Wednesday 29th November 2017

Senators Say 2018 Budget Projections Are Unrealistic Want oil benchmark raised to $50 House berates poor implementation of 2017 capital vote James Emejo and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Debate on the N8.612 trillion 2018 Appropriation Bill opened yesterday in both chambers of the National Assembly with senators faulting some of its projections, describing them

as unrealistic.

Specifically, some senators called for an upward review in the crude oil price benchmark from $45 per barrel to about $50.

Many of them, as well as some members of the House of Representatives, also expressed their reservations over what they called the abysmal implementation of the N1.2

trillion capital component of the 2017 budget.

Opening the debate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia PDP), described the 2018 budget of consolidation as

fictitious, saying it did not consolidate on previous budgets as claimed by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

His use of the word

I Will Remain In APC, Says Adamawa Gov, Jubrilla… Page 8

'fictitious' however did not go down well with the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe APC), who said the description was not parliamentary, therefore, unacceptable.

Continued on page 8

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In New Rapprochement, Buhari, Tinubu Leave For EU-AU Summit As Agbakoba, Duke, Balewa, others join forces for constitutional change Omololu Ogunmade and Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja for Abidjan yesterday, ahead of the 5th

European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit, accompanied by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in what

political observers described as a new rapprochement as the 2019 general election conversations pick up.

Also on the entourage of the president are two state

governors: Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (Bauchi) and Mr. Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

This came as some eminent Nigerians yesterday floated

a new political movement, which they said would serve as an intervention force for ‘’regime/constitutional change’’ to rescue the citizenry from those they described as

‘’political predators.’’

Buhari is expected to participate in working sessions and meet with African heads Continued on page 8

Saraki Accuses Anti-graft Agencies of Looting Recovered Funds, Property Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday accused anti-graft agencies of looting funds and property recovered from corrupt persons and said this untoward act was the major reason why foreign countries harbouring monies stolen from Nigeria had refused to return them to the country.

"The National Assembly has been strident about the opacity shrouding the management of recovered funds, which in many cases get re-looted by the agencies that investigated and recovered them," he said while declaring open, the Strategic Retreat on Tracking the Progress of Anti-corruption Bills in the National Assembly.

According to the Senate president, the foreign countries harbouring funds looted from Nigeria are reluctant to return such monies, over fears that

the returned assets may be mismanaged.

He said: "Nigeria is finding it difficult to convince other nations to return funds looted from our treasury.

This is because of the other nations' exasperation over the management of returned assets.

Only recently, Mr. President inaugurated a committee to audit all assets recovered by various government agencies."

Saraki cited a motion last week, seeking to expand the scope of the investigation of the scandal of the re-instatement and return to the civil service of former Chairman of the Pension Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, to include investigations of allegations that recovered properties had been re-looted by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Continued on page 9

FG Launches Action Plan to Prevent, Counter Terrorism... Page 9

THE MEDIA GURUS...

L-R: Deputy Chairman, Local Organising Committee, International Press Institute (IPI) 2018 World Congress Committee, Mallam Kabir Yusuf; Patron, Mallam Ismail Isa Funtua; and Chairman, THISDAY Newspapers Limited and Arise TV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; during the inauguration of the committee in Ikoyi, Lagos… Yesterday kolawole alli

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I Will Remain In APC, Says Adamawa Gov, Jubrilla CPC forum asks Buhari to save APC Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Adamawa State Governor, Senator Bindow Jubrilla, yesterday dismissed speculations that he would leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party last week.

The governor who denied such insinuation while answering questions from State House correspondents after holding a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari said neither him nor any party member from the North-east would leave the party in solidarity with the former vice president.

According to him, he was in the Presidential Villa to brief the president on the security

situation in the state in view of the recent Boko Haram bomb blast, which killed scores of people in a mosque in Mubi.

Jubrilla who described himself as a founding father of the APC, said it was impossible for him to leave the party he co-founded, pointing out that Atiku is matured enough to determine the way forward for his life.

He said: "I came to brief Mr. President on the security situation in Adamawa State in view of what happened a couple of weeks ago. So, basically, that is why I am here. “The former VP is more than mature enough to decide whatever he wants to decide for himself. As far as I am concerned, I am one of the founding fathers of the APC. "When I was in the Senate with the current Senate

president, we were the ones that worked very hard to ensure some members of the National Assembly agreed to move to APC and we did. So, I don't see any reason why the house I helped to build, I will leave it. I am in APC for the rest of my life. Period."

Stating that Atiku remained one of the notable elders in the state that he owed some measure of respect, Jubrilla said he was the first governor to endorse Buhari for a second term, insisting that the people of the North-east would remain loyal to the president.

Bindow added: "Not only Waziri, every elder in Adamawa State as far as I am concerned, I regard them as my parents or my father.

So, Waziri remains somebody I respect as a father or any other elder in the state. Yes, I

was fortunate enough. It was a very rare opportunity. I was the first governor to endorse our president because as far as we people of the North-east are concerned, we will remain loyal to our president who is highly committed to the fight against insurgency in the North-east. We will remain loyal to our President.�

He said APC was strong with 24 out of 25 members of House of Assembly in the state, three senators, all the House of Representatives members, including Adamu Kamir, who had moved to APC.

CPC forum asks Buhari to save APC Meanwhile, the Legacy Forum, made up of state chairmen of the defunct Congress for

Progressive Change (CPC), has asked Buhari to roll out measures to pacify aggrieved members of the APC to avert mass exodus ahead of the 2019 general election.

In a communique at the end of its meeting in Abuja yesterday, the forum said the president should assist the party in resolving the crises rocking its state chapters, pointing out that if this was not done, it might affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

Since the resignation of Atiku last week, there have been concerns that he may drag many of his loyalists along as he heads back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fulfil his presidential ambition.

The forum's coordinator, Mr. Ahamed Haruna Zago,

who read the communique said while they appreciate the successes so far recorded by the government, he must take steps to address complaints ahead of the next election.

He said: "The Forum appreciates the achievements recorded so far with the improvement of the security situation in Nigeria, the tireless fight of the government against corruption and all vices of waste in government revenue and the steady growth in the economy, leading to exiting from the recession.

"The Forum appeals to the President to, as a matter of urgency assist the All Progressives Congress (APC) to resolve all the crises in the 36 states chapter of the party with a view to repositioning the party for the next general election in 2019.�

Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno APC) said even though the National Assembly had been effectively playing its role in approving the previous budgets, their implementation by the executive continued to pose a major concern.

He said: "The National Assembly must tackle the executive on this dismal implementation track record.

"If we have surpassed oil and other revenue targets. We should have exceeded at least 60 percent implementation of the 2017 budget by now."

According to him: "If we don't have constraints on revenue generation then why are we having challenges in implementation?"

He, however, commended the 2018 estimates for making provision for agriculture in line with government's economic diversification objectives.

Monguno further raised the need for the legislature to beef up its oversight function to the letter so that Nigerians could enjoy the fruit of democracy.

Also, Hon. Yunusa Ahmad Abubakar (Gombe APC) said although the federal government ought to be commended for steering the economy out of recession even before the 2017 budget was fully implemented, the capital component of the proposed budget, which was almost at par with the recurrent portion left room for worry.

He argued that the capital vote ought to be much higher than recurrent spending to allow for the

greater implementation of developmental projects.

Hon. Abubakar Chika Adamu (Niger APC) expressed worry over the direction of the economy in view of the rather high recurrent component of the proposed 2018 budget.

He further raised issues over the country's increasing obligation towards debt service stressing that this was not good for the economy.

He argued that it was unlikely that a large budget would bring about development as real inflation was currently at 15 per cent and not the 12 percent touted in the budget for next year.

Also contributing, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ogun APC) said he did not see anything in the 2018 budget worthy of moving the country forward.

He based his comments on the realisation that the executive had consistently failed to make allocations for critical projects that were of great economic value to the people.

He identified the hydropower station in Ogun State as well as other road projects, which though had been repeatedly appropriated for but never had capital releases for implementation.

He said despite claims by FIRS, NNPC of surpassing revenue targets the level of implementation of the 2017 budget ought to have been gauged and the report made available to the National Assembly for scrutiny.

SENATORS SAY 2018 BUDGET PROJECTIONS ARE UNREALISTIC Abaribe agreed to withdraw the word 'fictitious' but replaced it with 'imaginary' and maintained that the implementation of previous budgets of the administration was low.

He said: “I am just quoting the Senate Leader from his speech, which said the 2018 budget was designed to consolidate on the achievements of the 2016 and 2017 budgets.

What was done in 2017 when less than 15 per cent of that budget was released? Nothing was done and that was why I called it (2018 budget proposal) fictitious. I am very sorry if that is the word he is bothered about. I will withdraw the word 'fictitious' and use 'totally imaginary."

Abaribe said the receivables (revenue) of the government were exaggerated, adding that the 2018 budget was predicated on assumptions that facts had already destroyed. “The 2018 budget is already dead on arrival,� he stated.

Supporting Abaribe's position, Senator Ben Murray Bruce (Bayelsa PDP) said the proposal was a budget of active imagination, with 25 percent going to debt servicing.

"We have to decide what the exchange rate really is. Is it N305 (to US$1) or N365?" he asked.

Bruce maintained that the cost of governance in Nigeria remained high with agencies that had outlived their usefulness, and bloated workforce drawing overheads and salaries from the federal government.

"FRCN (Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria) has 8000 workers. Sell it to the staff. Who listens to the Voice of Nigeria (VoN)?" he asked.

The senator further said while the multi-billion dollar rail contract between the Ministry of Transport and a Chinese firm was a laudable one, the intricate details should be thoroughly examined by the Senate, to explore which parts can be handled domestically.

"We have steel, Ajaokuta is there. Why don't we use that facility and create jobs through that," he suggested.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos APC) lamented that only N450 billion had so far been released for capital projects in the 2017 budget which lifespan was expected to expire soon.

The major challenges of the 2016 and 2017 budget had been funding, making them less impactful on the populace, he said.

According to him: "A budget can be big and bloated, but when you do not have enough funds for capital projects, which are more impactful, then the budget is going nowhere."

He cited the case of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) where only N800 million out of N25 billion had so far been released.

"What impact would that make on roads," Ashafa queried, disclosing that only N500 million had so far been released out of the N11 billion budgeted for the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC).

Senator George Akume (Benue APC) advised that the

oil benchmark be increased to $50 as crude oil had sold for around $58-$62 per barrel in the last one year.

This, he said, was necessary to avoid speculation in the international market.

Senator Francis Alimekhena (Edo APC) said the 2016 and 2017 budgets were bloated without impactful implementation.

He noted that the assumptions of about N2 trillion from oil revenue and N4 trillion from non-oil revenue are unrealistic, as the environment to provide such monies from non-oil sources had not been diversified.

He also suggested that the oil benchmark should be increased to $50 while output would be maintained at 2mbpd as proposed.

"There is no need to raise the hope of Nigerians and execution is zero. Let's cut our coat according to our cloth. If the budget size is N3 trillion and execution is N3 trillion (100 percent), we will be happier than to say it is N8 trillion and execution is just N2 trillion," Alimekhena said.

Presiding, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said there was an urgent need to consider how to reduce the budget deficit.

He said: "I thank everyone for their contributions, I commend my colleagues for keeping their language clean and speaking their minds on the 2018 budget.

"Some research agencies are not researching anything and are still being funded, we need

to point them out so we don’t spend money on them."

The debate continues today.

House Berates Poor Implementation of 2017 Capital Vote In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), prepared the ground for the debate, appealing to members not to lose sight of the bigger picture in the 2018 budget especially in areas of economic diversification, job creation and infrastructural development even though there were obvious shortcomings in the proposed spending bill.

However, members did not mince words as they took turns and put aside party lines to express their disappointment over the dismal implementation of the 2017 budget, particularly the non-implementation of the N100 billion capital component earmarked for constituency interventions.

The lawmakers' agitation was further buttressed by the submissions by key revenue generating agencies of government, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that they had respectively surpassed revenue targets for the year.

Members, as a result, expressed concern over the inability of the executive to implement the budget past the current 25 percent mark especially when revenue appeared not to be a challenge.

IN NEW RAPPROCHEMENT, BUHARI, TINUBU LEAVE FOR EU-AU SUMMIT of state and their European Union counterparts during the summit.

The President’s decision to get Tinubu to accompany him on the trip, an insider told THISDAY, ‘’fits into the thinking of the president’s political strategists on the urgent need to pacify all aggrieved leaders of the ruling party’’, especially with the recent exit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from the APC. At the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, APC leaders protested to the president, saying they had been marginalised in the APC-led federal government, especially in federal government’s appointments.

Buhari was said to have

promised to make more appointments to pacify the party leaders and reach out to others who may have felt offended by his action or inaction.

Until recently, Tinubu was an unfamiliar visitor in the State House as he was not even part of the party delegation led to the Presidential Villa

by APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to welcome the president back to the country from his 50-day medical vacation in August.

But in the last one month, Tinubu had visited the Villa thrice, a development which had not been the trend since 2015.

Until last month, Tinubu's only notable visit to the Villa

occurred shortly after the advent of Buhari as Nigeria's president along with former interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, ahead of the composition of his cabinet in 2015.

However, ahead of the national caucus meeting of APC last month, Buhari had invited Tinubu to the Villa for a closed-door meeting which lasted for about an hour.

After the meeting, he told journalists that insinuation of a rift between him and Buhari was fake news. He later returned to the Villa later that night for the caucus meeting.

Again, Tinubu was in the Villa on Nov. 16, when he served as the keynote speaker at the launch of a book on the

mid-term scorecard of the Buhari administration authored by his media advisers, Mr. Femi Adesina, Mr. Garba Shehu and Mr. Laolu Akande.

Much earlier, the former governor who was deeply traumatised by the move by his party hierarchy to allegedly short-change his candidate, Chief Segun Abraham, at the 2016 governorship primary election in Ondo State, had more or less led a solitary life since 2015.

The volume of the trauma resulted in his call for the resignation of Oyegun as the party's national chairman at the time for allegedly deploying the party's strong backing for the emergence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as the party's

candidate and his eventual election.

Also in the president's entourage were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung and his Interior Minister counterpart, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd.); National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Munguno (rtd) and Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The president who was said to have arrived Abidjan at 6.16 pm Nigerian time yesterday was received at the Felix Houphet Boigny Airport by the Ivoirian President, Mr. Alassane Ouattara.

Continued on page 9

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NGN NGN 0.20 4.21 0.26 5.51 6.43 137.60 0.20 4.29 0.06 1.25 NGN NGN 1.15 22.72 0.02 0.54 5.40 162.50 STERLBANK 0.02 0.98 UPDC 0.05 2.61 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,305.00 Volume: 1.102 billion shares Value: N4.80 billion Deals: 4,089 As at yesterday 28/11/17 See details on Page 39

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NEWS

FG Launches Action Plan to Prevent Counter Terrorism Urges states, LGAs to adopt policy Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The federal government yesterday took another step forward in its fight against terrorism as President Muhammadu Buhari launched in the State House, Abuja, a new policy framework and national action plan for the prevention and combat of terrorism in Nigeria.

The framework, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in compliance with a presidential directive to come up with the framework and national action plan in 2015, was presented by the NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.).

Buhari who disclosed that the framework was a product of wide consultations with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria, said he had directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to ensure the implementation of the framework.

He expressed appreciation to the military which he said had decimated Boko Haram through immense sacrifices as he tasked the state and local governments to come up with their own action plans on how to prevent and counter terrorism at the grassroots.

Emphasising that the government was committed to implementing the framework, the president said having launched both the framework and national action plan, concentration should now be on how to eliminate hate, misrepresentation of religion and promotion of violence in the country.

He called on civil society and international organisations to be guided by principles of the framework and action plan while directing the MDAs to put in place measures aimed

at helping Nigerians to recover from the adverse effects of violence. He also commended all who had contributed to the development of the framework and action plan.

"We are committed also to implement the framework with the whole of the society approach. I have directed all the ministries, departments and agencies to institutionalise mainstreaming measures to address the root causes of violent extremism while implementing programmes that aid the resilience of our people to recover from the consequences of violence.

"We are grateful to God that through the immense sacrifices of our armed forces and other security agencies, Boko Haram has been degraded and pushed out of communities where they built sanctuaries.

"We now have to work together to focus on rooting out hate, misrepresentation of religion and violence in our society. I must also express my sincere appreciation to those individuals and institutions who contributed to the development of this policy framework and national action plan.

"I also call on state and local governments to develop the action plan for preventing and countering violent extremism at the grassroots. I likewise call on all civil society organisations and international institutions to be guided by the principle and sharing in this policy framework and national exchange plan.

"Finally, l am very pleased to launch this policy framework and national action plan and call on ministers and heads of agencies to take steps in implementing the plan," the president stated.

In his speech, the NSA recalled that the evolvement of the framework and national action plan was the offshoot of a directive given by the president for a review of

Buratai Nigeria's countering violent extremism programme.

According to him, the review resulted in what he described as a complementary soft approach to the effort in countering terrorism on the basis of "principles of the whole of government and whole of the society approach."

He said the framework and action plan were also the fallout of the realisation to build a policy framework that will guarantee the institutionalisation and mainstreaming on countering violent extremism across MDAs in accordance with the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

"While we were taking this step, the then United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Banki Moon, in December of 2015, issued a call to member states to develop national plans to prevent violent extremism," he disclosed.

According to Monguno, Nigeria was one of the few countries in the world which have developed the policy framework in accordance with UN directive which he said was showcased on the sidelines of the last United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September this year.

Monguno further

reported that the move was overwhelmingly applauded in New York "during the global solution's exchange side events where donors indicated their willingness to partner Nigeria in implementing the national action plan."

He disclosed that the development of the framework began with a memorandum of understanding between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and United Kingdom's Department for International Development on Nigerian stability and reconciliation programme.

The NSA said in pursuit of the national action plan and policy framework, key stakeholders were engaged through a national working group which he said consisted of some groups in the government, MDAs, civil society organisations, the media, labour, students and the academic community.

He added: "The group held several technical meetings and also visited Belfast in Northern Ireland to exchange ideas and learn from the conflict resolution initiatives for resolving the Northern Ireland crisis. We were also involved in workshops organised for preventing and countering violent extremism, the National Action Plan Task Force at the Geneva Centre to prosecute the policy where 16 countries at various stages of developing their policy framework shared experiences.

"This facilitated international validation for our draft policy framework towards understanding the root cause of violent extremism. This policy framework also benefitted from the values of research conducted for the ONSA by a team of experts on radicalisation, counter-radicalisation and deradicalisation in Nigeria.

Through wide consultations, we have thus developed a policy framework that is truly

Meanwhile, Chief of Army

Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday said the war on Boko Haram insurgency was now in the hands of the political class, the intelligence community, Nigeria Police and other civil authorities.

He said the military had played its role well and won the war and successfully degraded the terrorist group.

Speaking during the decoration of newly promoted Major Generals, including Brig.

Gen. B.A. Raji, posthumously promoted, who died recently after a brief illness.

Buratai said: “Nigeria Army (NA) has played her role satisfactorily. We have won the ground war and the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) substantially degraded. We have secured Nigeria’s territorial integrity and equally maintained her sovereignty. We have carried out our tasks proudly and professionally. “What is remaining now is for other stakeholders - the political class and the intelligence community - to take up the salient aspects of this war to the remaining ill-fated insurgents. “The NPF must be fully on the ground in all the states in the North East. The civil administration must be fully re-established in all the LGAs. The civil authorities must fight the ideological, social and propaganda wars,� he pointed out.

He added that: “The issues of indoctrination and propaganda by the terrorists must be stopped. These are the surest way to finally defeat the insurgents.�

He said: “The choice of this venue (Maiduguri) for the investiture is predicated on the need to boost the morale of troops in the Theatre and also to celebrate your elevation with the law abiding people of the North-east, who enjoy normalcy today as a result of the fruit of your service.

keep sitting back in our homes and offices nothing will change and 2019 will be Armageddon."

Agbakoba added that the group had, therefore, resolved to assemble a group of patriotic Nigerians to work towards the process of working towards the change the people had always desired over the years.

He said: “It is now clear that the 2014 confab was meant to serve President Jonathan’s political interest. The difference between what we are doing today and what IBB did in his confab, what Abacha did in his confab what OBJ did in his own confab and what President Jonathan did in his own confab is that they had their own political agenda. ‘’So, if we start by saying that Nigeria is a failing or failed state we have about 180 million people who do not take part in political discourse. If we can get this political movement and get these people to make a political choice that will be the difference.�

Okuniyi who also addressed the media said the group had been designed to attract leaders of thought and the conscience of the nation. He announced the setting up of a steering committee headed by Agbakoba to find immediate solutions to the problems of the country.

Other members of the committee include: Dr. Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, Prof.

Pat Utomi, Donald Duke, Rabiu Isiaku Rabiu, Isa Aremu, Hajiya Ramatu Musa, Sen. Abubakar Gada, Khariat Animasaun among others.

Okuniyi, the convener of the meeting, explained that "the meeting deliberated on the Nigerian problem which they have come to realise is more political than economic.

We decided it is better for us to find a collective solution to the problem and that we should initiate a national political movement-We are to merge with all other (similar) formations that will find this solution."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, expressed the commitment of the Senate to ensure Nigeria was not expelled from the Egmont Group, a global body that facilitates international

cooperation in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Nigeria was suspended in July this year and given up to December 2017 to comply with its standards on financial intelligence or risk expulsion

by January 2018.

people-oriented and it is tailored to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism while countering the dangerous ideologies that fuel terrorism.

"Your Excellency, this framework and national action plan rest on four major objectives which dictate our priority components. These are aimed at: A. Strengthening institutions and co-ordination in preventing and countering violent extremism.

B. Strengthening the rule of law, access to justice and human rights. C. Engaging communities and building resilience and D. Integrating strategic communication in preventing and countering violent extremism."

Monguno said following the launch of the framework, state governments should develop their own "inclusive local action plans for preventing and countering violent extremism," promising that his office would "provide strategic, research, expertise and support to all the states in developing locally relevant strategies for preventing and countering violent extremism."

He said while implementing the policy framework in the next three years, "Nigeria will be fulfilling the provision of Section 14 (2b and c) of the Terrorism Prevention and (Amendment) Act of 2013, the National Security Strategy of 2014 and National Counter-strategy of 2015," adding that "the policy framework also satisfies several United Nations resolutions such as numbers 2178 of 2014, 2199 of 2015, 2250 of 2015 and 2349 of 2017 all of which are relevant to threat of terrorism."

Buratai Charges Political Class, Intelligence Community over Boko Haram

IN NEW RAPPROCHEMENT, BUHARI, TINUBU LEAVE FOR EU-AU SUMMIT According to information, one Miss Emmanuella Ejim presented a bouquet of flowers to the president as an expression that he was welcome to Abidjan.

The presentation was followed by a cultural display

by Ivorian drummers after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Ambassador's residence.

He also met with the Nigerian community in Abidjan later yesterday.

Buhari is scheduled to participate in working sessions during the summit on the theme: “Investing in the Youth for a Sustainable Development."

On the margins of the summit, he is billed to meet with a number of African heads of state and their European Union counterparts.

Buhari is also prepared to maximise the opportunity of the summit to express Nigeria’s preparedness to work with African and European countries to address the myriad of

challenges confronting both continents including peace and security.

The president is also scheduled to be hosted to an official luncheon by the government of Cote d’Ivoire along with other visiting heads of state and government and other delegations.

It was learnt last night that 83 heads of state representing 54 African countries and 28 European countries are gracing the summit.

Yesterday in Abuja some eminent Nigerians vowed to mobilise Nigerians for ‘’regime/ constitutional change’’ to rescue the citizenry from those they described as political predators.

Those behind the movement include former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke; renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi; former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN; Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, son of Sir Abubakar Tafawa

Balewa, Nigeria's first Prime Minister.

Others are a former Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Mr. Isa Aremu; university don, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim; Alhaji Rabiu Ishaku Rabiu and Dr. Elena Okengwu among others.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday after its meeting, the group expressed disenchantment with the trend of political activities and poor level of governance in the country.

The group said it had a panNigerian mission and vowed to mobilise Nigerians towards effecting the real change desired by the citizenry.

The former President of NBA, Agbakoba, who delivered what could be described as the keynote address, said the group was concerned at the trend politics and governance had taken in Nigeria. He

observed that over the last 18 years of democracy, the political parties had become somewhat alienated from the people.

The lawyer and human rights activist also expressed dismay at the series of scandals trending in the polity, saying these were indications that the nation was headed in the wrong direction unless a deliberate move was made to arrest the situation.

According to him, "We are concerned that they have taken Nigerians for granted; we are concerned that as we move closer to 2019, all the monies that should have been used to build up Nigeria will go down the drain in the name of politics. ‘’We are concerned about the so many scandals trailing this government such as the current Mainagate and the fight between the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

We are concerned that if we

SARAKI ACCUSES ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES OF LOOTING RECOVERED FUNDS, PROPERTY "An ad-hoc committee of the Senate, which is investigating some administrative infractions in the Executive, has discovered that many properties recovered from a fugitive from the law, have not been accounted for by the investigating agency,"

Saraki said.

The development, he added, gives great concern to the international community, about Nigeria's commitment to the anti-corruption drive. “We must work hard to erase this global impression because it is not

a representation of who we are,� the Senate president said.

He expressed the commitment of the Senate to ensure that all anti-corruption related bills, including the Proceeds of Crime Bill, were passed into laws without

delay.

The Money Laundering Prevention Bill is being delayed after stakeholders raised very serious constitutional issues, which have been forwarded to the Executive to iron out, Saraki explained.

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Salaries: Governors Urge Buhari to Facilitate Payment of Paris Club Refund Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Finance Ministry and the other officials to hasten the payment of the remaining Paris and London Club loan refunds as they had factored

the monies into their 2018 budgets.

While pledging to work assiduously towards ensuring that they clear arrears of workers’ emoluments before the commencement of the yuletide season, the governors complained that delays in the earlier disbursements to states had

FIRS Hits 79.35% of 2017 Collection Target in 10 Months, Says Fowler The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said in Abuja that it generated N3.233 trillion in 10 months, an amount that represented 79.35 per cent of its collection target for 2017.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Tunde Fowler, disclosed this at an interactive session for review of 2018–2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), organised by House of Representatives Committee on Finance and Appropriations.

The FIRS boss who briefed the joint committees on key strategies for achieving the objectives of the 2018 budget, said FIRS justification for 2018-2020 Revenue frameworks was based on Federal Government Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

According to him, FIRS deployed technology to ramp up more revenue for the Country, especially as its tax assessment between 2013 and 2015 revealed N1 trillion after its tax audit exercise.

The chief tax officer of the country said the exercise had already yielded over N3.7 billion in collection of taxes into federal government coffers.

This, he said, was a pointer of its ability to meet FIRS assumptions for the 2018 – 2020 M-TEF expectations.

These successes, he noted, were

as a result of various measures adopted by the service to ensure increased collections of federal government dues in corporate and individual taxes.

He added that the measure would continue to be relevant in achieving better collections in 2018.

While listing the measures that brought about the successes, Fowler said the new modalities structured for optimal access of accruable dues from Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) had yielded over 54 million dollars (N16.73 billion) and N207.41 billion), totalling about N16.40 billion at the federal level only.

“We have stepped up enforcement activities against task defaulters on different fronts; these include placing non-compliance stickers on business premises of tax payers with outstanding amounts but made no move to liquidate it.”

“We also adopted substitution as enforcement tool by putting a lien on the bank account of erran tax payers. “This in my view will serve as deterrent to defaulters and consequently increase tax collection.

“FIRS has so far collected over N6 billion and $4.2 million (over N1.4 billion), totalling over N7.7 billion. “This drive is continuous and will be unrelenting going forward,” he said.

exacerbated and indeed increased the number of months that workers are owed salaries.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Head, Media and Public Affairs at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abulrazque B. barkindo, the governors’ forum said President Buhari had approved the setting up of committee to fast track the release of the Paris Club funds to states.

While lamenting the delays in funds disbursements, the governors said: “The first bailout that President Buhari approved was not paid until October, four months after the president had given approval for the money to be paid.

“It was the same practice with the first tranche of the Paris-London Club repayment, which was approved in mid 2016 but took

until December 2016 to hit the states’ accounts. It is imperative to add that the Paris–London funds were legitimate funds of the states and not loans as several sources had thought.”

According to NGF, President Buhari advised during a meeting last Monday that governors should be paid what is due to their states to ensure that workers spend Christmas with money in their pockets and a smile on their faces.

“The governors had expressed profound gratitude to the president for his magnanimity in hearkening to the needs of the states and understanding with them towards helping to solve some of the intractable financial problems of governance, top among which is the lingering problem of workers’ salaries.

“They pledged, therefore, to rise

to the occasion collectively, as a mark of their respect for Buhari and empathy for the workers by paying before Christmas, once the Finance, the Budget and Planning Ministries and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disburse the monies owed them as instructed,” the statement said.

It quoted the president as having expressed his concern over the plight of workers who are owed months of salary arrears.

“I will not be saying much because the responsible ministers are here: Finance, Budget and Planning and the Central Bank of Nigeria. I request you to appoint your own team to come and sit down with them (referring to the governors).

“This should be done, not only for next year’s budget but for this Christmas. The Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning

and the Central Bank of Nigeria should sit down with you in a sub-committee to see how much can be released before Christmas,” the president instructed.

Buhari declared: “For Nigerians without sources other than their salary, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat for Christmas.”

“President Buhari’s instruction that the money be paid before Christmas however draws its background from the series of delays in the previous disbursements to the states by the finance ministry, which by commission or omission had exacerbated and indeed increased the number of months that workers are owed salaries.”

IPI Nigeria Announces Readiness to Host World Press STRATEGY TO COMBAT TERRORISM President Muhammadu Buhari (right), and National Security Adviser Major- Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), during the launch of Nigeria’s Congress Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday Martins Ifijeh

The International Press Institute (IPI) in Nigeria has announced its preparedness to host the 2018 edition of the World Press Congress, saying it would be the first time in the history of the country to host the largest gathering of media owners and professionals globally.

At a media briefing held in Lagos yesterday, the President, IPI in Nigeria and Chairman of Media Trust, Publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the decision to host the congress was signed in Washington DC United States in October this year.

According to Yusuf, the decision was taken as part of efforts to expose the successes and advancements recorded in the country to the global space, saying most times, the way Nigeria is painted is at variance with the realities on ground.

He said this would present an opportunity for participants across the globe to see how safe and hospitable the country is.

“We understand there are challenges facing the country, but

if South Africa could host twice and Kenya once, there should be no reason for Nigeria not to host the congress successfully.

“So we call on all of you to support us and make this a reality. We must sacrifice to ensure we witness a befitting event,” Yusuf said.

On his part, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee for the congress and Chairman/Editorin-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena, pledged the commitment of the committee to make the programme a successful one.

He called on stakeholders in the industry to support the committee, urging volunteers to take part in the various sub-committees already set up.

The former President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mallam Ismailla Isa, said it was time to let the world know that the country is not only peaceful but also investors-friendly.

The Secretary, IPI Nigeria, Raheem Adedoyin, gave this year’s theme as, ‘Why Good Governance Matters’, noting that the theme wouldbe localised to suit Nigeria and Africa at large.

GODWIN OMOIGUI

NNPC Targets 15% Downstream Market Share, Builds Three New Mega Stations Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail Limited, Mr. Yemi Adetunji, yesterday disclosed that the downstream retail subsidiary of the corporation has set its sights on taking and satisfying about 15 per cent of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market share in the next one year.

Adetunji said during a press briefing in Abuja to announce the subsidiary’s imminent inauguration of a new mega filling station it built along the Lagos-Shagamu expressway in Ogun State, that it currently has 14 per cent of the market share under its belt, but would want to grow it to 15 per cent.

He also explained that between four and five per cent of the country’s Liqufied Petroleum

Gas (LPG) market was under its control, but it would shortly grow that market share to 10 per cent to advance the federal government’s plan to promote LPG usage in the country.

Adetunji, stated that in line with the 12-Business Focus Areas (BUFA) of the corporation, the subsidiary company embarked on the construction of mega stations across the country, adding that two more new mega stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State would be inaugurated in the last quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018 respectively.

“It is a state-of-the-art 22-nozzle station. It has a bigger capacity, would be 24/7 open, available at all time. It is much bigger and can serve more vehicles conveniently at the same time.

“It has room for expansion to build a hotel and park tankers

for drivers that want to relax and lay over. It is along Lagos-Ibadan expressway,” he said about the Lagos-Shagamu Expressway mega station which is expected to be opened next Thursday.

Also, ahead of the upcoming yuletide celebrations, Adetunji stated that the retail outfit had stocked up its stations across the country to meet the demands of Nigerians that would travel within the period to celebrate with their families.

He also said the outfit has begun a sanitary exercise against its stations and affiliates that engage in corrupt practices of products under-dispensing to their The exercise, he noted would reduce incidences of under-dispensing especially from affiliate filling stations.

“One of the key factors in retail business is that customers get value for what they pay for. We have a

zero-tolerance for under-dispensing.

“We have a network development and control section that monitors under-dispensing, and policing the sales and our dealers. We have sanctions if they are caught. If it gets to a point, then contracts of dealers will be terminated,” Adetunji said.

When prodded for instances of cases where action had been taken against erring dealers, Adetunji said: “For stations that take our brand names as theirs, we have some cases in court. For those we have terminated relationships with, we are following through with the process until we totally disengage them.

“Our brand equity in 15 years is one of the highest in the country, and we can’t allow any dealer to toy with that, as we are one of the companies declaring profits in this industry.”

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COMMENT

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

BUHARI, TINUBU AND SUFFERING NIGERANS Sonnie Ekwowusi writes that the government could do more to promote the welfare of Nigerians

R

ecently the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu spoke the plainest truth about the state of the nation to President Muhammadu Buhari. Those words of wisdom from Tinubu should not be glossed over.

Amid the many troubles buffeting the Buhari administration especially the tainted corruption in the government which is supposed to be fighting against corruption, Tinubu’s words to Buhari call for a deeper reflection if we are truly interested in knowing where Nigeria’s main problem truly lies and how to tackle it. At a gathering to appraise the mid-term report of the Buhari government, Tinubu reminded President Buhari that too many Nigerians are suffering and that he should henceforth focus on ameliorating their sufferings.

Tinubu is right. We cannot get tired of repeating ad nauseam that the political enterprise is not an end in itself: it is only a means to achieving the real end which is the wellbeing of the people. The primary objective of all types of developmentseconomic, social, cultural and political- is to promote sustainable human development. In other words, human development is the epicentre of all developments. The real parameter to use or the generally-accepted criterion to use in assessing the performance of the Buhari government in the last two years is the living condition of the ordinary Nigerian. Last Tuesday I listened to Presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina on Channels TV. Adesina dwelt mainly on the mid-term report of the Buhari government. He reeled out some kilometres of roads and other public infrastructure allegedly patched by the Buhari government as part of the mid-term progress report of the government. In summary, Adesina stated that cynics should not be too quick to dismiss the Buhari government as a failure because governance is a continuum and the Buhari government is still poised on its journey to get to its ultimate destination.

The truth of the matter is that the number of Nigerians living in miserable condition and abject poverty keeps increasing day after day. Just take a studied look around.

What can you find amid government movements and flashes of light? Misery, anguish, despondency and hopelessness. In truly assessing the performance of the Buhari government, and, indeed any government, the questions to ask are: do the people have access to electricity supply in order to be able to power their electric fan and sleep at night and so become productive at work? Do they have access to drinkable water?

Do they have access to medical treatment in public hospitals at affordable rate? Do they live in a degrading environment where people shamelessly urinate and defecate in the open?

The thing is that the Buhari government came to power with scatter-brain ideas. First, it took President Buhari six months to form his cabinet. Thereafter the government said it was fighting corruption. Paradoxically the government reeks of corruption. It is now battling to rid itself of corruption.

The latest is that the DSS are now shamelessly fighting with the EFCC in public. The most painful aspect is that the living condition of the ordinary Nigerian has become worse than it was in the preceding years. This has drawn the ire of Bola Tinubu.

Of course, government talks big. It advertises a mouthwatering agenda. It announces big budget. It gets hold on the

THE NUMBER OF NIGERIANS LIVING IN MISERABLE CONDITION AND ABJECT POVERTY KEEPS INCREASING DAY AFTER DAY

media to portray it in good light. But beneath all these ashes of false security lies the suffering of the Nigerian people.

Lots of Nigerians will be celebrating the coming Christmas in misery and frustration owing to genteel poverty. Recently 26 Nigerian girls (although Abike Dabiri-Erewa says there are only three Nigerian girls have been named) perished aboard a Spanish vessel on their way to their sex-slavery abode. According to the United States Department of State report, of the 2,500 minors who practice prostitution in the streets of Italy, 2,300 are minors from Albanian and Nigeria.

Apart from Italy, young Nigerian prostitutes have successfully invaded Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, SouthAfrica, Ghana, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Austria, United Kingdom and other countries. Nigerians constitute the largest group of prostitutes in Norway. There are over 600 under-aged Nigerian girls prostituting in the Netherlands.

These poor girls are lured into prostitution abroad under the guise of gainful employment. To them, prostituting abroad is a strategy to escape poverty Apart from young girls fleeing Nigeria, young Nigerian medical doctors are fast fleeing Nigeria too. Last week my young medical doctor friend confided in me that almost all his doctor colleagues had fled Nigeria. Besides, other Nigerian professionals are fleeing too. Nigerian families are still busy dispatching their children to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Australia, Japan China and so forth where they feel they can be gainfully employed.

President Buhari just came back from receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom. If Nigeria were a liveable country, these categories of Nigerians would not have been fleeing the country.

Therefore amid the scandalising human misery and abject poverty in Nigeria both the federal and state governments should in the coming months adopt new strategies for promoting the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. First, there should be steady electricity supply in Nigeria. If there was steady electricity supply many young Nigerians engaged in multiple small-scale enterprises would have used their God-given talents to create wealth for themselves. Instead of churning out unskilled young graduates who are unemployable, we need an educational system with strong emphasis on skill acquisition. For example, we need educational institutions such as the Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT), located off Lagos Badagry-Express-Way, Lagos that give qualitative technical and vocational education to young people in order to make them employable. Government cannot give what it does not have. Oftentimes the civil society understands the needs and problems of the people better than the government. Therefore the government should humbly enter into partnership with private humanitarian and charitable organisations with viable mechanisms and structures for alleviating poverty.

Two years had rolled past. Nothing has changed. The same failed leadership; the same electricity failure; the same hue and cry over corruption; the same injustice everywhere; the same collapsed educational system; the same government people stealing government money. We have travelled this road before. Now is the time for a new beginning. The Buhari government should make a difference. The 21st century economic development approach is more concerned with the welfare of the people than with government rhetoric.

PDP CONVENTION AND THE GATHERING STORM The in-fighting among members is unhealthy and counterproductive, writes Adamu Gwazuwang

T

he growing tension between aspirants contesting for the office of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken a worrisome dimension as members and supporters of different contestants take turns on a daily basis to abuse or denigrate their opponents on pages of newspapers and other mass media.

The National Convention slated for December 9-10, 2017 is an internal political contest to elect officers of the party that will run the day- to- day affairs of the PDP at the national level. The resort to name-calling, blackmail and antagonism is therefore totally unnecessary as every member of the family must be retained after the convention in order to continue to propagate the ideals of the PDP and win the hearts of Nigerians.

Sometimes I wonder why the campaign for an internal elections such as this will result in the use of caustic and derogatory words against fellow party men when the aspirants are all supposed to be working together to achieve one purpose, which is to revive the PDP and return the party to its winning

ways.

I appeal to our teeming members and supporters, especially the aspirants, to sheathe their swords and be reminded that we are different stakeholders in Nigeria before the emergence of the PDP in 1998.

Nigeria prior to 1998 was in a state of coma with serious human rights record of the serial military juntas. Our economy was on a steady slide to damnation. There was near hopelessness and uncertainty in the country. The political situation, to say the least, was in despair and the only five registered political parties strangely adopted a serving military head of state, General Sani Abacha as its candidate.

Nigeria was passing through a phase described by some experts as “the dark ages�. At a point, it seemed no one could stand in the way of this rampaging dictator who was bent on entrenching himself as the country’s president.

While this sad state of affairs was playing out, a group of politicians under the auspices of the All Politicians Summit convened a meeting in 1997 to discuss the way out of what was fast becoming a festering dictator-

ship. That meeting, led by the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice-President of Nigeria, was brutally dispersed by the security network of the late General Sani Abacha. Still undeterred and undaunted, these political leaders, 18 of them, decided to dare the lion in its den. This group of politician known as the G-18, in February 1998, wrote a letter to General Sani Abacha, which was delivered by late Chief Solomon Lar, stating their opposition to his planned transformation from a military head of state to a civilian president In the letter, they advised Gen. Abacha to resign and seek nomination on the platform of any of the political parties of his choice if he wanted to continue as president. The attempt to muscle the five existing parties to adopt him was unacceptable to the G-18.

These were the highlight of the struggle that led to the formation of an all-inclusive, detribalised political movement which is today known and called the Peoples Democratic Party.

The overriding objective of the PDP since formation was to bring together all patriotic and like-minded Nigerians into a single formidable political movement, capable

of organising and advancing the cause of Nigeria as one united country.

Campaign efforts must therefore focus on how to restore our party to the ideals of the founding fathers that suffered and sacrificed their lives to form this party. We must challenge ourselves, especially with the current vindictive government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and unite to unseat this administration in the general elections coming up in 2019. The in-fighting is unnecessary, unhealthy and counterproductive. We must look at each other as one family and work for the growth and development of this great party, the PDP. Finally, let us call on all our elders, leaders and members of our party nationwide to remember the pain of the founding fathers of this party and make this convention in December, a rallying point for the unity of all members of our PDP. We also call on all members that left the party due to one reason or the other to come back and help in the rebuilding process. PDP will rise again.

Gwazuwang is of the Media & Publicity Directorate of Chief Raymond Dokpesi Campaign Organisation

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EDITORIAL THE EFCC BRAWL WITH DSS There is more that could be done to restore sanity to the agencies

T

he drama at the home of a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Ita Ekpeyong last Tuesday between men of the DSS and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a sad development that exposed not only the failure of our national security infrastructure but also that of leadership. While the DSS and the EFCC have been at loggers for over a year following a damning report by the former to the Senate not to conďŹ rm the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, the latest development has raised a most pertinent question: how could the state permit armed men representing two agencies of the same government to clash so openly and disgracefully?

Before the Senate decided to set up an ad hoc committee to probe the incident, many lawmakers had expressed the feelings of Nigerians on the disgraceful episode. “This is the ďŹ rst time we’ll see gross irresponsibility in government whereby there is no arbiter; THE KIND OF no one to come in ALLEGATIONS THE EFCC IS between two agenINVESTIGATING REQUIRES cies that belong to SOME MEASURE OF TACT one person. The two AND SOBRIETY. IT IS NOT agencies report to the Presidency and SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SUBJECTED TO MEDIA now we ďŹ nd them ďŹ ghting on the pages SENSATION of newspapers, it’s a shameâ€?, said Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, a view we ardently share.

It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari has allowed the situation to degenerate to this level. No decent society should condone the pervading lawlessness. If Mr Ekpeyong is wanted by the EFCC on credible grounds of criminal infraction, it is wrong, if not criminal, for the DSS to use their operatives to block his lawful arrest. On the other hand, Magu must realise that the EFCC remains a civil commission, not a Gestapo outďŹ t. Storming

Letters to the Editor

the residence of a former security chief with combat ready squads of goons is not exactly a civilised alternative to courteous invitations.

While the DSS stands condemned for its indefensible action, what the EFCC has also failed to understand is that we live in a nation governed mostly by perceptions. Once someone’s home is subjected to armed ofďŹ cial invasion, their innocence in court becomes difďŹ cult to prove while the trauma to the suspect’s public image is irreversible. But more importantly regarding the current issue, agencies of government must not be seen to be in open conict.

We therefore call for an approach that goes beyond drama to a sustainable solution that rests on a proper understanding of the issues involved.

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eanwhile, it must be said that dealing with the kind of allegations the EFCC is investigating requires some measure of tact and sobriety. It is not something that can be subjected to media sensation lest national security is compromised. But the person who bears the ultimate responsibility in this unfortunate drama is President Buhari who must demonstrate leadership by resolving whatever the differences are between the heads of these two critical agencies. Besides, the untidy, if not cynical, manner in which the conďŹ rmation of Magu has been handled by the presidency calls to question the leadership being exhibited at the highest level in our country.

While we believe it is important to quickly resolve the issue of Magu’s conďŹ rmation at the Senate, the EFCC as an institution under him also needs to change tactics. As we have consistently argued on this page, a war against corruption that is guided only by a blanket notion of naming and shaming will ultimately exhaust its ammunition and record ephemeral success. Fighting corruption in an environment such as ours goes beyond the sensational arrest of persons to putting in place structures that will lead to trials and convictions of those that are guilty without tarnishing the reputation of innocent citizens.

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

PREPARED METERS AND ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

P

ermit me to use your medium to address recent concern raised by some customers that indigenous smart prepaid meters are programmed and installed to run electricity card fast. It was alleged in the reports that many of these meters gobbled up a lot of electricity units even when the amount paid was expected to last for a certain period of time. Without doubt, I am compelled to disagree totally with the allegation expressed by the so-called disenchanted customers because there is no iota of truth in it.

As a matter of fact, I have found out that many domestic assistants are indeed responsible for sharp practices, which more often than not, are placed at the doorstep of Mojec International Limited or distribution companies. There is also the worrisome case of sales representative of certain designated outlets manipulating the point of sales terminal to the disadvantage of hapless customers who pay certain amount of money to recharge their card and end up getting less value at the end. It is instructive to state that these concerns are not new to DISCOs and Mojec as there has been similar complaints raised by other customers in the past.

Based on my findings, I can authoritatively say that many of these domestic assistants and sales representatives are already neck deep in the act of swindling their bosses and customers. A case in point is a domestic assisstant who was asked by his boss to pay N20, 000 to recharge his electricity only to

find out that she paid N1,000. According to my investigation, the same staff has been perpetrating this criminal act for the last six months without the knowledge of the boss. The secret became exposed when the boss got fed up with the frequency of payment and thereafter asked that the DISCO provides a backlog of payment made by the domestic assistant.

No doubt, this criminal act brings to mind the reality that corruption cannot be associated with leaders or government alone but also those at the lower cadre in offices and households. Not only that, it has shown that customers can be victims of corrupt practices through those who are close to them. Therefore, as customers, we must remain vigilant to prevent our domestic staff from swindling us of our hard earned resources.

Besides, it is important to note that customers need to manage their electricity consumption to guide against any wastage. Often times, many Nigerians are fond of switching on power when it is not needed or necessary. This alone, could lead to consumption running fast particularly with the new tariff regime introduced by DISCOs. I advise that electricity consumers take note by ensuring that they keep an eye on their consumption to prevent indiscriminate wastage.

I appeal that, as consumers, we monitor our domestic staff and ensure due diligence each time they are asked to pay for electricity bills.

Olamide Bakare, Ogba, Lagos

PRESIDENT BUHARI AND THE OPPOSITION

F

inally, electioneering is here although 2019 may seem a little distant. However this far-off sense has not deterred the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party from muzzling opposition figures by words of mouth (Garba Shehu lambasting Sule Lamido); by negative policy citations (blacklisting INTEL Logistics), and by sheer intimidation (arrests of Gov. Ayo Fayose’s key cabinet members). Once again, someone should remind President Muhammadu Buhari that politics is a “dirty game� and the president is already getting his hands soiled. Added to the midst of the growing dishonest halos hovering over President Buhari are the promises to dredge River Benue and fix the infrastructural deficiencies of the Southeast before 2019. Haba, Buhari! This whole farce is reminding everyone of the implausible promises of Robert Mugabe over a 37-year period. Really, Buhari should take a leaf from President Goodluck Jonathan and just let the opposition thrive and speak out; that is only way the masses would benefit.

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

NEWSMAKERS

Oyo’s Crowded Governorship Race With not less than twenty aspirants announcing their intention to succeed Abiola Ajimobi as the governor of Oyo State, the battle for the soul of the pace-setter state has begun in earnest, writes Femi Ogbonnikan

Akintunde

B

Akintola

arring last minutes hitches, the race for the soul of Oyo State number one seat appears to be a contest that is set to bequeath a distinction between those clamouring for the 2019 governorship baton to shift to Oke-Ogun, an axis which has never had a fair share of the office and those routing on the basis of senatorial district.

Oyo State politics is unique and distinct. Ibadan its capital had served as the pioneer theatre in the evolution of a home-grown partisanpolitics of the defunct Western Region, with its attendant genre of wit.

Based on the zoning method cross the three senatorial districts, no fewer than 13 aspirants from across the state’s 33 local government areas have thrown their hats into the governorship ring.

Beginning from Oyo North district alone, six aspirants (the incumbent Minister for Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu (Saki West LG), Mr Remi Olaniyan (Orelope LG), Prof Adeolu Akande (Itesiwaju LG), Mr Isaac Omodewu (Itesiwaju LG), Sen Abdulfatai Buhari (Ogbomoso South LG) and Mr Debo Adesina (Itesiwaju LG) have signified their intention to run for the state governorship seat.

In Oyo South district also, six contending forces (Chief Bayo Adelabu (Ibadan South East LG), Chief Niyi Akinnola, SAN (Ido LG), Sen Soji Akanbi (Ibadan North West LG), Mr Biodun Awoleye (Ibadan North LG) and Dr Kola Balogun (Ibadan North East LG) have signified interest in the coveted seat. Not left out, three aspirants (Alhaji Yunus Akintunde (Oyo West LG), Hon Olatoye Temitope Sugar (Lagelu LG) and Dr Owolabi Babalola (Akinyele LG) from Oyo Central district have also joined the fray.

However, the race has taken a new dimension. The people of Oyo Central District are unhappy. With 11 local governments, four from Oyo town (Afijio, Atiba, Oyo West and Oyo East), five from Ibadan metropolis (Akinyele, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Oluyole and Egbeda) and two from Ogbomoso (Surulere and Ogo Oluwa), they are agitating for the zoning of the next governorship ticket to their district. Thus, their argument is predicated on what they described as the imbalance in power sharing since 1999 to date. They averred that the two other districts (Oyo South and Oyo North) have had a fair share.

From 1999 to date, Alhaji Lam Adesina, from Ibadan South East Local Government and Oyo South Senatorial District, was in office between 1999 and 2003. Also, Sen Rashidi Ladoja, from Ibadan North Local Government and Oyo South Senatorial District, was elected into office on May

Adelabu

29, 2003 but he was impeached on January 12, 2006, while his deputy, Otunba Christopher Alao Akala, took over the mantle of leadership from him and until he was subsequently, reinstated into office on December 7, 2006.

While in the 2007 general elections, Akala, from Ogbomoso North Local Government and Oyo North Senatorial District, was elected into office and left in 2011, Sen Abiola Ajimobi, from Ibadan South West Local Government and Oyo South Senatorial District, took over the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2011 and he is on his second term in office, having broken the jinx to become the first executive governor to win his second term in the history of the state.

An Ibadan based second republic politician, Elder Jide Ajao, in a recent interview appealed to all aspirants from both Oyo South and Oyo North districts, jostling for the coveted seat to give room for justice, equity and fair play in choosing the next governor in the coming 2019 general elections.

He stressed that both Oyo South and Oyo North have had their fair share of Agodi Government house, thereby leaving Oyo Central with its 11 local governments at the receiving end.

Ajao, however, maintained that it is time for Oyo central to nominate one of the four leading aspirants jostling for the governorship from the senatorial district as Ajimobi’s successor.

He noted that three aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state; ex-commissioner for works in the first term of Ajimobi, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, Temitope Olatoye Sugar and a former health commissioner, Dr. Isaac Babalola Owolabi, were all eminently qualified to succeed Ajimobi as governor.

“For instance, a number of them from Oyo Central are professionals in politics desirous of taking Oyo state to the next level. They are credible without any blemish and are the kind of the people we should entrust the state into their care.

“Is Ibadan the only town in the state? We have had our own fair share. Let the Alaafin of Oyo also produce the next governor. Without Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa or Oke Ogun, we can’t lay claim to Oyo state. Ibadan has had its own fair share of the governance, producing three governors since 1999 with the the exception of Alao-Akala from Oyo North.

“Oke Ogun should forget 2019 because they are enjoying the ministerial slot in the present administration and besides, ‘Alao Akala had governed the state from their Oyo North region hence the need to allow Oyo Central occupy the seat come 2019 because whatever that is good for the goose is also good for the gander”, said Ajao, the Coordinator, Oyo State

Akande

Reality Forum.

Among the aspirants with towering status are: Alhaji Yunus Abiodun Akintunde Born on March 6, 1962 at Onikanko Compound, Pakoyi, Oyo town, Akintunde began his primary education at Ansar Ud-Deen Model School, Balogun, and later his secondary education at Oranyan Grammar School, both at Oyo town. In his quest for higher educational qualifications, he attended both The Polytechnic Ibadan and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus, Lagos where he obtained OND in Physics with Electronics and a BSc degree in Physics and MSc degree in Energy Studies and a Master of Public Administration. Currently, he is a PhD (in view) holder in Energy Studies at the University of Ibadan.

Akintunde cut his political teeth when he was first appointed commissioner, Oyo State Civil Service Commission between 1999 and 2003.

A staunch member of the APC, he was at a time, the state’s commissioner for works and transport between August 2011 and November 2012 and subsequently, an executive assistant to Ajimobi between April 2014 and May 2015.

On account of his deft political skill, Akintunde was at several times chairman, APC State Registration Committee for Osun State in January 2014; chairman, APC State Congress Committee for Kwara state in April 2014; member, APC House of Representatives (serving members) aspirants’ screening committee in 2014; and member, Executive Advisory Committee (EAC) for re-election of Ajimobi between 2014 and 2015.

Akintunde hails from Oyo West Local Government, in Oyo Central Senatorial district.

Chief Adeniyi Michael Akintola (SAN) Akintola was born in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

He went to a military school before he got an admission into a Polytechnic. Soon afterwards, he took a Cambridge University Advanced Level Examination and performed better, after which he was employed at Macjob Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State as a teacher between 1979 and 1981. In his quest for higher educational qualifications, he offered a provisional admission into a unversity and studied law, thus, obtaining his LLB. Akintola is a holder of MSc in Political Science, MCArb (UK), FCCIA (UK) and FCArb. Also, he was ex-deputy speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly. He is from Ido Local Government,

Sugar

in Oyo South, the same senatorial district with the incumbent in office.

Prof Adeolu Olumide Akande Akande was born on July 3, 1965 at Idi-Arere, Ibadan. He hails from Otu, headquarters of the current Itesiwaju Local Government Area, in Oke Ogun, Oyo State. Akande is a holder of BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Political Science, all from the University of Ibadan. He had worked briefly as a reporter/feature writer/member, Editorial Board of the Nigerian Tribune between 1991 and 1993 before he was elevated and became Deputy/Editor, Sunday Tribune, a position he held between July 1995 and February 1997. He was Special Assistant (Research and Communication strategies) to exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo between May and December 2003 and subsequently, Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Sen Abiola Ajimobi, between June 2011 and September 2013. He is from Oyo North Senatorial district.

Adebayo Adekola Adelabu Adelabu, a seasoned banker, hails from Ibadan.

He was born on September 28, 1970 to the family of Mr and Mrs Aderibigbe Adelabu Adegoke. He is a direct grandson of late Adegoke Adelabu (aka Penkelemesi), an articulate grassroot politician of the pre-independence political era. Bayo, as he is fondly called, is one of the contenders for the governorship race. Until his appointment as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bayo was an Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc. He holds a first class degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state and he is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN). He hails from Itesiwaju Local Government, in Oyo South, the same senatorial district with the incumbent Gov Abiola Ajimobi.

Hon Olatoye Temitope Sugar Born 45 years ago, Sugar is a member of the House of Representatives representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency and also the chairman House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning.

Sugar had a brief stint at a professional teacher at Sagamu High School, Makun, Sagamu and Orile-Ilugun Comprehensive High School, both in Ogun State before venturing into partisan-politics.

Upon his foray into politics, he was appointed Special Adviser to ex-Gov Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, having been the PDP Youth leader in Ogun Central. Subsequently, Sugar was in 2011 general elections elected member of Oyo State House of Assembly. He hails from Lagelu Local Government, in Oyo Central Senatorial district.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

19

PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Unnecessary Fuss over Atiku’s Exit from APC Reno Omokri contends that President Muhammadu Buhari, who changed political parties on three occasions to enable him realise his presidential ambition, has no moral right to castigate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for resigning his membership of the All Progressives Congress

Buhari and Atiku finally parted way

P

When I consider the amount of negative energy the Presidency is putting towards discrediting Atiku Abubakar over his resignation from the All Progressive Congress, I wonder sometimes if they think Atiku has committed an unpardonable sin.

Permitting its surrogates like Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and official spokespersons to insult Atiku is just an overkill given that all he has done is leave the APC. As my Yoruba brothers would say, ‘ki ni big deal’?

A party is a vehicle that takes you from point A to point B. If you are in a vehicle that breaks down along the way, you naturally will not stay stuck at that same place. You either fix the vehicle or you get into another vehicle. The vehicle is important, but it is the destination that is the whole point.

Both Winston Churchill, the greatest United Kingdom Prime Minister and Ronald Reagan, perhaps the greatest United States President, were known for changing parties in their journey and struggle to achieve the best for their nations.

Winston Churchill left the Conservatives (Tories) for the Liberals in 1904, only to rejoin the Conservatives in 1925.

Ronald Reagan switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 1962.

Even Hillary Clinton who ran on the Democratic Party ticket in the most recent US elections was once a registered Republican who worked for and on the campaigns of Republican presidential candidates and was even elected president of the Wellesley Young Republicans in her Freshman year.

A top insider and member of the kitchen cabinet of the All Progressive Congress, Professor Itse Sagay, recently revealed that the APC is not the Party it once was and is no longer capable of supporting good

governance and instead roots for “evil”.

Those are his very own words, not mine.

Why would any true democrat continue to remain a member of such an evil party?

Atiku never left the PDP at anytime in the past. Rather, he has always been pushed out of the party. After fighting the unconstitutional third term agenda, Atiku was pushed out in 2006 after the re registration exercise which stripped his supporters of their membership of the party.

After the PDP became factionalized on August 31, 2013, he was again pushed out of the party because of his insistence that the constitution of the party be obeyed. ]If switching parties is a crime, then everyone in the APC is guilty of that crime, from President Buhari, who has been in and out of three parties himself to all the members of the NEC of the APC. In Nigeria, other than the PDP, other parties are not real political parties in the true sense of the word. They are instead vehicles cobbled together for the purpose of seizing political power.

President Buhari, who was disloyal to his democratically elected Commander-in-Chief, President Shagari, who he overthrew and who himself had jumped from APP, to ANPP to CPC to APC and whose govern-

If switching parties is a crime, then everyone in the APC is guilty of that crime, from President Buhari, who has been in and out of three parties himself to all the members of the NEC of the APC

ment restored and promoted the fugitive, Abdulrasheed Maina, after allegedly awarding $25 billion NNPC contracts without due process, has no moral authority to point fingers at Atiku Abubakar at all!

In fact, senescence is the only reason I can attribute for this attempt by the gerontocratic administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to blame Atiku Abubakar for a political strategy perfected by President Buhari himself.

The president shed crocodile tears in 2011 and said he would not contest again, yet he contested in 2015. As revealed by Aisha Hassan, he said he would not seek re-election in 2019, yet he is gearing up for re-election. He promised he would stop officials from going on health tourism at public expense only to become Africa’s biggest health tourist after he was elected.

Should such a man and such a government point fingers at Atiku Abubakar, the only man who was bold enough to challenge the APC to fulfil its promise to restructure?

And the APC who made promises to the Nigerian people during the elections, only to deny them after being elected, has no moral right to accuse Atiku Abubakar of abandoning the party. You see, by denying its own promises, such as the promise to restructure Nigeria, even the APC has abandoned the APC! So when someone asks me what my response is to the statement by Malam Nasir, El-Rufai to State House correspondents that: “As long as President Muhammadu Buhari is in politics I do not see any Nigerian from the northern part of the country that will be able to match him in popularity. The people of the 19 northern states and Nigeria have decided because of the president’s past history of Integrity and good governance they are committed to him. Anyone standing up to challenge him is wasting his time.

God has decreed that this is Buhari’s time

and we are waiting for the PDP to give Atiku Abubakar the ticket and we will face him on the field. But I have no doubt that I will not lose any sleep about it.”

I just laugh because this is the type of inconsistency that the APC and its member are known for.

Let me conclude by quoting what this same Malam El-Rufai said of President Muhammad Buhari on October 4, 2010 “Mallam El-Rufai wishes to remind General Buhari that he has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded. His insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity and his parochial focus are already well-known.”

President Buhari and his mini-me and their rapidly sinking and shrinking party know that Atiku Abubakar has already defeated President Buhari should he decide to contest the 2019 Presidential election that is why they are jittery.

Consider the following.

On the same day that Atiku Abubakar resigned from the APC, President Buhari sets up a committee to increase the national minimum wage. This is a classic knee jerk reaction and an indication that the President is jittery over his impending 2019 defeat and wants to bribe Nigerians with a salary increase.

But be that as it may, the bottomline is that President Buhari has contested the Presidency 4 times and each time under a different party meanwhile Atiku has only contested the Presidency once (in 2007). So before the APC attack Atiku, they should buy a mirror and give it to President Buhari.

Omokri, author of ‘Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years: Chibok, 2015 and Other Conspiracies’, wrote in from Lagos.

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FEATURES

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

C'River Communities Seek Compensation Communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State are demanding compensation for the destruction of their economic assets by the construction of the 275km Super Highway, Bassey Inyang writes

I

t is about two years now since the Cross River State Government flagged-off the construction of a 275 kilometre Super Highway from Bakassi Local Government Area in the south to the extremities of the northern part of the state.

During the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the road, the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, said the construction of the road would be done simultaneously with the construction of a proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport.

Ayade stated that both projects were designed to open up the state for commerce and industrial activities as well as open-up the hinterland for the economic prosperity of the contiguous communities to both projects.

He has envisaged that the super highway and the deep seaport would be completed in record time because a lot of investors were already falling over themselves as prospective investors in the projects.

But two years after, not much has been done about the construction of the projects, except the initial de-bushing of the track where the 275 kilometres of asphalted road would run through.

Much of the track that was initially cleared has long been overgrown by trees and shrubs due to over two years of inactivates.

Residents of communities where the tracks were cleared complain that for upward of two years, they have suffered untold hardship, and in some instances, some of their people have died having lost their means of livelihood due to the destruction of their farms, economic trees, and in some instances their residential houses that have been exposed to erosion, and elements of the weather, without any form of compensation from the state government.

Three communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, along the route of the proposed 275 kilometres Super Highway, lamented recently, that that has been their fate since the state government initiated both projects.

At a press conference addressed recently at Ikot Ndarake, Akpabuyo, the communities namely Ikot Okpo Ene, Ikot Ndarake, and Ikot Abasi Efiom, lamented that the mode of implementation of the road project in the last two years has brought

We have suffered severe infringement on our right to living by the destruction of sources of livelihood.

We see this project shrouded with deceit and illegality as anti people, it has come to impoverish and enslave community people and plunge Cross State into perpetual poverty and indebtedness, and so should not be allowed to continue.

The government should be compelled to pay compensation to communities and individuals affected by the bulldozing already carried out

Heads of the three aected communities addressing journalists on their plight

A cross section of members of the aected communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State

untold hardship to the people, as their means of livelihood have been completely destroyed.

The communities raised the alarm against the backdrop of what they described as resumed clearing of site on the proposed super highway around the Akpabuyo axis without the fulfillment of twenty-three given to the state by the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the non approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the implementation of the project.

Community Head of Ikot Okpo Ene, Chief Emmanuel Okon; who addressed journalists through a prepared text he jointly signed with the village head of Ikot Ndarake, Chief Bassey Effanga Okon; and Village Head of Ikot Abasi Effiom, Chief Silver Effiom Duke; said since two years ago when bulldozers, and other machines were rolled into their communities to clear farmlands, and some economic trees nothing more has taken place, neither have they been paid any form of compensation for the destruction of their means of livelihood. “On the 30th of October 2015 the President of Nigeria performed the groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of a Super Highway from Bakassi to Obanliku in

Cross River State. Without delay the Government of Cross River State mobilised machines to our communities in Akpabuyo and began clearing of farms, and economic trees which are the major income base of the community. This was done on the 6th January 2016 without consultation with the community Chiefs or owners of the farms. No inventory was taken by government of the number of plants and crops destroyed, rather individuals took up the task of carrying out inventory which cost them so much money to hire estate valuers thus adding more burden to the community members. Till this moment, no plan has been made by the State Government to pay compensation to affected communities and individuals. “With the clearing of the standing trees around our houses, the roofs of houses have been pulled down by wind storm. There are no trees any longer in our communities to serve as windbreakers and erosion sites are beginning to emerge around the communities “The sources of livelihood of our people especially women have been destroyed, people including women and children now resort to begging for survival. There are recorded higher incidents of youth’s restiveness and crime due to

idleness and lack of reasonable sources of income.

This untold hardship has quickened the step of many to their graves. There is increase in the number of school dropouts. There are recorded cases of children withdrawn from school by parents because they are no longer able to pay their fees. We have suffered severe infringement on our right to living by the destruction of sources of livelihood. “We see this project shrouded with deceit and illegality as anti people, it has come to impoverish and enslave community people and plunge Cross State into perpetual poverty and indebtedness, and so should not be allowed to continue. “The government should be compelled to pay compensation to communities and individuals affected by the bulldozing already carried out. “The government should embark on massive regeneration of the cleared land, reconstruct houses destroyed by wind storm as a result of the cutting down of the trees that hitherto protected the houses from windstorm. “The status of the EIA after the expiration of the two weeks deadline for compliance to 23 conditions should be made public,� the spokesman of the community said.

In the views of the communities, the resources

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21

FEATURES

80 years blind man, Isiah Edet EteďŹ a, begs the Cross River State Government to pay him compensation for the destruction of his economic trees

A widow from Ikot Ndarake, Deaconess Ikwo Okon, says her children were forced out of school due to the loss of her means of livelihood

An elderly blind man, Isiah Edet EteďŹ a, about 80 years old, from Ikot Abasi EfďŹ om, lamented that since the machines were moved into the community, all he had to survive have been destroyed, without any compensation paid to him or any members of his family‌He said since no compensation was paid, he now survives as a destitute, depending on handouts from those sympathetic to his condition so far budgeted for the construction of the super highway, and the deep seaport should rather be channeled to other viable projects that would benefit the people, just as they advised the state government to seek other alternatives at bringing development to the people. “The presidency should withdraw commitment to support the super highway project through any of her agencies. “The Government of Cross River State should liaise with NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) and other relevant federal government agencies or international partners to provide support for our agricultural ventures introducing less expensive agricultural processing methods like the renewable energy agricultural processing equipments. “It is our conviction that if the Government of Cross River State goes back to the drawing board with adequate consultation with all stakeholders, far less than N200 billion will be needed to turn Cross River State around touching all facets of development- road, water, electricity, education, health, agriculture, security and others,â€? Okon said.

Aside from the community leaders, some members of the communities lamented that they have suffered serious losses since the government

Governor Ayade...should come to the rescue of those whose only means of livelihood were destroyed by the construction of the 275km Super Highway

moved in machines into their communities for the purpose of constructing both projects.

Some individuals from the three communities in Akpabuyo also spoke about their experiences.

An elderly blind man, Isiah Edet Etefia, about 80 years old, from Ikot Abasi Effiom, lamented that since the machines were moved into the community, all he had to survive have been destroyed, without any compensation paid to him or any members of his family.

Speaking through an interpreter in his native Efik Language, he said the oil palm plantation, cassava farm, plantain plantation, which he used to raise funds, and food to fend for his entire household had long been destroyed.

Etefia said since no compensation was paid, he now survives as a destitute, depending on handouts from those sympathetic to his condition.

Etefia appealed to the state government to pay compensation to him for his economic trees and farms destroyed about two years ago.

It is alleged that a Bethel of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star in Ikot Abasi Effiom, was not spared the ordeal caused by the bulldozers.

A missionary in charge of the Bethel, and Christ

Ambassador of the BCS, Nazario John Nazarien, spoke about the demolition of a section of the premises of the church, and the destruction of his economy when the machines were rolled in.

He said the land on which the Bethel is located was acquired on lease for 99 years, and was fenced with economic trees, while inside the premises, he had established a farm to support himself, and his family. The missionary, however, said about two years ago after the state government announced the construction of the road, tractors were brought in to demolish the fence, and the farmlands he had laboured to establish. He lamented that compensation has neither been paid to the BCS nor for the farms that was destroyed. Almost in tears, Nazarien, who is a family man with children, disclosed that the cassava, plantain, and other crops he cultivated as a means of keeping the economy of the family alive have been completely destroyed.

He appealed to the state government to come to his aid by paying compensation for the property of the church, and the farms that were destroyed.

From Ikot Ndarake, it was the same tales

of woe from Deaconess Ikwo Offiong Okon, a widow, who said her children have been out of school for sometimes now due to the loss of her means of livelihood to the destruction of the farms she was relying on to feed her family, and sponsor her children’s education.

Ikwo story was not different from others, except that she said members of her family have been left to survive on the mercy of good Samaritans.

Also Okon James, from Ikot Ndarake, narrates similar experience, and called for the payment of compensation to him, so his children can return to school.

From Ikot Abasi Asikpo, Etim Orok Edem Ndarake, the story was not different. Ndarake said they need their means of livelihood back through the payment of compensation. Ndarake said at the moment, his house cleared of the surrounding vegetation has been exposed to the elements of weather.

The state Commissioner for Lands, Dr. John Ofem Inyang, reacted to some of the issues raised by the communities.

The commissioner said the state government was doing a lot to ensure that compensation was paid to the affected communities. “It is rather unfortunate that at a critical time like this where the state government has done much of what it is supposed to do to bring development to Cross River State and some people who do not wish us well are raising issues that will take them nowhere. “Now we are into financial computation such that the final copy will be presented to His Excellency for disbursement. So, there was no time we said we are not going to pay, and there was no time we said we will start work without capturing the necessary data as it affects the people. All these, we have. “But there are people now who are thinking that we have come down to the narrow space of 70 metres, they may be counted out so, let’s see how we can make noise,� the commissioner said.

Ofem said communities from Bakassi to Gakem where the super highway would traverse would be adequately compensated. “They should be patient, nobody has been paid yet. If they are patient we will pay. Why are we compiling if we will not pay? Whatever agitations they are putting up, you know this de-bushing was done a year ago and they were with us,� he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the 23 conditions for the final approval of EIA, given to the state by the federal government were met within the two weeks deadline.

22

IMAGES

L-R: Managing Directot, ARM Pensions, Wale Odutola; Founder, Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, ARM Holding Company, Jumoke Ogundare; Founder/CEO, Co-Creation Hub Nigeria (CcHub), Bosun Tijani; and Head, Business Development, ARM Pensions, Bisola Onigbogi; at the ARM youth Engage programme in Lagos...recently etop ukutt. :

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

Student of NTIC Abuja, Explaining the solar System he built to Senator Isa Maina, Special Assistant to the President and Secretary for Education and CP Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, at the 4th Edition of NTIC Science and Arts Fair, in Abuja..recentlly

L-R; Regional Director, Lagos of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Oliver Opara; Head, Public Sector Group, Lagos, Mrs. Adeola Ambah; Executive Director, Business Development, Mrs. Bukola Smith; Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Adam Nuru and Executive Director, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu, during a courtesy visit by the Management of FCMB to Oba Akiolu at his palace in Lagos Island,..recently

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L-R; NUJ President, Comrade Waheed Odusile, Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, StarTimes Nigeria, Justin Zhang and Trainer, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, Veronica Ogbole at a Gender Equality and Safety Training for Women Journalists sponsored by StarTimes in Abuja...recently

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(L-R) Chief Operations OďŹƒcer, Toti Prima, Annabel Camilleri, Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Jean Paul Tabone and the Chairman, Mario Camilleri at the unveiling of Toti Prima Brand in Lagos...recently

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Quick Takes Sterling Bank Wins CSR Award

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Co- Founder/CEO Afrigrants Resources Ltd, Thelma Ekiyor; Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Ibukun Awosika; Director, Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), Funmi Adeyemi and Co-Founder, AďŹ grants Resources Ltd, Doris Mbadiwe, at the Ignite Youth Innovation programme held at The Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos‌recently

How Investment in Human Capital Can Spur Growth Obinna Chima Increased human capital development has the potential to drive permanent increase in the growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any economy through increased innovation and technological progress, a report has stated.

According to the latest economic bulletin of the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, countries like Singapore, and South Korea, have continued to experience an upsurge in their economic growth due to massive investments in their educational sectors.

It stressed that no country committed to improving its economy can afford to rank so badly in terms of educating its population. The report pointed out that Nigeria’s experience with human capital investment remains lack lustre. Conversely, in Nigeria, public expenditure in education has remained substantially below the United

ECONOMY Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation that 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the national budget should be allocated toward health and education. The 2017 budget invested six per cent in education, way off the UNESCO’s benchmark.

The country’s economic renewal efforts have not fared much better when it comes to human capital, despite its enormous young labour force.

The poor investments in human capital are reflected in Nigeria’s ranking near the bottom of the World Economic Forum’s Global Human Capital Report.

The report, which ranks 130 countries on how well they are developing and deploying their talent and evaluates levels of education, skills and employment, ranked Nigeria 114 in its 2017 report6.

“Focusing on agriculture as an example, Nigeria’s efforts primarily leveraged capital accumulation as a means of diversification from oil exports. “Strategies such as the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and the Transformation Agenda have been adopted to boost growth in the economy. “The NEEDS strategy involves employment creation, wealth creation, poverty reduction and value reorientation. “With NEEDS the government realised the need to develop entrepreneurial skills and SMEs. The focus, however, was on capital support, not skill development,� it stated. Hence, it noted that the 2004 consolidation in the financial sector to provide cheap loans for the private sector.

In a similar vein, the Transformation Agenda aimed at a hunger-free Nigeria through an agricultural sector that drives income growth, accelerates achievement of food and

nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets to grow wealth for millions of farmers. “Here again the government provided low interest loans and capital finance for the agricultural sector, and again it ignored intensive training of the labour force employed by the agriculture sector. “As these policies invested little in education and training, they failed to address the largely unskilled labour force.

Hence, agricultural productivity remained subdued. “The low productivity in the agricultural sector ensues from the use of obsolete farming techniques and equipment despite the government effort to enhance capital availability (e.g. equipment). “This is evidenced by farms that still use manual labour despite the machineries they possess. In this case training the workers in the specific skills Continued on page 24

Danbatta: 10m Subscribers Activated Do-NotDisturb Code in Nine Months Emma Okonji As the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Year of the Consumer campaign enters its nineth month, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the regulatory body recorded 10 million entries from subscribers who subscribed to the short code within a space of nine months.

The figure, according to Danbatta, is amazing, and

TELECOM underscores the efforts that NCC put in the campaign to ensure that subscribers have relative peace, while on a particular network.

It is for this reason, Danbatta said, that the NCC would take a review of implementation of the consumer initiative project next year with a view to taking the next line of action.

Danbatta said the 10 million activation was a sign of success recorded by NCC for the campaign.

Speaking on the sideline of 5th Meeting of the National Council of Communications and Information Technology in Katsina, the EVC said only 500,000 telecom subscribers had activated the NCC’s 2442 short code to stop telemarketing and other unsolicited text messages on their phones before the commencement of the campaign. “We embarked on the campaign specifically with the regards to two important issues. One is, Do-Not-Disturb facility as we had received a lot of complaints that many consumers received unsolicited

text messages and for which they are unfairly being charged.

We dedicated a facility that will stop those messages from coming to the handsets of the consumers,� he told dignitaries including the Minister Communications, Adebayo Shittu and the Katsina State Deputy Governor Mannir Yakubu.

According to Danbatta, “We have been sensitizing consumers on how to take the advantage of this facility by sending STOP to 2442. Prior to the commencement of the Continued on page 24

Sterling Bank Plc has emerged the best company in ďŹ nancial inclusion award at the SERAs CSR Africa 2017 awards held in Lagos weekend.

Thethemeofthisyear’seditionoftheawardswas“Transformational sustainability: From Social Responsibility to Social Impact.�

The award was received on behalf of the bank by theHead, Markets, Liquidity & Sustainability Risk, Sterling Bank, Mr. Olufemi OjoOmoniyi.

He thanked the organisers of the award for recognising the eorts of the lender in the ďŹ nancial inclusion space, adding that the bank remainedcommitted to improving access to ďŹ nance among underbanked and unbanked Nigerian adults.

Sterling Bank stated that it was the ďŹ rst bank to commence the agent banking initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by launching the new model at Makoko area of the Lagos metropolis. The convener of the awards, Mr. Ken Egbas, in his welcome address, said the awards reached its 11th cycle this year as more organisations were hearkening to the clarion call of social responsibility, evidenced by the participation and involvement recorded in the awards over the years.

Kwese TV Partners Paga

Committed to delivering innovative and accessible payment solutions for businesses and individuals, Paga has announced a partnership with Nigeria’s newest satellite pay-TV, Kwese TV. Kwese TV is had expressed its resolve to redeďŹ ne the pay TV sub-sector by oering exible subscription options of three days,seven days and 30 days.

According to a statement, the partnership between Paga and Kwese TV would give subscribers the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of payments – by simply visiting mypaga.com/ kwesetv or by dialling a designated code on any mobile phone. “We are excited about our partnership with Kwese TV. Another step in our endeavour to provide Nigerians the convenience and security in bill payments,� the Co-Founder and Head of Business Development, Paga, Jay Alabraba said. “This partnership is good for both our customers and Kwese TV�.

Also, the General Manager, Kwese TV Nigeria, Elizabeth Amkpa said: “Flexibility and convenience are at the core of Kwese’s TV everywhere proposition. Our partnership with Paga extends the same exibility to the way our customers renew their subscriptions. “They now have the option to subscribe through Paga on their mobile devices in addition to walking into any of the over 600 Kwese dealer outlets and 13,000+ Paga agent outlets nationwideâ€?, she concluded.

KweseTVoers over 65 premium and exclusive channels including CNN, Cartoon Network, CBeebies, DreamWorks, Toonami, ESPN, NBA TV, Passion TV, African Movies Channel, Revolt, Dove TV, ITV, Kwese Family and Kwese Stories. These channels oer sports, music, movies, series, kids, lifestyle, faith, news programming and so much more.

United Capital Wins Pearl Awards

United Capital Plc said it won ďŹ veawards at this year’s Pearl Nigeria awards.Three of the awards were in the main competitive category The ďŹ rm said it received the overall highest award - ‘The Pearl,’ ousting AIICO Insurance Plc and Total Nigeria Plc. Other awards won by United Capitalat the event were Sectoral Leadership Award, Financial Services– Other Financial Institutions (Main Competitive Award Category); Sectoral Leadership Award, Highest Dividend Yield (Main Competitive Award Category); Good Corporate Governance Award (Special Recognition Award Category), ANDOutstanding CEO of the Year Award (Honorary Award Category) Commenting on the achievement, the Group CEO, United Capital, Mrs.OluwatoyinSannisaid:“Webelievetheappreciationinourshare price was attributable to increased interest from shareholders in response to sustained positive performance from the company, having continued to deliver excellent value to shareholders.

“No business thrives without effective deployment of ICT to gain efficiency and competitive edge, yet many businesses are on the edge tackling electronic frauds on their electronic business platforms�

Director, Banking and Payment Department, CBN,,

Mr. Dipo Fatokun

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HOW INVESTMENT IN HUMAN CAPITAL CAN SPUR GROWTH and expertise to operate these machines would lead to increased output,� the report added.

According to the FDC, Nigeria needs to shift focus to realise its opportunities, adding that rather than focusing solely on diversification by capital accumulation, the nation needs to invest in the educational sector by building more affordable schools and universities, as private education is largely unaffordable and the public education institutions are overwhelmed with overfilled classrooms.

Furthermore, it stressed the need to establish research linkages between the existing universities and industries, saying that most giant strides achieved by humanity had been through educational research funding and subsequent discoveries in and technology.

For example, the health research conducted at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia led to the development of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in 2006 – the world’s first cancer vaccine.

DANBATTA: 10M SUBSCRIBERS ACTIVATED DO-NOT-DISTURB CODE IN NINE MONTHS campaign less than 500,000 Nigerians activated the code.

As I am talking to you now, close to 10 million Nigerians have activated it.�

He said the other component of the campaign was to sensitise Nigerians about the existing of the NCC’s toll-free line (622), which consumers can use to lodge complaints with regards to service quality and other related services. “There is also another important aspect of the campaign, educating the consumers on the existence of emergency call centers.

One is being constructed in each state of the federation in order to provide reprieves to people in distress, who require ambulance service, fire-fighting services and those in need of attention from the police, using another toll-free line, 112,� he stressed.

Accion MFB Berths in Aba with N7bn Loan Portfolio Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The business community in Aba has welcomed with open arms Accion Microfinance Bank as it opened shop at the commercial hub of Abia, dangling a loan portfolio of N7 billion with a promise of easy access to loans and bright future for customers.

Managing director of the Bank, Mr. Taiwo Joda said that the Aba branch, which is the first in Abia and the 44th full operational branch of the bank, “has a unique target market of small, medium and micro entrepreneurs in the Ariaria community� which hosts the famous Ariaria International market.

He said that the bank which started business in May 2006 has already established itself as one of the leading MFBs in Nigeria with a total disbursement of over N7 billion from inception till date, has close to N9 billion in total assets and N3.9 billion in shareholder funds.

Not only that Joda also stated that Accion has maintained a steady expansion in its customer base having grown from “a humble position of a state Microfinance of 2,531 customers in 2007 to a national MFB with over 273,000 customer accounts in 62 operational outlets comprising 44 branches, seven cash centres and 11 virtual teams�. “We are here to offer our

basket of financial services and products ranging form savings, current , fixed deposit accounts , microloans, asset loan, SME loans, insurance and e-channels which will definitely lend hand in government efforts at alleviating poverty among the low income earners and people of the bottom of the pyramid,�

he said.The Accion MD assured that his bank would assist its prospective customers in Aba to grow their businesses in line with the bank’s mission which is “to economically empower micro entrepreneurs and low income earners by providing financial services in a sustainable, ethical and profitable manner�.

He further stated that Accion was strong enough to carry the financial burden of its customers, citing several ‘awards of excellence attesting to our high quality of services and operation�. These include best MFB 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, EFINA financial Inclusion Award as a Leader in Financial Inclusion in the

Microfinance banking sector, the most consistent Microfinance Bank of the Year 2015 Award, among others. Representatives of Abia state government and Aba business community were on hand to welcome Accion to the commercial centre and SME hub with a promise to do good business with the bank.

LUCKY WINNER

L-R: Chairman, Promo Committee/Regional Bank Head, Apapa Region, Fidelity Bank Plc., Obaro Odeghe; promo N1million cash winner, Felix Ezeokafor; Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Lagos and Southwest Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nneka OnyealiIkpe; N1million cash prize winner, Osakwe Dumebi; Regional Bank Head, Ikeja, Fidelity Bank Plc., Jude Monye at the 1st prize presentation ceremony of the Fidelity Get Alert in Millions Promo Reloaded held in

NIESV Moves to Promote Standardisation in Auctioneering Practice in Nigeria Ugo Aliogo As part of efforts to address the issue of wastage of assets in government and individual custody, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) is set to promote standardisation and regulation in the practice of auctioneering in Nigeria.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture of the institution organised in Lagos recently with the theme: ‘The Business of Auctioneering: The Estate Surveyors and Valuers Perspective’ the President of the Institution, ESV, Ajayi Patunola, said the practice of auctioneering was

being handled by unqualified persons, adding, what is key is to deliver quality service through professional skills.

He also stated that as valuers, they are in the rightful position to determine the best prices for exchange especially for those assets that due for auctioneering; noting that one of their key strategies is to train up their members in line with international best practices.

He explained that when government sees their desire to take a leadership position in auctioneering, it would be willing to partner them in order to stop the unprofessional practices. “We are bringing quality,

regulation and standardisation to auctioneering practice in Nigeria� he said.

Patunola who represented by the First Vice President of the NIESV, ESV, Rowland Abonta, said the lecture was aimed at bringing to the fall, the strategic role of auctioneering as a marketing tool for raising resources and revenue for government and private owners, who have a lot of wasting assets.

The NIESV President tasked members on organising auctioneering fairs which could be hold across the nation, where government and private individuals can bring their assets to be exposed to people interested in such assets and

added that on their path as an the institution would carry out the branding of the asset.

He added that the branding would contain the specification, and the usefulness of the asset, stating that when they are able to embark on such activities the volume of wasting assets in government and individual custody would have a window of disposing them.

Patunola added: “There are a lot of government assets that are wasting away. Therefore as a professional body we believe that those assets that are wasting can be converted into cash and the much needed form through auctioneering. Then government

required resources to provide services will be made available by this single act of selling of what is not useful. “It is not only about government even individuals also. The actual reason for this faculty coming onboard is that we have observed over the years that auctioneering business has been left to unprofessional persons who are not trained by the NIESV. The institution has the best skills to apply when it comes to auctioneering. Basically, we are trained valuers and we have the best technical know-how, to access and determined value of any asset.

Equity Assurance Launches USSD Motor Third Party Insurance Solution Group Business Editor

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Ebere Nwoji Equity Assurance Plc., a member of SUNU Group-an Insurance Group that operates in 14 countries in Africa, recently launched its innovative mobile Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Insurance solution to market motor third party products The device which according to the company is simple, and the ‘first of its kind’ self-service solution, enables car owners/ users to purchase authentic 3rd party Auto Insurance with the use of their mobile phones in less than five minutes.

Equity Assurance Managing Director, Moruf Apampa, at the launch in Lagos, said the Mobile USSD application serves as a platform for customer engagement, claims payment and other after-purchase services.

He maintained that the company’s decision to develop this ground-breaking mobile insurance solution is aimed at ensuring excellent customer experience at all times for its existing and prospective customers at affordable cost, adding that it guarantees customer convenience, easy and secure access, real-time interaction and speedy service.

Apampa stressed that the application will be available to all customers, regardless of their GSM network or type of phone they use, whether they have internet access or not, effective December 8, 2017.

According to him, Demo and animated illustrations can be viewed by prospective customers and general public on the firm’s website in order to better understand how to purchase/use the product as well as its different service features and functionalities.

In response to a question regarding the company’s decision to go digital, Apampa

who took over the mantle of leadership of Equity Assurance in December 2016, explained the firm took a strategic decision to deploy low-cost digital/mobile technologies as a means to overcoming longstanding industry challenges while effective and affordable insurance solutions to Nigerians, regardless of their location or economic/ social status. “The firm has witnessed a surge in purchase of its insurance products since testing the application with a few selected customers, gathering a lot of very positive feedback from the

customers and organisations that are looking to partner.

I can confidently say that Equity Assurance Plc is on the verge of revolutionising the insurance market place in Africa within the next few years,� he said.

The Chairman of the underwriting firm, Abba Kyari Bukar, speaking at the launch, said Equity mobile insurance solution is not just innovative for the sake of it, it is designed to address existential challenges that have faced insurance customers in Nigeria over the past 100 years.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Pathcare Partners SYNLAB to Increase Capacity in Diagnostic Tests Ugo Aliogo As part of measures to increase capacity in laboratory diagnostic tests in Nigeria, SYNLAB, a leading provider of medical diagnostic services in Europe, has acquired majority stake in Pathcare Nigeria Limited, the largest private pathology laboratory group in Nigeria Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos to announce the partnership, the Chairman of Pathcare, Dr. Richard Ajayi, said the issue of having accurate diagnostics test has been the problem which many hospitals in Nigeria have been contending with.

He also stated that from a survey carried out by the firm, it was revealed that hospitals were having challenges especially in the area of accurate diagnostics, adding that Pathcare is committed in these challenges.

He further stated that as a

group, the firm has grown, and in 2016, when it did the survey, it was discovered that it (Pathcare) had the largest market share in Nigeria. “We have large record for having accurate results�, he stressed.

He explained that over the years, it became quite clear that there was need for the group to do lot of the tests in the country, since they were running 20-25 percent of their tests results in South Africa.

The transaction with SYNLAB allows Pathcare Nigeria the ability to offer its customers an extended portfolio of specialised tests being sourced from the SYNLAB network. The company will benefit from the technological advancement and comprehensive cost-effective solutions to enhance the local business with hospitals and other customers. It also provides customers with greater access to benchmark medical diagnostics.

“The turnaround time was long and people had to wait.

We decided that there was a need to increase our capacity in Nigeria in terms of the amount of tests that we run.

This is what has led to this relationship to SYNLAB. They are the largest group in Europe and the partnership is an opportunity to provide a lot more tests to Nigeria and this is a transformational event for healthcare operation,� he noted.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, SYNLAB, Thomas Degott, said that through this partnership his company is committed to bringing innovative tests to Nigeria, besides experience and expertise.

He also stated that SYNLAB found a laboratory which shares its values, stressing that “we are committed to leadership and Pathcare is committed to the values of quality leadership.�

TICT Unveils Africa’s First Female Harbour Crane Operators A leading container terminal operator, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) made history on Friday as it unveiled the first set of female harbour crane and Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) operators in Africa.

Speaking at the official presentation of the female crane operators at the Tin Can Island Port Complex, Lagos, the Managing Director of TICT, Mr. Etienne Rocher said the operators - Oni Taiwo Omotayo; Tina Onwudiwe; Adewale Adegoroye; Adeniran Maltida and Ajayi Oluwaseun; were the first set of women to be trained in heavy duty cranes operation in Africa.

According to him, “What is interesting is that we were able to bring in women operator into our industrial equipment conduct, which means that it is an additional opportunity for women in Nigeria and also a role model within and beyond the continent that women can actually turn into equipment operator in what has traditionally been a man dominated industry.�

He added: “Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and Nigeria is also showing the way for women employment into the port industry. So it is setting the pace for others within Nigeria and Africa as well. It is showing that there is a way to show the mindset not on gender but on capability merit.�

Rocher disclosed that the company invested 15,000 Euros (N6.5 million) in training each of the female operators in Ivory Coast, bringing the total for all five operators to 75,000 Euros (N32.5 million).

He said: “The initial training was six weeks from the trainers that we took from overseas and after six weeks, there was certification. Direct training cost was 15,000 Euros but obviously you will have the power on the job which will not be optimum initially but will get better as the person develops the skill.�

On her, part, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman expressed delight and commended TICT for the initiative. Bala Usman said: “I

will like to see more women being engaged in port operation activities. TICT has done something very impressive with the fact that they have realised the skill and capacity of women and they have trained them and engage them doing this job. “I am very impressed with the terminal operator and I call on other terminal operators to do same and have women engaged in port operations just as the first female NPA MD, I look forward to seeing more women actively engaged in port operation. “I believe Nigeria as the giant of Africa is trail blazing today by having women operating RTGs so we will continue to lead the pace in Africa.� One of the newly trained operators, Oni Taiwo Omotayo said she was happy on the job and considered it a great opportunity being the first female in Africa to operate a harbour crane.

TICT has invested about N100 billion on the provision and development of facilities at its terminal at the Tin Can Island Port Complex since it commenced operation in 2006.

Customs Pledges to Maintain Existing Inter-Agency Cooperation Eromosele Abiodun The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its desire to continue to build on the existing inter-Agency cooperation with all concerned regulatory Agencies, to ensure that illicit and uncustomed goods are intercepted at the Ports, for the good of the nation’s Economy.

The Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Port, Lagos, Yusuf Bashar stated this while handing over a 40ft container with number MRKU 519445/3 containing cartons of Spectradol (Tramadol) Capsules of various milligrams, Spectra-Doxycycline Capsules of various milligrams as well as Jinart Tablets.

Other drugs seized are Clarinthromycin Tablets of five hundred milligrams and Jincold-Extra Strength Capsules of various milligrams.

Speaking on the negative effect of the drugs on the teeming Nigerian Youths, he stated that the products are highly regulated and Nigerian Youths consume them illegally at an alarming proportion to the extent that it more often than not lead them into committing despicable acts that will certainly have far reaching negative implications on their health in particular and the Nation at large.

Bashar who linked the frequency of drugs seizures in

recent times to the impending election year, said it portends evil for the Nation as the election year is drawing near and consumption of drugs like these by the youths would push them into reprehensible and deplorable acts.

He listed the number of seizures the command has made recently to include arms, cars, drugs and others, and expressed regrets that an importer who declared pharmaceutical products so as imported vehicles and the other container as containing Computer Accessories, has no good intention for the Nation and the people.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

How Has Your Year Been So Far? At the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017, thankfully, I finally decided on what I wanted to do with my life going forward. As you all know, I have shared some of my career trajectory with you.

Haven spent 26 years plus working for two great companies, it was time to do my own thing. I decided to become an entrepreneur in the field I had worked in for many years as well as give back by sharing my knowledge to impact the world with what I had to give, which at this time is mainly my knowledge and experience. Very soon it will be financially.

To get started, I identified what I wanted to do, as indicated above, and launched my company. I also set out my goals of where I wanted to serve and how I wanted to be received, as well as how much I hoped to make in monetary terms.

I guess the term for this can be called my strategy for the year.

Have I achieved most of what I set out to do in 2017? I would say, yes to a large extent, but as in everything, there is room for improvement.

So, I am also asking YOU, How has Your Year Been? Have you achieved your objectives? If yes, great and if not, what happened? Is it that you did not know what you wanted to achieve in clear terms?

Was there no accountability?

As we go into 2018, in order to ensure that at the end year as we approach 2019, you would be able to take stock and clearly enumerate what you have achieved, indicated below are some steps you must take to achieve this objective.

Focus on both your long term and short term goals – many of us tend to set long term goals, which can sometimes seem daunting because of the time it may take to achieve these objectives. In order not to give up on our long term goals, we should also state the short term goals that will get us to the point of achieving our goals. For example, if we plan to go into agribusiness, we can start with understanding and deciding where we want to play in the value chain, researching best practices in the field, regulation affecting our area of interest, talking to people already playing in the field, etc. The steps listed in the previous sentence are the short term goals that will get us to achieving our long term goal of having an agribusiness venture.

Ensure your goals are not vague – make your goals SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound). Instead of saying I will market my clients more proactively, say “I will keep Thursdays as my marketing day and ensure I visit at least two clients each Thursday to build relationships and keep my business top of mind�.

Remember that achieving your goals is incremental value – do something daily to ensure that you achieve your goals. You are not going to do what you plan to do in one day and neither will you achieve lasting results if you do not put in the time to ensure that your achievement is stellar and worthy of your capabilities. Build in the habit and be disciplined about doing something each day to help you achieve your objectives.

Make your goals attainable – understand your capabilities and set goals that you know you can achieve. While it is good to set stretch goals in order to push ourselves to some level of discomfort or stress, we should be mindful not to push ourselves too far or completely out of our scope, because, what will end up happening is we give up and not achieve anything.

Do something daily to ensure that you achieve your goals.You are not going to do what you plan to do in one day and neither will you achieve lasting results if you do not put in the time to ensure that your achievement is stellar and worthy of your capabilities. Build in the habit and be disciplined about doing something each day to help you achieve your objectives

Be positive about what you want to achieve – what you believe is what you achieve. If you do not believe in yourself or what you can achieve, you will not achieve your goals. I remember talking to a friend, Victor Onyenkpa about starting a business and being a bit worried about making it work. Victor told me “Marie, believe in yourself�. I’ve held on to this statement, each time, I have felt discouraged, I have remembered Victor’s words and believed in myself and sometimes I feel I can move mountains with my self-belief.

Write your goals down – make your goals visible, write them down and read them at least once a week. Doing this reminds you of what you have achieved and what is yet to be achieved.

Surround yourself with people who will support your goals – ensure you have supporters and people rooting for you to achieve your goals. Share your goals with these people. They serve two purposes. They cheer you on by encouraging you and they keep you accountable. Your accountability toward them is a powerful tool, because it ensures you do not disappoint them which keeps you on track.

Keep motivated, know you will fail sometimes in achieving your goals – don’t get discouraged. There will be days that you will mess things up and not achieve all you have set out to achieve. Accept your mis-steps and reset the next day. The key is not to give up but to continue.

Celebrate your wins – each time you win, celebrate it. Don’t take it for granted.

Acknowledging our wins, keep us motivated.

Let me know how you have done this year. Reach out to me, let’s discuss it, also let me know what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve your goals next year. Keep me posted!

.– Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012 TeL: 08090158156 (text only)

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Dozie: Nigerian Market and Digitisation will Boost Our Performance The Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie spoke to Goddy Egene on the bank’s decision to divest from its West African businesses, how to make banking more enjoyable for customers, the bank’s digitisation programme, among other issues. Excerpts: Diamond Bank recently sold its West African banking operations. What informed that decision?

A few years ago; about four years ago, we decided that a lot of free flow between Nigeria and the rest of Africa and also, we are an import driven economy and we needed to retail was our future, in fact, retail is the future for Nigeria and that meant we allocate our resources to where they are. Now, as a Nigerian bank but operating in West Africa, the idea was to follow our customers wherever they were and provide services to our customers beyond what corresponding banks were doing.

In the case of West Africa, our licence allows us to operate in different countries and so we saw that region as one country because it is about 49 million people. We were also investing in that region with the hope that with the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) taking place, we have to take advantage of it. But that has not come through and Nigeria is still unbanked; about 60 million people are not banked in Nigeria. So this 60 million are more than the whole region we were operating in. We were deploying capital in those areas and the returns were not as much as those we got in that area. But now, considering capital constraint, we have to decide where we are going to get the greatest value and certainly Nigeria, it has to be Nigeria. Nigeria is a place where we have largest cities in Africa, the largest population. So, not just financial but we deploy human resources to ensure we are successful in the market. Look at Lagos for instance, with a population of over 20 million people that is about a population of about two countries that we were operating in West Africa and still we have not provided adequate services to these people. And for us to build our business in this region, the way we have built in Nigeria, it means deploying more capital and I will rather deploy more capital here in Nigeria than in other West African countries. That is the rational for doing that.

So how will this beneďŹ t Diamond Bank?

First of all, focus. When you diversify, it means you are going to devote more resources to outside. But now we are more focus in Nigeria

When you diversify, it means you are going to devote more resources to outside. But now we are more focus in Nigeria and it means we have more resources in doing businesses here.

It means that our best hands that we have deployed to West Africa, we have now brought them to add value to our operations and drive our retail strategy in Nigeria. More focus means that the probability of getting it right, the probability of being successful will be deďŹ nitely much higher

Dozie

and it means we have more resources in doing businesses here. It means that our best hands that we have deployed to West Africa, we have now brought them to add value to our operations and drive our retail strategy in Nigeria. More focus means that the probability of getting it right, the probability of being successful will be definitely much higher.

Considering the competition and terrain you operate, how does this decision ďŹ t into your strategy?

Perfectly, well fitted. It means more concentration. If you look at our strategy, it includes going into new markets. And the new markets in Nigeria, is the unbanked. We have more people that are unbanked than the banked. It is not that they are not doing financial transactions. It is just that they are not doing it in formal setting. And we believe now that we have developed and collaborated with people enough to be able to provide services to the people regardless of where you are in the society in a very cost-effective manner much better than the way they are doing their financial services. We have many case studies to show that working with people, the women especially, we have displaced the trading ajo system daily contribution. Before now, you have somebody who will be collecting money. But now we have people that go round providing banking services and what we are going to find is that we have people and once you give them service, they are trustworthy and you will see that they will stay with you. We have over 600,000 market people both men and women that are using those services happily and it helps to create 3,000 new type of jobs because they are not core bankers but our agent women.

We realised that Diamond Bank is high on digitisation, how will this impact on your proďŹ tability?

Directly and indirectly. Directly, I think digisation allows you to reach more people in a very cost-effective manner. It allows you to generate information that will help you take cost effective decision. Let me give you an example.

Diamond Bank had over 300 branches that ran

for 25 years. We had a total of 15 million customers. It took 23 and 300 locations to acquire them. But it took us just three years to acquire the same number of customers.

They did not go into a branch. They did not fill any form and paper. So imagine, if those have been coming to branches and filling papers, imagine the cost and then the scale in a two year period. And this is just the beginning of what digitisation can do. For us, we are in era we do need to use cards to do transactions; we need to use the Point of Sale (POS) terminal. They will all be mobile base.

Look at what NIBBS is doing with MCash and use QR code that is like a piece of paper.

That is what digitisation can do. It is going to reduce the cost of services we provide to customers. It is going to allow us to grow very fast to places that you had to have a branch before you get to. With that we are generating more information. In fact, we are now a data company, not even a cash company. We move more data than we move cash. Over 80 per cent of our customers are doing electronic, they are not actually going to collect cash.

They are doing electronic payment. We are more of a data company.

Talking about services to customers, what do you have for SME based customers.

What is the proposition of Diamond Bank in that area?

We have two slogans: ‘Going beyond banking’ and ‘Connecting people and market,’. In a successful economy, small businesses are engine of growth and biggest employment of labour. If I want my market to grow, I actually have to play a role in developing my market and that market for us is the small business space. There are three things that small businesses want. They want access to finance, they need access to advisory, and access to market. For instance, a baker can have money but if they don’t have a market, nobody can buy and they cannot produce more. If they are growing and nobody is telling them how to keep their books and financial records, they won’t be able to have access to finance and even grow bigger. So knowing

all these, what Diamond Bank is trying to do is that, we can provide the access to finance and we are also partnering with so many of them to provide the access, provide the advisory services. That is why we have an initiative that has been going on for years, probably, actually the longest initiative in Nigeria on how to help small businesses grow when we partner with EDC of Lagos Business School to provide capacity building programme for them for over five months.

And this year, which is the seventh year, we are using technology. We are going to spend money recording it so that millions of businesses, even if they don’t participate, they can actually watch and learn what we are doing in that assemblage.

So those are some of the things we are doing in that space. And our platform is used to connect and create awareness and connect people with the market. And there are many other things we do. For instance, I have this show called Tech Talk. What do I do, talk to people and businesses that use technology to either service customer or change your defined industry that people have never heard about. We are using our mobile platform to create awareness about how people are using technology to drive and improve on agriculture. We are using technology to improve life in healthcare sector. For them to do it themselves, the cost to them would be huge. So that is how we play a role in trying to build capacity and show the world that it is not only in Kenya that technology can be used very well to transform businesses. Nigeria can do it better and we must show the world that.

I like it the way, not just Diamond Bank, others organisations that have the platform are exposing what Nigerians are doing in the market place.

Will you say that informed your decision to hold the largest technology forum next year?

Most of the tech conferences you find are in places like Kenya not as big as in here and two weeks ago, we just held conference as Africa as the Platform. We need to have more of that in Nigeria because without Nigeria, Africa does not exist. But Nigeria is also doing a lot in the tech space. We probably have the largest payment CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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DOZIE: NIGERIAN MARKET AND DIGITISATION WILL BOOST OUR PERFORMANCE government can look at regulation around data.

I think we have all the ingredients to actually leapfrog and scale. Right now, digital payment is competing against cash and if you are competing cash, you know people are going to use cash.

Meanwhile, cash is expensive, it is fraught with Know your customer (KYC) issues, lack of transparency and cash also slows commerce.

Moving a million Naira in cash is not as fast as moving a million Naira in electronic payment.

And so, we need to change some laws around that area. The new KYC laws have been great on deposit side. Anybody can open account and do at least N150,000. That is fantastic. But we need to do that also on the lending side, so it is not just only on the BVN if you want to borrow N1, it is BVN if you want to borrow above N2, 000 because the BVN acquisition is still expensive and not convenient for the man that is leaving in the village right now. Those are some of the things that we need to change in some of those laws.

people have never heard about. We are using our mobile platform to create awareness about how people are using technology to drive and improve on agriculture. We are using technology to improve life in healthcare sector. For them to do it themselves, the cost to them would be huge. So that is how we play a role in trying to build capacity and show the world that it is not only in Kenya that technology can be used very well to transform businesses. Nigeria can do it better and we must show the world that.

I like it the way, not just Diamond Bank, others organisations that have the platform are exposing what Nigerians are doing in the market place.

Will you say that informed your decision to hold the largest technology forum next year?

Most of the tech conferences you find are in places like Kenya not as big as in here and two weeks ago, we just held conference as Africa as the Platform. We need to have more of that in Nigeria because without Nigeria, Africa does not exist. But Nigeria is also doing a lot in the tech space. We probably have the largest payment infrastructure in Africa and nobody knows about it and we are not talking about it. We need to talk about it. We need to tell the world that we can walk around Lagos with just mobile phone and you don’t need to carry cash. You only need to carry a card and that is what we are doing through the services we are providing. I hardly walk around with cash, I hardly have my debit or credit card because I can go to an ATM and collect cash initiating with my mobile phone. We go to a shop and use QR code to make payment, I can go to a man on the street and use USSD entry to pay them and they get value immediately and not tomorrow and without a POS or card. So those are some of the things that we need to scale up.

We need to also all come together and change some legislation so that we can scale all these technology because you are seeing pockets of success in silos, we need to scale because that is what lead to success and that will now help us take advantage of it.

You are known for driving technology, and one of the best APPs in the market

Dozie

currently, but competition is stiff out there, do you have plans to upgrade your Apps and remain above competition?

Certainly yes; the only thing that is constant in today’s world is change. Customers are changing, customers’ needs are changing, and so for us, it is how we can do things better. Our business is no longer banking; it is how to collaborate with people to provide you with better services. If you take our SMEs for instance, it is not about providing services but making you successful.

It is about being part of your journey. And so, our App is going to evolve so that, one, it can collaborate with more partners and can be more of an integral part of our customer journey. And you have to also take into consideration that our customers are also the 15 year olds. In the next five years, you will have people, whose lives will just have to be on tech and we must also seamlessly integrate in their lives and you cannot be separated from what they are used

NBS Commits to Use of TSA, Cultivates Sectorial Partnerships As part of the efforts to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has committed to use of the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) framework.

Recommended by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the TSA framework, adopted in 2015 by the NBS, links all tourism and travel statistics in Nigeria with the national accounts framework before national GDP is calculated.

Speaking at a recent interactive session in Lagos with members of the Association of Travel & Tourism Writers of Nigeria (ATTWON), the StatisticianGeneral of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale stated that until recently “tourism data has been disaggregated and oftentimes fragmented.� “We have begun to build the structure to compile the Tourism Satellite Accounts,� Kale said, The NBS, according to him, has already established collaboration with such stakeholders as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to build a system of tourism statistics that feeds into the TSA. He added that a broader platform will soon be established to function as a forum where other stakeholders can also put forward their contributions

towards the development of a robust TSA. The TSA developed by UNWTO in 2008, adopts the basic system of concepts, classifications, definitions, tables and aggregates of the System of National Accounts 2008 (SNA 2008), the international standard for a systematic summary of national economic activity, from a functional perspective.

It allows for the harmonisation and reconciliation of tourism statistics from an economic (National Accounts) perspective.

This enables the generation of tourism economic data such as Tourism Direct GDP that is comparable with other economic statistics. DKale, who was represented by Technical Adviser to the StatisticianGeneral, National Bureau of Statistics, Mrs. Lola Talabi-Oni, noted that developing tourism had various far-reaching benefits ranging from job creation to increased revenue through taxes and foreign exchange to improved local infrastructure.

He said that it directly impacts the transportation, accommodation & food services, and the arts and entertainment sectors.

Kale said the contribution of tourism to GDP using the Supply and Use Table of Nigeria was a measurement of Tourism Value Added. The contribution of tourism to GDP declined from 2.34 per cent in 2010 to 1.77 per

cent in 2011 to 1.22 per cent in 2012.

Although transportation constitutes the highest contribution of Tourism to GDP, it declined from 70 per cent in 2010 to just over 50 per cent in 2012.

On the converse, hotels and accommodation which contributed 20 per cent to the tourism economy in 2010 grew to 45 per cent in 2012. Kale noted that though there were over 1000 hotels in Nigeria, very few were predominantly used by inbound tourists.

He revealed the NBS was “in the process of designing a template, in collaboration with other supervisory agencies and associations to further capture the composition and main growth drivers within this sub-sector.�

Kale stated that soon it will be possible to collect and disseminate indicators on occupancy rates, room capacity, bed capacity, total foreign guest nights and average room rates across the country.

The NBS is already publishing quarterly reports on international and domestic air passenger traffic. “We have a large domestic market to feed into the demand side of tourism, and increasing globalisation and decreasing international air flight costs, have translated into an expanding foreign market and interest in Nigeria.

to. So now, if you what to open an account, it has to be online, if somebody is developing a solution, it must be able to integrate Diamond Bank code so that people will be able to open an account immediately because nobody is going to walk into a bank and open a business account any more. Individuals do not walk into branch and open an account. Businesses are going to say, I want to open an account and I need to do it online. I need to upload my file and it needs to be secure and start running immediately and I start getting payment.

The private sector is striving to make banking enjoyable by everybody. But there are some things that government can do to complement efforts of the private sector and make banking easier. What are those things that are beyond the private sector that government can provide?

The biggest one is looking at Data laws. The

All these your efforts, how will they translate to more dividends and returns for your shareholders?

We are not trying to be the biggest bank. We are just trying to be the most efficient platform that can provide services to millions of Nigeria.

My vision is like I want to have 20 million people on our platform by 2020. Twenty million active people on my platform by 2020 and I am providing services for them, will be cost effective, and also my income stream will be diversified, which means that when next there is economic shocks, we won’t have to suffer as we did in the past. Besides, people just want a sustainable growth and that is what we are trying to build in the retail strategy. Generally, Nigeria has gone through a challenging period, this is the first deep recession we have had in many years. And I think the economy has been resilient.

We have seen stability in the exchange rate.

We are beginning to see the right movement in inflation, and we hope that will continue and if we can create a platform where we can have some changes in some of the laws from 2018 and beyond, we will begin to see robust growth in the economy. And for us, our focus now is Nigeria. So we are very excited about the future.

SON, Stakeholders Introduce AntiCorrosion RooďŹ ng Sheet The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and stakeholders in the galvanised steel roofing sheets have partnered to improve the modification of existing roofing sheets with superior qualities for better performance and efficiency.

Indeed, the standards body has been inundated with complaints over the thickness and coating of galvanised steel sheets in the country.

Hence, the need to improve on the quality and thickness of steel roofing sheets cannot be overemphasised.

Speaking on the development, the Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, stated that the new zinc, aluminum and magnesium roofing sheets is five times better and stronger than the existing zinc coating roofing sheets.

He spoke during a technical committee meeting with stakeholders in the galvanised roofing sheets to elaborate on standards for Zinc, Aluminum and Magnesium coated steel sheet for general application in Lagos, The SON boss who was represented by the Assistant Director and Head, Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Unit, SON, Fred Akingbesote, said: “It is a new technology and this is why we are preparing a standard in conjunction with all the stakeholders. To

us, the end user is our priority in drafting standards. We have considered the cost and the longevity, because there is no need to put a product into the market and nobody buys it. The zinc, aluminum and magnesium coating will be suitable and would also give the common man value for money spent.�

He however stated that the zinc coated steel sheets would still be in the market, stressing that the zinc, aluminum and magnesium would serve as alternatives depending on the choice of the consumers. “This standard is not just for roofing sheets, but for general application. There are various thickness and coating levels depending on the application,� he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the committee from the University of Lagos, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Dr. Henry Mgbemere, said standards keep evolving, adding that the technical meeting was specifically targeted at keeping stakeholders abreast of latest technologies used around the world.

In his words: “Before now, we have been using the zinc coating for coating steel products for roofing, but there is a recent development and we have to key into what is happening around the world,

which means there is need for a new standard that would take care of the zinc, aluminum and magnesium coating for general application.�

According to him, when the standards are approved, the common man would be able to purchase more durable and affordable products, adding that the zinc, aluminum and magnesium coated roofing sheets is more like a composite material that would give consumers value for their hard earned money spent. “This meeting will provide a workable document that will be agreeable to the manufacturers so that they produce goods that the end users will find consumable.

Nigeria is still more of an import dependent country, but I believe that with the review of the standards and other ones we will gradually move from an import dependent country to a country that manufactures for export,� he said The Executive Director, Midland Galvanising Products Limited, Raj Singh, said zinc, aluminum and magnesium coated roofing sheet is a five time better corrosion resistant product suitable for the Nigerian environment, pointing out that the life span of the product is five times better than the zinc coated steel roofing sheet.

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Burge: Nigeria Must Tackle Barriers to Trade The chief executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Mr. Richard Burge, who was in Nigeria ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting as well as to inaugurate the council’s new country head, spoke about the benefits of CWEIC to members. Obinna Chima presents the excerpts: What do you think Nigeria can do to me more investor friendly?

I think the government still got to continue carrying on with promotional activities. But what we also got to recognise that what anygovernment does when it is doingpromotional activities is to simply talk about the investment environment. So, in the end, what all of us must do, including my organisation is that we have to be in helping businesses find each other and actually talk about reality of doing businesses.

So, the government can set the stage, do nice video shows and other things about the lovely things in their countries, so in the end, it is businesses talking to each other. So, dialogue is very important, which is why I would be pleased if Lagos state government is a member of our organisation because they know our job is to create business discussion and they can learn about how business is working. So, that is the generality. But particularly for Nigeria, I think it got to do a number of things. Firstly, it has to continue to recognise that there is still a prejudice out there about Nigeria. There is no point complaining about it, we just must change it. I know it is changing because when I was in 1985 to 1990, this was a very different country. A huge transformation has taken place. So, I know that. From my job, I have been telling people that this is a good place to do business. Nigerian businesses are always upfront and ‘loud.’ You hear from Kenyans that Nigerians are so loud. So, this is an exuberant business environment. Another thing Nigeria has to get right is barrier to trade and solve the corruption problem because majority of Nigerians want to do things the right way.

There is a huge middle-class Nigeria and one of the largest communities of middle class in the world is in Nigeria. I think India has the largest middle-class community and Nigeria’s proportion of middle class is growing which is good for business. It means that domestic capital is being raised. People save money, put money into pension and other diverse investments. This is an emerging economy that is moving rapidly towards industrialisation.

And we think we need to get the right message about Nigeria out.

What is the role of the CWEIC? I run this organisation and it has been on for about two and half years now and I became the chief executive about six months ago. The CWEIC has a very simple job. Its job is to help businesses across the Commonwealth nations to sell each other’s products and promote investments. Its job is to help businesses understand how much easier it is to do businesses in Commonwealth nations as well as between a Commonwealth nation and outside. We think there are three big features around that. The first one is business English.

Everyone in the commonwealth uses English to do business and the second thing that every country tries to enforce contract and we support that. The third thing is that we tend to do things in very similar ways – the regulators, standard organisations and others, all tend to do things the same way. So, these are the three big things. There are other intangible things about the Commonwealth council. I have worked in 62 countries and when you are from a Commonwealth country and move to another Commonwealth country, you feel like you are at home because there is just something familiar about it. For me, if you are a business, it is a huge advantage because it gives you an advantage, and it gives you confidence.

In the end, all these reduce the transaction cost of doing business. There is a report that says that the cost of doing business among the Commonwealth nations has been 19 per cent less over the year. Emotionally, it is less costly and that translates to more fun while doing business. We started in London and we have just started to open hubs among the Commonwealth nations. We would be in every member country and in some countries, we

Burge

may end up having more than one hub. One of first hubs we are having is Lagos that is for two reasons – this is one of the economic engines of the Commonwealth and obviously in Africa. The second thing is that as a person, I like Lagos. I know the place very well and I am a fan of Nigeria and Lagos. I do recognise that in other parts of the world, there are prejudicial barriers about doing business with Nigeria and doing business with Lagos and it is often perception. I think times have changed tremendously and we are going to work on that lingering perception by opening the hub in Lagos and getting senior business

I run this organisation and it has been on for about two and half years now and I became the chief executive about six months ago.

The CWEIC has a very simple job. Its job is to help businesses across the Commonwealth nations to sell each other’s products and promote investments.

Its job is to help businesses understand how much easier it is to do businesses in Commonwealth nations as well as between a Commonwealth nation and outside

members to drive activities. It is a good way of changing global perception about Nigeria.

When people ask me what I find remarkable about Lagos, I say there is never a vacant shop and there is never a vacant store. This is a commonwealth great nation of traders.

That to me is stimulating. I am very keen that with Obinna Anyanwu as our country head here. Nigeria is the first and there are about four more to be opened in some other commonwealth countries. And I am very keen that when Obinna does work here in Lagos, I will be about the whole commonwealth and not just about Nigeria.

The Commonwealth Business forum comes up in April next year. This is a two-day event that is held in ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting. So, it is to hold in London. It is very important because it is probably the last one that the Queen would be attending because she would be 92 then and the next one after that of next year would be in Malaysia. So, she is not going to be travelling that much. So, we are holding the forum in the city of London and there would be senior Nigerian businesses in attendance.

Mrs. Folorunso Alakija has already said she will be in attendance and she will be speaking about women in business at the forum. We are also hoping to set up some other schemes to support businesses. There is a scheme that is running presently in UK called Commonwealth First, which is to support UK businesses. I want to introduce the Commonwealth First Nigeria and we may find maybe up to 100 talented SMEs in Nigeria that are export ready and for them to be part of the scheme for over a three or four-year period. So, we are hoping to help new enterprises in Nigeria get access to market. Also, at the moment, we are working with sub-sovereigns. These are entities that are below the national governments and two of them at the moment are Akwa Ibom and Lagos state. These states see us as a helpful venture and as a bridge between them and business and especially in helping

them mobilise businesses.

Will you provide grants or other form of ďŹ nancial support to the SMEs you are talking about?

I think there may be some form of financial support as it is in some countries. Like Malaysia has various forms of support for small businesses. One of the things we need to try to understand is that there is a lot of money in the world at the moment looking for good investments. And what we have to do is to make sure that these young Commonwealth businesses get access and meet these people with the money that want to make those investments and make case for them. The other thing is that Africa has extraordinary financial resources. The domestic resource capital in Africa is huge and that is looking for new opportunities as well. So, we are very keen to try to mobilise these resources. We must not think about government funding because if it comes today and at the end of the day there is a change in government, such government funding disappears. We must not overlook the strength of private sector investment because it is not looking for political patronage, it is just looking for trade for commercial growth and that is what we must find ways of ensuring that interested innovative capital meet interested innovative propositions. If you put that together, you would see tremendous growth. One of the things I am here to do in Nigeria is talk to senior Nigerian business men.

Are there cases of companies in other countries your Council has assisted in accessing some of these global capitals you talked about?

There are, but do we have a case study, I will say no. That is because we are still a very young organisation. But we have examples of diaspora money in India that was invested in business ideas. So, over time, we would be putting together case studies that we can show people so that we can use that to evangelise. But I want to have some Nigerian examples.

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Low Awareness, Customer Apathy Stymie Insurance In this interview with Nosa Alekhuogie, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Equity Assurance Plc, Morufu Apampa spoke on burning issues in the insurance sector and his company’s growth strategies. Excerpts: About a year ago, you were appointed the Managing Director of this company. With your team, what has changed between then and now?

Upon assuming office as MD/CEO, one of our foremost priorities was to change the culture of the company by focusing on beliefs and behaviors of our people. The transformation agenda at Equity started with changing our beliefs, behaviors and attitudes and I have to say, we have made significant progress in the past 12 months. By working in groups, we identified the most critical beliefs that had shaped the company’s view of itself in the past five years and the beliefs most needed now for the journey forward. Some of our new beliefs include: “We will be better listeners to our clients, Collaboration is the key to our success, We can grow faster than the market, profitably and using capital efficiently� etc.

These new beliefs have become an agenda for attitude change, not only among the top executives but for all staff at Equity Assurance Plc. After all, our behaviors are beliefs turned into action. Behaviors deliver results. When we talk about behaviors, we are talking about norms of behavior; the accepted, expected ways our people behave in the corporate setting and they are critical to our company’s ability to create a competitive advantage.

What is your vision for the company, and what is driving this vision looking at your strategy?

My vision is to transform Equity Assurance Plc. into a high-performance organisation with a competitive advantage anchored on its ability to innovate and execute solutions that best address existential challenges facing customers in Nigeria. In simpler terms, our plan is to be the customers’ preference and create a sustainable competitive advantage while leaving sufficient money on the table for the shareholders. At Equity, we are assiduously building execution capacity and implementation competencies while adopting a phased (short, medium & long-term) approach to our transformation journey. We will continue to improve our key processes and approaches in strategy development, talent management and operations design & implementation.

Today, Equity Assurance is blazing the trail to sell insurance through the mobile phone, an initiative that is not common in the industry? What would you say about this?

Like you rightly said, Our USSD mobile solution; *931*11# is an unprecedented technological initiative in the100 years of Nigeria’s Insurance market. It is a simple self-service solution that enables car owners/users to purchase authentic 3rd party Auto Insurance with the use of their mobile phones in less than 5minutes. It does not matter whether the phone is a smart phone or a basic phone.

Furthermore, the service is accessible without internet/data bundle and can be used on all the GSM networks. This mobile solution is an example of the disruptive, problem-solving innovations Nigerians have been yearning for, which they can now expect from Equity going forward. We are committed to providing convenience and speedy service at affordable costs by using technologies to power insurance solutions for all Nigerians.

What is unique about the new product and what impact is it going to have on your performance going forward?

The key benefits are speed and convenience; customers get their e-certificate in five minutes or less, as well as an automated upload of their insurance details onto the NIID database.

The company’s decision to develop this groundbreaking mobile insurance solution is aimed at ensuring excellent customer experience at all times and at affordable cost. It guarantees customer convenience, easy & secure access, real-time interaction and speedy service. Furthermore, it serves as

Apampa

a platform for customer engagement, claims payment and other after-purchase services.

We are well aware of the Government’s drive towards achieving financial inclusion across the country. The Equity Mobile Insurance solution is designed to further this objective as it is available to everyone, regardless of their GSM network, type of phone or whether or not they have access to the internet. The company has witnessed a surge in purchase of its insurance products since testing the application with a few selected customers, garnering a lot of very positive feedback from customers and organisations that are looking to partner. I can confidently say that Equity Assurance Plc is on the verge of revolutionising the insurance marketplace in Africa within the next few years.

Now that you have done motor insurance module, are you considering other line of products and how soon are you looking at launching other products?

It is important to note that the Equity (USSD) Mobile Insurance is a scalable and flexible solution.

We have started with the launch of the 3rd party Auto Insurance because it is simple and is the most frequently demanded insurance product in Nigeria. In the near future, we will deploy and roll-out other products and solutions that are in high demand across our target segments. We have invested in world-class operating systems and call-center infrastructure to ensure real-time, online customer support, claims administration and other after-purchase services.

How is SUNU Group (a leading Insurance Group that operates in 14 countries in Africa) going to impact on the operations of Equity Assurance Plc? Like Equity, SUNU Group’s core values of professionalism, customer-centricity and respect

for the individual is fundamental to its business operations and conduct. These values are what make SUNU Group either the clear leader or a close second in all the markets where we are present, 22 locations across 14 countries in West and Central Africa. SUNU Group’s remarkable growth/expansion credential is even more impressive when one realizes that it was achieved in less than 20 years. As with all of its member companies, Equity Assurance Plc. will have access to the SUNU Group’s operations hub (located in Cote d’Ivoire) which provides both technical and business support services including specialty functions such as product development, actuarial services, technology, branding etc.

Nigerians are poised to enjoy fresh, innovative insurance products and solutions as we leverage the vast knowledge capital, partner network and expertise that have over the years, been garnered across our various locations. In addition, Equity will continue to benchmark and align with the best-practice standards of the group, as well as entrench leading corporate governance structures and culture for its Nigerian business operations.

Are you looking at rebranding the company soon and what message do you have for your numerous customers out there?

Please watch this space; because in the coming weeks, we will be unveiling the company’s new brand and logo in a full-fledged corporate rebranding & repositioning initiative which will last several months.

We will introduce the SUNU brand to Nigerians, with emphasis on our brand promise, value proposition, brand values and what customers should expect from us going forward.

We are working closely with regulators and

other stakeholders to ensure that the public is adequately informed and educated about the superior benefits of choosing the new Equity (a member of SUNU Group). Details will be communicated shortly.

In your suggestion, what efforts do you suggest will help increase insurance penetration in Nigeria?

The long-standing challenges of low awareness, poor enforcement, customer apathy and poverty continue to impede insurance penetration and growth in Nigeria.

Insurance operators, alongside related associations such as Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA), NCRIB etc need to collaborate more and intensify efforts to raising awareness of the innumerable economic benefits and social impact of Insurance on personal, business and public life.Furthermore, enforcement (especially of compulsory insurances i.e. MDRI) by government agencies need to be improved.

Insurance operators need to collaborate better with other stakeholders (within and outside the industry) to develop flexible pocket-friendly insurance products to cater to the less privileged and under-served segments of the market who have little to no disposable income.

What other issue would you like to discuss?

The world is experiencing a tectonic shift, the global business environment is being ‘reset’ largely by digital technologies. This potential for overnight radical change often throws up new business challenges as well as opportunities.

While no one can predict precisely what the future holds, business leaders can drive their organisations along the path of disciplined execution - which allows for seizing and maximising opportunities.

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BUSINESSWORLD

Continental Re Grows Gross Premium by 25% Continental Reinsurance Plc’s has said that in the first nine months of the current business year, it successfully grew its gross premium income by 25 per cent to NGN 21.86bn in the nine months financial period of 2017, higher than the N17.51bn in the corresponding period of 2016.

The company’s underwriting profit grew by 178 per cent to NGN 2.08bn from N746.72m in the period under review.

The company noted that this was a reflection of the targeted underwriting actions during the year including increased underwriting discipline.

A.M. Best has also affirmed its Financial Strength Rating of B+ (good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb,� showing the outlook of these Credit Ratings are stable.

The results, according to the company, were buoyed by a 77 per cent increase in investment and other income which stood at N 1.9billion from N1.07billion despite a 36 per cent decline in profit before tax, resulting from the impact of foreign exchange movement in the period under review.

Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Femi Oyetunji, commenting on the performance said: “We continuously monitor localised cycles of growth or challenges across our markets and adjust our business model to adapt, as each of our regional offices and subsidiaries play a significant

role in any given reporting period. Our primary focus of improving underwriting fundamentals and capital management to ensure we meet the present and future needs of our business rests.�

According to the A.M. Best report, the rating reflects Continental Re’s very strong balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance and neutral business profile.

The report further noted that the company’s balance sheet strength was supported by a strong level of riskadjusted capitalisation, which A.M. Best expects to remain at a very strong level over the medium term.

According to the report, claims expenses reduced by four per cent to N7.99billion to N8.36billion in September last year, while reinsurance reserves rose by six per cent to N14.54bn from N13.7bn in third quarter of 2016.

The company disclosed that its profit before tax stood at N3.23billion at the end of September this year, from N5.03billion in the corresponding period of 2016, while profit after tax was N2.49billion from N3.75billion in the period under review.

Continental Re said that construction of its headquarters in Lagos was underway after a groundbreaking ceremony.

It said the new headquarters will be a state of the art landmark building with ultra-modern and eco-friendly features.

INSURANCE

AIICO Insurance Proposes Huge Investments in Life Business Stories by Ebere Nwoji Life insurance specialist, AIICO Insurance Plc, has said that it will consolidate on its huge investments in life business operations in order to meet its obligations to policy holders.

To this effect, AIICO insurance, said it has obliged itself to efficiently invest its earned premium in a way that will enable it meet its policy holders’ expectations.

The company, which is one of the first life insurers to receive both insurance and pension sectors regulators’ nod to resume underwriting of annuity business, said contrary to fears that annuity business would drop due to the short break in the business underwriting by life insurers, the reverse is the case as the annuity business which, is a strategic business for the company is on increase despite the short break occasioned by the regulators’ directive last year.

The company however said it

is operating the Annuity Business with caution.

AIICO Insurance Executive Director Operations, Tunde Fajemirokun, speaking on the company’s performance this year and plans ahead at the quarterly media parley organised by the company in Lagos said: “The importance of investments to our life business operations thus becomes apparent – we must invest the premiums efficiently to make sure we can meet our obligations. Investment income is therefore an important indicator of performance in a life insurer and trading in a volatile investment climate such as ours is not only recommended, it is wise.�

On the financial reports of the company for the outgoing year, Fajemirokun explained that the temptation with evaluating the performance of a composite insurance company like AIICO is to paint all its businesses with the same brush. According to him, the company is made up of diverse businesses, some of

which can be evaluated using common metrics. “Others, like our life business require some understanding about life insurance trends and the business model of the company being evaluated.

AIICO has a 54-year history as a life insurer, providing a variety of savings, investment-related and endowment products to our clients. Very often, these products are long-term in nature with some having tenors as long as 25 to 30 years. Profits are most often realised over time, from underwriting and investment operations. Some of our liabilities are also sensitive to interest rates, growing when interest rates decline and reducing when they rise�, he explained..

According to him, these movements are usually recognised on the income statement as “changes in unearned premiums� or “changes in life funds.�

He said in its financial statements, the company recognises the movements as changes in

unearned premiums, a situation which he said affects earned premiums. “We can see that using the combined ratio, a short-term measure of performance, across the group ignores several key aspects such as the peculiar nature of our life business and the importance of investments to our operations. It also ignores the effect of interest rates on profitability in our life business, which represents over 60 percent of our gross written premiums. In 2017, gross premiums earned in the life business reduced 25 percent to N10 billion from N13.3 billion in 2016 despite the 5 percent growth in premiums.

The benefits in our life business, which make up 76 percent of total claims recorded in 2016 grew 44 percent compared to 2016. This is because our life business is much larger today than it was in 2016. The timing of these benefits payments is largely predetermined based on the contract with our policy holders.

PTAD VeriďŹ es 5000 Pensioners of Delta Steel NEW OFFERING Company, Federal Housing A L-R: GM, Business Development and Sales; Mr. Leke Hassan; Executive Director, Strategy and Performance, Karim Dione; Chairman; Mr. Abba Kyari; Managing Director/CEO; Mr. Moruf Apampa and Executive Director, Technical, Mr. Sam Ogbodu, all of Equity Assurance Plc, Authority during the launch of Equity USSD Mobile Insurance Solution in Lagos ‌ recently Retirees of Delta Steel Company, Federal Housing Authority will soon receive their retirement benefits as the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has concluded their verification for the payment.

About 5,000 pensioners of Delta Steel Company and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) under the Defined Benefit Scheme were recently verified for payment by PTAD in Lagos.

The exercise was conducted in three centers across the country.

Pensioners from the above parastatals of federal government have almost lost hope of getting their pension benefits but PTA recently shed light on their cases after years of yearning for help.

PTAD, which said it conducted the exercise in three centers namely Ekete near warri, Lagos and Abuja, said through the exercise, it will determine among them those that are accredited in order to commence payment of their pension benefits.

PTAD Assistant Director, Pension Administration, Jubril Idris, at the Lagos Verification

centre, told journalists that about 5,000 pensioners of the aforementioned organisations were expected to come for the verification and that they will receive their pay in the next three to four months. “Payment begins few months after the verification exercise, verification is a continuous exercise, those that were not involved at this period can still undergo their verification, we also consider those with health challenges that could not make it to the verification center, we sent our officials to them for the verification, one of the challenges we face is the pressure mounted on us by the pensioners, funding is not really our challenge as the government takes care of that very well, we are trying our best to make sure that these pensioners are happy, we also had issues of impersonation but we handed the individual to the security to do their job� he stated.

Some of the pensioners who spoke to THISDAY on their feelings on the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the kind of treatment given to them by PTAD.

Premium Pension Hosts Pension Desk OfďŹ cers’ Forum Premium Pension Limited, one of the licensed Pension Fund Operators (PFAs), recently measured the success of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) through the organisation of pension desk officers forum in Abuja.

The forum, according to the company, was aimed at evaluating the workings of the CPS and charting ways of enhancing operational effectiveness of pension business.

According to the Head, Corporate Communications of Premium Pensions, Paddy Ezeala, the forum organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Region of the company, serves as a routine industry requirement that provides opportunity for stakeholders to keep abreast of current trends in the industry.

Executive Director and acting Managing Director/CEO of the company, Kabir Ahmed Tijjani, at the opening of the forum at the firm’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, said: “This forum

provides an opportunity to identify challenges faced by clients and collectively proffer clarifications and solutions. “There are still challenges facing the CPS in its 13 years of operation especially in the area of public awareness of the law and the workings of the scheme.�

Tijjani, further pointed out that the regulatory body, the National Pension Commission, (PenCom) and the National Association of Pension Operators of Nigeria, (PenOp) have been doing a lot in the area of generation of public awareness of the immense advantages and desirability of the scheme.

His view was shared by the Investment Analyst at PenCom Ibrahim Kangiwa who at the event said; “We are working with PFAs to reach all stakeholders, the media and the public and private sectors to ensure increased awareness of the scheme.�

The forum provided a platform to appreciate the

tremendous success Premium Pension has witnessed since coming on stream in 2005.

Participants at the forum were educated on the workings and usage of the Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS), withdrawal from Voluntary Contribution and Enhanced Programmed Withdrawal and also the soonto-be-introduced Multi-fund Structure.

EPCCOS, is a payment platform that makes it convenient for employers to make pension payments online to several PFAs with relevant schedules uploaded simultaneously.

This system, developed by the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc (NIBBS) at the instance of PenOp would soon be the sole platform for pension contribution remittances in Nigeria. It tracks payment schedule such that each payment batch can be uniquely identified.

The new guidelines and safeguards regarding withdrawals

from voluntary contribution were shared with participants at the forum. This is mainly with regard to limits, periodicity and also foreign contributors.

The proposed Multi-Fund Structure regarding the investment of pension funds is geared towards enhanced protection of pension funds from undue exposure to risk, beginning with funds of contributors in the twilight of their careers and gives active contributors opportunity to opt for the investment that aligns with their risk appetite Both the imperative of the Contributory Pension Scheme and the intricacy of its operations as well as individual and collective responsibilities of all stakeholders came to light at the forum. So also was the general renewed commitment to its continued success.

Premium Pension Limited now has customer base spread in over one thousand organisations with over 700,000 Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).

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EDUCATION Why Nutrition Counts in Early Childhood Devt The place of nutrition cannot be over emphasised or down played in the development and well-being of a child within his/her pre-school days. Little wonder, experts have continued to harp on the fact that it must start form conception. With this in mind, achieving other factors in line with nurturing care will have a smooth sail.

Kuni Tyessi writes Experts have continued to reiterate that early childhood period of life encompasses several distinct phases which include from conception to birth. This includes pre-natal care, attended births, registration and post-natal care. It is expected that from birth to three years of a child’s existence which includes the first 1,000 days, parent education, early stimulation and nutrition intervention, as well as home-based care and crèches are required.

It must be stated that after birth, starting to breastfeed within the first hour and breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months provides babies with the best nutrition possible. It also establishes a bond between mother and child at a critical moment and it is a time when the right nourishment in its appropriate measure is given to the child.

From three-five years or six as the case may be, parent education and pre-school are expected to take place while transition to primary school is expected to occur between the ages of six-eight.

Scientific discoveries in neuroscience have improved man’s understanding of how a baby’s brain develops. One of the most important discovery is that “the brain is built by genes, experience and environment, with a combination of nature and nurture.�

This invariably means that a child’s brain is built and not born, with the process starting well before birth and being influenced by a pregnant woman’s health, nutrition and environment. After birth, the baby’s brain continues to develop.

The above forms the background for the importance of nutrition in early child development whose genesis at conception seems to be stale news and yet several Nigerians do not seem to know or understand its importance in the overall growth and development of a child. This can be seen in the non disapperaence of stunting, wasting and malnutrition in the lives of many children, including children of the educated and rich parents who are expected to know about the vogue of nutrition in attaining early child development.

Therefore, development is an outcome and continuous process of acquiring skills and abilities during the aforementioned ages across the domains which include cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional development.

In the recently released results of the fifth Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS5), conducted in 2016 and 2017, which was done by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organisations, it was revealed that Nigeria made significant improvements in some areas while others, which include the case of inadequate nutrition remained unchanged or have worsened since 2011 by not keeping pace with population growth when the last survey was conducted.

The report said: “For example, according to the results, the infant mortality rate has dropped to 70 per 1,000 live births from 97 in 2011. Equally, deaths among children under age five have dropped to 120 per 1,000 live births from 158 in 2011. “However, malnutrition among children under age five has worsened nationwide with the highest concerns in northern states. Child wasting (children who are too thin for their age) increased from 24.2 per cent to 31.5 per cent, while child stunting (children who are too short for their age) increased from 34.8 per cent to 43.6 per cent.�

Children who suffer from child wasting have a weakened immunity and are at increased risk of long-term developmental delays. For stunting, about 155 million children younger that five years are affected, says UNICEF. And

Securing their future with adequate nutrition

it is associated with cognitive deficits that impact children’s ability to learn in school and earn income as adults.

Despite wide acceptance of various guidelines as a result of research, many children do not get the nutrition they need at the time they need it. Globally, only about 40 per cent of the world’s infants under six months old, or two out of five are breastfed exclusively and only half of the children aged six-23 months are fed frequently enough and about one third are fed a minimally diverse diet.

In a recent training which was organised for health and education journalists by UNICEF in Kano with the theme ‘For Every Nigerian Child, Early Years Matter’, UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Bamidele Omotola, who spoke on the topic ‘Nutrition in Early Childhood Development’ emphasised the need to reduce malnutrition which he said is essential in Nigeria’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the reduction of malnutrition will not only reduce poverty, which seems to be where the concentration of many lies, but will improve the issue of welfare, investment and improved nutrition. “Investment in nutrition matters. In terms of schooling, early nutrition programmes can increase school completion by one year. In terms of earnings, early nutrition programmes can raise adult wages by five-50 per cent.

For poverty, children who escape stunting are 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults and for the economy, reductions in stunting can increase GDP by four-11 per cent in Asia and Africa. “Window of opportunity is first 1,000 days.

Nutrition is not just a welfare issue, human rights issue or is it primarily a food or a consumption issue alone. Nutrition is an investment issue and improved nutrition is

one of the drivers for economic growth.�

He said in gestation and infancy, the brain is an energy hog which consumes between 50-75 per cent of all the energy absorbed by the body from food, including fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. With this, inadequate nutrition during that period affects the structure and functions of the brain in ways that are difficult to offset in latter years.

Also, high stress also affects the absorption capacity of other vital organs, potentially diminishing the effectiveness of nutritional supplements such as those used to treat children with malnutrition and stress reduction, simultaneously improving a child’s nutritional status and brain development.

Little wonder, UNICEF has continued to make unending and countless calls to nations, especially developing nations which include Nigeria on the need for investment in nutrition for early childhood development. In its recent publication titled ‘Early Moments Matter for Every Child’, the United Nations organisation states that “increasing the overall share of budgetary allocations for early childhood development programming is a critical step governments can and should make.�

UNICEF stated that “the financial case for investing in a child’s early moments is strong and the rate of return can be about 13.7 per cent. The benefits are reaped in better health and education outcomes, lower crime and higher individual earnings.

The organisation encourages the Nigerian government to invest urgently in services that give young children, especially the most deprived the best start in life. This can be done with an overall increase in budgetary allocations for early childhood development programming. For example this can include allocating 10 per cent of all national education budgets to pre-primary education as this will

greatly expand the number of children with access to early learning opportunities which can improve their educational attainment.

Innovative financing can also help the three tiers of government, especially the local governments to reach more children with more effective programming. Approaches can include ear-marking taxes to pay for early childhood development services or instituting ‘payment by results’ frameworks that tie investment to outcomes.

The government can make family-friendly early childhood development polices a national priority and a private sector imperative. UNICEF says with this, policies and programmes as well as other supports that enable parents and care-givers to provide the best start in life for their children will pay off for a better equipped workforce.

The government, apart from collating data on essential indicators of early childhood development and the tracking of its progress can also provide dedicated leadership for early childhood development programmes and coordinate efforts more effectively across sectors, as well as drive demand for quality early childhood development services.

The words and thoughts of the Director-General, World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus comes to mind. He said “healthy early childhood development is the right of every child. It starts with comprehensive support to mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and in the first months of a child’s life. “Support at these early stages is essential not only to help children survive, but also to help them strive. As children grow, essential healthcare including immunisations, adequate nutrition and support for responsive caregiving with opportunities for early learning can build a solid foundation. It can protect them from illnesses.�

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EDUCATION

Atiku Blames FG for High School Dropout Rate Daji Sani in Yola Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the federal government of neglecting the education sector and the non-provision of basic necessities of life which he said are the reasons behind the alarming rate of school drop out in the country.

Abubakar, who raised the alarm in Yola at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) 12th annual Founder’s Day and commissioning ceremonies for 2017, observed that the disturb-

ing rate of Nigerian youths rooming the streets without going to schools is a serious and dangerous challenge that must be addressed forthwith.

He noted that the teeming youths are the future of the country and must be given necessary potential to face the global speed in the scheme of things, saying that during their tenure of office, they passed the laws for compulsory and free education to children in the country.

He also expressed his continued support in developing

education even as an individual, calling on state and federal governments to invest heavily in the sector so as to have enough educated manpower.

In her welcome address, the President of the university, Dr. Dawn Dekle, said the institution was established 13 years ago to offer a world-class, American style university education to Nigerians and African youths. “AUN’s approach is rooted in the liberal arts curriculum with an emphasis on producing well-rounded graduates and global citizens,who will take

centre stage in key areas of politics, economy, business, IT and administration. “Today’s Nigeria and Africa’s prosperity will thrive in the ability of citizens to establish businesses that will drive the economy. At AUN, we train students to become entrepreneurs who believe in themselves and meaningfully explore the opportunities in the community they find themselves.�

Dekle added that Nigeria and Africa need great leaders with the requisite skills and knowledge to lead the country

and continent, stressing that the university is committed to nurturing, training and equipping the leaders of tomorrow.

In his keynote address, the African Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Joe Perkinson, stressed the importance of education to the teeming youths across the world which needs to be guarded jealously.

Perkinson observed with dismay the global misuse of the social media, especially in spreading negative information to the target audience which he said must be checked im-

mediately.

He described the well circulated news that the wife of the ousted President of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe had fled during the recent political squabble in that country as pure falsehood which was even published by many respected media organisations.

Perkinson opined that the social media as a digital technology for passing information urgently needs to be controlled through regulations, if not it will cause more damage than good to societies.

Minister Receives Report of Audit Panel on New Varsities Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has received the report of the seven-man Audit Panel inaugurated on May 2, 2017, to audit the utilisation of the take-off grants to the 12 new universities established by the previous administration.

Speaking while receiving the report in his office, the minister said that the issues of students’ accommodation and accreditation of courses will be looked into quickly to ensure that the institutions are repositioned on the right pedestal adding that the Report will be studied and the recommendations implemented.

The Chairman of the Audit Panel, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, briefed the minister on the Modus Operandi the panel adopted,

noting that the report was in two parts- main report and individual institution’s report.

He said that at the time of the audit exercise, the 12 universities had a total students’ enrollment of 40,614 and academic staff strength of 3,756, with only about 32 per cent of the lecturers having PhDs. On the contracts awarded, Bamiro stated that the panel observed that extant guidelines by the Public Procurement Act (PPA) were followed in most cases, while there were also a few cases of deviations.

He thanked the minister for the opportunity given to the members of the panel to serve their fatherland, and urged him to look critically into the specific observations and recommendations in the reports.

NNPC Gives Grant to ABU’s Best Graduating Student Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it would award a full postgraduate scholarship up to doctorate level to the best graduating student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Al-Amin Bashir Bugaje. In a statement, the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu said the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, made the pledge when he delivered the university’s 40th convocation lecture in Zaria.

It said 23-year-old Bugaje graduated top of his class in the 2016/2017 academic session with a first class in Electrical Engineering. He also reportedly recorded the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93 to emerge the university’s overall best graduating student.

Baru promised that the NNPC would sponsor his education up to doctoral degree level in any higher institution in the world. “This gesture was in line

with NNPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of championing educational excellence nationwide. “We equally want to encourage other students who are still in school to also aspire towards achieving excellence in their academic pursuits.�

He said the announcement of the scholarship was not the first for the NNPC, adding that the corporation has continued to support educational development of students in schools across Nigeria.

According to him, the NNPC a few weeks ago, awarded scholarships to deserving students at the grand finale of its annual national quiz competition.

Baru explained that: “At the end of that quiz, we rewarded the state winners with a one-off educational grant of N100,000 each; the national finals winners: first place (Delta), second (Abia) and third place (Ondo) won N300,000, N250,000 and N200,000 respectively as annual bursary support for the entire course of their tertiary education.�

A student of NTIC Abuja, demonstrating the solar system he built to Senator Isa Maina, Special Assistant to the President and Secretary for Education and CP Aishatu Abubakar-Baju, at the fourth NTIC Science and Arts Fair in Abuja... recently

Don Advocates Use of Proper English, as UBA Rewards Essay Winners Uchechukwu Nnaike A member of the panel of judges of this year’s UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, Prof. Ini Uko, has stressed the need for students to use proper English Language spellings and expressions in their daily activities so as to communicate effectively and avoid uneccessary errors.

The Professor of English and Director of Pre-degree Studies at the University of Uyo, who made this known during the presentation of prizes to winners of the competition in Lagos, expressed concern that most students tend to use slangs and informal expressions during examinations becuause they have become used to them; this she described as one of the causes of poor performance.

According to her, parents can help reverse the trend by insisting that their children use proper English Language expressions when communicating with them, especially when sending text messages or emails to them.

This year’s competition with the topic ‘Select a Popular New Technology or Application and Write an Instruction Manual for your Grandparents on how to use it and how to get the most value out of it’ was won by Miss Samuela SamOrlu of the British Nigerian Academy, Abuja. She received an educational grant of N1 million to study in any African university of her choice, as well as a laptop.

Miss Deborah Innocent of Enal International Schools Abuja came second and got N750,000 and a laptop,

while Miss Yahofon Ettah Essien of Nigerian Christian Institute Akwa Ibom State came third and received N500,000 and a laptop. The other nine finalists also got laptops. All 12 finalists also went home with certificates.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said the bank was happy to touch lives through the competition and the grant it gives out to those who emerge winners. “Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and stands out from others in touching lives.�

He disclosed that the essay competition has produced over

100 winners since its inception in 2011 in Nigeria with winners studying various courses in universities in Nigeria and within Africa.

The Chief Executive Officer of UBA Foundation, Mrs. Bola Atta, who congratulated the finalists for their exceptional performance, said the foundation makes it a point of duty to give back to communities where the bank operates. She added that education is one of the foundation’s focus areas as it is the bedrock of any nation.

The competition which is targeted at senior secondary school students across the country, is aimed at promoting reading culture and encouraging healthy and intellectual competition among secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.

Oyo Rehabilitates 100 Schools with N2bn Ademola Babalola in Ibadan n The Oyo State Government has approved the rehabilitation of 100 public secondary schools across the 33 local government areas, as well as the construction of four compartments VIP toilets.

The government, which disclosed that the project will cost N1,960,417,772.57, said a total of 10 contractors will

handle the projects in the 100 schools across the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who disclosed this in Ibadan, said the State Executive Council gave the approval during its meeting last week.

He said the upgrade of infrastructure in schools to facilitate the provision of the much required enabling learn-

ing environment that will fast track the transformation and repositioning of the state education sector is non-negotiable, emphasising that the Ajimobi led administration has prioritised education as one of its legacy sectors. The commissioner explained that 34 schools will be renovated in LGAs in Ibadan Zone; 30 schools from Oke Ogun Zone;15 from Ogbomoso Zone; 12 from Oyo Zone; while the

remaining nine schools are from Ibarapa Zone.

He said the schools to be rehabilitated with the construction of four compartments VIP toilets are Emmanuel Grammar School, Samonda; Anglican Grammar School, Kudeti; Otun Agbaakin Community Grammar School, Akinyele; Fiditi Grammar School, Fiditi; Orayan Grammar School; Progressive Grammar School, Tede.

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‘PZCCC Will Make Chemistry Popular among Students’ In this interview with Uchechukwu Nnaike, the Brand Activation Manager, PZ Cussons Nigeria, Anaekwe Aishat Why ‘Girls for Sale’?You Yetunde highlights the factors that motivated the brand to pursue and sustain the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge in Might Ask Lagos State for the past five years. She also reveals plans to ËŠ Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă?ËŞ Ă“Ă? Ă—ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ×Ùà ÓĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ËŞĂ Ă? ĂĄĂœĂ“ĘľĂ?Ă˜ expand the project and make it more attractive to students åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂœĂ?ĘŽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽËŞĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁĚ‹Ă“Ă—Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?ĂŁĂ™Ă˜ĂŽË› in the coming years

Ă˜ Ě‹ Ëœ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă?

What would you describe as the major beneďŹ ts of PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge to Nigeria’s education system?

The PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge is one of the many ways PZ Cussons Nigeria is giving back to the society. The poor adoption of sciences at secondary school level became a growing concern and its effect felt as the number of science graduates continued to dwindle. This led to the birth of the PZCCC and over the years since its inception we can say that the competition has handsomely rewarded many deserving students, and has brought about the adoption and application of Chemistry beyond the competition proper, we have other engagement activities we use to reach as many people as possible so they can see the true use and power of chemistry. In addition, it is no news that we are currently one of the highest rewarding secondary school competitions across Nigeria, though our core target has been secondary schools in Lagos, nevertheless PZ Cussons is considering extending the competition beyond Lagos State After the ďŹ rst edition of the chemistry challenge, a lot must have been outlined as your future plans for the competition, to what extent have you succeeded in implementing the plans?

At PZ Cussons, sustenance, innovation and consumer satisfaction are among our key motivators, this is evident in our over 100 years of existence in Nigeria. The PZCCC is no different; we strive to always make subsequent editions better than the previous by introducing novel and exciting activities with rewards to promote academic excellence especially in Chemistry as a subject.

What were the main challenges you faced while creating the Chemistry challenge project?

The major challenge we faced was getting the right number of students to register for the

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competition and actually sit for the test. This was expected as prior data had revealed to the PZCCC team that there was a growing phobia for Chemistry among students, but with the right communication and incentive for all participants, we were able to attract the right ‘crowd’.

How has the competition impacted your publics and what other dimensions will you want to introduce to deepen the programme in the coming years?

So far the impact of the competition on our primary and secondary targets has been impressive in fact we have recorded over 125 per cent increase in total reach since inception in 2013. Currently the PZCCC has rewarded four champions with over N700,000 each, which they have come back to tell us will be used to further their education.

Our goal is to make PZCCC synonymous with Chemistry, such that whenever Chemistry is mentioned you immediately think PZCCC. What do you think are the qualities that make a quiz competition reputable and

respected?

Sustenance, integrity, objective driven and must have positive impact on both contending students and the entire community. Let us not forget that a good competition that seeks to promote education must be rewarding. These days we find entertainment competitions dishing out huge rewards, no wonder most children these days only want to sing or act.

The PZCCC team also tested this and found it to be a fact, which was why we are among the pioneers of educational competitions that give out the highest rewards. Currently we are the highest rewarding educational competition in Lagos and we plan to replicate same across Nigeria in a few years to come.

What are the core values that shaped your actions in creating a reputable quiz contest like the PZ Chemistry Challenge?

Overall, PZ Cussons Nigeria is proud to be a pioneer of several CSR projects in Nigeria, cutting across different sectors of the economy. At PZ Cussons we are engineered to give back to society the best we can, the PZCCC is one of such ways.

We take keen interest in how

well we’ve been able to impact the society at large.

What mechanism has your organisation as sponsor put in place to monitor schools, participants and all other parties involved to ensure that the structure created for the programme is not compromised?

The affairs of the PZCCC is overseen by an advisory board led by a renowned professor of Chemistry, on his team are also experts in Chemistry and senior secondary school teachers. It doesn’t end there, the competition is also endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Chemist of Nigeria and a few other relevant bodies. These affiliates also assist in seeing to it that the competition maintains utmost integrity free of compromise.

What will be the focus and theme of the next edition of the chemistry challenge?

As always, the focus of the PZCCC is to be the number one platform that supports the learning of Chemistry in senior secondary schools

UCMAS Nigeria Raises Arithmetic Champions Ikenna Ekwerike In a bid to rekindle interest students’ interest in mathematics, the Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS), Nigeria recently held its first national competition tagged ‘The Battle of Brains’ in Lagos, which saw children in kindergarten and basic

classes win trophies and cash prizes for themselves in keenly contested visual and mental arithmetic speed and accuracy test competition.

In a chat with journalists, the Country Head for UCMAS Nigeria, Mr Emmanuel Alade, said the programme was borne out of the discovery that children are erroneously being taught

to depend on artificial aids in tackling academic challenges with its attendant negative impacts. “People will tell you we are in the 21st century and everything is computer; forgetting that there are brains behind these computers.

Computers were invented or manufactured through the

human brain. Unfortunately when we go for interviews or exams we are not allowed to use computers. So we have to still go back and rely on our brains.�

He expressed optimism that UCMAS would transform children and their learning patterns leading to a more productive society.

Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÞãÚÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ě‹ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă? ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ËŞĂ— ĂžĂœĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŽĂ™ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă? ÞÙ˛ Ă–Ă™Ëœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁËœ Ă™ĂŒĂ Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă?â Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ÓÞÒ Ă‹ äĂ?ĂœĂ™ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ě‹Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ÒÙå Ă?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă™ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ™ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜ĂžË› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂŁË? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă?ĂĄĂ?Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ Ă?ĂœĂž ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă?â Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖĂ? ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ ÙʼĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ÞÓà Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?ÞÓĂ? Ă™Ă? ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă‹Ă“Ă Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă–Ă™ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽĂ˜ËŞĂž ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă? ÒÙå Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă‘Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Þ̋åÓĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĘľĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?ÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?â˛ Ă˜ ÙÖÎĂ?Ăœ Ă–Ă™ ʨÑĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂĄĂ?ĂŽĂ–Ă™Ă?Ă•Ë› Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă Ă“Ă™Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁĚ‹ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÒÙ×Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ Ă?ĂœĂž Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ě‹Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ– ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă˜ĂŁĂ—ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă‹Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă? ËŠĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?ËŞ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;ËÖÓÞã Ă‹Ăž Ă‹ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ě‹Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂžĂ?×ÚÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă’Ă?ËŞĂ? Ă‹ ÖÓʾÖĂ? Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÒÙÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă—ĂŒ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂĄĂ?ËÖÞÒ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ëœ Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă? à ÓÙÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;ËÖÓÞã Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙÙ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ÚÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– ÚÙåĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽĂ–ĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ÞÙÙβ Ă?â Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ě‹Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ– Ă™Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› ÖÙ˪Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÖÙÙÕ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ÙÙÖÓĂ?Ă’Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă? à ÓÙÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂŽĂ?ËŞĂ? ÚËÞĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă“ĂžĂŁË› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ ÒÙÚĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ùʼ˛ Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‹ ÚÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ËŠĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă?ËŞ Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă— ÞÙ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă?âÞ ÞÙ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽ Ě‹ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ě‹ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ę¨Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ÚÞÓà Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ÚÞÓà Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă“ĘľĂ?ĂŽ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ëœ Ă‘Ă™Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂœĂ’Ă?Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă’Ă–Ă‹Ă—ĂŁĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ë› ËŠ Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă?ËŞ ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă?Þã Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ åÙ×Ă?Ă˜Ë› Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăœ åÙ×Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĘĽĂ?ĂœË› Ă? Ă˜Ă?ÓÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ͯ͹̋ãĂ?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹Ă™Ă–ĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? åÙ×Ă?Ă˜Ë› Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă? ÒÙåĂ?Ă Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÓÞ˛ Ě‹ Ă’Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ ÒÙÚĂ?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÚËĂ?Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ě‹ Omoru writes from the UK

NUT Calls for Constitutional Amendment on Prompt Payment of Teachers’ Salary Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on members of the National Assembly to commence immediate constitutional amendment that will allow the state government to handle the payment of teachers’ salary so as to improve the quality and standard of education in the country.

The union said the continued handling of the payment of teachers’ salaries by the 774 local government councils in the country would not move education forward in the country.

The Kwara State Secretary of the union, Ola Idris, who made the call in Ilorin while speaking on the state of education in the country, said “the continued undertaking of payment of teachers’ salary under the watch of local government councils nationwide has affected the quality and standard of education in the country.�

He said most often than not, funds meant for teachers’ salary has been allegedly mismanaged by the appropriate authorities at

the local government councils level which hitherto has affected the prompt payment of salaries. “Teachers remain a major tool for the provision of quality and standard education hence they should be accorded priority in the payment of their dues so as to ginger them to be up and doing towards the growth of education.�

He stressed that “a teacher that is not paid as and when due will not be willing to teach students with full commitment and this may have serious effect on the students at the end of the day especially in their results.�

Idris noted that teachers’ motivation through the payment of their salaries without any delay would boost their morale and this would improve the quality of education of the students.

He therefore said the only way to achieve the gesture is to ensure the transfer of the payment of teachers’ salaries to the state government so as to bring about the educational advancement of the country.

34

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

An Honour Well Deserved to a Rare Nigerian Fabian Benjamin On Saturday November 25, 2017, the Registrar/ Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede was bestowed with the ‘Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year Award’, in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards efficient service delivery in the education sub-sector by The New Telegraph.

Oloyede’s decision to accept this award came as a surprise to many people who knew him closely, as he does not believe in unnecessary praise singing and that one’s works should be speaking for themselves. However, one suspects that he must have been swave by the quality and uprightness of the New Telegraph Newspaper.

Ever since Oloyede took over the mantle of leadership at JAMB in August 2016, the board has always been in the media for the right reasons, it has been from one success story to the other.

He has sustained the acclaimed efficiency and service delivery, which made some people see the board as the most efficient public organisation in Nigeria in the recent past.

In line with the federal government’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption and diversifying the nation’s economy, the board under Oloyede has blazed several trails. Recently, the board which hitherto was seen as a non-revenue generating agency that depends on federal government subvention for its sustenance, remitted a whopping

5.2 billion to the coffers of the federation, with a promise that another 3 billion will follow before the end of the year, bringing the total to 8 billion.

He is on top of so many transformations in the board with the recent being the overhaul of the 2018 registration process where a candidate will need not go through the tedious process of last year’s profile creation, but simply send a text containing his/her surname first name and middle name where applicable with his/her phone to a code to be disclosed in an advert to be realised soon and his profile is created.

These are unprecedented in the history of public service in Nigeria and JAMB in particular. This feats were only achieved due to the integrity, credibility, accountability and transparency of Oloyede. This determination to make a difference, produce results in governance by Oloyede is worthy of emulation.

Little wonder then that The New Telegraph, a highly reputable media, known for its forthright, insightful, investigative journalistic style and truthful editorials and articles chose this true and patriotic Nigerian for this well-deserved award.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede has demonstrated to the whole world that men of integrity and unalloyed patriotism still abound in Nigeria, he has demonstrated that one could serve in the public service with the sole aim of service and taking his organisation to the next pedestal.

In the recent times, the Nigerian youth has been

in quandary as to who to follow as a shining example and role model, in words and deed, Oloyede has silently, without being garrulous, stepped into this role for the Nigerian youth of today to emulate. This explains why his achievements should be celebrated for generations to see for possible adoption and peer review by even sister organisations or governments.

It was as if Alan Patton had Oloyode in mind when he penned these immortal words long ago: Going far beyond the call of duty Doing more than others expect This is what excellence is all about And it comes by striving, Maintaining the highest standards, Looking after the smallest details And going that extra mile.

Excellence means doing your best In everything, in every way.

I cannot agree more, Oloyede has surpassed the expectations of all, maintained the highest standards, looked after the smallest details and gone that extra mile. Indeed, he has done his very best in everything, in every way. Little wonder many organisations are head over heels to recognise him. He is the flagship of a generation more prudent credible, accountable and transparent.

Oloyede and his feat in JAMB is a paradigm shift from what was obtainable in the public service in the past. This is taking heed to the advice of John F Kennedy that one should be

thinking of what to do for his country and not what his country will do for him. He shows that there is still hope in the Nigerian project and there are still some patriotic, selfless and altruistic individuals, ready to give in their very best, even to the point of personal discomfort till we get to our promised land.

Will it be wrong at this moment of our national transition to economic and political recovery to begin to assemble the likes of Oloyede to be on most international conventions where Nigerian products and image will be discussed.

This award is timely and welcome by the entire staff of the board as a reward for the tirely nights working to satisfy the candidates.

As the registrar add another feather to his already crowded caps, it’s our desire that he does not rest on his oars as there are many other victories to be won. He should take heed to the words of Horace Mann where he said: “Be afraid to die until you have won some more victory for mankind.� The strife is not done, the battle is not over, there are more victories to be won for our fatherland. My charge to you is encapsulated in the words of Rudyard Kirplings where he said: “Let us therefore be up and doing, with a heart for any fate, still pursuing, still achieving, learn to labour and to wait.� Accept our congratulations.

Benjamin is the Head of Information, JAMB

Nigerian, Ghanaian Edge Closer to 2018 Rhodes Scholarship Funmi Ogundare As the 2018 selection process of the newly reinstated Rhodes Scholarships for West Africa reaches advanced stages, the dream of postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, will soon become a reality for a brilliant student from Nigeria, Ghana or any other country in the sub-region.

The selected candidate will join other scholars from around the world to commence studies at the institution in the October 2018 academic session.

Rhodes National Secretary for West Africa, Mr. Ike Chioke, who made this known recently while briefing journalists on the progress of the scheme said “a total of 2,948 applications were received from intending scholars across West Africa.

However, only 505 completed the scholarship information requirements.

Out of this number, he said a total of 244 candidates who graduated with first class or its equivalent made it to the next round, and were subsequently scaled down to 65 candidates based on other selection criteria, including moral force of character, commitment to service and instinct to lead. “Further screening and inperson interviews are planned for November in Lagos and Accra, while another round of interviews for a final shortlist of 15 persons is scheduled for December 1 and 2. This is where the 2018 ‘scholarelect’ for West Africa will be decided.�

Chioke also revealed that the scholarship would cover all university and college fees; a personal stipend for room and board; health insurance and travel, as well as the costs of the Rhodes leadership development programme at Rhodes house. He said depending

on the course of study, the total value of the scholarship could range from ÂŁ50,000 to ÂŁ60,000 per annum, with the average tenure for a scholar being three years. “Over time, up to three scholars in residence will be supported under each scholarship at a total of approximately ÂŁ170,000 each year per scholarship,â€? he said.

He said the preeminent international scholarship programme established at Oxford University in 1903, the Rhodes Trust, selects creative young leaders with a commitment to serving others, adding that since its establishment, the trust has convened a community of extraordinary people who share a history of enriching their communities, pioneering in their chosen fields, and applying the knowledge and experience acquired as scholars to the betterment of society. “The new West Africa scholarships are part of a wider geographic expansion of the Rhodes scholarships.

The total number of scholarships awarded each year will increase from 83 to 95, including new scholarships in China, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and West Africa. “This increases the number of scholars studying at the University of Oxford at any one time to approximately 250. The expansion into these regions marks a historic moment for the Rhodes Trust and further strengthens the international Rhodes community.�

Following the formal relaunch of the West Africa scholarships in May this year, and the call for applications which opened on June 1, the scholarship application portal officially closed on September 30, 2017 while the timeline for submission of references elapsed on October 15, 2017.

L-R:The Chief Executive Officer, Corona SchoolsTrust Council, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina; Director, Goethe-Institut Centre, Nigeria, Mrs. Friederike Moschel; Consul General, German Consulate, Lagos, Mr. Ingo Herbert; Director of Education, Corona Schools, Mrs. Amelia Dafeta; and Principal, Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola, at the unveiling of Corona Secondary School’s partnership with Goethe Institut at the school compound in Lagos‌ recently

Education is Important in Career, Talent Devt, Experts Tell Students Students have been advised to take their studies seriously, while focusing on their abilities and talents in order to take advantage of opportunities in their chosen careers.

All the facilitators at this year’s Beyond the School’, a career guidance initiative of the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, agreed that education is vital in any career path, and that those who wish to develop their talents need education to be better at what they do.

Speaking in Lagos, one of the facilitators, Emilia Asim-Ita, a Senior Consultant with Thistle Praxis Consulting, advised the participants on how to make a success of their career choices.

Asim-Ita, who spoke on Personal Development and Career Facts, maintained that career choice should be hinged on passion and urged the students to read wide, cultivate mentors and ignore distractions.

While encouraging the students to dream big, she encouraged them to develop their passions and interests to guarantee a bright future. “The knowledge you now have will help you find disciplines that you are passionate about. You also have to develop the skills needed to succeed in those disciplines.�

In her presentation, the Managing Director of Bestman Games, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe, gave the students personal finance tips on savings, investing and spending.

She counselled the students to be diligent, prudent and keep good company.

Mr. Gbubemi Fregene aka Chef Fregz, who spoke on his success story, implored the students to get education so as to be on a higher pedestal in their career paths and passion. He disclosed that as far back as his secondary school days, he developed interest in cooking.

Govt Expands CodeLagos to Outof-school Residents Peace Obi As part of efforts to increase residents’ access to its ongoing free coding programme, the Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of CodeLagos out-of-school centres. The programme, which was originally designed to accommodate students in primary and secondary schools in the state, is aimed at educating Lagos State residents for the future of work by teaching them to write codes and creatively solve problems.

CodeLagos is set to position the state as the technology frontier in Africa by training one million Lagos residents to code.

In a statement, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela BankOlemoh said the new classes commenced on November 13 and are running in four centres: Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba; Ilupeju Public Library; Isolo Public Library; and Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos

Island. Four classes will hold daily from 8:30am to 4pm in these centres.

Bank-Olemoh stated that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave the ministry of education a clear mandate to prepare Lagosians for the economy of the future which is going to be technology driven. “CodeLagos was initiated as a response to that.�

He explained that the CodeLagos Out-of-school programme will provide access to coding education for interested Lagosians aged 16 and above, who are currently not in any primary or secondary school in the state. “The classes will run for six weeks, Mondays through Fridays, one hour 30 minutes per class. The classes will cover web development and fundamentals of Java and Python.�

The CodeLagos project initially kicked off with its pilot phase in July rolling out in primary and secondary schools in the state, including public and private schools.

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2017

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

36

CITYSTRINGS

Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă?˛ËÔĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Transformation of Oshodi Ikenna Ekwerike takes a look at life in Oshodi 17 months into the construction of the transport interchange by the Lagos State Government and its partners

Ongoing construction work at the Oshodi transport interchange

B

efore June 2016 Oshodi was still Oshodi; the sea of heads swarming endlessly, pushing and trampling on stray feet, and the loud cursing that follows; the ubiquitous yellow-painted ‘danfo’ buses banded with black, lined haphazardly; the discordant sonorous voices of bus conductors calling out bus destinations to attract intending passengers; car horns blaring out impatiently to clear the way; and the often water-tight traffic congestion that had become very normal for regular commuters on that route; but all that is gone now.

Oshodi is currently on a journey to becoming a world class central business district being tastefully adorned with a magnificent transport interchange comprising three multi-storey bus terminals patterned after Victoria terminus, London.

Sadly, the popular Oshodi Main Market had to pay the price leading to a massive loss of means of livelihood for many. Although the government built alternative modern markets like the Resettlement Market and Abibat Mogaji Modern Market, popularly known as Kairo Market, but stalls in these markets could only be afforded by mainly those who already owned shops in the

demolished old market and those persons accounted for less than 40 per cent of total traders in that market. A higher percentage of traders in the old Oshodi Market did not own stalls; they displayed their wares by the roadsides, occupied makeshift stalls on any available space, some were attaching with shop owners to whom they paid royalties and many more carried their wares around from one end of the market to the other.

Many of these latter classes of traders

Oshodi is currently on a journey to becoming a world class central business district being tastefully adorned with a magniďŹ cent transport interchange comprising three multi-storey bus terminals patterned after Victoria terminus, London

have been rendered jobless in the era of the Oshodi transport interchange. No alternative provision was made for them. They have been sent hopelessly packing from Oshodi, the refuge of the poor, forever. One of such traders is Valentine, who sells female jean trousers but still manages to find space on the floor, by the roadside towards the entrance of the Oshodi Road area to display his wares only in the evening hours. He decried the level of hardships that he had been going through since the demolition of Oshodi Market. “You can see where some of us are staying to sell. I do not have the capacity to pay for a shop inside the new market. What some of us do now is hang around the market till evening, and then we come out here to hustle for survival. But unfortunately, business is very dull now compared to when they haven’t demolished the old market,�

Valentine lamented.

Whereas the demolished market leaves tales of woes on the lips of many, the misadventure is, in fact, gain for the proprietors of ARENA Market in Oshodi, which many claim witnessed a massive influx of the displaced desperate traders from the old Oshodi Main Market. As a result of this, many of the traders in the

new Resettlement Market and Kairo Market complain of low patronage. Their point is that these two markets that replaced the Oshodi Main Market are hidden and generally unknown to the public compared to ARENA which is strategically located and seems to pose less stress to customers who wish to access it.

Emma Ibe, a female shoes seller at the Resettlement Market said: “This construction really affected many people. Some people who used to hustle inside the old market, especially those who did not have shops have stopped business. Some traders moved into this new market, some moved to Alaba Market and many others moved to ARENA. But unfortunately, nothing is happening inside this market because people prefer now to go to ARENA instead of coming to meet us here.�

Another trader, David Okoro, whose shop is on Oshodi Road attributed the problem to the activities of commercial bus drivers and roadside sellers. He said that the bus drivers usually parked along the road, coupled with roadside traders and people patronising them, the road often becomes congested and difficult for customers to pass freely.

However, some categories of traders

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

37

CITYSTRINGS

in the Resettlement Market are counting their blessings, especially Bukky Balogun, a beautician, who said business was booming. “Before government demolished that market this place was built but those of us who relocated earlier were not making any sales.

Initially, people refused coming here. But since the demolition, people now come inside the market to patronise us. Some people still sell by the roadsides though,�

Balogun noted.

Curiously, Lagosians and visitors alike have been wondering where those countless commercial buses that used to be in the 13 city and interstate parks in the old Oshodi have all disappeared to. This reporter observed that a number of them have relocated to streets in and around Oshodi. Okoro confirmed that “they’ve entered the streets; they park along the roads.�

Consequently, Balogun lamented that there is increased traffic congestion around areas like Church Street, Church Bus Stop, Arowojobe Street, Furniture Street, heading to Mafoluku, among others. “We arrive home late and come late to market as well.

We spend much time on the road and the stress,� she said.

As it were, the Oshodi Market demolition appears to be a further blessing to landlords in the area, especially on Oshodi Road. It opened windows of opportunities for them to make extra cash from their properties.

Tenants are being ejected from the houses to make room for a redesign of the buildings. While some of the buildings are being converted to outright shopping malls, some others are being remodelled to accommodate shops and houses simultaneously.

Indeed, Oshodi will continue to be a nightmare for road users until, hopefully, the transport interchange has been completed.

People returning from the Island after the day’s activities and heading to Apapa, Mile 2, Ojo and Badagry face an uphill task making it across the Oshodi Flyover. The traffic jam which often starts shortly after Anthony Bus Stop and eases off around Charity Bus Stop keeps motorists and their passengers waiting for hours.

It is important to mention that the efforts of the Nigeria police and officers of the Lagos State Traffic management agency, LASTMA, help prevent the situation from getting chaotic. At least, the vehicles still crawl along. Motorists are seen maintaining their lanes.

Interestingly, the police have been seen to deploy drones to monitor traffic on the bridge. When the reporter went to find out if that would be sustained, his source told him that the drone was a special intervention and was used whenever a situation called for its deployment.

However, passengers are often left stranded and confused at Oshodi since many cannot easily locate where to board vehicles going their routes. Many have to trek miles, dodging the construction equipment and leaping over deep holes dug for pillars to get to the point where they could board

The Oshodi transport interchange construction which began in June 2016 was earlier scheduled to be completed in 15 months but it is now in its 17th month. When completed the infrastructure, which is ďŹ rst of its kind in Nigeria and probably sub-Saharan Africa, will take care of parking and passenger demand; address environmental nuisance, trafďŹ c congestion and organised transport system while promoting security

Another section of onstruction work at the Oshodi transport interchange

The crowded Oshodi Road with buyers and sellers taking over

The Resettlement Market looking scanty

a vehicle. The confusion is worse among visitors and new inhabitants who often fall into the hands of hoodlums as they wander helplessly along the road and around the streets. They get robbed of their belongings.

The Oshodi transport interchange construction which began in June 2016 was earlier scheduled to be completed in 15 months but it is now in its 17th month. When completed the infrastructure, which is first of its kind

in Nigeria and probably sub-Saharan Africa, will take care of parking and passenger demand; address environmental nuisance, traffic congestion and organised transport system while promoting security.

T H I S D AY Ëž , NOVEMBER 29, 2017

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Intervenes in Forex Market with Fresh $210m Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected another $210 million into the interbank foreign exchange market in its bid to boost liquidity in the market.

Disclosing this in Abuja, the acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said the sum of $100million was offered to the wholesale segment, while the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) segment got an allocation of $55 million.

The invisibles segment (i.e. tuition fees, medical payments

and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others) was also allocated $55 million.

Okorafor said the intervention was part of effort aimed at boosting liquidity in the forex market, facilitating trade and easing remittances for legitimate personal commitments.

While attributing the long spell of calm in the market to the interventions of the CBN and the cooperation of all stakeholders, Okorafor said the convergence of rates between the interbank market and the Bureau de Change segments, had all but converged with customers able to buy forex

from either market at not more than N362 to a dollar.

In spite of the development, he stressed that the CBN would continue in its monitoring of the market in order to ensure that authorised dealers abide by the extant rules.

Meanwhile, the naira maintained its steady rate against the United States Dollar, exchanging for N361 to a dollar on the BDC segment of the market yesterday.

On the other hand, the Investors’ and Exporters’ window recorded a total turnover of $198.71 million transactions yesterday.

AFC Signs Agreement with Green Climate Fund The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has disclosed that it recently signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Seoul, South Korea. Having received its accreditation in 2015, AFC is one of the first African development finance institution to sign such an agreement.

Established in 2010 by the 194 countries founder members of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the GCF launched its initial resource mobilisation in 2014, which rapidly gathered pledges worth US$10.3 billion.

Following the signing of the AMA, AFC according to a statement, would have access to direct funding from GCF, rather than through intermediaries or third parties.

The statement explained that

over time, the GCF was expected to become the main multilateral financing mechanism to support climate action in developing countries. “AFC intends to leverage this partnership by mobilising GCF’s capital to further its low carbon emission investments in four of its five focus sectors: power, transport, heavy industries and telecoms. “To date, AFC has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to financing green energy in Africa through its early investment in the 26MW award winning Cabeolica wind farm in Cape Verde, the first commercial wind farm in sub-Saharan Africa. AFC is also currently developing more than 500MW of renewable power projects across the continent,� the statement added.

Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Investment Officer of AFC, Oliver Andrews, said: “The consequences of climate change impact may have serious implications for the successful development of Africa’s economy. AFC is therefore highly committed to this partnership with GFC. Not only does AFC and the GCF have shared goals, we also have shared values. “For example, AFC is committed to investing in post-conflict countries and those that face structural developmental challenges. Equally, the GCF also priorities societies that are highly vulnerable, in particular the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As AFC is also driven by a belief in sustainable economic growth, in every sense this synergy is an excellent recipe for success.�

AfDB LaunchesYouth Advisory Group The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has launched the Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) to provide insights and innovative solutions for job creation for Africa’s youth, as outlined in the Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy (JfYA).

The Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative aims at creating 25 million jobs and impacting 50 million youth over the next 10 years by equipping them with the right skills to get decent and meaningful jobs. It is currently the largest effort going on for youth employment in Africa today.

The advisory group, inaugurated on the sidelines of the 6th EU-Africa Business Forum in Abidjan on Monday, according

to a statement yesterday, would work with the Bank to create jobs for Africa’s youth. “This is a huge opportunity for Africa. If we fix the youth unemployment challenge, Africa will gain 10-20 per cent annual growth. That means Africa’s GDP will grow by $500 million per year for the next thirty years. “Africa’s per capita income will rise by 55 per cent every year to the year 2050,�

Adesina said at the inauguration of the Group.

Adesina, who identified Africa’s greatest asset as its youth, observed that out of the 13 million youths that enter the labour market each year, only 3 million (about 33% of African youth) are in wage employment, while the rest are underemployed or in vulnerable

employment. The annual gap of more than 8 million jobs is going to worsen, with the number of youth expected to double to more than 800 million in the next decades. “Africa has an unemployment crisis among its youth,� he stressed, noting that unless employment opportunities are created for them, Africa’s rapidly growing population of youths can give rise to serious social, economic, political and security challenges.

Africa’s youths, though strong and dynamic, cross the desert or the Mediterranean sea because they do not find decent jobs in Africa. Graduates are wandering in the streets, jobless. The low level of employment opportunities is also fuelling violence and extremism in Africa.

Naira and Dollar

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

-- Narrow Money (M1)

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

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,821,446.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,824,226.22

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,834,536.74

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-3,010,310.52

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

--Currency in Circulation

1,868,735.07

--Banks Reserves

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month

AUGUST 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) 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

Kreston International Harps on Adherence to Standards

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Uvaise also said the visit of the team would ensure minimum standards are applied in all their dealings, adding that laid down rules and regulations are always followed in discharge of its duties. “Kreston International is a member of the forum of Firms, these firms conduct, or has an interest in conducting transactional audits and promoting the consistent application of high quality audit practice and standards worldwide�. he added.

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20

Kreston International, a global network of independent account firms, has stressed the need for businesses to ensure that they adhere to laid down standards at all time. The Managing Partner, KrestonJamesCowper, UK, Mr. Robert Holland, who was in Lagos to visit the Nigerian operation of the group – KrestonOUC, said this.

He said he was in Lagos to review the operation of the Nigerian unit, saying that the Kreston Group places a lot

of emphases on adherence to accounting standards.

He explained that the visit was also to assist its Nigerian operations, headed by Mr. Andrew Uvaise, the Managing Partner of KrestonOUC, with the latest tools and techniques which would help its Nigerian arm compete effectively.

Similarly, the Managing Partner of the Nigerian operation, Andrew Uvaise said that the visit further created confidence in its international partners.

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2017

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MON, NOV 27 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $61.51 a barrel on Monday, compared with $61.64 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 29, 2017

39

MARKET NEWS

Year-to-date Growth Hits 39.6% as Stock Market Rebounds Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

trailed by Global Spectrum Energy Services (GSES) Plc with a gain of 4.95 per cent to close at N5.51 per share.

This means that the stock, which got listed on the NSE on Monday at N5.00 has appreciated by over 9.3 per cent within the first two days of trading.

A total of 800 million shares of GSES were listed on the NSE, which added N4 billion

39.6 per cent.

Similarly, market capitalisation added N88.1 billion to close at N13.1 trillion.

The positive performance was driven by appreciation recorded in the share prices of Nigerian Breweries, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, UBA and Dangote Cement among others.

However, Eterna Plc led the price gainers with 4.99 per cent

The stock market returned to positive territory yesterday as it reversed the negative performance of the first trading day of the week.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.68 per cent to close higher at 37,503.73, driving the year-to-date (YTD) growth to

to the market capitalisation of the exchange.

The price growth signified the positive sentiments investors have for the stock.

The Managing Director/ CEO of GSES, Mr. Colm Doyle on Monday disclosed to shareholders that the company was embarking on expansion and diversification of its product base to further strengthen its business capacity and

ity for refined petroleum PMS, AGO, DPK and a 6.000 metric tonnes LPG storage facilities.

He also added that the company in conjunction with its partners, Aegean Marine Petroleum in Greece will develop 10,000 metric ton ultra-modern lubricants blending plant as well as a state of the art laboratory situated at the tank farm site in Port Harcourt.

profitability.

Doyle said that apart from the expansion, the firm has also decided to give out minimum of 30 per cent of its profit before tax as dividend to its shareholders.

According to him, the company has acquired a prime waterfront site in Port Harcourt for the development of a 50 million litres capacity tank farm with storage capac-

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

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 FBN HOLDINGS PLC OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N

BUILDING MATERIALS

3 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE S/N 4 5 6 CROP PRODUCTION S/N 7 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 8 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES S/N 9 10 11 12 13 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/ REAL ESTATE S/N 14 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N 15 16 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION

CROP PRODUCTION FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ARBICO PLC.

17

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

18 19 20 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/ REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS S/N 21 AUTOMOBILES/ AUTO PARTS S/N 22 23 24 25 26 BEVERAGES-BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,919,316.70

TRADES

VOLUME

S/N

FOOD PRODUCTS

25.00 1.83

743 743

90,289,874 90,289,874

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

PRICE

%CHANGE

6.95 0.72

PRICE %CHANGE 230.00 0.01

TRADES 372

VOLUME 18,399,501

372

18,399,501

1,115

108,689,375

TRADES

VOLUME

22

197,826

22

197,826

22

197,826

1,137

108,887,201

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC

27 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. BEVERAGES--NONALCOHOLIC

36 37 FOOD PRODUCTS-DIVERSIFIED S/N 38 39 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,100.00 64,865.88 66,000.00 MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20 MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,610.00

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,853.10 194.58 2,111.93

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.50 68.00 -0.29 66.00 -

3 26 16

3,200 164,218 90,397

45

257,815

TRADES

VOLUME

PRICE

%CHANGE

4.26 -

PRICE 0.87

PRICE

0

1.33

31,406.13

16.35

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

4.79

MARKET CAP(Nm) 36,960.00 165.00

PRICE

165,900

44

11

165,900

56

423,715

TRADES

VOLUME 1,500 0 0

1.53

165

22,345,117

-

38

141,833

205

22,488,450 22,488,450

45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 BANKING S/N 54

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

57

-

0

0

58

%CHANGE

28.00 6.60 -

0 TRADES

59 VOLUME

14 0

27,215 0

14

27,215

60 61 62 63 64

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

TRADES

VOLUME

65 66 67 68 69 70 71

100.00 -

0

0

72

11,305.89

45.22 -

0

0

26,682.70

10.00 -

0

0

0

0

22

85,364

TRADES

VOLUME

1

2,000

1

2,000

TRADES

VOLUME

29 0 28 22 267

519,150 0 48,436 1,245,915 1,758,251

346

3,571,752

MARKET CAP(Nm) 6,911.73

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,386.33 MARKET CAP(Nm) 16,050.47 242.22 221,228.66 177,691.81 1,030,783.12

MARKET CAP(Nm) 59,254.61

PRICE %CHANGE 2.66 -

PRICE %CHANGE

PRICE %CHANGE 0.50 -

PRICE %CHANGE 2.05 0.89 101.00 53.94 130.00

-4.65 4.13 -0.38

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

VOLUME

11

55 56 PRICE

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

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.

TRADES

0 0

NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

42 43

3.57

2

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

BANKING

%CHANGE

%CHANGE

40 41 PERSONAL/ HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

S/N

0

0.70 0.50 3.25 -

54,061.83

0 0

0 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm) 249,472.28

PRICE %CHANGE

205

S/N

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

MARKET CAP(Nm) 784,912.34

TRADES

VOLUME

8

58,149

8

58,149

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

92.50 2.78

13

339,032

13

339,032

73 74 75 76 77 78 79 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 80 81 MICRO-FINANCE BANKS S/N 82 83 84 85 86 MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N

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

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 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

MARKET CAP(Nm) 46,200.00 189,600.00 84,238.01 15,860.40 1,861.25 1,028.21 41,861.13 3,676.41 MARKET CAP(Nm) 22,125.22 1,031,959.17 MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,766.22 2,814.40 MARKET CAP(Nm) 92,988.57 229,915.12

MARKET CAP(Nm) 289,279.72 27,329.26 302,767.60 47,228.92 1,236,109.53 17,383.91 6,940.15 28,790.42 105,002.00 336,864.30 5,844.67 19,287.23 MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

9.24 15.80 32.10 2.00 0.50 5.77 15.80 13.45

71 118 43 17 1 0 150 0 400

1,598,382 3,204,507 393,626 1,379,040 2,000 0 7,107,226 0 13,684,781

-0.65 2.46 1.90 -3.00 -0.57 -

PRICE %CHANGE 11.78 3.33 1,301.90 0.15

TRADES

VOLUME

35 59

500,933 115,833

94

616,766

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

23.23 2.70 -

0 20

0 37,164

20

37,164

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

23.42 -4.99 40.02 0.18

54 99

712,231 1,562,309

153

2,274,540

1,027

20,526,035

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10.00 2.46 1.18 1.72

212 47

98,336,273 5,498,380

16.50 -

43

559,873

1.63 42.00 0.59 0.50 1.00 6.20 9.85 0.50 0.50

76 261 2 5 8 82 207 30 22 995

36,963,834 13,195,623 113,140 171,560 183,131 1,047,321 116,630,865 5,184,236 144,170 278,028,406

1.88 -0.14 3.51 0.16 1.03 -1.96 -

TRADES

VOLUME

10,292.50

PRICE %CHANGE 0.50 -

0

0

3,742.31 21,525.00

0.54 2.05 1.49

10 4

148,884 124,000

3,000.00

0.50 -

2

3,000

14,314.39

1.38 -

4

31,000

7,364.75

0.50 -

1

100

7,000.00 2,411.47 1,913.74 3,070.00

0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

642.04 3,661.72 2,620.76 5,120.00 4,000.00 7,392.70 3,869.74 2,759.15

-

0.50 -

1

50

0.50 0.61 0.64 0.50 1.40 0.50 0.50

0 3 11 0 9 0 0

0 103,000 132,694 0 111,332 0 0

3.39 0.72 -

3,334.38

0.50 -

0

0

4,170.41 6,455.52 4,670.54 1,291.15 6,933.33 8,000.00 6,691.37

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0 0 0 0 0 0 5

0 0 0 0 0 0 705,409

50

1,359,469

TRADES

VOLUME

0 5

0 123,000

5

123,000

MARKET CAP(Nm) 11,799.67 2,995.50 MARKET CAP(Nm) 5,460.00 7,370.87 6,005.46 5,664.87 2,949.22

MARKET CAP(Nm)

-3.85

PRICE %CHANGE 2.58 1.31 0.77

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

-

1 0 0 0

500 0 0 0

3.02 -

0

0

1

500

TRADES

VOLUME

1.30 0.50 1.44 0.50

PRICE %CHANGE

˾ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

40

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž 'ĂŝŶƐ ϳϰďƉƐ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϳϰďƉƐ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϰϴϳ͘ϰϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E' D ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ Ϯϵ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ŚĂƐ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ϰϴ͘ϳй zd ͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

Price Change YTD

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1,487.45

0.74%

48.7%

48.7%

20.1%

6.3%

6.5x

0.7x

4.2%

12.0%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

42.05

0.0%

22.9%

70.2%

70.2%

26.0%

4.3%

8.7x

2.2x

4.9%

11.4%

dŚĞ >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϲϴďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϳ͕ϱϬϯ͘ϳϯ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ ϯϵ͘ϲй͘ dŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ͕ ^d E / ;нϰ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Eϴϴ͘ϭďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ Eϭϯ͘ϭƚŶ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϲ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϭďŶ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ Eϰ͘ϴďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

2

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

137.60

4.9%

9.8%

-7.0%

-7.0%

18.9%

8.6%

33.9x

6.2x

2.6%

3.0%

3

Zenith Bank PLC

24.76

0.1%

13.1%

67.9%

67.9%

21.7%

3.2%

4.9x

1.0x

8.2%

20.4%

10

Lafarge Africa PLC

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

11

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

40.10

0.1%

1.5%

26.0%

26.0%

50.3%

8.4%

24.7x

9.4x

0.2%

4.0%

13

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

41.85

4.6%

3.0%

179.0%

179.0%

28.7%

3.4%

9.6x

2.5x

1.4%

10.4%

14

Guinness Nigeria PLC

98.58

-1.4%

1.3%

25.4%

25.4%

4.5%

1.4%

69.4x

3.5x

0.6%

5.99

0.0%

1.3%

27.4%

27.4%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

41.15

0.4%

0.5%

-51.3%

-51.3%

44.3%

3.7%

10.4x

4.6x

-3.2%

0.4%

-41.8%

-41.8%

32.6%

12.0%

8.6x

2.4x

4.9%

11.6%

8.6x

3.0x

2.6%

11.7% 11.1%

ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞĐŽƵƉ >ŽƐƐĞƐ͙ E^ ^/ ƵƉ ϲϴďƉƐ

^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ŶŽƌƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ͕ ŽŶĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĞŵĞƌŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϵй ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϰ͘ϵйͿĂŶĚ E'&>KhZ ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ Ϭ͘ϯй ĂƉŝĞĐĞ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƵƉƟĐŬƐ ŝŶ E' D ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶƚƌĂƌŝůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ Ă ĚƌĂŐ ŝŶ DK /> ;Ͳϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ ŇĂƚ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϭϬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ Ϯ͘ϰdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϴdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ d ZE ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ E , K ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ W ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ͕ // K ;Ͳ ϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ DK /> ;Ͳϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ 'ŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌͲĞŶĚ ƌĂůůLJ͘ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŝŶ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ WůĐ ; ͞hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͟Ϳ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ŝƐ Ă ƌŝƟƐŚͲ ƵƚĐŚ ŵƵůƟŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ŐŽŽĚƐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽŽĚƐ ƐŽůĚ ŝŶ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϵϬ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϭϬϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ďĞĞŶ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϮϯ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƚŚĞ ĮŌŚ ŵŽƐƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĞĚ &D ' ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ E^ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ Ăƚ Eϭϳϭ͘ϱďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŚĂƐ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐŝƚĞƐ ŝŶ KƌĞŐƵŶ͕ >ĂŐŽƐ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ŐďĂƌĂ͕ KŐƵŶ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ƉůĂŶƐ ŝŶ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϳ ƚŽ ŽƉĞŶ Ă ŶĞǁ ƉůĂŶƚ͘ /Ŷ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ƵŶĚĞƌǁĞŶƚ Ă ƌŝŐŚƚ ŝƐƐƵĞ ŽĨ ϭϰ ŶĞǁ ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJ Ϯϳ ŚĞůĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ϮϬй ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŚĂƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚŽ ƉĂLJ Žī ĂďŽƵƚ ΨϭϮϬŵ ŝŶ ůŽĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ďƵīĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ŝŶƐƚĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ͘

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Current Price

4

Dangote Cement PLC

241.00

0.4%

6.8%

38.5%

38.5%

30.4%

15.7%

16.6x

4.8x

3.5%

6.0%

5

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,290.00

0.0%

6.9%

59.3%

59.3%

78.4%

19.0%

33.6x

22.2x

1.9%

3.0%

6

Access Bank PLC

9.90

2.0%

4.4%

68.7%

68.7%

15.1%

2.0%

4.0x

0.6x

6.6%

25.1%

7

United Bank for Africa PLC

9.90

0.4%

5.6%

120.0%

120.0%

17.2%

2.2%

4.3x

0.7x

7.6%

23.0%

8

FBN Holdings Plc

11.3x

0.4x

2.9%

8.8%

0.6x

3.7%

-21.1%

7.6x

2.0%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

dŚĞ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϳ ƐƚĂŶĚĂůŽŶĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ dƵƌŶŽǀĞƌ ƌŽƐĞ ϰ͘ϴй YͲŽͲY ƚŽ EϮϰ͘ϬďŶ ǁŚŝůĞ W d ĂŶĚ W d ĨĞůů ϯϳ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϰϬ͘Ϯй YͲŽͲY ƚŽ Eϭ͘ϴďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϭ͘ϮďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ^ĂůĞƐ ĂŶĚ KW y ƌĂƟŽƐ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ &z͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵƉǁĂƌĚ ĂĚũƵƐƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůƐ͘ KƵƌ ǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŝƐ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŶƵĂŶĐĞĚ ĂƐ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚĞƌŵ ŚĂƐ ƵƉƐŝĚĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĨƵůůLJ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ͖ LJĞƚ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĚĞŵŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ĐŽƵůĚ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

0.9%

4.5%

108.1%

108.1%

2.6%

0.3%

0.0%

2.9%

60.1%

60.1%

-14.6%

-1.3%

50.00

0.0%

1.9%

29.0%

29.0%

47.1%

9.8%

495.00

0.0%

1.8%

30.3%

30.3%

-12.4%

-6.7%

15

Oando PLC

16

Forte Oil PLC

17

11 PLC

162.50

18

Total Nigeria PLC

230.00

0.0%

0.6%

-23.1%

-23.1%

37.3%

7.4%

-1.1%

4.5x

0.6x

22.4% -21.1%

1.4% 37.0% 9.6%

19

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

67.22

1.1%

67.3%

67.3%

37.4%

25.9%

9.0x

2.9x

2.2%

20

UAC of Nigeria PLC

16.90

0.0%

0.6%

2.4%

2.4%

6.3%

2.2%

10.8x

0.7x

5.8%

9.2%

21

Conoil PLC

28.00

0.0%

0.4%

-25.3%

-25.3%

12.8%

3.5%

8.1x

1.1x

11.1%

12.3%

22

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.81

4.0%

1.0%

115.5%

115.5%

8.0%

1.1%

1.6x

0.3x

7.7%

63.3%

23

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.55

-1.5%

1.2%

187.2%

187.2%

23.8%

10.3%

6.8x

3.0x

2.8%

14.6%

24

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

34.00

0.0%

0.8%

83.9%

83.9%

10.4%

2.6%

8.6x

0.9x

2.9%

11.7%

3.90

0.0%

0.4%

0.3%

0.3%

18.9%

7.6%

4.1x

0.7x

7.2%

0.0%

0.3%

-28.3%

-28.3%

-56.7%

-13.9%

25

Custodian and Allied Insurance

26

7 UP Bottling Co PLC

92.50

27

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

28.00

0.0%

0.3%

-27.4%

-27.4%

-12.2%

-1.2%

-0.9%

0.4%

-3.6%

-3.6%

3.8%

0.6%

3.1x

0.1x

4.5x

24.5% -18.2%

1.5x

-8.1%

28

FCMB Group Plc

1.06

29

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.35

0.0%

0.6%

55.2%

55.2%

19.6%

4.1%

5.4x

0.9x

30

Diamond Bank PLC

1.20

2.6%

0.5%

36.4%

36.4%

2.5%

0.3%

4.8x

0.1x

31

Presco PLC

66.00

0.0%

0.5%

64.6%

64.6%

42.9%

25.9%

3.3x

1.1x

2.3%

30.7%

32

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

22.72

-4.8%

0.5%

56.7%

56.7%

11.5%

5.8%

19.4x

2.1x

2.2%

5.1%

33

International Brew eries PLC

57.84

0.0%

0.9%

212.6%

212.6%

24.6%

7.4%

60.6x

13.8x

34

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

11.75

0.0%

0.3%

14.2%

14.2%

4.5%

1.6%

33.5x

2.0x

3.0%

35

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.20

0.0%

0.3%

29.9%

30.0%

5.6%

1.2%

7.9x

0.4x

12.6%

36

Chemical and Allied Products P

37

Sterling Bank PLC

38

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

0.2%

6.3%

6.3%

84.3%

38.5%

14.8x

10.4x

0.2%

28.9%

28.9%

6.1%

0.6%

5.2x

0.3x

22.80

0.0%

0.3%

44.8%

44.8%

61.2%

23.6%

4.7x

1.7x

1.3%

0.0%

0.1%

22.8%

22.8%

11.9%

3.9%

10.2x

1.2x

2.4%

0.0%

0.1%

39.4%

39.4%

9.6%

4.4%

8.1x

0.7x

Continental Reinsurance PLC

1.38

T o p 10 G a in e r s

NA HCO C A VER T ON NP FM CRFB K

1.7%

0.0%

AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

ET ER N A

20.7%

-2.0%

40

6.5%

21.2% 9.8% 12.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

4.21

5.0%

WA P IC

655.3

0.0%

137.60

4.9%

D IA M ON D B N K

68.2

2.6%

4.29

4.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

62.7

0.1%

1.31

4.8%

FB NH

49.9

0.9% 0.0%

1.31

4.8%

T A N T A LIZ ER

43.0

9.40

4.8%

A C C ESS

37.6

2.0%

ST A N B IC

41.85

4.6%

FCM B

30.4

-0.9%

C ILEA SIN G

1.41

4.4%

T R A N SC OR P

23.5

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

1.81

4.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

14.8

4.0%

LIVEST OC K

0.88

3.5%

D A N GSUGA R

11.4

-1.5%

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

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

PZ

22.72

-4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1563.8

0.1%

0.54

-3.6%

NB

398.6

4.9%

162.50

-3.2%

UN ILEVER

379.3

0.1%

ST ER LN B A N K

0.98

-2.0%

A C C ESS

371.0

2.0%

UA C -P R OP

2.61

-1.9%

FB NH

346.5

0.9%

D A N GSUGA R

17.55

-1.5%

WA P IC

327.7

0.0%

GUIN N ESS

98.58

-1.4%

D A N GSUGA R

200.4

-1.5%

OKOM UOIL

67.22

-1.1%

GUA R A N T Y

196.3

0.0%

FCM B

1.06

-0.9%

GUIN N ESS

149.2

-1.4%

F ID SON

3.80

-0.8%

D A N GC EM

118.6

0.4%

M OB IL

6.7% 19.4%

CCNN

A IIC O

32.5% 18.5%

0.98

39

T ic k er

9.4%

34.00

2.05

NB

/Ŷ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ZĞǀĞŶƵĞ ƌŽƐĞ ϯϴ͘ϲй zͲŽͲz ĨƌŽŵ Eϰϵ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ Eϲϵ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ũƵŵƉ ŝŶ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ Ϯϯ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϱϱ͘ϰй zͲŽͲz ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ &ŽŽĚ WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ,ŽŵĞ Θ WĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂƌĞ WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ EϯϮ͘ϯďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϯϲ͘ϵďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ 'ƌŽƐƐ DĂƌŐŝŶ ƐƵďƚůLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƐƚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ĐŽƐƚ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ͕ 'ƌŽƐƐ WƌŽĮƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϱ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ EϮϭ͘ϳďŶ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ WƌŽĮƚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϭϵϰ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ Eϵ͘ϮďŶ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽǁ ďĂƐĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ KW y ƌĂƟŽ͕ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ W d ŽĨ Eϲ͘ϴďŶ Ͳ ϯϱϭ͘ϲй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Eϭ͘ϱďŶ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϲ͘

6.97 16.46

P ric e C hg %

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

41

˾ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Stockbrokers Pledge More Commitment towards Growth of Capital Market Goddy Egene

enough to have a more vibrant the economy in general,” Abe said. capital that can contribute more According to him, one of the The President of Chartered Institute meaningfully to the growth and ways the brokers was contributing to the growth of the capital market of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Oluseyi development of the economy.

“We strongly believe that the is annual conference, saying the Abe has pledged the support of the stockroking community towards Nigerian economy is sophisticated theme of the conference was apt.

“The theme of this year’s the building of more vibrant capital enough to have a more vibrant market that can provide the funds capital market that can contribute conference, ‘Adapting to the needed for the development of more meaningfully to the growth Dynamic Changes in the Financial infrastructure capable of boosting and development of the economy Market’ is of key importance to and it is our honourable service to stockbrokers in particular and the nation’s economy.

Abe, who spoke during the continue to contribute our quota other financial market operators recent annual conference of CIS in with zeal and determination for in general in view of globalization Lagos, said he strongly believe that a more glorious future for the and digitalization both of which Nigerian economy is sophisticated capital market in particular and have radicalized the mode and A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 27shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Nov-2017, unless otherwise stated.

speed of transactions in the financial Gwarzo, for his leadership and market space. Globalization which commitment in the development of has broken down geographical the Nigerian capital market and in barriers to enable free movement deepening the spirit of collaboration of capital flows, and heightened among stakeholders. competition in financial markets has “Among others, the been touted as a major reason for establishment of the Nigerian economic crisis which have become Capital Market Development Fund, more frequent in both developing the National Investor Protection and advanced economies alike,” Fund, E-Dividend Management he said.

System (E-DMMS), Direct Cash The CIS president commended Settlement scheme, Risk Based the Director General of Supervision Framework (RBS) and the Securities and Exchange the ongoing implementation of all Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir the key initiatives contained in 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.

the 10 Year Capital Market Master Plan are some of the landmark achievements of the current SEC leadership deserving of mention,” he said.

According to him, at 25, CIS has come a long way through the crests and troughs, saying they have many more mileages to gain.

“We have come to stay as one of the foremost professional institutes, and we are not relenting in our efforts to propagate the ideals of the capital market,” he said.

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 178.04 179.28 40.40% Nigeria International Debt Fund 234.70 236.06 11.09% 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 0.82 0.83 16.75% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 79.93% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.04% 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 18.15 18.70 47.04% ARM Discovery Fund 378.82 390.25 31.91% ARM Ethical Fund 26.75 27.56 19.75% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.74% 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 148.50 149.54 41.18% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.23% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.68% Paramount Equity Fund 12.07 12.38 28.96% Women's Investment Fund 98.08 100.60 15.94% 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 18.24% 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 1,122.57 1,123.74 10.73% FBN Heritage Fund 147.85 149.13 32.63% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.63 $112.53 8.49% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $111.10 $112.01 8.72% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.96 161.29 41.19% 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 1.37 1.40 47.15% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.95 2.95 14.84% 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 2,920.72 2,961.11 32.83% Coral Income Fund 2,430.38 2,430.38 16.61% 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 17.52% 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 17.48% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.11 23.78% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.55% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 113.59 113.59 17.07%

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 1.17 1.20 18.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,043.20 1,043.20 10.70% 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 13.11 13.23 35.68% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.73% 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 1.22 1.24 22.84% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.94 11.00 5.22% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.16% 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 131.49 133.53 29.62% 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 1.42 1.42 14.04% 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 2,215.36 2,228.60 21.00% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 175.09 175.09 13.72% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 1.00 28.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 217.05 217.05 16.14% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 175.11 177.39 34.88% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,514.12 9,625.76 25.47% 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 1.32 1.33 17.85% United Capital Bond Fund 1.52 1.52 24.25% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.93 35.19% 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 12.70 13.39 18.88

1.00 17.40% info@zenith-funds.com Offer Price 12.88 13.54 18.88

Yield / T-Rtn 30.58% 22.21% 14.15%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41

1.01%

131.82

6.33%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.34

11.44

31.26%

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

137.32

140.30

38.81%

Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

106.55

108.56

40.61%

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

4.62 9.02 17.23 20.89 143.59

4.66 9.10 17.33 21.09 145.59

66.79% 28.15% 45.53% 30.78% 13.15%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2017

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Kenya Election: KenyattaVows to Overcome Divisions Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to overcome Kenya’s divisions after being sworn in for a second term as

president, at a ceremony boycotted by the opposition, according to BBC. Speaking after his inauguration

Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa Opens Three-month Amnesty Window for Return of Stolen Funds Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has opened a three-month amnesty window for the return of public funds illegally stashed abroad by individuals and companies, Reuters reported him as saying on Tuesday.

Upon the expiry of the amnesty at end of February next year, the government will arrest and prosecute those who would have failed to comply, Mnangagwa said in a statement.

Mnangagwa was sworn-in as president on Friday and promised to tackle corruption, which had become endemic under former president Robert Mugabe’s 37year rule.

“Those affected are thus encouraged to take advantage of the three-month moratorium to return the illegally externalized

mayor’s asylum policy during the attack on Monday night.

In a tweet, Mrs Merkel condemned the attack (in German). “I am outraged by the knife attack on Mayor Andreas Hollstein, and very relieved that he is able to be back with his family.

Thanks also to those who helped him,” she said.

The poor performance of her Christian Democrats in the September general election has been attributed largely to criticism of her liberal immigration policy, summed up by her motto “we can manage”.

She accepted more than a million asylum seekers – many of them Muslims – during Europe’s 20152016 migrant crisis.

Pope Sidesteps Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar Address Pope Francis called for respect for rights and justice in a keenlywatched address in Myanmar on Tuesday, but refrained from any mention of the Rohingya or the alleged ethnic cleansing that has driven huge numbers of the Muslim minority from the country, AFP reports.

Sharing a stage with Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital Naypyidaw, he did not address the Rohingya crisis head-on but instead tip-toed around the unfolding humanitarian emergency.

Peace can only be achieved through “justice and a respect for human rights”, he said in a broadly-framed speech that also called for “respect for each ethnic group and its identity”.

The word “Rohingya”, an incendiary term in a mainly Buddhist country where the Muslim minority are denied citizenship and branded illegal “Bengali” immigrants, was entirely absent from his speech.

supporters in the city.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga announced plans to be sworn in himself as president next month.

He boycotted last month’s

repeat election and has not recognised Mr Kenyatta’s victory.

Mr Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98% of the vote on 26 October but just under

39% of voters turned out.

The original election on 8 August was held again after being annulled by the Supreme Court on grounds of irregularities.

funds and assets in order to avoid the pain and ignominy of being visited by the long arm of the law,” Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe’s new president is under pressure to deliver, especially on the economy, which is in the grip of severe foreign currency shortages that have seen banks failing to give cash to customers.

After recovering under a unity government between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition between 2009 and 2012, the southern African nation’s economy has unraveled with the unemployment rate above 90 percent.

Mnangagwa is expected to announce a cabinet this week, with all eyes on whether he breaks with the past and names a broad-based government or selects old guard figures from Mugabe’s era.

German Pro-refugee Mayor Andreas Hollstein Stabbed A mayor in western Germany has survived a knife attack amid suspicions of a link to his liberal immigration policy, according to a BBC report.

Andreas Hollstein, conservative mayor of Altena, was stabbed in the neck in a kebab shop and had hospital treatment.

The town in North RhineWestphalia (NRW) is well known for having accepted more than its quota of migrants.

“The security authorities believe that there was a political motive,” said NRW premier Armin Laschet.

The mayor is in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party.

Witnesses quoted by German media said the assailant - now in custody - shouted criticism of the

in the capital Nairobi, he said he would try to incorporate some of the opposition’s ideas “in the spirit of inclusivity”.

Two people died when police clashed with opposition

Francis has repeatedly defended the group, some 620,000 of whom have fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August.

Rights groups had urged him to tackle Myanmar about its treatment of the minority during his four-day visit, but the local Catholic Church had cautioned him against straying into the Rohingya issue.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been ostracised by a global rights community that once adored her but is now outraged at her tepid response to the plight of the Rohingya.

She spoke of the challenges her country faces as it creeps out of the shadow of five decades of military rule, but also did not reference the Rohingya.

The government aimed to build the nation by “protecting rights, fostering tolerance, ensuring security for all”, she said in a short speech, that gave a nod to global concern over the “situation in the Rakhine.”

Before his speech Pope Francis met Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi AFP.jpg

Irish Deputy PM Resigns in Bid to Avoid Government Collapse Irish Deputy Prime Minister Frances Fitzgerald is resigning in a bid to ease a political crisis that was threatening to bring down the government, AFP cites Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE as reporting on Tuesday.

The crisis erupted last week and could have led to snap elections before Christmas, at a critical time for Ireland ahead of an EU summit where the future of the Irish border

after Brexit will dominate.

RTE said Fitzgerland told cabinet colleagues that she was “resigning for the sake of the country and to avoid a general election”.

The resignation means that a no-confidence motion put forward in parliament by the main opposition Fianna Fail party “has been dropped and so too has the threat of a pre-Christmas election,” RTE reported.

Fianna Fail has propped up Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s minority government since an inconclusive general election in 2016.

The crisis erupted last week, just as Ireland is trying to extract guarantees from Britain that its border with British-ruled Northern Ireland will remain open even after Brexit ahead of the EU summit next month.

Britain has said it wants to leave

the EU’s single market and customs union when it quits the EU, which could mean customs checks along the Irish border.

Dublin has asked for Northern Ireland to be granted a special customs status to keep the border open.

But London says this would create a new border between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain.

Macron’s Promise of New France-Africa ties Raises Heckles France’s President Emmanuel Macron told African youths on Tuesday that he belonged to a new generation of French leaders who would build partnerships with the continent rather than tell it what to do, according to Reuters.

But a youth protest against him, stones pelting one of his delegation’s vehicles and a botched grenade attack on French troops hours before his arrival in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou showed the hostility that still lingers after decades of an often tense France-Africa relationship.

Macron was also subjected to rowdy student questions at the university after his speech in Ouagadougou, and was sometimes left fruitlessly hushing as he struggled to get his answers heard above the crowd.

In his speech, peppered with references to African nationalists such as Nelson Mandela and Burkina’s revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara, Macron promised a break with a past in which France often seemed to call the shots to former colonies.

“I am from a generation that doesn’t come to tell Africans what

to do,” Macron said, prompting applause.

“I am from a generation for whom Nelson Mandela’s victory is one of the best political memories.”

The 39-year-old is on a three-day visit to Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ivory Coast aimed at boosting cooperation in education, the digital economy and migration.

“Iwillbealongsidethosewhobelieve that Africa is neither a lost continent or onethatneedsto be saved,” he said.

The grenade attack missed the French soldiers but wounded three civilians hours before Macron

arrived. No group claimed responsibility.

Stones were thrown at a delegation convoy, however Macron was far away from it at a meeting with his Burkina counterpart, Roch Marc Kabore in the presidential palace.

Dozens of local youths clashed with security forces in the centre of the capital throwing stones. Police responded with teargas. Protesters burnt T-shirts with images of Macron and carried slogans including “Down with new-colonialism” and “French military out of Burkina”.

Rap Mogul Jay-Z Leads Grammys Race with Eight Nods Jay-Z led Grammy nominations Tuesday with eight nods, followed closely by fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar with seven, in a striking embrace of hip-hop for the music industry’s top prizes.

Jay-Z, who had never before been nominated in a major category as a solo artist, is up for Album of the Year for his “4:44” as well as for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

“4:44” marked a return to music by the 47-year-old Jay-Z after years focused on business ventures.

The album put on display an unusually vulnerable Jay-Z who acknowledged his infidelity to wife Beyonce, explored his mother’s closet life as a lesbian and tackled the state of US race relations.

Bruno Mars, the fun-loving funk revivalist, also fared well with six

nominations including Album of the Year for his “24K Magic.”

“Despacito,” the viral hit that tied for the most weeks ever on top of the US singles chart despite being in Spanish, was nominated both for Record of the Year, which recognizes the overall performance, and Song of the Year, which honors the songwriter.

The Recording Academy, which consists of more than 13,000 music

professionals, will vote to decide the winners who will be unveiled at the annual Grammys gala on January 28.

The ceremony will take place in New York, Jay-Z’s hometown, to mark the awards’ 60th edition after 14 years in Los Angeles.

The industry was already set to honour Jay-Z at the pre-Grammy party thrown by music executive Clive Davis.

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Shell Nigeria Faults Amnesty International’s Report on Ogoniland Rights group grooms student lawyers on combating incidents of torture

Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Alex Enumah inAbuja Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has denied a report by the Amnesty International alleging that a cache of thousands of internal documents suggested that the Anglo-Dutch oil giant’s complicity in crimes committed by the Nigerian military in the 1990s.

The Amnesty International’s report had accused Shell of repeatedly calling for military intervention against peaceful protests in the oil-producing Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The London-based organisation said Shell knew military intervention was likely to prompt human rights abuses.

Amnesty urged Nigeria, the UK and the Netherlands to begin criminal investigations into Shell’s role in the crimes.

But in response to Amnesty’s allegations, Shell has denied any wrong doing, describing the allegations as false and without any merit.

“The allegations cited in your letter against (Royal Dutch Shell) and [Shell Nigeria] are false and without merit.

(Shell Nigeria) did not collude with the military authorities to suppress community unrest and in no way encouraged or advocated any acts of violence in Nigeria. In fact, the company believes that dialogue is the best way to resolve disputes.

We have always denied these allegations, in the strongest possible terms,” said the Anglo-Dutch oil giant.

A spokesperson for The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan, has also

re-echoed the company’s position, saying the executions of Saro-wiwa and others were carried out by the military administration Odugbesan said in a statement yesterday that Shell had also appealed to the Nigerian government to grant clemency, which was turned down.

“We have always denied, in the strongest possible terms, the allegations made in this tragic case.

The executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow Ogonis in 1995 were tragic events that were carried out by the military government in power at the time. We were shocked and saddened when we heard the news of the executions.

Shell appealed to the Nigerian government to grant clemency. To our deep regret, that appeal, and the appeals made by many others within and outside Nigeria, went unheard,” Odugbesan explained.

“Support for human rights in line with the legitimate role of business is fundamental to Shell’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people. Amnesty International’s allegations concerning SPDC are false and without merit.

SPDC did not collude with the authorities to suppress community unrest and in no way encouraged or advocated any act of violence in Nigeria. We believe that the evidence will show clearly that Shell was not responsible for these tragic events,” Odugbesan added.

Meanwhile,Amnesty International (AI) yesterday took the campaign against human rights abuse and torture to the university community in Abuja and environs, hoping to enlist students into the war against the menace.

NJC: No Zone is Marginalised in Judicial Appointments Tobi Soniyi The National Judicial Council (NJC) has said no zone was marginalised in the appointment of justices of the Court of Appeal.

The council also said that appointment of 14 justices to the appellate court was not done in favour of the North or any other region.

Reacting to insinuation that the appointments favoured the North, the council said appointment of judicial officers to the Court of Appeal was done on merit and geographical spread.

It cited Section 2 of the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Act, 2013, whicch it said governed appointment of justices of Court of Appeal.

The section provides that the total number of justices to be appointed should not be more than 90, including the president.

At present, the court has 76 justices leaving a balance of 14.

The council, in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, also released the distribution of appointments in the Court of Appeal.

NJC explained that appointment into the appellate court was ongoing and that no candidate had been recommended so far.

The statement reads: “Of the

76 justices of the court, the Northcentral with six states plus FCT has 12 justices; North-east with six states has 12 justices plus the president; North-west with seven states has nine justices; South-east with five states has 13 justices; South-south with six states has 14 justices and South-west with six states has 15 justices.

“In considering appointment for the 14 vacancies, and to ensure that each zone is adequately represent, all states that have three serving justices were not considered unless under special circumstances.

“The states not considered are: Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, CrossRiver, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Kwara and Oyo. “States like Adamawa, Kebbi and Sokoto have zero representation which informed the need to include them in the current exercise.

“Appointments are made to the court based on the elevation of Appeal Court justices to the Supreme Court, retirement at the age of 70 years or death. Such vacancies are filled with judicial officers from the zone of the judge who died, retired or elevated.”

The council said it was therefore unfair to claim that it recommended no candidate from the South-east which currently has 13 justices at the Court of Appeal.

Country Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, used the occasion to call on Nigerians to support the body in its efforts to eradicate the act and or culture of torture in Nigeria.

Ojigho, who was speaking at a symposium and moot court competition held at the BAZE university, Abuja, emphasised that torture as a tool of getting information from suspects under detention is not only out of fashion but is against the provisions of the constitution.

She described torture as a cruel and inhumane treatment inflicted on the victim not only by security officials on suspects under detention but include all those other inhumane and harmful treatment meted out to others.

“The idea of this symposium is meant to be both an informative

and educative session whereby people in society, particularly the students who are in this university and others in Abuja, who are participating today to have an idea of what torture means and why it is important for it to be abolished and why it is important for it to be criminalised in Nigeria.

“There is no need to torture people either physically, mentally or psychologically. This is against the law and a violation of a human rights,” she said.

The Country Director advised security operatives to devise other means of getting information from suspects in their custody instead of inflicting pain or harm.

She called on victims of torture to always speak out, noting that their silence is not only justifying violence but encourages perpetrators to continue in the act.

“In trying to find solutions to our problems, it’s not by inflicting pain or harm. We need to use other methods like negotiations, persuasion, in order to find solutions to problems.

“We are increasingly justifying violence in our country, meanwhile, there are other ways we can achieve our objectives.

“Victims of torture have to recognise that what has happened to them is wrong, it’s not a fault of their own, and that they should speak out and report this incidents.

“Most often than not, they think that no one would believe them, so your first point of contact is a medical person, a hospital, a nurse, a doctor, Who can at least document what has happened to you and follow it up by finding an NGO nearby,” she said.

Ojigho said the moot competition

which would be between the law faculties of ABU Zaria and UNILAG is to give a practical example of what happens in a case of someone who has been tortured and how the law can take its course.

On her part, Coordinator, ‘Stop Torture Project in Nigeria and Partnership with Universities,’ Onyinye Onyemobi, said AI decided to involve youths and students from Nigerian universities because the organisation is convinced of their relevance in eradicating the menace from the Nigerian society.

“Human rights defending is not just for Amnesty International alone, it needs the combined efforts of both young people, professionals, civil society groups as well as the media to be able to combat the act,” she said.

ON THE MARCH...

L-R: Director-General,Tunde Adeniran Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Shehu Gabam; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship aspirant, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin; former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; and former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; during Adeniran’s meeting with North-west delegates in Kaduna... recently

FG Amends Charges against Senator Misau to Seven Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday amended charges of alleged false injurious allegations against Senator Isa Misau from five to seven.

Misau, who represents Bauchi Central senatorial district at the National Assembly was on October 19, 2017, arraigned by the federal government on a five-count charge bothering on making false injurious allegation against the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, and the Police Service Commission.

He pleaded not guilty to the all the five count charges read to him.

Following his application for bail, the trial Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, admitted him to bail in the sum of N5million with two sureties in like sum.

When the trial came up yesterday, Alex Izinyon SAN, counsel to the prosecution, told the court that the minister of justice had issued him a fiat to prosecute the matter.

Izinyon also informed the court

of an application to amend the charges from five to seven in order to accommodate additional information.

He also informed the court that he had filed another application seeking to set aside the subpoenaed issued by the court on the IG on November 22.

According to him, the subpoenaed was targeted at embarrassing the IG, adding that it also constitute an abuse of court process.

But counsel to Misau, Joshua Musa (SAN), in his reaction, objected to the application to amend the charge on the grounds that the initial charge on which his client was arraigned was defective.

He held that since the seal of the lawyer who filed the initial charge was not placed on the charge, it cannot be amended.

On the subpoena, he said the IG is not a party to the suit and that there is no law that stopped his client to compel the IG as a witness and to also tender documents needed for his defence.

Justice Bello, however, adjourned hearing on the three applications to December 5.

The two new counts added to the existing five read: “That you Isah Hamman Misau of Hamman Misau Residence, Turaki Street, Misau, Bauchi State on or about August 26, 2017, at Abuja and other part of Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this court, did make a false statement of fact to wit: that the Inspector-General of Police is scoring high marks by making almost half of the mobile commanders in the country, people of his Nupe extraction which said false statement of fact was published in the THISDAY and The Punch Newspapers both on August 26, 2017, knowing that such false statement of fact would harm the reputation of Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris (the serving Inspector-General of Police) and the Nigeria Police Force and you thereby committed an offence.

“That you Isah Hamman Misau of Hamman Misau Residence, Turaki Street, Misau, Bauchi State

on or about August 26, 2017, at Abuja and other part on Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this court, did make a false statement of fact wit: that the incumbent IG, based on available records, series of petitions and reports from insiders, has no capacity to run the Police just like the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro, who also lacks similar capacity going by the N300 million scam and others hanging on his neck since 2011 during the presidential primary election of the People’s Democratic Party where he served as the head of the security committee which said false statement of fact was published in the THISDAY and the Punch Newspapers both on August 26, 2017, knowing that such false statement of fact would harm the reputation of Idris, Okiro, the Nigeria Police Force and the PSC and you thereby committed an offence.

The two offences, just like the initial five, were contrary to Section 393 (1) of the Penal Code.

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NEWSEXTRA

Buhari: Nigeria to Intensify Local Search, Production of HIV/AIDS Drugs, Health Commodities Wealthy pastors urged to assist in funding treatment Senator Iroegbu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria will intensify efforts for local research and development as well as production of the required drugs for management of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated this yesterday during the 2017 World AIDS Day organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

He gave the assurance against the backdrop of the concerns expressed over the drop in foreign assistance and donations to the HIV/AIDS treatment in the country.

According to him, the federal government is aware that procurement of health commodities from foreign sources is not sustainable for a country with a huge disease burden like Nigeria.

He said: “In order to overcome this challenge, the federal government is working with relevant stakeholders to provide an enabling environment to promote the local manufacture of health commodities that meet global standards.

“The federal government is aware of the huge financial requirements for health including HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. In this regard, the 2018 budgetary provision for health will witness a substantial increase. However, this will not be adequate due to a number of other significant priorities. I therefore use this opportunity to call on state governments and the private sector to support the federal government’s aspiration to provide universal healthcare for all Nigerians.

“As we hope to increase local resources for health in the coming years, it is important to establish effective accountability frameworks for the efficient use of resources. The federal government is not unaware of the tremendous contributions by development partners. I therefore wish to recognise the contribution of the United States Government; the United Kingdom; the United Nations system, the Global Fund; the World Bank; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other international partners. I wish to specially thank all organisations providing life-saving services to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Northeastern region

of Nigeria.

“I assure you all that my government will give adequate attention to the effective implementation of policies that will promote sustainable development in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, the president said the burden of HIV on women, young people and babies born with the virus in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa remains a clog in the wheel of Nigerian socio-economic development.

This ugly situation, he stressed, is unacceptable to the federal government and to all well-meaning political leaders. This situation has been compounded by the insecurity challenges faced in some parts of the country.

“Only recently, I joined world leaders at the United Nations headquarters to discuss the issue of domestic funding to fight HIV/ AIDS. At that meeting, several Heads of State in Africa and I pledged to commit more resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS. To demonstrate my commitment to this pledge, I have directed an additional 50,000 persons be placed on ARV annually starting from 2018. This is in addition to about 60,000 persons we are catering for in Abia and Taraba States,” Buhari stated.

On funding, the Managing Director of Society for Family Health (SFH), Mr. Bright Ekweremadu, called on wealthy clerics who are said to have private jets to assist in funding HIV/AIDS management and reseach.

Ekweremadu noted this as a noble call as the usual donations and fuding from foreign countries and organisations have dropped significantly.

He stressed that “Nigeria has the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world and the government’s budget cannot tackle the menace, it had become necessary to engage the private sector and wealthy churches.

“I read in a newspaper sometimes this week about a pastor who received a jet plane gift from his congregation and I do know that one of the leprosy colonies in Nigeria was built by a church in Uzuakoli (Abia State).”

“Shouldn’t we also begin to dialogue with our churches to put some of the money they are making into taking care of the health of people? Again that will go into some financing integration.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, lamented that despite several

NACC, Fosad Organise Training for SMEs The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) in collaboration with Fosad Consulting has organised a strategic training on ‘Managing Small and Medium Enterprises: The Essentials for Success’ for Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

A statement signed by the Communications Executive, NACC, Ebuka Ugochukwu, said the training which took place on November 16, at Palm View Manor, Victoria Island; Lagos was borne out of the increasing significance of entrepreneurship in wealth creation and employment

generation in the country.

The statement added: “To harness this potential and mitigate challenges, the training which was attended by startups, small and medium enterprises across all sectors of the economy. The training focused on financial management; understanding the legal and fiscal environment; accessing incentives and grants; branding; building collaborations and partnerships; creating and sustaining business structure systems and attracting and retaining talents.”

years of interventions, access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) for infants continued to hover around the 28 per cent mark for six years running.

Adewole described it as unsettling that prevention of mother-to-child transmission services are available only to 30 per cent of the pregnant population annually.

“These poor indicators are unacceptable and require a rethink around our coordination strategies for the containment of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria,” he said.

In the same vein, the Country Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS, Mr. Erasmus Morah, expressed regret that men were refusing to come forward for HIV testing or treatment.

Morah, however, commended Buhari for promising to include more HIV persons under the government’s care but argued that the 2018 Budget proposal was not adequate to cater to the needs of the 50,000 to be included in the government’s programme next year.

Ealier , the Director-General of NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said since the first case of HIV was reported in Nigeria in 1986, about 1.5 million deaths and over five million new HIV infections had been averted.

He said over 3.2 million people in Nigeria were living with HIV/ AIDS but only one million people were on treatment.

The NACA boss revealed that it costs N50,000 a year to treat one person living with HIV

which translates to N50 billion for the one million people on treatment, a cost which he said could not be undertaken by the government alone.

He said: “If we must take our response to the next level, we must address the challenges related to our health system infrastructure, unmet need for commodities, data quality and human resource for health and funding. These challenges constitute key barriers to universal access to HIV/AIDS services in Nigeria. It costs about N50,000 to provide ART to a person living with HIV for a year. With the size of our treatment programme (at over one million PLHIV on ART), we will require at least N50 billion Naira annually to keep them on treatment, while we require to triple

amount annually to achieve and maintain ART coverage saturation in Nigeria.

“This underscores the fact that the federal government cannot bear this burden alone; state governments and the organised private sector must play their part.

We certainly need to increase investment in the health of our citizens, optimize our response strategies and strengthen our coordination and accountability frameworks to achieve optimal returns on our investment in health.”

Aliyu said Buhari has demonstrated political will to improve access to ART in Nigeria when, a year ago, he launched the Fast Track Plan to place an additional 50,000 Nigerians living with HIV on ART each year.

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (right), and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja....Monday.

OPEC Faces Tough Meeting as Russia Hesitates on Duration of Output Curbs Ejiofor Alike with agency reports The meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) scheduled with non-OPEC members tomorrow may be tougher than expected as the cartel’s leader, Saudi Arabia, pushes to extend oil output cuts by nine months, while non-member, Russia, is hesitating on the curbs’ duration due to worries that the market could overheat.

OPEC led by Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC led by Russia will meet in Vienna, Austria, next Thursday to discuss possible extension of the output cuts but the efforts to extend a deal into late 2018 may be complicated by internal divisions among major parties to the agreement.

Russia is less reliant on higher oil prices and has typically been keen not to support higher prices so as not to concede too much market share to its rivals.

Also, with new oil fields set to

come online next year, a number of Russian firms have expressed their displeasure over a possible extension of global supply curb.

Russia said it was ready to support extending the outputcutting deal but had still to decide on the duration.

Reuters had reported that a major Russian production project led by ExxonMobil was preparing to ramp up output by a quarter from next year.

The project is not subject to the global output-cutting deal but the development would signal an obstacle to Russia’s efforts on production curtailment.

The Exxon project involves Rosneft, the Kremlin-owned state producer whose boss, Igor Sechin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has long been a critic of Moscow’s deal with the 14-country OPEC. Sources close to talks between OPEC and Russia told Reuters Moscow wanted to fine-tune the

language of the deal to include an option to review the agreement if global stocks fell steeply.

“It (tomorrow’s meeting) will not be an easy meeting and we always look at various scenarios,” United Arab Emirates Energy Minister, Suhail bin Mohammed alMazroui, said yesterday in Dubai before leaving for the OPEC gathering in Vienna.

The OPEC, Russia and nine other producers are cutting oil output by about 1.8 million barrels per day until March 2018, and next Thursday will discuss extending the deal.

The market had largely expected OPEC to prolong cuts until the end of 2018 but doubts have emerged in the last few days.

Saudi Arabia has signalled that it wants oil to trade at about $60 a barrel as the kingdom prepares to list shares in national oil champion Aramco and is fighting a large fiscal deficit.

The Russian Government also

wants high oil prices ahead of a presidential election in March 2018. But officials in Moscow have voiced worries about pricier oil boosting the rouble, which could undermine the competitiveness of Russia’s economy.

As oil rallied above $60 per barrel, United State producers aggressively hedged their future production, raising fears of another spike in shale output in the US which is not participating in the global production curbs.

The supply pact is aimed at reducing oil stocks in industrialised countries to their five-year average. The latest figures suggest OPEC is more than halfway there, with OPEC sources saying the target could be reached after June 2018.

Head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, which advises industrialised nations on energy policy, told Reuters that he expected the market to tighten towards the second half of 2018 due to robust demand.

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PDP: Jonathan Didn’t Endorse Micro Zoning, Says Secondus Woman aspirant cautions against zoning

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and an aspirant for the national chairmanship position, Prince Uche Secondus, has stated that at no time did former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, endorse the micro zoning of national chairmanship seat.

Secondus’s position came just as a woman aspirant for the post of the PDP National Women Leader, Baraka Umar, cautioned the party against over-playing the zoning card to the detriment of its electoral interest.

President Jonathan was reported to have asked chairmanship aspirants to respect agreement on micro zoning so as to avert crisis in the party.

However, Secondus said the former president as a loyal and dedicated leader of the party couldn’t have said that since

he is fully aware that it is the decision of the party convention to zone the chairmanship position to the three zones in the South.

In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, Secondus For Chairman Campaign Organisation, Ike Abonyi, the aspirant urged his colleagues to respect leaders of the party especially former president and heads of state, and stop dragging them into taking partisan roles.

The statement said the report in one of the national dailies claiming that President Jonathan wants the national chairman to come from a particular zone is not only a fabrication from the reporter but deliberately intended to mislead.

“President Jonathan, being a loyal and dedicated leader of the party, couldn’t have said that since he is fully aware that it is the decision of the party convention to zone the chairmanship position to the three zones in the South.

According to the statement, “Jonathan knows as a fact that our constitution states clearly that nobody or group or any organ of the party can change convention decision except a convention, and he couldn’t have said what is attributed to him.

“It’s disrespectful for anybody to have dragged the name of the former president to the media, by trying to say what he did not say.”

Secondus then advised members of the party particularly the delegates to the December 9 convention to disregard the concocted story.

He alleged that there are plans by some aspirants to discredit the national convention and weaken the PDP before the 2019 general elections.

The media office said it gathered from intelligence that

some national chairmanship aspirants have mapped out strategies aimed at furnishing media houses with stories claiming that they have been endorsed by these elders.

It said that such mischief has far reaching implications for the desired harmony and peace in the party since the elders are our fall backs for unbiased roles.

“The motive of those supplying media houses with fake stories is clear, which is to discredit the convention and weaken the party ahead of the general election, but they would not succeed because our delegates will not be swayed by that.

“Bad enough that some aspirants in their desperation to lead the party at all cost have dragged some of our revered members of the Board of Trust (BOT) into playing clear bias roles

and now want to drag former president in.

“Severally, our leaders have been boxed into a corner by aspirants who put words into their mouth knowing that they would not want to come public to deny or concur.”

While speaking shortly after submitting her nomination form, Umar said: “I don’t believe in micro zoning. Equity is not the same thing as fairness. When you want to be equal you might not be fair.

“I am not a proponent of micro zoning but it is a good way of giving sense of belonging.”

Similarly, another PDP chairmanship aspirant, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has expressed concern over resort to abuse and denigration of opponents on the pages of newspapers and social media by aspirants and their

supporters.

Dokpesi in a statement signed by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mohammed Baba Kachalla, said campaign of calumny undermines the competitiveness of the process and weaken the entire national convention process.

“The national convention on December 9 to10 is an internal political contest to elect officers of the party that will run the day-to-day affairs of the PDP at the national level.

“The resort to name calling, blackmail and antagonism is an ill wind that does no one any good, rather it destroys the internal cohesion of the party and potentially sets aside the cordial spirit needed to carry out the task of propagating the ideals of the PDP towards winning the hearts of Nigerians.”

Ortom Has No Reason to Sack Benue Workers, Says PDP The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged planned moves by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to sack thousands of civil servants of the state, saying that it was a clear indication that the Ortom administration has turned full cycle against the very people that voted it into power.

This was disclosed by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, in an interview with select journalists in Abuja yesterday.

“To hide their unprecedented inadequacies, Ortom and his lackeys have been going about heaping all blames as to their failure to pay workers their entitlements, on the doorsteps of the revered former governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, but the people of Benue know better, as they will not forget the fact that the immediate past administration had taken it upon itself to increase workers salary even before the national minimum wage bill was signed into law by the federal government. This he did when he increased it from N4,800, four thousand, eight hundred naira to N8,500.

“As anyone could easily find out, this salary increase by Suswam was not solicited or demanded by labour or from any quarters. The then governor did so owing to his trademark humane nature, to enhance the wellbeing of workers considering the economic realities of the time.”

When reminded that the former governor had also defaulted in salary payment to workers, Mr. Iortyom explained that the only salary the former government could not pay was for the last two months of its administration, but that it had always been consistent in payment of salaries and other entitlements throughout the eight year period it governed.

“And why are other governors that earn far less than Benue State in statutory allocation, and who have more civil servants, not sacking their workers? For us, the whole thing is down to the desperate need to corner as much resources as possible, to prepare for the forthcoming general election in 2019, and it is as unfortunate as it is thoroughly callous.

Iortyom urged Ortom to borrow a leaf from the Suswam administration, which, according to him, adopted standardised administrative practices to prudently manage the salaries and wages of workers in the employment of the state government, such as catered for their welfare as much as available resources permitted.

“Anything short of this by the Ortom administration would amount to a gross violation of the oath of office it took. The PDP, as the main opposition party in Benue State, stands with the impoverished workers of the state, and will strongly resist the planned move to sack the workers of the state.”

Nigeria to Organise WACSS The 2018 West African Cyber Security Summit (WACSS) will be organised in March 2018 at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. A statement signed the Senior Marketing Executive, Abby Cairns, said the summit is organised alongside Securex West Africa. It noted that WACSS is the ultimate platform to learn about essential market developments, key trends, cutting-edge technology and to discuss strategies to address the latest risks and threats facing the

industry. It added: “This summit will welcome 150 senior cyber security representatives from both the private and public sector, all eager to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

With the full interactive programme yet to be announced, organisers will divulged into several key themes such as Ransomware, Regulating Crypto Currency, Cloud-based attached; re-evaluating tools and processes, Growth of IOT devices in Nigeria and the threat of Cyber Security Framework.”

PEOPLE’S ADVOCATES

L-R: Former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Alhaji Ishaku Rabiu; and Director General, Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG), Olawale Okuniyi, at the launch of the Political Summit Group (NPSG) in Abuja.... yesterday Julius Atoi

Imo Assembly Boycott 2018 Budget Presentation Members demand details of Bailout Fund, Paris Refunds, Constituency Funds Govt Blames discrepancies in speech for non-Presentation Amby Uneze in Owerri For the first time in the life of the Imo State House of Assembly since the current administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha, the Assembly would in unison raise issues of concern to the governance of the state and wellbeing of the people as members yesterday boycotted the presentation of the 2018 budget proposal scheduled for 10a.m. at the Assembly Complex.

The lawmakers who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the governor had worked with them overtime, stressing that it was high time they got their acts together so that governance could be strengthened in the state.

They said they were demanding three things from the state governor,

which included furnishing them with the details of bailout funds, Paris refunds and constituency funds for the past three years.

According to them, “For three years now, the governor has not implemented any of the budgets.

He has not also implemented any constituency funds for constituency projects. He has not done it for us. So we are asking him now to give us accounts of last year and previous year’s budget performance.

“We are demanding budget performance before we can do otherwise. We are not resuming until we see the budget performance for the last three years. Also we are demanding details of what came to the state as bailout funds, Paris refund and let us know whether they were captured in the previous budget or not. If we don’t have

these details, we are not resuming.”

The lawmakers said the governor “should give us our constituency projects; give us details of the bailout fund and the Paris refund. That’s the only three demands or questions we are asking him. We are not going close to there, in fact all of us are wearing shorts and jeans.

But in swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, alleged that the reason for the postponement of the presentation of the budget proposal was due to “disturbing discrepancies discovered in the budget speech,” and appealed to those concerned to bear with the situation.

“With utmost regret, we wish to inform the public that the announced presentation of the 2018 budget to the state

House of Assembly by the Governor, Rochas Okorocha, fixed for Tuesday (yesterday) could no longer hold, owing largely to disturbing discrepancies discovered in the budget speech.

A new date for the budget presentation will as usual be made public,” he said.

However, the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Information, Kennedy Ibeh, also attributed the postponement to typographical error and pagination of the budget speech.

THISDAY observed that concerned Imo citizens, made up of sjournalists, government appointees and the public gathered at the assembly complex as earlier as 8a.m. yesterday and waited till 5p.m. before the news came that the budget presentation would not take place for the day.

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Review Automotive Policy, Auto Dealers Tell FG Seek reprieve on undutied vehicles Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) has appealed to the federal government to take a second look on the workability of the National Automotive Policy with a view to bringing down duty payable on imported vehicles.

AMDON believes that a review of the policy and a cut on duty paid on imported vehicles would automatically encourage more people to pay their duty and equally make vehicles affordable to Nigerians.

The major thrust of the 2013 national automotive policy, an

amended version of the previous one introduced in August 1993, is to encourage local manufacturing of automobile by offering protection/ incentives to potential and existing local investors, while at the same time discouraging importation by raising the bar against all those who will rather export to Nigeria.

The AMDON National President, Prince Ajibola Adedoyin, who briefed journalists in Abuja yesterday, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) for the recent seizures of arms and ammunition smuggled into the country.

“We wish to use this opportunity to state that the genesis of this whole crisis is the automotive policy which has made customs duty and levies to be raised to a level where people felt short-changed in an effort to make imported fairly-used vehicles popularly known as tokunbo unaffordable in a bid to force people to patronise the so-called assembled in Nigeria cars.

“We therefore call on the executives and legislators

to take a second look at the workability of this policy and bring down the amount of duty on imported vehicles as this is the only permanent solution to this issue,” Adedoyin said.

He called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for another opportunity to allow his members to submit all undutied vehicles in their car park for duty payment.

His appeal followed the current clampdown on undutied vehicles at various car stands across the

nation by the customs, and in some instances the Nigerian Army.

Adedoyin, who lamented the hardship suffered by his members since the inception of the crackdown which has seen over 400 vehicles seized across the country, said the action had created a serious panic and market destabilisation with grave consequences on businesses.

The NCS had earlier this year given a six-week grace to car dealers who were yet to pay duty on their vehicles to do so.

At the expiration of the window

period, the service swung into action and started impounding exotic vehicles, including bullet proof cars.

While acknowledging the magnanimity of the CG towards the association, Adedoyin who said that the time given to them to comply was too short, and sought the generosity of the CG and his management team for another opportunity for all members to submit all undutied vehicles in their stand for duty payment.

Kaduna Sacks 4,042 Council Workers John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Government has confirmed the sacking of 4,042 local government workers. The sacked workers cut across the 23 council areas of the state.

This is coming just as the controversy over the sacking of about 22,000 teachers who were said to have failed a competency test is yet to settle.

At a news conference yesterday in Kaduna, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jafaru Sani, said the sacking of the council workers was part of the ongoing restructuring of the local government system for effective service delivery.

The state government had in June, sacked 4,766 district and village heads who were under the payroll of local councils to reduce their financial burdens.

Sani said the restructuring was designed to strengthen the local government system to carry out developmental projects and programmes.

He disclosed that 3,159 of those had put in 10 years and were retired while the remaining 893 were terminated.

The commissioner said further that those retired would be paid their November salary including three months’ salary in lieu of notice while their pension would

be worked out by their pension administrators.

He explained further that those whose appointments were terminated would equally be paid their November salary, one month salary in lieu of notice and gratuity according to the civil service rule.

“It is a known fact that the local governments were overburdened by redundant and unproductive staff who are contributing nothing to the development of the councils.

“Because of the over-bloated staff, the local governments are doing nothing other than paying salaries and end up becoming more or less poverty alleviation centres, where people just go to collect money and go home.

“To ensure development at the local levels, therefore, we have to do what is right by downsizing the redundant staff to free some funds that would be injected in developmental projects.

“With the disengagement, the supporting members of staff at the 23 local government areas are now 6,732, excluding primary school teachers and primary health care workers.

“I am sure, with this development, local government areas will soon start executing capital and development projects to provide social services to the people,” the commissioner said.

Dogara: We Can’t Allow Prisons Service to Fail James Emejo in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday said the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) is critical to the overall security architecture and can’t be allowed to fail.

Speaking at a public hearing by the House Committee on Interior on eight reform bills including a bill for an Act to repeal the prisons Act, 2004 and re-eanct the Nigerian Prisons and correctional service to make comprehensive provisions for the administration of prisons in Nigeria, he said the service can’t and afford to fail at a period where the country is confronted with numerous challenges.

Represented by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Pally Iriase (APC, Edo), the speaker said the House is prepared to identify existing gaps in exiting, laws; exacting

as well as repealing them to properly position the service for effective and enhanced service delivery to the country.

Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Hon. Adams Jagaba (APC, Kaduna) said there are lots of problems which had been identified in the nation’s correctional facilities and these shortcomings are visible to Nigerians.

He said: “We will make prisons measure up to international Standards.”

Among other things, the bill seeks to encourage correctional facilities to live up to expectation of reforming convicts before releasing them back to the society and provides support for programmes that prepare offenders for their release.

The bill further seeks to establish correctional center and other branches in all the prison formations accross the country.

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS

L-R: Head, Corporate Services Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Bola Adeeko; Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Chief Patrick Ezeagu; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Oscar N. Onyema; Head, Council Secretariat, NSE, Mojisola Adeola; and Head, Lagos Zonal Office, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Stephen Falomo, during the induction ceremony for the newly qualified dealing cerks at the Exchange in Lagos.....yesterday

EU Launches N10bn Programme against Corruption in Nigeria Targets justice sector reform Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The European Union (EU) has launched a four-year programme in support of justice sector reforms and anti-corruption war in Nigeria.

This was disclosed yesterday by the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), Mr.Kurt Cornelis, at the official launch of the programme in Abuja.

Cornelis announced that the EU has budgeted €23.3 million (N10 billion) to fund a four-year Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme in Nigeria.

He noted that EU support is coming against the backdrop of the judicial reforms being carried out by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the National Judicial Council (NJC) that set up ‘’Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO)’’ on September 26, 2017.

He was speaking about the committee, which was mandated to ensure that the judiciary dispenses justice promptly on corruption cases in compliance with the letters and spirit of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Cornelis further disclosed that the British Council office in Nigeria will implement the programme,

and affirmed EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria to improve the justice sector and strengthen the fight against corruption through the financing of a Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme He noted that RoLAC Programme, which will be funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), is targeted to support Nigeria’s effort at reforms in the criminal justice system and the fight against corruption.

He said: ‘’The European Union is providing €23.3m for the initiative, to be implemented at the federal level and in four states of Adamawa; Anambra; Kano; and Lagos. ‘’Corruption and an ineffective justice system undermine Nigeria’s effort at economic and social development and fighting poverty.

According to him, ‘’criminal justice reform and “the fight against corruption are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Corruption is both a cause and driver of poor governance and performance of the criminal justice system. At the same time, a strong Nigerian criminal justice sector, able to dispense timely and effective justice would strengthen the fight against corruption, as incentives to engage incorrupt practices are reduced.

Cornelis said the overall objective

is to enhance good governance in Nigeria by contributing to the strengthening of the rule of law and curbing corruption.

“More specifically, it will target and support, the implementation of the Nigerian Criminal Justice Reform agenda to improve on the timeliness, effectiveness and transparency of the system.

“Increasing access to justice for women, children and persons with disabilities, strengthening the fight against corruption in the criminal justice sector, public procurement and the extractive industries, enhance citizens’ civic and public engagement in criminal justice sector reforms and the fight against corruption,” he added.

In the same vein, the RoLAC Programme Director at the British Council, Dr. Bob Arnot, said the approach is “not to bring predetermined solutions but to work in collaboration with Nigerian state and non-state actors to develop and implement sustainable initiatives that will build upon and consolidate the successes of the EU’s previous support to Nigeria in the justice and anti-corruption sector under the 10th EDF. ‘’The British Council’s long experience in Nigeria in the sectors will also be brought to bare to ensure the successful completion of all interventions”.

Launching the programme, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, commended both the EU and the British Council for rolling out the programme aimed at strengthening the nation’s judicial reformation strategies.

“We at the federal ministry of Justice applaud your immense contributions and efforts. We reaffirm our commitment to you on this laudable programme. I am happy that it has been branded Nigerian programme”, he said.

Malami who was represented by the Director of International Comparative Law Department in the Ministry, Mrs. Stella Anukam , however, called for total commitment on the part of all stakeholders towards the implementation of the programme and expressed hope that the four component of the programme with a total of 19 outputs would be fully achieved at the end of four years.

He presented the work plan for the RoLAC Programme to both EU and British Council officials.

Also speaking, Justice Jude Okeke, who represented the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court at the event said the Court which has been in the forefront in the fight against corruption and support for the administration of criminal justice will always ensure that justice within the jurisdiction of the court is dispensed on time.

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Tenure of NDDC Board Can’t Expire in December, Says Warri Lawyer Ejiofor Alike A Warri-based lawyer, Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, has described those insisting that the tenure of the present board of the Niger Delta

Development Commission (NDDC) should expire by December as “rabble-rousers and ‘rascally elements,” who intend to unilaterally rewrite the enabling law for the National Assembly.

House to Probe Fatal Train Derailment in Lagos James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion seeking to investigate the November 16 train derailment at Fagba area of Ifako Ijaye Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

The incident reportedly claimed seven lives and caused multiple crashes among trucks and other vehicles.

The House, further mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values and Land Transport to interface with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on how to provide railway level crossing barriers, highway codes and alarm system arrangements at all railway level crossings across the federation to curb incessant deaths at railway crossings.

The resolution of the green chamber followed a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Akinwunmi Nurudeen Olaitan and Hon. Jimoh Abdulraheem Olajide both from APC, Lagos on need to curb incessant deaths at railway crossings.

In his lead debate, Nurudeen said “when a train derails leading to an accident, a dangerous situation usually occurs owing to the size, weight and speed of the railroad cars which makes it difficult to take any action to mitigate the damage as the safety features in vehicles cannot stand up to the force of a

moving train.”

According to him:”Most accidents involving trains and vehicles are caused by failure of vehicle drivers to abide by highway codes and absence of railway level crossing barriers given that most crossing locations are among the most eventful points on the transportation network “As a result of the different braking systems of a train, the right of way is granted to the train because its braking distance (depending on its weight and speed) is several hundred times longer than that of a vehicle.”

He said:”Usually, some kind of alarm system arrangements are made to keep the road traffic flowing during the safe periods and suitable bell system is provided for vehicles and pedestrians in order to prevent possible accidents.”

He stressed the need for the provision of modern railway level crossing barriers, bells, railway/ road signs, signals and lights and realising the need for collaboration with highway authorities to carry out the necessary works to increase the visibility of the level crossings in order to reduce accidents at those crossings.

In supporting the motion, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) said several similar incidents had gone unreported and urge the House to take action to forestall a recurrence.

In open letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki, which was made available to THISDAY yesterday, Onokpasa argued that the tenure of the present board of NDDC cannot expire this December, and faulted the claim of the rabble-rousers that the said board was appointed to complete the tenure of the board it succeeded, and that as such, its tenure must expire when that of the erstwhile board should have expired.

He noted that Section 5, subsection 3 of the NDDC Act provides that where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor.

Onokpasa, however, added that this section also provides that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the president subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.

“Now, clearly, this provision

applies to situations in which there is a substantive board in place and a vacancy or indeed a number of vacancies happen to occur therein. Nowhere in this or any other section of the act is there even the slightest indication that such tenure completion is envisaged for the entire board or even that a new board might complete the tenure of a sacked one.

“Thus in contemplating such vacancies and their replacements, the law envisages that the board is still in existence, and that as such, any corresponding replacements on the board become part of that board as if originating with it from its beginning, wherefore such replacements must exit with those members of the board they joined midway.

“Therefore, in the present scenario, unless there are members of the former board that was sacked that are still serving in the present board, and even at that, serving in the present board, not on the basis of a fresh appointment but on the basis of their appointment into the

sacked board, then there was no substantive board in existence when the members of the present board came on board, wherefore there are no sitting board members that they met on ground and joined, and therefore no board members whose tenure should expire in December 2017, whom they must then exit with,” Onokpasa added.

The lawyer further argued that “even if certain members of the former board had been retained in the present board, unless their membership is based on the original appointments they were given four years ago, and unless they were not given fresh appointments with their other colleagues last year, their tenure cannot be deemed to expire this December since the fresh appointment would serve in law to have superseded their previous appointment and they would therefore be deemed to have been given a fresh mandate of four years alongside their new colleagues.”

He insisted that the present NDDC board led by Senator

Victor Ndoma-Egba, as Chairman and Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director, did not meet any board members on ground when it took over at the commission.

According to him, since NdomaEgba and Ekere did not join up with any other members from the board it succeeded, and have no reference point whatsoever from the point of view of tenure with the erstwhile board, they cannot possibly be envisaged under any legal parameters as liable to exit their offices with persons no longer on the board.

“That President Muhammadu Buhari, in his wisdom, while constituting a new board, decided to distribute the posts in the new board in generally the same manner in which they were distributed in the previous board was clearly inspired by the fact that the sacked board did not complete its full tenure, and so he felt it would only be equitable to give the various states their due in the new board,” he stated.

MaritimeVarsity Take-off Excites N’Delta Ex-Militants

Former agitators seek jobs for local populace Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa A coalition of former Niger Delta warlords yesterday expressed delight over the formal take-off of the much awaited Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, describing the development as laudable.

Leaders of the ex-agitators from all three phases under the Presidential Amnesty programme who hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, for finally allowing the commencement of academic activities in the school, said it was a good pointer to what the region could gain under the current dispensation.

In a statement signed by the Bayelsa State Chairman of the group, Bull Afiemi, the former warlords said it also marked the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship between the federal government and the people of the region.

According to the ex-militants who also commended the approval of N65 billion budgetary allocation to the Amnesty office, the federal government had started showing

concern over the plight of the people of the region.

They said after their meeting with the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, to strategise on the way forward for the beneficiaries of the scheme, they had got assurances that all outstanding issues will soon be resolved.

The former warlords also said the recent advocacy shuttle by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had started yielding positive results in calming frayed nerves in the region.

“During his (Boroh’s) tenure, many more youths have been empowered with various skills acquisition programmes and vocational trainings.

“More efforts have been placed on engaging the youths and making them more relevant and there have been coordinated efforts to ensure the people are being carried along,” the ex-militants said.

The leaders however pleaded with the federal government to release enough funds for the Amnesty office to enable them pay off all outstanding stipends from October to December 2017.

TOWARDS IMPROVING POWER

L-R: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN); World Bank Senior Director, Global Energy Practice, Mr. Riccardo Puliti; Minister of State, Suleiman Zarma Hassan, shortly after a meeting on Nigeria’s Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) at the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Headquarters in Abuja....Monday

Group Condemns Human Trafficking, Slave Trade of Nigerians in Libya Kupa to lead protest at embassy Sunday Okobi Members of Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa has joined numerous organisations and individuals in the world in condemning the human trafficking and slave trade of Nigerians and other African countries in Libya.

According to statement issued yesterday by the organisation which was made available to THISDAY, the President of NBM, Felix Kupa, who expressed sadness over the matter, stressed the need for communities and families to take the initiative of encouraging their children and wards to pursue education, apprenticeship and trade instead of embarking on journeys that most times end in death, rapes and all forms of evils.

Kupa asked that the government must collaborate with community leaders, parents and other stakeholders to see to the end of this unfruitful journey.

The statement quoted him as saying: “NBM has also engaged some communities in different areas of Delta State (Warri, Ughelli and Efurrun) partnering the leaders to discourage and prevent youths who embark on such deadly trips.”

Kupa also condemned the recent publications showing Nigerians and other Africans being sold into slavery in Libya, adding that members of the Neo Black Movement through their legal adviser will write to the Libya embassy in Nigeria to seek full briefing on the video recently publicised.

The national president of the group also attributed that the movement is working with the law enforcement agencies to get approval to lead a peaceful protest to the National Assembly and the Libya embassy while calling on the Nigerian Ambassador to Libya to live up to his expectation by ensuring the life and properties of every Nigerian in Libya is protected.

This peaceful protest by the members of the organisation, he maintained, would be carried out in every part of the world where Libyan Embassies are located.

He therefore call on the African Union and United Nations for quick intervention on the issue whereby tasking them to bring the perpetrators to book.

The statement read: “The movement has petitioned the

Nigerian Ambassador to Libya, Isah Aliyu, to come out and speak to Nigerians about the content of the video which shows young Nigerians being sold into slavery.

“NBM appeals to Libyan leadership to properly investigate this case and bring to justice those involved.

“The movement, while condemning this act drastically, urged the federal government to seek a permanent solution in curbing human trafficking and slave trade in the country.”

The group leader suggested that engaging, educating and empowering the youths should be the initiative to be adopted by the government, groups and other stakeholders to curb these anomalies.

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Character is Basis of Good Governance, Say Ezekwesili, Awolowo, Ibru, Others Good character has been identified as the basis of achieving good governance in Nigeria.

This assertion was made by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu and Lady Maiden Ibru at the maiden edition of the HID Awolowo Foundation Annual Lecture which was held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos yesterday.

The lecture which was in honour of the late Mrs. HID Awolowo, was titled:‘Ethical Politics, Peace, Development and Security in Nigeria: The Critical Importance of Women’s Leadership.’.

The virtues of HID were extolled at the event which had Senator Daisy Danjuma as chairperson.

Ezekwesili who was the keynote speaker, noted that the world is suffering from leadership famine and it can only be redeemed by the moulding of good character.

“Whether it is a male or female leader, the character is

the underlying factor that will define how our nation will make progress. If you want competency, capacity you can buy them but character is not available to be bought. In this fourth industrial revolution of biotics, stimulations, signs and all kinds of science solution driven, all we need is a disruptive era of the character of the individual. The character of the individual matters most”.

Convener of the lecture, Awolowo-Dosumu opined that the building of human character must come before the building of anything else. She further identified three ways to destroy a nation; “three ways to destroy a nation is to destroy the family structure, education and lower their role models and references as such there will be no one to teach the youngsters values, they will lose correct perception of right and wrong of what their best interests are” she said.

Ibru described a woman as the nurturer who is meant to mould the character of her children for

the good of the society and in all sphere of human endeavors.

“You mustn’t shy away from bringing up your children in the right way. You must pay attention to them. Our government has failed us, but from your home, monitor your children, mentor them rightly. I want women to standout and be pointed at as women of diligence.”

A biography of HID, titled: ‘In the Radiance of the Sage’ written by Prof. Wale

Adebanwi, was reviewed

by Dr. Insa Nolte who was represented by Dr. Olufemi Ogunsaya. Nolte described HID as a very supportive, disciplined and courageous wife to her husband late Chief Obafemi Awolowo adding that, she stood above partisan politics.

“During the time when Obafemi was politically imprisoned, she played the role of a supportive wife not

because she has any ambition but she wanted him to take up his life where he left after he was released”.

There was an insightful panel session where the older generations were counselled to be positive role models and educate the younger generations on the history of Nigeria. The session was moderated by Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the discussants were, Ibru, Hajiya Naja’atu Bala Muhammad, Yemi Adamolekun,

and Bola Olukanni.

Dignitaries at the event included, Sultan of Sokoto who was represented by Emir of Songa, Representatives of Ooni of Ife, Rev. Omotola Oyediran, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Erelu Abiola Fernandez, Mr. Labaran Maku, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Sir Kessington Adebutu, Chief Kenny Martins, Prof Bayo Williams to mention a few.

Belgore, Suleiman Re-arraigned for Money Laundering The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore and the former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, for alleged money laundering.

The anti-graft agency also closed its case.

The defendants told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos of their intention to file no case submissions on the matter.

In effect, they intend not to call any witness to defend themselves because they believe the prosecution did not present a strong case against them.

The judge, however, can dismiss the submissions and direct them to open their defence.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, is also named in the charge.

EFCC said she is “at large.”

In the nine-count amended charge, EFCC accused Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Belgore and Suleiman of making cash payment of N10million to a Resident Electoral Commissioner

(REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo.

The Commission said they also paid N10million to a Commissioner of Police, Garba Saliu.

EFCC also alleged that the defendants “directly took possession of the sum N450million,” adding that they “reasonably ought to have known [that the money] forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act.”

They pleaded not guilty to the second amended charge.

Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he had no more witnesses to call.

Two witnesses testified in the trial which began on February 8.

EFCC also tendered several documents, including those showing how the N450m allegedly received from Mrs. Alison-Madueke was “shared.”

Also tendered is a receipt which they allegedly signed to acknowledge receiving the money.

Defence counsel, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), indicated that they would file no-case submissions on their clients’ behalf.

Dokpesi: I Am Ready for Debate James Sowole in Akure The National Chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Raymond Dokpesi yesterday expressed his readiness for debate among aspirants if organised.

Dokpesi spoke in Akure the Ondo State capital while addressing journalists after meeting with Ondo State delegates to the planned national convention of the party scheduled for December 9, 2017.

The Chairman of Daar Communications said however that the debate being clamoured for by some people would not do the party any good.

“I had been financing and

organising debates towards election since 1999, but the one being clamoured for towards the national convention of the party rather than bringing out the best, would only cause more problems for the party.

“If the debate is organised, it will look as if the party is going to war and that will create more problems,” he said.

Dokpesi said delegates know the capacity of all aspirants and choosing and with the quality of the delegates, choosing the National Chairman would not be a problem.

The aspirant said he had history on his side when it comes to his relationship with the people of the South-west.

THIS IS INNOVATIVE

R-L: Executive Director, OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia, explaining a point to Senator Ahmad Lawan, Senate Leader, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum, Senator Kabir Marafa, during an advocacy visit on ConsTrack to the Senate in Abua....Monday

2019: Only Popular PDP Candidate Can Defeat APC, Says Secondus Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki A top contestant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National chairmanship, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday warned against imposition of candidates in the 2019 general election, saying that PDP will only reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) through popular candidates.

He said the party has no security and INEC and that only popular candidates will see the PDP through to the general election.

He therefore warned against imposition of candidate in the December 9 and 10 national convention of the PDP. Secondus spoke at government House Abakaliki while addressing Governor Dave Umahi and the state working PDP to officially inform the governor and the state PDP of his interest to contest the national chairmanship of the party.

He maintained that it would be totally wrong and absurd for unpopular candidate to think that he would win the national chairmanship of the party when he cannot deliver his ward, constituency, state and zone to the party in 2019.

He noted that the PDP under his watch will not be superintended over by those he called Abuja politicians as it has always been but by the grassroots who he said

power belong to.

Secondus said: “Our mission is to rebuild, to reposition and to regain the lost ground come 2019 general election. We are very committed with passion to make sure that our party within the next few months is quickly repositioned and be ready for elections”.

“We will remain focused on our mission because I came from the state that relatively have peace and a zone that also has peace.

I will focus on only one agenda which is to rebuild, to reposition and at the same time to regain the lost ground.

“In the past, the whole order has been that the Abuja politicians took over the responsibility of our party at the state and the grassroots. If God gives me the responsibility, we will return power to the grassroots and our reward system will change.

“People that cannot vote at the ward levels, at the polling unit levels and they are now recognised in Abuja. The people in Abuja have data, contact and collections. What is politics all about if not to win election?. And if you cannot win election, you are not so important.

So, we will bring new system that our people will be very happy to take their destiny in their own hands.

“We will allow the constituencies, states to conduct congress and I am saying that because of my experiences as a state party chairman. Let the leaders in the

state organise and elect popular candidates. We don’t have security, we don’t have INEC and Abuja cannot change and begin to superintend over whatever decision of the states that have been taken.

“All we need to do in my time, we will concur with every decision of the state. If the popular candidate is elected and stands election he will win. I will lead from the Wadata House Abuja and I will rotate the headquarters of our party. It is time to get back to the people with massive and aggressive membership drive and return power to them. We don’t have time at all.

“Anyone that wants to contest this election that will not win his ward and constituency and cannot win his state and zone has no business . It is time to know that if you cannot deliver your constituency, if you cannot deliver your state and you are seeking for the office of the National Chairman, which votes do you want?.

“It will be totally wrong and absurd for anyone to think that he can take the votes of Ebonyi, you cannot deliver your state and you are now our National chairman.

By the special grace of God, I will deliver my state and I will deliver my zone to the cover of the party.

If we deliver state by state, that is the only way we can win the 2019 general election; the Presidency and all other positions”, Secondus said.

Receiving Secondus who was

led by former Deputy Speakers of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha Austin Okpara, and some party chieftains, Governor Umahi described him as very experienced for the PDP Chairmanship position.

He noted that Secondus was the only PDP chieftains the can vouch that did not receive bribe from politicians during the last PDP primaries for the last general election to give them ticket.

“You are experienced and I want to commend you. When we were vying for the party ticket, you are one person that didn’t collect anything from any of the governors or anybody. Everybody attests to that.

“Some people asked us to give.

I didn’t give anybody either. But a day of reckoning has come and such people, we will not vote for them when they show their faces.

“We must do everything possible to eliminate bribery and corruption in our party politics, it is very important. So, I want you to do everything possible if God takes you there to eliminate this issue of bribery and corruption.

“I want to assure you that there will be a level playing ground for all the contestants.

“This time around, sir, the South East will negotiate very seriously with anybody that the South East will vote. It will not be on the party level. We want to negotiate and know what is coming in for us.

This is very important”, Umahi said.

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Ekweremadu: Nigeria is Not Working Advocates deployment of ADR mechanism in resolving national conflicts Alex Enumah in Abuja The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday declared that Nigeria as currently constituted is not working, stressing that division is not only becoming wider by the day, but gradually destroying the future of the country.

Ekweremadu lamented that Nigerians are daily splitting along ethnic and religious lines, but expressed confidence that the nation can overcome her myriads of problems through the deployment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), adding that, mediation and conciliation had been necessary tools in dispute resolution.

He was speaking at the 2017 Annual Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme: “Myth and Reality of Agitations; The Place of Consensus Building, Ekweremadu said, “As a nation, however, we have to tell ourselves the hard truth. Nigeria, as currently constituted, is certainly not working well. Nigerians are not only dangerously split along ethnic, religious, and sectional lines, the gap is widening on a daily basis.

“The trend of insults and divisive verbal attacks traded by younger ones against one another’s ethnicities, sections, and religions on the social media on every matter do not also inspire any hope of a brighter future.

“Therefore, I believe the

constituent parts of this country must come together around the table immediately to discuss and agree on how to fix the country. I also believe that the 2014 National Conference Report is a starting point”, he said.

According to him, the 2014 National Conference report remains the most recent roadmap produced by every shade of opinion and group in the country.

He expressed sadness that the report had been abandoned to gather dust. “It is rather unfortunate that several months after the Senate requested Mr. President to transmit the report to the National Assembly for legislative actions, nothing has happened. We only read a recent statement credited to the presidency to the effect that it has no confidence in the confab report.

“I do not believe, in good conscience, that a report produced by the cream of all spheres and units of the Nigerian society is worthless. Does the present government intend to set in motion a process to convoke another conference, which outcome it can trust? That will be a waste of time and resources.

But, whichever way we look at it, Nigerians must work out a blueprint for a workable, equitable, and prosperous nation”, he insisted.

He however noted with cheers that the ADR now thrives in the country and practitioners are eager to lend their expertise and weight to the consensus building efforts.

Also speaking, Prof. Isaac Albert, advised President Muhammadu

2019: Kwanee Asks Wike to Accede Governorship to Ogoniland Warns against politicising Ogoni clean-up Sunday Okobi Former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, has criticised Governor Nyesom Wike for attempting to politicise the ongoing UNEP clean-up of Ogoniland and challenged him to accede the 2019 governorship to the Ogoni to show he cared for them.

Reacting to Wike’s comment on the issue, Kwanee at a press briefing yesterday faulted Wike’s narrative, stating that the clean-up was a gradual process and that the President Buhari administration should be lauded for kick-starting the activity and encouraged to do more rather than being criticised.

Wike had claimed that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government was unserious with the clean-up of Ogoniland, when he met with members of the Senate Committee on Environment in Port Harcourt recently.

Kwanee noted that Wike who served as a member of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet should have been able to push for the government to implement the clean-up if he had cared enough for Ogoni people and the effects of the pollution they had suffered for years.

“I feel disappointed that Governor Wike would even bring up the issue

of the UNEP exercise in Ogoniland, not to talk of criticising the APC government over the process. He had the opportunity of making it happen when he was a Minister under President Jonathan, but he didn’t move a limb.

“The process may be slow but the implementation is on. The structure has been set up and I have had cause to visit the coordinator and he has high hopes that the project would be completed.

“Now that the current administration has embarked on the clean-up exercise, I think its best for everyone to support the project for the benefit of Ogoni people.

“If his excellency is telling us that he cares about the Ogoni man, then he should accede the 2019 governorship ticket to an Ogoni man. That is the test of his love for our people,” he said.

Kwanee further called on all Ogoni people to support the APC because according to him, that is the way to go now.

“At this point, it is very important for all of us to support the APC and I am calling on all Ogonis to support the APC under the leadership of Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He is a great leader, and he has always had and still has the Ogoni project in his sight as well as all of Rivers state.

Buhari to embrace the instrument of mediation and reconciliation in order to resolve the intractable Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east and militant activities in other parts of the country.

While stating that key players in

the Boko Haram insurgency were profiting from the crisis and as such would not want it to end, the Don urged Buhari to embrace the leader of the insurgent group, Abubakar Shekau, as a way of bringing the battle to an end.

President of the ICMC, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, said the Institute preferred the promotion of mediation and conciliation for dispute resolution, adding that “they are a vehicle to the enthronement of political, communal and ethno/

tribal peace and harmony in Nigeria.”

“We are challenged to continue to interrogate the incessant crisis that bedevils the polity and threatens to tear the social fabric of our society apart”, he said.

ENERGY EXPERTS

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Axxela Limited (former Oando Gas and Power Limited) and immediate Past President Nigerian Gas Association, Mr.Bolaji Osunsanya; Co-Founder and Executive Director, Commercial Operations Falcon Corporation Limited and first Vice President, Nigerian Gas Association, Mrs. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Oil Limited and President, Nigerian Gas Association, Mr. Dada Thomas; Chief Executive Officer, Oando Exploration and Production, Pade Durotoye, at the Night with Dr. Maikanti K Baru, at the inauguration of the Nigerian Gas Association Advisory Board in Lagos....recently

Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Commend Governors, Lawmakers on Restructuring Shola Oyeyipo A special session of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum held in Lagos has commended governors and lawmakers from the regions on the stand on the need to restructure Nigeria.

The well-attended meeting which had Chief Ayo Adebanjo leading the South-west delegation, Prof Joe Irukwu as the head of South-east, Chief Albert Horsfall as the head of the South-south and Dr. Bala Takaya leading the Middle Belt, eulogised

the political office holders from the region for collectively agreeing on the need to restructure Nigeria.

In a press release signed on behalf of the forum by the Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the leaders noted: “We commend the southern governors for their recent meeting in Lagos where they took a common stand on the need to return Nigeria to a federal entity.

“We salute Southern Senators’ Forum for their successful retreat

in Calabar where they rose with a call on the president to summon a meeting of the National Assembly leadership, governors and state assemblies leadership to commence the implementation of the 2014 National Conference reports. It is commendable that the senators rose across party lines to take a position for the rescue of Nigeria at this sinking point,” Odumakin noted.

The forum there called on all patriots across Nigeria to support the patriotic stance of the governors and the senators

to put Nigeria back on track through the enthronement of genuine federalism.

Other leaders at the meeting included Gen Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Jona Jang, Mr Donald Duke(represented), Prof Banji Akintoye, Prof George Obiozor, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), Dr Akin Onigbinde(SAN), Senator Femi Okurounmu, Chief Guy Ikoku, Mr Labaran Maku, Chief Supo Shonibare, Mr Isuwa Dogo, Col Tony Nyiam and Mr Fafa Dan-Princewill.

I will Convert All My Family to Glo, Says Everyday Bonanza Car Winner Taraba State indigene, Tanini Shishi, who won the star prize of Hyundai Accent car in Globacom’s customerreward offer, Everyday Bonanza, has declared that he would ensure that all his family members ported to the Glo network.

The 44-year-old farmer, who took delivery of the brand new car at the first prize presentation ceremony held in Lagos recently, said in an interview that he would henceforth promote the Glo brand across the nooks and crannies of the country.

“I will change all my family members to Glo. I will advertise the

car all over the country. In Olodi Apapa, Lagos, where I live and even in my state Taraba, I will advertise Glo. You are the best,” he stated.

He enjoined subscribers who are not on the Glo network to switch over to enjoy wonderful benefits on both voice and data. “Glo truly rewards”, he gleefully intoned.

Shishi, a father of three from Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, who has been on the Glo network since its inception in 2003, thanked the telecommunications giant for making him a car owner. He said

when he was informed he had won the car, he was reluctant to inform his wife who is resident in his native state about the prize because he thought the call was a scam.

Similarly, Mrs. Anyebe Roseline, a Federal Civil Servant, who won a generator said, “ I am very happy. I am short of words. I never expected I was going to win. I just do not know how to express my joy. I promise to remain a Glo subscriber for life. From today, I will also get Glo cards for all my friends and family members”.

Forty-year-old Napolean Adu

Atcho who works with Flour Mills won a generator in the promo. He said, “This is the biggest gift I have ever won in life. The gift I had won before was a recharge card! I am encouraged, I am so, so happy!

Mr. Agbaje Bolaji Jamiu, a 44-year-old estate surveyor, who won Microwave declared, “As a rule, I do not play lotteries, so I was pleasantly surprised when informed that I won. I recharge a lot because of my real estate job.

I am happy for the recognition.

I feel fulfilled for winning the microwave.”

Nigeria to Host 2018 ConMin West Africa Conference Nigeria will host the second ConMin West Africa conference from May 15 to 17, 2018 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. A statement signed by the Public Relations Manager of IMAG GmbH, Claudia Grzelke, said the conference would bring together suppliers, manufacturers and solution

providers who would showcase an array of products from the construction, building materials and mining sectors.

It also noted that the 2018 National Mining Summit will take place alongside ConMin West Africa. The two-day conference will provide opportunity for industry experts to share their views

about the latest developments, opportunities and challenges in the sector.

It further stated that the organisers have unveiled a new pavilion for 2018 entirely dedicated to sustainability.

The Managing Director IMAG GmbH, Peter Bergleiter, in the statement said, “We enable businesses to establish

a foothold in the market at an early stage and obtain high quality contacts. The combination of a trade fair and co-located specialised conference attended by top professionals from the industry is very well received, as the overwhelmingly positive feedback from this year’s participants has proven.”

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Fayose Urges Maina to Mention ‘Thieves’ in Buhari’s Govt Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Following allegation raised by the embattled Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdullahi Maina, that there are thieves in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has challenged him to unveil the identities of these individuals.

Fayose also appealed to him to name the dramatis personae that aided his alleged fraudulent reinstatement as well as answer to all fraud related cases against him.

The governor described Maina’s interview shown on Channels Television yesterday as explosive, saying he was sure that President Buhari will look the other way just as he did on the allegation of award of $25 billion contracts without following due process made against the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and many others.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public

Communications, Lere Olayinka, Fayose, said he had again been vindicated on his position that the corruption being perpetrated in President Buhari’s government was unprecedented and mind-boggling.

He said: “The Maina’s challenge is another opportunity for President Buhari to proof to Nigerians that he is actually fighting corruption.

But I am sure that since it again bothers on his closest men, he won’t do anything.”

The governor said it was important for Maina to wash himself clean of the N2.1 billion pension fraud that made him escaped from the country and earned him dismissal from the civil service.

Fayose, who challenged Maina to name those in Buhari’s government that are thieves, noted that “there is no need waiting for the president to conduct public inquiry on the pension scam, Maina should just go ahead and tell Nigerians who the thieves among Buhari’s men are.

“Even after naming them, Maina should not expect any action from the president, rather,

he should be contented with satisfying his conscience and putting those Buhari’s men that he said are pretending to be saints in the court of public opinion.”

While maintaining his position on the ‘self-appointed’ human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), over the allegation by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), linking the lawyer to a N1 billion property on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, Fayose said it was sad that Falana and his collaborators have turned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to their source of huge income.

“EFCC has become Falana’s daily meal. Falana and his collaborators live on EFCC. They have turned themselves to brokers of bail and suppliers of lawyers to accused persons while at the same time buying seized properties at ridiculous amount.

“Even the likes of Madaki, who have retired from service, has been brought back into the system so that he can continue to help them perpetrate fraud,” he said.

PENGASSAN to FG: Implement Policies to Create Employment Solomon Elusoji The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the federal government to implement improved policies and regulations that can grow investments in the oil and gas sector which will, in return, create more employment for Nigerians while securing existing ones.

PENGASSAN made this call when its Central Working Committee (CWC) paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, recently.

While condemning the rampant cases of insecurity of personnel

and damage to oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta and soliciting for an improved security system, PENGASSAN’s President, Francis Johnson, in his remarks during the visit, assured the federal government it would support any initiative that would lead to job creation and job security as against offshoring of jobs.

Although Johnson praised the enormous efforts and giant strides of Kachikwu since he assumed office as the minister, he condemned the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

“The delay in the passage of the bill by the National Assembly has impacted negatively on the industry and the nation’s economy

as a whole,” he said.

“We are canvassing for your support in fast tracking the process, as we are ready to collaborate with both the executive and the legislature in resolving labour issues envisaged in the bill.”

On the state of the refineries, Johnson noted that “the association emphatically promises to support any sustainable model that can make the refineries effective and profitable. Our association seeks strong commitment from the government to carry out a comprehensive rehabilitation of the three refineries with timelines and effect strategies of adequate and sustainable crude supply to the refineries.”

FG will Tackle Violent Extremism, Says Lai Mohammed The federal government has come up with a comprehensive strategy to tackle violent extremism across the country, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

Speaking during a visit to the office of the Leadership Newspaper in Abuja yesterday, the minister said the strategy was contained in a document, entitled: ‘Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism’, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja yesterday.

The document was developed after consultations with the agencies of government, civil society organisations, media, academia and the international community, he said.

Mohammed said the administration is steadily restoring

peace and security to the Northeast, which was in the grip of the terrorists when it (Administration) assumed office on May 29, 2015. ‘’We have put Boko Haram on the run. Occasionally, they attack soft targets, but even that is being tackled with intelligence-driven measures,’’ he said.

The minister also said the administration is revamping the economy, adding that the Naira is now stable, foreign reserves have risen from $23 billion to $35 billion within a year, Nigeria has been named among the top 10 reforming economies in the world and the country has leapfrogged 24 places in the ease of doing business rankings. ‘’We are taming inflation, which has fallen for eight consecutive months. We are building infrastructure and we are creating jobs. Also, I am glad to inform you that capital importation into

Nigeria in Q3 2017 recorded a substantial increase, compared to the past few quarters, as the economy continued to recover from recession. The total capital imported in Q3 was recorded at $4,145.1 million, more than double the inflow in the second quarter of this year, representing an increased value of 147.5% on a year-on-year basis,’’ he said.

On the fight against corruption, Mohammed said the administration is winning the war against corruption, having succeeded in driving corruption under the table.

He hailed the Leadership newspaper for carrying out its duties professionally, adding: ‘’You have supported us and you have criticised us, and each time you have been guided by the ethics of your profession - fairness, accuracy, impartiality, truthfulness, and objectivity,’’ he said.

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ECOWAS Parliament Moves to Assert Financial Autonomy Adopts proposed 284.9m UA budget for 2018 Alex Enumah in Abuja The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in what appears to be a move to assert its independence from the ECOWAS Commission, has directed its Committee on Finance and Budgetary Control to investigate the powers of the Finance Commissioner over the Parliament and advise the lawmakers accordingly.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Moustapha Cisse Lo, gave the directive after a brief consultation with parliamentarians on the need to check alleged highhandedness of the finance commissioner over the Parliament.

He gave the directive during the presentation of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the consolidated Budget of the community for year 2018 at the

ongoing Second Ordinary session in Abuja.

The parliament, however, following the report of the Ad-hoc Committee adopted the proposed budget of 284.9m West African Units of Account (UA) (approximately 122 billion naira) for the community for the year 2018.

According to the speaker, the finance commissioner had continued to meddle into the activities of the parliament by determining entourage of the speaker on official trips.

He alleged that the finance commissioner had refused to pay his entitlement and that of his communication officer over there trip to Vienna on the grounds that only the speaker was invited on the visit.

“If I am invited somewhere and the United Nations at that level, it is up to me to determine

who should accompany me to say what on behalf of parliament.

“What right does he have to say that considering that the funds were provided for in the budget? To this moment, we have not even executed our budget 65 per cent. What is the point of passing a budget if you cannot execute it?

“At the commission, they even go as far as the United States with as much as 20 people and it is approved.

“Should we be a parliament that is at the mercy of the

financial controller? No, that is unacceptable and we are going to fight this to the finish at the Council of Ministers and at the Summit”, he said.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Moustapha Cisse Lo, before proposing the adoption of the report congratulated the committee for doing what he described as a great job.

He stated that this is the first time the parliament was been presented with an opportunity to scrutinize and have inputs into the budget of the community.

He commended the painstaking efforts of the committee, adding that despite the fact that they had to learn in the process of delivering on their mandate, they have done very well.

The committee chaired by Hon. Orlando Pereira Dias of Cape Verde, consisted of 35 members drawn from other standing committees of the parliament.

They had spent four days ( 22-25 November) to take a critical look into the 284,909,801.47 UA draft budget for the community in the year 2018 by the ECOWAS

Commission.

However, the committee in its report observed that the community levy constitutes the main source of funding of the community’s budget and that the poor response of most member states to a large extent jeopardised the implementation of activities of the community institutions.

Dias therefore called on parliamentarians whose states are defaulting in their financial obligations to speak with their respective governments to pay up their arrears.

Brutalised Enugu APC Gubernatorial Candidate Recounts Ordeal, Decries Non-arrest of Attackers Still sweating over the injuries sustained after he was brutalised at the recently held local government elections in Enugu State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2015 gubernatorial candidate, Okey Ezea, has decried the freedom which his attackers still enjoy.

Ezea, in a statement made available to THISDAY said it was an ugly experience that occurred in his hometown, Itchi in Ibagwa- South L.G.A of the state.

He said, “The state government called for local government election and gave us their words that it will be free and fair; that parties would be called to come and participate and voters would be allowed to vote freely to decide their councillor, chairmanship candidates but it wasn’t to be.

“We also agreed that the local government materials would be taken from the state electoral commission office in Enugu to the police divisions in various local government areas for safe custody where every party will be at arm’s length instead of taking them to the local government headquarters.

“Lo and behold, on Friday, November 3, few hours to the elections, report came that the state electoral commission, ENSEC, has decided to take the materials to the local government headquarters.

“The following morning, our candidates, started calling that they went to local government headquarters where the materials were supposed to be and that they were not allowed to go inside.

“Meanwhile, that same Friday, immediately I got information that the materials were going to be in the local government headquarters, I called the ENSEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Ajiogu, and he said if they don’t have enough space at the police station they would take them to the local headquarters for safe keeping and they will share everything the next morning.

“He gave me his words that if we go there the following morning and these things were not complete, we should just call him and he would

cancel elections in the area and bring fresh documents.

“I also called the commissioner of police and he said he has asked the DPO to go to the local government to provide maximum security so that the following morning, the parties will be there to share the materials.

“We believed all. Then, we went home. When we got there in the morning, all the materials were gone. I accosted the member representing the area in the House of Representative, Hon. Patrick Asadu, as he seemed to be in charge of the activities at the headquarters.

“He rather said we should go to our wards that they are going to distribute them at the polling box there.

“I left peacefully and went to my village from where I went to the distribution centre “When I got there, there was argument with the woman that was acting as ENSEC Supervisor. Our people said she had only five bags for five polling units while there are seven polling units in my ward.

“We asked her where have they took the other two but she could not explain satisfactorily. In fact, she was confused and stated that she does not have the result sheets.

“We questioned how she could come for election without result sheets butshecouldnotgiveacredibleanswer.

We then concluded that they must have gone to write results secretly and we expressed that fear to the DPO. “I went away about a kilometer from that distribution center and that was when I saw a convoy of about ten Hilux vans coming with full headlamp and siren.

“Initially, I thought they were policemen or soldiers but when I saw the guns they were raising up, most of them were pump action riffles, I knew it was not any Nigeria security forces. They were all in black and black.

“When they got to where we were, a serving commissioner in the state was the first person to jump out of the vehicle and made straight to me saying that I have been giving them trouble with this my APC.

CONSULTATIVE VISIT

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) with the national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus (second right); former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (second left) and Hon. Augustine Okpara (third left) and others, after Secondus addressed the state delegates to the December 9 National Convention, in Enugu,.... yesterday.

Delta Cautions Arewa Community against Obstructing Asaba Renewal Plan Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Government has charged leaders of Arewa community against resisting government’s efforts at urban renewal in the state capital including removal of ramshackle structures especially at the Cable Point Area of Asaba metropolis.

The Arewa community, comprising mainly Hausa/Fulani residents, has demanded that government called to order one Chief Ubaka Ugbaka, the Managing Director of Roxwood to establish the actual position of the state government on the matter.

Ugbaka, also the urban renewal consultant, had alleged threats to his life and those of his staff, claiming that he only recently escaped being kidnapped by the whiskers while threatening messages to his staff over the project has continued.

Cable Point area of Asaba is a densely populated neighbourhood characterised by untidy structures and slum environment, which has constituted serious challenge to plans at upgrading of infrastructure in the state capital.

The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency has maintained its readiness to engage in massive urban renewal of Asaba and adjoining areas in a bid to raise the physical and infrastructure befitting

The Arewa Community, comprising mainly Hausa/Fulani residents, has demanded that government called to order one Chief Ubaka Ugbaka, the Managing Director of Roxwood to establish the actual position of the state government on the matter.

Ugbaka, also the urban renewal consultant, had alleged threats to his life and those of his staff, claiming that he only recently escaped being kidnapped by the whiskers while threatening messages to his staff over the project has continued.

Cable Point area of Asaba is a densely populated neighborhood characterised by untidy structures and slum environment, which has constituted serious challenge to plans at upgrading of infrastructure in the state capital.

The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency has maintained its readiness to engage in massive urban renewal of Asaba and adjoining areas in a bid to raise the physical and infrastructure befitting the status of Asaba as a state capital.

However, the Director General, Delta State Capital Development Agency (DSCDA) Chief Clement Ofuani, in a meeting with the Arewa Community in Asaba yesterday, warned that their opposition to redevelopment was wrong while their threats cannot hold water.

He said nobody should give the urban renewal any ethnic slang as it was targeted at a particular tribe or religion.

Ufuani noted that Igbos Igbiras, Hausas, Yorubas and others were also living at Cable Point but none of them that have land there bought it in the name of their tribe or ethnic nationality.

He said: “It is a very wrong step to take and that nobody should tell the state government a slump should remain a slump in the capital city of a state in this country. You can’t have such in Abuja and anywhere else and be happy about it. What we should be saying is how our businesses and houses can be protected and re development plan carried out.’’

Ofuani, who expressed displeasure for creating unnecessary tension in Asaba over the rumoured plans that DSCDA has concluded plans to destroy Hausa quarters at Cable Point Area, said the state government was not carrying out any compulsory acquisition of landed property within Asaba.

Government has the right to invite investors, raise money itself for development purposes, he said while promising that in the process abide by international benchmarks by preserving historical sites and given the people living there their

due respect.

“No approved building plan to show the state government wanted to demolish buildings and start construction immediately, he explained, saying that only property owners can give ‘Power of Attorney’ unlike their misconceptions that it emanated from Ugbaka, the consultant.”

He revealed that the state government would continue to encourage private sector developers to do their commercial transactions, saying historical sites would be protected to become tourist attractions.

Earlier, Babajero Ibrahim, Seriki of Arewa Community, had stated that they did not want such remoulding especially when the Ugbaka wanted to cause problems between them, Asaba community and the state government.

Speaking through Alhaji lbrahim Lawal, he said temper rose when houses, mosques, cemeteries and others were marked for demolition, warning that the process must stop.

Similarly, Ogbueshi Adizue Eboka pointed out that nobody should make the indigines of Asaba, the original owners of the land have the impression that some people are claiming their land as an ethnic homeland and trying to truncate the peace that has long existed between neighbors.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS Nigeria to Host FIFA Executive Summit Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

NFF explains reason for Rohr’s contract extension Femi Solaja For the first time since 2009, when Nigeria hosted the FIFA Under-17 World Cup championship during which the country played host to various arms meetings of the World football –ruling body, Nigeria is set to play host to another FIFA deliberation and this time, it is the Executive Football Summit (EFS) meeting.

The event according to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will come up in February next year in Lagos.

“Nigeria has been selected as a Member Association to host one of the 12 FIFA Executive Football Summit meetings happening between November 2017 and March 2018, as part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s vision of ‘bringing FIFA back to football and football back to FIFA’,” NFF President, Amaju Pinnick confirmed yesterday.

As a step in right direction, NFF has picked Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island as venue and hotel accommodation for the big event, slated for 20th February 2018.

Pinnick added: “This is a very important event on the FIFA calendar. That Nigeria is deemed good enough to be among the 12 countries to host the FIFA

Executive Football Summit meetings is no mean feat.

It is another marker of our global acceptability, visibility and reckoning.

“The NFF opted for Eko Hotels and Suites because FIFA officials are familiar with that facility and its services.

It hosted FIFA teams during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup. Also important is the fact that the hotel has a new facility named The Signature, and which is of 5-Star quality and rating.

“The entire project, including the expenses of all the participants, such as their accommodation, feeding and transportation and all other logistics having to do with the programme, will be bankrolled by FIFA. ” A FIFA official was in Lagos during the week to check out on accommodation and other facilities listed for the event.

In another development, the NFF boss gave an insight on why the federation decided to give the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr a fresh two-year contract.

“It was a unanimous decision of the Federation’s leadership to ensure there are no distractions of any size or complexion around Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation and participation informed the

Spain, Lebanon to Battle it out in Copa Lagos Opener The annual beach soccer tournament organised by Kinetic Sports, has released the official fixtures for this year’s edition of COPA Lagos, which is set to hold from the 8th to 10th of December 2017 at The Eko Atlantic City.

Commencing on Friday, 8th December 2017, the Arsenal Beach soccer team will open the club challenge tournament against the Kebbi State beach soccer team after which the Spanish national beach soccer team will battle it out against Lebanon. The Gidi Sharks will play their first ever competitive match at COPA Lagos against the Pepsi Football Academy while Nigeria’s Sand Eagles will close the day with a match against Morocco’s national

beach soccer team.

Gidi Sharks will return to COPA Lagos the next day, Saturday, 9th December 2017, in a match against Kebbi State beach soccer team, followed by Spain against Morocco. Arsenal BSC will then lock horns with Pepsi Football Academy and lastly, Nigeria’s Sand Eagles will play against Lebanon.

The third and final day of COPA Lagos, which is definitely the biggest day of the tournament, will feature: Pepsi Football Academy against Kebbi State beach soccer, Lebanon against Morocco, Gidi Sharks against Arsenal beach soccer team and Nigeria’s Sand Eagles play against Spain’s national beach soccer team.

Monimichelle Leads Bid for CIV Stadiums Re-grassing Job Nigeria’s stadium facility construction outfit, Monimichelle is leading the list of companies bidding to re grass the stadiums in Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast which lost out of qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup is bidding to host the 2019 African Nations Cup, with CAF not impressed with facilities on ground in Cameroon, where the tournament was initially

billed to hold.

CEO of Monimichelle, Ebi Egbe disclosed yesterday that that his company made a first class presentation which the Ivorian authorities are very impressed with.

The Ivorian authorities we further gathered are impressed that an African corporate outfit has the expertise needed to give their stadiums world class playing turfs.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino (right) with NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick at a FIFA function last year

offer of a fresh, two –year contract to Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr,” he explained.

Franco-German Rohr, signed by the NFF in August 2016, has met the first milestone of his contract, which is qualifying the Super Eagles for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals. Nigeria thoroughly overhauled a so –called Group of Death, spanking 2012 AFCON

winners Zambia home and away and earning four points from home-and-away clashes with fellow 2014 World Cup finalists Cameroon and Algeria. Second –placed Zambia finished six points behind the Super Eagles.

“We have decided to confront head-on any possible area of conflict or controversy, and fully resolve each and every possible friction point well ahead of the competition.

“After signing the agreement on payment to the team from expected FIFA income, the next stage was to take care of the Technical Adviser. He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future,” stated Pinnick.

The 64 –year old Rohr, a former Germany defender, flaunts a sterling record with the Super Eagles, winning seven of 12 matches and

drawing four in his 15 months in charge so far. His only loss was the 0-2 reverse to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.

Under him, the Eagles have beaten Tanzania, Zambia (twice), Algeria, Togo, Cameroon and two –time world champions Argentina, and drawn with Senegal, Corsica, Cameroon and Algeria.

Okpekpe Race Gets IAAF Silver Label The Okpekpe international 10km Road Race has been elevated to an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Silver Label event. This good news was conveyed to the promoter of the race,Mike Itemuagbor

by Alessio Punzi,the IAAF Road Running Manager. ‘’Following a thorough review of your application; in recognition of the role played by your event for the promotion of elite road racing in your region, and of your efforts towards the improvement of the technical aspects of the event, the IAAF is happy to inform you that the Okpekpe Road

Race 10KM is upgraded to IAAF Silver Label status for 2018,’wrote Punzi in an email to Itemuagbor.

Spokesman for the race,Dare Esan says organisers of the history-making race is happy about the development.

‘We are delighted the IAAF has recognised our leading role in promoting road running in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.The Okpekpe international 10km road race has set the pace for other road races in Nigeria nay West Africa.We are the first road race in West Africa to be designated by the IAAF as one

NCF Sets Stage for National Men’s Cricket Championship With the conclusion of the National Women’s Championship at the Abuja Cricket Oval last weekend, the National Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that the stage is set for the 2017 Men’s national Championship.

President of NCF, Professor Adams Yahaya Ukwenya, said yesterday that the journey to the national finals for each team will begin on Thursday November 30th across the country.

“We are encouraged at the level of skill displayed at the women’s final in

Abuja which makes us anticipate more as the men’s event as the finals gets underway from next Thursday.

“Again, at the Federation, we have put all necessary arrangements in place to make sure both the regional finals, quarter-finals and the final in Lagos produce worthy champion in terms of officiating, logistics and other organisational details,” he said.

Eight teams will emerge from the preliminary rounds at the five zones from Thursday 30th November.

of the leading road races around the world since the classification was introduced in 2008.For three years since 2015 the race was organised under the prestigious IAAF Road Race Bronze Label and and now we are the first road race to be granted a silver label status in West Africa,’said Esan..

He revealed the official Label certificate signed by the IAAF president,Lord Sebastian Coe has been received by the organisers of the race.

‘The success story of the Okpekpe international 10km road race would not have been possible without the active role played by the Edo state

government who provided the enabling environment,including a world class tarred road from Auchi to the hilly town of Okpekpe.We are particularly grateful to His Excellencies, Comrade Adam Oshiomole,the immediate past governor of Edo state under whose watch the race was launched and his successor,Godwin Obaseki whose advice and words of encouragement have made the race better. We are also grateful to the Honourable Minister of Sports,Barrister Solomon Dalung who availed us of his presence at the fifth edition of the race on May 13 this year’.

Title Contenders Boast at 49th Asoju Oba Cup As the 49th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup enters crucial stage, the title contenders have started talking tough with the aim of making it to the podium during the grand finale.

From 2015 semifinalist – Azeez Jamiu to former champion, Olaide Atinuke, the title will surely go to the wire with most of the seeded players already getting easy passage to the last 32.

Jamiu, who had won the cadet and junior titles of the competitions at several occasions, is surely aiming

to add the senior gong to his laurels.

“Before I travelled out of Nigeria, I had been featuring in the tournament and I won the cadet and junior titles but the only title eluding me is the senior title. I was beaten in the semifinal of the 2015 edition while I was not available during last year’s edition. But this year, I am fully ready and I must also admit that there are lot of good players but I will surely try my best not to miss out from the highest award this year,” Jamiu said.

WEDNES Ëœ Í°ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ëž T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS C O U N T D O W N TO W O R L D C U P D R AW

Amazing Facts on the 32 Finalists to Russia 2018 As the draw date gets nearer, Sports Village Square brings to you some salient points on the 32 teams that will be involved in Friday’s Final World Cup Draw. The Teams are arraigned in alphabetical order.

ARGENTINA Argentina are competing in their 17th FIFA World Cup and have qualified for 11 consecutive editions starting with Germany 1974.

The only player to score a hat-trick in two different editions is Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, who hit a treble against Greece in 1994 and another three against Jamaica in 1998.

Argentina’s haul of 19 goals in the South American World Cup preliminaries is the lowest goal return by a qualifying team since the tournament first adopted the single-group format ahead of the 1998 finals.

No team has been involved in as many World Cup penalty shoot-outs as Argentina, who have contested five and won four of them.

With his three strikes against Ecuador in the decisive last qualifier for Russia 2018, Lionel Messi became the all-time joint-leading scorer in the South American Zone preliminary competition with 21 goals alongside Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, both players having overtaken Hernan Crespo’s career total of 19. Messi’s hat-trick was also the second by an Argentinian in World Cup qualification, after Gonzalo Higuain struck three times against Chile in 2011.

AUSTRALIA Australia are entering their fifth World Cup and the fourth in a row. They have only been beyond the opening round once, in 2006 when they were stopped by Italy in the Round of 16.

In 1974 Australia became the first Oceanian team to qualify for the World Cup. The Socceroos last represented the OFC in the 2006 finals, before joining the Asian confederation.

The team have won twice in 13 attempts at the World Cup, beating Japan 3-1 in 2006 and Serbia 2-1 in 2010. The only campaign in which they lost all three of their group matches was in Brazil four years ago.

Australia played 22 qualifiers to win their place in Russia 2018, equalling the record held

by Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, who both contested the same number in the 2002 tournament. Furthermore, the Aussies were the most prolific scorers in the 2018 preliminary event, netting 51 goals.

The Australians qualified by overcoming Honduras in the intercontinental play-off (0-0 away and 3-1 at home). Three out of five of their qualifications have come via the play-offs, with the Socceroos overcoming Korea Republic to reach Germany 1974 and outsmarting Uruguay on penalties in the return leg of the 2006 campaign.

BELGIUM Belgium were the first European side to qualify for the finals (apart from Russia, who qualified automatically as hosts), following their 2-1 victory in Greece on September 3, 2017.

Belgium are one of four teams that competed in the first three editions of the FIFA World Cup before the Second World War, along with Brazil, France and Romania.

The Red Devils equalled their biggest winning margin in the 9-0 victory over Gibraltar on 31 August 2017. Previous nine-goal victories include an identical scoreline in a 1994 friendly against Zambia and a 10-1 rout of San Marino in a World Cup qualifier in 2001.

The Belgians hold the tournament record for consecutive draws, with five spanning the 1998 and 2002 editions.

This will be the team’s 13th participation at the World Cup finals. Belgium made their tournament debut at the inaugural edition in 1930 and achieved their best placing of fourth at Mexico 1986.

BRAZIL With their 3-0 victory over Paraguay in Sao Paulo on March 28, 2017, Brazil became the first team (excluding hosts Russia) to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals.

The five-time champions are the only team to have participated in all 21 editions of the World Cup since 1930.

The Brazilians hold the record for consecutive wins in the global showpiece with 11, a series that began against Turkey in 2002 and ended with defeat by France in the 2006 quarter-finals.

Brazil’s tally of 70 World Cup victories is a

Germany won the last edition after a line goal win over Argentina in Brazil 2016

tournament record.

The first goal scored on the road to these finals, Willian’s opener in the 3-1 victory over Venezuela, was also Brazil’s 200th in the history of World Cup qualification. During this preliminary tournament, specifically in the 2-1 success over Colombia in Manaus, A Selecao also became the latest South American team to play their 100th World Cup qualifier.

COLOMBIA This is Colombia’s sixth participation in the finals of the FIFA World Cup’. They achieved their best placing during the last campaign in Brazil 2014, reaching the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by the host team.

The team is called Los Cafeteros and have collected only two draws from 18 matches contested in the World Cup and both came against European sides. A 4-4 draw in 1962 against Soviet Union was followed by a 1-1 stalemate in 1990 against the eventual champions Germany FR. James Rodriguez bagged six goals in Brazil 2014, making him the tournament’s top marksman and the first Colombian to claim this honour.

Ten of the 26 goals scored by Colombia in the World Cup were netted in the last 15 minutes of play.

Radamel Falcao, Teofilo Gutierrez and Macnelly Torres all found the net on the road to Russia 2018, thereby equalling the record set by Ivan Valenciano who, until this latest preliminary tournament, was the only Colombian to have scored in three different World Cup qualifying campaigns.

COSTA RICA Costa Rica are appearing in their fifth World Cup and this is the second time they have qualified for back-to-back editions. Before staking a place in the 2014 and 2018 tournaments, La Tricolor also participated in 2002 and 2006.

The Central Americans achieved their best result of all time in Brazil 2014, reaching the quarterfinals where they were knocked out by the Netherlands on penalties. Earlier in the tournament, the Costa Ricans had won their opening-round group ahead of three former world champions, namely Uruguay, Italy and England.

Also in Brazil, La Sele closed out the tournament unbeaten with two wins and three draws (one of which they eventually lost on penalties to the Netherlands). In doing so, they became the second CONCACAF team to finish a World Cup finals campaign undefeated, the first being Mexico in 1986.

On their World Cup debut in 1990 in Italy, Costa Rica were the second of five teams to be coached in the finals by Bora Milutinovic.

On September 1, Costa Rica recorded their first World Cup qualifying win away to USA for 32 years, triumphing 2-0 in Harrison. The Costa Ricans’ last away success had taken place in May 1985, when they edged a 1-0 victory in Torrance ahead of the Mexico 1986 finals. Those two results came either side of six American wins and two draws.

CROATIA Since making their tournament bow in France ’98, Croatia have only failed to qualify for the 2010 edition and will be making their fifth World Cup trophy bid in Russia.

After finishing third in 1998, Croatia were

eliminated in the group round during their next three participations. Davor Suker was the tournament’s top scorer in France with six goals.

Four goals were scored in each of Croatia’s last four World Cup games. The results were a 2-2 draw with Australia in 2006, followed in 2014 by a 3-1 loss to Brazil, a 4-0 win over Cameroon and a 3-1 defeat by Mexico.

For the third time in five qualifications, Croatia have reached the World Cup via the play-off route. The Vatreni overcame Ukraine ahead of the 1998 edition, beat Iceland to reach the 2014 finals and thwarted Greece to secure their place in the 2018 tournament.

Having struck five times on the road to Russia 2018, Mario Mandzukic is the all-time leading Croatian scorer in qualifying, with ten goals, surpassing Bosko Balaban’s career tally of seven.

Mandzukic previously found the net once in the 2010 preliminaries and four times on the 2014 trail.. With three goals in the 6-0 rout of Kosovo, Mandzukic became the second Croatian to bag a hat-trick in qualifying, after Balaban was on target three times in 2001 during the 4-1 victory over Latvia.

DENMARK Denmark are competing in their fifth World Cup, after last appearing in the South Africa 2010 edition. The Scandinavians ventured furthest in 1998 when they made it into the last eight.

Denmark’s most recent campaign in 2010 was their shortest and least successful, ending in a group-round exit for the first time. By contrast, the Danes had reached the knockout stage in all their previous outings.

The average goal return for World Cup matches involving Denmark is 3.18 per game (27 scored, 24 conceded). The north Europeans have scored in all but two of their 16 games contested, losing 3-0 to England in 2002 and 2-0 to the Netherlands in 2010. Their biggest winning margin was 6-1 against Uruguay in 1986, while their worst defeat was 5-1 against Spain in the Round of 16 of the same edition.

Denmark broke new ground by qualifying via the play-offs for the first time. However, they also repeated history by securing their World Cup place with a resounding victory away to Republic of Ireland, just as they did in the 1986 qualifying campaign. On 13 November 1985, the Danes dominated the Irish 4-1 in the final group fixture to leapfrog Soviet Union in the table and thereby book their passage to Mexico 1986. Thirty-two years later in the play-off second leg, they achieved another emphatic victory in Dublin by the score line of 5-1, following a 0-0 home draw in the first leg.

By grabbing a hat-trick in the 5-1 away win over Republic of Ireland in the play-off return leg, Christian Eriksen set a national record of 11 goals scored in a single preliminary tournament, surpassing Ebbe Sand’s previous benchmark of nine dating from the 2002 qualifiers. Eriksen’s 11 strikes also make him Denmark’s top marksman in World Cup qualifying, ahead of past players Preben Elkjaer Larsen, Soren Larsen and Jon Dahl Tomasson on ten.

EGYPT Egypt return to the global showpiece after a 28-year absence, following their last appearance at the 1990 edition in Italy. The Pharaohs have never qualified for a World Cup outside of

Europe, as Italy was also where they made their tournament debut back in 1934.

In that 1934 edition, Egypt became the first African side to participate in the World Cup. The second team, Morocco, did not follow in their footsteps until 1970.

Egypt won all four of their home qualifiers on the road to Russia 2018. The North Africans are unbeaten at home in World Cup qualification since 20 June 2004, when they suffered a 2-1 reverse in Alexandria against Cote d’Ivoire.

Following that setback, the Egyptians have strung together one draw and no fewer than 17 wins, including ten in their last ten games.

Egypt are yet to taste victory in the World Cup after four games played, with a track record of two draws and two defeats. To date they have only faced European opposition, namely Hungary in 1934 and the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and England in 1990.

On October 8 the Egyptians secured qualification for Russia 2018 with one matchday to spare, thanks to their 2-1 victory over Congo in Alexandria. The decisive goal was scored late by Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot on 94 minutes.

ENGLAND England are contesting their 15th World Cup and this campaign equals their record of six consecutive participations, which was set between 1950 and 1970.

Of the eight teams that have won a World Cup, England were the last to make their debut in the competition, kicking off with a 2-0 success against Chile on June 25 1950. The first of England’s 79 goals in the finals was scored by Stan Mortensen.

In the Brazil 2014 tournament, England were eliminated in the group stage without winning any of their matches (one draw and two defeats). The only other time the Three Lions had exited the competition without a victory was in the 1958 edition, when they collected three draws and one defeat.

Harry Kane was England’s top scorer on the qualifying trail to Russia 2018, with five goals.

The forward bagged no fewer than three of those strikes in injury time after 90 minutes, snatching a 2-2 draw with Scotland, sealing a 4-0 over Malta and edging a 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

Besides being England’s most experienced player in the World Cup, with 17 appearances, goalkeeper Peter Shilton shares the tournament record of ten clean sheets with French stopper Fabien Barthez.

FRANCE France are competing in the 15th World Cup and the sixth in a row. Les Bleus were the last side to win the title on home soil, back in 1998.

France have made the title “First time in World Cup history� their own by scoring the competition’s first goal (Lucien Laurent netted in the 19th minute of their 4-1 win over Mexico on 13th July 1930), saving the first penalty (Alex Thepot against Chile on 19 July 1930), scoring the first penalty in extra time (Georges Verriest in the 116th minute against Austria in 1934), scoring the first penalty in a penalty shoot-out (Alain Giresse in the 1982 semi-final against Germany FR), saving the first penalty in a penalty shoot-out (Jean-Luc Ettori, also in the 1982 semi-final) and, finally, scoring the first golden goal through Laurent Blanc in 1998’s Round of 16 match against Paraguay.

Olivier Giroud’s opener in the 5-2 win over Switzerland at Brazil 2014 was the 100th World Cup goal notched by France, who are the fifth team to have passed the century mark after Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Italy.

Subsequently on the trail to Russia 2018, France hit their 200th goal in World Cup qualification.

The milestone was passed on October 7, 2016 when Dimitri Payet made the score 2-0 against Bulgaria, in a match that would eventually finish 4-1 in favour of the home side.

French striker Just Fontaine still holds the record for the most goals scored in a single edition of the World Cup, having struck 13 times in Sweden 1958.

On September 3, France drew 0-0 with Luxembourg in the Stade de Toulouse, their first qualifying match in the southwestern French city for almost 18 years, since they overcame Cyprus 2-0 on 18 November 1989.

To Be Continued

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Wednesday November 29, 2017

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Buhari to Governors

“For Nigerians without sources other than their salaries, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat for Christmas � – President Muhammadu Buhari challenging the 36 states governors to ensure all outstanding salaries and pension of workers and retirees in their respective states are cleared to enable families enjoy a blissful Christmas celebration.

ISSAAREMU GUEST COLUMNIST

Industrial Manifesto for Africa L

ast Monday was the Africa Industrialization Day declared by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). It provided an annual platform for Governments, businesses and organised labour linked to industrial development to examine ways and means to stimulate Africa industrialization process.

Given the impact on national development, employment, climate and living standard of the citizens, industrialisation and industrial policies are too important to be left to governments and businesses alone.

Industrial global union organises 50 million manufacturing workers along the global value chains in 140 countries including Africa in over 650 trade unions. The global union has over a million members in Africa including six sectors in Nigeria, namely textile, petroleum and gas, automobile, mines and solid minerals, energy and chemical and allied products. Sustainable industrial policy is one of the five critical success goals of our global union. The global union has resolved to constructively engage with African governments, businesses, investors and employers as well as development institutions Central banks, BOI, UNIDO on all issues aimed at promoting industrialization and beneficiation in Africa.

Industry is a key driver of sustainable jobs and development for national economies and the foundation of good living standards. It does not matter whether it is first industrial revolution, (Industry 1.0), Second Industrial Revolution (2.0) Third Industrial Revolution (Industry 3.0) or the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), Africans must make what we wear (gold, rings and necklaces, clothes and textile), what we ride, (automobiles), the fuel in our cars (petroleum products) what we build with (iron and steel), soaps we bath with (chemicals and allied products) and generate energy we consume.

Africa must stop exporting raw cottons, crude oil, mineral resources, gold and diamond only to be importing finished goods from China, Europe and America. Either large small or medium scale enterprises, Africa must consume products it produces scale down or halt wholesale importation or smuggling as it is the case in Nigeria. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has over the years shown that manufacturing industry in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lags behind other developing regions of the world.

There are three leading economies in Africa namely Nigeria which is worth some $406 billion, Egypt $332.3 billion and South Africa $294.1billion.

Nigeria only leads in quantity GDP not quality in terms of manufacturing value added. Indeed South Africa at 25% is the highest, followed

by Egypt at 20% and Nigeria with less than 5%. Ghana is even more industrialized at 6% manufacturing value added (MVA). In 2015 Africa had a population of 1.2 billion. Millions of youths join the labour market annually without jobs making them voluntary slaves to Europe and America after three hundreds their forefathers gallantly fought against forced slavery by human predators in Europe and America. The cause of serial deaths on the Mediterranean Sea is wholesale de-industrialization of Africa.

Only industry can provide sustainable jobs and living wages and necessary revenues for government to provide the needed infrastructure for development. For Africa to meet Sustainable Development Goal 2030, especially SDG 9 dealing with industry and innovation Africa the continent must innovate and industrialise. Africa must copy China’s industrialization drive which has within 20 years moved over 250 million people

President Muhammadu Buhari out of poverty through manufacturing and industrialisation.

Africa must make what it consumes; otherwise the rest of the world will consume it. Many African countries have commendably put in place robust documents and policies on industrialization and diversification, but capacity

utilisation is still very low with few existing industries closing down with mass job losses. It’s time South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana!

Zimbabwe, Sudan walked/worked the policies and added value to the continent’s abundant raw materials. I acknowledge and commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for launching the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Together with the existing National Industrial Revolution Plan, the Plan can promote revival of industries and creation of mass decent jobs. But it must be within an overall vision for development not just feverish “diversification Plan’ on the heel of defending collapse of crude oil prices.

A number of commendable initiatives by African governments in promoting wealth generation and reviving the industry include Buy-Africa campaign in South Africa and Buy Made-in-Nigeria campaign. Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo has signed three unprecedented Executive Orders mandating government agencies to spend more of their budgets on locally produced goods and services.

These orders would help in the recovery of many factories in Nigeria, if pressures for smuggling and imports do not undermine them. There are also some commendable sub-national initiatives such as the industrial parks of Ethiopia and Nigeria’s Edo state under Governor Godwin Obaseki. There certainly cannot be industrialisation without electrification.

Nigeria must stop any action plan that will further give scarce public monies to non-performing

privatised electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria. African governments must massively invest in energy mix of hydro, solar and nuclear to drive industrialisation. It is remarkable that ERGP sets the target of reducing petroleum products imports in Nigeria by 80 per cent in 2018. That’s the way to create jobs, decent and sustainable jobs in the petroleum sector. With smart manufacturing or the so-called fourth industrial revolution, Africa has all the options to further add value to raw materials in place of extractions. But there must be Just Transition such that Digitalisation and Industry 4.0 is sensitive to the much-needed social justice for workers affected by the new technology in production.

The benefits of industrialisation should not be privatised while the costs are socialised.

Whatever forms of Industrialisation, (First or fourth industrial revolution) there must be decent sustainable jobs for the workers with job security, living wages and living pensions. Yes, technology makes work easier, but they also could lead to job losses. For they’re to be JUST transition to 4th Industrial revolution, there should be education and re-training for the workers. Employers and governments should not criminalize skill gabs as a result of digitalisations of production. On the contrary, the Fourth Industrial Revolution calls for the need to develop skills and know-how by workers to work with digital technologies. t$PNSBEF "SFNV NOJ JT UIF 7JDF 1SFTJEFOU PG *OEVTUSJBM (-0 6OJPO

A Prophecy On Zimbabwe Kingsley Osadolor I spent some weeks in Zimbabwe in August/ September of 1996. Against the background of my lived experience many years earlier, I captured my impressions and prognoses of the country in a special report that was the magazine cover story of Lagos-based The Guardian on Sunday, which I edited at the time. Entitled, “Back To Harare: Memoirs Of A Recent Visit,� the report was published on September 15, 1996. With the dramatic events in Zimbabwe, which culminated in the resignation of the country’s ossified ruler, President Robert Mugabe, on November 21, 2017, I reproduce below, the concluding paragraphs of the special report published 21 years ago: “Some things and people–-after a while–-hardly change. Like the peripatetic President Robert Mugabe who is perhaps one of Africa’s most widely travelled heads of state. At 72, there is no let-up to his global junkets on which he is, in any case, a travelling salesman for his country.

During my visit last month, Mugabe was off to South Africa for his honeymoon, and thence to Lesotho for a summit of SADC heads of state.

Amid the strike by civil servants, Mugabe took off for three days to Kenya. Last week, he was in Jamaica. His itinerary is open-ended. “So, too, is the answer to the question: Who next after Mugabe? Or, what happens after Mugabe? Unlike Mandela who has announced his retirement effective 1999, speculation still trails the political future of Mugabe. After 16 years on the seat (first as Prime Minister: 19801987, and executive President since December 1987) and with another electoral mandate (at 30 per cent voter turn-out) just a few months ago, Mugabe possesses all the trappings of a sit-tight ruler enamoured of a paternalism that is already stagnating the country.

“The country is politically sterile but stable.

There is no viable opposition. Even the eccentric Edgar Tekere who launched the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) in 1989 is retracing his prodigal steps to the ruling ZANU-PF party.

Tekere kept up a good-boy image at Mugabe’s wedding, an appearance that could brighten his chances of re-absorption into the hierarchy of ZANU-PF. The only opposition to ZANU-PF is ZANU-PF itself. It is not just a battleground for the majority Shona and minority Ndebele; it is also a battlefield for the various Shona clans whose parapoism is gaining in crescendo with the steep rise in economic adversities. “There are two Vice Presidents: Simon Muzenda and Joshua Nkomo. Nkomo has been so ill lately, and was recently in Egypt for medical attention, that he is effectively out of contention; plus his old age. Grace Mugabe, the new First Lady, said she was almost moved to tears when she saw Nkomo saunter into the Kutama chapel for Mugabe’s wedding. Nkomo left before the service was over. His political ambitions are also, quite clearly, over. So, too, are the hopes of Muzenda who, at 76, is fit for retirement.

He cannot stand a ghost of a chance in an era where his mentor, Mugabe, is off-stage.

There is a line of possibles, including the articulate Eddison Zvobgo, one of the architects of Zimbabwe’s independence constitution. He was recently involved in an accident – and trust Harare’s rumour mill; stories went round that it was a freak accident meant to eliminate him, since he was a potent challenge to sit-tight Mugabe. But the incident he was involved in was an accident, purely so. Yet, politically, Zvobgo has a liability as a chieftain of Masvingo, the former Midlands Province; his national appeal remains suspect. Just as Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa and

Joseph Msika and John Nkomo are seen first as minority Ndebeles with roots in the defunct ZAPU. However, two securocrats, Emmerson M’nangagwa, now Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and Sydney Sekeremayi, now National Security Minister, are front-runners in any eventuality. “One can conceive of a worst-case scenario for Mugabe, should he choose not to quit voluntarily, to play the elder statesman. As the economic difficulties multiply, he will more and more be seen as representative of the problems, notwithstanding that he enjoys tremendous respect among members of his party and government.

And if he fails to vacate, internal dissension might lead to intra-party revolt that seizes advantage of any incident, much like the National Party in South Africa took advantage of the stroke suffered by then President P.W. Botha to oust him and usher in De Klerk who became one of the makers of the new South Africa. “Whether Mugabe, brilliant and intelligent as he is, would allow himself to become another Botha remains to be seen. Mugabe remains in good health, although the health of his county is declining. Armed with a stubborn will and ever ready to rationalize Zimbabwe’s problems, Mugabe may well be tempted to soldier on for as long as he believes he can. Except that after 16 years, knowing no profession than politics and occupation than head of state/government, Mugabe may yet realise that Africa’s worst problems have arisen largely because of the inability of its leaders to separate the state from themselves and to step aside to allow for a badly-needed virility in an increasingly demanding job and environment.� t 0TBEPMPS JT DVSSFOUMZ DP )PTU PG /5" T (PPE .PSOJOH /JHFSJB

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