Friday 17th November 2017

FG Comes up With Action Plan for Take over of Distressed Discos Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) recently developed by the federal government and the World Bank to revive Nigeria’s ailing power sector, has come up with an action plan for the

sweeping restructuring of the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) that would enable government to take over any Disco found to be insolvent.

Details of the action plan, which THISDAY got from a workshop organised by the

Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to educate the media on the expected workings of the PSRP, indicated that the government is planning to restructure the Discos to meet their responsibilities in the country’s privatised electricity market after a

thorough forensic review of their operations.

The workshop was held on Wednesday evening in the ministry in Abuja. It had in attendance the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the two ministers of state – Mr.

Mustapha Shehuri and Mr. Suleiman Hassan – as well as heads of parastatals in the ministry, all of whom took time to explain the government’s plan in the PSRP. The report further made recommendations for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory

Commission (NERC) to engage the Discos on revised business plans, which will be negotiated, finalised and implemented.

It also requires the government to “start the Continued on page 8

Court Stops Senate from Probing IG over Corruption Allegations… Page 60 Friday 17 November, 2017 Vol 22. No 8247. Price: N250

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Nine Killed in Lagos Rail, Road Crashes, Scores Injured… Page 8

Tinubu: Buhari’s Govt Yet to Win Anti-Graft War Says Jonathan won gold medal in corruption Facts have deserted APC leader, ex-president responds

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday in Abuja, said it would be a factual lie to claim that the war against corruption had been won by the administration of President

Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu made the remark at the Banquet Hall of the State House when he delivered the keynote address at the launch of a book titled, “Making Steady Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace Continued on page 8

House to Probe Alleged Suspension of Female Cadets’ Admission into NDA

Queries Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan expressway contracts James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday waded into the controversy over the alleged suspension of admission of female cadets into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) by the military and mandated

its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force to investigate the matter.

The House’s intervention came on the heels of a motion on the need to halt the proposed plan to stop Continued on page 8

Police Deny Withdrawing Security Aides from Obiano... Page 60

MUGABE NEGOTIATES FUTURE...

Troubled Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe (left), and the country’s army chief, Gen. Constantino Chiwenga, when Mugabe who is under house arrest, met with the army chief, a Catholic cleric and South African envoys yesterday in the State House, Harare, to discuss the president’s future. Zimbabwe’s military took over power on Wednesday morning to prevent a power grab by Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who was positioning herself to succeed her 93-year-old husband. (See story on page 47) zimbabwe herald

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Nine Killed in Lagos Rail, Road Crashes, Scores Injured Chiemelie Ezeobi No fewer than four persons were crushed to death yesterday when a train derailed at the Abattoir area of Agege, Lagos, which also left several others with varying degree of injuries.

Another five persons were also confirmed dead and 19 others injured in a multiple car crash at Berger area along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

According to an eyewitness account, the train went off its track and would have caused untold destruction but for a nearby trailer into which the train rammed, stopping it from veering off further.

It was gathered that the four persons that died were passengers hanging on the rooftop of the moving train.

In the chaos that ensued after the crash, it took the efforts of the Railway Police Command and other emergency

responders to get the situation under control.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the train rammed into a trailer, injuring many, adding that the official figure of the dead was three.

He said: “We just got the information. Our policemen and those attached to the railway command are in control of the situation. Three persons died in the incident and some others were injured.�

Also speaking on the accident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, said the trailer with registration number MYM 63 XA was trying to make a U-turn near the railway track when it was hit by the train.

He said: “According to investigation conducted by the

agency, it was revealed that four male adults who were said to be hanging on the moving train were confirmed dead, while others sustained injuries. “Those injured were attended to by the Lagos State Ambulance Service and the deceased persons were taken away to the mortuary.�

The state Commissioner of Special Duties, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, was at the scene of the incident to supervise the emergency responders on the ground.

Asides LASEMA, the emergency responders included the state ambulance service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos Neighbourhood and Safety Corps, Rapid Response Squad, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police.

In the multiple road crash at the Berger area of the state,

five persons also perished while 19 were injured.

LASEMA’s general manager said the accident occurred at the Kara bridge, adding that the multiple accidents involved 16 vehicles.

He said the 19 injured persons were taken to the state trauma centre for treatment.

According to him, “The LASEMA Response Unit today at about 7 a.m. responded to the multiple accidents which occurred at Kara bridge along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. “The multiple accidents which occurred outside the jurisdiction of the agency resulted in a gridlock along the expressway, disrupting vehicular movement. “However, due to the prompt intervention and immediate deployment of the agency’s operatives and equipment to the accident scene, the LASEMA response unit assisted in

clearing and recovering affected vehicles in order to facilitate free flow of traffic. “On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was discovered there was a multiple accident involving 15 vehicles consisting of seven trucks, one pick up, three cars and four buses. “The vehicles comprised a Man Diesel truck with registration number JJJ 342XD (Lagos); three DAF trucks with one unknown registration, APP 769XR (Lagos), GGE 818XC (Lagos); two Sino trucks with registration numbers KRD 122 XC (Lagos), KRD 123 XC (Lagos); a Mack truck with registration number BDG 561 XG (Lagos); and a Nissan cabster with registration XS 216KSF (Lagos). “Others included two Honda Accords with registration numbers MUS 411DG (Lagos), APP 303DV (Lagos); a Lexus SUV with registration

number FKJ 475BR (Lagos); a Volkswagen mini-bus with registration number KTU 594XM (Lagos); Ford bus with registration number KTU 340XU (Lagos); Mazda bus with registration number AKD 520XW (Lagos); and a Nissan bus with registration number BDG 27AA (Lagos). “Although the cause of the multiple accidents are unknown, unfortunately, five lives were lost, while 19 persons sustained various degrees of injuries. The 19 injured comprised 11 adult males and eight females.�

Adesina, who said a thorough investigation would be conducted into the accidents, advised motorists to adhere to road safety rules.

He also urged people who are in the habit of hanging on to moving train/vehicles to desist from doing so to prevent fatal accidents.

biggest long-term challenge.

The prior government operated during times of plenty. The opposite is the case now. “Sadly, that plenty was stolen or directed toward policies of no lasting consequence to the average Nigerian save to compel them to say another opportunity had been wasted. “Through no fault of its own, this administration had to grapple with a rapid fall in oil prices. That fall brought recession and collapsed our exchange rate regime. “More fundamentally, it showed that the very economic model upon which this nation operated was outmoded and flawed. Unfortunately, the past administration did nothing to re-calibrate the economy. “With fewer resources at hand, this government is compelled to do more. It must respond to immediate needs in a way that leads to long-term economic reform. “This will be a complex journey. This government has taken the first steps in the right direction. “We are inching out of recession. The exchange rate has stabilised. Internationally, we are seen being as on the mend and have been recognised for making significant progress in the ease of doing business,� he stated.

The former Lagos State governor who tasked the government to take cognisance of the plight of the downtrodden people of Nigeria, whom he said had been denied their pride of place for so long, said today’s investments by the government

are for their comfort in future. “While we work toward this good end, we must recognise the situation of millions of our people. Wrongfully denied for so long, they suffer still. But we ask them to take heart.

Don’t forfeit hope. “Understand that tomorrow will not be as the past when what was built and bought was not intended for you. “What we are now building, is meant for you. This is your government and you will be the beneficiaries of its policies and programmes. You are no longer the forgotten. You are the hope and promise of a nation and its future. “As this government implements its economic plans, the griping poverty you have long suffered will give way and ultimately turn into the fertile progress and prosperity that only good governance can bring. We do this with a sense of urgency!� he added.

Tinubu then proceeded to make three suggestions which he asked the government to consider, stating that no nation has ever experienced prosperity without building a huge industrial capacity.

He tasked the government to learn from countries such as the United Kingdom, which he said became prosperous because it was built on its industrial strength.

He also counselled the government not to pay lips service to the industrial revolution but to evolve it in reality and draw up infrastructure plans, invest in research and assist farmers to grow their income by returning

the nation to the path of the commodity exchange board.

In his remarks, Buhari who said he could not adequately thank Nigerians for their prayers and goodwill when he was ill and had to travel to London for treatment, said the only way he could repay them was to deploy his energy to serving them.

He also promised to deploy his energy towards fighting corruption, improving security and repositioning the economy, warning that anyone caught by the long arm of the law for corruption, should be prepared to face the music.

Buhari said concerted efforts were being made to secure the release of the last set of Chibok girls, adding that the government was according topmost priority to the violence of herdsmen.

He added that Nigeria had been repositioned and had gained the respect of the international community. “I thank the media team in its efforts in recoding recording events and our scorecard. But I cannot thank Nigerians enough for your prayers and goodwill during my health vacation. “I can only replay you by resolving to work by putting every ounce of my energy to

TINUBU: BUHARI’S GOVT YET TO WIN ANTI-GRAFT WAR and Properity,� a mid-term scorecard of the administration, authored by the trio of Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu and Laolu Akande, the president’s media advisers.

Tinubu also said though the anti-terror war had not been won, it was not in doubt that Boko Haram had been largely decimated, recalling how the insurgents wreaked havoc on the nation and proceeded to claim a territory within the Nigerian nation.

He said never again would the sect’s flag be seen in the country's territory.

Tinubu, who described corruption as a dangerous tree that needed to be axed, did not mince words when he said it would take some time to win the anti-corruption war.

Nevertheless, he was swift to add that concerted efforts must be made by the government to ensure the battle is won. “President Buhari has set an axe to the root of this dangerous tree. I would be lying if I said the war against large-scale corruption has been won. It has not. “It will take time and countless swings of the axe to fall such a deeply-rooted tree. But try we must. This is what the President is doing,�

Tinubu said.

The former governor then proceeded to lash out at former President Goodluck Jonathan whom he alleged won a gold medal in corruption and secured a red card in governance.

According to him, corruption was so rampant during the last administration that the

nation’s institutions were not only inflicted with the menace but corruption became an institution.

Taking a further swipe at the immediate past administration, Tinubu said the former government turned the national treasury into a charity box while corruption grew fat and developed wings, citing how a former minister and those he described as “her rogues gallery� looted the national treasury with impunity. “The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves. So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. “That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush,� he said.

However, Tinubu who said that era of impunity in Nigeria had eventually been conquered, was swift to add that much still needed to be to done to track down agents of corruption.

He also called for the review of salaries of civil servants, adding that people of character and competence must be appointed to office to stop corruption. “One minister and her rogues’ gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. “In governance, they earned a red card but in the corruption, they won the gold

medal. “It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption.

Corruption had become institutionalised. Gone are the times when a minister can pilfer billions of dollars as easy as plucking a piece of candy from the table. “We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credit for our people to reduce temptation. “We must also take greater care by placing people of character, competence and goodness into key positions.

When they fail, they must be removed without remorse or favour. “Unlike its predecessor, this government has demonstrated the will to walk this path.

While this might not cause much fanfare or celebration, this cleanses the institutions upon which a nation’s wellbeing is founded with a future assured,� the APC leader said.

On the state of the nation’s economy, Tinubu said the biggest long-term challenge confronting the administration was the economy, pointing out that whereas the previous administration operated in the era of plenty, the incumbent who he said was grappling with meagre resources was duty bound to salvage the system, then proceeded to reel out the improvements made so far by Buhari’s government. “The economy remains our

FG COMES UP WITH ACTION PLAN FOR TAKE OVER OF DISTRESSED DISCOS process of restructuring Discos that are found to require new capital injections�. “This would involve NERC, BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises), the Discos and other relevant parties. This may also involve the takeover of Discos with degraded financial positions,� said the PRSP report.

It however explained that before the takeover, technical competence reviews including forensic audits of all the Discos and the adequacy of their technical partners, should be undertaken to ensure that they had not failed in their initial agreements with the government after the

privatisation exercise.

The document also revealed that there was an ongoing audit of the performance agreements and all direct agreements the government signed with operators in the sector to ensure that it was in compliance with its obligations.

It explained that there should also be measures to address the operational challenges of the Discos, which should include: “Develop case studies to determine the level of load rejections in the network, develop investment plans with clear impact analyses for increase in load across the network and in metering, and ensure regulatory measures are

enforced.�

Also at the workshop, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), Dr. Marilyn Amobi, debunked claims by the Discos through their umbrella association, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), that the electricity they distribute to Nigerians at an average of N31 per kilowatts hour (kWh) is retailed to them at N68/kWh. Amobi, in her response to a question on how much the NBET really sells the electricity it procures from the generation companies (Gencos) to the Discos, stated that its retail price per kWh of electricity

to the Discos had not exceeded N18/kWh. Meanwhile, NERC has invited car dealers in the country to bid to supply it seven sport utility vehicles (SUV) for its commissioners.

The regulator, in a procurement notice it recently put out, requested bidders to supply the vehicles with specifications that include 4.6 litre engine capacity and V8 type. It equally noted that vehicles should have full options and must be 2018 models.

The commission, however, did not specify the exact make of the vehicles it wants buy, but a price survey conducted by

THISDAY on the commission’s specifications for the SUVs showed that a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 2018 model with full options currently starts from N55 million.

During the time of the Dr. Sam Amadi-led board, the commission reportedly bought Ford SUVs for its commissioners who left office in December 2015 when their tenure expired. It was not certain if the retired commissioners left with the SUVs. In the tender notice, NERC said successful bidders would be given just six weeks from the date of the award of the contract to deliver the vehicles.

Continued on page 10

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NGN NGN 0.41 4.56 1.02 21.42 0.03 0.67 4.00 90.00 0.05 1.35 NGN NGN 0.13 1.32 0.23 3.76 0.10 1.90 UNIPRESS 0.14 2.66 VITAFOAM 0.14 2.74 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,250.00 Volume: 217.750 million shares Value: N11.705 billion Deals: 3,088 As at yesterday 16/11/17 See details on Page 43

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Google Celebrates Chinua Achebe’s Legacy with Doodle In commemoration of his 87th birthday, U.S. technology firm and the world’s largest Internet search engine, Google, yesterday honoured Nigerian author, the late Chinua Achebe, with a Doodle.

A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepage that is intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people.

The first Google Doodle was in honor of the Burning Man Festival of 1998, and was designed by Google’s founders – Larry Page and Sergey Brin – to notify users of their absence in case the

servers crashed. From that point onwards, Doodles have been organised and published by a team of employees termed “Doodlers�.

In addition, Google published a brief eulogy on the late author that read: “One man took it upon himself to tell the world the story of Nigeria through the eyes of its own people. Chinua Achebe (born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe) was the studious son of an evangelical priest. A student of English literature, he started writing in the 1950s, choosing English as his medium but weaving the storytelling tradition of the

Igbo people into his books, “His characters were insiders — everyday people such as the village chief (in Things Fall Apart), the priest (in Arrow of God), or the school teacher (in A Man of the People). Through their stories, we witness a Nigeria at the crossroads of civilization, culture, and generations. “His pen brought to life the land and traditions of the Igbo: the hum of everyday village life; the anticipation and excitement of sacred masquerades; the stories of the elders and the honor of warriors; the joy of family and the grief of loss.

Google's Doodle honouring Achebe “Considered by many to be the father of modern African literature, Achebe was awarded the Man Booker

Prize in 2007. Surrounded by iconic images of his most famous literary works, today’s Doodle celebrates his legacy

on what would have been his 87th birthday. “Daal nke ukwuu, Chinua Achebe!�

2018 budget for the completion of the projects.

The resolution followed a motion on the need to investigate the nature of the contract and/or concession agreement on the Second Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which was moved

by Hon. Solomon Maren (PDP, Plateau).

He said unless the projects were completed, commuters would continue to experience difficulties in transportation.

According to him, “Contracts for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and reconstruction of the LagosIbadan Expressway have continued to feature in the annual budgets without any seeming signs of their completion or the amount required to do so.�

He expressed concern at the recent submission of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde

Fashola, while commenting on the 2017 Appropriation Act, that monies for the projects were reduced and might become elephant projects as they were not under any concession or public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

He also said the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) had spent about N18 billion on the Second Niger Bridge as the financier during its early stages.

He said the completion of the projects was pivotal to national development as they had the potential to douse tension across the country, especially in the face of widespread agitations for restructuring of the country and separation by some pressure group.

Maren raised concern over the manner of the execution of the projects, which he said was not in accordance with defined methods for executing projects and/or contracting procedures.

Debating the motion, Hon. Mohammed Sani (APC, Bauchi) said it was imperative to ascertain whether the projects were concessioned or subsumed under direct funding by the federal government.

The House then concluded that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was under a concession arrangement, unlike the Second Niger Bridge.

Hon. Aliyu Madaki (APC, Kano) said: “There is a concession agreement which was signed on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the previous government of President Jonathan, which I believe is still binding on this government.�

Presiding, the Deputy Speaker, Hon, Yussuff Lasun asked the Committee on Works to investigate the nature of the contracts and concession arrangements and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

which the then president fired ministers accused of corruption or conflict of interests. “From that time till today, Nigeria has not made any improvements and has remained at 136 where Jonathan left us because Transparency International deals with facts, not opinions or media trial. “Other than media sensationalism, there have been no convictions of financial misappropriation stemming from the Jonathan era. “However, we do know that it is a fact that the allegedly corrupt pension thief, Abdulrasheed Maina, was dismissed and declared wanted by the Jonathan administration. “We also now know that it is a fact that the present Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, met with Maina in Dubai. We know that Maina’s family revealed in a press conference that Maina was invited back to Nigeria by the present government. “It is also a fact that Maina was recalled, reinstated and given double promotion by the current administration. “Moreover, we know from the Head of Service’s leaked memo that President Muhammadu Buhari was

aware of this entire saga. “Perhaps Chief Bola Tinubu mistook the Usain Bolt speed at which Maina was smuggled back into the country and reinstated for the unproven claims of corruption under Jonathan. “We also know that it is a fact that $25 billion worth of contracts were awarded at the NNPC without due process.

It is also a fact that this is the highest ever such amount involved in Nigeria’s history. “Again, perhaps it is this amount that Tinubu meant when he said, ‘So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could.’ Or perhaps he was referring to Babachir Lawal (former Secretary to the Government of the Federation). “Nigerians should note that on the 7th of March 2014, then President Jonathan said: ‘I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad.’ Till date, nobody has been able to contradict that statement because it is true. “Can Bola Tinubu or anybody in the APC leadership make a similar claim?� Omokri asked.

On the issue of Boko Haram and terrorism, he noted that it was fact that there is only

one global body recognised to monitor terrorism and that is the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) which releases the annual Global Terrorism Index. “It is a fact that between 2013 and 2014, Nigeria under President Jonathan was unfortunately listed as the fourth most terrorized nation in the world. “However, in the latest Global Terrorism Index released yesterday (November 15, 2017) by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria has deteriorated from where Jonathan left it and is now the third most terrorized nation. “In 2015, President Jonathan ensured that elections held in every local government in Borno State, but last month, the United Nations declared that they could no longer operate in certain local governments of Borno State. So who is fooling who? “So if according to Transparency International, Nigeria was less corrupt under Jonathan than it is today and according to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Nigeria is more terrorized today than it was under Jonathan, it becomes clear that Bola Tinubu has no factual basis to make the claims he made,� he said.

HOUSE TO PROBE ALLEGED SUSPENSION OF FEMALE CADETS’ ADMISSION INTO NDA the admission of combatant female cadets into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), sponsored by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion (PDP, Edo).

The media was agog on Monday with the news of the decision of the Armed Forces Council to suspend the policy of admitting female cadets into the combatant arm of the military.

The decision was said to have been taken during the council’s meeting presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The policy was initiated by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

Although the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen John Enenche, in a statement on Tuesday denied that there had been a policy reversal, describing the news as “an act of disinformation to the general public by mischievous

individuals�, the House insisted yesterday that the alleged proposal should be investigated.

Moving her motion, Omosede argued that the plan was against the affirmative action for women, urging the military to reconsider its position.

According to her, besides the fact that the Nigerian constitution frowns at discriminatory practices against persons, Nigeria is a signatory to the Beijing Declaration of 1995 and the Follow Up Summit on Strengthening the Institutional Arrangements for Support of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, which also coincided with Agenda 113 of the 7th Session of the United Nations General Assembly of 2012.

She said: “Affirmative Action means positive steps be taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in

areas of employment, education and all such other areas from which they have historically been excluded.�

She noted that if media reports were found to be true, it would amount to a major policy reversal of monumental proportion and a set back because scrapping the course for women would deny them the opportunity of heading any arm of the Nigerian military.

The committee was handed four weeks to conclude its findings and report back to the House for further legislative action.

In another development, the House also mandated its Committee on Works to investigate the nature of contracts and concession arrangements on the Second Niger Bridge as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It, however, urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to include funds in the

TINUBU: BUHARI’S GOVT YET TO WIN ANTI-GRAFT WAR protect your interest. “We have gone through your difficult times due to the global economic recession. We are coming out of the recession and government’s efforts are targeted at easing economic hardship with more jobs, social security platforms for vulnerable families and the unemployed, and infrastructure progress. “I would at the same like to assure all Nigerians of my commitment to improve security, fight corruption and restructure the economy. “On the current issue on herdsmen/farmers clashes, kidnapping and armed robberies within the confines of our limited resources, we are giving top priority to security. “During the year it was my great pleasure to secure the release of 102 Chibok schoolgirls. We are doing our best quietly and effectively as possible to get the rest released. “We are working day and night with our international partners to release the remaining girls as soon as possible, women and children. “We are all aware now that if you steal public funds and you are caught, you will face the law. “Internationally, Nigeria is now a respected nation. I can’t

keep up with the invitations to visit other countries, much less other countries’ leaders that want to visit us. “A number of world leaders are expressing the desire to visit Nigeria virtually monthly. “Our credit worthiness is sound, our first Eurobond offer was over subscribed four times,� Buhari said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the government of Buhari had “provided exemplary leadership for the country and demonstrated the political will and solid commitment to the task of building a new Nigeria in line with the change agenda promised to the electorate�.

According to him, the administration has strived to diversify the economy, create jobs and engage in social welfare programmes, in accordance with the party’s manifesto.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said war against corruption had been fought by the government the way it has never been waged in the country, adding: “Corruption is no longer possible on the table.

It has been driven under, with those still engaged constantly being made to watch their

backs,� he said.

Jonathan Responds But in quick response to Tinubu’s bashing, former President Jonathan said the facts had deserted the former Lagos State governor.

A statement issued yesterday by his media aide Reno Omokri, said: “Again my attention has been drawn to disparaging comments made

by Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration.

First of all, the only global body for monitoring corruption is Transparency International, which releases an annual Corruption Perception Index. “It is a fact that Nigeria made her most improvement in Transparency International‘s annual Corruption Perception Index in 2014 under President Jonathan when we moved from 144th to 136th place, representing an improvement of eight points. “Transparency International observed that the Jonathan administration’s fight against the corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer procurement regime, the use of technology to remove 50,000 federal ghost workers, and the speed at

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News Editor Davidson Iriekpen Email davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

I Do Not Know Kanu’s Whereabouts, Says Buratai The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai on yesterday prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to compel him to produce the ‘missing’ leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

A team of lawyers representing the embattled IPOB leader had in the suit, prayed the court to order Buratai to produce their client either dead or alive.

The lawyers who were led by Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court that they have not seen or heard from their client since September 14 when the Nigerian Army invaded his house “on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenceless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many”.

Pursuant to section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F12, LFN 2005 and Section 6(6) (1) (4) of the 1999 constitution, Kanu’s lawyers applied for “an order of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, commanding the respondent (Buratai), to produce the applicant in court”.

But in a counter-affidavit he filed in opposition to the suit, Buratai told the court that Kanu was never in custody of the Nigeria Army.

He maintained that contrary to claims in the suit, soldiers who were deployed to the South-East for ‘Operation Python Dance II, did not have any contact whatsoever with Kanu on September 12 or 14, or anytime thereafter as alleged.

The Chief of Army Staff told the court that the Nigerian Army did not at any time arrest or take Kanu into custody within the period the military operation lasted, even as he denied allegation that soldiers invaded the IPOB leader’s house in Afara-Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State.

A colonel attached to the Chief of Army’s office in the Army Headquarters, Abuja, Col. A.A Yusuf, who deposed to the counteraffidavit on behalf of Buratai, said the alleged invasion of Kanu’s house was totally false.

However, the army boss told the court that his men only chased a truck he said was laden with arms and explosives of different kinds, into a compound he said was later discovered to belong to Kanu and his father.

The counter-affidavit read in part, “That the applicant (Kanu) is not and has never been in his custody or in the custody of any person, officer or institution receiving instruction directly or indirectly from him.

“That the applicant was not at any time whatsoever arrested, taken into custody or detained by the Officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

“That the officers and men of the Nigerian Army did not have any contact whatsoever or confrontation or any operational engagement with the applicant on September 12 or 14, 20l7 or any other date thereafter, contrary to the allegations in the affidavit in support of the application.

“That the allegation of invasion of the South-Eastern part of Nigeria by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, especially the applicant’s home and or residence is totally false.”

He told the court that during “a peaceful movement” that formed part of Operation Python Dance II, soldiers, on September 14, pursued a truck loaded with arms and ammunition into a compound which was identified in the suit as jointly owned by Kanu and his father.

He alleged that the fleeing truck and its occupants ran over Aamy

barricade and defied soldiers’ order stopping them to be searched.

Buratai insisted that soldiers that chased the truck into Kanu’s house did not fire any shot, saying it was the occupants of the fleeing truck that deliberately ignited the ammunition they were carrying.

“That while on a peaceful movement on the said September 14, 2017, the soldiers randomly conducted stop-and-search operations as are necessary and it was during one of such exercises in Umuahia, Abia State, that it flagged down a truck, which as it turned out later, was loaded with arms and ammunitions of varying degrees

and descriptions.

“Rather than comply with the stop order, the driver and other occupants of the truck recklessly ran over the barricade mounted on the road by the soldiers and sped off, whereupon the soldiers at the point gave a hot chase and called for reinforcement to enable them pursue and arrest the fleeing vehicle. The soldiers did not fire any shot at the fleeing truck in order to prevent the loss of lives.

“That the truck loaded with the arms and ammunition was pursued into a compound which has now been described in this application as belonging to and

under the control of the applicant (Kanu) and his father.

“That it was the legitimate attempt by the officers and men of the Nigerian Army to arrest the fleeing occupants of the truck and impound the truck that precipitated the deliberate igniting of the ammunition in the truck by persons now believed to be IPOB members. “That the act of the IPOB members resulted in sporadic explosions within the said applicant’s compound”, the affidavit further stated.

Buratai said his men that participated in the operation, complied with Rules of Engagement

and Code of Conduct that prohibit any form of human right abuses, denying that they killed scores of IPOB members during the military exercise in the South East.

He said: “Throughout the duration of the Operation Python Dance II, officers and men of the Nigerian Army obeyed the Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct to the letter as there was no reported case of indiscriminate shooting, unlawful arrest, detention or torture, contrary to the wild, bland, untrue, incorrect, bogus and insipid allegations contained in or oozed out in the affidavit of Mandela Umegborogu

BOOK PRESENTATION

L–R : Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ; President Muhammadu Buhari ; APC Chieftain , Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu ; APC Chairman , Mr. John Odigie Oyegun during the presentation of a book tittled “ Making Steady , Sustainable Progress” at the Conference Center of the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday Godwin Omoigui

Jonathan, Fayose, Others Storm Onitsha, Rally Votes for Obaze

Keyamo Petitions Lagos State over Plans to Demolish Property of Muiz Banire‘s Mum

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Ugo Aliogo

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the only way for the Igbos to end marginalization was for them to vote out the All Progressives Congress, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) beginning with Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra state.

He urged Anambra people to return the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) back to the state by voting for the party’s candidate, Mr. Oseleka Obaze and stand firm to defend democracy in the state.

Jonathan who led governors of Rivers, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Taraba, Gombe and Deputy governor of Akwa Ibom states as well as former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel to the grand finale of campaign rally of the PDP at All Saint field Onitsha, maintained that PDP was a party to beat in the forthcoming election.

He noted that Anambra has been a PDP state from the onset but along the line deviated to APGA, adding that the people of Anambra state should not make the mistake of voting another party that would mortgage their future.

“PDP is the real party that can lead Anambra to the promised land, the founding father of PDP is from Anambra state which is Dr. Alex Ekwueme and PDP has more population in the country.

PDP will bring development to Anambra state.

“We will encourage enterprise, Obaze will encourage enterprise in Anambra state. You must not make mistake on Saturday, vote for Obaze. You need somebody that can have a voice and represent you well when he goes to Abuja, you need first eleven when you go to Abuja to defend the interest of Anambra state.

“We need somebody that will protect the interest of Anambra people, somebody to protect the interest of Igbo. We don’t want any situation Igbo will complain of marginalization, it will depend on people you send there and then governors and people we send there.

“We need somebody that will encourage enterprise and business and who has the connection oversea to attract foreign partners to the state and that person is Obaze,” he stated.

In his remark, the former Governor of the state, Peter Obi stated that Obiano was a mistake and bad product which Anambra people should correct in the forthcoming election.

“He should tell us what happened to N75 billion left in the state account and N192 billion allocation. Obiano said there is no need of saving money, he sold Anambra state house in Lagos state, let’s vote him out” Obi stated.

Counsel to Alhaja Sarat Banire, and head of the Keyamo chambers, Festus Keyamo, has challenged the decision of the Lagos State Government to demolish the property of their client located at No, 24a, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja.

In a petition to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos State titled: NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF COURT ACTION IN RESPECT OF PLANS TO DEMOLISH PROPERTY OF ALHAJA SARAT BANIRE: REQUEST FOR STAY OF FURTHER ACTION with a copy made available to THISDAY yesterday, head of the Chamber, Festus Keyamo (SAN) drew his

attention to the pendency of a Suit No. FHC/L/CS1736/2017: Alhaja Sarat Banire v. Attorney General of the Federation and Minster for Justice & 3 Ors. and a Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction to restrain the state government from carrying out the planned demolition.

The letter also stated that it is imperative to realise that the pendency of the above-mentioned suit necessitates that all parties must maintain the status quo and not to engage in any act that would foist a fait accompli (state of helplessness) on the Court.

It further stated that the above point was emphasised by the Court of Appeal in the case of Ezegbu v.

F.A.T.B. [1991] 1 NWLR (Pt. 220) 669 at 725 para Cwhere Tobi, JCA

(as he then was) relying on the earlier decision of the Supreme Court in Governor of Lagos State v. Chief Ojukwu [1986] 1 NWLR (Pt. 18) 621.

Keyamo in the letter noted that the decision held that: “Those parties should not embark upon self-help when a matter is before a Court of law. Since the successful act of self-help will certainly render subsequent successful decision nugatory, parties must refrain from it at all time.

“Therefore, once a party is aware of a pending Court process and whether a Court has given a specific injunctive order or not, parties are bound to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the Court process.

“They should on no account

resort to self-help. Whenever such a situation arises, the court must invoke its disciplinary jurisdiction to curb the excesses of a recalcitrant party. This position was further reiterated by the Supreme Court in the case of F.A.T.B. v. Ezegbu [1992] 9 NWLR (Pt. 264) 132 at page 147 paragraph B, when the apex Court held thus: “As shown in Ojukwu’s case supra, the plaintiffs, having been put on notice of the defendant’s appeal and his motion to set aside the order of extra-ordinary general meeting ordered to be held by the Federal High Court, they are duty bound to hold on until the hearing and disposal of the motion.

Instead, they went ahead and held the meeting, taking far reaching decisions affecting the defendants.”

Stakeholders Want Govt Action on Flawed Areas of Digital Switch Over Report Following the adoption of the 17 recommendations of the House of Representatives committee on digital switch over, stakeholders from analogue broadcast in Nigeria have called for a thorough review of the process to ensure proper switch off.

This is coming after a Committee report was adopted on the floor of the house after 10 months of touring the sites and public hearing.

The report also requested that

the White Paper that midwifed the entire process should be dusted to allow for a more transparent process.

The House committee report also stated that the quality of delivery and service being offered by the stakeholders should not be below par” The report also said another company, Inview Technology should be further investigated on alleged public procurement

infractions observed during the investigation as well as status of funds generated and utilised adding that “all parties that were not contemplated by the White Paper but were somewhat brought in albeit inadvertently by the regulator in furtherance of this process should be excised in the spirit of equity and integrity of the process as well as the country in general”.

It ordered that analogue broadcasting should not be switched

off until 95% DSO coverage is achieved in the country while the Information Ministry and NBC should ensure regional collaboration on DSO timelines/ final switch off date.

The Report said there should be an enactment of a new broadcasting law to encompass elements of digitisation, define roles and responsibilities of the Federal/ State/Local Governments and the Private Sector.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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COMMENT

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

MUGABE AND TALE OF TORTOISE

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean strongman, deserves what he got, writes Tayo Ogunbiyi

O

ne thing that recurs in all of tortoise tales is that the animal often ends up being a victim of its own deceitful designs. In one of its famous accounts, tortoise was about to embark on a journey and was asked about when it would return from the trip.

Characteristically, its response was intriguing: “Not until I am disgraced�. And that was exactly what happened.

There is a huge parallel between the aforementioned tortoise tale and the story of (erstwhile?) Zimbabwean strongman, Robert Mugabe. According to tales coming out of the country, Zimbabwe’s military leaders have seized control of the poor southern African nation, placing its life-leader, Robert Mugabe, under house arrest and deploying tanks to the streets of the capital, Harare.

In a dramatic televised statement in the early morning of the day that saw Africa relapsed into the Stone Age, a Zimbabwean army spokesman denied that a military takeover was underway.

But the situation bore all the trappings of a coup: the military was in control of state TV in Harare, there was a significant army presence at the international airport, and Mugabe has not been seen in public. The military official further explained that the president and his wife were “secure�, adding that they were targeting a ring of government plotters following a power struggle that saw the vice-president flee the country last week.

The address came hours after several loud explosions echoed across central Harare and troops seized the headquarters of the ZBC, Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster. Several cabinet ministers, including local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, and Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwayo, were reportedly arrested. There was allegedly a brief gun fight outside Mr Chombo’s house. All three are part of the G40 faction of Zanu-PF which is loyal to Grace Mugabe, wife of the president, who was being lined up to take over from her husband after the vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa was recently fired.

To some keen watchers of event in Zimbabwe, if Mugabe is eventually overthrown from power, it is merely a tale of good radiance to bad rubbish. Robert Mugabe, 93, has been the country’s ruler since 1980. Undoubtedly, Mugabe has defined the history of his country. Born in the colonial era, he actually witnessed the various complications of colonial rule in his native land. He was at the forefront of a bitter struggle to end white minority rule in Zimbabwe. He was imprisoned for 11 years by the colonial government for their anti-colonial activities. As providence would have it, he had the rare honour of leading his country to independence and actually became the first post -colonial black leader of the country.

As good as his anti-colonial exploits were, Mugabe was however beclouded by a faulty sense of judgment after becoming his country’s leader. He launched ceaseless attacks on all whites in the

THE TRAGEDY OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IS THAT MOST OF ITS LEADERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NOTHING TO OFFER THE PEOPLE, HAVE CONTINUED TO TOE THE IGNOBLE PATH OF AUTHORITARIANISM

country, majority of whom controlled the country’s economy.

Unfortunately, Mugabe’s onslaught was not only against the whites in his country as the various black opposition groups opposed to his prolonged stronghold on power have had to contend with serious realities of his iron hold on power.

Rather than concentrate on policies and programmes that would usher in the much needed prosperity for his people, Mugabe was majorly preoccupied with building a fortress for himself. Regrettably, he didn’t do much to improve the worsening economic condition of his people who continue to live in abject poverty as all economic indicators keep pointing to a nation on the brink of socio-economic collapse.

It is rather sad that by perpetuating himself in power, Mugabe has rubbished every effort he made in the past towards fighting colonial overlords in his country. The assumption that no one else but him could steer the ship of the country, at 93, is nothing but a charade. The tragedy of the African continent is that most of its leaders, especially those who have little or nothing to offer the people, have continued to toe the ignoble path of authoritarianism. Is it not funny that most of the leaders’ whose stay in power had pauperised their people would rather prefer to die in power rather than giving opportunities to others with fresh ideas to rule?

For those who argue that Mugabe’s prolonged hold on power is as a result of the love and affection his people have for him, they need to be reminded that Mandela was equally held in high esteem by South Africans across racial divide. But the difference is that he knew when to quit. That is one of the hallmarks of a great leader.

A good leader should know when to quit. Perhaps, more importantly, a good leader must invest quality time and resources in developing new crop of leaders for the purpose of progress and stability. This is where Mandela differs remarkably from Mugabe and other similar sit-tight African leaders. At 93, isn’t it so obvious that Mugabe needed a break? But no, power has become nothing but an obsession. Historically, leaders like him always have eccentric wives that spur them on in the macabre naked dance. Having ruled (misruled?) his country for 37 years, does it not speak volume of his frame of mind that he was lining up his wife as his possible successor?

To him, it is no longer about the good of the people but about what he thinks is good for the people. Though military putsch isn’t actually a civilised option, in-spite of Mugabe’s excesses. But then, Mugabe was himself not too good at civility. The truth of the matter is that Zimbabwe and her people deserve a brand new beginning. Perhaps, this could be it!

Ogunbiyi wrote from Ikeja, Lagos

THE CHALLENGE OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

Veritas University organises a conference on peace and national development as it marks its 10th anniversary, writes Adagbo Onoja

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conference on peace and development in Nigeria by a centre backed by a university is bound to occupy a striking presence on the radar of those who, perforce, have to maintain such radar, either as peace journalists, peace activists or as formal students of peace studies.

This is the fortune of Veritas University, Abuja, (also known as The Catholic University of Nigeria) and the conference on Peace and National Development it is holding on November 20 - 21, 2017 as part of activities marking its 10th anniversary. Peace and development remain two of the five most contested concepts in the post-Cold War era, the other three being security, power and the state. So much contestation around peace that Peace Studies, for instance, which jumped out of International Relations has come round to inhabiting the same academic homestead with the same IRs and Strategic Studies. Now, they are all studied under Critical Security Studies. This time though, all three have, to a great extent, pushed out realism and its rationalist epistemology and, substantially, replaced it with the emancipation analytics. Contestation around development has been no less fierce, including the argument that even talks of post-development or of ‘death to development’. Professor Aturo Escobar, the American educated Colombian anthropologist and the leading exponent of post-development theory says this is because development has been a story, an alienating narrative by which the story tellers nurture underdevelopment instead of development. There is no likelihood this conference would escape manifesting a Nigerian version of this contestation.

This is more so if it is linked to the question of where the African voice is in all the debates and contestations. It is no national chauvinism to say that asking about the African voice is also asking about the Nigerian voice. It is not only that Africa is still the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy, it is also that

there are no alternative countries to Nigeria in terms of Nigeria’s territorial, demographic, resource endowment stature vis-a-vis the responsibility of leading Africa. It is thus a tragedy that Nigeria has been going down over the years in terms of a coherent, stable and focused polity. But what it means is that there would be nothing surprising if a Nigerian entry point and an African voice is heard at the Veritas conference.

But why an African voice on peace and development? To what extent would such a voice be African in a terribly uid and an ambiguous world? If concepts such as peace and development are nothing but what we make of any or each of them, then the implication is that a conference on peace and development by a university in a country desperately in search of both peace and development as Nigeria must be some turning point in itself. We can say so because such a conference opens up the space for imagining or producing peace and development in accordance with Nigeria’s speciďŹ city. The Nigerian speciďŹ city becomes important in the context of the critical credo that every theory is for someone and for some purpose.

If theories are not innocent interventions, then the Nigerian speciďŹ city is the only way to achieve originality in thinking and doing peace or development or constructing the nexus between them. In other words, peace is not about some universal master codes, master keys or master techniques with which to resolve conicts. Peace is more about the voice that constitutes the power that frees all those structurally constrained from freedom and self or collective realisation. This is another potentially big angle to the Veritas conference.

Closely related to that is the point that Peace Studies has been growing in Nigeria lately, beginning with the pioneering efforts at the University of Ibadan which now has a full-edged Institute for Peace Studies. However, the totality of Peace Studies in Nigeria still lacks an overarching paradigmatic wager in the same manner that History, for instance, deďŹ ned

itself distinctively in the 1960s and thereafter in Nigeria, beginning with the Ibadan School of History and its methodological feat and then the ABU, Zaria School of History. If the African voice is the Nigerian voice and vice-versa, then this methodological self-deďŹ nition is an imperative. The way peace is studied is constitutive of peace itself. This conference being substantially an academic exercise offers Nigeria her closest and earliest opportunity for an insight into how academia is constructing and constituting peace or the Peace Development nexus.

There is, unarguably, a rather Veritas University speciďŹ c but no less a plausible explanation for the excitement in the air. Veritas University articulates a notion of a Centre for Peace and Development that is a cross between the old and the new as well as the ecclesiastical and the academic. In addition to the goodwill and collective standing of the Catholic establishment in Nigeria which owns the university, there is a uniqueness in this that cannot escape attention as well as attraction of many. The argument here is that there must be something inherently promising about a conference organised by such a centre backed by such a university. By the old, one is referring to the sense of the centre espoused, for instance, by Prof.

Mike Kwanashie, the Vice-Chancellor and the intellectuals around him. Prof Kwanashie is not a formal student of Peace Studies but an economist. But he speaks to holism in Peace Studies that formal students of the ďŹ eld would envy. This is not sycophancy but a recognition of the height their generation of scholars took academia to before the coming of crisis into academia in Nigeria. That is the element of the old in Veritas University’s Centre for Peace and Development while the new are the contemporary environment, attitudes, agenda and analytics enveloping the study and the production of peace.

The ecclesiastical and the academic are selfexplanatory in terms of ownership of Veritas and academic nature of the venture. Being a combination

of the old, the new, the ecclesiastical and the academic necessarily turns the centre into a torchbearer in the prospects of returning Nigeria to the culture of debate, the death of which is at the root of the current, steady deterioration of the country. Some egg heads have been shouting themselves hoarse that the quantity and quality of debate in Nigeria is not adequate to sustain the country. All such voices are absolutely correct. Every country is as good or as hopeless as the quality and direction of debates taking place in its universities, policy mills, think-tanks, bureaucracy, the military, political parties and the media, among others.

There is no great power today that is not a product of such debates. Neither Britain, the United States nor China, the newest great power, has attained that status without debates provoked by their Halford Mackinders.

Nigeria does not seek to be an empire in either its territorial or discursive senses. Still, it needs quality debates on the key requirements for managing complexity in the 21st century. This makes contestations over ideas on peace and development a matter of priority.

No university is inherently indebted to the country in terms of producing such ideas. The long connection between Catholicism and the education industry would, however, appear to tie Veritas University to the task of rising to the challenge of discourse and power in the search for peace and development in Nigeria, Africa and the world. This conference has the potential to fulďŹ l that. It cannot but be so for a Centre for Peace and Development imagined into being within just 10 years of the university’s existence and which at barely one year of age is able to stage a conference at which all voices are scheduled to be heard – Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, traditional religion and more. That would be a remarkable statement on governing diversity that Nigeria itself cannot but note.

Onoja, a Peace Researcher in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Veritas University, wrote from Abuja and is reachable at adagboonoja@gmail.com

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EDITORIAL TEACHING AND THE EDUCATION SECTOR Education is too important to be politicised. There is need to clean up the system

W

e stand with Governor Nasir el-Rufai in his efforts to rid Kaduna State of teachers who are not worthy of their calling. No system should allow any person who failed Primary Four competency test to teach children in school. Since no one ever gives what he or she does not possess, one can only imagine the amount of damage these illiterate, unqualiďŹ ed teachers have already done to the future of pupils in Kaduna State. And now that El-Rufai is saying ‘thus far and no more’ he deserves all the support he can get.

The issue in Kaduna State is simple for those who would not play politics with the destiny of innocent children: If those who are supposed to impart knowledge to primary school pupils cannot even pass some elementary test, what kind of knowledge will they communicate to the children? It is akin to a blind leading a fellow blind and unless urgent measures are taken to address the malaise it could lead to a permanent system collapse IF THOSE WHO ARE while the future of the SUPPOSED TO IMPART coming generations KNOWLEDGE TO PRIMARY will be seriously SCHOOL PUPILS CANNOT compromised.

However, beyond EVEN PASS SOME the drastic steps being ELEMENTARY TEST, WHAT taken in Kaduna KIND OF KNOWLEDGE State, the challenge is WILL THEY COMMUNICATE national.

Therefore, TO THE CHILDREN? only a return to those neglected details that make for a credible educational system can rescue the nation from the current sorry pass. Pre-primary school education, for instance, should be made to function within a well-articulated and enforceable policy framework. The recruitment and retraining of teachers at this level should be regulated and standardised. Beyond the public schools, there is also a need to look at what is happening in many of the so-called private schools where there are no standards.

A modern testing instrument should be developed

Letters to the Editor

and administered to potential/existing proprietors and staff of early childhood educational facilities to audit the system. All these can be done through a sustainable partnership arrangement with pro-child organisations and afďŹ liate NGOs of development partners. The many well-meaning associations and groups acting in disparate ways to help in this regard should be properly warehoused and coordinated.

For several years, the quality of teachers and other academic infrastructure at the level of basic education has been a major challenge. Despite the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme, many states maintain a truly pathetic proďŹ le in the form and content of their curricula. This is hardly surprising, as many of them have consistently failed to access the federal government counterpart funding arrangement that offers a clear rescue path. They are unwilling to provide the matching funds for the UBE intervention and are therefore on the run from the generosity of the federal government.

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T

he Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has repeatedly lamented the failure of state governments to access and use the funds.

This is in addition to states which collect it and divert same to political patronage, or which put their counterpart funds as bait to draw federal government support and quickly pocket theirs. To address this problem the commission should publish the list of defaulting states.

The much-vaunted professionalisation of teaching should be pursued with new timelines while the Teachers’ Registration Council (TRC) and the Nigerian Teachers’ Institute (NTI) may well be merged, to have all matters relating to teachers domiciled in one address. Besides, there is need for a total overhaul of our educational system, especially at the primary and post-primary levels. Above all, those who want trade union platforms as springboard to political visibility should be subtly distanced from teaching. The government should also always honour its agreements with the teachers, so that attention can move from trade disputes to exchange of ideas for the development of the education sector.

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

KADUNA,TEACHERS AND ROT IN EDUCATION

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have watched with trepidation the drama in Kaduna between teachers and the governor. In 2007 it was same drama in Kwara State. I recall teachers with fake certifications in Ogun State. How about that skit between then Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and a woman teacher that went viral?

Over the week, I could not make it to the office. I had kept a young university graduate waiting, one of those hectic travel days when I was on transit. He just finished his course of study as an Economist in one of the federal universities. He sent me a text message, after waiting, which read, “I has be waiting since for you sir�.

I could not reply for a while, because till this moment “I has be trying to understand� what he meant to say. Whatever he wanted to say, he reminded me we are a nation with short fuse memory, we forget after all the noise, show little or no outrage and move on.

So whether Nasir el-Rufai sacks the teachers or not, whether they go on strike or not, begs the real issues. We will simply move on, after all we have moved on from the JAMB cut off mark drama. We continue with our tokenism educational methods and systems; one that justifies a person’s inability.

It will get worse, if it has got to the point of “I has come�. Failure is recorded at mass level, one wonders how after six years in secondary school and qualifying exams in WAEC, and or NECO, JAMB and post-UME we record monumental failures which culminate in “I has be waiting since for you sir�.

The level of failure and rot that makes it impossible for primary school teachers to pass same exams they set for their pupils. Is it the teacher, student, curriculum, infrastructure, the English premier league

or blackberry phones?

How can the teachers be better than the system of which they are product? A sneak into the answer sheets of some of the teachers revealed the repeated flaws made by these supposed teachers. The questions were unambiguous and within the scope of the syllabuses.

The marking schemes were exhaustible and comprehensive enough to accommodate all possible answers. Yet some of these teachers did not know the name of their state.

However, apart from the dearth of basic instructional materials and infrastructure, poor remuneration of teachers, among other social factors that are facing particularly public schools in the country, one cannot help but observe many teachers had shallow knowledge of the subject matter, poor command of the use of English language, poor knowledge of the examination techniques, as well disregard for correct interpretation of questions before attempting them.

If the handwritings I saw of those teachers are correct; many illegible and their answers scripts are full of spelling errors. I cannot begin to imagine if they possess any manipulative skills for subjects involving calculations. I am not surprised that many candidates try to cut corners by engaging in various forms of examination malpractice in order to obtain marks. When clowns like these called teachers teach them.

Despite all these lamentation, one good point “I has noticed� was the girl with nine A1s in WASSCE: reports say she is so brilliant her teachers feared her result would be seized. Miss Tolulope Falokun, an indigene of Ondo State; emerged as the overall best candidate in the 2011 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Seventeen- old- Tolulope had distinctions (A1) in all the nine subjects she attempted, she was described as intelligent, hardworking, serious-minded and above all, highly disciplined pupil. In an interview Tolu had told reporters, “Our teachers prepared us early for the exams.

We had special lectures everyday more than four months into the exams because we had covered our syllabus since first term SSIII. My Government teacher designed a timetable for me, which I followed religiously to make sure that I cover all my subjects‌.�

Tolu scored 290 in the 2011 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and emerged the second overall best student in the Post-UTME conducted by the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile –Ife with 336 marks.

Also a 24-year-old graduate from Zamfara State, Muhammad Usman, presented a paper at the 2012 session of the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF) in Denver, Colorado, United States.

Usman’s paper is entitled “Rural Solar Electrification-Renewable Energy Potential and Distribution for Development in Nigeria�. He is a 2010 Economics graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Programme Officer at the Gusau-based Centre for Energy and Environment in Zamfara State.

Two sides of a nation--hope and despair, either a case of “we can� or “we can coming�. While we battle the scourge of local terrorism, bad leadership, kidnap, health, and countless issues, there is need to come up with some measures that could help both the students and schools to improve on their performance in future examinations, by extension resuscitate a nation’s dying if not dead educational sector.

Dr.Prince Charles Dickson, Development/Media Practitioner

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

POLITICS A N A LY S I S

Injustice in the Senate The Independent National Electoral Commission’s refusal to conduct a bye-election in the Anambra Central Senatorial District and the Senate President’s decision not to swear in Bassey Etim as the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District after a court order declared him the lawful person to occupy the seat amounts to injustice and a breach of the constitution, writes Tobi Soniyi Anambra Central Senatorial District Denies Representation in the Senate More than two years after the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated, Anambra Central Senatorial District is still not represented in the Senate, following the nullification of the election of Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Demoractic Party. This anomaly means that the people of the district are not being represented in the Senate.

That election has not been held to elect a senator for the district was not entirely the fault of the independent National Electoral Commission. Anambra state is the most litigious state in Nigeria.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who ran for the senatorial district election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress but lost had said that the rerun election would not hold until all pending court cases were cleared. In view of the length of time it takes to determine cases in Nigerian courts, that can mean the district stands no chance of being represented in the 8th assembly.

Although, INEC claimed that it was bared from conducting the senatorial election, many in Anambra believed that the commission is acting the APC’s script.

Although there are orders and counter orders, INEC knows the position of the Supreme Court on whether a party whose candidate is disqualified on basis of nonqualification can not take part in the re-run election. Therefore, the PDP can not participate in the re-run election. Since Ngige is now a minister and he does not want to resign to participate in the election, APC too can not participate because time to substitute candidate had passed.

Speaking at a capacity building workshop organised for leaders of political parties, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu said that the commission was unable to hold the election because of court orders.

He said: “He said, “There are so many court cases even on matters settled by the Supreme Court and the constitution of Nigeria is very clear on it. Once there is a pronouncement by the Supreme Court, all citizens and all actors are duty-bound to obey it until there is another law superseding that passed by the National Assembly or assented to or a reconsideration of the same judgment by the Supreme Court.

“But there are matters settled by the Supreme Court that are still subject of litigation.

“For instance, the famous Labour Party versus INEC case in 2009, says that once an election is nullified on account of candidate disqualification, the disqualified candidate cannot participate in the rerun election and the party that fielded the disqualified candidate has also lost the right to field candidate in the election.

“But unfortunately, some political parties went back to the court and we have been served injunctions that fly in the face of the decision of the Supreme Court. That is why the only rerun election in Anambra Central Senatorial District hasn’t been conducted till date.”

But the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh disagreed.

According to him, there are no orders stopping the election. The INEC, he argued was merely hiding under court orders to deprive the people of the district their right to be

Yakubu

represented in the Senate.

He said: “there is nothing, no legal impediment anymore against the conduct of this Anambra central election that has been pending. The cases Ngige cited in his outburst clearly cannot stop INEC from conducting that election. The issue of the eligible candidates who can take part in a court ordered fresh election or rerun election has been permanently settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in its judgment in a case between Labour Party and INEC, which judgment was delivered on the 13th February 2009. That judgment was an endorsement of judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division on 10th April 2008, to the effect that elections that are ordered by court through nullifications do not admit new candidates. Labour Party had attempted to put a new candidate in a governorship election in Adamawa, which was nullified by the Court of Appeal tribunal, and the Court of Appeal, Kaduna division in a very detailed judgment said such an election did not admit fresh candidate as only candidates that were qualified and took part in the earlier election could participate in the fresh election. Labour Party dragged the matter to Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court affirmed that judgment. Unfortunately, people like Ngige are pretending not to know this position of the law.”

The truth lies between the position of INEC and Umeh. While there are orders and counter orders, none directly stopped INEC from conducting the election. The confusion lies in determining which political parties can and cannot participate. That confusion too had already been resolved by the Supreme Court in the Labour Party’s case referred to

by INEC chairman. The commission should immediately fix a date for the election and allow politicians to return to courts.

Saraki Allows Akpan to Remain in the Senate Illegally Almost eight months after the Akwa Ibom Division of the Federal High Court declared Mr Bassey Etim the person who should represent the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has yet to swear him in.

Rather, the Senate President has allowed Mr Bassey Albert Akpan to retain the seat illegally. This is an affront to the rule of law.

The argument that because Akpan had filed an appeal, the Senate should wait for the decision of the Court of Appeal before determining what to do does not represent the state of the law. Unless, there is a stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, the judgment must be obeyed immediately. As at press time, neither the high court nor the Court of Appeal had issued a stay of execution of the judgment.

Moreso, the Senate under Saraki had obeyed a similar judgement. There must be therefore other reasons preventing Saraki from inaugurating Etim as a senator. May be he does not like his face. But he does not have to. He is only required to abide by the oath of his offie.

While giving judgment in a pre-election matter, the high court on February 27, 2017, sacked Akpan from the National Assembly after it found that he was not the valid and bonafide candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which won the 2015 general election for the Akwa Ibom North East senatorial seat.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return of Akpan and issue same to Etim.

The court also ordered Akpan to refund to the coffers of the National Assembly all he had benefitted at the National Assembly including salaries and allowances since he was wrongly inaugurated.

Both Akpan and Etim had claimed to be the winners of the primary poll for the 2015

Etim

senatorial election into the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.

Etim had approached the court with an originating summons claiming that he was robbed of his electoral victory at the primary election conducted by the PDP. But because both of them claimed to be the winners of the primary poll conducted by the PDP for the Akwa Ibom North East District, the high court held that originating summons would not allow both parties present evidence.

The court therefore ordered that the suit be converted from originating summons to writ of summons so that they could each party could call witnesses to give oral and tender documentary evidence.

After the court heard both parties out, the trial judge, Justice F.O Riman, in a considered judgment held that Etim was the valid and bonafide candidate of the party for the senatorial seat but that Akpan had wrongly and illegally represented the district in the National Assembly.

INEC had since complied with the court order as it issued the certificate of return to Etim. The Senate President should take a cue from that. INEC could have claimed that it wanted to wait for the appeal process to be exhausted.

As stated earlier, the Senate under Saraki had obeyed similar court judgments on preelection disputes. A case in point was the dispute between Senator Atai Aidoko and Senator Air Marshall Isaac Alfa who engaged each other in a legal battle over who between them was the authentic candidate of the PDP for the Kogi North East Senatorial District.

Both Aidoko and Alfa had claimed before a federal high court in Abuja to be the winner of the primary poll held by the PDP on December 7, 2014 for the Kogi North East Senatorial District at Idah Town Hall. The matter therefore went to court as a pre-election dispute which Air Marshal Alfa won at the trial high court, the basis upon which he was admitted into the Senate.

But soon as Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court gave judgment in favour of Alfa, Aidoko went on appeal as did Akpan in the instant case.

The appeal neither stopped INEC from recognising Alfa nor the Senate from wearing him in based on the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court.

While Alfa was in the Senate, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal heard the appeal filed by Aidoko against the high court judgment.

In the unanimous verdict by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal (Justices Dr Justice Hussein Mukhtar, Justice T. O Awotoye and Justice Frederick O. Oho), the court specifically held: “In the final analysis, this appeal succeeds; the entire issues are resolved in favour of the appellant (Aidoko) and the judgment of the lower court delivered on 18-4-2016 by Federal High Court, sitting at Abuja by Dr N. Dimgba, J. is hereby set aside.

Although Alfa immediately went to the registry of the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict of the Court of Appeal by filing a notice of appeal in addition to filing a motion for stay of execution, INEC, again, promptly obeyed the judgment of the Court of Appeal by issuing a fresh certificate of return to Aidoko while the Senate also swore him notwithstanding the pendency of the appeal

by Alfa at the apex court.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

The Politics behind Morocco’s Entry into ECOWAS A human right activist, Chidi Odinkalu considers the options available to the 15-member Economic Community of West African States regarding the application of Morocco to join Africa’s largest regional bloc

T

hree weeks after the African Union decided on 30 January 2017 to readmit it following a 33-year absence, Morocco, which until then enjoyed the status of a sovereign Observer, announced on 24 February that it had applied to join the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In Monrovia, Liberia, on 5 June, the Summit meeting of the 51st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS decided “in principle” to grant Morocco’s application.

This decision has attracted considerable comment and controversy, from across West Africa. Many object instinctively or reflexively to Morocco’s application and the Monrovia decision to grant it. Some of the objections have hewed to rational arguments, with varying degrees of factual and legal accuracy. The issues are serious and need to be clarified.

An Uneasy Tension Between Treaty and History Founded in 1975, ECOWAS last admitted a new member in 1976, when Cape Verde joined. With Morocco’s application, it confronts new territory and epic dilemmas having far reaching implications for Africa’s largest regional bloc. The requirement in the founding treaty limiting membership to “such other West African States as may accede to it” was removed when the ECOWAS Treaty was revised in 1992. As such, no question of regional contiguity necessarily arises at this time.

Nevertheless, the decision to consider Morocco’s application favorably pits West Africa’s rich historical affinity with Morocco against clear legal stipulations governing regional integration in ECOWAS treaties. How the Community resolves this tension will have significant implications for the future peace, security and stability of ECOWAS as a regional institution and of its member countries as they confront the shared challenge of stemming radicalization in the Sahel.

Resolving this tension will not be easy.

Recognizing this reality, the Summit requested the Commission of ECOWAS – as the Secretariat of the organization is called – to “examine the implications” of Morocco’s accession in accordance with the provisions of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1992 and report to the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Summit, at the end of the year. In doing so, the Commission will have to find ways to navigate the contradictions between history, geo-strategy and regional integration law.

A Claim of Geo-Strategic Benefit Morocco’s application to join ECOWAS is in keeping with a history of diplomatic audacity under the ruling Alaouite Dynasty, which has controlled the affairs of the country since the mid-17th century. It was, for instance, the first country to recognize the United States as an independent country in 1777 and the Moroccan-American Friendship Treaty concluded nine years later in 1886 remains the oldest of such treaties binding on the USA. Around the same time, the Moroccan city of Fez, which had long been well established as a site of high learning in Islam, became host to Sheikh Ahmad al-Tijani, the Algerianborn religious teacher who founded the Tijaniyya order. From here, the Tijaniyya fanned out through the West Coast of Africa bearing both faith and trade in its spread across the region to Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.

Dickson

All these countries except Chad, Mauritania and Sudan belong to ECOWAS. Mauritania, which shares common borders with Morocco, exited ECOWAS in 2000 in favour of the Arab Maghreb Union, better known by its French acronym, UMA, the regional organization in North Africa whose take-off has been bogged down by implacable rivalries between Morocco and Algeria. The ethnic Haratine and Gnawa of Morocco also have their origins in West Africa.

This complex and rich history of faith, trade and demography easily inspires sentimental support for Morocco’s desire to join ECOWAS. Even more importantly, the Tijaniya are in the Sahel, an arid stretch of brutal desert covering the Atlantic coast of West Africa to the west and the Gulf of Aden to the east. With northern frontiers located in Algeria, Libya and Morocco and its southern borders in the countries of the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria and Cameroon, the Sahel is home to some of the most deadly sources of extremist violence in the world, including Al-Quaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and a regional franchise of the Islamic State (IS) led by Habib Yusuf (Abu Musab Al-Barnawi), whose father, Mohammed Yusuf, founded Boko Haram.

By its application to join ECOWAS, Morocco dangles a geo-strategic benefit to the region in the fight against these extremist organizations through the shared expertise of its own security and faith-based networks. With Morocco’s accession, ECOWAS will potentially claim a contiguous stretch of territory to the Maghreb, giving it access to counterterror capabilities that were hitherto not necessarily within its reach. Seen as a net contributor to regional security and counter-radicalization capabilities, the likelihood is that Morocco’s application could receive diplomatic backing from the current US administration.

Counting the Cost The real question, however, is what price ECOWAS is willing to pay to acquire this capability. For a long time, the biggest problem in regional relations with Morocco has been its claim over the Western Sahara, the former Spanish territory annexed by the late King Hassan II in 1975. Nigeria, a leading advocate for Western Sahara’s self-determination, is also the undisputed leader in ECOWAS. It is significant that Nigeria was absent from the Monrovia Summit. Like the AU when it decided to readmit Morocco, ECOWAS will have to find a formula around this.

Also known in Arabic as al-Maghrib alAq á or “the Farthest (Kingdom) West”, Morocco is the only African country that sits astride the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert.

Separated by a mere eight kilometres from Europe at the Straits of Gibraltar, Morocco is a magnet to irregular migrants from West Africa seeking entry into the European Union. As a result it is also a major focus of Europe’s perimeter policing efforts aimed at discouraging such migration.

However, the cornerstone of regional integration obligations in ECOWAS is free factor mobility, including free movement of goods and of persons. By signing up to ECOWAS, Morocco will be under a duty to accept the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, offering a regime of visa-free travel and, potentially, a right of establishment to citizens of all 15 ECOWAS countries. This would almost invariably put the Euro-Mediterranean migration system under pressure and is bound to meet with opposition from the European Union (EU) at a time that it faces serious crisis traceable largely to concerns over migration.

A Menu of Five Options The conflicting interests of the EU and the US in Morocco’s ECOWAS application raise the stakes and give ECOWAS serious decisions to make. Five

options are open. First, it could insist that Morocco accepts all ECOWAS treaties, protocols and directives as a package.

The likelihood is that the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons will present insurmountable problems for Morocco.

In response to this, a second option could be to offer Morocco an exemption from the Protocol. This will have the effect of creating a two-track ECOWAS, giving other member countries the possibility to re-open existing ECOWAS obligations.

This result will almost certainly unravel the understandings that have underpinned Africa’s oldest regional bloc for over 40 years. If it is offered to Morocco, for instance, Cape Verde will almost surely exercise a right to denounce the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. This option will spell the end of ECOWAS and is unlikely to be on the table.

A third option could be to have a period of negotiation and initiation, during which the scope of Morocco’s membership obligations and benefits could be progressively enhanced based on trial, monitoring and error.

Option four will be for ECOWAS to reverse the Monrovia decision. Morocco will then revert to its existing observer arrangements with ECOWAS. There is a fifth option, which is for Morocco to negotiate a bilateral arrangement with ECOWAS as a bloc.

Morocco’s application could enlarge ECOWAS in geo-strategic terms but diminish it institutionally. It could also persuade Mauritania to re-join the bloc but will simultaneously weaken even further the UMA. Separately, the governance of factor mobility in ECOWAS will come under serious pressure from both within and beyond the region. The future of ECOWAS will depend on how the region navigates these contradictory pressures and options.

Odinkalu, a lawyer from Nigeria who specializes in the laws and institutions of regional integration in Africa, wrote in from Abuja.

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Quick Takes Dana Becomes IATA Member

CELEBRATING TELECOMS’ ICONS

L-R: President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola; EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; Chairman, Open Media, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; CEO, Pinet Informatics, Mr. Lanre Ajayi and Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Kolade, at the Nigeria Technology Innovation and Telecoms Awards, organised

by ATCON in Lagos...recently

Massive Youth Unemployment, Threat to Nigeria’s Future, Moghalu Warns Obinna Chima A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu has warned that the “monster of millions of young men and women with no jobs is a fundamental threat to Nigeria’s future.�

Moghalu, who gave the warning in a presentation titled: “The Challenge of Economic Growth in Nigeria,� which he delivered at the fifth Goddy Jidenma Foundation public lectures in Lagos yesterday, however, pointed out that the challenge could be defeated with the requisite political will, economic know-how, and strategy.

He urged policy makers in the country to stop underestimating the sheer scale of challenges of economic growth facing the country, saying Nigeria does not have a mere economic

ECONOMY slowdown, but “an existential economic crisis that could eclipse the future of our children, given our rapidly growing population in a competitive world economy, if we do not get serious about our economy.�

He added: “Nigeria has not achieved qualitative and sustained economic growth and development because we do not have a philosophical foundation or vision of economic development. “If you have no compass, you have no direction. Activity alone is not a substitute for real vision. All countries that have achieved economic progress have had a clear vision.�

According to him, there was the urgent need to face the reality that Nigeria would not achieve economic development and transformation on the current trajectory of its politics. “The present political

leadership class simply does not have the skills and the background that are fit for purpose.

Technocratically competent and visionary political leaders are what it will take to reposition the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth and transformation,� he stressed.

Furthermore, Moghalu pointed out that the future of oil on which Nigeria depends for 80 per cent of its total revenue and 90 per cent of its forex, was bleak. “To address and overcome these challenges and create a radically different economic future from our past and present, we must understand, and apply this understanding to leadership, governance and public policy, the shades of meaning, differences and relationships between economic growth, economic development and economic transformation. “The challenge Nigeria faces

is that a developmental state requires very strong leadership vision, political will, and a deep bench of intellectual and technocratic competence in economic management. This is lacking in the governance of Nigeria today. “We also do not have sufficient intellectual understanding and interrogation of capitalist economics. We are attempting to achieve development with a market based-economy but have paid insufficient attention to understanding how to unleash the three requirements for successful capitalism – property rights, innovation and, of course, capital. “The result, as we see in the Nigerian economy, is a high degree of poverty for a majority and the concentration of a capitalist wealth in the hands of very few,� he said.

Continued on page 20

Expert IdentiďŹ es Merger as Viable Option for Nigeria Airlines Chinedu Eze Former Secretary-General of Africa Airlines Association (AFRAA) and international aviation consultant, Nick Fadugba has attributed the stunted growth of the aviation industry in Nigeria to the small size of the country’s airlines, unprofitable and very short lifespan.

He said the survivability of the domestic airlines could only happen, if the airlines pool their resources together and benefit from the economy of scale in their operations, training and maintenance.

Fadugba who is also the publisher of African Aviation magazine spoke with THISDAY

AVIATION in Lagos and observed that Nigeria has too many airlines which are too small, so the market is fragmented. He noted that none of the airlines have a critical mass in terms of fleet or route network to become effective and to make money. “When you look at Ethiopian Airlines, the combined fleet of all Nigerian airlines is about 40 percent of the fleet of Ethiopian airlines. We have approximately 40 aircraft as a country, all our airlines. Ethiopia at the moment has about 90 plus aircraft and the most modern. And not only that, in the next few years they will operate about 130 aircraft.

So you see Ethiopian is taking

on a bigger scale,� Fadugba said He noted, however, that it could be said that Ethiopia Airlines has a monopoly which is very different from Nigeria that has a very vibrant economy, adding, because of this, Nigeria has many airlines which could be described as a good thing in a way, whereas none of these airlines could be described as profitable. “So what I would recommend for our Nigerian airlines is that they need to work together, they can compete, for example on Lagos-Abuja or Abuja-Port Harcourt but they can work together on training, on maintenance, on spares pooling, on spare parts purchasing, there are many areas where they can

work together. They can still compete, it is done in rest of the world, airlines can compete and collaborate,� he said.

Fadugba observed that ego may be one of the factors inhibiting the merger of Nigerian airlines but noted that ego is a negative factor in the airline industry in Nigeria, adding, “it is very negative; it is holding us back.�

Furthermore, he said: “If you look around the world, British Airways is coming to Nigeria, collectively within the IAG Group; they have about 600 plus aircraft. Delta airlines 600 plus aircraft, Emirates you can imagine a huge fleet and yet Continued on page 20

The International AirTransport Association (IATA) has announced that Dana Air has become a member of the global organisation and now has its name in the body’s registry. The Area Manager, South, West Africa, IATA, Dr. Samson Fatokun made this known when he handed over the membership certiďŹ cate to the airline at its operating oďŹƒce in Lagos. In a speech, Fatokun said not all airlines are members of IATA as a result of its stringent admission process but commended Dana Air for making the list and joining over 300 airlines presently in the association’s registry. “We have requirements for any airline that wants to join IATA family and one of that requirement is that they must pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and this has kept most of them back. IATA comes with a requirement of quality and people expect the airlines to operate with recommended standards of aviation globally. We commend Dana Air for this feat and hope that they will keep up the good work,’’ he said.

The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo assured the airline’s passengers of its commitment to continuously raising the bar of its operational eďŹƒciency with an airline model that guarantees sustainability and professionalism in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

He said Dana Air has and would continue to maintain global best practices in the aviation industry while still introducing world-class initiatives to exceed the ying aspirations of its ever-increasing membership of the airlines’ loyalty program –Dana Miles. “Since becoming an IATA member, we have received a barrage of requests for interline and code-share agreements and we can’t wait to take our unrivaled services in Nigeria to the global stage. Dana Air remains uncompromising in its commitment to maintaining global best practices and as always, we will continue to churn out world-class initiatives to meet and exceed the ying aspirations of our teeming guests.’’

Air Peace is OďŹƒcial Airline for ICAO Forum

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has named Air Peace as the oďŹƒcial airline of its World Aviation Forum holding in Abuja from November 20 to 22. SecondVice-President of the Council of ICAO, Captain Musa Nuhu conďŹ rmed the status of the airline in a message to the Chairman/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema. Nuhu, who is also Nigeria’s representative on the Council of ICAO, commended Air Peace on behalf of the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika for partnering with the federal government to host the forum. He said the partnership would greatly contribute to the successful hosting of this prestigious forum on the global aviation calendar and assured that the forum would provide Air Peace a great opportunity to connect with a global audience of aviation stakeholders to discuss trends in the industry and boost the carrier’s plan to expand its ight operations.

Ethiopian Airlines Wins AFRAA Award

Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has won African Airlines Association(AFRAA)airlineoftheyearawardforthesixthconsecutive year in a row. The award was bestowed on the airline during its 49th Annual General Assembly of the association held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The AFRAA annual awards recognise excellence in service delivery, innovation and competitiveness in airlines, individuals and service providers in the African aviation industry. Ethiopian Airlines has been chosen for its remarkable performance revealed through its exceptional proďŹ tability for the ďŹ nancial year ended June 2016, exemplarycooperationwithotherAfricancarriers,cargodevelopment in the continent, and signiďŹ cant expansion of its route network helping to connect Africa together and with the rest of the world.

Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said, “As a truly indigenous and home-grown Pan-African airline owned, managed and operated by Africans, we are highly honored to receive this recognition by fellow sisterly airlines in the continent for the 6th consecutive year. I would like to thank AFRAA and sister airlines in the continent for recognising our eorts in nurturing cooperation with other African airlines and in availing eďŹƒcient passenger and cargo networks within, to and from the continent, while registering sound ďŹ nancial performance and record proďŹ t in 2016.

“Nigeria has become the only country in Africa to have its two airports certified in accordance to ICAO safety standard�

Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

Captain Muhtar Usman

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BUSINESSWORLD MASSIVE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, THREAT TO NIGERIA’S FUTURE, MOGHALU WARNS Among other recommendations, the former central banker said there was need for Nigeria’s policymakers and political leaders to establish an economic philosophy from which their economic vision would be derived, and set out a vision that would drive economic policy and management. “Such a vision must make clear the respective roles of the state and the market, and its position on capitalism and its various adaptations – entrepreneurial, crony capitalism, state capitalism, and welfare capitalism. The economic ecosystem will operate and be managed within this framework. “Economic management should be overhauled. The President should establish a full-time Council of Economic Advisers, headed by a Chairman that will serve as Chief Economic Adviser that researches and monitors the economy 24/7 and advises the President on actions to take to enhance economic growth.

EXPERT IDENTIFIES MERGER AS VIABLE OPTION FOR NIGERIA AIRLINES we have the market in terms of passengers, everybody wants to come to Nigeria. If you look at any market in Africa the most popular one is Nigeria. “This is because you can be sure if you are a foreign airline you fill your aircraft, probably from the front, first the business class and then economy. Nigerians like to travel in style if they can afford it. You know, you don’t get that in South Africa or Ethiopia or Kenya, the aircraft tends to fill from the back but in Nigeria it fills from the front. That means the premium, the ticket yield is very high and you can be profitable and of course the load factor from Nigeria is unusually high compared to the rest of Africa,� he said.

Fadugba also said that he would like see Nigerian airlines benefit from the country’s huge market and the only way they could do this is to work together.

NEWS

Bala-Usman: Efficient Seaport Channel Key to Economic Growth Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman has stated that the federal government is committed to ensuring that the nation’s ports are efficient as doing so will ensure economic growth and industrilisation.

She stressed the readiness of the NPA management at investing resources in the areas of capacity building and an efficient port system towards the growth of the nation’s economy and global industrialisation.

Bala-Usman made this remark during the NPA’s Special Day at the recent 2017 International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos with the theme, ‘’Promoting Industrialisation For Economic Recovery And Sustainable Growth.’’ According to her, developing nations of the world have come to the realisation that Industrialisation is a channel through which a nation’s economic recovery short and long term is dependent upon.

To this end, she added that all hand must be on deck towards finding a long lasting solution to the perennial problems facing the nation in the area of starvation, diseases

and unemployment amongst others.

According to the NPA boss, who was represented by the General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications, Abdullahi Goje, the NPA is assiduously working towards making our seaports a safe havenfor Investors within the sub-Sahara Africa by providing a conducive environment for all in line with International

best practices.

In her words: “There is currently an Executive Order on 24 hour port operations and the authority has placed all the necessary mechanisms to ensure the realisation of the order.�

Bala-Usman promised to work with professionals in the maritime sector and make the ports attractive to business and boost the Nigerian economy in the process.

The NPA boss said she was more determined to close the gaps between the agency and the professionals by engaging them in most of its activities to promote port business.

The NPA, she said, will find solution to the issue of gridlock in Apapa and fix the access road to boost port operations She expressed concern over other challenges facing the ports and assured of her determina-

tion to find a lasting solution to the problems.

In her welcome address, the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Nike Akande lauded the contributions of the port industry to the growth and development of the nation’s economy, and called on the relevant government agencies to ensure an enabling environment for an efficient Port system.

A BOOST TO ART AND DESIGN

L-R: Executive Director, Operations and Services, Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Odubiyi; Speaker, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; President, Interior Design Association of Nigeria, Titi Ogufere, and Chief Marketing OďŹƒcer, Sterling Bank Plc, Henry Bassey, during a Seminar on The Art of Collecting, sponsored by Sterling Bank in Lagos...

Apapa Gridlock: Local Govt Seeks Partnership with NIMASA In a bid to find a lasting solution to the Apapa gridlock, the Apapa Local Government Chairman, Adele Owolabi has sought partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in order to restore sanity to the Apapa community.

Owolabi while on a courtesy visit to the Agency bemoaned the danger the situation poses to the citizenry of the Apapa community and indeed the Nigerian economy, noting that it requires urgent action, which can only be achieved through collaboration amongst all Stakeholders within the Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Speaking further, he stated that the traffic gridlock also

poses security and environmental challenges, which require concerted efforts in order to forestall break down of law and order. “Before now, Apapa used to be a beehive of economic activities and one of the highest revenue generating Local Government Area in Lagos and a place where people engage in all forms of recreational activities. Today, the reverse is now the case as so many industries have relocated from the area, thereby crippling economic activities and in turn low revenue generation, �he said. He also appealed to the NIMASA Executive Management to partner with them in order to restore sanity to the Apapa Local Government

Area of Lagos State, so that economic activities will be restored and unhindered.

Accordingly, he stated that presently various committees have been set up to look into the immediate solution to the challenges identified and that the Agency will be duly informed of the outcome, so that NIMASA can assist.

Also concerned with the spate of criminality in the Apapa axis which mostly involves the youths, he requested for the Agency’s assistance in the area of capacity building so as to engage them in meaningful trades that will deter them from criminalities.

In his response, the Director General of NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside noted that

services to the community bring development to the populace, hence the need for continuous partnership with our host communities.

Dakuku who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Bashir Jamoh noted that the traffic situation in Apapa was a situation of concern to all parties, because of the security threat it poses. “The solution to the Apapa gridlock is above the Local Government and NIMASA, it is a national issue which needs the urgent attention of the Federal Government and all stakeholders in the sector.

On the immediate, we can be talking about a short-term solution, but on the long run

we must have medium and long-term plans on how to tackle the situation�, he said.

He further assured the Local Government Chairman and his team of the continuous support of NIMASA to any development that will help resolve the traffic challenge in Apapa, noting however that the Federal Government is doing its best to finding a lasting solution to the persistent traffic situation.

He also added that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government was not resting on its oars to fulfil its election mandate of transforming the economy and making life more comfortable for the Nigerian people.

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‘Collaboration Critical to Growth of Maritime Sector’ The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stressed that collaboration among stakeholders is key to the development of the maritime sector and growth of the Nigerian economy.

Also, he called for more female participation in the Nigerian maritime industry, adding that their contribution is critical to the development of the sector for the growth of the economy.

Speaking at the 2017 Business Luncheon of Women’s International Shipping and

Trading Association (WISTA), with the theme: ‘Road Infrastructure Development and Maintenance of Ports Artery Roads as Panacea for National Development,’ held in Lagos, the NIMASA DG said that the growth of the sector should be all inclusive. He stated that the Nigerian maritime industry is in dire need of all collaborations it can garner for economic benefit.

Peterside, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Lami Tumaka urged women to bring to bear their influence in supporting the

federal government as it strives to put the necessary infrastructure in place for port development.

According to Peterside, “We know the strength and commitment of women, we urge you to collaborate with us as we continue to provide infrastructure that will ensure the ease of doing maritime business.�

He also noted that the agency has continued to come up with policies that will encourage women in maritime, adding that the national seafarers development programme,

an initiative of the agency towards arresting the dearth of trained and certified seafarers, give support that will encourage female participation in shipping.

He further lauded the initiatives of WISTA like the “girls go to sea� programme of the association which complements the agency’s efforts in building capacity for the sector.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello said the agencies under the Ministry of Transportation are working

assiduously to ensure that the Apapa Port access roads are fixed.

He said that very soon the impact of the activities of the agencies would be felt.

The President of WISTA Mrs. Mary Madu Hamman on her part said that the association, which has women in various sectors of the maritime industry including the ministries, departments and agencies will continue to do their best to support the government to develop infrastructure and grow the maritime sector.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

21

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

SIFAX Boss Mentors Budding Entrepreneurs Eromosele Abiodun To succeed in the daunting path of entrepreneurship, vision, unique business ideas, persistence, self confidence, creativity and hard work have been identified as some of the essential ingredients that must be paid close attention to.

Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi disclosed this while receiving contestants of The Next Titan business reality TV show in his office in Lagos.

SIFAX Group is a sponsor of the show.

According to Afolabi, who was represented by Executive Director, Human Resources & Administration, SIFAX Group, Dr. Fola Rogers-Saliu, the task of birthing and building a business idea to maturity and

profitability stage is not a child’s play, hence, grit, sacrifice and determination are required.

Afolabi further urged the contestants to work on their person as an entrepreneur because of the critical role he plays in the overall success of his business. “As the driver of the vision, a whole lot rests on his shoulders and he must possess certain qualities top of which is a penchant for prompt business decisions that must be based on sound knowledge, without which, success can either be limited or non-existent. As a budding entrepreneur, you must be ready to face the storm alone.

People will only associate with you when you are successful.

It is the passion that you have that will sustain you during the trying times. Entrepreneurship

is a rewarding and fulfilling exercise if one attains success at it,� he said.

He added that SIFAX Group has been providing support for The Next Titan show since inception because of the company’s philosophy founded on the belief that the promotion and support of entrepreneurship, especially among young people, will help create more jobs and improve the country’s economy.

The Executive Producer, The Next Titan Reality TV Show, Mr. Mide Kunle-Akinlaja, thanked SIFAX Group for being a strong support for the show since it began, adding that the sponsorship category upgrade to become the only associate Sponsor of the show has helped in providing more opportunities for the contestants.

Grand Oak Launches 9ja CafĂŠ Rhum into Nigerian Market Grand Oak Limited, a leading marketer of alcoholic and nonalcoholic brands has expanded its brand portfolio with the launch of 9ja cafĂŠ Rhum into the Nigerian market.

9ja CafĂŠ Rhum is proudly Nigerian liquor made from 100% handpicked coffee beans, sucrose and matured rum for Nigerians.

The driving philosophy of the brand is to encourage Nigerians to indulge their passion for the things they enjoy, do great things and rediscover who they truly are.The new product was unveiled at the International Trade Fair, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, recently and was attended by key distributors across the country and other stakeholders.

Managing Director of Grand Oak, Aare Fatai Odesile disclosed that the new product is of international standard and has been approved by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for meeting quality standards. “This brand meets both local and international standards, registered by NAFDAC, okay

by SON and we have gone through all the process to

ensure we give Nigerians the trusted quality of Grand Oak Limited. It is a recommended brand for truly Nigerian people.� he stated.

He added that the brand fuels the resilient spirit, the never-give-up; can-do attitude that Nigerians are known for worldwide and the brand name ‘9ja CafĂŠ Rhum’ shows it is made for Nigerians. Adding that, the campaign ‘indulge your passion rep 9ja’, a campaign to promote the new brand is aim at promoting greatness among Nigerians considering the lot of potentials and talents that the country boosts of.

Speaking in the same vein, the Group Executive Director of Grand Oak, Adekunle Rosiji said that the production of 9ja CafĂŠ Rhum is a result of indepth research and consumer engagement that the company embarked on. Adding that with the unique taste and coffee aroma, the brand is set to take over the leadership of the rum market in the country.

In addition, Rosiji said the product is available across the country “This is the hottest new brand to hit Nigeria in the last 20 years, so we have celebrity endorsement, CDQ.

Beyond this, we are already here in trade fair, we are in every market in Nigeria and we are going to let the people know through the radio, the TV that 9ja CafÊ Rhum, it is for you and we want you to indulge your passion.�

At the high profile event, the guests were entertained by comedians, dancers, Models who showcased different fashion collections and 9ja CafĂŠ Rhum’s brand ambassador, music star and indigenous hip-hop rapper, Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf popularly known as ‘CDQ’ who sang some of his hit tracks.

Commenting on the product, CDQ applauded Grand Oak for the new innovation, he said the product has a great taste and a unique aroma that consumers will love. Grand Oak Limited is a Marketing and Sales company of Lexcel Group. Established in 2006, the company is a leader in Nigeria’s Food and Drinks sector.

It core business is the marketing and sales of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Some of it brands are Apperito, Bacchus Lite, Lord’s Dry Gin, Seaman’s Schnapps, Regal Dry Gin, St Lauren, Swagga and others.

Dakuku Tasks Legal Experts on Updates of Maritime Law Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has charged practitioners of law in the maritime sector on the need for regular updates on the knowledge of the sector, due to the dynamism of maritime law regulating the industry, which is key to its development.

Speaking at the dinner event of the annual general meeting (AGM) of Nigeria Maritime Law Association (NMLA) held at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Peterside described maritime which is driven by international

laws as a pillar of the economy and issues regarding the sector must be taken seriously.

According to the NIMASA boss, “Maritime is driven by international and municipal laws with an infusion of technology which makes the sector always re-evolving; maritime law is a specialised branch of law so practitioners must update their knowledge to meet up with the pace of the change of the sector.�

He also noted the importance of the maritime aspect of law to NIMASA, adding that the law majorly is concerned with commercial aspects of shipping as well as the navigation which are core functions of the agency

in its bid to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime domain remains safe and secure for maritime business to thrive.

Earlier in his presentation, President of NMLA, Mr. Lucky Ilogu SAN said that NIMASA, as the maritime safety administration of Nigeria, has a great role to play in the development of the maritime sector.

He commended Dakuku and the agency’s management team for ushering in a new direction for the maritime industry through its repositioning drive.

The NMLA is a body of lawyers and related professionals in the maritime industry established in 1977.

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

Risk Maturity: How Well, Not How Old (I)

R

isk taking is inherent in every Ă?ÚÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ë› ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă›Ă&#x;ÙÞĂ? Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ă? ĚŽ ˍÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËŹË› Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?×ÚÒËĂ?Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă”Ă™ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ÞÙÚ ͽ͸ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? on the NSE are not necessarily the ones ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ÞËÕĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ë› ËÞÒĂ?ĂœËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙÚ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• levels can profitably be absorbed. Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ăœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË›

Ăž ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă?Ëœ as well as control that is exercised and Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞËÕĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?âÞ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? how and what decisions are taken when Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĂŁĂ™Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂŒĂ Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ™ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‘Ă™Ă™ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞÙ ĂĄĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ë› Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ë› Þ˪Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ? ËÞÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ě‹ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËš Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă Ă™Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ë› Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂœĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœË› Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? generally learned rather than instinctive. Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂŒĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ù×ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž responses and actions to take and the ĂžĂ“Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ Ă?Ù˛ It is a widely accepted fact that risk Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ÚÙĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă™ĂŒĂ?ÞËĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă™ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă’Ă?

Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă‹ Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™Ě‹ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ ×ÙÎĂ?Ă–Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? ×ÙÎĂ?Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă‹Ăš Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ë› Ă’Ă? ×ÙÎĂ?Ă– ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ ĚŽ Ă–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁËž Ă?Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ëž ĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÞÓ×ÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă?Ëž Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? ÞÙÚ˞ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜Ëž ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă?ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËž ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëž ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂžĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? in place for responding to risks and risk ËÚÚĂ?ÞÓÞĂ?Ëž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÚĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă?ÒÙå ÞÒËÞ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? in the organisation. Ă’Ă? ÖÙåĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ËŠĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁËŞËœ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ëœ Ă?ÒËÙÞÓĂ?Ëœ Ă‹ĂŽ Ă’Ă™Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‹Ă“Ă Ă?Ë› ĂŁ Ă?ÒËÙÞÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ăž ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ÞãÚÓĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă? ÞÙ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă?ÖÙå ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă‹ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă™Ă?Ë› Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ approach to dealing with threats and opĚ‹ ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă? ×ÙÎĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ě‹Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă™ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ËÞÞĂ?Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž

Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ åÓÞÒ˛ Ă–Ă– risks are perceived as negative and there Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă’ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? go wrong with little or no perception of personal responsibility. Ă’Ă? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ËŠĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ě‹ ÞÓà Ă?ËŞË› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă‹Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ÞËÕĂ? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ě‹ Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?ÞÓÖÖ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁË› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ’Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ă?Ù×Ă? ÚÙÖÓĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“ĂœĂŽ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ËŠĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ě‹ ÞÓà Ă?ËŞË› Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽËœ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ë› Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ÞËÕĂ? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂœĂ™Ă™Ă— ËÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽË› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞËÖÕ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŁĂ?Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?âË×ÚÖĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“Ă— ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ˊÙÚÞÓ×ÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽËŞË› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ processes are integrated into the way in ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• ËÚÚĂ?ÞÓÞĂ?Ë› Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă—Ă&#x;ÖÞÓ̋ÖĂ?Ă Ă?Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ě‹ Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ě‹ Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ÞÓÞÓà Ă? advantage. Ă’Ă? Ă•Ă?ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă• Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă™ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? ÞãÚÓĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă™ĂŒĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ă“Ă? ĂšĂ™Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽËœ Ă“Ă? ÞÙ ×Ùà Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ĂžĂ™ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ ÚÞÓ×ÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ë› Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă? Ă™Ă? strength and weakness and enable a clear ÚËÞÒåËã ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÙÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁË› Ëž ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ëœ Ëœ Ëœ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ëœ Ě™ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ěš Ë› ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ë› Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ ÚÙĂ?Ăž Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?ĂĄ Ă™ĂœĂ• Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?

Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă’Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

NAMA to Implement Harmonisation of Staff Salaries Stories by Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said it has put in place a mechanism to look into the lingering issue of harmonising the salaries and allowances of staff under its payroll with those of their colleagues in other agencies in the aviation sector.

The Managing Director of the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu who revealed this at a town hall meeting, which held at the agency’s headquarters annex in Lagos, said although the issue of harmonisation is as old as the agency itself, there is the need to revisit it as a resolution would boost staff morale and

also increase productivity in the long run.

As a first bold step towards achieving the harmonisation, Akinkuotu said management has constituted a committee headed by the Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Farouk Umar with the mandate to look in-depth at the circumstance of harmonisation, cost of harmonisation and the agency’s ability to achieve harmonisation and its validity.

The NAMA Boss disclosed that the committee had already submitted the said report, assuring that management would immediately convene a meeting to review the report in its totality and examine whether or not

there is a disparity and it there was disparity how the agency could pay for it.

He said however that after considering the report, another report would be prepared and presented to government for ratification and expressed optimism that even though the harmonisation issue has lingered for over 14 years, management was determined to tackle it headlong, stressing that “if we plug all the loopholes and cut down on some of the waste and be more prudent in our expenditure, we will make a little more money and it really shouldn’t be that difficult attaining harmonisation.�

Ethiopian Attracts More Travellers with Modern Aircraft Acquisition Ethiopia Airlines has been adjudged as the foreign carrier with the newest fleet of aircraft that operate into Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

This was disclosed by travel expert and the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko. He noted that the airline has given other carriers that operate to destinations in Africa competitive edge, adding that many passengers now switch over to the East Africa airline from legacy carriers because it maintains the state-of-the-art equipment that fly in the continent.

Uko was reacting to the introduction of the airline’s latest aircraft, Boeing B7879 to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja when the flight airlifted 177 passengers to Nigeria’s capital city recently.

He remarked that Ethiopian is not only the most profitable airline in the region but it is the only African operator that is making significant efforts at wresting the African travel market from international operators that do not show strong commitment to the continent besides taking away passengers and generating revenue.

The new aircraft on arrival in Abuja was welcomed by the officers of the Airport Fire Service with the usual water cannon shower to mark the arrival of new aircraft to the airport.

Sales and Traffic Manager, Ethiopia Airlines, Mrs. Firiehiwot Mekonnen, said the new aircraft, which is a 315-seater comprising 30 business class and 285 economy seats, was the newest of Boeing aircraft in the world.

Mekonnen said the decision to fly the aircraft to Abuja was to give passengers the opportunity to experience the comfort of the new aircraft.

She said the aircraft was a month old in Ethiopian airlines’ fleet, adding that the aircraft would be flown to all its 100 destinations around the world. “We flew in 27 passengers on business class and 150 on economy because we want our passengers to experience the comfort of the newest aircraft from Boeing, the 787. The B787-9 is part of its commitment to deliver exceptional level of service to the African market by operating the latest technologically advanced aircraft in the market. Ethiopian Airlines has always services Abuja with

its newest Aircraft. It brought the Dreamliner B787 to Abuja in 2012 and reopened the Abuja Airport this year with the A350 when the Airport was reopened after 6 weeks closure,’’ she said.

The pilot of the aircraft, Capt Michael Yilma described the aircraft as the most economical in terms of fuel consumption and noise.

Yilma said that he was one of the first pilots to be trained on the aircraft, explaining that Ethiopian airline was the second to acquire the B787-9 after Japan.

He said that passengers had enjoyed the unique onboard features of the latest technology aircraft such as on-board comfort and aircraft with the biggest windows in the sky, high ceiling and less noise. “And because I have been flying Boeing for five years now, I can say that this aircraft is the best so far. What makes it different from other aircraft is its noise level and it is very economical and the quality of the air in the cabin is superb.

It is also more comfortable for passengers because the noise level is minimal and the quality of air they breathe in the cabin is also perfect,’’ he said.

NAHCO Promotes 800 Staff Foremost national ground handling services provider, nahco aviance, has promoted over 846 out of its about 2000 workforce. The figure, according to the company, represents more than 45 percent of the company’s total workforce.

The promotion, which was approved by the Board of Directors, and announced over the weekend, was one of the staff improvement programmes by NAHCO Plc. “The promotion which came against the background of an economy that is still in technical recession shows the importance that the Company places on its staff,� the company said.

In a statement announcing the promotion, the outgoing acting MD/ CEO, Mrs.

Folashade Ode, said that the promotion exercise was based on well – defined criteria that ensured fairness and transparency and restated the company’s resolve to keep a happy and well–motivated workforce.

The statement said: “A more transparent, performance driven reward and compensation system will be put in place to improve our overall service quality with positive impact on our revenue and profitability.�

She urged all staff to reciprocate the Board’s kind gesture by rededicating themselves to their duties to further enhance the progress of NAHCO. The company said the current promotion exercise came about two years after

the Company promoted 390 staff. The last promotion carried out in September 2015 was widely applauded by the aviation unions and other stakeholders who urged other operators in the industry to emulate NAHCO’s commendable welfare policies. “Only in July this year, the Company effected salary increment with some staff getting as much as 15 percent increase in their salaries,� the statement also said.

Ode welcomed the incoming MD/ CEO NAHCO Plc, Mr. Idris Yakubu. “Ode will formally hand over to Yakubu on November 20, 2017, after which she would revert to her portfolio of acting MD/ CEO of NAHCO EPI,� the company said.

AIR WATCH Still on the Infrastructure DeďŹ cit in Aviation Last week, industry experts at a conference in Lagos, organised by the Aviation Round Table (ART), a think-tank body in the sector, x-rayed the limitations in air transport in the country, blaming the bad situation on obsolete and limited infrastructure. The thereafter proffered ways the country could improve airport facilities and boost the industry.

The experts also linked flight cancellations, flight delays, lack of profitability of airlines and menace of weather to poor infrastructure and lamented the failure of government to take the right policies at the right time and also to implement the policies that would grow the sector.

For example, the experts explained that during the Harmattan haze and the rains, flight operations are impaired due to bad weather, which could be overcome with modern facilities that are currently inadequate in Nigeria.

They noted that lack of aviation infrastructure has hindered the maximisation of Nigeria’s airspace and forced airlines to operate fewer hours a day.

But the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Fola Akinkuotu said the federal government has completed plans to install Instrument Landing System (ILS) in Abuja and Lagos so that flights could land at zero visibility.

However Akinkuotu said for the airlines to benefit from the new equipment, they must have corresponding equipment in their aircraft and called for the training of Nigerian pilots on the technologies adopted for airspace management in the country.

According to Akinkuotu, without sufficient training of pilots on new air navigation technology; the huge investment on spacebased technology such as Performance Based Navigation would not achieve the desired results. Akinkuotu said the agency is getting worried that many domestic carriers were yet to train their pilots on performance based navigation systems despite the huge commitment of funds into the project.

He said there is need for a match between provision of modern air navigation equipment and user capability.

The NAMA Boss said the airspace agency has been grappling with epileptic power supply at airports nationwide, which has forced the agency to spend millions of naira on diesel for generators as secondary source of power supply. Besides epileptic power supply, Akinkuotu identified porous airports without perimeter fences as part of the challenges affecting aviation infrastructure. “For you to succeed in airline business you have to hit critical mass. I doubt whether there is any airline that can succeed in Nigeria. My greatest fear is the Harmattan. But we have moved forward.

The Nigerian airspace has improved over the years in response to global trends. For example, Kaduna airport has DVOR (enroute navigation equipment); Lagos has two ILS (Instrument Landing System), Kano airport has three, while Kaduna has one. “We have navigational equipment that has to be maintain 24 hours a day, but there is no power so we have standby. We have concluded plans to have solar panels, but there will be a question of security. Most of the ILS we have in this country are Category two. But we have to be able to meet the latest technology where flights can land on zerozero visibility (when aircraft can land in thick fog and Harmattan haze). Also international aviation consultant and the publisher of African Aviation magazine, Mr. Nick Fadugba said that Nigeria needs major maintenance

Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika

facility in the country and called for merger of the airlines in order to benefit from the economy of scale and to code-share to make their businesses profitable. “Airlines should come together and form joint ventures. Airlines as they exist today are weak.

No Nigerian airline today is big enough to fill the shoes of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL). We want the government of Nigeria to be transparent in infrastructure development. There should be transparency and good governance in Nigeria. That is all we need to grow the industry because in Africa no country has the economic potential of Nigeria. Foreign airlines come to Nigeria to make money, but Nigerian airlines don’t make money,� Fadugba, who is also the former Secretary-General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), said. In his contribution, the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, reiterated that Nigerian has the population; it has the travelling public, so every airline that comes to Nigeria makes money, noting that the country has tremendous amount of potential. Demuren stated that the private sector must be brought in to develop aviation infrastructure but government must have to show commitment and encourage private investment. “Every state must have commitment for aviation, but nobody will invest in your country unless you have corporate governance. Nobody will invest in your country if he knows he will go into litigation when he commits his money to projects. Infrastructure plays major role in aviation and aviation is the engine of economic growth,� Demuren said.

Also speaking at the conference, former Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Samuel Caulcrick canvassed the setting up of an Aviation Development Commission to coordinate gaps in the sector.

Such body, he said would serve as an intervention agency to drive the development of the sector, adding that such a body would be useful in addressing formulation of policies that will drive the growth of the industry.

In the next few weeks, airline operators and air travellers will be at the mercy of the Harmattan haze, but as NAMA boss, Akinkuotu noted that the Nigerian government is making efforts to improve landing aids. But the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma warned that whatever is done to mitigate the vagaries of weather in airline operation, it has to be recongised that weather has its ways and its ways must be respected.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Waterways as Viable Transport Channels Eromosele Abiodun posits that with a visionary plan, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority can respond appropriately to the country’s transportations needs through the waterways Inland waterways are made up of navigable rivers, lakes, coastal creeks, lagoons and canals.

The movement of goods and services along inland waterways is one of the oldest means of transportation from point to point.

This is largely due to the fact that inland water transport offers the most economical, energy efficient and environmental friendly means of transporting all types of cargo from place to place. It also offers safer and cheaper rates in areas where water exist naturally.

This facilitates commerce, promotes wealth creation, alleviates poverty, and creates job opportunities for youths within such regions.

The ancillary sector of boat building industry also generates employment through active engagement of the youths in welding and fabrication process.

Despite the immense benefits to the economy, inland water transport in Nigeria has had a long history of neglect by both government and the private sector.

Little efforts were made to develop inland water transport facilities prior to the 1980s. This stemmed largely from policy inconsistency, limited private sector involvement, and conflicts between and among agencies involved in the management of inland water transport in Nigeria.

Since the 1990s, however, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has taken a number of initiatives, including capital and infrastructure improvement, channels dredging and maintenance and installation of safety facilities, to turn the sector around.

Industry watchers and analysts have argued that with efficient control systems, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) could function appropriately to make economic fortunes.

Their arguments, no doubt, is coming from the efficient operations of the Inland Waterways Transportation of the United States (U.S) with about 25,000 nautical miles, out of which 12,000 miles have been commercialised and maintained by the government.

The American inland, intra-coastal and coastal waterways and channels, available statistics reveal, accommodates about 3,008 businesses and 24,908 employees as well as makes a whopping $8billion annually.

More than 60 per cent of America’s grain exports, about 22 per cent of domestic petroleum products and 20 per cent of the coal used in electricity generation is ferried via America’s water transportation system.

The Nigerian Situation The reverse is, however, the case in Nigeria.

For years, the growth of water transport and other ancillary businesses have been impeded by numerous obstacles especially the battle for control.

Virtually all the state governments with this geographical advantage are engaged in subtle regulatory or supremacy battle with the federal government.

The situation thereby flouts the provisions of the law, court rulings and as such cause distraction to major stakeholders in the industry.

Nigeria has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owning a land area of 924000skm with an estimated population of about 170 million.

The country is blessed with a coastline of about 870km and about 3000kilometer of inland waterways. Nigeria currently has six major ports (Tincan Island, Apapa, Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar) and 10 crude oil terminals (Escarvos, Bonny, Sapele, Forcados, Tuma, Okrika, FOT, etc).

Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) annual account showed that traffic into the major ports, excluding tankers, was estimated at appropriately 35, 000 vessels per annum and overall cargo throughout (excluding crude) was 222.23 million tons. The total number of passengers that patronises the sea ports is estimated at 35000 per annum. Statistics from NPA indicate that 4070 vessels with 121,350,844GRT

Ferry users

visited Nigeria in the year 2000 alone, having an overall cargo throughout at 28,859,274 million tons.

Sequentially, container traffic at major ports was 119,458 (outwards) and 204,299 (inwards); however, several other ports dotted along the 300km of inland waterways includes Onitsha, Oguta, Opobo, Lokoja, Baro, Jebba etc.

Nigeria being major oil producing and exporting country records about 2,000 petroleum tanker vessels calling at her ports annually, with an average tanker size of about 95000.

Job Creation Opportunity Industry analysts therefore, wonder why the federal and states government cannot take advantage of the huge opportunities in the sector to create jobs. “Pause and reflect on the import and export statistics in terms of numerous trade opportunities and the never-ending operations on the Nigerian coastal ways nationwide. Such transport or activities over waterways is especially effective when the source and/or destination are a water front location, which is a main infrastructural advantage that regularly needed to be trained, maintained and upgraded, of which Nigeria is specially blessed with such infrastructure as waterways unlike the hinterland states. “The Nigeria inland waterways operations and management has long since time immemorial been in service but are yet to meet with her states expectation seeing the various natural features on ground as tools to facilitate its operations.

Nigeria aspires to be amongst the top 20 largest economics by the year 2020 according to the economics policy at vision 2020 and successful operations and management of the inland waterways by the actual implementation at the enacted cabotage laws in Nigeria is critical to the success or otherwise of the plan because of the indispensible role shipping plays in not just the movement of goods and services around the country and the revenues collected as tax from the various actors in the sector,� said an industry watcher.

Cabotage Act Impact Experts also believe the effective implementation of the Cabotage Act will catalyse the growth and development of the transportation sector and reduce the over dependence of the nation on

road transportation operations and its consequent damage of the roads since the collapse of the railway system in Nigeria.

Others believe the growth of the sector is expected when the dredging activities on in the nation’s inland waterways are concluded. “However, the initiatives and strategies forecasted for the future still does not move a foot if the problem of enforcement geometrically progresses due to the infallible and unchangeable management governing the corridors of power in this sector, seeing actually that most of them still lack the rudimentary understanding of its existence and likewise its operationality,� said the industry analyst.

The LASWA Example Meanwhile, all hope is not lost if the efforts made by the Lagos State government to develop the sector is anything to go by.

Recently, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) confirmed that about two million people shuttle the Lagos waterways on a monthly basis. The Managing Director, LASWA, Abisola Kamson made this disclosure.

According to her, the number of people that ply the state’s waterways has grown rapidly over the years and measures are being put in place to strengthen the authority’s water guards to enforce safety rules.

Kamson also revealed that new safety rules for the growth of water transportation sector in the state is underway as various challenges are being encountered by LASWA on the waterways She added that they are in partnership with the National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA), in order to regulate various activities on the state’s waterways and ensure that it is safe.

She stated that the new guidelines would focus on the quality of boats, size of the boat, size of the engine, and general safety for commuters.

The LASWA boss said operators would be given a period to comply with the new guidelines after which government would begin strict enforcement of the guidelines adding that LASWA would employ more water guards to enhance patrol on waterways.

She said the water guards of the authority provided statistics on daily basis on the number of passengers plying the jetties in the state, saying that many people were now used to commuting on the waterways and that the number still

kept on growing. “The core function of LASWA is to act as a regulatory agency for all movements on waterways. We are to provide enabling infrastructure that will promote water transport,� Kamson said.

She said the authority is working closely with the Marine Police in order to beef up the security and also, curb illegal access on the waterways adding that plans were underway to ensure that jetties and boat operators not licensed by the state government were not allowed to operate on the waterways.

Kamson said that there would be proper channelling of boat routes to prevent boat users from interference. This, she said, would enable the authority monitor the number of approved vessels plying certain route, which would make for safety of the waterways.

The MD appealed to Lagos residents to desist from dumping refuse and open defecation on water as such practice could impede movement on waterways adding that efforts were underway for mechanised clearing.

Privatisation In January this year, NIWA announced that it was set to concession the Onitsha, Lokoja, Baro and Oguta river ports following the granting of a certificate of compliance to go ahead with the concession processes by the Infrastructure Concession Regulation Commission (ICRC).

Former NIWA boss, Mr. Boss Mustapha stated this when he visited the Onitsha, Warri, Yenogoa and Oguta river ports as part of his familiarisation tour of the agency’s Area offices in the area.

At the Onitsha River port, the former NIWA MD was impressed with the state of the cargo handling equipment. He, however, frowned at the slow pace of work at the Oguta River port and promised to get the National Assembly and Imo State Government to support the project.

He was delighted at the agency’s asset at the Warri dockyard which he said is capable of sustaining the agency financially if properly managed.

He promised to address the issue of inadequate manpower and obsolete equipment at the Warri port.

He also visited the two jetties at Yenogoa in Bayelsa State and promised that they would be put to use very soon.

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Deepening Ethical Compliance in Business Early exposure of young minds to business ethics and compliance will help a great deal in engendering integrity in the market place, writes Peter Uzoho Businesses thrive when players in the industry – investors, employers, employees, all concerned, hold on to the sanctity of trust, high level of integrity and professionalism in all dealings. The capital and financial market and the investment industry generally will only prosper and all parties happy when fundamental business values, corporate rules and procedures are upheld by all in all situations, irrespective of position.

However, when professional business ethics is lacking, breached or lost, mistrust sets in, loyalty is lost, investments are jeopardised, businesses are brought to abrupt end and the economy suffers. To this end, developing a platform that enables players in the investment market to always abide by good professional ethics as well as exposing young ones who are future players on issues relating to ethical compliance holds high hope for the industry.

It was against this backdrop that First Bank Nigeria Limited, bought into the Universities Ethics Challenge initiated by the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society Nigeria. CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit association of investment professionals with a mission to lead the investment profession globally by promoting best ethical standard, educational and professional excellence for the benefit of society.

The institute’s educational programmes are designed to reach out to and develop next generation of investment professionals through hands-on training, mentorship and competitions.

The universities Ethics Challenge is one of such educational outreach programmes and it is targeted at university students offering business courses.

The primary purpose of the competition is to expose them early to ethical realities in the investment industry as future players as well as assessing their sense of judgment on such critical issues.

In the competition, participating students are given two identical case studies which focus on ethical issues in the investment sector to do a review and identify where there are ethical violations and make recommendations for action.

The programme aligns perfectly with the bank’s corporate social responsibility which cuts across commitment to ethics and professional excellence and driving growth through building the capacity of Nigerians. First Bank offered to sponsor the programme for the next three years.

Recently, students of business-related faculties from five of Nigeria’s premier universities – University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria took part in the final of the 2017 edition of the CFA Nigeria Ethics Challenge in Lagos.

2016/first edition winner, University of Lagos won the competition again and was presented with the trophy at the CFA Nigeria Award Dinner at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah and his Finance counterpart, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, joined the Group Executive, Treasury and Financial Institution, First Bank, Mr. Ini Ebong in presenting the trophy to the winning school.

Speaking to journalists on the essence of the bank’s partnership in the programme, Head, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, First Bank, Mr. Ismail Omamegbe, said the programme was in line with an aspect of the bank’s institutional values and purpose of existence. These, according to him were their belief in corporate governance, ethics and integrity. “And we do think that we have to demonstrate this as well; so it’s not just believing,� Omamegbe said.

He stressed that the bank had impacted positively on the society as part of the nation building. “But we do think that when you have to build institutions you have to build from the scratch, you have to be able to lay certain foundation. And we believe that the CFA Society and CFA Institute is a global organisation that focuses on integrity and ethics and research, and one of the ways to help them do that is to partner with them to get this done,� he noted.

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; UNILAG Team/Winners of the 2017 CFA Ethics Challenge; Group Executive, Treasury and Financial Institutions, First Bank, Ini Ebong; and President, CFA Society Nigeria, Banji Fehintola, at the CFA Award Dinner in Lagos...recently Omamegbe added: “The second aspect is to actually demonstrate our commitment. We have a Chair at the University of Lagos on business ethics called the ‘Samuel Asabia Chair for Business Ethics’. It’s basically an aspect of the sustainability agenda. The key thing we believe in as an organisation is that ethics is very important and, if you don’t have integrity there is something wrong. “And we believe that the university students for example are the young ones that are going to take over the institutions in the future. So how do you create a platform where they can inculcate these values – the value of ethics and the believe in ethics; and actually demonstrate it later in life? So we’re supporting CFA to be able to build the foundation with these young ones�, he noted.

However, President, CFA Society Nigeria, Mr. Banji Fehintola, said the ethics challenge was important to the association as according to him, the investment industry thrives on ethics. “And what we are doing is to start talking to university students right from when they are still in school before they even come into the investment industry – to start inculcating in them the ethical principles that we think will make the industry to be sustainable in the long run.

So that’s the overall objectives,� Fehintola said. “The programme started last year with two universities as pioneer participants and was expanded this year, accommodating seven schools, and is projected to expand more in the coming years. “This year with the support of First Bank, we had seven schools participating. Last year we had two.�

He said one of his commitments as president of the association was to start addressing the issue by talking to those that are coming in in the future rather than the ones that are already in the system. “And that’s why we are doing this ethics challenge – to start getting these ones to understand ethics even before they come into the industry. “And to be honest, sitting in the room watching them say some of these things mean that the future of the industry is very bright. We are building an industry that will be more ethical and more professional in future,� he said.

To ensure the outcome of the programme meets CFA standards, Fehintola explained that Judges used in the competition were all CFA Chartered Holders. “And this year we got First Bank as a sponsor of the programme to nominate a judge who has joined the panel of judges and, we did that for two reasons. “One, it’s also our own way of getting someone

who is not a CFA Chartered member to also appreciate the CFA Standards that we are preaching to people. And the feedback I’ve gotten from her is that she has learnt so much from listening to these students. And even for her, it’s been a life changing experience being part of this competition.�

In his appreciation, Fehintola noted that First Bank had been extremely supportive of the association in realising its objectives. “When we preached this whole idea to the bank to support this ethic challenge they came and they exceeded our expectations. For instance, First Bank said to us we can partner with you not just monetarily, we can also offer you things like our training centre, we can offer you accommodation for the students, we can offer you all our facilities for you to use, which to me shows that the bank believes strongly in what we’re doing. “They believe that ethical standards are very important not just for the banking sector but for the investment industry as a whole. We asked them for one year support and First Bank offered us three year support. So I really appreciate them for that,� he added.

Commenting on the assessment of the students’ performance at the competition, Chairman, Publicity Committee, CFA Society Nigeria, Mr. Ayokunle Ojo, pointed out that the students were able to identify a number of ethical challenges. He said these ranged from misconduct, not understanding the law and lack of adequate supervision.

He said issues of lack of integrity in the capital market as an adviser were spotted out by the participants. According to Ojo, as an adviser you are supposed to uphold the law and do the right thing in dealing with your clients. You are supposed to put the interest of your client above the interest of your employer and above your own personal interest. “If young people are aware of the dilemma that we face as members of the capital market and if they understand in a clear way how to deal with those issues it then means that when they start participating either as employees or as captains of industries they will be able to make the right decisions. And if we’re all making the right decision then the financial industry and the capital market will improve and that would impact on the society at large�, He added.

Meanwhile, appreciating the impact of the programme, Faculty Adviser, University of Nigeria Nsukka CFA Ethics Challenge Contingent, Dr. Tony Orji, said the ethical

challenge was a good way of encouraging the students to imbibe good professional ethics, noting that, it has given a lot of experience and exposure to them. “It’s a good way of raising the students because the foundation of any building matters a lot,�

Orji said. “These students have come and learnt about the professional ethics and conduct. In the near future they will be the investors, advisers and financial analysts. “And, having learnt this good ethics, they are going to enshrine it into their professional conduct. Also, as a faculty adviser, I have learnt a lot. So, bringing my students here was not a waste at all. On this note, I commend CFA Society and First Bank for creating a platform where these young ones can be exposed early to ethical issues in the capital market�, Orji noted.

One of the participants and member of team UNILAG, Seyi Akindutire, said the programme was a learning point for him.

He said: “I think I’m going somewhere from here; I’m going home from here with the best in my heart. Inculcating this ethical habits and conducts and internalising it is going to change our perspective about the industry and make us to be discipline as individuals in the finance industry.�

Also commenting, Bright Mgbemena of team UNN said featuring in the ethical challenge was phenomenal in his life as a potential player in the industry, saying the experience surpassed his expectation.

He said: “When I heard of the CFA Society ethic challenge I was thinking it was going to be a mere challenge not knowing it was going to be this outstanding. “The programme has really impacted on me and my fellow students. You know ethic is very important for the growth and sustainability of an organisation.

According to him, abiding by or contravening ethical rules of a company determines its survival in the industry. “Because you have to make investment decisions, recommending whether there will be a sale or a buy with the company’s stock. This is not something for the moment; it’s something we believe will take us to places. “The organisers are looking at the future of the investment market and thinking about what to do to secure the market. So that’s why they shifted attention to us, the young ones that will one day come in as players in the industry. So I really commend CFA Society and First Bank for giving us this opportunity,� Mgbemena added.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

LIVING | P31

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

THE RISE AND RISE OF MED-VIEW AIRLINE

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

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017

T H I S D AY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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30/ COVER

17.11.2017

From left, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Med-View Airline Plc, Alhaji Muneer Bankole received on his arrival at Dakar International Airport by Embassy of the Republic of Guinea to Nigeria, Benin and ECOWAS, H.E. Gaoussou Toure and Director General, Guinea Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Mamady Kaba, during the inaugural flight of Med-View Airline to Conakry…recently

Passengers on baord Med-View Airline (Boeing 737-300).

integration among ECOWAS countries in terms of doing business and otherwise. He reiterated that the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration is of great benefit to the airline especially as it has started the integration of the West African region which has the potential to provide a vast market for air travel with its over 300 million population across board.

“We have the passion to drive governments to the opportunities that exist in Nigeria especially in air transport business in the West African sub-region and beyond Africa. We are happy to come in here to do business. We are very proud of the reception we received. There is pressure on our side for the job that has been assigned for investors to come in here. We want to assure you that this journey which was started by our great leaders will continue to unite us, as family members of ECOWAS we will continue to work together for the good of all the nationalities,” he said.

On the new international airport built by the Senegalese Government, he said “We are proud for the new international airport that will be inaugurated this November. We want to thank His Excellency, the President of Senegal for his initiative, for building a new airport.

Air transport is the fastest growing business and the fastest means of transportation. We are proud to be associated with the development on with what is going on here.”

Speaking on the type of services passengers on Med-View should expect, he said, “First, we are known for our customer satisfaction and promptness on departure as those who fly with us can confirm. We are not only subregional airline, we are an international airline.

We have four flights to the United Kingdom using Gatwick as our base. We also have four flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and

The Guinean Pilot, Capt. Diakady and his wife, at the Conakry International Airport

Staff of Med-View Airline attending to passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, during the airline's inaugural flights to Abidjan, Conakry and Dakar...recently

by God’s grace come December 7, we are hitting Dubai Terminal One. Same time, we are looking at the United States come summer and at the same time we want to get to the over 300 million passengers in West Africa, that population alone is a huge market.”

Later, our international passports, which had been collected by the Senegalese officials after a brief ceremony at the airport, were returned and stamped before we boarded the airplane from Dakar International Airport for a stopover in Abidjan. The journey took two hours thirty minutes. We left Abidjan after a brief stay without disembarking from the airplane and arrived

Murtala Muhammed International Airport at exactly 12:05 midnight. After all the immigration checks, we proceeded to the exit hall. Again, the MD of Med-View Airline, Bankole walked up to the journalists to thank them for being part of the inaugural flights to Abidjan, Conakry and Dakar. He looked very smart after the 17 hours journey. He has this natural passion for air transport and he doesn’t hide it.

The airline’s international destinations include: London Gatwick, Dubai, Jeddah, Accra, Freetown, Monrovia, Abidjan, Conakry, Dakar while local destinations are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Yola and Maiduguri.

First, we are known for our customer satisfaction and promptness on departure as those who fly with us can confirm. We are not only sub-regional airline, we are an international airline. We have four flights to the United Kingdom using Gatwick as our base. We also have four flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and by God’s grace come December 7, we are hitting Dubai Terminal One. Same time, we are looking at the United States come summer and at the same time we want to get to the over 300 million passengers in West Africa, that population alone is a huge market Flying on the wings of Med-View Airline was a pleasurable experience.

31/ NEWS

17.11.2017

Group Tasks Lagos on Access to Public Toilet Facilities for PWDs The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, CCD, has called on the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode to direct relevant agents of government, to conduct an audit of all the toilet facilities in public places in Lagos State and ensure that they are accessible to Persons with Disabilities in the State.

The Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, who made the call while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a survey conducted by the Centre to ascertain the level of access to toilet facilities in public buildings for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State, hinted that the research was conducted in two local government areas in Lagos State-Ifako- Ijaye and Alimosho.

He revealed that 47 toilet facilities spread across the local government areas were assessed.

He stated that women with disabilities are the most vulnerable in the statem adding that report of the research suggested that there were no separate toilets for PWDs, absence of elevators, lifts with voicecalls or attendants for PWDs, sufficient Directional Maps/Signs as well as absence of facility guides in some of the places visited.

Anyaele noted that the need for improved sanitation for PWDs in the state is not negotiable at a time the country is posed with various strange diseases like Monkey Pox, linked to poor sanitation habit.

He said that improved sanitation can reduce spread of various diseases like -malaria, cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis and helminthic infections, Monkey Pox and Ebola which account for a significant percentage

Heineken, ‘Live Your Music’ party host, Jidenna during the event

L-R: Senior Program Officer, CCD, Mr. Kola Ogunbiyi and Executive Director, CCD, Mr. David Anyaele

of morbidity and mortality in the country.

He listed various measures to be adopted by both state and non-state actors to includeLagos State government to conduct audit of all public toilet facilities to appreciate it accessibility to persons with disabilities in-line with Lagos State Special Peoples Law, LSG to take appropriate measures to ensure public toilets in the State are accessible persons with disabilities and the need for operators of public toilets in the State should take necessary steps to ensure that persons with disabilities have unhindered access to public toilet. This is to ensure total compliance to the Lagos State Special peoples’ Law.

On her part, a physically challenged lady, Susan Ihuoma who is the Assistant Secretary National Association of Physically Challenged Persons (Lagos State Chapter), narrated her ordeal each time she tries to gain access to a toilet facility in public domain, in her words, “The truth is that this situation is more difficult on women, as a woman with disability, I try not to eat or drink before leaving my house everyday even during my days as a student, due to the fact that restrooms are not disability friendly in most places in Lagos State, the most challenging part is that the facilities that house these restrooms are mostly not accessible to PWDs, this is really sad”.

Enugu Government Vows to Encourage Entrepreneurial Development The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration to supporting entrepreneurial development in the state.

The government said it had packaged several programmes that would benefit small scale industrialist especially this period of economic meltdown. This came as no fewer than 50 Young Entrepreneurs running kiosks and small businesses in Enugu State benefited from a one day launch of Pan African Youth Entrepreneur Development, PAYED, Programme organised

by TechnoServe in collaboration with Citi Foundation at Oakland Hotel and Suites, Enugu.

The Pan African Youth Entrepreneur Development Programme was designed to train entrepreneurial youths who are Mom and Pop Shop owners, managers and employees on new business and financial management skills that can be directly applied to expand new or current shops while building transferable skill sets among youth for enduring employability.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser

to the Governor on Small and Medium Enterprise and Investment Promotion, Mr. Anayo Agu said: "the Beauty of what we do here is that it doesn't matter where you come from, your political affiliation or faith, if you are interested in entrepreneurial development, the state is available and ready to support. The governor few weeks ago said he has made the services available to anyone that is available, and willing to make a living and create value in the state.

We didn't just make a statement, we are working the talk."

He went further to assure organisers of the programme of their readiness in providing advisory support to the benefactors till the end of the training.

The Project Coordinator, Mrs. Chinwe Owhorji said, the PAYED programme is a one-year entrepreneurship project that will train 300 entrepreneurs who are owners or managers of small retail shops on business and financial management skills, and will provide tailored advisory support.

According to her, the project is broken down into two phases, the training phase and the aftercare phase.

Speaking on the objectives of the training, Owhorji, said, "the training of youth entrepreneurs and on record keeping, inventory management, marketing, pricing, sourcing, customer service and merchandising. Components of the training will also include access to credit facilities and budgeting. There will be training on product needs assessment, importance of networking, technology use and personal effectiveness, to equip the Youth beneficiaries with a positive attitude and sense of control over their business and their future.

Earlier in his opening remark, the country director, TechnoServe, Nigeria, Mr. Larry Umunna encouraged the benefactors to make use of the opportunity given to them and better their lives. He equally appreciated the governor of the State for his support towards entrepreneurial development in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the benefactors, Mrs. Rita Okoronkwo appreciated the organisers of the programme and the state governor for availing them the opportunity to be trained.

Omoru Gears Up for ‘Girls for Sale’ Following the success of her movie, ‘Whose Meal Ticket’, Kehinde Omoru, its producer, is all set for another breathtaking movie titled, ‘Girls for Sale’. While ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ dwells on diabetes and active charcoal, this new movie focuses on adolescence and the delicate development of a teenager’s emotional, sexual and body images.

The movie, Omoru said is part of her contribution to the welfare of the girl-child through her advocacy outfit, Roxanne Care Options, in partnership with Opa Williams Studios. Described as a thriller, Omoru, the Executive Producer of the movie, who is carving a niche for herself as an edutainment film producer, said that the spread and cycle of cervical cancer is the point from which all themes spring in the movie.

She explains that the comedy features, put together by screenwriter Isokoh Edirin, focuses on ways in which girls’

Heineken Connects Music Lovers with Outstanding Experience at Live Your Music Parties

Omoru

health statuses are being inadvertently compromised.

‘Girls for Sale’ is the romantic story of a young lady (Elo) who goes through harrowing experiences before she eventually experiences unconditional love. Elo’s

emotions near-fatally got entangled with her violated teenage sweetheart, Tega. Rather than reciprocate same, Tega gives her a disputable pregnancy as well as a virus.

Both virus and child grow alongside each other until it is time for both to be resolved.

It takes the mature, powerful and patient Alex to sort things out once and for all.

Omoru who explained that, “Cultural African thought about the girl-child dominates this story and begs that immediate and sustained reorientations start individually, clannishly, tribally, nationally and indeed globally, added that the beauty of ‘Girls For Sale’ is that it puts faces and voices to what has lived with us and in us for hundreds of years. Several themes reverberate in this script. You might find yourself captivated by the throes of adolescence masterfully unravelled by the two lead characters, or by how severely power and wealth could reduce poverty to nonentity.

The Heineken, ‘Live Your Music’ party, delivered an exceptional music experience to music lovers and consumers in Abuja and Lagos, as guests in both cities witnessed the best of music and entertainment.

Hosted by Jidenna, the first event was held on 27 October in Abuja, while the finale, which served as the after-party for the Heineken-headlined Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2017, was held at the Eko Atlantic, Lagos on Saturday, 28 October, 2017.

With a fun ambiance marked with bright lights, excited whistles, loud speakers and all night sing-alongs, the event was a perfect depiction of music experience built on complete consumer satisfaction.

The finale in Lagos kicked off with DJ Big N and DJ Neptune dropping hits from Nigeria’s biggest entertainers to set the tone for an exciting night of music.

Anchored by the popular hype man Do-2d-tun, the special feature of the night, the Takeover session - provided guests the opportunity to ‘live their music’ as the crowd had the chance to openly vote for their favourite songs through the Heineken Live Your Music wristbands they wore. The songs with the highest votes were played in real time from the DJ set to the delight of the crowd.

Excited choruses, bright lights, interesting dance moves were all in the fun mix as Jidenna led the crowd into pulsating sessions of good music.

Jidenna took the crowd on a jolly ride as he performed his monster hits ‘Classic Man’, ‘Little Bit More’, ‘Particular’ and a premiere of his latest single ‘Boomerang’. It was undoubtedly a classic one from the Chief.Musical performance was also provided by Mavin artiste, Tiwa Savage.The party kept on till the early hours of Sunday, 30 October, 2017, as guests were fully entertained.

Club Launches Budding Talents Eloquent Speech International is having young kids launch their unique projects as it concerns with skills and talents. This is coming under its Raising Young Leaders 2017 education and training platform.

Book launch, web designing, artist, swimming, fashion, philanthropist, football and journalism are some of the major project and career showcase expected to launch on November 25, by 10pm at Grange school, Harold Sodipo Crescent, G.R.A Ikeja Lagos. As the kids between the ages of four to nine years old wow the audience.

The Young Public Speakers (YPS) club is a platform for grooming young leaders. It grooms young people to attain excellence in their delivery of public speech, comportment and carriage. Every member of the club is trained to be solution finders and inspirational speakers and leaders. They consistently undergo activities that challenge their intellectual capacities, solution finding abilities and public speaking skills. YPS was established in 2011 and has passed through a healthy process of growth and impacting children.

At the platform, a team of well-trained and informed professionals do a great job at assisting parents to discover the talent of their children by engaging the parents and students respectively. The team leaders, Mr. and Mrs. Adeniyi, always ensure that all the facilitators are producing tangible result at the end of every calendar year of YPS. In 2014 raising young leaders, YPS produced three books authors; Tomilola (nine years), Iyinoluwa (nine years, Chiodeziem (nine years), all launched their first ever books.

In 2015 Raising Young Leaders had five of its students in YPS showcase their talent and gift to the world. Misimi (eight years), music album launch, Mojola (six years), Fashion house unveiled, Dideolu (eight years), kiddies Dictionary launch, Omodara and Folajimi had an art work exhibition.

"Because most celebrated leaders in history and till now are gifted speakers, we took it on us to catch young people, train them, such that they are better equipped to undertake leadership roles immediately," Mrs. Josephine Adeniyi, co-founder of YPS explained.

32 / XTRA

17.11.2017

A Story of Theft Another fresh crisis is brewing in Ibeju-Lekki over missing dredging pipes, writes Peter Uzoho

The stolen pipes

Ogunkoya

The truck with the pipes at the police station

Some months back, Chief Shamsudeen Ogunkoya of Okeogun Odofin and Mufutau Olamiji, Baale of Aladeseso in the OkegunOdofin area of Ibeju Lekki were at loggerheads over an ‘Obaship’ tussle between Ismaila Ogunkoya, Shamsudeen’s younger brother and Olamiji. The Ogunkoyas accused Olamiji of intruding on their territory with the support of the Onibeju of Ibeju Lekki, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami. The two also laid claims to Okegun Odofin territories within the area.

Now, a fresh crisis is about to heat up the community once again. This time, the issue is about the theft of dredging pipes put in care of Ogunkoya (elder brother to Ismaila Ogunkoya, Baale of Okeogun Odofin) but allegedly stolen by people sent by Olamiji, the Baale of Aladeseso, a community that is few metres away from the Okeogun Odofin community.

According to Ogunkoya, who is also the Ajagungbade of Ibeju-Lekki land, he went to his brother’s palace one afternoon and witnessed a scuffle among some youths of the community at the entrance of the OkeogunOdofin community.

He said the youths of the community were trying to extort money from the truck driver and attendants sitting on top of some dredging pipes inside a truck.

He said that while trying to calm everyone down, he looked further and discovered that the said pipes looked exactly like the pipes put in his care.

He questioned the drivers and the boys.

“They replied me that it was Baale Aladeseso,

who sent them. Immediately, I asked two of my boys to go check the pipe equipment at the waterfront and they came back to confirm that the pipes inside the truck were the ones put in my care. I could not believe it; I went to check by myself and discovered that it was true. Immediately, I called the Akodo Police Station to send their men to come arrest the guys and the truck,” he said. But the Police, according to Ajagungbade, after the arrest, were not willing to invite them both (that is himself and Baale Aladeso) for interrogation. Rather, they were asking him to close the case.

Ajagungbade explained further that when he confronted Baale Aladeseso with the allegations, he denied and claimed the pipes were his own. “Baale Aladeseso told me that he bought the pipes from one Selim but because the pipes didn’t fit into what he wanted to use them for, he asked his boys to return the equipment. I asked him to produce the receipt of purchase but he could not. At the Police station, Aladeseso changed his tone by saying someone owed him to the tune of N5 million and was not willing to pay, which was the reason he sent his boys to go confiscate his dredging pipes,” Ajagungbade said.

Meanwhile, a titled chief, who pleaded anonymity said that the Onibeju Lekki of Lekki Kingdom, Oba Salami had issued warnings to titled chiefs and political thugs around that if anyone was found wanting of offences like stealing or disgraceful acts, they should be dealt with severely or be exposed and disgraced.

“Fortunately for me, it is the Oba’s person-the Aladeseso that has been found wanting. Let him now do the needful,” Ajagungbade said.

When reporters visited Akodo Police station, it was observed that a near-worn out truck with black long pipes were opposite the station. Facing the truck also was another truck carrying a long red-coloured seemingly empty container.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CPS Adebayo, said that Ajagungbade was yet to come to him personally and he is yet to call the parties involved for discussion. He denied the allegation that his station seemed compromised.

Adebayo, who spoke to a reporter via telephone, said that he did not want to release the truck to wrong persons as there were two parties claiming ownership of the truck.

He said: “Ajagungbade did not report to me personally but through my inspector who handled the case. They may be the ones inviting him to come close the case, which is not to my knowledge. I am yet to get proper briefing on the case.”

Mr. Akin Akinwale, owner of the alleged stolen pipes (Jaak Limited, an engineering and marine services company) explained that he took those pipes to Okeogun Odofin community for dredging purposes. He said he also bought other landed properties within the community along with the dredging pipes but discovered that there were other interests competing for the zone. As such, he decided to suspend his own pending when all nerves would be calm.

He said that he signed a contract deal with Ajagungbade to keep watch over the pipes, container and other landed properties.

However, one afternoon, he got a call from Akodo Police Station to come identify a truck containing some pipes, which he did and discovered that about four of the pipes were missing.

Thereafter, Akinwale said that Baale Aladeseso called him to plead with him that it was the devil’s handiwork. He said the Baale told him that his boys informed him wrongly that the pipe belonged to someone, who was owing them some large amount of money.

“The Baale Aladeseso pleaded with me that it was the devil’s handiwork. He begged me that we should see face-to-face but I refused because I do not stay in Lagos. Then, the Baale promised to pay me with lands in lieu of the missing pipes. I asked him to commit it into black and white because I do not want controversy. On deeper thinking, I asked the Baale to discuss with Ajagungbade, whom I had instructed to be in charge of the pipes,” he explained.

When a call was put through to Baale Aladeseso, he said he was in a meeting in Ikeja and that he would call back at his convenient time but he did not and when he was contacted again, he snapped that he was not ready for discussion. But some of his aides, who refused to disclose their names, when reporters visited his palace, insisted that the village head did not steal the pipes.

Rather, they said it might just be a case of taking the wrong pipes from the water front.

33/LIVING

17.11.2017

Oyo First Lady Tasks Women on Leadership Roles Mary Ekah The wife of the governor of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, has said that for values and morals to return to the Nigeria society, which at the moment is filled with all sorts of decadences, women have to take up their leadership roles accurately.

Speaking as a special guest of honour on the theme, ‘Listen to Jesus’, at the Cornerstone Precious Women 10th anniversary Convention, which took place at the Cornerstone Anointed Church of Christ, Lagos, the Oyo First Lady said the role of women in returning value and moral to the homes and society at large, cannot be overemphasised.

“God has given women the authority to bring peace and morals to their homes but first of all, women should invite peace into the lives of their children and also the entire home. A family that prays definitely is the family that stays together. Most importantly let us imbibe the fear of God in the lives of our children because like the Bible says, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. What I’m saying in essence is that, women should take up their roles as the leaders.”

Speaking further, Mrs. Ajimobi who said that these days our tolerance level is too low added that women give up easily when things are not working the way they want. She noted however that that, it should not be so. “When things are not going the way we want we give up so easily. We cannot continue to do that.

We must continue to endure while we pray for our families and leaders because God has given us the authority. I know that I have authority in my own self and when I pray for

L-R: Oyo State First Lady, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Head Pastor of Cornerstone Anointed Church of Christ, Mrs. Becky Unoarumhi, and guest speaker, Mrs. Elisabeth Ayodele at the event

my husband, my prayers are answered. What has never happened in my state is happening right now because I pray daily for my husband.

For the first time in the history of Oyo state, a governor is returning for the second term, it has never happened but because I pray, things have changed. I fought the battle for that on my knees. I went on my knees and told God that for my sake, He should do what has never happened in the history of Oyo State and God did it. Likewise, if we women come together and pray, what has never happened in Nigeria before now will begin to take place for good,”

she said.

She advised that women should teach their children the reality of life, the reality of building a home and the reality of maintaining unity in a family, adding, “It is our job and we should never be tired. I never get tired of telling my children that reality is what it takes to face the challenges of life and as we continue to pray for them, they will experience happiness and peace in the different endeavours of their lives.

Let parents teach their children the need to have a relationship with God.” She encouraged further that Nigerian youths

should have the fear of God in them. “It is the beginning of wisdom. You cannot do anything without God in your life. So I want Nigerian youths to let the fear of God to drive them in anything that they do in life and I can tell you with that they would progress in life and also get wisdom to be good leaders of tomorrow. She advised the women specifically, to find a golden moment in their homes. “My golden moment is when my husband is in the shower. That is where I get to talk to him about everything I want to talk about. The golden moment in my marriage may not necessarily be the golden moment in another person’s marriage and what I mean by golden moment, is the moment when your husband is relaxed and when you can penetrate his person, talk to him and get all his attention. It is our duty as mothers to find the appropriate time for this golden moment. You cannot get your husband’s attention when he is tired or angry but the moment he is successful at work and is happy, that could be a golden moment,” she noted.

The Cornerstone Precious Women Convention was birthed 10 years ago by Becky Unoarumhi, wife of the Head Pastor of the Cornerstone Anointed Church of Christ, Pastor Peter Unoarumhi to be a voice for the woman/girl-child to break free from societal shackles and secondly to realise that they are nit second class citizens but chosen and precious vessels of the most high God. “As each year passes, God brings more clarity to this b=vision by backing it up with testimonies and actual evidences. These evidences are women who through thick and thin would take a stand with Christ and stand in the gap for their families, the church and the nation. This is our story in 10 iconic years,” the pastor’s wife noted.

Cleric Extol Late Omidiora’s Exemplary Life Style

New Self-service Laundry, Wasche Point, Opens in Lekki

L-R: Biyi Ajibola,grand son,Ropo Omidiora,Mr Micheal Ajibde son in law;Mrs Funke Ajibade;Tomi Omidiora,Dr Tomi Akintorin son in law; Dr Mope Akintorin and dokun Omidiora son of deceased during the commendation service in Lagos

Mary Ekah Wasche Point at Lekki

Point, an ultra-modern professional laundry outfit is set to open its doors with the aim to provide full dry cleaning and laundry services.

The brand’s services accommodate all types of fabrics and apparels for different occasions ranging from cottons, garments, linens, everyday wears, formal wears, wedding dresses including hospitality materials such as duvets, blankets, pillows, drapes, curtains and more. Located at the heart of Lekki Metropolis, the new establishment is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as high-efficiency washers and dryers supported by advanced technology to make clean laundry less of a chore and an alteration unit manned by well-experienced tailors to tackle fabric faults.

With features such as fully air-conditioned laundry rooms, do-it-yourself laundry service, coffee shop, free Wi-Fi, spacious parking lot and play area for children, customers are sure to have an enjoyable washing experience.

“Our vision is to provide a go-to spot for all laundry services in a comfortable and friendly environment. With the customer being our prime focus, Wasche Point is made up of a team of professionals, innovative technology and modern infrastructure to meet every laundry need and ensure quality service delivery,” said Ruth Okunnuga, Owner of Wasche Point. The official launch of Wasche Point will take place with “The Laundry Party” on Sunday, November, 19, offering free wash as well as discounts and offers on other services to guests.

As one of Nigeria’s most prominent boardroom gurus and titled chief in Yorubaland, late Balogun Bisi Omidiora journeys to eternal rest, his exemplary life style is being celebrated. During a commendation service held in his honour at the Cathedral Church of St .Jude, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, recently, he was described by the Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rt. Rev. Akinpelu Johnson, amongst others as a leading example who played important roles is supporting the church during his life time.

“Omidiora was a child of God to the core. He was an exemplary elder. He made suggestions for every major decision that were taken in the church and most importantly, he committed his resources and time to the building of the church.

He was a quiet but constructive socialite. He built and enjoyed building. And he was never

an arrogant elder. He performed excellently well,” the cleric said during a sermon at the commendation service.

Omidiora, Johnson said, has left a legacy of selfless and dedicated service to God and to mankind, adding “He has fought a good fight and may he receive the crown of life from God.” He encouraged the family members, friends and associate to take solace in beauty of life, the rich legacy he left and the exemplary life he lived.

Omidiora died on 18 September, and he was aged 83. Sadly too, his death occurred barely a year after that of his wife of 56 years, Eyinade Oyindamola, the daughter of late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, former Ooni of Ife. She passed on at the age of 81. Omidiora, who held the revered title of Balogun of Ile-Ife, was the Chairman, Body of Past Presidents, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a former executive director, UAC Plc.

Dominic Oneya to Help Underprivileged Children, Youths and Families Dominic Oneya is many things to many people. To some, he is a former military personnel, who later was the administrator of Kano and Benue States while to others he is the former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association. However, to many he is a philanthropist, helping others at their lowest and empowering them to be productive members of the society.

It is to this end that The Dominic Oneya Foundation is here. Inspired by the good he has

done over time, the foundation is determined to see to the progress of the underprivileged children, youths, families and the development of the society.

Speaking with his son, Anthony Oneya, at the launch of the Foundation, he said they are focusing on youth empowerment through agriculture, education and sports. He added that the scholarships will be inclusive of not just young people but also single mothers who can use it as an avenue to find support

to complete their education.

In a society where people holding public offices are notorious for not impacting their local communities, Dominic Oneya and his family are doing what many of his peers should be doing; using their influence to help not just the new generation of leaders but the society as a while. Speaking with the Retired Brigadier General himself, he emphasised the importance of philanthropy not only from an organisational point of view but from an

individual perspective; adding that to whom much is given much is expected.

The foundation won’t be working in isolation as they intend to partner with the government and local NGOs to carry out interventions were necessary. A Sports Clinic is currently being set up to develop the athletic talents of young people across the country. The head office is located in Delta state and representative offices will be set up in Lagos, Kano and Beune States,

34/XTRA

17.11.2017

Niger Delta Stakeholders Propose Action Plan for Regional Development Solomon Elusoji Stakeholders at the sixth edition of the Niger Delta Development Forum have collectively proposed a regional action plan for the oil rich Niger Delta region.

This was the consensus of participants at the opening session of this year’s forum holding in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.

Speaker after speaker at the annual event which is put together by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in collaboration with Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) emphasised that the future of the Niger Delta region can only be secured through development planning that is designed at state-level and endorsed by its citizens.

Declaring the event open, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel called for increased participation of the region's citizens and state governments in planning for future economic development just as he urged for the implementation of “what has already been put on paper.”

Represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Nse Udo Essien, Governor Emmanuel said there was an urgent need for an integrated plan that would address the plight of the people in the light of fresh threats by Niger Delta Avengers.

Speaking in a similar vein, Executive Director of PIND, Dr. Dara Akala, lamented the abandonment of the Niger Delta Master Plan that was put together in 2006 and urged stakeholders to take ownership of the document to ensure the development of the region.

“I am sure that it will not be contentious to say that the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan adopted in 2006 has suffered from a lack of ownership by key stakeholders at the State level," Akala, said.

The Senior Special Adviser to Cross River State Government on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, said

L-R: Dr. Dara Akala, Executive Director, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta; Akinwunmi Oke, Country Programme Manager, CORDAID; Mrs. Olachi Chuks-Ronnie, Regional Coordinator, South-east/South-south states at DFID; Tunji Idowu, Deputy Executive Director, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta; Filippo Ghezzi, Deputy Team Leader; Market Development in the Niger Delta, at the 2017 Niger Delta Development Forum in Uyo…recently

"We need to allow the people take ownership of the process."

A professor of Agricultural Economics, who gave the first keynote address at the Forum, Adegboyega Oguntade, also averred that in any development plan, consultation with stakeholders - the citizens - is "very important and must be a continuous one."

Addressing the importance of implementation, Technical Assistant on SDG's, Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hadiza Aminu, said, "Beyond having effective policies, we need to be able to implement. We need action plans."

The Forum, which is themed ‘The Future in Our Hands: A State-led Framework for Planning and Development in the Niger Delta’, kicked off with a welcome address from PIND's ED,

Dr. Akala, who reflected on the fruits of past NDDF editions.

"BRACED Commission, for example, moved forward on some of the agriculture and investment policy recommendations from a previous NDDF to work directly with the Commissioners of the six states they are mandated to work in," he said. "Following a recommendation from NDDF, USAID's MARKETS II project supplied equipment grants to women and youth for farming in Cross Rivers and Delta States as part of work to address the constraint of access to finance for women and youth."

Then there were short goodwill messages from the Forum's partners, which include the UK Department for International Development, DFID. Speaking on behalf of DFID was its Regional

Coordinator in the South-east and South-south, Olachi Chuks, who called for a move towards more regional integration. "It is not a hard sell," she said. "The culmination of our comparative advantage, numbers, various intellectual capacities, can all help to make our regions move forward."

MADE, another of the Forum's partners, spoke through its Team Leader, Tunde Oderinde, who was represented in Uyo by MADE's Deputy Team Leader, Filippo Ghezzi.

"MADE is happy to work with PIND and other partners under the DEMAND alliance to explore solutions to the challenges of the Niger Delta region," Oderinde said. "The NDDF provides opportunity to leverage strategic thinking and actions which lead us in that direction."

Other NDDF partners include USAID's Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement Project, SACE, the European Union's Niger Delta Support Programme, NDSP, and the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID).

In his keynote paper, which was titled 'Framework and Tools for Implementable, Fundable and Sustained Growth and Development Planning', Professor Oguntade, using Cross River as a case study, noted that planning in most states is flawed because they do not pay attention to demographics.

"We did that in Cross River State and realised that a lot of infrastructure needs to be put in place within the next couple of years," the University don, who is also the Lead Consultant of the Cross River Growth and Development Strategy, GDS, said.

The Professor's presentation was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Toyo, a reading of CSO statement from the Niger Delta Civic Engagement Forum (NDCEF), a musical performance by Dr. Omatshola Osheli (TeeMac) and the opening address of Governor Emmanuel, which was delivered by Akwa Ibom's Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Nse Essien.

Geeta Ashram, Rotary Club of Lagos Island Urge FG to Address Cases of Blindness Ugo Aliogo Beneficiaries of the just concluded free eye operation camp, tagged: ‘Vision 2020 -the right to sight’, organised by the Rotary Club of Lagos Island District 9110 Nigeria, in collaboration with the Geeta Ashram Nigeria in Kano State, have called on the federal government to play an active role in addressing the cases of blindness and other chronic ailments.

According to a statement issued to THISDAY by the media consultant to Rotary Club of Lagos Island District 9110, Aramide Noibi, it was noted that government health policies should focus on area of blindness and other chronicle ailments.

In their remarks, two of the beneficiaries, Christiana Ogunmola, and Mrs. Justina Obi, described blindness as an ailment which without adequate medical support, the patient may not be regain his/her sight back. On her part, Obi said her blindness forced her to the village in Anambra State before she regained her eyesight at the Free Eyesight Operation, at ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano.

It would be recalled that Geeta Ashram, started the projects since 2001, but stopped

A cross section of the beneficiaries of the Free Eye Surgery Operation Project at the ECWA Eye Hospital Kano, sponsored by the Rotary Mega Club of Lagos Island led by the President, Rotn Sanjeev Tandon and the Geeta Ashram Nigeria, led by a Member of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Manu Lalwani

due to political and economic situation in

the country. It later resumed in 2009 to date

and subsequently partnered with the Rotary Mega Club of Lagos Island to actualize 2017 project.

Some of the beneficiaries included Zainab Nasiru from Kano, Asalamu Saleh from Jigawa, Sunday Oloruntoyin from Lagos, Alhaji. Magaji Idris from Kano, Alhaji. Umar Mohammed from Bauchi, Abdulahi Ado from Kano, and others. The total number of beneficiaries is 436 beneficiaries. The exercise involved at least a daily surgical operation of 80 beneficiaries, while the total operations accumulated 436 at the end of the exercise.

It was further noted that the exercise involved daily surgical operation of 80 beneficiaries, while at the end 436 beneficiaries were treated of various eye defects.

In their remark, the Coordinator, Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Chief Anil Gopwani; a member of the Trustees of Geeta Ashram, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos, Mr. Manu Lalwani, and the Coordinating Assistant of the programme, Mr. Samuel Tosanwumi, expressed appreciation to the medical team of the ECWA Eye Hospital Kano, led by the Medical Director, Dr. Mayor Atima, assistants, and other paramedical staff for their dogged strides to actualize such dream.

El-Rufai, Emir of Zazzau Emirate Urge Buhari to Re-establish Marketing Board The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, and the Emir of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji.

Shehu Idris, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-establish the defunct Produce Marketing Boards (PMB), in order to alleviate the problems of the citizens in food production.

According to a statement issued to THISDAY, the board will stabilise and encourage farmers and other agricultural investors, to embark on massive food production, address unemployment and commercialise farm products.

It also stated that for effective export drive and re-purchase there is need for the surplus accruing from such yields to be used in encouraging farmers through government purchase which would promote among the farmer economic advantage for them and also in the nation in order to avoid any eventual food scarcity or waste which might arise seasonally.

It would be recalled that the Kewalram Chanrai group with a history spanning a century is in diverse spectrum of business in Nigeria. The group has interest in products and services such as diverse as textiles, automobiles, and agriculture

oil milling. Sunseed Nigeria Limited from Zaria is one of the companies under the Group, with various Agricultural activities and also engaged in Multi seed crushing including soya beans.

In his opening address at the event, the Deputy Managing Director, Chanrai/Kewalarams Group Limited, Elder Victor Eburajolo; Mr. Tarum, and Mr. Das, who represented the Group Chairman, extolled the sterling virtues of the state governor, whom they described as very amiable and hard working, with a desire to advance the cause of the people.

They also noted that the vibrant economic and political stability which he has created in the state has promoted peaceful-coexistence and an investment friendly atmosphere.

They lamented that some of the challenges militating against their dogged strides for the anticipated continued expansion of the conglomerate are unfortunate irregular power supply and its maintenance high cost, high rate of banking transaction, and logistics challenges.

The statement said Sunseed has revolutionised agriculture in the State by making farmers to grow

crops at low inputs cost and much improved yields through World class innovative rural crop solutions techniques.

It also stated that Sunseed sustained its presence in Zaria for two decades seeing through all the turbulences, and transforming agriculture in the state with the creation of market for the farm produce, “sunseed is one of the major contributors to the state which produces one of the largest crops in maize and soya beans in the country.”

The statement added: “Sunseed is committed to the state and it has invested in Animal feed Mill as a natural extension to the oil mill business.

It was inaugurated on 26, September. The feed mill is multi billion naira investment in Zaria next to its oil mill premises.

“The facility has a total area of 25 acres, will specialize in the manufacturing of different animal feed products which cover poultry, cattle and other livestock feeds. Installed capacity is 100 thousand metric tons per annum. Around 500 people will be employed in this new factory.

20,000 farming families benefit from the companies agricultural programmes.

El-Rufai

35/ENTREPRENEUR

17.11.2017

Vivian Sonny-Nsirim’s Craving for Women Mrs. Vivian Sonny- Nsirim, Founder and Chief Executive officer of Young Moms Support Foundation\ Young Moms Forum, a social networking platform for mothers and soon to be mothers from all works of life, is no doubt multifaceted. She is not just a wife, mother and a chartered administrator but also an award-winning inspirational speaker, transformation coach and ultimately, a women advocate, who has over the year developed a rising passion for women and their overall well-being. In this interview with Mary Ekah she talks about how her life experiences might have spark off her craving for the happiness of women What exactly spark off your interest in women?

I have passion to inspire and empower women and children. This passion developed over the years based on my experiences both professional and nonprofessional. The people I come in contact with and the groups I belong to, both abroad and in Nigeria, inspired me to create a forum whereby Nigerian women especially mothers can come together to educate, inspire, motivate and share ideas and experiences from other women outside Nigeria. Young Moms Forum was birthed. It is a social networking platform for mothers and soon to be mothers, with over 170,000 members, cutting across all the 36 states in Nigeria and globally. We started online initially but now we meet physically too. We come together to educate, train, share ideas and share experiences on motherhood and parenting. We also mentor by providing elder mothers who mentor the younger moms. We also provide career guidance and empowerment programmes for women.

As a result of numerous the heart-breaking messages we get so often from members, we decided to create the Young Moms Support Foundation to enable us empower women and children. We do visit orphanage homes; we also have empowering and enlightening programmes for our members. Through which we have trained some women in various states in Nigeria. We have grown in numbers within a year of commencement from 5,000 to over 170,000 members. We are on a global platform, which is the social media where everyone all over the world can reach, so with our online platform; we have reached so many women around the world. Hence, we are now soliciting for support and partnerships from different companies, government and professional bodies that can assist us so that we can train more women, in acquiring skills in technology, agriculture, baking, sewing and others. We have realised through our interactions from the forum that many women go through domestic violence, abuses, rape, neglect and various other depravities because they don’t have source of livelihood. But if these women get trained, they would be able to get financial sustainability to sustain them and their children, and as such, they would be able to support their husbands. That is what we are trying to achieve though this skills acquisition programme – for every woman to acquire a skill from which she would get money to support her family and raise responsible children for a better society.

Apart from training them on various skills, how else does your forum touch their lives?

We create awareness programmes on various issues affecting women, such as: cancer awareness programmes; we embarked on cancer awareness and fundraising event with other NGOs. We also do free breast cancer screening for our members during which a few women discovered lumps on their breasts and so we have to follow up on them, for treatment. We do create awareness on genotype so that people don’t marry wrongly in that a person with SS genotype does not marry someone with SS genotype nor should AS marry AS. We create awareness on the negative effect of a pregnant woman having Rh-negative blood type. Everyone’s blood is either Rh-positive or Rh-negative—positive means you have a certain protein (called antigens) on the surface of your red blood cells, and negative means you don’t. If you’re Rh-negative and baby’s Rh-positive, then there could be problems. So we educate on the remedies to avoid miscarriages and infertility. We create awareness on: the benefits of educating a girl-child; Saying no to domestic abuse, child abuse, rape and others.

We have partnered with some NGOs in creating awareness and fundraising; such as; Run for life UK, Project Pink Blue; Child Survival

Do you also deal with domestic violence considering that this is an area that women, often don’t talk about even when they are constantly abused?

My forum is non-judgemental Platform, where women are free to pour out their minds about everything bothering them. We encourage women going through abuses to speak out and seek help for themselves and their spouses.

You are just a year old. Now what is your vision for the foundation in a couple of years to come?

I actually want to build a sort of Young Moms Academy where women can come in for free and learn trades and skills. I want to see a society whereby every woman has a skill, even if she cannot go out to work due to the burdens of motherhood and all that, she can work from home while she takes care of her husband and children so that at the end of the day, we are able to support our husbands.

You have heard so many stories about what women are going through in our society. Can you talk about the most touching of all you have heard?

Honestly, I have heard so many touching stories that I cannot even say which is the most touching.

But the most recent that I have heard which touched my heart so much, is a lady who just put to bed and said she wants to give out her child because she cannot afford to cater for the baby and so she planned going to an orphanage to dump the baby. We have started donating for her so that she won’t have to dump the baby but for how long are we going to do that?

That is why the foundation comes in handy so that we can train such women in various skills for them to be able to sustain themselves and their children.

Founder, Young Moms Forum, Mrs. Vivian Sonny- Nsirim

Has there been challenges running a forum of this nature?

It is challenging bringing women together because women are wonderful creatures. You have to be patience and tolerance to manage women.

Even when we say the forum is non-judgemental, you will still find a few women throwing castigations at others. It is also challenging trying to help those in need because we lack sufficient funds. So when you have a lot of people telling you, my child need to undergo a heart surgery; my family have nothing to eat; I am due for delivery but I have not gotten any stuff for the baby and no money hospital bills, because I left my husband because of domestic violence; my children are not in school because my husband just lost his job and we have no money, you feel very bad and yet there is nothing you can do because you have limited resources. This is why we are seriously looking out for sponsorships and partnerships with companies and various organisations as well as individuals with like minds to assist us so that we can reach out to more women

Young Moms during an awareness walk

Ikechukwu

Young Moms during an awareness walk

Development Organization of Nigeria; Jesus Girls, to mention but a few. Jesus Girls, another NGO, whose founder is Pastor Sarah Godfrey, mentors women and young girls. These are the kind of NGOs that government should be encouraging by giving them sponsorship because we also need to catch them young.

Jesus Girls is also on social media. Jesus Girls focuses more on inner healing. Getting you to see first in your mind, because what you cannot visualise, you cannot conceive. So, Jesus Girls gives you that inner equipping that you need

to succeed in life."

How do you finance the foundation?

I have been financing it through members and my own personal finances. Some of my members donate money while others volunteer to train and mentor other women in their field of specialization. We are now soliciting for support from well-meaning people. We are really looking up to individuals and organisations to come to our aid because when they do, we would be able to reach out to more women who need help.

Can you tell us more about yourself?

I am a wife, mother of three, an entrepreneur and an award-winning transformation coach based on my passion. I won Woman of Praise Award UK, 2016; Finalist Women for Africa Award UK, 2017. Professionally, I am a MBA graduate from Middlesex University, London. I’m a chartered administrator. I have worked as administrator for more than 10 years - both abroad and in Nigeria. I was special assistant to honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Rivers State during the last administration. It was also during my appointment that I had a great urge to impact on women in Nigeria and Africa positively.

36/COLLAGE

17.11.2017

L-R: Aare Oluwaseyi Ogunlusi presenting an award to Asiwaju of Michigan, Chief Sola Oluwole at the just concluded Oodua Image Awards 2017 in Houston Texas…recently

Olusina Isaac Akinyele and his wife, Abidemi, just after the solemnisation of their marriage at Ifelodun Nortn LCDA Registry, Ikirun, Osun State... recently.

L-R: Area Head, Government Affairs, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), West Africa, Oluwaseyi Ashade; Director of Management System Certification, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Engr (Mrs) Oluremi Ayeni; Area Operations Director, BATN West Africa, Charles Kyalo; and Coordinator of SON, Oyo State Office, Mrs Toyin Idowu; during the presentation of SON’s NIS ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certificate to BATN at the company’s factory in Ibadan, Oyo State,..recently

L-r: Head of Special Squad, Osasu Kingsley-Osaghae; Founder, Apostle Joseph Agboli; his wife, Pastor Blessings Agboli all of Victorious Army Ministries international, during a press conference to announce the ministries annual Bethel Victory Convention themed God of wonders' held at the Church premises in Ogba, Lagos... recently

L-R; Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu ; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State sharing a hug with an admirer during the governor’s Thank-You-Tour to Egor Local Government Area in Edo...,recently

L-R; Wife of former CBN Deputy Governor,Mrs 'Yemi Lemo, her husband, Mr Tunde Lemo and Chairman, First Bank, Dr (Mrs) Ibukun Awosika at a presentation of special recognition award by Heritage for Life Foundation on Tunde Lemo at MUSON Centre, Lagos...recently

L-R: Daughter of the Obi of Onitsha, Princes Uche Achebe, the Lolo, Igwenwanyi Achebe and Globacom's Head of Activation, Clifford Onyeike at a dinner in honour of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, as part of the activities marking the 2017 Ofala Festival celebrations sponsored by Globacom in Onitsha...recently

37/THISLIFE

17.11.2017

Bereavement Hallucinations and the Collateral Beauty in Kikaose's Passage Magnus Onyibe November 12, 2017 marks the seventh month since my 18 years old daughter, Kikaose EbiyeOnyibe, who was on track to graduate in Law next year from the University of Birmingham, UK passed away under circumstances that defy logic.

My former boss, senior brother, mentor in politics, and former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori; adopted senior brother, Mr. Henry lmasekha, and a host of other friends like Mr. Terry Waya, and Dere Otubu as well as others too numerous to mention who stayed with me from dawn to dusk in the early period of the cruel tragedy that befell me and my family on that fateful April 12th have done their best to sooth our pains.

For their kind gesture of support, my family and l thank them profusely from the bottom of our hearts.

Condolences from friends and family far and wide have been like a healing balm, however they have not been enough to ameliorate the horrific anguish that we continue to suffer owing to the irreparable loss of Kikaose.

Not even the phone call from far away China by the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who was at that time on an investment drive over there, or the phone call from Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who could not make it to the service of songs because he was attending to matters of state in Abuja nor the physical presence of Mr. Donald Duke and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former governors of Cross River and Ekiti States respectively and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of THISDAY newspaper at the solemn event, could close the gaping holes in our hearts.

Although it has been seven months after the pall of darkness fell on us, l still can't see through the fog that has enveloped me since that calamitous day.

Nevertheless, l'm eternally grateful to all those who sacrificed their precious time, particularly those too numerous to mention who like family, felt duty bound to show solidarity to my family and l over the loss of vivacious Kikaose.

From the moment Kikaose stepped inside our home after she was picked up from Lagos Airport in the wee hours of April 11th when she arrived Nigeria with the Virgin Atlantic flight, everything still appears like a movie to me.

This is because she passed away so fast that l can't really deeply reflect on or make any sense of the scenes as they float through my head in these past very painful seven months that Kikaose went to be with her creator.

How could l phantom or come to terms with the horrific reality that barely 18 hours after Kikaose walked into my living room and l gave her a welcome hug and less than 12 hours after she walked into Gold Cross Hospital, Ikoyi without being aided with wheel chair and l later personally wheeled her into the surgery theater to remove her ruptured appendix, life would be prematurely snuffed out of her.

Why were we so carried away by the lights that dazzle in the hospital smack in the heart of opulent Ikoyi while being oblivious of the apparent lack of requisite medical equipment such as a ventilation machine that could have sustained Kikaose's heart during and after the surgery?

Although an ambulance was invited nearly 10 hours after the surgery to take her to Lagoon Hospital in Apapa where there was a life support equipment, Kikaose's situation had degenerated into a crisis level requiring stabilisation before the medics could evacuate her to the hospital with a ventilator.

So in this day and age when patients can be sustained for years in life support machine (the race car driver Jack Schumacher was in a ventilator for years) Kikaose died for lack of adequate medical equipment in a supposedly top tier hospital.

What hope is there for the sick in Nigeria when basic medical equipments stand between live and death? I have said it before l'm reiterating it.

Hospitals should be graded and classified as first, second and third tier, the same way banks are categorised in Nigeria. A first tier hospital should have an agreed high standard of medical equipment installed and top quality personnel working there.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should pioneer the initiative in Lagos State.

That way patrons can know the level of service to expect when attending any hospital based on

Late Kikaose

its classification as 1st, 2nd or 3rd tier.

If that's done, there won't be surprises like "we don't have ventilator here so we have to take the patient to another hospital for ventilation."

In the first instance, why was the patient not directed to the hospital with the appropriate equipment and personnel to deal with his or her condition? The lives of Nigerians should not be used to play Russian roulette in Nigerian hospitals.

Now, many Nigerians have upbraided president Muhammadu Buhari for seeking medical solution to his ailment in England. Could you imagine if our president had relied on State House Clinic where billions of Naira is appropriated annually, yet it had no syringes and other basic supplies as recently alleged by First Lady Aisha and her daughter, Zhara?

Nigerian medical situation needs emergency intervention and it is a no brainer to conclude that medical tourism out of Nigeria resulting in exportation of estimated $1 billion annually, (as confirmed by Minister of State, Health, Osagie Ehanire) would continue to constrain the nation's fragile economy, if urgent remedial measures are not taken to address the situation.

Ironically, it is the same British medical system where President Buhari sort and received solution to his health challenge that was unable to correctly diagnose Kikaose's ailment after five visits to her GP in four months.

The difference is that while Kikaose's medical treatment was under the auspices of the highly compromised British public health system known as NHS, President Buhari obtained medical care as a private patient which enabled him receive better attention since fees are paid directly to the hospital and doctors.

This is an experience which l have learnt the hard way and which l don't want other families to suffer hence l'm discussing it openly.

Specifically, the lesson inherent in the circumstances above is that parents should not rely on public healthcare system like NHS in the UK solely for the care of their children. It maybe a school requirement which has to be fulfilled but it's wise to have a back up by arranging registration with private hospitals.

Kikaose's sudden death still remains unsolved mystery to her siblings, mum and as we have remained bewildered by the inability of British doctors in Bourne Brooke Varsity Medical Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK respectively, to properly diagnose her ailment which was simply appendicitis.

We wish we knew about the NHS bogey, Kikaose might be alive today.

While still unable to phantom how her ailment was misdiagnosed in the UK until she returned to Nigeria where she was diagnosed correctly, Kikaose passed away due to lack of adequate medical care and infrastructure in a Nigerian hospital which amounts to double jeopardy. After

the woeful experience in Birmingham owing to lack of commitment and therefore inability to diagnose appendix until it ruptured, non availability of life saving facilities in Nigerian hospital became the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

It's outrageous that, seven months after Kikaose's demise under strange circumstances, we have been demanding but are yet to receive from the British NHS Kikaose's full medical records.

It's even worse that the records that we have received so far was made possible by threat of legal action for non compliance of British medical authorities with their own laws which states that we have the full rights to our departed daughter's medical records to determine if she received proper care or otherwise.

Till date, the system seem to have been succeeding in conspiring to conceal the last record which is Kikaose's interaction with midland ambulance service that was invited to pick her up after she fainted, but failed to do so for reasons yet to be explained.

Even the fact that an ambulance was called, was not disclosed to us in the initial report, but we found out from Kikaose's phone records and her school mates that called the ambulance which actually came by. But instead of taking her to the hospital for urgent care, only some analgesic were dispensed to her, after which she was advised to see her GP. She dutifully saw the GP who instead of recommending a scan that could have detected her ruptured appendix, opted to conduct urine text and concluded wrongly that Kikaose had Urinary Tract Infection, UTl and she was given three days doses of nitroforentin-an antibiotic.

Shortly after misdiagnosing Kikaose's ailment as UTI, the GP discovered upon proper review of the laboratory report that her ailment was not UTI but indeed it was the toxins from her ruptured appendix that oozed into her cavities that was detected in her urine test that was misinterpreted as UTI. At the time their mistake was discovered and it was realised that wrong diagnoses was made, Kikaose was already airborne to Lagos for proper treatment of UTI since it was adjudged by her mum that three days dosage of antibiotic prescribed for an infection that was assumed to have persisted for about four months was inadequate.

It took a Nigerian doctor and medical laboratory in Lagos to diagnose Kikaose's ailment as ruptured appendix after a CT scan but unfortunately she passed away during surgery due to lack of requisite life saving equipment in the hospital.

After discovering the that it was ordinary appendix that was left undetected until it ruptured, Kikaose, as a lawyer in the making had vowed to sue the medical authorities for negligence when she returned to school- a vow she was unable to keep because her precious little Iife was terminated in the course of surgery on April 12th.

Kikaose's premature death is a clear case of negligence on the part of the medical personnel who attended to her and they were also racists.

From what l gleaned from her medical records, instead of diligently trying to identify the girl's ailment through scan and other traditional methods, they focused attention on her country of origin and the gastronomic or culinary culture of Nigeria and wrongfully concluded that her palate must be unaccustomed to British food hence she was experiencing pangs of pains in her abdomen.

Now, if anybody is wondering why seven months after Kikaose's sudden passage, it has remained ingrained in my mind, here are some reasons for my consistency in trying to unravel the strange circumstances surrounding her premature demise and what has been discovered so far for other families to learn from.

Following our interrogation of the system we now know from the medical records which we have received in bits and pieces in the last seven months that: (1) Kikaose had full confidence in British medical system and by extension her Majesty the Queen of England by attending hospital to see her general practitioner, GP 5 times from December to April before she passed away.

She also followed all the medical advise given to her, even if she was always in pain in between the three weeks long appointments that she always received.

Unfortunately, the system failed her by misdiagnosing her ailment as Urinary Tract

Infection, UTI instead of appendicitis.

(2)Rather than directly addressing her ailment when she reported that her tummy was aching and it might have arisen from improperly preserved pizza that she had eaten, records show that the doctors and medics that attended to Kikaose were preoccupied with the fact that she was from Nigeria and her system may not be used to British food and concluded that she must be suffering from gastritis. That was borne out of a wrong and racist mindset because Kikaose might not have been British, but at age four, she was already in kindergarten school in Los Angeles California, USA. And as her international passport would attest, she had been on vacation to Europe, USA and Dubai every summer before and after she got admitted into the Law degree programme in Birmingham in 2015.

In fact she might have lived in more Western cities than the medical personnel that were judging her based on her race and place of birth at a time that they should have been focusing on her complaint.

Besides that, since she had already spent two years plus in Birmingham at the time of her ailment, how could her gastronomic system not be used to British food?

Despite the lack of diligence by the medics that should offer her the duty of care, Kikaose literally took the bull by the horns (what a brilliant lawyer she could've been) by assertively demanding from a white elderly GP that she should be booked for a scan as she suspected that had stones in her gall bladder. She came to that conclusion perhaps after engaging in research online to figure out the reason for the excruciating pains she was experiencing. According to kikaose's medical records, the GP acceded to her request on March 27, but she was not given appointment for the scan to be performed on her by the laboratories until April 15-three days after she passed away in lagos, Nigeria.

(3) Two invitation letters from the laboratory, Health Harmonies Ltd dated April 9th and 15th were found in her mail box when l arrived her apartment in Birmingham after she passed.

The letter dated 9th was postmarked 15th which was same postmark on the second reminder letter dated 15th.

Incidentally, the laboratory, Health Harmonies is located in the same area with Kikaose's hostel in Selly Oaks, Birmingham, so mails should be received the same day.

My belief is that the letter dated 9th of April but postmarked 15th was fraudulently backdated hence it carries the postmark of the same 15th when the second reminder letter was purportedly written and posted.

I suspect that both the first and second letters were written at the same time with the first and posted same day (15th) and not 9th as they would like us to believe.

It is my belief that as soon as Kikaose's passage on the 12th broke in the social media, both the hospital and laboratory scrambled to cover up their tracks by belatedly dispatching invitation letters for the scan which should have by British law,been conducted at least two days after it was recommended on the 27th of March.

They did not reckon that the post mark on the letters will betray their deceit and damn right fraud.

In order to properly understand the negligence of the medical authorities in Birmingham, please keep in mind that Kikaose did not depart Birmingham until April 10, nearly two weeks after she requested for and did not receive a scan that could have saved her life.

(4) Both Bourne Brooke Varsity medical center and Queen Elizabeth Hospital records of care or lack of it, given to Kikaose did not contain the fact that ambulance service was called, it came by, but for reasons yet to be disclosed by the medics, Kikaose was not conveyed to the hospital for urgent medical attention, as she should have.

Perhaps, if the ambulance team had done the needful, Kikaose might be alive today as her appendix which had just ruptured and caused her to faint could have been diagnosed and removed immediately.

But instead, she had to live with the excruciating pains from ruptured appendix for about two weeks as she was involuntarily and horrifically poisoning herself since all the toxins in the appendix (which is a sort of receptacle of human waste) had emptied into her abdomen and other cavities damaging her critical organs.

38/OPINION

17.11.2017

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Did Buhari Just Shoehorn Southeasterners into APC? Enugu opened up to make President Muhammadu Buhari happy on Tuesday. The amazing excitement seen at the airport and on the corners of the streets about his visit to the Coal City must be a pleasant surprise to a man who has been reluctant to make a single passage to the South-east since he came to power.

To my mind, with this passage to the South-east, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his colleagues have helped Buhari to do one thing: rethink his political calculation for 2019.

Of course, the real truth behind this visit at this time, when Buhari has had low moments in execution of government programmes is to shore up relations with Southeasterners and their leaders, and to give hope to those who have reclined their seats about his administration or adopted “Siddon Look” approach in the late civil rights activist and former Attorney General’s words, Chief Bola Ige. As good luck would have it, it’s been a great trip for Buhari and very interesting to see how his hosts turned him into an Igbo icon with chieftaincy titles and extravagant praise and parades.

On this tour, Buhari has equally lived up to expectation with smiles and comforting words for his hosts.

The president’s clever use of words to connect what happened in his office—when some Southeastern leaders visited him—to his action during this tour reveals his hidden strength: stakeholder management.

This example of multicultural appeal is what Buhari often needs in order to overcome being tagged a reclusive leader.

“When I met with leaders of the South-east last month in Abuja, they raised several issues of concern including the state of roads in the region. I want to assure you that we will deliver on our promise. Our 2018 budget include many strategic projects for the region in roads, power,

President Buhari (2nd right) during his recent state visit to Ebonyi State

agriculture and social sector,” the president said.

To be sure, I have looked at the speech and its imagery, and I think the conversation that Buhari had with Southeasterners reflects deeply on our political system, one that gives space to endeavour and not buck-passing.

Though, the fact that the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were his hosts may have played a significant role on the theme of the speech, I still believe he had a good outing.

And if Buhari can sustain this trend, cutting out buck-passing, focusing on progress being made, and doing more in coming out of Aso Villa to the streets, he may not know how fast that can win the hearts and minds of his very enemies.

But Buhari will need strong surrogates and strategists who can establish an upsurge of support in a region where the PDP have its hope.

Yes, he needs more than a trip to lay the foundation for a market building and cut the

ribbon to open bridges.

I have always said to my friends that Buhari’s appeal to the electorate will need to be holistic, much more than being an anti-corruption messiah, and now that he has found his rhythm with just about six months into party politics for nomination of candidates for the 2019 elections, Buhari may have shoehorned the Southeasterners into his party, the All progressives Congress.

Already, before he embarked on his trip, he spoke out his mind about the retrogression in Nigeria’s educational system. Oddly enough, Buhari didn’t show that seriousness from start by making himself the Minister of Education.

Nevertheless, I’m thrilled that the summit on education is coming on at a time the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is courting controversy over his plan to sack lazy and dullard pedagogues in his state.

Truly, the real thing that will propel our country into an enviable future is education. I’m glad Buhari spoke with lamentation at the summit,

but summit after summit has not helped in transforming the system. So what is wrong?

The federal government’s top-down approach cannot reform education in a federal system. I agree with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu that “If education is weak or dysfunctional, society and its development will also be weak and dysfunctional. And all change including our very change agenda begins with education; because it is education that shapes, corrects and restores society. But to be able to restore order to society, education has to be made a national priority.”

But Adamu is a typical African government official looking for money to fund no strategy.

Where is the strategy to fund with N1 trillion?

In the international meetings, where I have worked with diplomats, it has always been a joke that African delegates come to treaty meetings to ask for money, but when they are asked of strategy they like to implement with the money they often have nothing to show. It is like putting the cart before the horse.

Honestly, investment in education is more than budget line of a government department.

The social economic challenges we’re facing should inspire our goal for education reform.

The countries where education reform is taking place or has taking place decide their goal first and that moves them into strategic thinking on how to reform. It is a common knowledge that Nigerians go to school just to get the certificates and we need a path to take us beyond mastery of academic content. Our curriculum should focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. How can we create jobs, when nothing is being done to encourage the discipline of science, technology, engineering and mathematics right from primary school?

It is disheartening that science students only learn from the book as laboratories for subjects like Biology and Chemistry have completely disappeared at our public schools.

Funding, Politics and Inaccurate Statistics Mar Elimination of Motherto-Child Transmission in Nigeria Despite efforts by the government to end mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission in 2015, new indication

by NACA emerged that a sizeable number of Nigerian children and pregnant women are still living with HIV in 2017. Odimegwu Onwumere notes that the ratio is between 1.7m of Nigerian women and 380,000 children who are living with the virus and experts’ views are that Nigeria has the largest number of paediatric HIV cases in the world Sani Aliyu is the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA).

He showed apprehension on December 9, 2016, at the Annual Health Correspondents Dinner, over the skyrocketing rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. He said, “One of the things I’m really keen to sort out as the Director General is the issue of mother-to-child transmission.”

He added that any pregnant woman should have an HIV test and the HIV-positive among them should be given antiretroviral which he said was so effective now. Checks however revealed that in NACA Annual Report 2015, "7,747,052 individuals were counselled, tested and received results in 2015, a significant increase compared with a figure of 6,716,482 in 2014."

The NACA expressed worry that the federal government contributes just about seven per cent of funding for HIV/AIDS actions in the country. Evidence was that Nigeria just fingered the 2017 budget for health from the fraction of 3.65 per centit was in 2016 to 4.15 per cent, as against 15 per cent WHO and African Heads of State declared for countries healthcare in a meeting at Abuja in 2001. Also, even some states in the country didn’t prioritise health, therefore putting the sector in nervousness.

According to sources, "While presenting Investment Case Model for NACA at Aso Rock, Aliyu said the HIV prevalence in Nigeria stands at 3.0 per cent of the population (estimated 3,165,000) living with HIV virus, with the treatment programme at 987,132 persons which is just about 31 per cent of those who are eligible to commence

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole

HIV treatment and this is largely due to many factors which include paucity of funds, capacity to absorb, human resource issues, and health systems issues among others.

“The United States government contributes 73 per cent, Global Fund provides 18 per cent while only seven per cent of enrollees treatment is being supported by Government of Nigeria."

Why achieving prevention on transmission fails?

Journalists Alliance for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (JAPIN) listened with apt attention during a three-day communication evaluation gathering early July 2017, as the National Coordinator, National AIDS and STIs Control

Programme (NASCP), Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Aboje said in Calabar that Nigeria has mapped out stringent measures in making sure that mother-to-child transmission of HIV was pummeled by 2020. Observers said to the contrary, stating that this was the same way expectations were high in 2013, when Nigeria amplified that she would achieve prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015, which is yet to happen.

The then Director-General of NACA, Dr. John Idoko orated then that the aim of eliminating mother-to-child transmission would be a tall dream. He unclothed his mind on this while speaking at the broadcasting of an account on Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Scale-Up organised by Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP) in Abuja.

Dr. Idoko frowned that despite the efforts by the government, the figures on mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission superseded the efforts to fight the disease. He believed that the state governments were not on full garrote in the campaign against HIV/AIDS; hence the aim became a hallucination.

Hear him, “Unless states understand the good in it and we obtain political commitment, ownership and shared responsibility from them, otherwise the response cannot be suitable and we will not make progress at the end of the day.”

Today, government is raising another hope in the fight, saying that there’s progress in the distribution of antiretroviral for pregnant women living with HIV in the country upon that the malady still spreads, Dr. Aliyu said in May this

year, while marking the Children’s Day. In the words of Aliyu, “Vertical transmission of HIV from mother-to-child still remains high at an estimated 28 per cent of affected pregnancies in the country. In 2015, Nigeria successfully increased Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services to over 7, 265 sites with 53,677 pregnant women placed on antiretroviral treatment. Despite this progress, a lot more needs to be done to stop children getting infected with HIV.” Despite the progress?

On June 29, 2017, there were reports of 260 children who tested positive for HIV in Niger State. These children were between the ages of 0-14. Approximately 12 per cent of the children had no entrée to antiretroviral drugs, enthused Mrs. Mary Jalingo, Niger State chairperson of the Society for the Elimination of HIV, at the introductory assembly of the league of Civil Society Organisations for the brawl against the multiplication of HIV/AIDS. According to Mrs. Jalingo, “The number of facilities providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the state is also low; “there is also the need to encourage women to come forward to prevent their babies from being born with HIV.” For the Zonal Coordinator of SEHAC, Dr. Ismailia Garba in his observation at the occasion, “Many children had died at very tender ages because they were born with the HIV virus. If there was enough sensitisation the infected mothers would have known how to protect their unborn babies from the virus.”

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

39

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Consolidating the Gains of Steel Sector Steel and non-steel products produced in Nigeria are already competing favourably with those of the western world. Jonathan Eze writes on the breakthroughs Steel is at the heart of any country’s economic development. It is one of the most important materials widely used for both domestic and industrial purposes throughout the world, hence the priority given to the sector.

Besides accelerating the industrial development of a nation, a vibrant steel sector contributes to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product and exploitation of Nigeria’s abundant natural resources.

A vibrant steel sector also generates economic activities in downstream industries, creates job opportunities and acquisition of technical skills, and helps in the transfer of technology and provision of machine parts and tools.

Thus, it was cheering when African Industries, a steel company that was founded in 1971 in Nigeria gathered stakeholders in the steel industry and their financial support partners, government representatives in Lagos and reviewed its operations and the feat it had attained especially in exporting locally made steels.

The Group Managing Director, Mr. Alok Gupta, told the gathering that it had been exporting non-steel products to regional markets for many years, and according to him, their steel products had to compete with big produces from Ukraine, Russia, China and other developed countries. “However, our constant effort in marketing backed by international certification and satisfied products sampling by user made it acceptable in these market. Recent adjustment of naira has made our product more competitive to the extent that a significant amount of our production is in now destined for export.�

Gupta projected what the company intends to achieve in future which are realistically attainable considering its antecedents.

He said: “We are targeting to export between 150,000 – 200,000 metric tonnes of steel on annual basis to start with. Our export of steel during first nine months of this year, have increased over three folds by weight and value compared to the full last year 2016. To put numbers on it, in year 2017 for the first three quarters, our steel export are almost $13.5million compared to $4.1million in 2016 and we are expecting an additional $12million of steel exports in the final quarter of the year. “Overall, we expect over $25million in the current year 2017. We are proud to achieve this milestone due to combined effort of our team and enabling environment created by domestic industrial policies. “However, there are many miles to go and it is just the beginning. There are many challenges both on logistics and fiscal policy issues. Sea freight between Lagos and other West African countries is almost double of what it cost to bring the steel product from Ukraine or China.

For example, sea freight from Ukraine to Ghana is $35-40 per MT while from Lagos to Ghana cost $65 perMT, i.e almost 50 per cent more. “We appeal to shipping companies operating in Nigeria to remove this abnormality and make a level playing field for us, if we really wants Nigeria to emerge as global player in steel sector.

We need our colleague, partner and workforce among port authorities and customs to ease the bottleneck associated with smooth flow of export cargoes through port, reduce the various charges to acceptable level so as to make Nigerian goods compatible in global market.�

Towards making its business thrive more in the country, the firm urged government to “look at provision of current export incentives and make it attractive to induce us for more export. Current export incentive for fully Nigeria manufactured goods are enough to cover the cost incurred due to infrastructural deficiency like high transport cost to port, dollar denominated high natural gas price, abolition of various taxes and levies on export cargoes and export expansion grant�.

Earlier, the Group Executive Director, Mr. Uche Iwuamadi, elatedly told the audience that the essence of the meeting was to update their business associates from the federal government agencies, banking sector, embassies, customs and steel dealers, update them with their manufacturing activities in Nigeria.

According to him, “the major breakthrough which I called breaking news is that for the first

GMD, African Industries Group, Alok Gupta

time in Nigeria, we are now exporting steel , finished steel, made-in-Nigeria steel from Nigeria to other countries. That is just the news and it has been on for a while. At this very critical time in the country, where people are talking of forex for importation, they are calling this country import oriented nation, we want to change the wheel, now we are exporting our finished products meeting up international standards and are accepted globally. At least having met the requirement of local need that is the most important thing. We have been able to produce enough to meet the local market and that is why we are now thinking of exporting.

That is the summary.�

On how the company balances the issue of not having enough scrap locally, Iwuamadi said: “In fact, there is no need of importing finished iron rods into this country, there is no basis for that. As at the moment, the number of manufacturing plants in steel in this country, if they go into full production, including us, we are not yet doing 100% capacity. We are still doing below 70 per cent operational capacity, so by the time we have up to 100% capacity we will have excess. “So the problem is not about meeting up demand but being able to operate at optimum level which we are not doing due to so many reasons. But that does not stop our export because the export driven part of it is a different segment entirely. This is an era where one of the major constraints of Nigerian businesses today is forex scarcity and if you can meet up to international standard, you can sell your product beyond your shores and earn forex for the nation. If everybody is thinking of producing something you can export, of course export would be separate segment of business. Back to your question and

where we are exporting to. We are exporting to Ghana, Ivory coast, Morocco and Egypt.�

Iwuamadi added that the company has invested over $1.1billioillion in Nigeria as a total investment of the group and plans to invest more in upcoming project and the exporting we are doing is saving the nation over $650million yearly. In the past, many people have been importing steel into this country, nobody talks about that because imported steel cannot compete with our own. We are in the same standard so you don’t need to waste your money importing steel.

On his part, the Minister, Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, lauded the company’s stride, saying that the federal government policy on privatisation of the steel sector was working. Fayemi who was represented

by Director, Steel and Non- Ferrous Metals, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Ime Ekrikpo, assured operators in the sector of right policy support and incentives aimed at taking the industry higher. “Our key target in the mining industry is the steel and we will give them all the necessary support to begin to produce iron ore,� he said.

Also speaking at the event, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Frank Jacob, applauded the company’s export feat. “In spite of harsh operating environment, they are able to produce, export and earn forex for the country.

I congratulate them,� he said.

African Industries started in 1971 and they are manufacturing various types of Steel products such as Iron Rods, Angles, Channels, Pipes, wire related products - in total over 1 Million MT / annum is produced, representing 33% of the steel consumed in Nigeria Out of this quantity, the company produces over 50% of Iron Rods consumed in the country.

It also manufactures other non -steel products such as sheet glass, Industrial chemicals, Refined Lead, Wood based products such as plywood & other construction materials. The company generates its own electricity using Natural gas and sells its surplus electricity via the national grid. The group is also in the process of setting up a large agricultural processing facility in the Northern part of Nigeria. It employs over 8,000 Nigerians and benefit lives of more than 100,000 Nigerians in the entire supply chain.

The company in a statement sent to THISDAY added that its industries are located in Port harcourt, Abuja, Agbara, Ogijo, Ikorodu It has invested over 1.1billion and plans are on the way to increase and further diversify their product portfolio.

On what has helped them progress, the company added: “The enabling environment created by Democracy has allowed us to work hard to manufacture liquid steel in Nigeria. “Our technology uses the latest state of the art equipment and is safe and environmental friendly. “We are the first steel plant to get all 3 ISO certifications such as ISO9001, 14001, 18001 certified by Rina Italy on IFC/WB guidelines. “We are also the first and the only company in Nigeria and the second company in sub-Saharan Africa to have UK Cares British Standard certification. It also means we can sell Iron Rods into UK or Germany without anyone challenging our quality.�

African Industries boast of patronage from almost all the large construction companies and government parastatals. However, it concluded that with additional support from government, export grants will perhaps go a long way to sustain exports.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

40

CITYSTRINGS

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

Wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu (1st left), presenting certificates and empowerment items to successful graduates of the skills acquisition training of the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme held at the headquarters of Aba South LGA...recently

Succour for Abia Women and Youths Emmanuel Ugwu reports on the efforts of the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, to empower women and youths in the state to be self-reliant

I

t was a new vista of life for 50 persons from Aba South Local Government seeking to be economically self-reliant.

They successfully completed the skills acquisition training of the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme of the wife of Abia state governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, who empowered them with the needed equipment to take off in the journey of making a living. The beneficiaries were trained in different vocations including hairdressing, fashion design, decoration, catering, and computer operation. The Springboard Skills Acquisition programme is an aspect of the Vicar Hope Foundation, a pet project of Mrs. Ikpeazu. Accordingly sewing machines, laptops, hairdressing equipment, decoration accessories, and catering utensils were distributed to the graduates.

The First Lady said that her plan was to ensure that at least 1, 065 Abians were trained in various skills in the empowerment programme aimed at making them “self-reliant and economically vibrant.” She said that so far 200 persons representing about 19 per cent of the target number have received skills to make them self-reliant. “I believe that this programme will reduce our unemployment rates and add value to people’s lives, especially the beneficiaries and their dependants,” she said, adding, “Our plan is to equip them so that they can start immediately to contribute to our state’s economy.” The First Lady said that the interest of her foundation in the affairs of the empowerment programme would

not end with the training and provision of equipment as their progress would be monitored. According to her, it was important to ensure that “they (beneficiaries) really apply what they have learned and grow their businesses.”

The beneficiaries of the skills acquisition programme had undergone a six months training with the national Directorate of Employment (NDE) providing the technical assistance. The First Lady said that she was satisfied with the planning and execution of the training programme as the graduates of the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme have come out well trained in their chosen fields of endeavour. “Gone are

I believe that this programme will reduce our unemployment rates and add value to people’s lives, especially the beneficiaries and their dependants. Our plan is to equip them so that they can start immediately to contribute to our state’s economy

the days when skills acquisition are hurriedly done.” The result, according to her, was that “the students graduate only for them to end up selling the equipment given to them and then return to square one.”

To avoid a situation where the graduates would end up wasting both their skills and their empowerment items, the wife of the governor assured that “we will monitor their progress to ensure that they really apply what they have learned. She therefore charged the beneficiaries, the budding entrepreneurs to take their economic ventures serious. The First Lady noted that the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme of her Vicar Hope Foundation would continue to impact positively on the people just like other programmes run by the foundation in healthcare, education for the young ones and building of houses for indigents.

But she stated that Vicar Hope Foundation would make more impact in improving lives of people if it receives the needed assistance for the implementation of its programmes.

The Abia First Lady therefore called on public spirited individuals, international donor agencies, corporate bodies and agencies “to come and partner with us in our effort to make life better for our people.” She acknowledged the role of her husband and governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in making it possible for her to implement the programmes she has mapped out in her pet project.

According to her, the governor “has provided the enabling environment for

all of us to succeed.” The Springboard is just one of the several programmes being implemented by Mrs. Ikpeazu under her Vicar Hope Foundation. “We have provided for healthcare, education for the young ones and construction of houses for homeless indigents,” she noted.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Chikezie, said that more people were going to benefit from the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme following the decentralisation of the training centres. She lauded Mrs. Ikpeazu for decentralising the training programmes to the three senatorial zones, which she noted was a departure from the past when empowerment programme trainings used to be “concentrated” at Umuahia, the capital city.

Chikezie stated that the cost of training and purchase of the empowerment items for the beneficiaries was borne by government.

Apparently referring to the preponderant of women among the beneficiaries the Permanent Secretary said that the administration of Okezie Ikpeazu has been taking special care of the women folk. She advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the empowerment equipment, saying that their successful graduation and empowerment marks “the beginning of making their livelihood.”

Chikezie further urged the 50 beneficiaries to strive hard and manage both their acquired skills and the empowerment items, adding that they have now been placed on good pedestal to be employers and trainers for those seeking to acquire their respective skills.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

41

CITYSTRINGS

The graduates of the empowerment programme

Judith Onyenzo said her dream of acquiring the skills to go into fashion designing has now materialised. Esther Igwe, who is a widow, also has the same high hopes that her life would change for the better with her new skill. She said that she was now hopeful of taking care of her children

For the beneficiaries the empowerment programme has opened vistas of economic independence. Judith Onyenzo said that it would definitely “make a very big difference” in her life as her dream of acquiring the skills to go into fashion designing has now materialised. Esther Igwe, who is a widow, also has the same high hopes that her life would change for the better with her new skill. She said that she was now hopeful of taking care of her children as can now start “doing something on her own.” Alban Amadi was among those that specialised in computer operation. He said that he was already a technician before he got the opportunity to train as computer operator, adding that he would now set up a business centre.

Chairman of Aba South Local Government, Hon. Emma Emeruwa was very much excited over the new opportunity the wife of the

Abia First Lady, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu (1st right), presenting empowerment items to graduates of the skills acquisition training of the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme

governor has given to the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme. He profusely lauded Mrs. Ikpeazu for her interest and commitment to ensuring that people acquired needed skills to start making their living.

The council chairman also commended the Abia First Lady for decentralising the skills

acquisition programme, which he said made it possible for the people of Aba to benefit from the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme.

The “graduation ceremony”, which was held at the Aba South Council Headquarters, was a joyous event for the empowerment

beneficiaries, their parents and well wishers.

Now, armed with their certificates and the needed equipment to start making use of their acquired skills, the empowered persons left the venue of the ceremony with high hopes. They have entered the threshold of attaining economic independence.

T H I S D AY Ëž , ÍŻÍľËœ 2017

42

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Experts Call for Stringent Regulation for SIM Swap Obinna Chima The Head, Industry and Security Service, Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Femi Fadairo has described the sim swap policy in the Nigerian telecom industry as a growing menace as it exposes subscribers and bank customers to fraudsters.

Speaking at the annual electronic fraud forum organised

by Access Bank Plc in Lagos yesterday, Fadairo stressed the need for stringent regulations around the sim swap policy.

His view was supported by other experts that spoke at the forum.

To address this challenge, Fadairo said there was need for telcos to request for Bank Verification Number (BVN) of phone users before effecting any sim swap. “All customers must provide a valid BVN for sim registration.

System to be put in place to identify swapped or re-used sim cards. All sim swaps must

undergo BVN verification before it can be effected,� Fadairo said.

In addition, he said there was need for information sharing between the telcos and the financial institutions. “Banking fraud desk coordinators should be able to blacklist fraudulent phone numbers with telcos ensuring that blacklisted phone numbers are unable to further process transactions. “Banks and telcos to establish harmonised fraud desks for collaborative operations. “There is no one way of tackling cybercrime, but an effective stakeholder collaboration across board will definitely yield tangible results. “We must all work together to ensure that we have the best possible defenses. The fight against fraud is a fight for all,� he said.

He pointed out that while digital banking had forever transformed the way people bank, it had also increasingly created new opportunities for fraudsters.

Due to the speed and ease of digital banking, more frauds are perpetrated effortlessly, he noted. “It is no coincidence then that adoption of digital channels and devices have grown in tandem with fraud. “The economy has been battling the rising menace of electronic fraud, especially among mobile money operators. “The rate at which customers are being defrauded is alarming. There is need for synergy amongst the various stakeholders and telcos to work relentlessly in tackling fraud,� he added.

Earlier in his remark, the CEO of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the forum was to ensure active collaboration among operators in the industry in the fight against fraudsters.

Wigwe, who was represented by an Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, pointed out that cybercrime was the second most reported economic crime in 2016.

MARKET INDICATORS

Ezekwesili Bemoans Leadership Failure in Africa Peter Uzoho The Senior Economic Adviser of the African Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) and Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has bemoaned the failure of leadership and governance in most of the African countries, saying the continent has “faced a blemish in leadership.�

Ezekwesili said this yesterday in Lagos, while delivering an address as the guest lecturer at the fifth anniversary lecture of the Realnews Magazine.

The topic of the lecture was: “African Leadership in a Turbulent Era.�

She pointed out that countries such as Singapore that gained independence almost the same time with most African countries had emerged within five decades as models of good governance.

According to her, the Asian countries have continued to demonstrate to Africans that

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS good governance was not an impossibility. “In a matter of five decades, Singapore has made progress that is exemplified by its $65, 000 income per capita compared to the continent’s (Africa) average of $2,157,� Ezekwesili said.

She added: “It is to that extend that we must interrogate the quality of leadership that has given Africa poor governance as against the good governance that Singaporeans have enjoyed. “So, everything we said about good governance is not something that is done through engineering. There is a human centeredness in good governance. “We can make inference from the features of good governance what poor governance looks like. It is more accurate to surmise from good governance what poor governance is about and the worst affected in poor governance are the poor and most vulnerable in the society.

She expressed concern over the level of corruption in the continent. “More people join the low cost, non-risky route to riches and society begins to degenerate because services and values become distorted when the right conduct of honesty and hard work is not considered to be productive and rewarded�, she said.

Ezekwesili stated that sound policies, strong institutions and effective allocation of public good and services were needed in this period of turbulence in Africa, stressing that in the turbulent 21st century, using technology as solution to the absence of good governance was not possible. “That is the indispensability of good leadership. The robots are not going to substitute for failure of good leadership; artificial intelligence will not be a substitute for failure of leadership. We must get it right with leadership.�

Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ě™ ÍŻĚš

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,523,239.91

---- Demand Deposits

8,367,573.19

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,118,463.42 26,821,446.81

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ăž Ù×Ă?Ă?ÞÓĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ă?Þ̚

4,824,226.22

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Þ˛ Ě™ Ă?Þ̚ Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?

7,834,536.74

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? Ă?ĂŽË› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂœĂœĂ™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ě™ Ěš

-3,010,310.52

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ ĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ě™ Ěš

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜

1,868,735.07

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?Ă?

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month

Fidelity Bank Rewards More Customers

Ě™

Ěš

AUGUST 2017

AUGUST 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

Nume Ekeghe In its continuous bid to increase savings culture as well as enhance financial inclusion, Fidelity bank yesterday rewarded 13 customers with N15 million and other 18 consolation prizes.

The winners emerged in the first draw of the bank’s “Get Alert in Millions Promo Reloaded.�

The draw, which took place in Lagos, was witnessed by representatives from the National Lottery Commission as well as other regulatory bodies.

Speaking at the event, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo said the campaign was an opportunity for the bank to reach out to needs of its esteemed customers both existing and new customers while selling retail and financial inclusion services to them.

Okonkwo, who was represented by the Executive

Director, Shared Services & Products, Mrs. Chijioke Ugochukwu said: “It is a unique promo that is exclusively focused on improving the standard of living of our customers and new customers. “In the course of this promo, of which this is our first monthly, there would be two categories of this draw. The draws would be administered both monthly and bimonthly.�

At the monthly draws expected to hold throughout the duration of the promo, the sum of N82 million would be won. While a total of N28 million would be won at the bi-monthly draws.

The cash price would be in categories of N1 million, N2 million and N3 million and there are a host of consolation prizes. In addition, there would be a grand prize of N10 million which would be won at the last bi monthly draw.

The Fidelity Bank boss added: “In total, N110 million would be given out in this promo starting today and this promo is expected to last for six months.�

A total of 13 customers won N15million and 18 consolation prizes of TV Sets, Generator and Refrigerators.

The cash winners prize winners of N1 million were - Mr. Ezeokafor Felix Chukuma and Osakwe Franca Dumebi both from Lagos region. While from the north and north central, Amina Aliyu, Usman Sani, Blessing Chika Amadife and Abimbola Yemisi Awoyo, emerged winners.

Others from the South0west, South-east and South-outh were Isaac Aringbangba, Michael Abgolaga Okutubo, Benignus Osita Ezeugwu, Stephen Ogbonne Ikeanyi and Akosile Nekabari Obioma. While the N2 million prize winners were Abdulkadir Isyaku and Miracle Kanayo.

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.35

Savings Deposit Rate

4.08

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.86

3 Months Deposit Rate

10.14

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20 Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, NOV 15 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $59.79 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $60.52 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 17, 2017

43

MARKET NEWS

SEC DG Tasks Market Operators to Adapt to Changing Business Environment Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

roles in economic development of the nation.

Gwarzo stated yesterday at the 21st annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Lagos.

According to him, almost everything now comes down to the application of technology.

“The financial market institution of the future is one that is currently making conscious

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo has urged capital market participants to constantly adapt to new the changing economic, regulatory and business environments for them to perform their expected

effort to automate its processes by leveraging on relevant technology,” he said.

He, however, noted that as an evidence of the responses to dynamic changes in the Nigerian financial market, the capital market has begun to witness the evolution of new products and processes such as Sukuk, Green Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and

Financial Technology(Fintech).

On market regulation and development by SEC, he said that the commission is committed to developing the Nigerian capital market in line with the 10-year Master Plan.

Gwarzo said the commission has strengthened its rule making process, noting that more rules are considered on a timely basis with the underlying

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

(Q3)’ 2017. He added that the number of enforcement cases has come down from 49 to 30 within the same period.

In his speech, the President of CIS, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, commended Gwarzo for his leadership and commitment in the development of the Nigerian capital market and in deepening the spirit of collaboration among stakeholders.

justifications which will aid the market’s understanding of the thought process behind coming up with the rules.

As evidence of the positive impact of some of the recently introduced initiatives, he disclosed that the number of reported cases of infractions in the market has reduced from 291 in first quarter (Q1) in 2016 to 36 in the third quarter

A S AT 3 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 7

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N

BANKING

1 BANKING

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

S/N

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

2 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS

FBN HOLDINGS PLC

S/N

BUILDING MATERIALS

3 BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

S/N

CROP PRODUCTION

4 5 6 CROP PRODUCTION

FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

S/N 7 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC. LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES

8 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES

LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

S/N

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES

12 13 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

S/N

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

14 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

ARBICO PLC.

S/N 15 16 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION

MARKET CAP(Nm) 222,550.82

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,817,073.66

PRICE

VOLUME

25.49

10,224,177 10,224,177

PRICE

VOLUME

6.20

21,471,195 21,471,195 31,695,372

PRICE

VOLUME

224.00

981,469 981,469 981,469 32,676,841

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,100.00 62,004.15 66,500.00 MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20 MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,430.00

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,482.48 194.58 2,111.93

PRICE

VOLUME

0.50 65.00 66.50

0 162,227 135,304 297,531

PRICE

VOLUME

4.26

0 0

PRICE

VOLUME

0.81

378,664 378,664 676,195

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

17

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

19 20 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS

38 39 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

S/N

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

40 41 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

S/N

BANKING

42 43

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. JAIZ BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC.

21 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

S/N

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS

22 23 24 25 26 BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS

CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

S/N

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC

27 BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC

7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC.

S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 FOOD PRODUCTS

DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC.

S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

36 37 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

55 56

0.56 0.50 3.25

1,300 0 0

59

58,546.15

1.44

19,343,426

36,093.04

18.79

2,299,278 21,644,004 21,644,004

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32 MARKET CAP(Nm) 38,715.60 165.00

PRICE

VOLUME

4.79

0 0

PRICE

VOLUME

29.33 6.60

92,309 0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

7,015.67

2.70

VOLUME 32,762

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNIC DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

PRICE

VOLUME

100.00

0

11,305.89

45.22

0

S/N

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS

26,682.70

10.00

0

80 81 MICRO-FINANCE BANKS

FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

0

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS

54

58

125,071

S/N

S/N

57

32,762 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 BANKING

VOLUME

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 18

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

PRICE

92,309

S/N

S/N

S/N

44

S/N

9 10 11

MARKET CAP(Nm) 800,296.63

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,386.33 MARKET CAP(Nm) 19,260.56 242.22 219,038.28 161,385.27 1,189,365.13 MARKET CAP(Nm) 57,653.13 MARKET CAP(Nm) 47,650.00 180,000.00 82,663.47 16,812.02 1,861.25 1,028.21 42,920.90 3,676.41 MARKET CAP(Nm) 19,721.12 992,405.63

S/N

PRICE

VOLUME

0.50

22,100 22,100

82 83 84 85

PRICE

VOLUME

86

2.46 0.89 100.00 48.99 150.00

123,000 0 297,756 2,007,686 1,854,857 4,283,299

PRICE

VOLUME

90.00

22,083 22,083

PRICE

VOLUME

9.53 15.00 31.50 2.12 0.50 5.77 16.20 13.45

19,717,096 850,879 5,581,444 1,661,741 0 0 4,159,300 0 31,970,460

PRICE

VOLUME

10.50 1,252.00

690,714 82,767 773,481

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC.

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AFRICA PRUDENTIAL PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC

S/N

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

96

EKOCORP PLC. UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC

97

MARKET CAP(Nm) 283,494.12 23,391.99

VOLUME

23.23 2.97

1,650 869,858 871,508

PRICE

VOLUME

23.00 41.19

51,048 6,368,689 6,419,737 44,362,668

PRICE

VOLUME

9.80 1.01

6,440,093 42,942,530

311,942.37

17.00

758,668

44,041.69 1,236,109.53 17,089.26 6,940.15 28,790.42 103,308.42 328,314.45 5,961.56 19,287.23

1.52 42.00 0.58 0.50 1.00 6.10 9.60 0.51 0.50

31,065,181 11,231,074 1,839,500 1,337,298 2,182,783 793,719 9,346,370 146,322 10,017,622 118,101,160

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

VOLUME

10,292.50

0.50

100

3,603.71 21,315.00

0.52 2.03

5,343,491 794,899

3,000.00

0.50

0

13,795.75

1.33

256,240

7,364.75

0.50

0

7,000.00 2,411.47 1,913.74 3,070.00

0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50

30,000 0 0 0

642.04

0.50

0

3,661.72 3,050.39 6,880.00 4,000.00 6,600.63 3,869.74 2,759.15

0.50 0.71 0.86 0.50 1.25 0.50 0.50

0 1,000 250,000 0 1,069,141 0 0

3,334.38

0.50

100

4,170.41 6,455.52 4,670.54 1,291.15 6,933.33 8,000.00 6,959.02

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52

0 0 0 3,000 0 0 1,562,345

MARKET CAP(Nm) 11,799.67 2,858.30 MARKET CAP(Nm) 5,460.00 7,370.87 6,005.46 5,664.87 2,949.22

PRICE

VOLUME

2.58 1.25

200 125,000 125,200

PRICE

VOLUME

1.30 0.50 1.44 0.50

0 0 0 0

3.02

0 0

S/N

90 91 92 93 94 95 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES HEALTHCARE

MARKET CAP(Nm) 91,320.97 155,833.97

PRICE

9,310,316

87 88 89

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,766.22 3,095.84

MARKET CAP(Nm) 7,760.00 23,527.46

PRICE

VOLUME

3.88 4.00

1,638,957 169,636

750.00

0.50

0

21,188.90 411.91 2,572.69 3,313.67 436,400.00 18,060.00

1.07 552.20 0.50 103.24 43.64 3.01

12,781,744 0 0 0 366,914 2,433,895 17,391,146 144,927,822

PRICE

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,680.29 1,776.57

3.37

0

0.50

600,000

PRICE

VOLUME

0.60

0 0

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

600,000

S/N

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

98 MEDICAL SUPPLIES

MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 91.31

˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

44

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž 'ĂŝŶƐ ϭϱďƉƐ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭϱďƉƐ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϰϳϮ͘ϬϴƉƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϬ͘ϭйͿ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϱϬ͘ϵй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ ƚŽ ϰϳ͘Ϯй͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

dŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐůĂǁĞĚ ďĂĐŬ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĂŌĞƌ Ă ϮͲĚĂLJ ƐĞůůŽī ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ Ă ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϲ͕ϯϲϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϯϲ͘ϯй͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ Eϳϳ͘ϭďŶ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ EϭϮ͘ϴƚŶ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďŽůƐƚĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;нϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ W ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭϴ͘Ϯй ƚŽ Ϯϭϳ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϮϱϮ͘ϭй ƚŽ Eϭϭ͘ϳďŶ͘ dŚĞ ƐƵƌŐĞ ŝŶ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ϯϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϴϭ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŽƚĂů ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ /ŶĚĞdž >ĞĂĚƐ >ŽƐĞƌƐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ /ŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϴй ĂƐ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϯ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ // K ;Ͳϭ͘ϴйͿ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ůŽƐƐĞƐ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů Ϭ͘Ϯй Ͳ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;Ͳϭ͘ϬйͿ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůŝŶŐ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ E'^h' Z ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ ŇĂƚ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ĂůďĞŝƚ ƐƟůů ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ͕ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ; ĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƌŽƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϲdž ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϳdž LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ϭϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϱ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ K ' ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ W ;нϱ͘ϬͿ ĂŶĚ '> s Ed ;нϰ͘ϳйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ s ZdKE ;Ͳϵ͘ϬйͿ͕ d ZE ;Ͳϱ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ hW> ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƌŐĞ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĐůĂǁ ďĂĐŬ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŽŵŽƌƌŽǁ͛Ɛ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽŶ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ͘

ŽŵƉĂŶLJ /Ŷ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ WƌĞƐĐŽ WůĐ ;͞WZ ^ K͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͟Ϳ WƌĞƐĐŽ WůĐ ;͞WƌĞƐĐŽ͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͟Ϳ ŝƐ Ă ĨƵůůLJ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚ ĂŐƌŽͲ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉůĂŶƚĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ƉĂůŵ Žŝů ŵŝůů͕ ƉĂůŵ ŬĞƌŶĞů ĐƌƵƐŚŝŶŐ ƉůĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ǀĞŐĞƚĂďůĞ Žŝů ƌĞĮŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌĂĐƟŽŶĂƟŽŶ ƉůĂŶƚ͘ WƌĞƐĐŽ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ĂĚŵŝƩĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ E^ ϯϬ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ƌĂŶŬƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϯϭƐƚ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ă ĨƌĞĞͲŇŽĂƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ZĞĐĞŶƚůLJ͕ WƌĞƐĐŽ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ŝƚƐ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ϰϭ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ZĞǀĞŶƵĞ ƚŽ Eϭϲ͘ϵďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ĨƌŽŵ Eϭϭ͘ϵďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϲ ĂƐ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƌƐ ůĞǀĞƌĂŐĞĚ ŽŶ ǁĞĂŬ &y ƌĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŝŐŚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŽƵƚƉƵƚ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ 'ƌŽƐƐ DĂƌŐŝŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ ϰ͘ϲ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ zͲŽͲz ƚŽ ϳϬ͘ϴй Ͳ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ^ĂůĞƐ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ WƌŽĮƚ ǁĂƐ ƉĂƌƚůLJ ŽīƐĞƚ ďLJ ůŽǁĞƌ KW y ƌĂƟŽ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ͕ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ WƌŽĮƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϬ͘ϰй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ Eϵ͘ϰďŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚ ďĂƐĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ďŝŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ƌĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ;Eϰ͘ϰďŶͿ͕ WƌĞ ͲƚĂdž WƌŽĮƚ ĨĞůů ϭϴ͘Ϯй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ Eϳ͘ϵďŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ĨĂŝƌ ǀĂůƵĞ ůŽƐƐ ŽŶ ŝƚƐ ďŝŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ;ͲEϬ͘ϯďŶͿ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͘ WƌĞƐĐŽ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂůŽŶĞ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁĂƐ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ƵŶŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ͘ 'ƌŽƐƐ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϯϴ͘ϭй YͲŽͲY ƚŽ Eϰ͘ϭďŶ ĨƌŽŵ Eϱ͘ϳďŶ ŝŶ YϮ͗ϮϬϭϳ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞ ƐƵƐƉĞĐƚ ŝƐ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƌ &y ƌĂƚĞ ŝŶ Yϯ ĂŶĚ ĨĞĞĚďĂĐŬ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽŶ ůĞǀĞů ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞͲ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶ ďLJ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ƚŽƉůŝŶĞ͕ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ WƌŽĮƚ ĨĞůů ϳϮ͘ϭй YͲŽͲY ƚŽ Eϭ͘ϬďŶ ǁŚŝůĞ Ă ƉƌĞͲƚĂdž ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ EϬ͘ϯďŶ ǁĂƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ă ƉƌŽĮƚ ŽĨ EϮ͘ϲďŶ ŝŶ YϮ͗ϮϬϭϳ͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŌ Yϯ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŶĞƵƚƌĂů ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŵĞĚŝƵŵͲƚĞƌŵ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŽŶ WƌĞƐĐŽ͛Ɛ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͕ ĂƐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĨĂǀŽƵƌ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ůŽĐĂůůLJ ƐŽƵƌĐĞĚ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited

(RC 603 315)

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

Price Change YTD

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,472.08

0.15%

47.2%

47.2%

20.3%

6.5%

6.7x

0.7x

4.2%

11.7%

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

43.10

1.4%

23.7%

74.5%

74.5%

26.0%

4.3%

9.0x

2.2x

4.8%

11.2%

2

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

138.15

0.1%

9.9%

-6.6%

-6.6%

18.9%

8.6%

34.0x

6.2x

2.6%

2.9%

3

Zenith Bank PLC

24.04

0.4%

12.8%

63.0%

63.0%

21.7%

3.2%

4.8x

1.0x

8.4%

21.0%

4

Dangote Cement PLC

230.00

0.0%

6.5%

32.2%

32.2%

30.4%

15.7%

15.9x

4.5x

3.7%

6.3%

5

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,250.00

0.0%

6.8%

54.3%

54.3%

78.4%

19.0%

32.6x

21.5x

0.8%

3.1%

6

Access Bank PLC

9.86

0.5%

4.4%

68.0%

68.0%

15.1%

2.0%

4.0x

0.6x

6.6%

25.3%

7

United Bank for Africa PLC

9.50

-0.8%

5.4%

111.1%

111.1%

17.2%

2.2%

4.2x

0.7x

7.9%

24.0%

8

FBN Holdings Plc

6.62

-4.1%

4.4%

97.6%

97.6%

2.6%

0.3%

10.8x

0.4x

3.0%

9.3%

17.00

0.0%

3.0%

65.4%

65.4%

-14.6%

-1.3%

0.6x

3.6%

-20.4%

7.6x

2.0%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

10

Lafarge Africa PLC

11

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

12

50.00

0.0%

1.9%

29.0%

29.0%

47.1%

9.8%

490.00

-1.0%

1.8%

29.0%

29.0%

-12.4%

-6.7%

Unilever Nigeria PLC

36.10

0.0%

1.4%

13.4%

13.4%

50.3%

8.4%

22.2x

8.5x

0.3%

4.5%

13

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

42.60

0.2%

3.1%

184.0%

184.0%

28.7%

3.4%

9.8x

2.6x

1.4%

10.2%

14

Guinness Nigeria PLC

100.00

-1.0%

1.4%

27.2%

27.2%

4.5%

1.4%

70.4x

3.5x

0.6%

5.99

0.0%

1.3%

27.4%

27.4%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

4.5x

0.6x

22.4% -21.3%

1.4%

15

Oando PLC

16

Forte Oil PLC

48.62

0.0%

0.6%

-42.4%

-42.4%

44.3%

3.7%

12.3x

5.4x

17

11 PLC

170.00

3.0%

0.5%

-39.1%

-39.1%

32.6%

12.0%

9.0x

2.5x

18

Total Nigeria PLC

230.00

37.0%

0.0%

0.6%

-23.1%

-23.1%

37.3%

7.4%

8.6x

3.0x

2.6%

11.7%

-0.3%

1.2%

69.3%

69.3%

37.4%

25.9%

9.1x

3.0x

2.2%

11.0%

8.1% 4.7%

11.1%

19

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

68.00

20

UAC of Nigeria PLC

18.90

-0.5%

0.7%

14.6%

14.5%

6.3%

2.2%

12.1x

0.8x

5.4%

8.2%

Conoil PLC

28.00

0.0%

0.4%

-25.3%

-25.3%

12.8%

3.5%

8.1x

1.1x

11.1%

12.3%

21

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

Current Price

1

DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞďŽƵŶĚƐ ŌĞƌ Ă ϮͲ ĂLJ ^ĞůůŽī͙ E^ ^/ ƵƉ ϱďƉƐ

Friday, November 17, 2017

22

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.60

2.6%

0.9%

90.5%

90.5%

8.0%

1.1%

1.4x

0.2x

8.7%

71.6%

23

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

14.25

-2.1%

1.0%

133.2%

133.2%

23.8%

10.3%

5.6x

2.4x

3.5%

18.0%

24

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

34.89

0.0%

0.8%

88.7%

88.7%

10.4%

2.6%

8.8x

0.9x

3.0%

11.4%

3.75

0.0%

0.4%

-3.6%

-3.6%

18.9%

7.6%

3.9x

0.7x

7.5%

0.3%

-30.2%

-30.2%

-56.7%

-13.9%

25

Custodian and Allied Insurance

26

7 UP Bottling Co PLC

90.00

4.7%

27

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

29.33

0.0%

0.3%

-24.0%

-24.0%

-12.2%

-1.2%

28

FCMB Group Plc

1.10

-1.8%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

0.9%

0.1%

12.9x

0.1x

29

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.35

1.5%

0.6%

55.2%

55.2%

19.6%

4.1%

5.4x

0.9x

30

Diamond Bank PLC

4.4x

25.5% -18.7%

1.5x

-7.8% 9.1%

7.8% 18.5%

1.09

-0.9%

0.4%

23.9%

23.9%

2.5%

0.3%

4.4x

0.1x

0.0%

0.5%

64.6%

64.6%

53.3%

31.5%

3.3x

1.1x

2.3%

30.7%

2.3%

5.5%

22.7%

31

Presco PLC

66.00

32

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

21.42

5.0%

0.4%

47.7%

47.7%

11.5%

5.8%

18.3x

2.0x

33

International Brew eries PLC

51.80

3.6%

0.8%

180.0%

180.0%

24.6%

7.4%

54.2x

12.3x

34

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

11.78

0.0%

0.3%

14.5%

14.5%

4.5%

1.6%

33.6x

2.0x

3.0%

35

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.12

0.2%

0.3%

28.2%

28.3%

5.6%

1.2%

7.8x

0.4x

12.8%

36

Chemical and Allied Products P

34.00

0.0%

0.2%

6.3%

6.3%

84.3%

38.5%

14.8x

10.4x

1.00

0.0%

0.2%

31.6%

31.6%

6.1%

0.6%

5.3x

0.3x

25.25

0.0%

0.3%

60.3%

60.3%

61.2%

23.6%

5.2x

1.9x

1.2%

0.0%

0.1%

22.8%

22.8%

11.9%

3.9%

10.2x

1.2x

2.4%

-3.6%

0.1%

34.3%

34.3%

9.6%

4.4%

7.8x

0.7x

37

Sterling Bank PLC

38

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

39

AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.05

40

Continental Reinsurance PLC

1.33

T o p 10 G a ine r s T ic k er

1.8%

6.5%

P ric e C hg %

4.56

9.9%

NB

68.3

0.1%

PZ

21.42

5.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

18.6

0.4%

NP FM CRFB K

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

0.67

4.7%

A C C ESS

14.4

0.5%

90.00

4.7%

FB NH

13.8

-4.1%

1.35

3.8%

C ILEA SIN G

12.9

0.0%

51.80

3.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

9.2

2.6%

170.00

3.0%

T R A N SC OR P

7.3

1.5%

1.05

2.9%

H ON YF LOUR

6.3

-5.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

1.60

2.6%

GUA R A N T Y

6.2

1.4%

T R A N SC OR P

1.35

1.5%

GUIN N ESS

5.3

-1.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

C A VER T ON

1.32

-9.0%

NB

ET ER N A

3.76

-5.8%

GUIN N ESS

526.1

-1.0% 0.4%

IN T B R EW M OB IL LEA R N A F R C A

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

9.8%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

7UP

19.1%

12.8%

B OC GA S

A GLEVEN T

6.7% 19.0%

T ic k er

Value 9492.3

P ric e C hg % 0.1%

H ON YF LOUR

1.90

-5.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

448.7

UP L

2.66

-5.0%

GUA R A N T Y

263.0

1.4%

VIT A F OA M

2.74

-4.9%

IN T B R EW

211.0

3.6%

FB NH

6.62

-4.1%

A C C ESS

142.2

0.5%

UN IT YB N K

0.51

-3.8%

FB NH

92.8

-4.1%

C ON T IN SUR E

1.33

-3.6%

T OT A L

86.8

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

0.84

-3.4%

WA P C O

64.2

0.0%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.57

-3.4%

D A N GSUGA R

47.9

-2.1%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

45

˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

MARKET NEWS

AFREXIM Bank Introduces Factoring Trade Financing Initiative for SMEs Ebere Nwoji The African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM) has introduced a new business financing initiative tagged, ‘Factoring’ which is aimed at growing small and medium enterprises across Africa.

According to AFREXIM, Factoring, a financing solutions for African trade targeted at integrating African SMEs into the global value chain, is a service involving the purchase by a financial institution called a factor of receivables due

to exporters and suppliers or sellers by their customers or buyers with the factor assuming full credit and collection responsibilities.

According to the bank, Nigeria has been slated as one of the initial adopters of the Factoring code as discussions are currently going on at parliamentary level and will be adopted by the country in the next one year.

The initiative, originated from trade in textiles in the United States and United Kingdom and has today stood as supporting pillar for SMEs

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

of many developed and developing countries.

AFREXIM Bank, at the 17th Advanced Structured Trade Finance Seminar and workshop held in Sal Island, Cape Verde, hosted a one-day workshop on the Factoring initiative bringing experts from global finance institutions and corporations from both United States and UK to brainstorm with African business operators on how the initiative could be used to advance trade in manufacturing and exports especially among SMEs

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 15Nov-2017, unless otherwise stated.

in Africa.

Senior Manager, Trade Finance AFREXIM, Intong Eric Monchu, said that to make factoring work as a means of business financing in Africa, the board of the bank has approved $150million for the initiative.

He said the bank is currently brainstorming on how to facilitate the workings of the enabling regulatory environment to ensure the success of the initiative in Africa.

He said the bank is partnering

FCI to develop a model that will facilitate eight member countries of AFREXIM Bank commence the implementation of the initiative in their countries having launched its code in October 2016.

Speaking on the initiative, Secretary General, Factors Chain International (FCI), Mr. Peter Mulroy, said those who provide factoring services are known as factors.

He said a factor is a specialised financial company either independent or a subsidiary or division of a bank that provides

certain services to a business by leveraging their clients’ accounts receivable.

Factoring, he explained, is beneficial to both the clients and to the factor explaining that to the client, explaining that it improves cash flow, eliminates credit losses, reduces operating expenses, expands working capital and improves management information through online reports such as customer payments, accounts receivable aging , credit approvals and customer deductions.

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 176.24 177.41 38.96% Nigeria International Debt Fund 234.31 235.59 10.89% 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 0.81 0.82 16.25% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 78.96% 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 17.89% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 17.75 18.28 43.76% ARM Discovery Fund 371.95 383.16 29.52% ARM Ethical Fund 26.13 26.92 16.97% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.69% 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 147.49 148.53 40.23% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.03% 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 18.73% CORONATION ASSET MANAGEMENT investment@coronation.com Web: www.coronation.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.70% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.00 1.01 0.47% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.03 1.56% 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 1,113.08 1,114.22 9.86% FBN Heritage Fund 146.64 147.87 31.52% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.20% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $110.61 $111.92 7.71% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $110.07 $111.38 7.92% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.94 157.21 37.62% 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 1.38 1.40 47.87% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.94 2.94 14.22% 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 2,923.40 2,964.04 32.95% Coral Income Fund 2,419.61 2,419.61 16.10% 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 21.51% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.65% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.07 2.09 23.01% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.53% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 113.21 113.21 16.68%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.19 17.67% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,038.99 1,038.99 10.28% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.28 13.39 37.44% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.82% 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 1.21 1.23 21.70% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.90 10.95 4.81% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.72% 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 126.51 128.52 24.73% 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 1.41 1.41 13.27% 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 2,204.74 2,217.95 20.42% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 173.47 173.47 12.67% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 27.92% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 215.83 215.83 15.49% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 170.46 172.66 31.29% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.81% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,496.49 9,607.84 25.23% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.05 1.05 5.00% 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 1.33 1.32 18.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.51 1.51 23.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.91 35.65% United Capital Money Market Fund ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Zenith Equity Fund Zenith Ethical Fund Zenith Income Fund

1.00

Bid Price 12.62 13.28 18.81

1.00 18.80% info@zenith-funds.com Offer Price 12.80 13.43 18.81

Yield / T-Rtn 29.92% 21.73% 13.73%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41

1.01%

131.62

6.17%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

107.33

109.35

27.86%

REITS 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

136.21

139.16

37.69%

Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

105.38

107.37

39.07%

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

4.46 8.62 17.07 20.20 141.33

4.50 8.70 17.17 20.40 143.33

61.07% 22.49% 44.22% 26.48% 11.42%

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.

Ë&#x153; ÍŻÍľË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ëž T H I S D AY

46

WORLD OF ISLAM Expressing Condolences and Sympathy

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA)/ HaqIslam

W

hen offering condolences about a plight that befalls a relative, friend or acquaintance, it is kind to pray for the dead. Say a prayer similar to that reported

by Muslim to have been articulated by Messenger (PBUH) to Umm Salamah (RA) at the death of her husband: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;O Allah, forgive Abi Salamah, elevate his status among the guided people, and look after the family that he left behind.

O Lord of the universe, forgive us and him, comfort him in his grave, and lighten his stay.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Your conversation with anguished persons should be aimed at mitigating their agony by mentioning the reward of patience, the transitory nature of life on earth, and that the Hereafter is everlasting life.

In this respect, it is desirable to reiterate certain verses of the Quran, the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) or some of the well-spoken condolences of our ancestors. You may mention the saying of Allah SWT: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;But give glad tidings to those who patiently endure, who say, when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and to Him we return. They are those on whom [descend] blessings from their Lord, and mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Or you may quote another verse from the Quran: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Every soul shall have a taste of death and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only those who are saved far from the fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object [of life], for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And such are Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All that is on earth will perish. But Allah will abide [for ever], the face of your Lord, most gracious, and most generous.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; You may mention some of sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) reported by Muslim and others: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh

Allah, reward my calamity and replace my loss with a better one.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And like the saying of Prophet (PBUH) reported by Bukhari and Muslim: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It is Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that takes and it is He that gives, and He prescribes a certain destiny for every matter.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that when the Prophet (PBUH) mourned the death of his son Ibrahim he said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My eyes are tearful. My heart is full of anguish, but we will say only what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim, your loss filled us with sorrow.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Also, it is very appropriate in this regard to use some of the traditional sayings of the Muslim forefathers. Omar bin Al-Khattab used to say: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Everyday we are told that so and so has just died. One day it will be said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omar has died.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You may allude to the saying of the just Caliph Omar ibn Abdul Aziz (RA): â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A person who is not separated from Adam by a living father, is indeed deep-rooted in death.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The honoured follower Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh son of Adam, you are nothing but mere days. Whenever a day passes away: a part of you passes away.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He also said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Allah ordained that the ultimate resting place of believers will be paradise, no less.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; His student Malik ibn Dinar said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The wedding of the one who fears Allah, is the Day of Judgment.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; A poet said: Passing the days we are content Passing a day brings us near the end Another poet said: Offering condolences, we trust not living long The manners of this religion we follow along The consoled and the consoling may live today Tomorrow though, they â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ll vanish away.

A suitable poem in this regard: We die and live every night and day One day we will die and move away Another poem describes how oblivious humans can be to death: Life is but a ship afloat

We think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still, but running is the boat I have quoted all these appropriate mourning quotations because I have witnessed many inappropriate conversations and talks by people offering sympathy. Mourning hearts are depressed with anguish and sorrow. Be sensitive and select a suitable topic for your conversation.

Attempt to lift the spirits of the bereaved family.

The great scholar, Mansour bin Zazan said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sorrow and sadness will increase rewards.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Al-Hassan Al-Basri pointed out that this painful state will gradually pass away, but our sins will remain with us forever. He said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Every sad anguish will diminish, except anguish over sins.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The great scholar, Ata bin Abi Muslim pointed out that life is full of challenges and events. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A believer would not be happy for one complete day.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Sending Flowers and Reading Quran during Funerals It should be noted that many people at the death of a dear person will bring flowers and wreaths and after proceeding with the funeral, will take the flowers and wreaths to the home of the deceased. They buy the best flowers and wreaths to show their deep sympathy and concern.

To do this is forbidden â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether presenting it at the funeral, accompanying the funeral with it, or bringing it to the deceasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house. This is an imitation of non-Muslims, and is an evil innovation which should be strictly avoided. Those who do such a thing will have no reward from Allah. To the contrary, they will be questioned for such meaningless waste.

Another misguided innovation during funerals is that the car that carries the deceased will broadcast, through speakers, a recording of the Holy Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an as if announcing the passing away of the deceased. The funeral procession should be characterized by thoughtfulness, humbleness, remembrance, reflection, awareness of Allah, and

prayers for mercy. No sad music or religious chant should accompany funerals. These two rules should be followed and spread around to make Muslims aware of the right way.

A Final Word This is a collection of Islamic manners that form the etiquette of our pious Muslim predecessors.

I introduced it in a clear and understandable way so that you may practice it. The best place to follow these manners is at your house and the houses of your brothers. Do not overlook these etiquettes when dealing with your family and your Muslim brethren.

Your immediate family and friends are the most deserving of your good conduct and manners.

In this regard, Bukhari and Muslim reported that a man asked the Prophet (PBUH): â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, Prophet of Allah, who deserves my best behaviour? The Prophet answered: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Your mother! Your mother!

Your mother! Then your father, then the closer, and the closer among your relatives.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Do not overlook these manners when interacting with the appropriate people, and act nicely and amicably with others. If you do not behave properly, you degrade yourself, abuse the duty that you are entrusted with, and abandon the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).

Rely on Allah to attain His pleasures and the manners of His religion, for it is He who protects the virtuous people.

May Allah protect you, your relatives and your beloved ones. May Allah help you obey His orders, remain obedient to Him, and follow the example of His Prophet. May Allah grant you His love, grace and His generosity. May Allah pray upon His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad, his family and his companions.

All praise to Allah, the Lord of the universe.

Ameen.

This was written in the hope of receiving your prayers.

47

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

South African Minister in Harare Zimbabwe Awaits News on Mugabe’s Future Okechukwu Uwaezuoke with agency reports A coterie of South African government ministers are in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare to mediate in the talks with ousted President Robert Mugabe and military leaders who seized control on Wednesday.

The efforts of the ministers are coming at a time when the embattled southern Africa nation mulls its future after the military takeover.

Negotiations continued as military commanders seek to find a new leader after the army had dramatically ousted President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, placing him and his family under house arrest.

The South African ministers, according to BBC, are trying to reach a deal on the future of Zimbabwe and its ousted 93-year-old president, who has ruled the country since its independence 37 years ago.

To this end, the regional bloc South African Development Community (SADC) plans to hold emergency talks shortly.

There are indications that Mugabe may be resisting pressure to resign, insisting that he remains the legitimate president.

Also, the head of the African Union, Guinean President Alpha Conde, has said the AU “will in no case accept” the military seizure of power, urging “the army to return to its barracks and return to constitutional order”.

As Zimbabweans cautiously await the military’s next step, the capital city remains on edge.

The ousted president has been under house arrest, while a Roman Catholic priest known to him for years, Father Fidelis Mukonori, is trying to negotiate a deal with the military on his future.

Meanwhile, South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo are meeting with Mugabe on behalf of the SADC, which South Africa currently heads, said BBC. Among the sticking points are the ousted Zimbabwean vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s future role and the security of Mugabe’s family.

The army’s intervention began on Tuesday night when armoured tanks were spotted rolling into the outskirts of the capital, Harare, while the military took over the country’s public TV station. Zimbabweans woke up on Wednesday morning to

find military vehicles blocking key intersections in the capital, sealing off several government buildings, including Mugabe’s residence.

The military spokesman, Major General SB Moyo, would later that morning in a televised speech reassure the public that Mr Mugabe, who was being held in his home, was “safe and sound” and explained that the army was targeting only “criminals around the president” with the aim of bringing them to justice.

Earlier on Monday, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga, who is a key ally of Mr Mnangagwa, had given Mugabe an ultimatum to

Macron, a centrist, triumph in this year’s presidential election and then won a parliamentary majority had become less open and lost its appeal as a movement that would do things differently.

The number of defectors is small, and none is a lawmaker, but their complaints underline the challenges 51-year old government spokesman Christophe Castaner will face as party chief.

“We need to reinvent our political movement,” Castaner, the only candidate, told party members ahead of Saturday’s party congress. “That is key to accompany the reforms carried out

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Thursday he would travel to France “very soon” from Saudi Arabia, which rejected accusations the premier was detained in Riyadh following his shock resignation, AFP reports.

Hariri, who has been in the Saudi capital since announcing there on November 4 that he was stepping down, met with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian,

by the government and parliament.”

A Socialist for about three decades until he backed Macron’s election bid, and a former lawmaker from southeastern France, Castaner will aim to change what opinion polls show is Macron’s image of a “president of the rich.”

He will also set out to transform En Marche (LREM) into a more established party with the strength and depth required to compete in the next local and national elections.

The next ballot, for the European Parliament, is in 2019 and local elections will be in 2020 at the earliest.

U.S. Pacific Commander: Military-backed Diplomacy Needed to Deal with North Korea Diplomacy backed by military power is needed to deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear development, the head of the U.S. military’s Pacific Command said on Thursday, according to Reuters.

North Korea has launched dozens of missile tests under the leadership of Kim Jong Un as it accelerates a weapons program

designed to give it the ability to target the United States with a nuclear-tipped missile.

In recent months, it has fired two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test, stoking regional tension.

“Clearly, while diplomacy must be the main effort with North Korea,

it has to be diplomacy backed by credible military power,” Admiral Harry Harris said in Japan at the beginning of a meeting with Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.

U.S. President Donald Trump visited China this month seeking its help to rein in North Korea and a senior Chinese diplomat will visit the North from Friday.

‘Leonardo daVinci Artwork’ Sells for Record $450m A 500-year-old painting of Christ believed to have been painted by Leonardo da Vinci has been sold in New York for a record $450m (£341m), according to BBC. The painting is known as Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World).

It is the highest auction price for any work of art and brought cheers and applause at

the packed Christie’s auction room.

Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519 and there are fewer than 20 of his paintings in existence.

Salvator Mundi, believed to have been painted sometime after 1505, is the only work thought to be in private hands.

Bidding began at $100m and the final bid for the work was $400m,

liberation-era group that fought for independence in 1970s. For decades, he also held the reins as the Zimbabwe’s chief spy and acted as the intermediary between the ruling party and the nation’s military and intelligence agencies.

Thus, he was was well positioned to succeed Mugabe.

Meanwhile, calm generally reigned in the streets of Harare, with the army intent on expressing its harmless goals refrained from calling its move to seize power a coup. Amid rumours that Grace Mugabe may have fled the country, the army insisted that she was being held in custody with her husband.

While the military leaders worked frantically to restore a semblance of normalcy by putting together a transitional authority that would lead the country to elections, panic-buying of supplies like bread and sugar was rampant in the streets. Mnangagwa, who fled to South Africa last week after he was sacked remains the military’s preferred candidate to take over from Mugabe, while the leader opposition figure and former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been down with an illness for over a month in South Africa, was said to have been approached by the generals to deputise Mnangagwa.

Saudi Arabia Says Hariri ‘Free to Leave’

French President’s Party Hit by Defections as It Picks Leader A revolt by 100 members of French President Emmanuel Macron’s governing party has exposed tensions in the fledgling movement as it prepares to elect a leader handpicked by him on Saturday, Reuters reports.

Created about 18 months ago when Macron was still relatively unknown, En Marche’s membership has risen quickly to 360,000 – membership is free – but retaining members could be harder as his popularity has waned following his rise to power.

The activists who quit this week said the party that helped

stop purges of officials linked to the exiled politician.

The ousted president had himself provoked the military when he sacked his former vice-president Mnangagwa in an apparent bid to manoeuvre his wife Grace into a position to succeed him. Grace Mugabe enjoys the support of a faction of MPs called G40 and the powerful youth wing of the ruling ZANU-PF.The52-year-oldhadpublicly expressed her willingness to take on the job of president at the time and called Mnangagwa a “snake” that “must be hit on the head.”

Mnangagwa, known by locals as “The Crocodile”, is a respected veteran who belonged to the

with fees bringing the full price up to $450.3m. The unidentified buyer was involved in a bidding contest, via telephone, that lasted nearly 20 minutes.

The painting shows Christ with one hand raised, the other holding a glass sphere.

In 1958 it was sold at auction in London for a mere £45.

who said the Lebanese premier had accepted an invitation to Paris.

Earlier Le Drian held talks with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir who told reporters that Hariri, a dual Saudi citizen whose family is a longtime ally of the Sunni-ruled kingdom, was free to leave “when he pleases” Jubeir is the highest-ranking Saudi official to comment on Hariri’s status since his surprise resignation when he accused Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of destabilising his country and said he feared

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as INNOCENT IMOH JOHNSON, now wish to be known and addressed as UWEMEDIOMOH INNOCENT UDEME. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as STELLAMARIS CHIKODINAKA OLUWAFUNMILOLA AFOLABI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIKODINAKA STELLAMARIS OLUWAFUNMILOLA BERNARD. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKE OLASUMBO OLAJUMOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLASUMBO OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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ABDUL-QUADRI MO’ARUFUDEEN AJANI, now wish to be known and ABDUL QADRI addressed as MARUFUDEE. All former documents

remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MICHAEL OLORUNFEME now wished to be known and addressed as OLORUNFEMI JENYO MICHAEL, and my dirth of birth was wrongly ǁƌŝƩĞŶ ĂƐ ϭͬϭͬϭϵϰϬ ŝŶƐƚĞĚ ŽĨ ϭϰͬϱͬϭϵϱϲ͘ ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ remain the same and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME dŚŝƐ ƚŽ ŶŽƟĨLJ ƚŚĂƚ /͕ /dh K, < >s/E <, Z ƐĂƚ ĨŽƌ tĞƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ ^ĐŚŽŽů ĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ džĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ĞĐ ĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϬ͕ǁŝƚŚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ϱϮϱϭϲϭϯϬϯϱ ĂŶĚ ŽďƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĐĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌ E't ^^ W ϬϲϲϯϱϮϰϱ͘ĂŶĚ ŵLJ ĚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ďŝƌƚŚ ǁĂƐ ǁƌŽŶŐůLJ ĞŶƚĞƌĞĚ ĂƐ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ Ϯϲ͕ ϭϵϵϮ͕ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ Ϯϱ͕ ϭϵϵϮ͘dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ please take note

for his life.

Hariri is living in the kingdom “of his own free will,” Jubeir said.

“These are false allegations. The accusation that Saudi Arabia is detaining a prime minister, and particularly a political figure who is an ally... is untrue,” he added.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who this week accused Saudi authorities of “detaining” Hariri and refused to accept his resignation from abroad, welcomed the news that the premier would visit Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron.

CHANGE OF NAME

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The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SOLOMON IKECHUKWU ANYAORIE, now wish to be known and addressed as SOLOMON IKECHUKWU ABAHAM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ISMAIL MURITODA KOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADESOPE MURITODA KOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as GBINDINNINUOLA ABIOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ONANUGA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEN IMAOBONG JENNIFER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ODU IMAOBONG JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JIMOH ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOYE SAHEED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

“We hope that the crisis is over and Hariri’s acceptance of the invitation to go to France is the start of a solution,” he said on the official presidential Twitter account.

“If Mr. Hariri speaks from France, I would consider that he speaks freely, but his resignation must be presented in Lebanon, and he will have to remain there until the formation of the new government,” Aoun said later in a statement issued by the presidency.

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Police Deny Withdrawing Security Aides from Obiano The Nigerian Police has denied that they withdrew the security details attached to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State stating that only the Aide De Camp (ADC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor were invited to a stakeholders parley with the Inspector General of Police on the need for a peaceful election.

The police stated that few hours after the parley which was attended by all other security agencies, the duo of the ADC and CSO to the governor returned to government house.

The Police, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, added that there are currently 221 police personnel deployed to the governor for his personal safety, pointing out that at no time were these officers withdrawn.

The statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, said: “The Nigeria Police Force has observed the innuendo, distortion of facts and false assertion in the media about the withdrawal of the Aide- De- Camp (ADC) to

the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano.

“It is absolutely imperative to correct the wrong impression created in the media that the governor’s aide-de-camp was withdrawn.

The true position of the matter is that the aide-de-camp or any other police officer attached to Chief Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra State was not withdrawn.

“On Tuesday, 14th November, 2017, the ADC and CSO to the governor were called to the Police Command Headquarters in Awka to attend IGP’s lecture with all other police personnel deployed for the election, which was also attended by the heads of other security and safety agencies participating in the security arrangement for the election under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the state.

“The ADC and CSO returned few hours later after the lecture, same date, to their duty posts in Government House, Awka, Anambra State.

“Though, the Anambra State

Police Command had issued a press statement to clarify the reasons why the ADC and CSO to the governor were called to the command headquarters in Awka for the lecture and that they were not withdrawn, it is also pertinent to set the records straight and inform the public and re-emphasise the fact that the ADC and CSO to the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano were not withdrawn from their duty posts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a total of 221 police officers and men including the ADC and CSO are currently attached to the

governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano for his personal and office protection.

“The breakdown is as follows: One (1) ADC (SPO), One (1) CSO (SPO), One (1) Unit Commander (SPO) from 45 PMF, One (1) Admin Officer (SPO) to administer the Police Personnel, 43 Personnel of Police Mobile Force (PMF) – from 29PMF & 54PMF, 62 Personnel of Police Mobile Force (PMF) – from 45PMF, 46 Personnel of Special Protection Unit (SPU), 66 Personnel of Conventional Police Men – Total: 221.”

Continuing the statement said:

“Obviously, the 221 police personnel attached to Chief Willie Obiano are more than the strength of some Police Area Commands in some states of the country.

“This is done to ensure optimum safety and protection of the Executive Governor of Anambra State.

“Consequently, members of the Public and the good people of Anambra State are implored to disregard the report that the aide-de –camp to the governor of Anambra State was withdrawn.

“Furthermore, the security arrangement currently being

implemented by the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a conducive atmosphere for a credible, free and fair gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, 18th November, 2017 will not be compromised and will cover the protection of all the flag bearers of the 37 political parties participating in the election.

“The Force will also ensure adequate protection of the electorates, INEC officials, election observers/monitors, electoral materials and the general populace before, during and after the election.”

Dogara Calls for Effective Networking, Collaboration in Tackling Money Laundering,Terrorist Financing Alex Enumah in Abuja Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday called for an effective networking and collaboration of all countries of the world in tackling the scourge of money laundering and terrorism financing.

Dogara also called upon developed countries to stop providing a safe haven for stolen funds from poor impoverished countries of Africa, including Nigeria.

He gave the charge yesterday in Abuja while declaring open the 28th Technical Commission and Plenary of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in Africa (GIABA).

“We must realise as stakeholders that the criminals have globalised their activities and are now connecting across the globe seamlessly whilst the enforcers of the laws are hampered in no small measure due to lack of effective international cooperation and collaboration.

“There must be synergy between the impoverished countries where

monies may have been stolen and laundered from and countries where considered as safe havens where these proceeds of crime are kept,” he stated.

As stated earlier, the fibers of international cooperation must be strengthened if we must win the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

He commended the openness and willingness of so many countries across the word that are partnering Nigeria to fight corruption and return to Nigeria’s monies and other assets that have been stolen and stashed away in their jurisdictions.

The speaker said Nigeria is open to forms of cooperation permissible under the law and also in line with prevailing global best practices which could be expressed in unhindered Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) information exchange or request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Anambra UPP Warns Against Rigging Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ahead of tomorrow’s Anambra governorship election, the United Progressive Party (UPP) has said that any attempt by anybody, party or agency of government to rig the electoral process in any form whatsoever, will result in very dire consequences The party said that the caution has become necessary because of sinister plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC), to use compromised security and INEC officials to subvert the will of the people and rig in their candidate, who has been boasting that his party has the powers to “capture” Anambra state at all cost.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, the party alleged that there has been series of clashes arising from meetings between APC and officials of the electoral body.

The UPP statement reads: “We know of clandestine meetings between this party and compromised

officials to manipulate the process, all in the failed bid to stop Igbos in Anambra state from electing a government that best represents their interest as presently embodied in the UPP, the only pan-Igbo party in the race.

“Furthermore, the curious and indefensible decision of INEC to halt the electronic transmission of results from polling units as it had earlier committed to is of great concern to us. The decision to continue with the outdated, archaic and cumbersome manual transmission of result from poll unit to ward collation centers is unacceptable”.

UPP said that the excuses proffered by INEC for not deploying the electronic result tracking device are puerile and to say the least,”disingenuous”.

“Having failed in their several attempts to shut us up through blackmails and threats; having also failed to coerce or buy the people, and knowing that APGA and PDP are no obstacles, the APC has been fixated on the UPP, realizing that it is going to be the inevitable winner.

DESERVED FELLOWSHIP

L-R: President, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ademola Ogunbanjo; Prsident, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe; former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Phillip Asiodu; recipient of CIS’ 1st Honourary Fellowship and former Head of States,Dr Yakubu Gowon; and founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun, during the conferment of the 1st Honorary Fellowship on Gowon during CIS’ 2017 Stockbrokers’ Conference in Lagos... yesterday Yomi Akinyele

Court Stops Senate from Probing IG over Corruption Allegations An Abuja high court yesterday granted an interim order restraining the leadership of the senate from investigating Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police.

Justice Abba-Bello Mohammed granted the application of an interim injunction pending the hearing of the substantive suit of breach of right to fair hearing by the senate leadership against the IG. The judge also granted leave to the applicant’s counsel, Alex Izinyon, to publish in two national dailies all papers concerning the originating summons, including hearing notice which would be served on the senate.

Mohammed adjourned the case until December 4 to hear the main issues in the substantive suit before

the court.

The suit filed before the court with Ref. No. CV/0060/2017, has Senate President, the senate and Isah Misau, a senator, as the respondents.

Others also listed as respondents are senators Francis Alimikhena, Binta Garba, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Duro Samuel, Ogba Obinna, Nelson Effiong and Abdulaziz Nyako.

The applicant is seeking that the 2nd respondent (the senate) resolution setting up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegation raised by Misau is a violation of his right to fair hearing under the constitution.

He is also seeking for a declaration that the senate’s letter of invitation to appear before the

ad hoc committee on November 2 based on a petition by Misau is a violation of his right to fair hearing as provided by the constitution.

Other reliefs sought by the applicant include an order restraining the ad hoc committee, its agent or any other from taking further steps on the matter in the name of its earlier invitation to the applicant.

The applicant hinged his action on the grounds that members of the ad hoc committee are colleagues of the senator who raised the petition against him.

It also said both the print and electronic media published grievous criminal allegations made by Misau against the IG and Nigeria police.

Counsel to the IG, Izinyon,

informed the court that an attempt made by the bailiff of the court to serve the senate all papers of the originating application for it to show cause on the matter was rebuffed by the agents of the respondents.

He added that when the bailiff went to the office of the Clerk of the Senate to carry out the service, he was beaten and locked up by some officers in that office.

Izinyon urged the court to exercise its power of Order 15 Rule 4 of the high court to effect justice on the matter.

He also prayed the court to look at Order 11 Rule 27 and 28 which provides for punishment against anyone who threatens the bailiff of a court.

Patience Jonathan Asks Court to Set Aside Order Freezing Accounts Alex Enumah in Abuja Former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to set aside the court order granted on May 30, 2017, freezing 16 of her accounts in different banks.

The accounts were said to contain the sum of $5.8million and N3.5 billion.

She predicated her request on the grounds that the said order has expired.

The former first lady also told the court that the orders of interim forfeiture including a subsequent one issued on October 10, 2017, have become spent and cannot

be extended.

She argued further that the original order was obtained by an improper use of court process by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

In a deposition filed in court, Mrs. Jonathan stated that the Incorporated Trustees of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation; nine other companies and herself were the owners of the funds.

According to her, “That the Federal High Court in Abuja had on May 30, 2017, granted an exparte order in favour of the federal government against all the accounts owned and operated by them the applicants.

“That same federal government later went to Lagos and obtained another order made by Justice C.M.A Olatoregun of the Federal High Court Lagos Division on October 10, 2017, directing the managers of the Skye Bank, Eco Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Zenith Bank, and Diamond Bank to in the interim, freeze and attach the various sums of money in the accounts belonging to Dame Patience Jonathan, Finchley Top Homes limited and Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation.

“That prior to the grant of the ex -parte motion by the court in Abuja the federal government had filed a similar application before Justice

Olatoregun of Lagos division but failed to disclose the fact that it had obtained same reliefs in Lagos.”

She claimed that the owners of the money were never served with the interim order and that they became aware of it during a hearing of a petition Jonathan lodged at the National Assembly .

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday before Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court Abuja both Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Richard Dauda who announced appearances for Mrs. Jonathan and federal government respectively insisted that their application must be taken first.

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IMF: Debt Service to Account for over 60% of Govt Revenue in Nigeria, Gabon, Angola Says fiscal pressure poses risk to financial sector Forecasts 2.6% growth for sub-Saharan Africa Ndubuisi Francis and Udora Orizu in Abuja The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that debt

servicing costs are becoming a burden, especially in oil-producing countries, noting that such costs were expected to absorb over 60 per cent of government revenues

APC Condemns Attack on Kachikwu, Others over Alleged Romance with Militants Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has disagreed with a Niger Delta Coalition (NDC) leader, Mr. Young Piro, for alleging that the unholy romance of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and his counterpart in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Nguru Usani, was responsible for the renewed threats from the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on oil facilities in the Niger-Delta.

In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, the Chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Erue, described the allegation as unfortunate and disrespectful adding that the NDC leader was a member of the APC. Erue said that the party was already considering disciplinary action against Piro for failure to honour an invitation by the State Working Committee (SWC) to substantiate his serious allegations against Kachikwu and Usani.

The NDC leader had in Abuja alleged that Usani, Kachikwu and the Director-General of the Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh (retired) have been patronising militants and thereby encouraging resurgence of militancy in the oil-rich region.

Piro reportedly alleged that Kachikwu and the others masterminded the recent threat by a militia, NDA, to resume hostilities against oil and gas

installations in the region after months of ceasefire in order to disrupt the prevailing peace in the region and causing a relapse in the nation’s economic recovery from envisaged upset in the oil and gas sector.

The state APC chairman said he could vouch for the integrity of the accused appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari as they have consistently stood for peace in the region, maintaining that they would not be party to anything that would cause unrest in any part of the region.

Erue told journalists in Asaba on Thursday that “Piro resorted to cheap blackmail against Kachikwu after he failed to get (undisclosed) favour through the back door.”

Erue said, “We know that this faceless group, NDC and its faceless leader, Young Piro, are constantly harassing the minister seeking one favour or the other. And, since they could not get it through the back door, they have resorted to attacking personalities. The party frowns at this and we will no longer tolerate it.

“I want to let you know that we immediately invited the said Young Piro to appear before the SWC to explain why he should not be sanctioned for standing down the truth and using blackmail to defame personalities from the region. But he refused to show up because he knows what he has done.

Senate Holds 2018 Budget Debate Next Week Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Senate has scheduled the debate on the 2018 N8.6 trillion Appropriation bill for November 22- 23, 2017.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made the announcement at plenary yesterday and added that lawmakers should indicate which of the two days they would like to contribute.

Saraki also said copies of the document would be made available to the lawmakers before the commencement of the debate.

Also speaking on the budget, Senate spokesman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who briefed newsmen, said work on the appropriation bill and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, would be done simultaneously.

“It is all intertwined. We are bringing all of them together that same week (next week). Already, we already had a meeting on the MTEF and we are working on it,” he said.

Abdullahi said the MTEF would be passed before the budget, as required by law.

“Of course, but this one (debate on budget) is just for us to commit it to the committees. The debate is for the second reading. That does not stop anything. By the time we will be finishing (with budget defence sessions), MTEF report would have been laid an everything would have been cleared. This is our innovation,” he added.

The 2018 Appropriation bill tagged budget of consolidation, comprises of N2.428 trillion for capital expenditure (30 per cent), N3.494 trillion estimated for Recurrent Costs, N2.014 trillion for Debt Servicing, N456 billion for Statutory Transfers, and Sinking Fund of N220 billion (to retire maturing bond to Local Contractors).

The key parameters and assumptions for the 2018 Budget proposal are set out in the yet to be approved 2018-2020 MTEF. These include benchmark oil price of US$45 per barrel, oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day, including condensates, exchange rate of N305/US$ for 2018, real GDP growth of 3.5 per cent and inflation rate of 12.4 per cent.

in 2017 in Nigeria, Angola and Gabon.

The IMF stated that public debt rose above 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 22 sub-Saharan African countries at the end of 2016.

In its regional economic outlook which was unveiled in Abuja yesterday, the IMF noted that fiscal risks are also beginning to materialise in several fastgrowing non-resource intensive countries, partly reflecting security developments and a decline in cocoa prices, citing Côte d’Ivoire, as well as fiscal slippages during elections as in Ghana and Kenya.

Unveiling the report titled “Fiscal Adjustment and Economic

Diversification”, the Senior Resident Representative and Mission Chief for Nigeria (Africa Department ) of IMF, Mr. Amine Mati, said fiscal consolidation plans needed to be implemented in the region, adding that diversification offers a path to growth.

According to the IMF, fiscal pressures pose risks to the weakened financial sector in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan Africa countries.

Noting that debt stocks have risen throughout the region, the IMF stated that exchange rates pressures have eased in many countries, citing the case of Nigeria.

Although the IMF pointed out that fiscal pressures pose risks to

an already weakened financial sector, it said fiscal consolidation plans needed to be implemented in the region.

According to the IMF, diversification offers a path to growth, adding that the region is imbued with significant potential for raising revenues.

The IMF stressed that the countries’ economies are driven by large fiscal deficit and depreciation while debt stocks have risen throughout the region.

The multilateral financial institutions also revealed that debt stocks have risen throughout the region while debt service costs have increased.

It pointed out that what the

region required was getting the policy mix right and playing to their strengths.

But the IMF noted that the region recorded a modest growth recovery but added that the recovery is not sufficient to raise the gross domestic product (GDP) per capital in many countries of the region.

The IMF also noted that growth have picked up but was set to remain subdued.

While stressing that oil exporting economies like Nigeria were recovering, the IMF also noted that inflationary pressures are receding.

It forecast a GDP growth of 2.6 per cent in 2017 for sub-Saharan Africa.

WELCOME TO THE HOUSE

L-R: Engr Austine Nwaulunne, Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Executive Vice Chairma, EVC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC, Ernest Akinlola, CEO ntel and Damian Udeh, Head of Government Affairs at ntel during a courtesy call by ntel officials to the NCC’s EVC... yesterday.

Four Arraigned over Ozubulu Church Killings David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Four persons suspected to be involved in the massacre of worshippers at St Philips Catholic Church Ozubulu few months ago were yesteday arraigned before an Anambra State Magistrate Court sitting at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.

It would be recalled that about 13 persons were killed in the attack while about 22 were injured.

Those arraigned are; Great Chinedu Akpunonu (44), Vincent Ike (57), Chukwudi Ugwu (30) and Onyebuchi Mbanefo (46).

Three other suspects were said to be still at large.

The four were arraigned on 37 count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder.

A South African -based businessman, Aloysius Ikegwuonu, whose father was killed in the attack, the Parish Priest of St Philip’s Catholic Church, Rev Jude Onwuaso and six others were called as witnesses on the matter.

Their charges read in part, “That you Great Chinedu Akpunonu, .M. Vincent Ike .M. Chukwudi Ugwu .M. others now at large on or about 6th day of August 2017 at St Philip Catholic Church Amakwa Ozubulu at about 0600hrs in the Ekwusigo Magisterial District did conspire to commit felony to wit: Murder.

You thereby committed an offence

punishable under Section 494 of the Criminal Code Cap 36 vol. II revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.

“That you Great Chinedu Akpunonu ‘m’, Vincent Ike m’, Chukwudi Ugwu ‘m and others now at large on the same date, place, time and within the aforementioned magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Anthoni Ufondu ‘f’ by shooting her with a gun which caused her death. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 vol. H revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.

“That you Great Chinedu Akpunonu ‘m’, Vincent Ike ‘m’, Chukwudi Ugwu ‘m’ others now

at large on the same date, place, time and within the aforementioned magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Anurika Obunadike ‘f’ by shooting her with a gun which caused her death. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 vol. H revised laws of Anambra-144 state of Nigeria 1991.”

The counsel for the first defendant(Akunononu), Mr. Okechukwu Ikenna, sought the leave of the court for medical treatment of his client who he said was “seriously ill”. The prosecuting counsel,B.AOnwuemekaghi opposed the application, saying such plea should come by writing and not oral.

Tension Heightens Between Binis and Ijaws over Gelelege Land Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City There is every indication that the Benins and Ijaws in Edo State may go into battle over alleged plans by Ijaw traditional rulers in Bayelsa and Delta State to install Mr. Edwin Ogunyenbo, as the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom in Gelegele kingdom in Ovia North East Local government Area of Edo State This is as the Benin National Congress (BNC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), yesterday expressed readiness to go to war over the land.

In a statement by the BNC which was signed by Osaretin Igbinogun, its Director of Mobilisation, stressed that Gelegele land belongs to the Oba of Benin insisting that the Ijaws are visitors who have overstayed their welcome.

On the other hand, tthe IYC through a statement signed by its President, Eric Omare, described the statement credited to the Edo State Government and the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) over the ownership of the land as unacceptable, asserting that Gelegele

land is an Ijaw enclave and they had the right to install a traditional ruler of their choice.

Last Tuesday, security operatives aborted the installation of one Godwin Oguyenbo as the Pere of Olodiama community after the state government declared the installation as unconstitutional and an attempt to create another monarchy in Benin Kingdom.

However, the BNC stated that the entire landmass referred to as Gelegele in the supreme court judgment bothering Ughoton

and the Bight of Benin belong to the Benins and customarily under the authority of the Oba of Benin is not in contest.

“We wish to alert the security apparatuses to swing into action by stopping this warring act by one ‘Pere’ who seek to establish a fiefdom and declare himself as a Fief in our land, this is because, if the Benins resolved to militantly engage this war mongers we will not take likely to any clampdown on Benin youths for acting in self -defense of our territory,” Igbinogun said.

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‘Automotive Policy Will Boost Investors’ Confidence in the Economy ‘ Bennett Oghifo The new National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) also known as the Automotive Policy passed into law yesterday, will boost investors confidence in the economy, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu has said.

The NAIDP was introduced in October 2013 by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to revive the ailing Nigerian auto industry.

The objective of the automotive policy is to restore assembly and develop local content, thus creating employment, acquiring technology and reducing pressure on the country’s balance of payment.

The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, who broke the news in Lagos last night, said the new law would make investors in

the auto industry more confident.

Aliyu, who was special guest at the launch of a new assembly plant for Fuso trucks, built by CFAO equipment said: “I’m also glad to say that today (yesterday) the National Automotive Policy has been passed into law, it is now a bill and this would put us in the perfect position to protect local investments and local companies such as Fuso in terms of tax haven or incentives that will support their production, which will also protect them against unfair importation of competitive vehicles.”

He said there was a little to be done to the policy, but that “technically, it is on its way to becoming a law,” adding that it was one of the conditions requested by foreign auto manufactures to enable them build assembly plants in the country.

“Not too long ago we were in South Africa and we met with a number of companies,

BMW, Ford, which are already here, Toyota, Volks Wagen and all these companies expressed huge interest in coming into Nigeria and one of the things that needed to be done was to make this policy into law; we have that now. This is a great incentive to them and to other companies that want to come into Nigeria.”

He said a new Nigeria was

evolving and that the government was doing all that was necessary to encourage foreign investors, not only in the automotive sector, to come into the country.

Nigeria, Aliyu said, would also plug into the new trends in the automotive sector, which are electrification, autonomy and right sharing.

“We have to begin to look at how we will produce and

support electric car technology in Nigeria, in terms of being able to produce those vehicles here. A number of these companies that are interested in Nigeria also have electric vehicle programmes. We will have to work closely with them to provide those vehicles in Nigeria, to work with them to transfer that technology so that our young Nigerians will be in the best position to understand this

technology and be able to service it.

The policy, he said, also has an auto finance scheme component.

“We are also in very strong discussion with potential investors to set up an auto finance scheme so that Nigerians, as they do around the world, will put little money down and either pay over time or lease it for some time. This is crucial in helping the capacity,” Aliyu added.

Maina: Again, Senate C’ttee Meets Malami behind Closed Doors Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Senate Committee charged with investigating the circumstances of the return and re-instatement of fugitive ex-Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reforms Task Force Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has again met with the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

The meeting, the second this week, again was held behind closed doors.

The committee had also met with officials of the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who were all fingered in the scandal.

The meeting with Malami yesterday was held in the office of the committee Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Paulker gave the assurance that the committee would not sweep anything under the carpet.

He added that the committee

was proposing to submit its report

by December.

Paulker said the meetings were being held behind closed doors due to the need to do a thorough job.

“It is at my discretion to hold the meeting in my office. All the four chairmen of the committee were present. We don’t want a situation whereby the media report will dictate sections of our report.

The closed-door session will allow us to do thorough investigation on the matter.

“Nothing will be swept under the carpet, the truth of matter will come at the end of our investigation and the report will be submitted before Christmas,” Paulkner added.

Malami is reported to have written the letter clearing Maina, and demanding his re-instatement into the service. Maina, despite allegations of laundering up to N2billion, was reinstated as a director in the Ministry of Interior.

He was however fired by the presidency when the news leaked to the public.

‘We Support Defence Chief Stance on Violent Agitation in Niger Delta’ Sunday Okobi and Ugo Aliogo Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC) has expressed support to last week’s declaration by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, that the Nigerian armed forces should strictly checkmate new threats of hostilities and violent agitations against the country by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

A statement jointly issued yesterday by the Chief Media Strategist, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, and the South-south Regional Rapporteur, Desmond Odiwrri, said the warning by the defence was timely.

It also stated that the military has the requisite mandate, competence and professionalism to protect the overriding socioeconomic interests of law-abiding citizens of the country, urging the NDA to tread cautiously by following constitutional in pursuing its mission.

CPC further stated that Olonisakin, who was at the

Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Warri, Delta State in recently to inaugurate 20 new horsepower gunboats, lamented the continued threat posed to the nation’s maritime interests by criminal elements.

It explained that the Defence Chief condemned the new threat of violence by NDA and gave assurance that the military under his watch would checkmate such threats decisively.

The group urged traditional rulers, community leaders, elders, youths, students, clergy, professional associations and the elders’ councils in the Niger Delta to prevail on the faceless militant organisation to stop them from issuing such threats that could bring untold hardship to the people of the region.

It added: “The youths of the region should expose the masterminds of past pipelines bombings, this will prevent further moves to use the region to vandalize strategic national assets which will cause more hardship for the people of the region. “

I NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), National Publicity Secretary position, Kola Ologbondiyan during his visit to the Deputy Senate President , Ike Ekweremadu at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja...yesterday

‘Why N’Assembly Approved $5.5bn Loan Request’ NLRC, stakeholders ask House c’ttee to block ICPC’s request to retain 5% of recoveries James Emejo in Abuja Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, yesterday defended the National Assembly’s recent approval of President Muhammadu Buhari’s $5.5 billion external loan request.

He said though the parliament is also concerned over the rising debt profile, government must nevertheless spend its way completely out of recession.

Speaking at the routine media briefing, he said while borrowing is not a problem in itself, the utilisation of borrowed funds should be of primary interest to Nigerians.

Namdas, however, noted that the National Assembly would beef up its oversight functions to ascertain that borrowed funds are judiciously utilised.

He also said the loan approval

was based on lawmakers’ confidence that Buhari is unlikely to renege on his words over the purpose for which the loans were being sourced.

He said: “The main reason we decided to approve this loan is because we know the president is a man of his own words and we believe he can implement what he said he was going to do.

“And because of that, Nigeria just got out of recession recently and both the speaker and president during the budget presentation were emphasising on the fact that we must not slip back into recession and we are all praying we don’t slip back into recession.

“And for us not to slip back into recession, we need to heavy spending and of course, there’s need to approve these loans so they can cater for projects already earmarked to be undertaken, particularly the

Mambilla hydro power.

“We feel he (the president) can do it. Already, the borrowing has already been captured in the 2018 budget and that’s why we had no doubt that this thing can be implemented.

“We know that we have debt issues but we just have to spend; we’ve gotten out of the recession, some people say it’s technical, while some people say it’s very slim but we want to be truly settled that we are out of it.

“And because we would also do an oversight to see for ourselves that after this is borrowed, whether they are actually utilised for what they said they are going to do.

“And we promise Nigerians that we will do exactly what we are asked to do by trying to ensure that once it is approved, we’ll follow through to see if they done what they are supposed to do.”

Meanwhile, the bid by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for the National Assembly to approve its request to retain five percent of recoveries for the running of its operations has been vehemently opposed by the Nigeria Law Reform Commission (NLRC).

Speaking at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on Anti-Corruption of the amendment of the ICPC Act, 2000, the Director, Public Law of the NLRC, Kodilinye Ezeobi, warned that acceding to the ICPC request will cause it to abandon its core mandate and derail in its primary functions.

The NLRC recently kicked against a similar request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to which was seeking to retain seven percent of its recoveries from looted funds.

Minister, NCC Task Govt Officials Presence on Social Media Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayi Shittu, has stated that government is committed to enhancing its institutional presence on the internet so that all Nigerians regardless of their social or demographic status can have unfiltered access to government information and services.

He stated this in his keynote address while declaring open the ministry’s retreat on the social media with the theme: ‘Social Media for Good Governance’ in Abuja yesterday.

“The ministry is committed to enhancing the institutional presence

of government on the internet so that all Nigerians regardless of their social or demographic status can have ubiquitous access to government information and services,” he stated.

The minister stated that the retreat was designed to share knowledge and information stemming from recent research and analysis on social media; review good practice on policies and programmes promoting social media for good governance as well as discuss issues relating to effective use of social media in Nigeria.

He added: “Particularly worthy of note is the fact that worldwide, the youth are the most active on social media platforms through

which they have made their opinions known and their voices load in various countries.

“From the Arab Spring in Egypt to our 2015 general elections; the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the recent United States presidential elections, the growing importance of social media in shaping society and how it is governed can neither be overemphasis nor underplayed.

“In Nigeria where our youths constitute more than 50 percent of our over 180 million population, the social media have become too critical to be ignored or undermined.”

He also stated that the social media can also be nuisance to the government and society at large

if not moderated.

“On the other hand, social media can also be nuisance to the government and society at large. Mudslinging, hate speech, cyber bullying, rants and unbridled ventilation of anger are common features in these platforms.

“It is therefore very necessary to moderate these counter-effects to promote positive, developmentdriven and responsible social media usage platforms,’’ the minister said.

He mentioned some challenges to moderating social media platforms to include lack of effective legislation; abuse of political gains; use of fake ID’s and cross-border threats (cybercrime and other security concerns).

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

New NPFL Season to Kick off January 14 Pre-season Super 4 scheduled for Dec 11-17 in Kano Femi Solaja The League Management Company (LMC) yesterday announced the new 2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season will kick off on January 14 and end on September 30.

Also, the pre-season opening Super 4 competition has been scheduled to be played between December 11 and 17 in Kano.

The schedule of the new season’s activities, which has been endorsed by the LMC, will witness a flurry of activities including the induction and orientation workshop for the four newly admitted NPFL clubs on December 14 and the LMC Pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Consultative Meeting with NPFL participating clubs on December 16 in Kano where the pre-season tournament will be held.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, other activities scheduled for the month of December include “the draws for the new season, pre-season seminar and spot-checking on clubs’ compliance to licensing regulations, payment of players and officials salaries, status of facilities, etc.”

The LMC has also fixed January 5, 2018 as the final

date for submission of Club Licensing documentation by clubs participating in the league.

The statement read, “January 5 is the cut-off date for compliance with redemption and settlement of any outstanding payment of salaries arising from 2016/2017 NPFL season to players and coaches and or provision of an acceptable Financial Guarantee to guarantee the overdue payments and a tentative payment plan from the club proprietors,” he said.

Another highlight of the calendar comes up on January 8, 2018 when the LMC, which is First Instance Body (FIB), will issue the NFF Club Licensing Certificate to qualified clubs that meet the criteria for participation in the 2017/2018 NPFL season.

“The 2017/18 season will start at all centres on January 14 and in the first half of the season there will be three midweek matches on match days 2, 4 and 5 while the mid-season break will be from April 30 - May 5 followed by a longer break for the Fifa World Cup from June 14 - July 15.

Resumption from the World Cup break will be on July 18 with match day 25, which will be the first of another three midweek matches in

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick presenting the trophy to the captain of Plateau United Elisha Golbe on the final day of last season.

the second half of the season.

The other two midweek fixtures will be on match day 27 and 29,” continued Abubakar in giving a

breakdown of the calendar.

The LMC assured football stakeholders that it took into consideration all scheduled fixtures of the Aiteo Cup,

CAF Club competitions and the FIFA World Cup in planning the calendar, noting that “this is part of the reason we delayed the

release of the fixtures and barring any unforeseen events we definitely will conclude the season on September 30, 2018,” he said.

Aguero Fit again to Face Iheanacho, NCF Flags off Cricket National Championship Across 26 States newly elected board of is intended to help galvanise respectively while Edo won and Niger) will slug it out Ndidi in EPL Clash on Saturday The the Nigeria Cricket Federation interest across the nation and the silver medal in both with host FCT for the national Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has said that he is fit for Saturday’s Premier League match at Leicester City, after fainting while playing for Argentina against Nigeria on Tuesday in Russia.

The 29-year-old was taken to hospital at half-time during Argentina’s 4-2 friendly defeat

by Super Eagles. Aguero was discharged after “precautionary medical checks”.

“I’m set to go for Saturday’s match,” Aguero tweeted yesterday on the social media.

“The tests they run on me turn

out well”.

City said Aguero was cleared by doctors to return to Manchester as planned after “suffering a dizzy spell” during the match in Krasnodar.

They said he “never lost consciousness”.

Aguero recently returned to action after suffering a rib injury when a taxi he was travelling in crashed into a lamp post in Amsterdam in September.

City is eight points clear of Manchester United at the top of the EPL table.

The qualification of Peru in the early hours of Thursday (in Nigeria) meant all 32 finalists for the 21st FIFA World Cup finals taking place in Russia between June 14 and July 15, 2018 are now known.

Playing in Lima, the Peruvians defeated New Zealand 2-0 to pick the

last ticket, following a 0-0 stalemate by the two teams in Wellington last week. Russia 2018 will be Peru’s first World Cup since 1982 in Spain.

All 32 teams have been drawn into four pots of eight teams each, ahead of the Final Draw at the State Kremlin Palace on Friday, 1stDecember 2017.

(NCF) will host the 2017 National Women and Men’s Championship across five geopolitical zones of the country with 26 states participating.

The President of the federation, Professor Adams Yahaya Ukwenya said the event will bring together cricketers from across the country and provide a platform to showcase budding talents from all the regions.

“The National Women and Men’s Championship

ultimately be our nursery for national team players. We are all looking forward to it and I am very pleased with the interest I can see building up across the states.” he said.

The new board of the federation had earlier this year organised a national U-17 championship under the auspices of the National Youth Games in Ilorin.

Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states won gold medals in the male and female categories

categories. Other winning states were Anambra (3rd female) and Oyo (3rd Male).

The national championships is a senior level competition which started with the women’s regional qualifiers from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th November. The women’s finals will be played this weekend 17th to 19th November at the Cricket Oval in Abuja, FCT. The five regional champions (Anambra, Edo, Kaduna, Oyo

finals scheduled for Sunday 19thNovember.

The men’s event is scheduled to commence on Thursday 30th November with preliminary rounds across the 5 zones.

Eight teams will emerge to play quarter finals in Lagos and Ibadan simultaneously with semi-finals on the 8th December and the championship finals on the 9th December, at the TBS Oval, Lagos.

CHAN 2018: Eagles to Imeh, Otu Hold Key to their Peru Picks Last Russia 2018 Ticket Know Opponents Today Teams’ Success in Enugu

Bundesliga Live on StarTimes StarTimes Nigeria will this weekend thrill its subscribers with exciting matches from the Bundesliga league as Dortmund battles its way to the top today when it slugs it out with VFB Stuttgart on StarTimes (Channel 254 and 245).

Dortmund is presently in the 3rd place on the table with 20 points, which makes it seven

points ahead of VFB Stuttgart that is at the 12th place with 13 point.

VFB Stuttgart will host Borussia Dortmund at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena, Stuttgart, Germany today at 7:30pm.

Borussia Dortmund star and the top goal scorer with 10 goals in 11 matches, Pierre Aubameyang will be available for the clash.

Nigeria’s Home-based Eagles will today know their group phase opponents at the 5th African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicking off on 13thJanuary 2018 in Morocco.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Draw Ceremony will take place at the stately Hotel Sofitel Rabat, which also hosted CAF’s Extraordinary General Assembly following the first-ever African Football Symposium in Rabat in July this year.

The 16 teams that qualified for the finals have been drawn into four pots, from which they will be drawn into four groups of four for the 23 –day, 16 –nation championship.

Nigeria, winners of the bronze medals at the 3rd CHAN in South Africa in

2014, has been slotted into Pot 2, alongside Cameroon, Guinea and Zambia.

Pot 1 has host nation Morocco, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and Libya with Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Sudan in Pot 3 and Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania and Namibia in Pot D. Group A will have its base in Casablanca (Morocco’s industrial and economic capital); Marrakech will host Group B; Group C will be based in Tangier and; Agadir will play host to Group D. Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the CHAN, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire (2009) and Sudan (2011), but finished in third place in South Africa in 2014 after losing 1-2 to Mali in her first match.

Joseph Imeh, at the moment the hottest player on the Nigerian tennis circuit and Thomas Otu, the immediate past national champion, will have to make vital contributions in the NCC Tennis League semifinal tie taking place at the Enugu Sports Club this weekend if their teams are to reach the finals where a jackpot of N7 million awaits the champion team.

Imeh and Otu playing from the Blue and White Groups respectively are yet to lose a match in the League after 10 singles matches. They have always contributed two points from the singles and paired a team mate to win the doubles and the mixed doubles.

With both players in very good form, tennis followers

will have a huge tennis treat when they meet on Saturday Nov. 18 and Sunday Nov. 19.

The tie will however be decided by the quality of the backup singles players and the ladies singles. Here, Team Muller’s Emmanuel Idoko who lost to Otu in three sets at the Governor’s Cup in Lagos has a slight edge over Emmanuel Paul, the No.2 player for Team Ndoma--Egba. In the ladies, the expected matchup will be between Ronke Akingbade of Team Muller and Aanu Aiyegbusi of Team NdomaEgba.

Last year Aiyegbusi, playing for Team Offikwu, recovered from a set and 1-5 down to beat Akingbade, then of Team Leadway, in the decider in Kaduna.

Friday, November 17, 2017

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MISSILE Amnesty Int’l to Lagos Govt “For the residents of these deprived communities, many of whom rely on their daily fish catch to make a living, the waterfront represents home, work and survival. Forced evictions mean they lose everything – their livelihoods, their possessions and in some cases, their lives.” – Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Osai Ojigho highlighting the inhuman treatment meted out to the people of Otodo Gbame, a riverine town who were forcibly ejected from their habitat by the Lagos State government.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Yakubu Gowon in Retrospect A

significant gap in the account of the political history of Nigeria is the inability and disinclination of the two main actors of the Nigerian civil war, General Yakubu Gowon and Chief Emeka Ojukwu to write their memoirs-thus fostering a critical vacuum in the collective and institutional memory of the nation. It gets more imponderable in light of the consideration that both lived for many years thereafter in relative leisure and possess the intellectual wherewithal to articulate their thoughts. And it is to the extent of this omission that the history of Nigeria is impoverished.

Reinforcing this conspiracy of silence is the fact that there is also not in existence an authoritative compendium (a reader) on the civil war-post civil war Nigerian governments have uniformly adopted the attitude of the less said, the better; the ostrich catechism of see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil has become the norm.

The net effect of all these is that Nigeria has emerged from the civil war with no sense of what is right or wrong other than the criminalization of secession and the dubious exhortation to Nigerian nationalism and patriotism-the latter being the last refuge of the scoundrel. The fullness of this historical muddle has resulted in the contemporary apt observation that Nigeria is divided now than ever before-answerable only to the panacea of constitutional restructuring or dictatorship.

The tendency of the debate on restructuring (call for restoration of the federalist framework of the independence constitution) to degenerate into cacophony was lately deepened by the intervention of the former military ruler, Gowon.

And the intervention itself raises the pertinent question of his culpable omission-failure to adequately account for the civil war and thereby help to make better sense of post 1966 history of Nigeria. Just how pertinent his witness can be was revealed in an extended interview he recently had with the African International Television, AIT. The revelation strikes at the root of the conflicting regional positions taken on the restructuring proposal. He said the North was originally opposed to the creation of states (which amounted to a break-up of the regions) in 1967 and he had to cajole the support of the region by marketing the policy as one that will result in the appropriation of more national resources to its coffers; that more states means more money.

Subsequently he went on to dismiss the call for restructuring with this argument “Nigeria is made up of over 500 ethnic groups, languages and dialects and so many various groups called nationalities and they want restructuring…This restructuring everybody is asking for, we will have about 500 different ideas of restructuring.

There is call for restructuring to reduce the number of states to only a few either back to the old region or to the zones.”. This argument is self-contradictory in the sense that way back in 1967 he had demonstrated a clear conviction in restructuring when he broke the four regions he inherited into 12 states-thus launching a trend that culminated in the prevailing 36 states mockery of federalism. Ironically, the current restructuring advocacy is no more than a call for the rectification of the error Gowon initiated in 1967.

Gowon

More important is the political revisionism and the repudiation of the independence constitution that this argument entails. Were there not ‘over 500 ethnic, languages and dialects’ in Nigeria when Nigerian representatives to the pre independence London constitutional conference negotiated and adopted the independence constitution (comprising three regions) as Nigeria’s foundational articles of association? If restructuring is now so wrong and implausible then why is the alteration of the country’s constitutional structure anticipated in the constitution in the first place?

If, indeed, any political actor is authoritatively positioned to recall the intricacies of the drastic political transition that Nigeria went through from 1966 to 1975 the prize should go to Yakubu Gowon. He was as much a creation of the sanguine and turbulent first half of the political era as he was a creator. From all accounts, he was almost oblivious of the Northern Nigeria

It is ironical that these were the same qualities that served him so well in piloting Nigeria through the turbulence of the civil war and berthing the nation in one piece. Less flattering is the inability of Gowon to fulsomely reflect the productive years he spent in Britain studying political science up to the doctorate level at the Warwick University

army officers’ revolt (counter coup) of July 1966 yet he was vaulted to the topmost position of the resultant military government. At the onset (of the vengeful riposte), the objective of the coup makers was limited to wreaking revenge against the dominant Igbo officer corps of the Nigerian army whom they hold collectively responsible for the January 1966 coup that decapitated the political leadership of the Northern region; and thereafter take the Northern region out of Nigeria.

In the pursuit of this objective, Gowon would subsequently play a central role that neither he nor the masterminds of the counter coup anticipated. As the mission altered from secession to seizing the political leadership of Nigeria, so did the leadership of the Northern officers initiative changed from Murtala Mohammed to Yakubu Gowon-thanks to the covert intervention and guidance of the British government. His relative detachment from the conspiracy and affable temperament afforded Gowon a balanced and accommodating view of the evolving political situation at a time such quality was in short supply.

The utility of the cross-cutting cleavages of religion and ethno-regional identity in Nigerian politics (a political identity that cuts across the North-South divide- sharing the identity overlap of Northern geopolitical origin and Christian religious affiliation with a predominantly Christian South ) was called to service and proved a critical enabling factor in his subsequent mediatory and unifier role. On account of this identity overlap and cosmopolitan disposition he became the acceptable and agreeable face of the North in the volatile power politics engagement of that historical moment. Working together to bolster his appeal to the Western region, for instance, was the potential facility role of the prior political alliance between the Action Group, AG, and the United Middle Belt Congress, UMBC. On a lighter note was the reinforcement of his politically balanced appeal with the publicly advertised strong romantic relationship between him and Edith Okongwu (of Igbo origin). But alas, what cosmopolitan Lagos brought together was torn asunder by the eventuality of the civil war that pitted them as proxies of the antagonism between the East and the North.

Within the broader context of the Hausa-Fulani dominated Northern political establishment, there has always been the subordinate sub nationalism of the Northern Christians-geopolitically characterized as the Middle Belt. Relative to their civilian politician counterparts, (personified by the UMBC), the middle belt military officers are much more coopted and integrated to the charted political agenda of the Northern region.

More than any other military officer of middle belt origin, Theophillus Yakubu Danjuma has emerged the standard bearer of this pedigree.

Arising from his real time command role in the execution of the blood soaked 1966 countercoup and trademark confrontational bravura (he arrested and dispatched General JTU AguiyiIronsi and Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi) he attained to the status of a somewhat venerated figure of Northern hegemony. This veneration has earned him the concession of a wiggle room whenever he chooses to play Middle Belt sub national irredentist politics and it is against this

backdrop that explanations would be found for the godfather role he routinely assumes in middle belt politics.

Notwithstanding his long tenure as military head of state, Gowon has no such comparable political gravitas and his subsequent ouster from office in a 1975 military coup was (incidentally) substantially masterminded by Danjuma and another prominent officer of middle belt originsJoseph Garba. In addition to the assassination of the military head of state, General Murtala Mohammed, the unique characteristic of the 1976 abortive coup was its valid perception as a middle belt military officers’ affair (including the participation of one of the highest ranking officers of the Nigerian army, General Ilya Bisalla). This perception was substantiated by the underlying mission statement of the coup as the restoration of Gowon to his prior position of head of state. Needless to say that whatever respect and political stature Gowon hitherto enjoyed was severely eroded by the tragic episode.

The coup equally enjoys the distinction of being the first time the military wing of the middle belt political class would take a political initiative autonomous of the expansive Northern regional umbrella. Gowon was consequently dismissed from the Nigerian army and declared wanted for the charges of alleged complicity to the abortive coup. After a stint of exile in Britain he was granted full state pardon by President Shehu Shagari in 1981. And in a manner of speaking, this marked the end of the second phase of his eventful life and the beginning of another.

There are a number of individuals whose personalities (as we come to know them) I find difficult to reconcile with their prior careers in the military especially their involvement in the bloody and chauvinistic interlude of 1966-70.

Gowon is one of such- his sedate temperament and soft power disposition make him more suited to his latter day Christian evangelism vocation-Nigeria Prays (that he founded and led to spread the gospel of peace, love and brotherliness among Nigerians). He has cultivated the art of political evasiveness and appears uncomfortable with any political identity beyond the political correctness of opposition to the fragmentation of Nigeria.

It is ironical that these were the same qualities that served him so well in piloting Nigeria through the turbulence of the civil war and berthing the nation in one piece. Less flattering is the inability of Gowon to fulsomely reflect the productive years he spent in Britain studying political science up to the doctorate level at the Warwick University. We see little evidence of the rigor of this intellectual acquisition in his mostly simplistic understanding and assessment of Nigerian politics.

Yet we must not lose sight of the insight he inadvertently provided in the recall of the stratagem he employed to accomplish his own exercise of restructuring 50 years ago. Now, as in 1957, it seems as if it is the Northern region that needs to be persuaded to support and accept restructuring. Borrowing from his manual, the formula for success was the dangling of the carrot of more financial resources accruing to the region. Or at the very least, the region should not be poorer for it. Not a bad bargain?

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