in a conducive and safe environment.

Given the institution’s reputable experience and professional prowess, she noted that the new addition was not a venture embarked upon haphazardly without a detailed study and assessment

of the landscape and alignment to established goals as an organisation.

She added that following the outcome of their investigations, they have firmly resolved that these are areas that align with their vision and mission statements, and to which they can deploy their brand and renowned expertise.

The crèche section she said, would care for babies between the ages of three months to 15 months and the playschool will serve toddlers between 18 months and three years while

Corona After-school Enrichment Services (CASES) will run from 2.30pm to 6.00pm.

Throwing more light on facilities on ground that would make staying conducive for the children before they are picked by their parents, Adesina stressed that the schools have established standards to maintain. “Therefore, parents and guardians should be rest assured that there are clearly defined structures, age appropriate facilities and personnel that ensure all the schools are safe and conducive for care,

play and learning”, she added.

On the affordability, she said the rates have been determined, based on a study of the costs involved to deliver a Corona quality programme and what already obtains in the industry.

With regards to the kind of emergency preparedness approach the school is looking at in terms of safety and security, Adesina emphasised that the issue of safety in a school cannot be over flogged.

“Established structures in our schools include documented

policies and processes on health, safety and security.

These are periodically tested and updated as appropriate.

Compliance is enforced and the entire school community - pupils, employees and so on are educated and very familiar with health, safety and security procedures and emergency response and escalation channels. We maintain necessary relationships with the government agencies charged with these responsibilities in the state to enhance our efforts,” she assured.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Evenwiththefiscalchallenges we have,we are committed to infrastructure expenditure that will getthe economyoutof the recession and indeed on the path of growth and we will continue withthat.Thereisreallynoproblem atallaboutreleases.We are on course” - MINISTER OF FINANCE, MRS. KEMI ADEOSUN, SPEAKING IN ABUJA

Ambode: Why We Always Build Capacity of COWLSO Distributes empowerment materials to 103 widows Gboyega Akinsanmi

Environmentalist, Majekodunmi Rallies Entertainment Icons on Climate Change Issues As GIFSEP takes awareness campaign to Abuja schools Chikodi Ozulumba in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Renowned environmentalist, Desmond Majekodunmi, has encouraged greater collaborations with entertainment icons in the society in calling attention to tree planting and reforestation.

He demonstrated this during a Climate Change carnival at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, recently, where he delivered a keynote address, by inviting the Hip-hop artiste, TuFace ‘Tu Baba’ Idibia and veteran actor, Patrick Doyle, on stage to collaborate with him in the Climate Change awareness campaign.

According to Majekodunmi, the forest, which he calls “the lungs of the earth,” are the major buffers that can prevent “catastrophic climate change” He added that this is being driven by anthropogenic global warming through massive pollution of the earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases which a consensus of scientists estimate are in the region of over one million tonnes daily.

“As the oceans rise and rainfall increases, we need to urgently adapt to more severe floods and gully erosion while also taking extreme measures to halt desert encroachment which is driving terrorism and food scarcity,” Majekodunmi said.

He, however, expressed deep disappointment that previously, the ecology fund had not been deployed judiciously for conservation, but was hopeful that this would no longer be the case.

The event was organised by Sen. Florence Ita Giwa, who used her award-winning carnival band, the Seagull Band, to highlight in an artistic way, the dangers of climate change and the importance of forest cover in tackling it.

Meanwhile, the Global Initiative for Food, Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) has embarked on public awareness campaign in Secondary Schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs in a bid to address the effects of climate change in Nigeria.

Its Executive Director, Mr. David Mike Ter, after meeting with some Senior Secondary Teachers in Abuja told journalists that the

L-R: Hip-hop artiste, Tu Face Idibia; Environmentalist Majekodunmi; and veteran actor, Patrick Doyle, at the Ita Giwa climate change carnival in Lagos…recently campaign was aimed at ensuring the adoption of environmental management principles in at least 60 schools and carry out practical activities in at least 10 select secondary schools in the FCT. He explained that the project which has received the approval of FCT Secondary School Board as well as FCT Department of Science and Technology, has a specific goal, which is to establish and strengthen Environmental (Eco) Clubs. According to him, “the knowledge of climate education would create opportunities for young people to learn more about climate change and the various ways to adapt to any environmental and natural situation.”

Ter stated: “There is therefore a need to develop strategies for involvement and active participation of students to become ardent stewards of the environment and build their capacity to address the challenge of climate change.”

He said the project was conceived to encourage and demonstrate the essence of collective measures to address climate change primarily

by building skills of students in renewable energy, and promoting environmental stewardship through behavioural change.

“Already, GIFSEP has received a grant from the GEF Small Grant Programme implemented by the United Nations Development programme.

The grant would be utilised for the purpose it is meant for; to build the capacity of students to address climate change in schools within the FCT and its environs,” Ter added.

The Executive Director said some of the project activities include: Train the Trainer Sensitisation Workshop on Climate Change/environmental stewardship for all Government schools in FCT Abuja; the establishment of waste management and composting structures in ten schools as well as hands on activity on the design and installation of solar and renewable systems by the students in select schools amongst others.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jigah Timothy, who spoke on behalf of the teachers, commended GEF for the small grant programme and GIFSEP for the choice of FCT schools, while pledging their support for their success of the project.

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has explained reasons behind different capacity-building programmes her office regularly organised for members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), noting that the programmes “are designed to update their knowledge and expose them to new ideas.”

Also, Ambode empowered at least 103 widows across various age categories with financial assistance, equipment support and skills training programme through her foundation, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM).

She disclosed the reason at a recent one-day training programme organised for COWLSO members at the Retirement Villa, Ajah, noting that the programmes “become imperative to prepare the COWLSO members for the future challenges and opportunities.”

She specifically explained the need for COWLSO members to continually improve themselves for domestic, social and professional purposes, which according to her, formed part of the basis her office and foundation had been organising training programmes for women of different socio-economic strata.

She said constant training was expected “to acquaint the officials with current trends and update their knowledge in relevant and vital areas.

Training and re-training is a major component of modern day corporate and public service for performance leverage.

“It is also necessary for individual benefits at home and other engagements outside the home. We hold the view that self-improvement training will bring out optimal performance for those in paid employment. It will also help to bring out the best in us, in various personal businesses and our social interaction.”

Ambode explained the focus of the training programme: Public Speaking, Etiquette, Protocol and Security, noting that it was relevant “to everyday living. The topic on public speaking was essential for everyone in businesses, social relations and for politics.”

She said the mastery of protocol as members of the elite was necessary for proper education to avoid needless embarrassment at public functions where strict adherence to protocol was required.

She cited the empowerment programme her foundation organised for widows recently, noting that deep freezers, industrial gas cookers, photocopiers, grinding machines, embroidery machines, professional cameras, refrigerators, whipping machines and ovens, bag sewing machines, grinding machines, among others were distributed to the widows.

Ambode said her foundation was established with the overriding objective of addressing major challenges confronting women and children, noting that it had benefited some of the most vulnerable that needed support in the state.

She explained the decision of the empowerment programme, attributing it to compassion the foundation “has for not only the widows, but also the vulnerable and its resolve to make them self-reliant by earning regular personal income.”

She noted that her foundation had carefully studied the situation and discovered that this category of persons “is the hardest hit by social circumstances around them. This is the reason our foundation is focusing on them namely: the children, women, widows, the youth and the aged women.

36

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Reducing Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria Recent research has shown that cardiovascular disorders have overtaken infectious diseases as Nigeria’s number one killer. But experts at Grays Cardiology Centre, in commemorating this year’s World Heart Day, said prevention, management and treatment of the disease can greatly reduce mortality rates in the country. Martins Ifijeh reports

D

ecades ago, the most feared killer health challenge globally was infectious diseases, with millions of people losing their lives especially in developing and underdeveloped countries.

But not anymore! Cardiovascular diseases are the new nightmare, spreading subtly but consistently into many homes, leaving tears, sorrows and deaths across the globe.

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has consistently shown that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. The 2010 WHO Global Status Report on NCDs shows that in 2008, the four major NCDs; cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases put together killed 36 million (63 per cent) persons out of the 57 million global deaths recorded. Of these, CVDs rank number one with 17 million deaths (48 per cent) out of the 36 million NCD deaths.

Cardiovascular diseases were once previously thought to affect only developed and high income countries, but many developing, and even third world countries like Nigeria are beginning to feel the impact of the disease.

In Nigeria, over half a million people died from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2012, and one out of every five Nigerian adults over the age of 30 will likely die prematurely from NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases.

Worse still, indices suggest the disease is substantially on the increase in the country as people continue to model their lifestyle and habits towards unhealthy living, thereby becoming more susceptible to the diseases.

Of the several cardiovascular diseases, experts say hypertension, closely followed by stroke is the most prevalent CVDs in Nigeria with many of the affected population unaware they are hypertensive or living with any of the deadly cardiovascular diseases, as they often do not present symptoms.

Although the current exact prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is unknown, estimates from the last national survey conducted in 1990/92 which was published in 1997 put the prevalence of hypertension at over 20 per cent, suggesting that one out of every five Nigerians is hypertensive.

Current hospital record estimates showed that the prevalence of hypertension is 25 per cent while estimated mortality from stroke is 40 – 50 per cent within the first three months of diagnosis. Another hospital-based study showed that 39 per cent of those who survived stroke after three months died within 12 months and the remaining one per cent developed severe disability. It is in tackling these deadly but silent killer, that experts from Grays Cardiology Centre, Lagos, are advocating for change in lifestyle, healthy living, regular checkups and proper management of the heart.

The Medical Director, Grays Cardiology Centre, Lagos, Dr. Soe Moe Aung, who is also an Associate Professor of Cardiology, while speaking to THISDAY during the Centre’s awareness programme to commemorate this year’s World Heart Day, said almost half of all adult Nigerians have one form of cardiovascular disease or the other, adding that this calls for awareness creation on prevention, regular check up and treatment of the rising health challenge.

He said there were two main factors for cardiovascular diseases, which are genetic and lifestyle.

“There is the genetic factor, which no one can do anything about, and there is the lifestyle factors which we can be modified. Overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, poor dieting, are part of the risk factors that must be avoided,” he noted.

L-R: Associate Professor of Cardiology & Consultant Interventionist Cardiologist, The Grays Cardiology Center, Lagos, Dr. Moe Soe Aung; Marketing Director, Reddington Hospital Group, Mr. Andy Cunliff; and Facility Manager, Grays Cardiology Centre, Lagos, Mrs. Bisola Audifferen, during the Free Heart Check and other medical checks, organised by The Grays Cardiology Centre, a member of Reddington Hospital Group, to mark World Heart Day at the weekend

On his part, the Clinical Director, Grays Cardiology Centre, Dr. Okechukwu Usim, said one of the major problems associated with cardiovascular diseases is that they often do not present symptoms, except damages have been done to the body organs.

“That is why as we commemorate World Heart Day, the major thrust of our message is regular screening, because that is a major key to identifying the issues early, otherwise correcting them will begin to pose threats.”

Prevention and causes Usim said ways of preventing cardiovascular diseases include healthy active lifestyle, healthy eating, exercise, and the stoppage of unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking.

“A healthy active lifestyle is the number one key to chasing away cardiovascular problems.

Nigerians’ current attitude of sitting for long is not helpful. We should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

“Secondly, the saying that we are what we eat is very true. If we eat well, we will be well.

If we eat badly, our health will go badly. The right things to eat are fruits, vegetables and natural foods. We should discourage eating processed foods,” he added.

He called on Nigerians to stop certain habits if they want their hearts to remain healthy.

“The chief of these bad habits is smoking. This fries out our arteries leading to heart attack, stroke or even sudden death. Once we can avoid smoking, whether first hand or second hand it will go a long way in saving our hearts and lives. Also, excessive alcohol intake should be discouraged. But moderate intake of alcohol like red wine is okay to keep the metabolism well,” he added He added that overweight could contribute to cardiovascular diseases.

He said as a general guide, it was best Nigerians do health screenings regularly so they can tackle any likely health issue on time, as late detection is often a problem in many health issues, especially on cardiovascular diseases “We often say as a general guide, before one enters primary school, that child should undergo a health check. If someone enters secondary school, there should also be a basic check. But

the problem we often have is adults seem to be overtaken by work, without realising that our health is also very important.”

Management and treatment Also, Usim explained that many cardiac problems are treatable. “For high blood pressure, treatment is of two folds. First is lifestyle and the second is medication. For some people, lifestyle alone can correct the blood pressure, for others, they may need both lifestyle and medication.

“Another thing is the cholesterol level. Once one has excess fat in the system, the likelihood of these fats deposited in the blood vessels cause progressive occlusion of the arteries leading to blockage. If it happens in the heart it causes heart attack, if it’s in the brain it causes stroke,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “when someone has a heart attack, we have new drugs that can bring he heart back to life. If the person is brought on time to Grays Cardiology Centre, the technologies and drugs we have here can put the heart back in shape.

“Once the person is brought here on time, we access the vessels, go to the heart, identify the blocked artery, open it up and put in a stent. It’s a perfect cure for heart attack. It’s called coronary angioplasty and angiography.

“Before, when someone has a heart attack, it’s almost like a doomsday. But with our technology the person’s life can be saved. We have saved many at this centre,” he added.

According to the Practice Manager, Grays Cardiology Centre, Mrs. Bisola Audifferen, part of the programmes outlined to commemorate the day is holding series of lectures to enlighten Nigerians on prevention, management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

“We are doing free blood pressure check, free Basic Mass Index (BMI) check, glaucoma check, free X-rays, visual acquits check, free resting electrocardiogram check, free resting blood sugar check, free consultations, among others.

“Those who will be diagnosed of high blood pressure and other issues will be booked for a follow up and will be given a 50 per cent treatment voucher which is only valid for October, 2017. So such patients will not have

to pay full treatment fee, but half. We also make sure we emphasise to people that it’s not all about consultations, but diagnosis and treatments which all work together to provide quality care.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility, we also do health talks in public gatherings, social clubs and companies where we emphasise the need for healthy lifestyle. This is because at Gray’s Cardiology Centre, we believe the heart is a very vital organ, so people need to know how to manage it through lifestyle choices,” she explained.

While encouraging Nigerians to get free blood pressure check any time of the year at the centre, at 6 Ladipo Bateye Street, GRA, Ikeja, she said Grays Cardiology Centre boasts of state-of-the-art modern equipment including art stress echocardiogram, resting electrocardiogram, 24 hours ambulatory monitor, ECG, two bed intensive care units, ventilators, infusion pump, syringe, and several other automated equipment.

“The medical director here is an associate professor of Cardiology, there are other in-house cardiologists and cardiology nurses working round the clock. So we have the personnel that can give critical care for the survival of persons with cardiovascular issues.”

But with elitist ambience and facilities mostly seen in developed countries, Audifferen says treatment at the centre is not expensive. “I always tell people that because they come into a building with state-of-the-art equipment and classy environment doesn’t make the place expensive. I tell them a standard healthcare facility should naturally be like that. What we are actually doing is to let people know this is what an ideal hospital should be.

“We are not expensive but we are very competitive. Registration here is N5,000. We are the first independent cardiac centre on the Mainland. And you should check other hospitals, you can’t pay N5,000 registration to see a cardiologist. The least you get is N10,000.

But here, it is N5,000. I have once paid N35,000 to see a specialist in another hospital for just 10 minutes,” she added.

Audifferen noted that since the centre opened June 16 this year, they have seen over 400 patients.

37

T H I S D AY THURSDAY,OCTOBER 5, 2017

NEWS 40% of Infertility Cases are Caused Nigeria Records 150,000 Deaths Annually Due to Heart Diseases commemoration of the 2017 billion smokers worldwide and speech, said by the year 2025,

by Endometriosis, Says Foundation Kuni Tyessi, in Abuja Martins Ifijeh and Kingsley Aliamaka The EndoSurvivors International Foundation (ESIF) has said that not less than 40 per cent of the infertility cases are caused by endometriosis.

Stating this during a walk on endometriosis/community outreach to mark Nurses Week in Lagos, organised by ESIF and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Founder of ESIF, Mrs. Olivia Nwankudu, said the disease was an incurable, invisible, painful disease that affects one in 10 girls and women of reproductive age.

Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which tissues resembling the lining of the uterus (endometrium) are found growing in areas outside the uterus. This distortion in the normal biological process leads to inflammations, severe debilitating pain and much more.

According to Nwankudu, women who suffer endometriosis may experience severe/crippling menstrual cramps, chronic or cyclic abdomino-pelvic pain, painful intercourse, heavy periods,

abdominal bloating, pain while urinating, infertility, fatigue, mood swings, and others. “Despite the prevalence and impact of such a life-altering disease, a great proportion of the public know nothing about endometriosis; hence the urgent need for proactive awareness about endometriosis.

“When it comes to identifying, treating and managing symptoms of endometriosis, education remains key, and such education should be for both healthcare providers, women and the society at large. “If adolescent girls and women are more aware of the symptoms of endometriosis, they would be more likely to report these symptoms to their doctors. As we raise awareness about it, a key element is to dispel the myths that enshroud the disease,” she said.

During the community outreach, participants from the locality in Ikeja and passers-by received free medical counseling, hepatitis and blood sugar screening and blood pressure checks.

Beneficiaries also received free gifts like haematinics, female/ male condoms, deworming tablets and night aids.

Statistics has revealed that 150,000 Nigerians die annually as a result of heart-related diseases and alarmingly, the number is expected to increase to 23 million by the year 2030 if adequate measures are not taken.

Also, 34 per cent of the adult population in Nigeria live with High Blood Pressure especially cardiovascular heart disease before the age of 50 and the number is said to be on the increase as a result of poor diet, absence of healthy lifestyle, lack of exercise, and others.

This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, during the

World Heart Day with the theme ‘Share the Power’.

The minister said other causes of heart-related diseases includes the active and passive use of tobacco and alcohol intake as there are over one billion smokers in the world and with Nigerians consuming over two billion sticks of cigarettes annually with 500,000 being women.

The minister who was represented by the National Coordinator of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, said the 2017 theme was apt as there is the need for Nigerians to engage themselves and share the power of knowledge on health issues.

He said, “There are about one

over two billion sticks of cigarettes are consumed in Nigeria.

The statistics is disturbing and we can say that the world is at the verge of a cardiovascular epidemic.

“Nigerians must imbibe and appreciate the importance of physical activities such as exercise, as it relieves stress and controls weight, eat healthy diet, avoid tobacco use and exposure to second hand use and avoid drinking alcohol and if you must drink, it should be done in moderation as well as check your numbers and know the condition of your heart.”

The executive director of Nigeria Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye in his

Non-Communicable Disease which is on the increase globally, will increase by 25 per cent hence the need to partner with all tiers of government as well as multi-nationals and non-governmental organisations towards ensuring that Nigerians know their heart conditions and how to achieve healthy hearts.

He said the number of those marking it annually has continued to increase and yet the awareness is tremendously low and as such, the foundation is willing to partner the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in its awareness campaign thereby making it the first agency to benefit from the activities of the foundation.

NNPC/Chevron Deworm 60,000 Pupils in Ondo James Sowole in Akure The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/ Chevron Joint Venture has commenced Mass Deworming Programme that will cover 60,000 pupils in Ondo State.

The programme, which will cover pupils in three local governments of Idanre, Okitipupa and Owo, was flagged off at St. Paul Mega Primary School, OdodeIdanre, and witnessed by stakeholders in the local government, the State Ministries of Education and Health, and the wife of the Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwun-Akeredolu.

The programme was the second phase of the deworming exercise as the first phase was implemented in 2013 during which 80,000 pupils were dewormed in Akure North, Akure South and Ilaje Local Government Areas.

Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, said the exercise was one of the initiatives through which the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture seeks to uplift the health and development of Nigerians especially the children.

Brikinn, who was represented by the Director of Government Affairs, Senator Gbenga Aluko, said that exercise, targeted at a total of 60,000 children is designed to make them healthier as the parasites (worm) which snapped their energies are destroyed.

“In this programme, the target children would be given safe and effective medicines produced by GlaxoSmithKline

(GSK) Limited to eliminate infecting worms while there is also a health education aspect to ensure that children are taught how to avoid reinfection through personal hygiene.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, wife of the Ondo State governor, Anyanwu-Akeredolu observed that the deworming exercise would help grow the health status of the school children while soliciting for proper hygienic environment among the people. The First Lady who commended the contributions of the joint partner venture (NNPC/ Chevron) to the development of the health sector of the state, also pleaded personal hygiene among the school pupils.

The State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Femi Agagu said the deworming exercise would help the children to develop well and boost their learning capabilities in the society. “This great intervention from NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture will give each of these pupils the opportunity of a good future because the future of a child depends on sound health and education.”

Also, his counterparts from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, argued that worm infestation was a leading cause of ill health among school age children mostly in developing countries. Adegbenro, however, solicited the need for the children to be deworm every three months in order to improve their health wise and growth.

L-R: Head, Business Development, HealthPlus Limited, Mrs. Molade Adeniyi; Managing Director, RapidCheck Diagnostics & Wellness Ltd, Mr Chijioke Onyia; Founder & CEO, HealthPlus Limited; Mrs. Bukky George; and Pharmacy Services Manager, HealthPlus Limited, Mrs. Nneka Isiadinso, at the official launch of Healthy Heart Check Service to mark World Heart Day in Lagos recently

Researcher Calls for Increase in R&D Funding in Nigeria

HealthPlus Launches Heart Monitoring Service

Martins Ifijeh

Solomon Elusoji

A world renowned cancer researcher, Professor Isa Marte Hussaini, has called for greater commitment on the part of the government to the funding of research and development in the country. Stating this during the induction of six distinguished professionals at the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in Lagos recently, he said inadequate funding was still a big challenge for research and development in Nigeria, as well as lack of constant power supply and non- availability of reagents which are often bought from the United States or the United Kingdom.

“We need more research grants in our country; it is not about the personnel but the tools to work with. All over the world, there are Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the field of medicine,” Hussaini lamented. Hussaini whose cancer research is exploring the use of local herbs in cancer therapy reminded the audience that “cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, the first being cardiovascular diseases with 8.2 million deaths reported worldwide as at 2012. Sadly, a lot of the research grants in

Nigeria are focused on deaths arising from preventable diseases like Malaria, TB when we should really be funding ground breaking research on cancer. We have seen fruitful evidence of the use of local herbs in the management of cancer in Nigeria.” The President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyion his part, noted that those who were being inducted at the programme were people with strong passion for scientific research. “These are tested professionals who appreciate the value of research in fast-tracking the social and economic progress of societies.” On his part, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai, said the body was committed to making Nigeria the hub of pharmaceutical production and research in Africa.

“Through a well-tailored plan which we have broken down to short, medium and long-term plan, we are looking to promote pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria and examining the possibilities of producing about 70 per cent of what the industry needs especially the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients while importing the remaining 30 per cent.”

One of the fastest growing pharmacies in West Africa, HealthPlus Limited, has launched a service that monitors the wellbeing of an individual’s heart.

The tests involves a private consultation that reviews an individual’s medical history, current medication, lifestyle and a range of diagnostic tests that focus on the indices that measure how healthy the heart is.

Speaking at a press conference announcing the launch, recently, the Founder and CEO of HealthPlus, Mrs. Bukky George, said the service, which is titled ‘the Healthy Heart Check’ had become imperative due to the ubiquitousness of heart disease.

“Heart disease is one of the greatest causes of premature death,” she said. “In Nigeria, 436 males and 476 females out of every 100,000 die as a result of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These deaths can be prevented. The Healthy Heart Check is a service which aims to lower the risk of developing heart disease, which although common is preventable.”

Following the diagnostic

tests, Mrs. George said patients will be able to tell what their cardiac age is and be able to calculate the probability of developing a heart disease within the next 10 years of performing the tests. “We will also provide advice on how to improve your heart health and help you continue to live a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

To carry out this service, HealthPlus had partnered with RapidCheck Diagnosis & Wellness Limited, which will provide the monitors be used for the service. The burgeoning pharmacy chain also said it had adequately trained its pharmacists for the necessary procedures involved.

The Healthy Heart Check Service was officially launched across 20 HealthPlus branches on September 29. At these 20 branches, the service will cost N4,500.

“We plan to expand the Healthy Heart Check Service to all 46 locations of HealthPlus branches over time as our ultimate aim is to make every Nigerian Healthy Heart Aware and to contribute our quota to making universal healthcare coverage available to all Nigerians,” Mrs. George said.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

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HEALTH

Agan: Incessant Welfare Demands Undermine the Health Sector Professor Thomas Agan, the Chief Medical Director, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, is also the Chairman, Committee of Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria. In this interview with journalists in Calabar, he speaks on issues affecting the health sector.

Bassey Iyang was there The health sector has been faced with perennial strikes which have been described in some quarters as unreasonable demands. What is your take on this?

It is very unfortunate that we are faced with series of crisis in the health sector resulting in unnecessary and unwarranted deaths among the Nigerian populace. The sector is supposed to be a succour to the people.

Unfortunately, over the years, it has been riddled with crisis. For me, welfare issues are necessary in life, but incessant welfare requests from the healthcare providers tend to undermine the sector itself.

I feel really pained that this situation has not been taken care of both by staff, and the government. And each time any union declares industrial dispute, you cannot quantify the number of people that die, you cannot quantify the suffering people go through. It can be very enormous.

However, I want to thank the Ministry of Health and that of the Ministry of Labour and Employment for deeming it wise to have discussion on the issues of the resident doctors.

The doctor’s challenges did not start today. They have been having interface with the government over the years. It’s rather unfortunate that it degenerated to a point they had to go on strike. I don’t know where the lacuna came from, but I feel there must have been a break in communication.

Having said so, I think that Nigerians are feeling that these demands cannot be met. If you read the memorandum of agreement that was signed between the doctors and the ministers as well as those of us that were part of the discussions, you will see that some of these things are solvable. You see on the average, everyone working in the health care sector is a better paid graduate than any graduate in this country. We are feeding from the same pot, and it’s rather unfortunate that everyone wants to increase his pocket. There is economic recession today and I’m thinking that by the time we over demand, other workers in the country will also want to demand. So, my appeal is that we have to be very cautious in whatever we are looking for.

But going by the oath taken by these doctors to save lives, some people are arguing that those doctors are not supposed to go on strike?

Yes because our oath for instance says we should preserve life from conception to death. This means that life that is entrusted into your hand must be preserved. The implication of this is that if you go on strike and that life is lost, then you cannot reconcile that with the oath you took. So, for me I agree with you that the oath you took is something too extreme for doctors to go on strike. I have never believed in strike to solve problems, and I will never subscribe to strike in its entirety.

Other workers in the health sector are also agitating for improved welfare package, and restructuring of the administration of teaching

tors, and have done their mandatory one year housemanship, they have done their one year youth service. After that, you pass the fellowship examination; what we call the primary fellowship. After that, you are admitted into a teaching hospital which is recognised by the post graduate medical college, and you spend between six to 10 years depending on the faculty you find yourself. If you are in neurosurgery for instance, you spend 10 years to become a specialist doctor. So, it amuses me when everybody wakes up one morning and says they want residency training. It’s sad.

It then gives me the impression that a lot of us have not read the history of the medical practice not only in Nigeria, but the world.

Agan

hospitals, else there will be no end to industrial disputes. What would you say to that?

The tertiary hospitals are supervised from the Federal Ministry of Health. Secondary healthcare is the property of the states, while primary healthcare is the property of the local government areas. So, the health system in the country is already decentralised. There is no problem in that.

The administrative autonomy is what you see. That is why you have the CMD of this hospital (UCTH).

Unless there is something that needs the minister’s attention, and that’s when I take it to him, otherwise the hospitals are autonomous.

Decree 10 of 1985 established teaching hospitals, and created two directorates. Apart from the office of the Chief Medical Director, we have Directorate of Administration and Clinical Services and Training. That means in an office like this, you can have directors, but they are not directing any directorate. So, we have some level of professional autonomy because we have the laboratory scientists. We have Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLCN), we have Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Physiotherapy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Radiography Council of Nigeria (RCN).

So, what autonomy do they want again? That means that when you become autonomous, in a teaching hospital like this, the Chief Medical Director should not have authority over you again, the director of administration should not have authority over you again. The chairman medical advisory committee should not have authority over you again? This is ridiculous.

I’m sorry to say so. It’s not done anywhere in

this world. It’s only in Nigeria that you wake up and want to do anything you want to do.

So, can we say that their demands are unrealistic?

I wouldn’t want to use that adjective. They are not feasible. Some of their demands only have to be looked into. Besides, some of their demands have to do with the National Health Act, which has been passed. So, why has it not been implemented? That Act should be implemented. If we implement the National Health Act, and there are issues there, those issues will be resolved in the course of its implementation.

It was a serious brainstorming to get that Act passed. I agree with JOHESU/NUAHP that there is need to revamp the facilities in the teaching hospitals, but that should not be a demand to threaten a strike. As you are aware, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the allocation to the health sector in National budgets should be 14 per cent.

You know that because of our low economy we have not been able to do that. The highest that we have attained is about 7-8 per cent. And even at that, what may eventually be released will be between 3-4 per cent. So, how do we go about this? It’s good that they are going about this revamping of infrastructure, but can you squeeze water out of a rock?

Again, their demand for residency training is amusing. This is the only country in the world where you want to do residency training in administration, and everything. Residency training is done for post graduate doctors.

Doctors who have qualified as medical doc-

What do you think should to be done to permanently solve the problem of perennial strikes in the health sector?

I’ve always told people that I choose to be a doctor and that’s why I’m a doctor. Some other person chooses to be a nurse, and that’s why he or she is a nurse. You choose to be a laboratory scientist, and that’s why you are a lab scientist. I think that the National Council on Establishment (NCE) should review, and streamline career of workers in the health sector because a doctor cannot go and perform the functions of a nurse, and also a nurse cannot go and perform the functions of a doctor. In the health sector not only in Nigeria, but the world over, there is no doubt that the doctor is the head of the health sector.

No patient comes to the hospital to say he’s coming to see the accountant or he’s coming to see any other staff but the doctor. So, I believe that people should mind what they are trained to do. This bickering and professional rivalry is the cause of all these trouble, and I believe that it is not healthy.

It is the Nigerian people that are suffering and dying. I often tell people it could be me, or you or any member of your family who is dying because of our strikes. You never can tell the number of people that have died as a result of this current strike. I told them in the course of those negotiations, the blood of all Nigerians who have died as a result of this strike is upon our heads. It’s not healthy.

How can you rate medical practice in Nigeria in terms of rendering services to patients in public health institutions?

You have touched my heart. You see, all through the years, the major problem we have in this country as far as rendering services to the patients is concerned is our attitude. The attitude of the healthcare givers to the patients, and the attitude of the patients to their health leave so much to be desired. Over 90 per cent of deaths in our hospitals are due to our attitude. Until we realise that we would be held accountable for every challenge we create, things will not go down well. I have always told people that if you don’t know what to do, leave out, or do no harm. That means it is better you do nothing than to do something that creates harm.

World Mental Health Day: Centre to Hold Free Screening for Lagosians Martins Ifijeh The Retreat, Nigeria’s purpose built private mental hospital, based in Ikorodu, will hold a mental awareness and free mental health screening on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 to mark the World Mental Health Day. WMHD, according to the World Health Organisation, is marked with the objective

of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. The day thus provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

In line with the WHO objectives, The Retreat, according to its Chief Executive Officer, Dr.

Olufemi Oluwatayo will create a mental awareness exercise and free screening to add value to mental services in Nigeria across board including education.

He said: “The World Mental Health Day theme this year focuses on ‘Mental Health at the Work Place’. We know that many employers and organisations do not see issues of mental health at the workplace as a priority and many employees

may be suffering in silence. We therefore feel that this is an opportunity to help screen people for common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression and advise on treatment pathways if necessary. We are offering a free screening services; skilled Doctors will be on call both on the phone and at the Retreat campus in Ikorodu to offer confidential help”, he said.

The mental health aware-

ness will be coordinated by Dr Olufemi Oluwatayo, the Retreat Chief Executive, an award winning graduate of the University of Ibadan Medical School, currently a Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Milton Park Hospital in United Kingdom.

A former Health Advisor to the Lagos State Government, Dr Oluwatayo a WHO Scholar, writer, and a mental health

advocate, was also a Welcome Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Manchester UK. The Retreat’s highly skilled Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, Therapist Assistants, an Occupational Therapist and a top Clinical Psychologist will be available to provide the services in a therapeutic and serene environment at the Retreat Campus in Ikorodu, Lagos.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

HEALTH

Rebuilding North East Health Facilities While Boko Haram activities destroyed five general hospitals and over 100 PHCs in Yobe State, as well as several other health facilities in Borno and Adamawa States, the process of rebuilding are now in top gear, and MTN Foundation is lending its support through its Emergency Ward Intervention Initiative. Martins Ifijeh reports For almost 10 years, the North-eastern part of Nigeria has been embroiled in Boko Haram activities leading to the decline of economic activities and collapse of many public institutions including health facilities, market places, schools, as well as religious homes. A situation that has further added to the suffering of residents of this region and scared investors.

But with peace gradually returning to the once economically vibrant region, stakeholders continue to count the injuries and wounds left behind by the unrest, hoping that soon, the region’s healthcare, educational system, among others will find their way back for the benefit of residents of the region.

For instance, available information shows that about 788 health facilities have been destroyed in the region by Boko Haram activities.

On specifics, in Yobe State alone, over 100 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) were destroyed while five general hospitals were lost during the terrorist invasion of the state, leaving the people to only survive health challenges at the mercy of the innate immunity given by their body’s white blood cells. Many, during those periods died not because they were felled by grenades and guns, but because they were unable to treat simple malaria and ulcer.

In Borno State, available information shows that over 48 health workers were killed with about 250 injured by the insurgents. It is also believed that not less than 40 per cent of the health facilities in the state have been destroyed, with only a third of those left remain functional; a situation that has made the state loose 35 per cent of its doctors to other states.

It is in rebuilding this grossly degraded healthcare system in the region that governments in partnership with various stakeholders, health bodies and corporate organisations decided to lend support to putting the healthcare system of the region back in shape.

One of such organisations that have resolved to lend a helping hand to rebuilding the healthcare system of the region is MTN Foundation, through its Emergency Ward Intervention Initiative (EWII).

It is providing medical equipment and consumables to six hospitals in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States worth hundreds of millions of Naira as a cushion for the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) towards putting healthcare in the region back in shape.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the formal handover of its emergency ward interventions to Borno State, the Chairman, MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said while over 1.9 million people have been displaced in the region by insurgency, over seven million persons were in need of humanitarian assistance, an unfortunate scenario that has prompted the Foundation to support government, hence the setting up of EWII to cushion their efforts.

He said with the project underway, medical equipment and consumables have been

Adamawa State Governor, Senator Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla at the formal handover ceremony of the MTN Foundation Emergency Ward Intervention equipments in Mubi General Hospital, Adamawa State ...recently

provided in six hospitals in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States which will lead to faster treatment of victims of emergency situations.

“There is an old adage that ‘one never appreciates your health until you fall sick.

This is why the saying, health is wealth’ is true, anytime, any day. It is even a totally different ball game when good health or living is truncated by an emergency situation.

“Indeed, emergency situations happen almost every month around the world, with the natural disaster like the torrential rains in china, the hurricane in the U.S. or the tragic mud-slides in nearby Sierra Leone,” he explained.

“As we hand over these resources, it is our prayer that we do not witness another attack again. We also use this occasion to restate our support and commitment to the federal and state governments’ efforts to end the war against Boko Haram,” he added.

Some of the donated equipment include 600 protective aprons, 30 inflatable adult 4-splints set with case,30 stretchers, six electrocardiogram machine 12-LEAD, 30 adult full leg inflatable suit, six vital sign monitor, Vital Sign Monitor, 60 protective linen, 180 scrubs, 60 anti static clogs, digital patient monitors suitable for adult and pediatric with NIBP, ECG temperature and SP02, Carl Novel, Germany, six trollers

for monitor, six automatic external defibrillator, 12 nebulizzers, 30 stethoscope, 30 suture sets, 30 Carl novel Germany/Spencer head mobiliser scoop.

Others are 30 universal pen touch, 30 diagnostic set, 12 first aid boxes, 36 spine board, 120 extraction collar for spine board, (screen print and off set paper sticker), six aspirator, 30 sanitises, six laryngoscopes, 360 hospital gowns for patients, 30 clogs, 30 fractured mobilisers, aiming others, including consumables.

The beneficiary hospitals are General Hospital, Ganye; General Hospital, Mubi; Sani Abacha Hospital, Damaturu; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru; UmaruShehu Ultra Modern Hospital, Bulumkutu; and General Hospital, Biu. Meanwhile, governors of the three beneficiary North-eastern states (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) have applauded the successful partnership which they said has secured the installation of medical equipment in six hospitals in the different states.They described the interventions as timely and largely impactful projects, designed to help improve and boost the healthcare sector for the benefit of the people.

At the inauguration, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State noted the significance of such a project, considering the severe impact of insurgencies on the healthcare system

over the last seven years, particularly as it relates to the availability of drugs and basic health facilities to combat the rising number of casualties.

“This is a high value initiative, that is worthy of commendation. I am so excited that MTN shares our vision for the people of Borno State. We want you to invest more in the state and country, especially at this point in time where a lot of economic reforms are being put in place,” he added.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at Sani Abacha Hospital, Damaturu, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Bello who represented the Yobe State governor, said “These contributions have been made where they are most needed, these items will be deployed to the generality of the people and by extension visitors passing through Yobe State.” He went on to note that the insurgency had affected five general hospitals and left over one hundred primary health care facilities vandalised, looted and razed.

The Adamawa State governor, Senator Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla went on to say, “For a company like MTN to remember humanity, it is worth appreciating.” I thank the Foundation for this donation. We will continue to work with them and strengthen the ties between us.

Experts Call for Basic Life Support against Cardiac Arrest Rebecca Ejifoma The Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants and Research Institute, Dr. Felix Sogade and Electrophysiologist, Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Dr. Joseph Poku, have called on Nigerians to learn basic life support skills as efforts to reduce the alarming incidence of sudden deaths among blacks, including Nigerians.

They made the call at the awareness symposium on cardiac arrest held at the Healing Stripes Hospital Foundation, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Sogade, there is low knowledge about the importance of basic life support in the country. He said victims of cardiac arrest could be resuscitated and have pulse for 10 minutes before emergency help arrives.

He explained that from the

onset of cardiac arrest till the person dies, each minute is very important. “After the sufferer is resuscitated, if assistance does not come within 10 minutes the chance of surviving is zero. So, there is need for people around the victim to act quickly and be able to take step to restore the heart back to regular rhythms.”

Sogade added: “About 40 per cent of people who die suddenly, die at home in their sleep – may be difficult to intervene - and the other

60 per cent may die during physical activities or working hours, and such persons may have chance of surviving when aids come at appropriate time.”

As an Associate Professor of Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine and Chairman, Board of Directors for the Association of Black Cardiologists in United State of America, Sogade said, “some of the causes among other multiple conditions responsible are when the heart muscle is very thick

due to thickness of the heart muscle.”

Sogade, therefore, urged people to pay attention to some signs of cardiac arrest.

“When someone is falling asleep uncontrollably during normal working hours, heart skipping, history of faint, they should seek medical evaluation and not ascribe it to lack of enough sleep or fatigue.”

Poku, pointed out some risk factors for sudden death in adults as: high blood pres-

sure, diabetics, smoking and overweight. “To know your heart function, you can do echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and electrical recording of the heart.”

According to Poku, if everyone learns the basic life support skills, it would save the lives of many who lose consciousness.

“We will also bring automatic external defibrillator, which is easy to use. We have donated to some institutions in Nigeria in the past.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 Ëž T H I S D AY

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

W’Bank Predicts $22bn Foreign Remittances for Nigeria in 2017 Obinna Chima The World Bank has predicted that Nigeria will record foreign remittances inflow of $22 billion in 2017, higher than the $19 billion recorded by the country in 2016.

However, India retained its top spot, with remittances expected to total $65 billion this year, followed by China ($63 billion), the Philippines ($33 billion) and Mexico (a record $31 billion).

The World Bank, which stated this in its Migration and Development Brief, obtained on its website yesterday, estimated that remittances to low- and

middle-income countries was on course to recover in 2017 after two consecutive years of decline.

The Bank estimated that officially recorded remittances to developing countries were expected to grow by 4.8 per cent to $450 billion for 2017.

Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, were projected to grow by 3.9 percent to $596 billion.

According to the World Bank, the recovery in remittance flows was driven by relatively stronger growth in the European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States. “As a result, those regions

likely to see the strongest growth in remittance inflows this year are Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, fiscal tightening, due to low oil prices, and policies discouraging recruitment of foreign workers, will dampen remittance flows to East and South Asia. “In keeping with an improving global economy, remittances to low- and middle-income countries are expected to grow modestly by 3.5 percent in 2018, to $466 billion. Global remittances will grow by 3.4 percent to $616 billion in 2018,� it stated.

CBN Faults Report on Adelabu, Deputy Governor The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said its attention had been drawn to a newspaper report alleging that one of its Deputy Governors, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, was arrested and made to forfeit some amount of money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The CBN in a statement by its acting Director, Corporate

Communications, Isaac Okorafor, yesterday dismissed the report as falsehood. “We wish to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in the said report and it is, without doubt, a mere figment of the writer’s imagination. “The Bank and its officials will not be distracted from the onerous task of ensuring stability in the financial system, and indeed the

economy, at this critical time. “However, such person(s) bent on disparaging the Bank and its officials should note that legal options would be explored to protect its reputation from being tarnished in any manner. “We therefore implore members of the media to always exercise caution and endeavor to verify their stories before rushing to the press,� he explained.

CIBN Accredits Keystone Bank Training Academy The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has certified and granted full accreditation status to the Keystone Bank Limited’s Training Academy in Lagos.

The bank explained in a statement that the feat was in recognition of its compliance with regulatory standards and best practices.

The certification came at the end of a recent evaluation exercise carried out by the CIBN which was the sole accreditation agency under the Competency Framework for the country’s Banking and Finance Industry put in place by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Keystone Bank Training Academya is a full-fledged

learning and development centre responsible for the continuous building of skills and the expansion of knowledge base of new and existing workers of the bank.

In the letter communicating the development, the institute commended the bank for its consistent efforts towards meeting high standards for the benefit of the banking industry and larger economy.

Part of the accreditation was the exemption of trainees who are successful at the Keystone Bank Entry Level from nine courses from a total of nineteen in the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Professional Certification examination. Commenting on the award, the Group Managing

Director/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei said: “We believe strongly in the need for continuous learning and self-improvement. “Providing top-notch training is one way we groom and build our people to be more competent and vibrant, thereby launching the Bank to ground breaking achievements and performance overtime. “This of course will produce leading professional bankers who will lead not just the industry but the economy at large.�

Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering convenient and reliable solutions to its customers.

FG Urged to Tackle Barriers to Trade to Boost FX Inows The Managing Director of Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Mr. Michael Larbie has stressed the need for the federal government to ensure that all barriers that inhibit the ease of trade flows in country are removed.

The RMB boss also called for the automation of all trade processes, so as to replace the current paper based system.

Larbie said this in a speech he presented at the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) meeting hosted by RMB in Lagos on Tuesday.

He expressed delight over the performance of the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window, since it was created in April.

He added: “In the past few months, we have seen some much-needed liquidity return to our markets after three years of foreign currency scarcity and a devalued naira. During this time, we all saw how difficult it was to settle trade obligations with so little forex in our system. “Many of our importers were unable to pay foreign companies in their home currencies. So it is indeed encouraging that the

NAFEX window has opened and foreign investors are once again investing in our country bringing in US dollars and other foreign currencies and boosting Nigerian assets. “We expect this trend to continue and hope it will be encouraged further by the lifting of all barriers which are inhibiting the ease of trade flows in our country. The key issue in this respect, as we know, is the necessity to automate all trade processes to replace our current paper based system.

This will both speed up the trade finance as well as making it far more efficient for us, and our foreign partners, to conduct business.�

Larbie commended the ICC Nigeria for their effort, which according to him, had contributed to the deepening of the trade finance markets and provides businesses the opportunity to tap into international business practices and opportunities. “We also know that as an influential group, ICC Nigeria is able to work with and assist local industry bodies.

We encourage ICC Nigeria to continue engaging with all local institutions including the ministry of finance, ministry of trade and the central bank to help foster growth in our country’s trade and enable it to adapt to changing market circumstances. “The ICC Nigeria as a pressure group can play a significant role in speeding up the introduction of an automated system by regularly engaging with the regulatory bodies and offering assistance or advice where it is needed. ICC Nigeria should work with other stakeholders towards the completion of the Nigerian Single Window to include the Form A, NCX and the NXP. We also encourage the ICC to work with the CBN in its review of the forex manual. The current document was published in 2006, and recent developments in the trade markets mean the document is long overdue for a refresh. The ICC and the central bank are invited to work with bankers to review new versions of the document and assist in developing a modern, world-class update.

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 28, THURSDAY 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $54.61 a barrel on Monday , compared with $55.20 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

41

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

4-Oct-17

3-Oct-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 3-Oct-17

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

35,306.09 12.17

35,358.57 12.17

0.15% 0.00%

148.56 11.57

148.82 11.59

0.17% 0.17%

01 Dangote Cement Plc

210.00

210.00

0.00%

3,578,506,555,050.00

13.34

15.95

4.93

3.76%

4.40

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

161.60

162.00

-0.25%

1,281,342,703,500.80

3.58

51.23

4.64

1.96%

8.77

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

40.00

40.00

0.00%

1,177,247,168,960.00

4.49

8.79

2.78

4.48%

2.16

1,220.02

1,215.00

0.41%

967,056,480,565.04

10.00

122.02

5.32

2.38%

31.32

05 Zenith Bank Plc

24.40

24.01

1.62%

766,074,448,378.40

4.13

5.52

1.41

7.89%

1.02

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

06 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

40.50

40.01

1.22%

405,000,000,000.00

2.85

14.20

2.59

0.25%

2.88

Stock

07 United Bank for Africa Plc

9.00

8.79

2.39%

326,515,736,898.00

1.99

4.81

0.91

6.26%

0.78

17.10

17.20

-0.58%

313,777,325,776.50

0.68

26.61

0.56

3.44%

0.53

9.63

9.55

0.84%

278,576,366,806.53

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 Lafarge Africa Plc

52.02

52.02

0.00%

236,945,992,156.20

3.71

15.36

1.18

5.26%

1.04

12 Presco Plc

59.00

59.00

0.00%

234,258,145,655.00

0.03 2,338.93

3.81

1.90%

6.49

5.61

5.77

-2.77%

201,372,592,563.12

0.16

35.99

0.35

2.55%

0.35

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc

43.61

43.61

0.00%

164,989,549,462.50

0.81

49.26

2.17

0.13%

12.95

15 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

13.47

13.93

-3.30%

161,640,000,000.00

2.01

6.92

0.77

3.60%

2.19

16 Guinness Nig Plc

98.50

98.50

0.00%

148,329,986,518.00

-3.06

-25.17

1.12

4.16%

2.94

17 International Breweries Plc

38.00

37.00

2.70%

125,181,472,640.00

0.02 1,642.11

4.58

0.68%

11.11

239.50

235.00

1.91%

81,315,479,961.50

43.58

5.43

0.28

5.92%

3.41

5.90

5.90

0.00%

71,004,251,474.60

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.

48.10

48.10

0.00%

62,649,341,054.30

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

90.02

0.00%

57,665,944,477.26 -21.86

-4.21

0.52

2.39%

5.47

1.38

1.38

0.00%

53,434,976,446.50

-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

1.33

1.36

-2.21%

38,520,238,970.36

0.39

3.54

0.26

11.68%

0.21

28 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

12.62

12.02

4.99%

33,435,912,330.36

0.91

14.26

1.88

4.23%

4.28

29 U A C N Plc

15.00

15.00

0.00%

28,812,965,805.00

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

21.00

21.00

0.00%

25,113,406,248.00

3.02

6.95

1.67

1.43%

1.50

1.08

1.07

0.93%

25,013,220,085.44

-0.29

-4.02

0.13

0.00%

0.12

33 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

24.23

24.23

0.00%

24,230,000,000.00

5.69

4.73

1.87

0.37%

0.72

34 Cap Plc

32.50

32.50

0.00%

22,750,000,000.00

2.17

15.89

3.54

3.33%

16.77

35 FCMB Group Plc

1.07

1.07

0.00%

21,188,900,535.67

0.09

13.13

0.13

8.93%

0.12

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.00

2.00

0.00%

21,000,000,000.00

0.25

7.57

0.96

2.63%

0.99

37 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.50

3.60

-2.78%

20,586,524,682.50

1.06

3.35

0.51

3.93%

0.64

10.80

10.46

3.25%

20,284,582,032.00

-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

2.05

2.02

1.49%

16,256,905,198.90

-0.40

-5.19

0.35

7.62%

0.50

41 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.43

1.50

-4.67%

14,833,024,366.16

0.30

4.51

0.54

8.96%

0.69

42 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

8.36

8.36

0.00%

10,505,826,123.76

1.29

6.96

0.70

1.11%

0.90

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.52

0.52

0.00%

7,217,756,733.20

-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

0.55

0.57

-3.51%

6,429,135,868.10

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 Fidson Healthcare Plc

3.49

3.52

-0.85%

5,235,000,000.00

0.50

6.46

0.41

1.56%

0.69

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

3.10

3.00

3.33%

5,035,078,125.00

0.36

9.51

0.69

5.88%

0.85

49 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

2.85

2.72

4.78%

4,898,437,485.75

-0.90

-3.23

0.79

24.05%

0.15

50 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.53

0.53

0.00%

3,673,008,374.40

1.48

0.38

0.14

8.93%

0.45

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated 09 Access Bank Plc 10 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

13 FBN Holdings Plc

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

11,587,314,911,608.20

TOTAL MARKET CAP

12,171,012,549,495.40

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

95.20%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 3-Oct-17

National Salt Co. Nig. Plc UACN Property Development Co. Limited Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Cadbury Nigeria Plc International Breweries Plc

Close 4-Oct-17

Change %

Close Change % 4-Oct-17

12.02 2.72

12.62 2.85

4.99% 4.78%

3.00

3.10

3.33%

10.46 37.00

10.80 38.00

3.25% 2.70%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open 3-Oct-17

Continental Reinsurance Plc Unity Bank Plc Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc FBN Holdings Plc

Close Change % 4-Oct-17

1.50 0.57 13.93 3.60

1.43 0.55 13.47 3.50

-4.67% -3.51% -3.30% -2.78%

5.77

5.61

-2.77%

Index gains 0.15% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today - Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 ended positive as the market closed green. This was further highlighted by positive performance from the NSE Subsectors: Banking, Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Insurance). Also, trading activities decreased in volume as 174.07 million shares worth N2.72 billion in 3,599 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 634.33 million shares worth N5.79 billion in 3,850 trades were carried out on Tuesday. Topping in volume terms are: United Bank for Africa Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Zenith Bank Plc; while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with 0.15% (+52.48) increase to close at 35,358.57 from 35,306.09 the previous trading day. Market capitalization appreciated in tandem to N12.17 trillion from N12.17 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index closes with a increase of 0.17% to 148.82 from 148.56 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N11.59 trillion from N11.57 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 19 stocks gained on the bourse today while 18 stocks declined, leaving 52 stocks unchanged.

Leading the pack again was C&I Leasing Plc led with a gain of 9.50% to close at N1.96 per share. It was followed by National Salt Co. Nig. Plc with a gain of 4.99% to close at N12.62 per share. Others on the gainers’ list include: UACN Property Development Co. Limited, Vitafoam Nig. Plc and Caverton Offshore Support Grp Plc. On the decliners’ list, MRS Oil Nig. Plc led with a loss of 4.97% to close at N30.39 per share. It was followed by Continental Reinsurance Plc with a loss of 4.67% to close at N1.43 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Learn Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Dangote Sugar Refinery 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 4.99% to close at N12.62 per share. It was followed by UACN Property Development Co. Limited with a gain of 4.78% to close at N2.85 per share. Others on the gainers chart include: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and International Breweries Plc. On the decliners’ list, Continental Reinsurance Plc led with a loss of 4.67% to close at N1.43 per share. It was followed by Unity Bank Plc with a loss of 3.51% to close at N0.55 per share. Others on the decliners’ list are: Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc and FBN Holdings 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, OCTOBER 5, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

C & I Leasing Maintains Lead as Stock Market Rebounds Goddy Egene C & I Leasing Plc yesterday maintained its lead on the price gainers’ chart for the second consecutive day even as the stock market rebounded. The market, which opened on Monday on a negative note, recovered yesterday as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index 0.15 per cent to close at 35,358.57.

Nine stocks advanced, while 18 depreciated. However, C & I Leasing Plc remained the top price gainer, appreciating by 9.5 per cent to close at N1.96 per share. The stock had last week led the price gainers, chalking up 28.3 per cent. It opened this week with a growth of 9.8 per cent before garnering 9.5 per cent yesterday.

Market operators attributed

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

the renewed demand for C & I Leasing to company’s prospects.

The leasing firm reported a highly impressive results for the six months ended June 30, 2017 with revenue growing by 32.3 per cent, while profit after tax (PAT)soared by 298 per cent. For instance, PAT rose from N145 million The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Andrew Otike-

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

Odibi had attributed the financial performance to the strength in the diversity of its business.

He said: “Our three business lines namely, Marine, Fleet management and Outsourcing are gaining strength in their different markets with each contributing positively to the overall performance of the business. This is not without the difficulties faced in the operating environment with

STO C K

rising financing and operating costs coupled with continuous pressure on turnover. We remain focused on sustaining delivery of superior customer service and continued diversification of earnings, to take advantage of growth opportunities in the markets and business segments we operate in.” Meanwhile, NASCON Allied Industries Plc closed as the second highest price gainer

with 4.9 per cent, followed by UACN Property Development Company Plc and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc chalked up 4.7 per cent apiece Conversely, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc led the price losers with 4.9 per cent, trailed by Continental Reinsurance Plc with 4.6 per cent.

Learn Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc and Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc 3.8 per cent, 3.5 per cent and 3.3 per cent in order.

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, OCTOBER 5, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Nigerian Stock Exchange CEO Stresses Importance of Market Data The Chief Executive Officer

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, yesterday called on operators and investors to embrace market data in the investment decisions for better results.

Onyema made the call at the second edition of the NSE Market Data, saying that when investors embrace market data, they spot the inherent opportunities or challenges and make informed decisions on their investments.

According to him, the capital market remains a very reliable forward indicator of economic direction, explaining that the capacity by which the capital market is able to exhibit this characteristic is facilitated through market data.

“There are many ways in which market data proves its value. One interesting way is in understanding economic trends. Historians are of the opinion that history always repeat itself, similarly, a familiar saying about history tells us

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

that “history is written by the victors”. If this saying is true, then it corroborates the idea that “the market always wins”.

Market events of yesterday are written in market data, just as a book is written for its readers. So, if it is true that readers are leaders, then it is safe to conjecture that the investors who “read” market data would eventually lead the market(that is emerge profitable),” he said.

Onyema noted that disclosed that market data, the by-

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 03-Oct-2017, unless otherwise stated.

product of activities on the platform of the exchange, remains a key ingredient for investment endeavours.

“We intend to leverage this workshop to intimate you of new data products that will complement our existing list of non-display products, which cut across real time, reference and thematic datasets. These are designed to help unleash your creative juices and take advantage of emerging technologies such as cloud, analytics, algorithmic trading

and artificial intelligence to name a few,” he said.

He noted that since the launch of X-GEN in 2013, one of the mandates of the exchange has been to make the market more accessible, using technology as an enabler.

“This was achieved with the introduction of FIX protocol as the conduit to open up instant access of the Nigerian bourse to investors, media, government, software vendors, and other capital market stakeholders.

X-GEN has further accelerated

financial inclusion as well as enhance investor’s participation in the capital market through initiatives like “Trade Smart”, for investors to trade on-the-go and at their convenience. Today, BrokerDealers can now route orders from the convenience of their offices instead of coming to the floors of the exchange.

All these and much more have been facilitated through technology with market data as the catalyst,” the NSE boss said.

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 171.99 172.80 35.48% Nigeria International Debt Fund 232.96 233.90 10.19% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.80 0.81 14.28% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 79.62% 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 18.59% 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 16.59 17.09 34.40% ARM Discovery Fund 353.76 364.42 23.19% ARM Ethical Fund 25.20 25.96 12.79% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.46% 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 140.72 141.71 33.79% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.15% 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 1,148.84 1,150.01 13.14% FBN Heritage Fund 141.89 143.15 27.30% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.96% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.53 $112.58 8.46% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $111.00 $112.05 8.70% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 149.47 151.64 32.75% 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 1.33 1.35 42.55% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.90 2.90 12.74% 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 2,828.77 2,870.53 28.72% Coral Income Fund 2,370.05 2,370.05 13.74% 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 16.22% 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 18.25% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.05 2.07 21.79% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.42% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 110.86 110.86 14.25%

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 1.13 1.15 14.07% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,045.66 1,045.66 8.73% 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 12.60 12.72 30.44% 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 1.19 1.22 19.87% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.79 10.86 3.83% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.95% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 120.97 123.09 19.37% 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 10.96% 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 2,151.65 2,163.95 17.51% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 166.99 166.99 8.46% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 22.73% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 211.35 211.35 13.09% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 165.86 167.97 27.74% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.30% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,195.53 9,299.44 21.24% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.04 1.04 4.00% SIAML PENSION 40 131.72 134.58 33.15% 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 16.99% United Capital Bond Fund 1.42 1.42 16.46% United Capital Equity Fund 0.84 0.86 24.69% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.50% 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 12.33 12.52 26.97% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.99 13.13 18.62% Zenith Income Fund 18.54 18.54 12.13%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.02

1.01% 5.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.48 132.30 102.68

10.58 135.17 104.61

21.52% 33.74% 35.50%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 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

4.34 8.90 16.51 19.41 136.74

4.38 8.98 16.61 19.61 138.74

56.79% 26.45% 39.63% 21.56% 7.92%

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 OCTOBER 5, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2017

45

46

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Pro-independence Catalans Defy King Felipe VI’s Warning Pro-independence Catalan leaders are pressing ahead despite an emphatic warning from King Felipe VI. Catalan President Carles

Puigdemont told the BBC he would declare independence “at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

The European Union said

it was “time to talk” to find a solution to the crisis in Catalonia.

Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans said the Spanish constitution must be followed.

Mr Timmermans, addressing the European Parliament, described the images of violence

from Catalonia as “saddening”, but emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law.

In his intervention, late on Tuesday, King Felipe branded Sunday’s referendum in the north-eastern Spanish region illegal and undemocratic.

But correspondents say his

failure to acknowledge the violent repression of the vote has fired up rather than deterred independence supporters.

Meanwhile, Spain’s high court has summoned the head of Catalonia’s regional police force to testify as a suspect in a investigation of alleged sedi-

tion - inciting rebellion against the state.

Josep Lluís Trapero and three other people are expected to appear in court on Friday in a move likely to inflame sentiment further amid Spain’s deepest political crisis in decades, say correspondents.

in the United States, where she is due to be questioned by police.

Marilou Danley was met by federal agents as she landed in Los Angeles from the Philippines on Tuesday night.

Paddock reportedly wired $100,000 (£75,400) to her in the Philippines before the rampage.

US President Donald Trump will visit Las Vegas on Wednesday to console a shocked nation.

“Well, it’s a very sad thing,”Mr Trump told reporters at the White House as he left for Nevada.

“We’re going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time.”

The president also said “a lot

at the appropriate time,”he added.

From his 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Paddock, a retired accountant with no criminal record, sprayed bullets into a crowd at a country music festival below. He killed 58 concertgoers and injured more than 500, before apparently killing himself.

Police officials quoted by the Reuters news agency said they hoped Ms Danley - an Australian citizen who moved to the US 20 years ago - would consent to be interviewed voluntarily.

US authorities have named Ms Danley a“person of interest”in their investigation, , and said they made contact with her shortly after the shooting.

reported.

Her sisters told Australian outlet 7News that Ms Danley had not known about the trip until Paddock told her he had bought her a ticket to the Philippines.“She was sent away... so that she will not be there to interfere with what he’s planning,”they said.

Paddock checked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel on 28 September, reportedly using some of Ms Danley’s identity documents.

The Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation told AFP news agency it was investigating reports that Paddock sent $100,000 to Ms Danley in the Philippines days before the shooting.

Ms Danley’s sisters also told

An unnamed US official told Reuters news agency that investigators were assuming the amount was intended as a form of life insurance.

Eric Paddock, the youngest brother of Stephen Paddock, told the NewYork Timesthat his brother loved and doted on Ms Danley.

“She was probably one of the only people I’ve ever seen that he’d go out of his way to do a little thing for,” he said.

But the pair are also said to have had a turbulent relationship, according to other reports. The Los Angeles Times has spoken to people who witnessed Paddock verbally abusing Ms Danley at a coffee shop in Mesquite, Nevada.

Tillerson Denies Resignation Rumours, Las Vegas Shooting: Paddock’s Girlfriend Arrives in US She had been in the Philippines 7News that she had been wired but Not ‘Moron’ Remark The girlfriend of Las Vegas gun- more” was emerging about the man Stephen Paddock has arrived gunman. “That’ll be announced since late September, local media that amount in the Philippines.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has denied rumours of a rift with Donald Trump, amid media reports he had called the president a “moron”.

“I’m not going to deal with petty stuff like that,” he said, without denying the alleged remark.

Mr Tillerson called a news conference after an NBC report said he had considered resigning earlier this year.

He said his commitment to Mr Trump’s White House was as strong as ever, and he would stay on as long as needed.

NBC had alleged, citing White House sources, that Mr Tillerson had to be talked out of resigning in July.

It said he had been advised

by Vice-President Mike Pence “on ways to ease tensions”

with the president, the report added - something which Mr Tillerson denies.

“The vice president has never had to persuade me to stay as secretary of state, because I have never considered leaving this post,” he said.

“I’m new to Washington, I have learned there are some who try to sow dissension to advance their own agenda by tearing others apart in an effort to undermine President Trump’s own agenda. I do not and I will not operate that way.”

Just before Mr Tillerson spoke, Donald Trump took aim at their report, tweeting: “NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!”

US Cuba Row: Washington Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats The US has expelled 15 Cuban diplomats, saying Havana failed to protect US diplomats from mysterious acoustic attacks.

The Cuban personnel have been given seven days to leave.

The Department of State move follows last week’s US withdrawal of more than half of its own diplomats from the Cuban capital.

Nearly two dozen US personnel have suffered ill health after unexplained attacks in the Cuban capital.

“The decision was made due to Cuba’s failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations

under theVienna Convention.This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations,” US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement on Tuesday.

At least 21 people working at the US’s embassy in Cuba have reported health problems, ranging from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.

Earlier reports suggested sonic attacks were to blame, but nothing has been proven.

Cuba denies targeting embassy staff, and the US has not blamed the country’s government for the suspected attacks.

Erdogan Assassination Plot: Turkish Court Sentences Dozens A Turkish court has sentenced 34 people to life in prison for attempting to kill President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Forty-six people were on trial for the alleged assassination plot during last year’s failed military coup.

The majority were ex-soldiers from the Turkish special forces, accused of launching an operation at the hotel where Mr Erdogan was on holiday.

The high-profile verdicts are the latest in a series of trials involving hundreds of alleged participants.

Exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen, who lives in the US, was among those on trial, but did not appear in court and no verdict was given in his case.

Turkey accuses Mr Gulen of being behind the coup, and many

of those who have been arrested or fired from their roles have been accused of being among his followers. The Gulen movement is now considered a terrorist organisation in Turkey.

Mr Gulen, who lives in the US, denies any involvement in the failed July 2016 coup.

Outside the court in Mulga, supporters of president Erdogan waved banners calling for the death sentence - which was abolished in Turkey in 2004 when the country was seeking admission to the EU. Mr Erdogan has raised the prospect of its re-introduction.

A key development on the night of the coup was the attempt to capture - or allegedly assassinate - Mr Erdogan, who was staying at a luxury hotel in the Marmaris resort, south-west Turkey.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2017

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˜ ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹͵ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE FORTY-EIGHT S E NATE TO P ROBE BA R U OVER $24 BN C ON T R ACT AWAR D S, I N SU B OR D I N AT I ON think they are a government to themselves and we have to take the bull by the horn. Since we want to fight corruption, we must fight corruption in its totality. And I suggest we include comprehensive investigation of NNPC,” he said.

The Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa further noted that the Senate could not afford to gloss over the issues raised in the leaked memo.

Presiding, Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the

committee to ensure its investigation is thorough.

“This committee should take these issues seriously. They are matters that really go to the root of what we have committed to Nigerians, which is stamping out corruption.

“And they must be

investigated and the reports brought back to us as soon as possible. We hope that the quality of the report will continue to meet the standards we have set in this 8th Senate,” Saraki said.

In addition to the Senate’s reaction to Kachikwu’s memo,

L- R: Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Uguru; Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Claudius Omoleye Daramola; and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, held at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja… yesterday godwin omoigui

oil industry experts yesterday blamed the feud between the minister and Baru on the ambiguity in the line of authority created by Buhari’s retention of the petroleum ministry portfolio.

When he inaugurated his cabinet in November 2015, Buhari retained the post of Minister of Petroleum Resources, while naming Kachikwu minister of state and chairman of the NNPC board.

However, experts who spoke to THISDAY on Kachikwu’s memo said that the development had led to uncertainty over who was actually in control and is the approving authority in the ministry and the industry at large.

Some of the experts who spoke to THISDAY, albeit off the record, warned that the development could impede the reforms initiated in the oil and gas sector by the government.

They equally noted that the credibility of the government was at stake before the international investment community which it has constantly tried to convince that transparency and due process are at the heart of its reforms in the country’s oil sector.

A former President of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE)

and professor of energy at the University of Ibadan, Prof.

Adeola Adenikinju also said over the phone that Kachikwu’s memo to Buhari projected a big division not just between the ministry and NNPC but also within the ministry which the president needs to quickly address.

Adenikinju opined that if Baru was guilty of the allegations levelled against him by Kachikwu in the letter, then it would be appropriate for Buhari to clearly define the line of authority to prevent such divisions in the future.

“This shows that there is a big division in the ministry, and that the line of authority is not very clear, which perhaps makes the GMD go to the president and not the board.

“The president has to clear this uncertainty because investors will obviously run away if they find that they don’t know where the locus of power is, or who is clearly in charge,” said Adenikinju.

He added: “I think that what the minister is calling for and which he stated in his letter was that the board has its responsibilities, and that it should be respected.

“But without looking at the board or going straight to the president for approvals means that there is no clear delineation of authority,” he pointed out.

involving Nigerians.

“If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

“As things are now, there is no need for that since the UK government is already investigating her... and government will not take any decision that will jeopardise what the UK government is doing.

“The issue is not about

fair hearing. We are talking about investigation first, and it is not within Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s power to ask the federal government to bring her to testify in any case in Nigeria.

“Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in the United Kingdom. So it is important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria,” Malami insisted.

of July.

Etim said in the communiqué that the unions in their notice of strike, stated that in the last six months, they have been inundated by officials of the various labour units operating in the tank farms and depots across the country, complaining that most petroleum product importers and marketing companies owe their members unpaid salaries.

According to him, the unions also claimed that the children of their members had been sent packing from school as their parents were not in a position to pay the school fees for their wards, while others were systematically being sacked by their employers.

“The most disturbing aspect of this is that many members are now redundant as their employers are not able to operate their bank accounts, with potential massive job losses of our members in the oil and gas sector and other workers in the banking sector due to the growing size of this nonperforming loans extended to oil marketers,” the communiqué added.

Etim observed that while

many of the oil marketing companies owed salary arrears of up to nine months, some marketers had started retrenchment of workers and were on the verge of shutting down their tank farms.

According to the communiqué, most banks are also planning to take over the tank farms and companies due to their inability to pay back monies lent to import products.

AG F: B RINGING ALISON- MA DUEKE HOM E TO FAC E T R I AL U N N EC ESSARY Responding to questions from some State House correspondents in the Hausa language after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Malami said the former minister lacked the power to demand for her invitation to Nigeria, especially at a time she’s being investigated by the government of the United Kingdom where she currently resides.

According to Malami, the federal government would only bring Alison-Madueke to

Nigeria if it felt strongly about it, insisting that nothing demands for her extradition right now.

He added that bringing her down to Nigeria this time could jeopardise her investigation by the UK for money laundering and corrupt assets’ acquisition.

Malami dismissed insinuations that denying the minister the opportunity to defend herself in a Nigerian court would amount to lack of fair hearing, emphasising that her investigation by the UK precedes bringing her to Nigeria

to testify in any case.

He further explained that the current investigation of AlisonMadueke by the UK was the aftermath of a deliberate request by the federal government for the investigation of some Nigerians in the UK, including AlisonMadueke for corrupt practices and asset acquisition.

He also dismissed the notion that the government was not doing enough to combat corruption.

“The truth of the matter is

that the government is doing something especially on the issue of corruption and litigation in Nigeria and outside the country.

“Considering the fact that there is an existing understanding between Nigeria and other countries especially the UK on the recovery of stolen funds, you cannot say government is not doing anything.

“The truth of the matter is that steps have been taken by the UK authorities on issues bordering on corrupt practices

O I L MARKETERS TO SHUT DOWN DEPOT S OVER N 80 0 B N U N PAI D SU B SI DY C L AI M in the various companies owned by oil marketers.

The marketers – Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and the Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs) – which acknowledged receipt of the planned strike by the unions, have also threatened to shut down their depots, pending the resolution of the liquidity challenges in the downstream sector by the federal government.

In the communiqué signed by the legal adviser of the oil marketers Mr. Patrick Etim, the oil marketing firms stated that the unpaid interest and foreign exchange differentials arising from the subsidy claims have led to insolvency and rendered them financially handicapped to continue their operations.

The marketers called on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to keep improving governance, especially by correcting the wrongs of previous

administrations and making government responsive to its contracts and responsibilities.

“For the banks, their action is to see how they can avert another round of banking system failure that could be triggered by this huge outstanding non-performing loans owed the banks by oil marketers who cannot pay because the government is yet to pay them,” the communiqué said.

The marketers revealed that the government had in June 2017 made a commitment to pay the outstanding bills before the end of July after the intervention of the vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who had ordered a reconciliation exercise between the marketers and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), in his capacity as the then acting president.

According to the oil marketing firms, the reconciliation team was led by the chief of staff to the president, Mr. Abba Kyari and the minister of finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

“Further to the reconciliation, it was gathered that the Federal Executive Council had approved

the payment. However, the payment framework was said to have been sent to the National Assembly for approval and up till now there has been no feedback.

“We gathered from reliable sources that the National Assembly claimed that they are yet to receive any such request from the finance minister,” said the communiqué.

The marketers stated that part of the N800 billion debt arose from the non-payment of the balance of over N300 billion under-recoveries on the basis of the PPPRA importation template.

According to them, the debt was reconciled and audited as far back as 2015 and was provided for in the 2015 supplementary budget as well as the 2016 budget.

The communiqué revealed that only about 20 per cent of the amount provided for in the budget was actually paid to marketers in August 2016, while the federal government had promised to pay the balance within three months, adding that nothing further has been paid despite repeated promises.

The oil firms added that

the second part of the N800 billion debt arose from the failure of the government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide foreign exchange to banks that financed the importation of the petroleum products, particularly petrol in 2015.

The marketers further disclosed that the banks used their dollar confirmation credit lines with foreign banks to open the Letters of Credit at exchange rates between N168 per dollar and N198 per dollar, according to the approved PPPRA template as at the date of each import.

They said when the Letters of Credits became due, the banks defaulted on their obligations because the CBN did not provide the dollars.

On the part of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, the labour unions also raised the alarm that their members working with the oil marketing companies had not been paid salaries for up to nine months owing to the inability of government to redeem its commitment to pay in spite of Osinbajo’s directive to the finance minister to effect payment on or before the end

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN C & I LEASING 0.17 1.96 NASCON 0.60 12.62 UPDC 0.13 2.85 VITAFOAM 0.12 2.63 CAVERTON 0.05 1.14 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN MRSOIL 1.59 30.39 CONTINENTAL 0.07 1.43 LEARNAFRICA 0.03 0.76 UNITYBANK 0.02 0.55 DANGSUGAR 0.46 13.47 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦ 1,220.02 Volume: 174.069 million shares Value: N 2.720 billion Deals: 3,599 As at yesterday 4/10/17 See details on Page 42

% 9.5 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.5 % 4.9 4.6 3.8 3.5 3.3

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NEWS

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

Senator Misau Accuses IG of Impregnating Serving Policewoman, Having Affairs with Two Others Senate constitutes panel to probe police boss over lawmaker’s allegations Damilola Oyedele Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Senate yesterday constituted a seven-man ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of massive corruption and misappropriation of budgeted funds, levelled against the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

The decision followed a point of order raised by Senator Isah Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central) who accused the police IG of corruption, running a ‘bribe for promotion and for special deployment’ scheme, having sexual relations with his subordinates and other weighty accusations.

The committee is chaired

by Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).

Misau, who retired in 2010 as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and the police were recently embroiled in a public spat after the lawmaker in an interview, accused Idris of pocketing at least N10 billion monthly, from providing police protection to oil companies and private individuals.

The police dispelled Misau’s claims and also claimed that the lawmaker deserted the force, and was declared wanted. The police later recanted on the position.

But Misau yesterday expressed his readiness to submit documentary evidence to back his various claims of corruption, misappropriation and other unscrupulous activities of the IG.

“By virtue of the constitution, police are not a revenue generating organisation, they are not meant to generate revenue.

But all over the federation, we are aware that oil companies, banks, oil servicing companies and  private individuals pay money to police every month.

We know it. It is an open secret everybody knows about. To even make it worse, sometimes you will see people of dubious character and businessmen suspected to be involved in fraudulent activities in Lagos and Port Harcourt blaring siren with convoys of policemen,�

Misau alleged.

Misau added that the manner of administration of the police by Idris has caused indiscipline in the force and has caused crime to be on the increase. “Most of the things happening today are because of indiscipline and lack of leadership in the police. You will see kidnappings everywhere. He is undermining the biggest institution that is supposed to protect democracy and us. “More than 100,000 policemen right now are serving in oil companies and oil servicing companies, and payments are made. By the United Nations’ standard, one policeman should be for 400 people but in Nigeria, one policeman is to 800 people.

Even with that, you will find out that one businessman or oil marketer is having about 30 policemen, thereby depleting the ratio we are already in shortage of. “On the issue of special

Medical Doctors,10 Others Quarantined in Bayelsa over New Viral Disease, Monkey Pox Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹ At least 11 persons, including a medical doctor, suspected to have been infected with a new viral disease known as monkey pox have been quarantined in Bayelsa.

THISDAY learnt that those affected were taken to an isolation centre created at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) Okolobiri, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The isolation centre was reportedly created by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the epidemiological team of the state’s Ministry of Health to stop the spread of the virus.

Aside the 11, the NCDC and the epidemiological team were said to be tracking 49 other cases, who were said to have come in contact with the infected persons.

The state Commissioner for Health Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, who confirmed the development said samples of the virus had been sent to the World Health Organisation Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation. Â According to him, monkey

pox is a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox. He added that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequently it had outbreaks in West African region.

He added: “The source is usually all animals. It was first seen in monkeys and that is why it is called monkey pox.

But every bush animals like rats, squirrels, antelopes are involved. So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious.�

Etebu listed the symptoms of monkey pox as severe headache, fever, back pains amongst other symptoms, adding that most worrisome of all the signs were rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox.

He said the rashes are usually frightening and usually spread to the whole body of an infected persons.

Etebu said the disease was noticed first in Agbura where somebody was purported to have killed and eaten a monkey and after that the people who are neighbours and families started developing these rashes.

promotion by the IG and the Police Service Commission (PSC), it is in the open. The rank goes with responsibility and it goes with money because it leads to increase in salary and allowances.� “It has even gone worse.

The IG is having relationships with two policewomen, who he promoted under special promotion. One of them is Aminat and the other is a DSP. The IG last month got married to that woman but under the police service rules and regulations, you cannot marry a serving

officer unless the person retires.

He quickly did a secret wedding in Kaduna because the lady was four months pregnant. “I am saying all these because of the institution, because we have so many excellent officers who are now demoralised; who are now frustrated because of the activities of the IG. When it comes to appointment of police commissioners, the IG decided to have his own boys who are just Assistant Commissioners of Police. He will give them special promotion to Deputy Commissioner of Police,� Misau

added. The lawmaker reiterated that he can verify all his claims against the police boss. “Special promotion is not in the police service rules and the police are guided by the police service rule. The reason they created special promotion is to get favour from governors and president, so that they can pave way for them and can get access to many things,�

Misau added.

Presiding, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the allegations raised by Misau

are ‘important issues’ which cannot be swept under the carpet. “I think for most of us, the most important issue is how to reform our institutions and how to fight corruption. The basis of all these started on the issue of bribery and promotion exercise involving the IG, and I think they are weighty enough to be investigated,� Saraki said.

He also directed the Committee on Ethics to investigate allegations that Misau deserted the police force.

CONSULTATIVE VISIT

L-R: Former Governor of Ogun State and National Chairman aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); Member PDP Delta State, Mrs. Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju; Hon. Jelili Kayode Amusan; and Alhaji Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli, during a courtesy call on Babangida by Daniel as part of his nationwide consultations for the post in Minna......yesterday

Presidential Council Begins Next Phase of Ease of Business Plan Nigeria moves two steps in WEF global competitiveness index Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has kicked off the National Action Plan (NAP) 2.0 in pursuit of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

A statement by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the new action plan, which will run from October 3 to  December 1, 2017, is expected to further reduce the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) when getting credit, paying taxes, or moving goods across the country, amongst others, by removing critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.

Osinbajo had on 26th September, 2017, approved a second 60-day National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) to drive reforms aimed at making Nigeria a progressively easier place to do business.

The NAP 2.0 marks the beginning of another reform

cycle 2017/2018 which aims to deepen the ease of doing business reforms implemented across the various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the last 12 months and will in turn increase productivity through industrialisation, enhanced exports and foreign exchange earnings, while creating jobs and reducing poverty.

A previous 60-day National Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business was approved on February 21, 2017. The National Action Plan contained initiatives and actions implemented by responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the National Assembly, the Governments of Lagos and Kano States, as well as some private sector stakeholders.

Some of the reforms to be implemented to ease the process of starting a business include eliminating the manual registration process at Corporate Affairs Commission in 10 additional states, increase access to credit for SMEs by registering

at least 300 micro-finance banks on the collateral registry, and enforce the elimination of illegal roadblocks on major trading routes across the country. MDAs have been charged by the Council to treat the Ease of Doing Business initiatives with a sense of urgency and deliver impactful results by implementing the Executive Order 001 on transparency and efficiency. The Executive Order E01, which was signed

by Osinbajo on 18th May, 2017, ensures that citizens have complete clarity on all government requirements and processes, better cooperation and improved information sharing among MDAs, as well as requiring proper communication of approval or rejection of applications to Nigerians within the stipulated time frame.

The reforms will also improve the country’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2019. Recently, Nigeria rose two ranks up from its previous 127th to 125th

position in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) for 2017-2018. The country moved up marginally by one step from 170 to 169 in the 2017 World Bank Doing Business Report.

PEBEC, which was inaugurated in July 2016

by President Muhammadu Buhari, to remove critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria, comprises 10 Honourable Ministers, with the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, as Vice Chair, along with the Head of Service, the Central Bank Governor, representatives of the National Assembly, Lagos and Kano State governments, and the private sector.

The statement added that Ease of Doing Business reforms would be implemented in the next 60 days by the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES), which became fully operational in October 2016.Â

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FG: Price of Rice will Fall Within One Month Approves N25bn to offset debt it owes Discos

Omololu Ogunmade ËØÎ Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË All things being equal, the price of rice in Nigeria will drastically fall within the next one month, the federal government assured yesterday.

This disclosure was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Ogbeh said the government had been concerned about the high cost of rice which he described as the most consumed commodity in Nigeria. The trend, he added, resulted in the recent meetings of both the rice growers and millers during which he said both parties resolved to crash the price of rice in the next four weeks.

According to him, both the rice growers and millers had agreed that the price of paddy - raw and unprocessed rice in the farm - would be reduced to a cost that will be easily affordable by rice millers who will in turn sell the milled rice at a competitive price that will be within the reach of average consumers.

He said given this development, the price of locally consumed rice would become as low as that of imported or smuggled rice.

This development is expected to make rice import or smuggling henceforth unattractive.

Ogbeh also said the council mandated the ministry to investigate the recent export of poor quality of yam to the United States by a company with a view to discovering why such products of low quality were exported from

the country.

Ogbeh also said a bill meant to repeal Export Prohibition Act which prohibits the export of some locally produced items such as yam, rice, among others, to enable the country export such products and grow the economy is already before the National Assembly.

“We have been mandated by council to brief you on one or two developments in the agriculture sector. One is a new development about the consignment of yam which was exported from Nigeria to the US which, according to a report that we heard today, was found to be of poor quality.

“The ministry will investigate it because the ministry is not an exporter. Exporters are private sector people. We will investigate both the company that exported and ask the quarantine department to check and find out why such a consignment left here.

“The second issue is that in the last two days, rice growers in Nigeria and rice millers have been meeting. We are very concerned about the price of rice which is the most consumed commodity in Nigeria today.

“This means in the next one month, since the harvest of rice has begun in earnest, the price of rice will become reasonable and the cost of rice would have reduced substantially. We shall continue to pursue that. The ministry is also equipping farmers to make rice harvest easier so that the cost of rice harvest will substantially reduce,” he said.

In his own briefing, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved N25.9 billion to offset the debt owed by the

federal government to electricity distribution companies (Discos).

According to him, the approval followed the verification of the claims of over N67 billion debt made by the Discos against the federal government.

He said the balance of N41 billion was not owed by the federal government but rather by some states and local governments as well as some international organisations classified as the federal government institutions.

Fashola said the decision of the government to offset the debt was government’s own way of fulfilling its own commitment to the private sector with the aim of promoting the growth of the private sector.

He also said the move was part of power sector recovery programme, pointing out that further verification of debts owed by states and local governments had been approved by the National Council on Power.

The minister also disclosed that the Discos also owe the federal government over N500 billion, being the cost of energy which he said they took and have not remitted.

He said: “We presented a memorandum to council to approve the verified sums of monies owed by the ministries, departments and agencies of government to distribution companies for electricity supplied to them. You might recall that over time, since the inception of this administration, the claims of debts owed by this administration to distribution companies have been a matter of concern.

“We had committed that those figures would be verified and the verified sums, the government would pay. We have completed the verification and as was announced in the monthly power meeting, we now asked council to approve the verified sum of N25.994 billion owed by MDAs of the

federal government to be paid to the Discos out of the claims of N67.41 by the Discos. There is differential of about N41 billion.

That differential arose because some of the claims do not belong to the federal government. The debts are owed by some states and local governments. Some are owed by public international organisations that have been classified as government institutions.

In a related development, the federal government, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and National Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (NRMAN) have moved to guarantee national food security by reducing the price of rice before the end of the year.

The resolution was the highpoint of yesterday’s tripartite understanding agreed to by Ogbeh, Chairman of NRMAN, Mohammed Abubakar and Chairman of RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo.

The parties agreed to review

and reduce the market price of processed Paddy rice which ranges from N16,000 to N17,000 to about N13,000for the 2017/2018 wet season farming.

Government rice policy has seen a major reduction in rice importation from 500,000 metric ton in 2015 to 58,000 mt in 2016.

Ogbeh highlighted government’s desire to continue to procure machines and support rice farmers so that they can maintain the MoU between the farmers and millers to sell paddy at N110,000 per metric tonnes. Presently a ton of paddy is sold at N150,000.

The minister appealed to RIFAN to desist from unnecessary hiking of the price of paddy, saying such would give smugglers the leeway in market, while ordinary Nigerians will be unable to afford the price of the local food staple.

He stated further that with efforts being put in place, the price of rice will be reasonable and can be afforded by all Nigerians.

Health Workers Suspend Strike Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË

the Federal Ministry of Health are being sent to all unions The Joint Health Sector Unions and branches of the unions (JOHESU) and other health comprising JOHESU. workers have suspended their “All branches are to hold their industrial action in compliance congresses on October 4, 2017, with the agreement reached and bring the contents of the with the federal government agreement and the circulars to on September 30. the attention of members and This was announced in a thereafter, prepare to resume statement yesterday signed their duties on October 5, 2017.” by the National Chairman, JOHESU also commended Biobelemoye Joy Josiah and “members for their resolute National Secretary, Florence stance to fight for their rights Ekpebor. and assure them of our resolve The circular directed their at all times to provide good members to resume work today, leadership as a deliberate policy October 5, 2017. of reciprocating

such dutiful and Part of the statement read: loyal followership.”

“Sequel to the receipt of the The health workers also agreed circulars as part of the lauded the government for terms of settlement reached building confidence into their between the federal government membership by giving them and JOHESU on September 30, positive glimpses that they 2017, to end the strike which would redeem other contents was suspended in principle, of the terms of settlement agreed after the signing of the terms at the negotiation on September of settlement; a special meeting 30, 2017. of the National Executive They however, called to Committee (NEC) of the unions especially, honour the five in JOHESU rose at 7p.m. today, weeks moratorium agreed for October 3, 2017, and resolved the review of the Consolidated to inform members that copies Health Salary Structure, of the signed agreement as well CONHESS, and other salient as the released circulars from issues contained therein.

PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS

R-L: President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; President of the Parliamentary Group, Mr. Abdellatif Hafidi; Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, member of the Parliamentary Group, Mrs. Fatimazahra Al Yahyaoui; and Mr. Fatihi Abdelhamid, during the inauguration of the Senate Committee on Nigeria-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group at the National Assembly in Abuja... yesterday

Presidency to Commercialise Operations of Aso Rock Clinic Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË Empty State House Medical Centre (SHMC) will soon be repositioned to offer profitoriented services, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi, said yesterday.

Arabi, according to Deputy Director, Information in the State, Mr. Attah Esa, made the remark while reacting to a media report on the state of the medical centre.

The clinic, despite the annual budget of N3.8 billion, which is more than thrice of what major teaching hospitals get annually, lack even significant drugs and items such as paracetamol, syringe et cet era.

The statement said the permanent secretary disclosed that the management would among other things seek the commercialisation of the centre

to boost its revenue and augment the appropriation it receives from the government in the quest for a better qualitative service. ‘‘The Centre is the only health centre in Abuja where patients are not required to pay any dime before consultation. ‘‘In other government hospitals in Abuja, patients are required to pay for consultation, treatment, laboratory tests and others but that has not been the case with the State House Medical Centre. ‘‘The Centre offers free services, nobody pays a kobo for hospital card, consultations or prescriptions and this has taken a toll on the subvention the Centre receives from the government. ‘‘We have some of the best equipment in the country. For instance, to maintain the MRI and other scan machines, we

spend close to N2 million monthly. Yet we do not charge a dime for those who require MRI scans in the clinic,’’ the statement quoted Arabi as saying.

Arabi, the statement added, said the proposed reforms would ensure that those eligible to use the centre are NHIS compliant with their health maintenance organisations (HMOs) or primary health provider domiciled in the clinic. ‘‘We have already created a NHIS desk at the clinic where patients will be required to authenticate their profile. If their HMOs are registered in other hospitals they will be required to transfer to the Centre. ‘‘This is another way through which we can boost revenue generation at the hospital and this has started yielding results

because the stark reality is there is no free lunch anywhere,’’ he said.

Arabi was said to have also dismissed allegations of misappropriation and withholding of funds meant for medical supplies in the Centre. ‘‘I know people will insinuate and give all sorts of reasons because they don’t ask but it will be foolhardy and madness for anybody in his senses to defraud a medical centre of a kobo and toying with people’s lives. ‘‘No sane person will do that, so the truth of the matter is the hospital is being run on subvention and appropriation; if it comes we pile the drugs; but the truth is the drugs are always overwhelmed by the number of people who use the Centre, because it is not controlled,’’ he said.

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INEC Accuses Political Parties of Violating Electoral Law Says 24 parties unable to account for 2015 campaign funds Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Cynthia Ndukwu Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

only five political parties are in compliance. “While 24 other political The Independent National parties did not comply, the case Electoral Commission (INEC) of 17 parties is understandable has slammed the leadership of because they are registered after political parties in the country the general elections. But for for violating some key aspects parties that contested the general of the Electoral Act. elections, only five complied,�

Speaking at a quarterly he lamented. consultative meeting with Speaking further, Yakubu political parties yesterday, INEC said: “We have written to the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood political parties urging them Yakubu, warned the parties and to inform the commission if members against embarking on there are issues. But parties as campaigns outside the stipulated entities must comply with the time frame. constitution and the Electoral He told the party leaders that Act, which are actually the INEC is yet to issue timetable basis for their registration and for the commencement of existence. electioneering and as such, “As I speak with you, the they should help caution their commission has over 108 members not to jump the gun. political associations seeking While assuring them of the fresh registration. We want commission’s willingness to to assure all the associations register more parties, Yakubu that the commission will berated some of the existing ones register those that met the legal who he said have committed requirements. They should not several infractions to the electoral take that for granted on the law. commission.

Commenting on the failure “But for those that have of many parties to submit the already been registered, I want 2015 general election expenses to draw your attention to certain to the commission, he said: issues. The constitution is very “Parties are expected to submit clear on the processes and to the commission their election conditions for registration that campaign expenses for the 2015 must be complied. Section 223 general election but as we speak of the constitution talks about

House Summons Minister, JAMB, NECO Registrars over ‘Immoral’ Books in JSS Curriculum James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution mandating its Committee on Basic Education and Services to invite the registrars of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Examination Council (NECO) as well as the Minister of Education to explain the circumstances behind the recommendation of alleged ‘immoral’ books for use

by Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the country.

Also invited is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in connection with the issue.

The resolution further urged the federal government to sanction the staff of NERDC, the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB and NECO who were responsible for the recommendation and circulation of inappropriate books in order to forestall such actions in the future.

The House urged the Federal Ministry of Education, NERDC, JAMB and NECO to immediately withdraw the books from their curriculum as well as called on the Federal Ministry of Education to carry out a comprehensive review of existing books recommended for use in the secondary schools with a view to determining whether their contents adhere to stipulated standards.Â

The House committee has 12 weeks to report back for further legislative action.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Mohammed A. Mahmud on the need for critical assessment of books recommended for Junior Secondary schools and prospective Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates in Nigeria.

The motion was unanimously passed without a debate. Â Mahmud had expressed concern that NECO and JAMB had recommended books which fall short of ethical values and standards stipulated by the National Policy on Education.

Specifically, he expressed worry that books including ‘The Precious Child’, ‘The Tears of A Bride’ and ‘In Dependence’ expose young students to behaviours and practices that promote social vices and corrupt moral values.

He said the regular use of obscene language in the description of events and characters in the books make them unsuitable for use in schools as they are capable of eroding the right type of values, attitudes and national ideals that the country needs to develop.

He blamed NERDC, JAMB, NECO as well as the Federal Ministry of Education for failing to perform their statutory functions, thereby allowing the use of such publications in schools.Â

the validity of the composition of the political parties NEC. “Unfortunately, out of the 46 registered political parties, only 28 parties are in compliance.

18 political parties have not complied. “Section 222 of the constitution requires political parties to establish offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but as we speak today, only 29 political parties are in compliance while 17 political parties have not. So 17 political parties have no offices in FCT or their rents have expired which amounts to the same

thing of not having office in FCT,� he said.

Just like he stated yesterday, Yakubu charged all the political parties that although INEC has fixed a date for the general election, it was yet to release the time table for the election, adding that they should try to abide by the law. “The law is very clear on when campaigns will commence. It remains 90 days to the election and must stop 24 hours to the actual casting of ballot. “However, we have noticed that some people using the

name of some political parties are already in campaign mood.

Since there is no provision for any Nigerian to contest election as an independent candidate for now and since every candidate must be sponsored by a political party, we expect everybody to comply with electoral rules. “It is true that no political party has openly declared campaign for 2019 general election but the parties owe it a duty to obey the laws of the land. INEC is yet to issue timetable for the commencement of campaign

and we expect all political parties to comply,� he warned.�

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday issued the timetable and schedule of activities for the bye election in Kware/Wamakko federal constituency in Sokoto State. Â According to the timetable, political parties are required to conclude their primary election on or before October 14, 2017.

The date of the by-elections is scheduled for October 28, 2017.

The commission asked parties to submit the names of party agents to electoral officers on October 20.Â

POWER MATTERS

L-R: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Energy, Republic of Niger, Hon. Amina Moumouni; Ambassador, Republic of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia; and an interpreter during a courtesy visit to the minister’s office to discuss issues relating to Republic of Niger’s power sector in Abuja...Tuesday

Another Boat Mishap Claims 16 Lives in Niger Laleye Dipo Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Barely one month after Niger State recorded more than 30 deaths from a boat mishap, another 16 people yesterday died in similar fashion.

This time, the boat mishap reportedly occurred at Rofya in the Agwara Local Government Area of the state.

The incident took place yesterday morning according

to reports from the area.

An eyewitness said the victims were from Zamare in Kebbi State who were on their way to see an Arabic inscription of Prophet Muhammad  on a rock in the River Niger.

The eyewitness said the canoe conveying the victims had about 50 passengers on board when it hit a tree rolling in the river making it to break into two.

Divers were able to save the

lives of 12 of the travellers while two others were reported to have been missing.

The remains of the 16 who died were recovered from the river.  The Public Relations Officer of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Hussaini Abdullahi, confirmed the incident, adding that their boat hit a tree in the river causing the unfortunate incident.

He further stated that the agency was in touch with the community to get the authentic number of those involved but confirmed that victims were not from Niger State.

Last month, not less than 30 people died when the boat in which they were travelling in ran into a storm on the River Niger at Zumba in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

House C’ttee Issues Bench Warrant against Magu over Patience Jonathan’s Petition James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Abonta Uzoma Nkem (PDP, Abia), yesterday issued a warrant of arrest on the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr.  Ibrahim Magu, for failing to appear before the committee for the third time without excuse.

It followed a motion moved by a member of the committee, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who said

Magu’s attitude was not only unfair but “very disrespectful to parliament.�

He said while the committee does not intend to victimise the anti-graft agency, it is however determined to protect the interest of Nigerians.

Magu was invited for the umpteenth time to clarify allegations that the commission had instructed commercial banks to place restrictions on the accounts of former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, unjustly.

Mrs. Jonathan had petitioned

the National Assembly over what she described as “persistent, consistent, unwarranted personal and physical attacks� on her, relatives and friends by security agents, including the EFCC. Some of the banks which appeared before the committee had attributed some of the restrictions to EFCC directive while some claims had turned controversial.

Abonta, however, said the appearance of the EFCC was critical to resolving most of the petitions and wondered why

the commission had declined the committee’s invitations without excuse or any form of representation.

At the last hearing,  he resisted calls by committee members to issue a warrant of arrest but in stead,  issued a final summon to the commission’s boss.  But Magu,  again,  failed to turn up at the resumed hearing yesterday, prompting the committee to resolve that he be issued a bench warrant and produced at next hearing on November 7.

52

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

IBB Dumps Bode George, Backs Gbenga Daniel Ex-national deputy chairman launches campaign in Lagos Tobi Soniyi Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Laleye Dipo Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), may have dumped Chief Bode George as the chairmanship race of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensifies.

Babangida yesterday evening threw his full weight behind former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel.

Daniel had called on the former military president as part of his consultation with the stakeholders of the party in the race to the PDP chairmanship slated for December. “I am supporting you because I know you very well. Gbenga Daniel, you’re my Chairman “I was elated when I first heard that you are interested in volunteering yourself for this great service to our country. You represent the breadth of fresh air that the party deserves at this stage. “I know Daniel very well and I know his unparalleled capacity for work. I have a strong conviction that with him as chairman, the party can be turned around again.�

Babangida described the former governor as “My chairman-inwaiting.�

Speaking earlier, Daniel said he came to notify the former military president of his ambition, stressing that no serious politician in the country would embark

on such an important national task without seeking the wisdom and blessing of the Minna-born retired army general.

Meanwhile, Geaorge, a former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, formally announced his bid to become the national chairman of the party yesterday.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, he said God had given PDP a second chance which the party must take advantage of.

He said God had used the Supreme Court to save PDP from disintegration and called on members of the party not to bungle the opportunity by ensuring that only people with the requisite experienced were elected to run the parties.

He said: “We are fighting a party that is now a colossus.

Politics is war by other means.

So we must get it right if indeed we want to return to power in 2019. I want all those contesting to also let us debate before our members so we can tell them our plans and be able to convince them. That is democracy.�

He said PDP must take up the challenge threw at the opposition

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “The President (Buhari) himself said it when leaders of all political parties visited him at the villa recently. This nation needs a vibrant opposition. Buhari knows that for this nation to survive, it needs a constructive not abusive opposition. Nation building is a work in progress.

“As a party, we are at the crossroads, and if we turn the wrong way, we may not make it.

God is a God of second chance.

He has given us a second chance.

It is a matter of life and death for the party. We must sit down and decide on who will manage the party to give a constructive and people oriented criticisms to the government in power. “We have a short time, between our election and the next sets of elections in 2019. It has nothing to do with emotions and tribal sentiments. We have to get it dead right. We need a person who can weather the storm and face the battle ahead.

To extract the seed inside palm kernel is not a joke, because when you apply the harmer, you have to watch your fingers.

It is a major decision, not only

for our party but for the country. “We need someone with a track record, someone who has been through the storm.

We must avoid the pitfalls of the past. This is not the time for experimentation. “ Justifying why the chairman of the party must come from the south-west, he explained: “Within the South-west, we have Ondo/ Ekiti, one zone, Lagos/Ogun, one zone, Osun/Oyo, another zone. The current National Vice Chairman of the party is from Ondo/Ekiti. It was zoned there because Lagos/Ogun, Osun/ Oyo, have all served their terms in the past. So now, it is turn of Ogun/Lagos again.

The South-east had it. Southsouth had it in acting capacity.

At any rate, they just left the presidency and it was in the

light of this that members at a meeting unanimously asked the South-west to produce the national chairman. “As a party, thank God we did not get a technical knockout; we only got a bloody nose. But we must learn from our past mistakes. You don’t just join an organisation and suddenly you want to head the organisation, without requisite qualification, experience and knowledge. You don’t bring a bambino to go and manage the people. I don’t want us to end up like the ANPP. “Last year, leaders from the three zones in the South met, to analyse the situation after the position was zoned to the south. And the very able, committed, dedicated and foundation member of the party, Dr. Peter Odili, got up

to say from all analysis, it was the turn of the South-west to produce the national chairman of the party. And unanimously it was adopted. So that closes the chapter. So I will advice that we don’t open a fresh wound.

Let the sleeping dog lie.�

Also speaking, a former Works and Housing Minister, Â Adeseye Ogunlewe, said the chairman of PDP was not for politician who is still learning the rope but for those with experience.

He said among those who have shown interest in leading the party, George is the most experienced.

The chairman of Olabode George Campaign Organisation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, called on the South-west to rally behind Geroge whom  he said is the most experienced among the contestantsÂ

Immigration Increases Visa Centres at Lagos Airport Chinedu Eze Following the Executive Order on the ease of doing business in Nigeria introduced recently at the airports, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has increased its visa issuing centres at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos to two. This is aimed at reducing processing time for travellers and to enhance overall passengers facilitation.

Immigration said it has also improved on the immigration counters at the same airport from its initial three to eight.

THISDAY gathered from a visit to the airport that the immigration authorities in Abuja ordered the service at the airport to increase the counters to two in order to facilitate foreigners’ movement into the country and abolish the usual man hour loss due to immigration processes.

Now visas are now issued to foreigners on arrival at both E and D wings of the airport from its initial D wing while no fewer than 20,000 visas have been issued at the airport since the policy came on stream in June.

THISDAY learnt that the issuing of visas on arrival has reduced the number of foreigners going to the home offices of Nigeria abroad, as many of them now prefer to get their visas on arrival at the

command.

A source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also told THISDAY that the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr.. Muhammad Babandede, recently paid an unscheduled visit to the command to observe the implementation of the ease of doing business by the command and ordered them to improve on their relationship with travellers at the command.

Also, as part of the monitoring scheme, the command has tagged the counters of all its personnel at the airport.

Babandede was also reported to have ordered the latest move for proper identification of its officers especially those who have contact with passengers.

According to FAAN official, Â NIS believed that with this move, it would be easier for passengers to properly identify any officer who requests for bribe from them and take the necessary step to report such officer to superior officers.

The source said: “Immigration boss ordered all the officers to tag their counters to check corruption in the system and also key into the ease of doing business policy of the federal government “Personally, I would say it is a good development as it will check against low level corruption among officers and also ease passenger facilitation.�

INDUSTRIALISING KADUNA

L-R: Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in a deep discussion with the Managing Director, Sunseeds Feed Mills and Oil Mills Limited, Mr. Tarun Das, at the formal inauguration of the factory complex by the governor in Zaria, Kaduna State....recently

CBN Releases N44bn for Anchor Borrowers’ Programme Recovers N50bn excess charges for banks’ customers lem of lower denominations, mutilated notes Ndubuisi Francis Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has so far released N43.92 billion to farmers under its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) through 13 participating institutions.

Over 200,000 small holder farmers from 29 states of the federation have also benefited and about 233,000 hectares of farmland cultivated, with eight commodities, including rice, wheat, maize, cotton, soya beans, poultry, cassava and groundnuts as well as fish farming.

CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, who represented the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the bank’s special day at the ongoing 12th Abuja International Trade Fair, said so far, there has been a quantum leap in local production of most of the commodities contained in the list of 41 items not illegible for official foreign

exchange allocation or access in the country.

According to him, “The success achieved through the policy had resulted in many Nigerians consuming what we produce and producing what we consume. “Reports from the real sector operators also indicate that some companies had grown in geometric progression as a result of the policy. “The bank has also continued to fund the foreign exchange window in a bid to stabilise the naira, which I am sure, you are all witnesses to the near convergence in the foreign exchange market.�

The present crude oil marked realities and its non-impressive global future, he stated, had naturally focused the bank’s to non-oil exports as viable means of attaining self-sufficiency. “Let me make bold to say that attaining self-sufficiency in our country’s through non-oil

exports is achievable and that is why the CBN has been actively rolling out various intervention schemes,� he said.

The schemes include the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), N200 billion Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS), N200 billion and the SME Restructuring & Refinancing Facility (SMERRF), Others, he said, are SMEs Credit Guarantees Scheme (SMECGS), N300 billion Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF), N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) as well as the MSME Development Fund and Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), among others.

Responding to questions from the audience, Okorafor said CBN’s introduction of the ABP in less than two years had increased local rice production by

Set to tackle probtwo million metric tons, bringing local production to about four million metric tons.

He promised that by next year, the bank would add another two million metric tons, and ultimately meet over six million metric tons local consumption requirement.

Okorafor disclosed that the bank would next week unveil a commercial agricultural scheme which would involve 10,000 youths nationwide.

The essence, he said, was to replace the ageing population of farmers, who are mostly in their sixties in order not to allow a vacuum when the aged can no longer farm.

On another question on what the bank was doing to cut down interest rate, Okorafor stated that a major determinant of interest rate was infrastructure, noting that this was the major reason why the CBN was involved in intervention programmes across various sectors.

53

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT Gunmen Abduct Ace Musician, Osayomore Joseph, Shoot Wife Adibe Emenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã A popular musician and social critic, Osayomore Joseph, has been kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

In the event, Osayomore’s wife whose name could not be ascertained as at press time, was said to be shot in the head.

According to THISDAY investigation, the popular Benin musician was kidnapped at about 10p.m. at Orovie village, off Upper Ekenwan road in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

Reacting to the abduction of Osayomore, the state Police spokesman, Moses Nkombe, said

Court Rejects Senator’s Application to Reclaim Seized Property The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed an application by the lawmaker representing Delta North senatorial district, Peter Nwaoboshi, seeking to reclaim a 12-storey building seized from him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The seizure was made based on an interim order granted

by Justice Abdulaziz Anka on April 24, 2017.

EFCC had, based on an allegation of contract fraud against Nwaoboshi, seized his building located at 27, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos.

The commission had told the judge that Nwaoboshi, through his company, Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, got a N1.580bn contract to supply some construction equipment

to the Delta State Direct Labour Agency sometime in 2010.

But Nwaoboshi had, through his lawyer, Anthony Idigbe (SAN), filed an application seeking to discharge the temporary forfeiture order.

He described the application leading to the interim forfeiture order as an abuse of court processes, contending that Justice Anka ought not to have made the order.

Idigbe claimed that the judge does not have jurisdiction to entertain the case, requesting that the interim forfeiture order should be vacated.

In his ruling yesterday, Justice Anka, however, dismissed Nwaoboshi’s argument and held that the court cannot restrain a security agency from carrying out its statutory functions.

police received report about the abduction at about 11p.m.

Nkombe said security operatives had been drafted to hot spots across the state.

He assured that the police would do its best to secure the release of the musician.

In the past one week, there has been reported cases of killing and abduction.

On September 24, three policemen stationed at the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park were killed by kidnappers while the Managing Director of the Zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire,

was abducted.

Andy, a brother to the Minister of State Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is yet to be released by his abductors.

On September 27, the Parish Priest of St. Benedict Church, Iddo 2, Okpella of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Adorolo was kidnapped while returning from Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

The priest was only released two days later after the Catholic Church refused to pay ransom.

Meanwhile, the Performing

Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has condemned the abduction.

The group said the victim was smashed shortly after he performed at the palace of the Oba of Benin.

State Chairman of PMAN, Eghenova Willie, in a press statement called for the unconditional release of Osayomore.

Willie, who called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to beef up security in the state, said it was shocking that kidnappers have turned on musicians in

the state.

He said: “He should be released unconditionally. He is a musician and has done no harm to anybody. It is a taboo for somebody to be kidnapped after performing for the Oba of Benin. He left the Oba’s palace few minutes before he was kidnapped.

“The kidnappers should know that it was an abomination to kidnap him. This one is a serious abomination because he just finished performing for the Oba of Benin.

Hairdresser to Die by Hanging for Stealing Laptop, Phone Akinwale Akintunde Justice Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced to death Izunna Ajaere, a 25-year-old male hairdresser for stealing a laptop and a mobile phone at gunpoint.

Ajaere was found guilty based on the two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery and was sentenced to death by hanging.

The judge in her judgment, noted that the evidence of the victim of the crime, Mr Uchenna Ukah, was overwhelming and pivotal in convicting Ajaere.

“The evidence of the prosecution witness proved that the defendant was one of

the armed robbers, therefore, all the ingredients of the crime of armed robbery has been shown.

“The prosecution has proved the charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to death for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and sentenced to death for armed robbery.

“He is to be hanged by the neck till he is dead, may the Lord have mercy on his soul,” the judge said.

The prosecution led by Mrs A.B Awosika had told the court during trial that the convict committed the offences

at 9.30p.m. on June 22, 2012 at No. 12, Vincent Eze, St., Ajao Estate, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the convict alongside an accomplice had accosted Ukah at gunpoint outside his flat.

“Ukah led them to his flat where they stole a laptop, a modem and a blackberry mobile phone.

“Ajaere and his accomplice after the robbery, locked the complainant in his apartment with the intent to also rob his neighbours.

“The complainant managed to get out of his apartment to raise an alarm leading to Ajaere and his accomplice being apprehended.

“Ukah’s laptop and modem were recovered from the duo, however, his blackberry mobile phone was never recovered,” Awosika said.

However, while testifying in his defence during the trial, Ajaere denied robbing the complainant, he claimed he went to Ajao Estate for hairdressing work and was arrested by policemen during a raid.

The convict claimed that he was falsely charged with conspiracy and armed robbery by officials of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS).

The offences violate Sections 295(2) and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

˜ ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹Ϳ ˾ T H I S D AY

54

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Eagles Go into Final Strategising Behind Closed Gates Zambia’s Chipolopolo arrive, to storm Uyo today

Okon Bassey in Uyo With the arrival of Victor Moses and the four other players that missed Super Eagles first training session in Uyo, all the 25 players invited for Saturday’s World Cup 2018 qualifying clash with Zambia trained at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium yesterday evening.

Moses, the Chelsea left wingback and his compatriot from the English Premier League, Alex Iwobi thrilled the evening session with quality skills. Moses Simon was also on duty to cause Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr to heave sigh of relief.

The Franco-German is believed to have excused both Iwobi and Victor Moses from the first day when the camp opened. Chigozie Awaziem and Ola Aina who also missed the first day were also on duty at the Nest of Champion yesterday evening.

According to the team’s programme released to THISDAY Rohr and his wards are expected to train behind closed gates today before leading skipper John Mikel Obi to a session with the local media.

Meanwhile, the Chipolopolo of Zambia have touched down in Abuja from their training base in Ghana. They are scheduled to

fly out to Uyo later today for the crucial Group B clash on Saturday.

Coach Wedson Nyirenda has had three days in Ghana to acclimatise to West African geographical conditions and put together his team.

Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka, who suffered a knock in a league game in Austria on Sunday, is expected to team up with the squad in Abuja before the squad depart for Uyo. Coach Nyirenda who became very loquacious following Zambia’s home and away defeat of Algeria in the World Cup qualifier last month is going to miss the services of injured Platinum Stars striker Brian Mwila and Oostende midfielder Emmanuel Banda.

Sweden-based Edward Chilufya also misses out due to his resident permit process that has yet to be sorted by his club Djugardens.

According to information from the team’s camp, Chipolopolo will have their first workout this morning before having a feel of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the evening.

Zambia is three points behind Nigeria on top with 10 points and a shock win will hand them a lifeline in their quest to reach their first FIFA World Cup.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Live on StarTimes StarTimes will from this weekend begin airing the live coverage of FIFA U-17 World Cup Tournament in India.

The tournament opening encounter will be in New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nerhru Stadium and will pitch Colombia and Ghana in Group A. The second game will feature New Zealand vs Turkey in Group B on 6th October.

According to India’s tournament Local Organising Committee Director, Javier Ceppi, this will be the first time that India will be hosting a FIFA tournament.

He said: “It will be also the first time an Indian team will play in a FIFA competition. In recognition of the increasing excitement about the beautiful game in India, ‘Football Takes Over’ was the first and most fitting choice as the official slogan for the tournament.

Twenty-four teams will trade tackles for the coveted trophy.

From Africa are Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Niger who reached the semi-finals of the 2017 CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Gabon to take Africa’s spots at India 2017.

Iraq, Iran, Japan and Korea DPR joined the hosts in qualifying for India 2017 by virtue of reaching the semi-finals of the 2016 Asian Football Cup U-16 Championship.

Others Spain, Turkey, England and Germany from Europe; end from the CONCACAF are Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and USA secured the four available spots for India 2017.

New Caledonia and New Zealand represent the Oceania

while Paraguay, Chile, Brazil and Colombia represent the South American federation.

Brands and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Mr. Qasim Elegbede, said subscribers can catch the live matches on ST World Football (Channel 244 and 254) and ST Sport premium (channel 252) or on the go via StarTimes mobile app.

“StarTimes acquired the broadcast rights of these sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup in over 48 territories in Africa, and other league games such as the Serie A, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Chinese Super League and Eredivisie to ensure that our subscribers across the globe are satisfied”, Elegbede said.

He said StarTimes will be showcasing the best of these World Cup football actions live from the various match centres in Europe and elsewhere to subscribers in Nigeria.

Super Eagles at their last open training yesterday at the Godswilll Akpabio Stadium in Uyo

SCORENIGERIA.COM.NG

Protesting Youths Cripple Activities at Akpabio Stadium Complaints of non-implementation of MoU with Akwa Ibom State govt The two host communities of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Obio Etoi and Obio Ofot in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State yesterday staged peaceful protest at the complex to press home their complaints of unfulfilled promises by the state government since taking over their land for the project.

The protest which commenced in the morning lasted for several hours as the youths barricaded the main gate leading to the stadium tagged the “Nest of Champion”, thus frustrating early day activities at the complex.

THISDAY learnt that the protest was staged four days to the decisive World Cup match between Nigeria Zambia to draw attention to the unfulfilled promise of the state government.

The youths insisted that

the beautiful edifice in their community has added no financial value to uplift their lives and wellbeing.

Some of the placard placed at strategic location round the stadium reads in part,” the Stadium is Beautiful but the People in the Communities here are Suffering”.

The Youth Leader of Obio Etoi village, Mr Sunday Peters, who led the demonstration told newsmen that one of their grievances was that since 2011 when Julius Berger commenced work at the stadium, the villagers have nothing to show in term of employment or remodeling of their communities.

Due to the neglect of the communities, he said the activities of the construction giant has made the community to become water logged anytime it rains.

Mr Peter lamented that flood from the artificially created lake in the stadium now makes it possible for the community to become flooded anytime it is full.

“Since 2011, when this company commenced work here; this stadium has not brought anything good for us here. The company took all diversion ways to the community with their heavy equipment and machines, at a point we have to sell our land to maintain the road. That is why we are crying to the state government and we will continue to cry until something is done”.

On his part, the village head of the Obio Etoi, Eteidung Ezekiel Inyang Ekott, said the protest by the youth was a peaceful one as it was not marred by violent.

The youths, he said only demonstrated at the stadium gate just to draw the state government

attention to the plights of the host communities.

“We want to let the state government to know that the Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU), entered between the host communities, Julius Berger and the state government has been breached”.

Top government officials including the state Commissioner for Works, Ephraim Inyang, and his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr Charles Udoh, pleaded with the youth to remain calm and not embarrass visitors to the stadium.

To pacifying the youths of the communities, the work commissioner hinted that the road being the subject of complaint has been earmarked for construction stressing that work will commence in a week’s time.

Wike Inaugurates 2018 African Wrestling Championship LOC Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC)

RETRAINING THE TRAINERS…

for the 2018 African Wrestling Championship scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt next February.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House,

Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike charged members to organise a world-class event.

He said: “This competition is important to Rivers State. Give

Director, Pepsi Football Academy (PFA), Dr. Kasimawo Laloko flanked by Psychologist to Super Eagles, Dr. Robinson Okosun (left), CAF Instructor, Mr. James Peters (right) and PFA coaches at a three-day retreat in Lagos… last weekend

it all it takes. I urge you to start working immediately.

“Make sure that all the requirements are put in place for the championship. I will personally work to ensure that we have other sponsors for the event “.

The governor explained that the African Wrestling Championship will be given top priority in the coming four months, as it would effectively showcase Nigeria and Rivers State.

He urged the committee to work directly with security agencies to ensure that there is no security breach during the Championship.

Wike specifically charged the Vice Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Mr Daniel Igali, to bring his experience and expertise to the table for the success of the event.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 5, 2017

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Thursday, October 5, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE Ibe Kachikwu to President Buhari “I know that this bravado management style runs contrary to the cleansing operations you engaged me to carry out at the inception of your administration.

This is also not in consonance with your renowned standards of integrity” Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru of sundry acts of impropriety

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Nnamdi Kanu, Ndigbo and Nigeria

T

he young Yoruba man was leaving office early to go and receive his visiting Igbo wife undergoing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) primary assignment in a neighbouring town when he encountered a co-worker who planted in him the seed of doubts that eventually destroyed a beautiful union and set his own life crashing down. The careless remark that would play in his head again and again was that he was being naive to believe that his wife would remain faithful, especially considering that “she is young, she is a corper…and she is Igbo!”

The predilection to stereotype and label people by blaming the conduct of one person on an entire group he or she belongs (age, class, religion or ethnicity) is for me the central message in Tunde Kelani’s movie, ‘Magun’ (Thunderbolt). It speaks to a time like this in our nation when some Yoruba and Igbo irredentists are promoting hate speech in the name of a meaningless superiority war that glorifies some distorted accounts of the past.

The cast of the movie, written by Professor Akinwunmi Isola, included seasoned professionals like Adebayo Faleti, Bukky Ajayi, Uche Obi-Osotule, Lanre Balogun, Wale Macauley, Ngozi Nwosu and the Dr. Larinde Akinleye. The story is woven around Ngozi, (played by Uche, one of Nigeria’s most adored actresses who for some inexplicable reasons, doesn’t feature much in Nollywood) and Yinka (played by Lanre Balogun). The duo met and fell in love at the NYSC orientation camp.

With the insinuation that an Igbo woman could not be trusted and feeling rather insecure and jealous—notwithstanding the fact that he actually met his wife a virgin—Yinka eventually sought the diabolical power of ‘Magun’, the mysterious chastity control which instantly terminates the life of any man who dares to ‘climb’ a straying wife.

The snag though is that if the woman played no ‘away game’ within a specified period while still being laced with ‘Magun’, she stood the risk of death. Being a faithful wife, it was Ngozi’s life that was in danger in the movie.

‘Magun’ is fatal and remedies are rare and often not foolproof. So the efforts to break its life-threatening effect on Ngozi provided the entertainment and the drama of existence captured in the movie. But in the final analysis, Ngozi’s redemption came from the family of her irresponsible Yoruba husband, the Yoruba native doctors, her local Yoruba guardian and finally the love-struck Yoruba medical doctor who offered himself as a guinea pig to test the efficacy of ‘Magun’ on the altar of a five-minute enjoyment. He was lucky to survive with an experience he would never forget!

When her tribulation was over and she was confronted with the prospect of another Yorubaman as suitor, Ngozi, quite naturally, was hesitant but her father, who started out as a Yoruba antagonist, saved the day by advising her to follow her heart. He said it

Pastor Poju Oyemade… Convener of The Platform would be wrong to blame a whole ethnic group for the misconduct of one man, before giving us that memorable line: “A man is a man; and a race is a race”. =============================== I wrote the foregoing on this page on 22 August 2013 in my piece “Yoruba, Igbo and Media Warriors” at the height of the Igbo-Yoruba verbal confrontation following the unfortunate ‘deportation’ to Anambra State of some Nigerian citizens by the Lagos State government at the time. The “Igbo this, Yoruba that” argument that dominated the period, I argued in my piece, “is unhelpful and detracts from what should be the focus of our attention. I believe it will serve us well if we return to what the real issue is, or at least should be: Whether they are Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba and regardless of their ‘state of origin’, no Nigerian should be discriminated against in any part of the country on account of his or her social status.

It is time we put an end to the on-going nonsensical debate between some Igbo and Yoruba commentators and face the real issues of poverty, development and national unity.”

Eventually, sanity prevailed but the madness resurfaced after the 2015 presidential election. With the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan who was heavily backed by South-east voters and the public declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the distribution of opportunities would be according to the number of votes he got in each region, there was always going to be trouble. Then came Nnamdi Kanu who, as I said on Monday, was “egged on by the mob, comprising mostly okada riders with online support from several of his kinsmen in the Diaspora” and was “allowed to take hate speech to an unprecedented level, even by the standards of our country”.

Before I go further, let me commend the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian

Centre, Pastor Poju Oyemade for his vision in bringing critical stakeholders together every year on the anniversary of our independence so that we can share our fears and aspirations while provoking national engagements for the peace and progress of our country. Every year, people look forward to ‘The Platform’ where I was privileged to speak for a record sixth time on Monday. Meanwhile, some sympathisers of the so-called Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who were evidently not happy with my presentation, have asked me to explain what I meant by saying Kanu is spreading hate speech.

Hate speech, as I understand it, is any verbal or written statements deliberately meant to offend, insult, intimidate or threaten a person or group of individuals based on ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc. In case that sounds a bit vague let me try to be more direct. Basically, if I say ‘I hate this Yoruba man because he is a thief’ that does not qualify as hate speech but if I say ‘because this Yoruba man is a thief all Yoruba people are thieves’, then I am on a slippery slope. That is the kind of things Kanu has been saying about non-Igbo Nigerians. For instance, when Kanu says “anybody attending a Pentecostal church with a Yoruba pastor is an idiot, a complete fool and an imbecile” before adding, “if your pastor is Yoruba, you are not fit to be a human being” or “Pastor Kumuyi should be stoned and dealt with thoroughly if he comes to Aba for his planned crusade”, am I expected to clap for him?

Whatever may be the disposition of anybody to this government, it was bad politics to have allowed Kanu to run riot the way he did, saying unprintable things about several people, including the president. So, when some grandfathers under the aegis of Arewa Youth issued an ultimatum for Igbo people in the North to quit the region, it was obvious that they were responding to the fact that Kanu was allowed to abuse, malign and threaten other Nigerians without anybody in the South-east restraining him.

Therefore, it was on the basis of the foregoing that when on Tuesday, I got a rather instructive mail from a regular reader of this page who lives and works in Canada, I decided to raise a critical point about Kanu and the Ndigbo question to which he also responded. With his permission, I want to reproduce our exchanges: ============================== Dear Segun, I read with dismay President Buhari’s independence message where he premised the recent calls for secession to be based on calls for restructuring. Unfortunately, Nigeria is missing another opportunity to truly evolve into a nation by refusing to answer the Biafra question sincerely; not by brute force but by serious engagement, with a genuine intention to repair and reconcile.

To be clear, I am not in favour of Nnamdi Kanu’s method or message but any objective observer cannot deny identifying with his

sentiments on the place of the Igbo in Nigeria.

For perspective, the US after their bloody civil war engaged in deliberate healing which included accurate history of events regardless of who would be portrayed as the villains and heroes especially since the events leading to the civil war pertained to slavery. Regardless of their intentional efforts, the flashpoints of the civil war still remain as we have seen recently with the controversies surrounding the confederate monuments that defined that era. We are talking about resurrecting an event that occurred over 150 years ago!

Last month, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, stood before the UN general assembly, not to advertise Canada to the world or promote her contribution to international fights against terrorism or humanitarian crisis but rather to apologize for the ill-treatment meted out to the indigenous people when the Europeans first arrived Canada. Trudeau apologized for an event that occurred over 150 years ago because the hurt is still being felt among the indigenous population and has always haunted the country since. Germany only healed from the World War II because of deliberate efforts at reconciliation and reconstruction but even at that, we are seeing a gradual resurgence of such sentiments from the results of the last parliamentary elections. The agitation of the Scottish people from the larger UK is rooted in hundreds of years of acrimony between both peoples.

Therefore, the premise that the hurt from the Nigerian civil war will dissipate with time is simply childish and whoever subscribes to that idea has failed to learn from history - our own history and the history from elsewhere.

The civil war is only 50 years old and we somehow expect the emotions from it to be overtaken by events without any deliberate efforts to address both the factors that led to the war and the fall-outs thereof. And it is most expedient for Nigeria to confront this monster because there seems to be no unbiased documentation of that dark history.

Unfortunately, the history will still be passed on from generation to generation with the added consequence that such oral transmission will be mixed with emotions on both sides thereby deepening the hurt.

Little wonder, unarmed IPOB members, most of who did not witness the war will stand and confront armed military men during the last Operation Python Dance. That many Igbos have moved on to establish businesses and residences across the country does not negate the emotional hurt they still carry.

While it seems more convenient and lazy to ignore this past and pretend it did not happen, the consequences will be greater for future generations to handle. The blanket statements and ideological underpinning of non-negotiable Nigeria may ultimately result to her implosion…

NOTE: Interested readers should check the online edition (www.thisdaylive.com) for the continuation.

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