Friday 5th JANUARY 2018

Herdsmen Continue Rampage, Kill One in Benue, Woman in Ondo Tension mounts in Nasarawa over migrating herders We must remain united against violence, says Saraki Bolaji Adebiyi, Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja, James Sowole in Akure and George Okoh in Makurdi Despite the efforts by the security agencies to end the gruesome murders carried out armed cattle herders in the

country, they continued with their killing spree when they allegedly killed a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Patience Salami, in Arodoye community in Akure South Local Government

Area of Ondo State, recently.

One person was also reportedly killed in Mbayer Yandev Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State, while

several people were sacked from Anyii in Logo Local Government Area in the state on Wednesday night.

This is just as the alarm was raised by the Tiv community in

Nasarawa State over skirmishes between residents of Awe and Keane Local Government Area in the state, which both border Benue State, and migrating herdsmen from Benue.

Troops Rescue Another Chibok Girl in Pulka… Page 12

Although it was not verified by the Nasarawa Police Command or the state government, four deaths were reportedly recorded in clashes said to have occurred when residents in the two local Continued on page 10

Friday 5 January, 2018 Vol 22. No 8296. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

PDP Asks Amaechi to Resign as Minister over His Appointment as Buhari's Campaign Director… Page 12

Oil Hits $68, Boosts Nigeria’s Revenue, But Petrol Imports Hurt Finances Kachikwu: Presidential C’ttee will decide on retention of petrol at N145/ltr Senate backs down, keeps mum on subsidy issue Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja with agency report The price of crude oil rose further yesterday exceeding $68 per barrel, its highest since May 2015, supported by unrest in Iran and raising concern about risks to supplies, cold weather

in the United States boosting demand, and output cuts led by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The development, which will increase the Nigerian government’s oil revenues to fund the 2018 budget, will Continued on page 8

Slowdown in Treasury Bills Issuance to Hurt Banks’ Profits Obinna Chima Fitch Ratings yesterday stated that Nigerian banks may find it more difficult to sustain their profitability this year, given the decline in net treasury bill issuance by the federal government this year.

The rating agency said in a statement that the slowdown in NTBs’ issuance marked a change of strategy, as the government looks to increase its financing from external sources and longer-dated

domestic issuances.

In addition, Fitch stated that its 2018 rating outlook for the Nigerian banking sector was negative, forecasting that some Tier-2 banks would struggle to remain profitable this year.

The federal government had announced plans to refinance some maturing domestic debts with external borrowings as part of its overall debt management strategy of reducing debt service.

Continued on page 8

ON THE TRAIL AGAIN… TO 2019?

L-R: Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; President Muhammadu Buhari; and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, taking a ride on one of new coaches and locomotives commissioned yesterday in Kaduna for the Abuja-Kaduna rail line

2

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

3

4

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

5

6

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

7

Ëœ Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜ Ëž T H I S D AY

8

PAGE EIGHT SLOWDOWN IN TREASURY BILLS ISSUANCE TO HURT BANKS’ PROFITS Other objectives of this strategy are to free up space in the domestic market for other borrowers and achieve a more sustainable debt portfolio mix of 60 per cent domestic and 40 per cent external.

But Fitch pointed out that record treasury bills issuance in 2017 helped in supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) strategy to maintain a stable exchange rate.

High yields on NTBs issued in 2017 (around 13-14 per cent on 90-day bills) had attracted investors and helped to support the naira.

An increase in oil export earnings and the introduction in April 2017 of the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange

Rate Fixing (NAFEX) mechanism, commonly referred to as the “Investors’ and Exporters’ foreign exchange (FX) window�, also helped in stabilising the nation’s currency in the second half of 2017.

However, Fitch noted that Nigerian banks are highly reliant on net interest income for profitability and treasury bills proved to be an important source of profits in 2017. “We expect falling treasury bill yields and lower issuance to put pressure on Nigerian banks’ profitability in 2018. “Interest on securities represented 30 per cent of total gross interest earned in their nine months results for the period ended September 30, 2017 (9M17), averaged across Nigerian banks

rated by Fitch, compared with 23 per cent in 2016. “By end-September 2017, government securities including treasury bills represented more than 15 per cent of the banks’ assets as new lending fell, reflecting weak credit demand, tighter underwriting standards and banks’ reluctance to extend new loans as they focused on extensive restructuring of troubled oil-related and other portfolios,�

Fitch stated.

According to the agency, even the country’s largest banks cut back on new lending last year, with Guaranty Trust Bank’s (GTB) stock of outstanding loans falling 10 per cent in the nine months results for the period ended September 30, 2017, FBN

Holdings’ by 4.6 per cent, Zenith Bank’s by 3.7 per cent and Access Bank’s by 1.1 per cent.

But while the statement by Fitch showed that United Bank for Africa’s loan book grew 5.6 per cent, it pointed out that it was likely driven by non-Nigerian lending, as the bank operates in 22 other African countries.

The CBN’s latest issuance schedule showed that there would be N1.1 trillion ($3.6 billion) of rollovers in 1Q18 against N1.3 trillion of maturing bills. In 2017, rollovers fully covered maturing bills.

It added: “Performance metrics at all banks will be affected by weak demand for lending, falling treasury bill yields, lower foreigncurrency translation gains, and

rising loan impairment charges, but the largest banks are best placed to withstand these challenges. “Operating returns are still strong at GTB (9M17 operating return on average equity (ROAE): 37%), Zenith (28%), UBA (22%) and Access (20%), while FBN Holdings’ operating ROAE is lower (12%) but improving. “However, some second-tier banks with a 9M17 operating ROAE of 4%-6% may struggle to remain profitable in 2018. Our 2018 rating outlook for the Nigerian banking sector is negative, reflecting continued fragility in the operating environment and the Negative Outlook on the sovereign’s “B+� rating.�

Meanwhile, the federal

government raised N161.54 billion at a treasury bill auction on Wednesday after it received subscriptions for more than twice the amount on offer.

The CBN sold N115.85 billion of one-year debt at the rate of 14.30 per cent. It auctioned N11.77 billion and N33.93 billion naira respectively in three- and six- months maturities at 12.54 per cent and 13.92 per cent.

Total subscription stood at N388.50 billion, Reuters reported.

Investors bid as high as 18.6 per cent for the one-year paper.

However, the government has been offering debt at lower yields to track declining inflation, which fell for the tenth month in November to 15.90 per cent.

Baru said: “They also complained that they have a lot of outstanding subsidy debts with government from their past transactions which have not been paid, and they had bought the fuel when the exchange rate was much lower. “The exchange rate has now changed to further expose them, the interest has built up, so they are in a difficult position. They cannot get any credit lines from the banks. “We as NNPC, with the minister, have strived to take it up with the Ministry of Finance, which has also gotten the appropriate approvals from Mr. President. “This has been with the National Assembly, we understand, for almost two months for appropriation, so that they can be paid.�

The NNPC boss added that during the recent fuel crisis, 4,501 trucks bearing petrol were unaccounted for and diverted.

He said the scarcity was first triggered by rumours borne in the media on an impending price increase, the resultant panic buying, and then a oneday strike by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

His position on the appropriation request was however countered by the lawmakers who insisted there was no such request, either by virement or a supplementary budget bill before them.

In attendance at the hearing, which lasted for five hours, were the representatives of Department of Petroleum Resources, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and other stakeholders in the industry.

However, indications that the Senate committee may have soft-pedaled on its initial threat to grill NNPC on the management of the subsidy debt emerged when Marafa, at the opening of the hearing, said presentations and questions should be limited to the recent fuel scarcity itself.

In the course of the hearing, Senators Tayo Alasoadura, Mao Ohuabunwa and Albert Bassey raised questions bordering on the source of the funds being used by the NNPC to cover the differential between the landing cost and the pegged price of N145 per liter.

Marafa, however, urged the NNPC boss to respond to questions other than the subsidy backlog. “There are questions asked bordering on subsidy and I don’t want us to derail. The essence of this sitting is not on whether there is a subsidy or no subsidy,

so answer the questions as far as they affect the supply of fuel. “Questions bordering on who is shouldering the subsidy burden should be dropped for this purpose. What we want are issues of supply, where the gaps are and how we can address this problem,� Marafa ruled.

Senator Phillip Aduda, the vicechairman of the Senate committee, however, maintained that it was necessary to clarify if there was a subsidy regime in place or not.

But Marafa interrupted Aduda and explained that he (Aduda) was outside the meeting room when he (Marafa) ruled that questions on subsidy would not be tackled at the hearing. “We will set another time for them to come and discuss the issue,� he said.

Aduda, however, insisted that the question should be dealt with, prompting Marafa to rule him out of order.

Marafa also instructed Kachikwu not to respond to a question from Senator Hamman Misau on whether as Minister of State for Petroleum, he has direct access to President Muhammadu Buhari. “That is your internal issue. It is diversionary and not related to this hearing,� Marafa said.

There was also some mild drama at the hearing when three persons claimed to be presidents of IPMAN. Obasi Lawson, Sanusi Fari and Okoronkwo Chinedu all introduced themselves as IPMAN presidents when Marafa asked the oil industry operators to introduce themselves at the beginning of the hearing.

Reacting, Marafa said while the development showed democracy at work in the association, the Senate committee would not be dragged into their internal crisis.

He therefore ruled that the chairman of the IPMAN Board of Trustees, Mr. Aminu Abdukadir, would speak on behalf of the association.

OIL HITS $68, BOOSTS NIGERIA’S REVENUE, BUT PETROL IMPORTS HURT FINANCES however, hurt the country’s finances via petrol imports and mounting demands by oil marketers for subsidy payments.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu told THISDAY in a recent interview that the recent petrol scarcity in the country originated from the high cost of crude oil in the international market, saying that while the country wants more revenues from its crude, it is difficult for petrol to be delivered at the fixed price of N145 a litre at the same time.

This is just as he informed the Senate yesterday that the ad hoc presidential committee on petrol scarcity that has been mandated with determining the feasibility of retaining the pump price of petrol at N145 per liter and may explore a plural pricing model.

Reuters reported that six days of anti-government protests in Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, have added a geopolitical risk premium to oil prices.

The unrest has not, however, affected production or exports from Iran.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, went up to $68.27 per barrel yesterday before coming down to $67.90 a barrel.

U.S. crude also rose to $61.86 and also touched the highest since May 2015.

Freezing weather in the U.S. has spurred short-term demand, especially for heating oil.

Apart from the spike in May 2015, oil is trading at its highest since December 2014 – the month after a historic decision by OPEC to stop cutting output to prop up prices deepened a price collapse.

OPEC, supported by Russia and other non-members, began to hammer out a deal to cut supplies again in 2016, aiming to get rid of a supply glut that had built up in the previous two years and boost prices.

The supply cut pact started a year ago and compliance has been high, aided by involuntary output declines in Venezuela, whose economy is collapsing, plus unrest in Nigeria and Libya.

Producers decided to extend the deal for the whole of 2018.

OPEC’s cuts are helping to reduce inventories around the world and in the U.S., crude stocks fell by five million barrels in the latest week, the American Petroleum Institute said on Wednesday ahead of the government’s supply report due later yesterday.

Balancing the trend towards a tighter market is higher production in the U.S., where the OPEC-led effort to push prices up is spurring more shale oil output.

The U.S. government forecasts

that 2018 average oil production will hit a record high.

The rising cost of crude in the international market will boost the Nigerian government’s efforts to fund the 2018 budget but would hurt the country’s finances via petrol imports.

The 2018 budget was premised on an oil benchmark price of $45 per barrel, with a production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day, including condensates, as against that of 2017, which was put at $42.50 per barrel and output at 2.2 million barrels per day.

Kachikwu told THISDAY that it will be difficult for the federal government to enjoy more revenue from crude and at the same time sell refined products at a fixed price. “Like I always say, in this portfolio, you carry two luggage: the first one is that the nation wants more revenue from its crude. So, I worked with OPEC to deliver that. “But then the nation also wants delivery of refined products at a fixed price. So, sometimes, it is difficult,� he explained.

With the rising price of crude, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which currently is the sole importer of petrol, bears the loss of selling petrol at N145.

Panel to Decide on Petrol Price Meanwhile, Kachikwu has informed the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) that the ad hoc committee set up by the presidency on Tuesday to provide solutions to the perennial petrol shortages in the country will determine the feasibility of retaining the pump price of the commodity at N145 per liter and may explore a plural pricing model.

This is as the Senate committee backtracked on publicly questioning officials of NNPC on mounting subsidy debts arising from the differential between the landing cost of N171 per liter for petrol and the pump price of N145.

Kachikwu who spoke during his submission at the public hearing held by the Senate committee on the recent fuel shortages in the country, said the price review was one of the terms of reference of the committee.

Kachikwu added that the committee, which was constituted

by President Muhammadu Buhari following the crippling fuel scarcity that plagued the country during the Christmas season, was working within an 18-month window to address the crisis and will avert any recurrences.

Within the period, the issue of pricing differential between the landing cost of N171 per liter and

the pump price of N145 would be addressed, he said. “What the disparity means is that those individuals who are in the business without the obligation that NNPC has to meet national supply, would not bring in products if they are going to sell at a loss. “If we are going to sell at N145, then we need to put mechanisms in place to accommodate this N145 so that the private sector can go back to importing,� he said.

The minister blamed the recent fuel scarcity on the diversion of products, logistics issues due to the diversion, insufficient reserves and the supply gap largely because the private sector pulled out from importing, and enforcement. “Whatever we do, given the logistics constraints of NNPC to do 100 percent supply and the over-arching burden on the institution, we need to free the marketers to do their business.

So we must address the pricing issue,� he added.

Kachikwu further explained that at the time approval was granted to peg the price at N145 the exchange rate was N285 to the $1. “Today it is N305, so even at a minimum, there is a gap there.

Today if you walk to the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) to do a modulation of what exchange rate we need to sell at N145, it is about N340, it’s not N285, it’s not N305. “So one mechanism would be working with the CBN on an exchange rate that enables them to stay at N145 pump price. If we do that, then they can import without the issue of the price differential. And we can modulate that as the exchange rate and international prices move up,� the minister said.

The presidential ad hoc committee is also considering tax incentives for oil marketers, he disclosed. “These individuals pay taxes. Is there a possibility to capture some of the tax they pay, to account for some of the differentials in importation that they would have before they pay their taxes? So it becomes a cost of the business. “We are also looking at the potential of whether we could theoretically respect the N145 price and have a plural pricing system?

So NNPC and all its stations and affiliates sell at the N145 so that the pricing is respected, and at the same time, private marketers are able to import their products and sell at another price. “So, it’s for an individual to decide that he wants to buy from NNPC, or go to a private marketer, and it does not cost anything other than the trading loss NNPC would be carrying,�

the minister further explained.

He, however, assured the Senate committee that the price movement would be the last consideration of the presidential committee and would only be done as a last resort.

Kachikwu also emphasised the need to ensure the enforcement of regulations guiding oil marketing, as lax enforcement in the country had led to the smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries where the pump prices are higher. “We have not been able to police our borders well, but the reality is that some of these economic diversion issues, some of them carry as much as life imprisonment. “We must dig these up and make marketers take responsibility for every liter of fuel that leaves their depots and goes to the filling stations. “Once you have sold, you have sold, whatever happens to it, you do not know. Trackers must be in place in every truck that lifts products in this country. “All the people in the whole chain should be made to take responsibility. If you want to export products from this country, it must be done legally and attract the prices for export,� he stated.

Kachikwu also harped on the need to deal with the infrastructure deficit issues including broken pipelines. This, he said, could be handled through emergency funding. “This crisis would not arise if NNPC is able to pump products around the country in a jiffy.

Trucking does not solve our problem, so we have to be looking at rail transportation, trucking and substantially be looking at piping. “If we cannot repair our pipelines at the speed at what we want, we need to bring in the private sector, concession some of these pipelines and put them to use, so that in moments of emergency, we do not encounter these problems. “In moments of normalcy, we are fine, in moments of emergency, our system is not geared to the level of speed for delivery,� he said.

He stated that in the long term, the refineries must be fixed and private sector establishment of refineries must be encouraged.

In his presentation, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru said the request seeking the National Assembly’s appropriation to pay the oil marketers’ the backlog of unpaid subsidy bills was before the lawmakers.

The money being owed is N800 billion, according to the Depot & Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN).

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN BERGPAINTS 0.40 8.49 REDSTAR 0.24 5.12 LIVESTOCK 0.04 0.86 LINKAGE 0.03 0.66 INTERBREW 2.20 54.00 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN DANGSUGAR 1.18 19.34 TOTAL 11.00 219.00 CHAMPBREW 0.10 2.00 MAYBAKER 0.12 2.62 CONTINENTAL 0.06 1.34 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś 1,495.00 Volume: 429.376 million shares Value: N 1.513 billion Deals: 3,240 As at 4/1/18 See details on Page 43

% 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.2 % 5.7 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.2

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

9

Ëœ Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜ Ëž T H I S D AY

10

PAGE TEN HERDSMEN CONTINUE RAMPAGE, KILL ONE IN BENUE, WOMAN IN ONDO government areas resisted attempts by the herdsmen migrating from Benue to force them off their lands.

In the Ondo incident, it was gathered that the attackers who hacked the woman, Mrs. Salami, to death on her farm did not stop at that but went on to dismember her body.

One of the owners of the destroyed farmlands was a serving judge of the Ondo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Michael Owoyemi, who owns about seven acres of arable crops.

The Ondo farmers lamented that they had lost millions of naira due to the destruction of their crops, including cocoa, cassava, cocoyam, yam and vegetables, which were set ablaze by the killer herdsmen.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Justice Omoyemi said the herdsmen usually come during yuletide season. “The herdsmen returned last December destroying over 5,000 heaps of cassava in my farm. They took advantage of the break and brought their cattle and uprooted the cassava to feed their cows. “We have reported the herdsmen to the security agencies in the past and also to the traditional ruler, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, who promised to wade into the matter. “The herdsmen are determined to send the farmers out of their land in the South-west unless steps are taken by the concerned authorities, otherwise, it will degenerate to ethnic clashes in the South-west. “What they have destroyed in the twinkle of an eye is worth millions of naira,� he said.

Owoyemi disclosed that the farmers had petitioned the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the security agencies and the Ministry of Agriculture to intimate them on the havoc wrecked on farmlands in the area.

Also speaking, one of the farmers, Victory Oweh, said he lost over ten acres to the herdsmen and their cows, saying the herdsmen also set his farm on fire after destroying the crops. “We are just respecting the laws of the land and trying not to take the law into our hands. We have been reporting them to the security agencies with no positive results,� he said.

He disclosed that he voluntarily resigned from the public sector some two years ago to take up farming, but the incessant invasion on his farm had discouraged him from farming. “I cannot imagine working all through the year and some herdsmen and their cattle will invade our farms to destroy all my labour in just one day. “The Ondo State Government should follow the steps taken by the Ekiti State Government by enacting laws to curb the activities of the herdsmen in the state. “We are calling on the state government and

security agents in the state before taking the law into our hands,� he admonished.

Another Death in Benue In Benue also, the attacks by armed herdsmen remained unabated, as one person was reportedly killed in Mbayer Yandev Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, while several people were sacked in Anyii, Logo Local Government Area of the state.

An eyewitness disclosed that the herdsmen attacked Mbayer Yandev on Wednesday night when most villagers were asleep.

He said the herdsmen were brandishing guns and shot sporadically at anyone in sight.

An unidentified member of the community was killed while several others were injured.

In Logo, several residents were seen moving out of the council after the herdsmen attacked Anyii community also on Wednesday night.

A resident of Anyii, Mr. Terwase Apam, said the community was under siege from the herdsmen.

He called on the state and federal governments to come to the aid of the people.

Also, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and legislators from the state reiterated the call for the arrest of Fulani leaders, saying they were responsible for the current gruesome killings in the state.

They made the call during a courtesy call by the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.) at the Benue Government House, Makurdi, yesterday.

Both Ortom and Senator George Akume who read the communiquĂŠ of the state and National Assembly members explained that their call for the arrest of the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore (Cattle Herders Association) was based on their threats last year that they would mobilise to resist the Antiopen Grazing Law passed in the state last November.

They stressed that except the arrests were made, the people of the state would conclude that the federal government was in support of an agenda to dispossess Benue people of their land.

Responding, the minister, who was representing President Muhammadu Buhari, and went with the governor to visit those injured during the New Year massacre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, assured that he would convey the message to the president.

Dambazau also assured his hosts that the federal government would take measures to collaborate with the state government to apprehend those culpable and stop the killings.

Dambazau described the killer herdsmen as criminals that must be brought to book, adding that the president was aware of the

situation and had directed that the perpetrators of the act must be arrested and brought to book.

He also conveyed the sympathies of the president to the people and government of Benue State.

He assured them that Buhari was committed to ensuring that the federal government does not support people who take up arms against the defenceless in the society to go unpunished.

Dambazau quoted the president as stating that efforts would be intensified to fish out the perpetrators, reiterating that the long arm of the law would catch up with them.

Ortom, in his response, assured the people of Benue that the Anti-Open Grazing Law had come to stay, adding that their land cannot be taken away from them under any guise.

The governor stressed that ranching was the best global practice, not only for cattle but for all livestock. “The law is not targeted at any ethnic group and I wonder why the herdsmen feel embittered about the law. “The law was initiated after diligent as well as due consultations and is in the best interest of everybody because it was meant to protect both herdsmen as well as farmers,� he said.

Ortom also commiserated with the families of the victims killed during the protest on Wednesday, describing the attack by the security forces on the young protesters as “insensitive to the current mood� of the people who were grieving over the killing of many innocent persons by armed herdsmen in Guma and Logo earlier in the week.

In a statement issued yesterday, the governor’s chief press secretary, Mr. Terver Akase said, the governor condemned the attack on the protesters and promised that the state government would ensure that those responsible for the deaths of the three youths are brought to justice.

The governor appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and resist the temptation to take the law into their hands, as the state government was exploring every lawful means to restore peace in the communities affected by the renewed herdsmen attacks.

Also apportioning blame for the recent wave of violent attacks by herdsmen in the state, the Benue Committee of Elders blamed the security agencies for the recent killings in Guma and Logo, saying it was ironic that despite several forewarnings by the governor on the imminent invasion, the security agencies refused to take heed and had allowed it to happen.

Condemning the invasion of the two local government areas by some armed cattle herders in a statement signed

by Hon. Simon Shango and Chief Mike Iduma, chairman and deputy chairman of

the group, respectively, the elders said the attacks resulted in the deaths of unarmed and defenceless men, women and children.

The Benue elders added that the invasion also left hundreds of people wounded and many villages destroyed, and sympathised with the governor and the traditional rulers in the state – the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, and the Ochi’dom, Dr. Elias Obekpa.

The committee of elders saluted the courage and steadfastness of Ortom in the implementation of the Antiopen Grazing Law, which they said was intended to protect both the Benue farmers and the herdsmen in the course of their lawful activities in the state.

Benue Women Blast Buhari In the same vein, women from the communities where the armed herdsmen attacked and killed scores of villagers, yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration and disrupted the visit of Dambazau.

They also blasted Buhari for neglecting the people of Benue.

The women came from Ayilamo, Turan and Gaambetiev in Logo LGA, and Akor, Umenger and Tomatar in Guma LGA. Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs. Rebecca Apezan, while addressing the Minister of Interior, said the president had failed to protect the people of the state, despite the huge votes he got from the state in the 2015 general election.

She said Benue people were regretting voting for Buhari, even as she decried the lack of patronage Benue was getting from the federal government. “What have we to gain from Buhari but sorrow, tears and blood? Our children, husbands and parents have been killed in cold blood, while farmland and houses have also been destroyed,� she lamented.

She, however, added that most people in Benue were still in support of the president, but warned that they will be forced to look for alternatives in 2019 if the president fails to protect the people of the state.

Also speaking for the women, Mrs. Josephine Habba, coordinator of civil society groups in the state, called on the president to beef up security in the state and said that the killer herdsmen should be classified as a terrorist group.

Tension in Nasarawa But even as the people of Benue were still mourning their loved ones, tension was rising in neigbouring communities in Nasarawa State over migrating herdsmen from Benue who tried to displace Tiv residents in two LGAs – Awa and Keane – early this week, resulting in the unconfirmed deaths of four

persons and several injured.

An official of the Nasarawa State Government confirmed the tension in two local governments bordering Benue State.

He said following the enactment of the Anti-open Grazing Prohibition Act in Benue State, herders flocked into the two neighbouring local governments in Nasarawa and demanded that the Tiv inhabiting them should also evacuate to Benue State.

He could not confirm if the situation had escalated to a violent confrontation, resulting in the loss of lives, but said the situation was under control.

He said the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Silas Agara, who is holding forth for Governor Tanko Al-Makura who is abroad, had summoned an emergency state security council meeting to strategise on how to ensure that the conflict does not degenerate into violent clashes.

Also reacting to the skirmishes in Awe and Keane, the Police Command in Nasarawa State said it would investigate the killing of four persons as alleged

by Tiv leaders in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Idirisu Kennedy, told reporters in Lafia, the state capital, yesterday that the command was not aware of the purported killings.

Idirisu, however, said that the command was aware of the apprehension following the attacks in Benue leading to the influx of people to the state.

He said that the leaders of the Tiv Development Association (TIDA) were yet to report to the police on the alleged killings of four persons and urged them to come forward with evidence to prove their claims. “If really anybody was killed in Awe and Keana, we expect that they should report to our Divisional Police Office in those areas and not to bury them hurriedly as alleged,� Idirisu said.

He confirmed, however, that several people had fled from their communities due to fear of attacks and were currently taking refuge in schools in Awe and Keana towns.

He said the command had already deployed armed personnel in the affected areas to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Mr. Boniface Iter, President of TIDA in the state, had told newsmen that four of their people were allegedly killed by herdsmen and so many injured in Awe and Keana local governments.

He also said that the Tiv in Nasarawa had nothing to do with the anti-grazing law enforced by the Benue State Government and deserve to be allowed to live in peace.

On the plight of those taking refuge in schools for fear of attacks, Mr. Zakari Allumaga, Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa

State Emergency Agency (NASEMA), said the agency would contact the necessary authorities in order to mobilise support for them.

Saraki Condemns Killings Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has condemned the recent killings in Benue, Rivers and Kaduna States, describing the attacks on the affected communities as “heinous� and “reprehensible�, and called on all Nigerians to remain united in their condemnation of violence.

According to him, “The recent killings in this new year that have left many families without their loved ones, and several communities in distress were reprehensible acts of violence. “As Nigerians, we must all remain united in our condemnation of violence.

Such actions have no place anywhere in our culture.

The killers and perpetrators of this callous act must be caught and brought to justice. “The Senate will continue to render all the necessary support to ensure that this happens. “I call on our security forces to continue to work around the clock to ensure the safety of the affected communities — and all communities across the nation. “Such random and widespread acts of hate and disorder are part of the reasons why last year, we inaugurated an Ad-Hoc Committee to Review Nigeria’s Security Infrastructure for better delivery across board. “The committee is still at work, however, now it is clear that we need to review, revamp and reposition our security apparatus across the nation to be able to respond to the diverse nature of the crises and concerns of various communities.�

The Senate President expressed the view that the intelligence gathering aspects of the country’s security system were not measuring, adding: “We need to ensure that our security system can gather relevant intelligence and analyse them to prevent the activities of hoodlums and insurgents so that we don’t always cry after the milk is spilt.� “These killings, like those that occurred in Benue, Rivers and Kaduna, are becoming too recurrent and the relevant Senate committees will hold discussions with the senators from the affected states with a view to having a proper understanding of what the issues are and make appropriate recommendations to the executive,� he stated.

Saraki also commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones as well as the government and entire people of Benue, Kaduna and Rivers States on the sad incidents.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

12

NEWS

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

Court Summons INEC, 29 Others over Anambra Central Senatorial Tussle Rerun must hold, commission insists

Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ David-Chyddy Eleke Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ•Ă‹ Justice Babatunde Quadri of

the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday summoned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appear

Troops Rescue Another Chibok Girl in Pulka Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in Pulka yesterday rescued one of the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in 2014.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said preliminary investigations revealed that the young girl identified as Salomi Pagu, is the same as the Chibok girl published on serial number 86 of the online list of abducted Chibok girls.

Nwachukwu said the girl who was intercepted in the

company of another young girl, Jamila Adams, about 14 years old, with a child are in the safe custody of troops and receiving medical attention.

Pagu

NCC: Jan 16 Deadline for Conclusion of 9mobile Sale is Sacrosanct Emma Okonji Contrary to reports making the rounds that the date for the planned sale of 9mobile has been shifted from January 16 to February 16, 2018, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Sunday Dare, said there would be no shifting of date, insisting that the sale must be concluded January 16 this year, and 9mobile will be handed over to its new owner on that same date. Dare who spoke to THISDAY in a telephone conversation, said NCC was not prepared to shift the date any further.

Barclays Africa, the financial adviser handling the sale of 9mobile, had the initial mandate of December 31, 2017 to conclude the sale of 9mobile and hand it over to its new owners, but citing the risk posed by the 2017 year-end deadline for submission of bidding offers by prospective bidders for the purchase of 9mobile, the telecoms company wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the NCC, asking for extension of date from December 31, 2017, to January 16, 2018, and it was approved.

Barclays Africa had since last year, shortlisted the final five firms that are currently bidding to acquire 9mobile.

The final five include Teleology Holdings Limited, promoted by Adrian Wood, the pioneer CEO of MTN Nigeria; Smile Telecoms Holdings, with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa; Helios Investment Partners; Bharti Airtel and Globacom, the telecoms company owned and operated by a Nigerian, Mike Adenuga Jnr. But contrary to the views of industry stakeholders who are kicking against the

planned idea muted by four local operators, out of the five shortlisted firms, that are currently bidding to acquire 9mobile, to form an alliance that would help them create a formidable single platform to win the race, Dare said consolidation would be in the best interest of the industry, explaining that it would play a key role in determining who finally gets to buy the nation’s fourth largest operator. “Nigeria can learn a lot from the Indian telecom experience of consolidation and market competition in the development of the telecom market. The consumer in India now enjoys lots of benefits and cheap data,� he said.

The stakeholders are clamouring for individual firm bidding process that will allow the foreign investor among them, have the opportunity of injecting fresh funds from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), into the Nigerian telecoms sector. But the consolidation option being pursued by NCC means either Airtel or Globacom would become the largest operator at the end of the 9mobile sale exercise, should they consolidate to acquire 9mobile.

Glo is currently the second largest operator with 37 million voice and 26.8 million internet subscribers, according to the October 2017 statistics from NCC. If it acquires 9mobile, it will immediately become the biggest network by adding 17 million to voice and 11.5 million to internet subscription base.

Combined, the new entity’s 54 million voice lines and 38.3 million internet subscriptions will surpass MTN Nigeria’s 50.7 million and 32.5 million respectively.

Airtel, meanwhile, would automatically grow from being number three to number one by increasing its numbers to 52 million for voice and 33.5 million for internet if it is the preferred bidder.

before it and show cause why it should not be restrained from conducting the rerun election for Anambra Central senatorial seat slated for January 13.

Justice Quadri gave the order following a motion ex parte filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Obiora Okonkwo who has been declared as the lawful candidate for the Anambra Central senatorial seat.

Those summoned alongside INEC include Chief Victor Umeh, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Flint Ikechukwu Obiekwe; United Progressive Party (UPP); Senator Chris Ngige; All Progressives Congress (APC); Oyeh Mercy Uche; Accord (A); Hon. Oby Kate Okafor; Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD); Chief Anayo Nweke; African Democratic Congress (ADC); Christopher Chukwendu; Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Okafor Ikechukwu; Independent Democrats (ID); Chief Dennis Oguguo; Kowa Party (KP) and Kingsley Nwafor.

Others are Ekweozoh Nkem;

Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP); Ubakamma Ikenna; National Conscience Party (NCP); Rev. Charles Ekwueme; People for Democratic Change (PDC); Igwilo Michael and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

They are to appear in court on Wednesday, January 10, for the definite hearing of the suit brought by the candidate of the PDP for Anambra Central senatorial district, Okonkwo.

The judge also directed that all court processes relating to the case be served on the 2nd to 29th defendants through the registered offices of their political parties.

In the said motion which was moved by his counsel, Chief Sabastine Hon (SAN), Okonkwo sought an interim injunction restraining the electoral body from proceeding with the conduct of the rerun election slated for January 13 for the senatorial seat.

Ridding on the shoulders of the consent judgment of the

Federa High Court delivered

by Justice John Tsoho, which declared him winner of the senatorial seat, Hon argued that the interest of his client would be jeopardised if INEC goes ahead with the conduct of the rerun election.

Justice Tsoho had in the said judgment in reference ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Okonkwo as the winner of the Anambra Central senatorial seat.

INEC is yet to comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court which has not been appealed against.

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday said theAnambra Central senatorial rerun election must hold as scheduled on January 13.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Nkwachkwu Orji, who spoke with journalists, said the commission had commenced training of ad hoc personnel in that respect.

Speaking with THISDAY

yesterday, the Anambra REC said its legal department had studied Justice Tsoho’s judgment and asked it to go ahead with the election as ordered by the Court of Appeal as against Justice John Tsoho’s judgment.

The REC said: “We are going ahead with the election as scheduled. We have started training ad hoc personnel in that respect. “Our legal department has asked us to go ahead and obey the Court of Appeal order against the Federal High Court judgement.

So, we are going ahead to conduct the election on January 13,� the REC stated.

Anambra Central senatorial district had been without a senator since 2015 when a Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, sacked the occupant of the position, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife.

The court asked INEC to conduct rerun in the district within 90 days while disqualifying Ekwunife and her political party, PDP, from participating in the rerun.

TOWARDS SOLVING FUEL CRISIS

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Dr. Sade Yemi-Esan; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, when the minister, GMD NNPC and other stakeholders appeared before the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) of the Senate and House of Representatives to discuss the lingering fuel crisis in Abuja...yesterday

PDP Asks Amaechi to Resign as Minister over His Appointment as Buhari’s Campaign Director Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The party which hinged its demand on the alleged re-appointment of Amaechi as the Director-General (DG) of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term campaign, also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Olagbondiyan, PDP said Amaechi, has already began to

function as the DG Campaign for Buhari second term, adding that, he already held meetings with some of the governors elected on the platform of the APC. “If APC has any strand of dignity, then Amaechi must resign as the Minister of Transportation having been appointed and already functioning as the DG of President Buhari’s campaign. “Under the constitution of Nigeria, Amaechi cannot combine the job of a minister with another responsibility such as the DG of a campaign organisation. “Amaechi’s action in accepting the job while still holding office as minister is in clear breach of the oath of office and the oath

of allegiance which he swore to in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

He should therefore resign his office as minister with immediate effect,� it said.

The opposition party recalled that when as a serving Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, was appointed to head the campaign of then President Olusegun Obasanjo, Anenih resigned as minister.

While accusing the APC of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, the PDP expressed shock that APC is more interested in setting up an electoral structure for a second term when Nigerians are dying daily of hunger and poverty whereas others are

being slaughtered in their communities by mauraders, all owing particularly to APC’s dismal performance in its nearly three years in office. “Is it not instructive for Nigerians to now know that the APC has not the littlest agenda on governance for our people and do not have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

They have shown that all they care for is their selfish political and pecuniary interests,� the PDP said.

The party therefore urged Nigerians to respond with the full force of the votes and kick out the selfish and incompetent APC out of office come 2019.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ 2018

COMMENT

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

PDP AND LONG WALK TO FREEDOM Godwin Etakibuebu argues that the party still has much to do to win back political power

A

t the end, after sailing through a very ferocious and turbulent political tide, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] had a successful electable national convention in December 2017. The convention needs to be seen as a great achievement, against the background of the rough road the PDP travelled after the 2015 general election.

The PDP, then ruling party which paraded itself as the largest political party in Africa, lost the 2015 election, “against the run of play�, as Olusegun Adeniyi [Editorial Board Chairman of THISDAY Newspaper and an outstanding author] puts it. Being the largest political party in Africa, as it claimed, the PDP’s fall at the election became like the “dance of death� by a falling elephant in the forest – huge and catastrophic in nature.

It was therefore not expected that the PDP would be able to rise to its feet, within two years of such terrific fall, through the democratic route of national convention. That it was able to achieve this in December, 2017, must be commended.

Besides the “unexpected fall� [as PDP leadership and its members were the only ones that did not know that losing the 2015 election was inevitable] the presence of Ali Modu-Sheriff in the party did not give hope for the party’s resurrection from the valley. Yes, his [Modu-Sheriff] presence which was made possible by a comprehensive political miscalculation and blunder of President Jonathan, then leader of the PDP in the name of strengthening the party, it became a colossal disaster and liability on the PDP until the Supreme Court came to its rescue. This victory of “outliving� Ali Modu Sheriff [the spoiler] by the PDP must also be given recognition.

Another thing we need to consider in order to appreciate the success of the PDP’s convention is to look at the APC, a political party that came to power on the slogan of “Change�, and its inability to conduct a national convention almost three years into office, despite the fact that its [APC] constitution explicitly mandated such. It is only when one identifies failing students in a particular class that the calibre of those [students] passing in the same class can be appreciated.

It is for these reasons and many more that PDP’s rise from the debris of political fall, through the conduct of an electable national convention, brought hope for survival of democracy in Nigeria because of the role a strong opposition plays in strengthening democratic structure in society.

One more important thing that makes evaluation of the PDP Convention a worthwhile exercise is the fact of role-function its success has in shaping the Nigerian political terrain in 2018 and 2019; the year of another general election. There is going to be major political re-alignment, not only in the PDP but most urgently in the ruling political party [APC], though the later may not admit this. It is for these reasons that we should now evaluate the calculus of that convention since politics, by my personal interpretation, is a game of “manipulation and permutation�.

THE PDP’S RISE FROM THE DEBRIS OF POLITICAL FALL, THROUGH THE CONDUCT OF AN ELECTABLE NATIONAL CONVENTION, BROUGHT HOPE FOR SURVIVAL OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA BECAUSE OF THE ROLE A STRONG OPPOSITION PLAYS IN STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE IN SOCIETY

The most important elective offices of the PDP convention, ditto most conventions, were that of the Presidential candidate and National Chairman, though other offices, with all due respects, are also very important. Deliberately, the PDP zoned the presidency to the North [for the purpose of splitting the Northern votes against Buhari should he decide to contest in 2019] and the Chairmanship to the South as that would balance the North/South issue. One outstanding thing about the zoning is that the defunct National Caretaker Committee, led by Ahmed Makarfi, did not restrict the position of the chairmanship to the South/West in any public declaration though it would have preferred that.

While the South/West battled itself in producing the chairman, it failed and this is for two major reasons. One, one of the PDP Governors, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, having positioned himself as a Vice-Presidential material to whoever emerges as the Presidential candidate from the North, worked assiduously against the emergence of a South/West Chairman for the party. For this reason, Fayose found a willing partner in the person of his Rivers State counterpart – Governor Nyesom Wike. The later knew how important his second tenure as governor meant for him and ipso facto, would rather have a chairman “he could call his own� for achieving the second tenure ambition.

Another factor responsible for the South/West losing out on the chairmanship race was what most notable dramatis personae of PDP from the South considered the overbearing posture of Olabode George.

These people came to the conclusion that George has not really proved to be of any electoral asset. They recalled that given all the backing he received from the federal government of Obasanjo for eight years, he could not deliver Lagos to PDP. Clever Governor Fayose played smartly on both factors in fathoming the convention the way it went.

The last of the calculation would be the anticipated benefits accruable to Ahmed Makarfi in the coming days. Yes, a Northern presidential candidate is a must for the PDP in 2019, but can the emergence of Makarfi [that is if he makes it that far as presidential candidate for PDP] really stand the test of denting Muhammadu Buhari for votes in Northern Nigeria of today? It is my opinion that Makarfi, a two-time Governor of Kaduna State, who made it to the Senate through the instrumentality of “just leaving office as governor�, to become a Senator – a position he could not hold when he attempted second return to the Senate, may not be a man of glory for PDP in 2019. Too many people in Kaduna State are of solid opinion that “he hasn’t got that stamina to become a Northern President� if PDP fields him in 2019.

How far the PDP would go in checkmating the APC for the presidency’s slot in 2019, may still be “a long walk to freedom�.

Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, wrote from Lagos

A MYSTERY NO MORE

President Buhari is not capable for a second term in office, argues Phrank Shaibu

F

inally, the stretched debate and extensive controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to lead Nigerians to the so-called promised land is now over. On this, Nigerians owe Mr. President huge debt of gratitude especially for his recent guileless revelations.

No sooner than President Buhari returned from a prolonged medical vacation in the United Kingdom and started making physical appearances at state functions, my heart momentarily leapt for joy. The guess then was that there could still be optimism for Nigeria’s recovery. It did not matter that Mr. President had reportedly been on hospital bed for the better part of 2017 during which governance was in abeyance and the ship of state was adrift.

Indeed, I was tempted to join the today supporters of President Buhari to rain curses on Governor Ayodele Fayose, the enfante terrible and chief critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government for earlier insinuating that Mr. President was brain dead. Actually, I told few friends that Fayose was a man whose hate for the number one citizen was totally irredeemable. How could anyone have imagined such evil against our President? I wondered.

Of course, Buhari’s handlers helped to further confuse me, that the media, civil society and opposition political parties were wrong in speculating that the president’s health was deteriorating so badly that even if he returned from the UK, the man would at best be a vegetable. These handlers insisted that their boss was as fit as a rake. All we heard, as soon as Buhari returned was ‘did we not tell you’? In fact, when President Buhari returned what we saw on the outside was a reasonable variety of a brand new president even acting stronger than when he was elected in 2015.

Rapidly, suggestions about the president contesting for a second term in 2019 started emanating from his followers, most of whom are undoubtedly sycophantic. Again, they portrayed their benefactor

as a bull ready for a long haul, as far as campaigns were concerned. These so-called loyal party men have also told anyone who cared to listen that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Presidential Villa because Buhari won’t be leaving office in 2019. The clear message from Buhari’s band of followers is that the man is not only very fit but can also run for another four- year- term as president in 2019. Despite how hard this may seem believable especially given that old age naturally steals a man’s vitality, yet everyday, spin doctors are unleashed to convince us that it is an achievable project.

The utterances of President Buhari’s followers are no doubt many but recent statements credited to Mr. President during his “74 or 75� year birthday celebrations and the realities of the day have combined to raise so many contradictions that should give any discerning mind enough food to chew, especially on his continued stay in office and political aspiration for the 2019 presidential race. That Mr. President, an aging human being practically opened up on his clear case of emerging senility, no doubt eats up hope on his capacity. The consequence of his personal disclosures is that it has affirmed the suspicions of many Nigerians over the failing competence of the president.

According to President Buhari: “I thought I was 74, but I was told I was 75. I have never been so sick...even the 30 months civil war (when) I was stumbling under farm of yams or cassava, but this sickness I don’t know, but I came out better.�

Again the president remarked that “All those who saw me before and when I came back said I look much better, but I have explained it to the public that as a General, I used to give orders now I take orders. The doctors told me to feed my stomach and sleep for longer hours. That is why I am looking much better.�

Some of these recent comments by the president of Nigeria on the state of the nation and his wellbeing have overwhelmingly confirmed some of our existing fears about the degenerating governance in

Nigeria. The president’s remarks which dominated the media have no doubt inflicted grievous concerns on some Nigerians about their future under the remaining months of the Buhari administration.

For avoidance of doubt, let me state that old age is golden and it remains a divine gift which most men seek. However, from the above statements of President Buhari, it is obvious that Nigeria has a president who either likes cracking expensive jokes or a leader that had to be reminded of very fundamental things because of old age. Whatever, it means to remind a man in the prime of his life of his age may not be too far from partial loss of memory or seeming senility. This issue of Buhari’s disclosed forgetfulness should not be treated with levity because if a man cannot remember his age, what are the chances that he will remember why he was elected in the first place even when reminded?

May be this is why Mr. President recently appointed Senator Francis Okpozo of blessed memory as Chairman of a parastatal. For emphasis, Senator Okpozo died about a year ago and the president commiserated with his family in the national media yet the President forgot that he had wished the man eternal rest . It is possible that the president has forgotten too that dead men do not function which is why he appointed into boards of agencies and parastatals the likes of Rev Fr Christopher Utov, DIG Donald Ugbaja (retd) , Garba Attahiru , Umar Dange, Magdalene Kumu, Dr Nabbs Imegwu and Comrade Ahmed Bunza who have all transited to the great beyond. The list of Buhari’s new appointees was also stultified with clear cases of redundancy of names, with some people appointed into more than one board. Sabo Nanono who was appointed member of the board of the National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI) was also appointed chairman of the Board of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Kabiru Matazu was appointed chairman of FCT Universal Education Board and also made to chair the board of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

Then, there is the disclosure of the doctors’ instruction for Mr. President to have enough sleep, which according to him, is mainly responsible for his looking very fresh. Should this not mean that we now have a president who sleeps ad infinitum?

Whereas important state matters might be left in the hands of surrogates and a corrupt cabal?

The truth is that those who think Nigeria has witnessed the worst profligacy since the country gained independence in 1960 under Buhari’s watch might have sufficient reasons to substantiate their claims. From budget padding to $26 billion NNPC scandal, from Mainagate to $48 million Ikoyi Towers and disappearance or outright stealing of houses and huge sums recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerians have witnessed the stealing of public funds in a manner never expected from a government that parades itself as a champion of corruption fight.

Simply put, Buhari may just be alone in believing that his fight on corruption is working.

Realistically, despite claims of corruption fight in Nigeria in the past 30 months of Buhari’s reign, no high profile conviction of indicted public officials has taken place. Of course, it is not surprising that under Buhari, the APC government has not been unable to fulfil its electoral promises since it came to power in 2015. Obviously from the increasing suffering and hardships experienced by the majority of the population in all sections of Nigeria, the ready conclusion is that the nation’s number one citizen has not exhibited the capacity to avoid what makes Nigerians miserable. The recent fuel scarcity adduced to the government’s ineptitude at a peak period when Nigerians need petrol to meet their commuting needs, is thought provoking.

Indeed, this does show that Mr. President may have forgotten that he was elected to fix Nigeria in line with the promises of his APC party. Unfortunately, today there is excruciating poverty in the land.

Shaibu, a Public Communication Consultant wrote from Abuja

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ 2018

EDITORIAL BPE AND NON-PERFORMING FIRMS The restructuring of wilting privatised enterprises and services is in order

P

erhaps because the overall success of many of the privatised public ďŹ rms remains in doubt, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has embarked on a review of those that have failed public expectations. Mr. Alex Okoh, DirectorGeneral of the BPE, told visiting members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation recently that the bureau had started a thorough examination of the non-performing enterprises in order to ascertain the issues affecting their performances.

Cutting across communication, transport, banking, insurance, manufacturing, publishing and power and others, many of the erstwhile state-run ďŹ rms, privatised at huge costs to the tax payers, have performed woefully. Since 1993, when some 86 ďŹ rms were privatised in the ďŹ rst phase of the exercise till now, there have hardly been any major positive impacts on the economy as many ďŹ rms are either wilting or failing badly. Besides, there are little or no corresponding returns on investments. Many of the new investors behind the purchase PERHAPS NOWHERE are only interested ARE THE WORRIES OF in the assets of the PRIVATISATION MORE ďŹ rms, and not on APPARENT THAN IN THE adding value, leading POWER SECTOR. IT IS to economic losses for THE PRIME EXAMPLE the country. Reports OF THE DILEMMA OF suggest a signiďŹ cant PRIVATISATION drop in job creations across the ďŹ rms though it must also be said that the prevailing harsh economic environment is also unhelpful.

Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Okoh’s predecessor at BPE, once expressed outright disappointment with the outcome of the exercise when he spoke on the theme, “The Nigerian Reforms and Privatisation Policy, Processes, Gains, Challenges and Prospects.â€? The Nigerian economy, according to Dikki, “has continued to experience declining growth, increasing unemployment, galloping ination, high incidence of poverty, worsening balance of payments, debilitating debt burden and increasing unsustainable ďŹ scal deďŹ citsâ€?.

Nothing signiďŹ cantly has changed. Majority of the

Letters to the Editor

establishments sold to public concerns by the BPE are either ran aground or are ďŹ nding it difďŹ cult to stay aoat. Perhaps nowhere are the worries of privatisation more apparent or consequential than in the power sector. It is the prime example of the dilemma of privatisation. The hope that the unbundling of the ailing power sector into six generating companies, 11 distributing companies and a transmission company would bring about efďŹ ciency in service delivery while kicking off industrialisation and the economic development of the country has turned out to be grossly misplaced.

A

T H I S DAY

EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITORS

˜

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜

GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS ˜

˜

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

GROUP HEAD

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

WHEN WILL NIGERIA EXIT TRUMP’S HUT STATUS?

P

fter more than two years, the deďŹ ciencies seemed more than doubled - in form of prolonged power outages, unreliable services and poor management. Indeed, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, said that the committee had been mandated by the Senate to institute an inquiry into the power sector. “We have been mandated to hold a public hearing on the power sector,â€? said Murray-Bruce. “We are mindful of foreign investors and we are wary of scaring away foreign investors. However, we need to ďŹ x it.â€?

Several reasons have been played up for the inefďŹ ciencies of these enterprises. Among them was the hasty manner in which such assets were disposed of by government. Indeed, Dr. Christopher Anyanwu, erstwhile Director- General of BPE, said due diligence was downplayed. Some of the new investors, like those in the power sector, had little or no knowledge of how the unbundled power ďŹ rms operate, coupled with their inability to build up capacity because of paucity of funds. Yet such measures do nothing but help to raise credibility questions about the readiness of the investors to up the public good.

For now, there is no painless way out. But the PBE has assured of buoying public conďŹ dence by restructuring the public sector enterprises and services in a manner that would create a new synergy between the government and a revitalised, efďŹ cient and serviceoriented private sector. It is a big expectation. In doing this, it will help by abiding with the enabling laws.

Besides, we should not do anything that will scare away foreign investors from our shores.

resident Donald Trump recently denigrated Nigerians both at home and in diaspora with his snide remarks on the proclivity of Nigerians to overstay in the U.S. beyond the period prescribed in their visa.

The U.S and other European countries have become the destination choice of millions of Nigerians who usually migrate through series of devil-may-care methods and when they lawfully migrate, they tend to fail to return to their country.

The twitter-in-chief president of America, President Trump made a sweeping generalisation about Nigerians, failing to acknowledge the residency of thousands of Nigerian professionals who have legal residence status in the United States, whose professional inputs have contributed to the greatness of America.

On the flipside, however, President Trump’s derogatory generalisation could be perceived with some measure of factuality given the state of the Nigerian nation. I’m sure most Nigerians in diaspora would hardly fault Trump on his pejorative downgrade of Nigeria with derogatory epithet of inhabiting huts.

A hut is a small, single-storey house or shelter, a depiction of a glorified shanty.

Trump was not remiss to describe the most populous black nation as a republic of infrastructural shanties, not because he has visited any African country in his life, but rather could conjecture the gravity of underdevelopment from the slavish exodus of Nigerians into the U.S and other European countries coupled with

the recent scandalous slave trade in Libya that puts Nigeria on spotlight of infamy.

President Trump must also be aware of the quantum of stolen Nigeria’s commonwealth domiciled in U.S banks, and traceable to affluent cluster of American real estate.

President Trump is not alone in this diplomatic denigration of Nigeria. President Obama’s only official visit to the continent of Africa deliberately excluded Nigeria from his itinerary. Obama found it most repugnant to visit a nation laden with corruption and state-sponsored thievery.

The whole world watches Nigeria in her trajectory of reversed development that perpetually puts her citizens in a vulnerable state of refugee status.

Nigerian leaders including President Buhari have not grasped the depth of depravity the nation has sunk into partly because of the insensate privilege attached to their offices and partly because they approach governance with vision and mission that fails to pass the reducible minimum in global standard.

For Nigeria to overcome this negative global image, there must be a transparent approach to governance at all levels of government.

The same resources deployed to make Dubai (UAE) what it is had been pillaged in Nigeria and nothing seems to have changed especially at the states and local government levels.

Bukola Ajisola, bukymany@yahoo.com

A DISSENTING ASUU VOICE

I

f Dr. Deji Omole, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ibadan Zonal Co-ordinator, spoke for all card-carrying members of ASUU to the effect that “neither APC nor PDP can fix Nigeria� then I wish to use this medium to dissent that position.

By the year 2015, it was widely known that Nigeria’s economy was growing at a fractional percentage point of a single digit greater than one, and that was why jobs were being created (those jobs have long since been lost in their millions). The team that President Goodluck Jonathan had in place effectively fixed fuel-crisis situation like we are experienced this last Christmas 2017: it was wonderfully commendable that commodity-price index was stable over a long stretch and thus Nigerians could reasonably plan their expenditure outlay.

Commodity price stability achievement by a third world country should be awarded an A++ on an international macroeconomic commendation scale and this was the reason why “take-home pay� was reasonably sufficient to take care of the home front over a long stretch. Thus, let us not be caught in the APC’s oft-repeated and terribly misleading set-piece of “inheriting a rotten system;� the APC did not inherit a broken system because a broken system cannot sustain millions of jobs and stabilise commodity price. If the APC is fixing a broken system, how come the son of the president would go joy-riding and speed-thrilling on a motor-bike worth N56 million? This is a young man, somewhere in his mid-twenties, who has never worked to earn a kobo all his entire young life.

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

16

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

17

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

POLITICS

NEWS PERSONALITY

Ugwuanyi Keeps Faith with Enugu Despite the severe economic challenges in the country, Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is on course to deliver on his campaign promises. Davidson Iriekpen looks at how the governor is able to weather the storm

O

ne governor in the South-east who will not have difficulty securing a second term in office is Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. In recent times, his popularity and acceptance by the people of the state are daily gathering momentum. While other state governors are busy contending with the opposition or party chieftains and godfathers in their states, residents of Enugu are at peace with Ugwuanyi because of the peace and infrastructural development he has brought to the state.

Despite the severe economic challenges in the country, Enugu State has become a reference point in development. These days, it is common to hear people saying “go to Enugu and see the magic Ugwuanyi is performing.”

Not only is Ugwuanyi’s policy thrust anchored on grassroots development initiatives, absolute peace has returned to the state.

Criminality and political assassinations which used to characterise politics of the state have all been subdued. The people can now sleep with their two eyes closed as security agencies have been energised and motivated to fish out perpetrators of crimes. His assertion that “where there is no peace, the people will not make meaningful progress,” has yielded enormous progress and goodwill, resulting in the support the government enjoys from opposition political parties.

Added to the above is the fact that at a time when many states in the country are unable to pay salaries to workers, Enugu State regularly pays workers. Last month, the state government upped the ante by paying 13th month to the admiration of the workers, something never heard of in the history of the state. For this reason, they have promised to return him back to office in 2019.

These have led to a gale of endorsements for the governor’s re-election in 2019 from different strata of the society including the church, which now plays a critical role in who governs. Last week, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche declared that the governor’s re-election in 2019 was sacrosanct because of his outstanding performance and judicious utilisation of the lean resources of the state to impact positively on the lives of the people.

Speaking at the thanksgiving service of the former Senate President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ken Nnamani and family, held at St. John’s Methodist Church, Amechi Uwani, so impressed was Uche with the governor’s performance that he said: “You have done very well in office. Even those in the graves, if they are allowed to vote, will vote for you.”

He described Ugwuanyi as a God-fearing leader, who “loves and honours God,” saying: “Therefore, whatever you want in the next dispensation you will get it”.

He maintained that any governor or politician who wants to be re-elected in 2019, “must perform” as “that is the best campaign; to give the people the dividends of democracy.

I welcome Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi) the performing governor of Enugu State. This man is using the resources given to him very well to develop the state.”

Also adding his voice, the Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Christopher Edeh, commended the governor for the 13th month salary he paid the civil servants as Christmas gift, saying: “Ugwuanyi has created 13th month salary in Enugu State”, while other states are battling to pay the 12th month salary.

Mohammed, justified the decision

The Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Emmanuel Chukwuma, had last November endorsed Ugwuanyi for re-election in 2019.

Speaking at the Centenary Anniversary of the Anglican Church in Nkanuland, Chukwuma said the governor deserves a second term because of his commitment to peace, good governance, love for the poor masses and development of the Church.

At the event which was attended by many chieftains of the APC, Chukwuma commended

Last month, the state government upped the ante by paying 13th month to the admiration of the workers, something never heard of in the history of the state.

the governor for the good works he is doing in Enugu State and his uncommon leadership style that has restored peace, unity and good governance in the state. He declared Ugwuanyi’s re-election chances as “assured and not contestable” urging all other political parties to shelve party leanings to support the governor.

Also recently, the state chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella organisation of all the political parties in the country applauded the governor for his effective leadership that has engendered peace and good governance in the state “at a time when recession has become a “customised excuse” for elected leaders for non-performance.” In a statement by IPAC’s state Chairman and Secretary, John Nwobodo and Mr. Ken Onyekaonwu, the organisation said it was highly impressed with the way the governor has “managed with prudence, integrity, transparency and accountability the state’s lean resources” to pay workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions and execute numerous capital projects across the state, among others.

IPAC also commended the governor for the judicious and transparent utilisation of

the Paris Club refunds to the state; approval and payment of 13th month salary to civil servants as Christmas bonus as well as provision of free transport to registered Enugu State indigenes returning home for the festive season. The organisation scored the governor “very high” on the implementation of his administration’s four-point agenda, noting that “the education sector has received tremendous boost with the employment of over one thousand primary school teachers and the recruitment of another batch, ongoing.” The political parties also appreciated the governor for the massive rehabilitation of urban and rural roads in the state, including the over N1.4 billion road projects recently awarded by his administration.

They said: “This is a very heart-warming development, Ugwuanyi has bestrode governance like a colossus and stands tall among his peers exhibiting candour, humility and simplicity in his approach to governance.

We commend him for his open door policy, inclusion and accommodation, which have endeared him to the people. Without mincing words, we would say that the governor has elevated governance to a higher pedestal in Enugu State.

“We recall vividly part of his excellency’s inaugural speech where he narrated how a political associate of his told him that this was not the best time to be a governor. However, it is obvious he was not scared by the realities of the time. All we have seen in the governor is a man who believes that tough time doesn’t last but tough people do. It is delightful how the governor is turning the nation’s economic challenges into huge blessings in Enugu State,” the organisation stated.

Perhaps the greatest endorsement the governor has so far received came from the state traders under the auspices of Enugu State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ESAMATA). The traders at a solidarity rally they organised in appreciation of the governor’s efforts at entrenching good governance and initiation of a unique traders’ empowerment programme, unanimously endorsed his reelection in 2019, saying that he has “performed creditably in just two years in office despite the daunting economic challenges in the country.”

The traders in an extreme display of their appreciation and support, recently, shut all the markets in the state and mobilised themselves en masse to honour the governor. They were full of gratitude to him for good governance and his empowerment initiatives borne out of his desire to give traders in the state a sense of belonging and bring them closer to the government as the true heroes of democracy.

They said their outpouring endorsements were in recognition of the governor’s people-oriented programmes aimed at impacting positively on the lives of the people.

So impressive are the people of the state with the performance of Ugwuanyi that members of the opposition have also joined in commending him. Recently, members and leaders of the APC, converged on the Convention Hall of Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, in solidarity with one of their staunch members from Enugu State, the Nigerian Ambassador to Republic of India with Concurrent Accreditation to Bangladesh and Nepal, Major General Chris Sunday Eze (rtd), who was accorded a befitting reception

by Enugu State Government in respect of his new appointment. The auspicious event, which attracted notable leaders of the APC, namely: Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo, CONT’D ON NEXT PAGE

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

18

POLITICS

Can Secondus Return PDP to Power?

During the campaign, the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Uche Secondus promised to bring back the glorious days to the party.

Segun James assesses his capacity to deliver on his promise

A

gainst a backdrop of widespread dissatisfaction and political volatility in the party, Mr. Uche Secondus emerged as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former largest party in Africa.

Secondus was not new to the post. He was the acting chairman after the crisis that rocked the party following the loss of the 2015 general election which consumed the then national chairman, Mr. Adamu Muazu.

Gone are the days when the PDP was the lone ‘Iroko’ tree in the political forest of Nigeria.

That tree withered, but luckily, there seems to be a rejuvenation following the resolution of the crisis that rocked the party for two years and the subsequent successful national elective convention held last December which produed Mr. Uche Secondus as the chairman of the party. The tree is now sprouting new leaves and flowers; but for how long?

Today, the PDP has got a second chance to reinvent itself, go for the kill in the 2019 general election and wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which against all odds, dislodged the PDP from government after 16 years in office.

The loss in the 2015 election triggered a crisis in the party. So fierce was it that it consumed the national chairman of the party.

Two chairmen emerged thereafter, a situation that forced many members to flee.

However, the emergence of Secondus now provides a welcome opportunity for the party to take stock, know where it is coming from, realise where it is and determine its future and the challenges facing it at this most critical period.

Critical among the problems that face Secondus is the question of reconciliation first within the party and among the critical sector in the political and economic spectrum.

Secondus realized this hence when he emerged as the chairman he declared his commitment to full reconciliation and inclusion of all aggrieved members in his efforts to re-position the party, saying his visit to party elder, Chief Bode George was indicative of that fact. George was one of the aspirants who contested against him for the position. He withdrew from the race a day before the election.

The chairman said he remained committed to the implementation of his three Rs policy of Rebuild, Reposition and Regain power.

“Power belongs to God. It is Almighty God who put us here and we have to be fair and just,” he said. This showed that he is a man who has what it takes to lead the party back to power. Others are not so sure.

That Secondus wanted to hit the ground running soon emerged when he berated the APC for running a broken government since taking over the reins of governance in 2015.

He said: “The APC and their government are broken. They are running a broken government.

We need to rescue our nation from their hands to rebuild our country once more. Nigerians can no longer be fooled by false propaganda.

They will hear the truth and the truth will save the country, not false propaganda.

Today, the PDP has got a second chance to reinvent itself, go for the kill in the 2019 general election and wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which against all odds, dislodged the PDP from government after 16 years in office.

Secondus

“We will never be distracted by the ruling party and their kind of false propaganda.

Nigerians know the truth now that all they have been saying in the last two years are mere lies; to revenge and to intimidate Nigerians.

“Our first assignment will be to bring all and sundry together, that is reconciliation.

We reassure leaders of our party especially those who contested this election that this party belongs to all of us. We have already started work and by the grace of God, it will be productive.

“PDP is the only platform that does not belong to any group or big man. This is a party that provides for the big, the small and the less privileged. The era of impunity is over.

“We will make sure that there is no more imposition. We will make sure that the era of impunity has come and gone and we want to warn our leaders and ourselves that with this take over today, impunity has come and gone.

“The old order is gone. We will operate in the new order. In the next couple of days, the NWC will decide when we will have our retreat. And after the retreat, we will come out with policies and direction and by the grace of God; we will hit the ground running.”

Today, Uche Secondus is the man of the moment. The 62-year-old politician from Rivers

State, South-south of Nigeria now leads the biggest opposition party in Nigeria.

Secondus has been in politics for 39 years.

He became a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1978 during the Second Republic as the youth leader in Rivers. He later became the state publicity secretary of the National Republican Convention, (NRC) from 1993 to 1998.

Secondus became the acting national chairman of the PDP in 2015 after the resignation of the then chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, following the party’s defeat in that year’s presidential election.

Before then, he was the party’s deputy national chairman.

As a businessman, the PDP leader like most of his fellow party men, has had brushes with the country’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), since Muhammadu Buhari became president. He was detained by the EFCC in 2016 for “illegally” receiving on behalf of the PDP 23 luxury vehicles valued at N310 million from the controversial businessman, Jide Omokore.

The court later declared his arrest as being unlawful and awarded N10 million damages against the EFCC. During the May 2016 botched Port Harcourt convention, Secondus wanted to contest for the deputy national chairman of the PDP. But

he changed his mind that year and went after the party’s top job.

“The truth is that by last year I was gunning for the deputy,” he admitted in a THISDAY interview. “The arrangement was such that somebody from the South-west would emerge as the chairman. That time, we had two and a half years to the general election. But now, we don’t have time, therefore we need an experienced person who will start working from the first day,” he argued.

He reiterated this mission in his victory speech.

“By my understanding, the mandate you have given us today is clear and unambiguous. It is to return our party to power comes 2019. As herculean as this mandate seems, I know it is achievable. Let me assure you great members and leaders of our party that by the grace of God and with all hands on deck, the brief tenancy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aso Rock Villa expires on May 28, 2019. By this, we serve them a quit notice,” he said Secondus was born on the 22nd of March, 1955. He is a businessman turned politician.

He was acting chairman of the committee from 2015 to 2016. He was the second chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, a position he held for two terms.

Secondus was born and raised in Andoni.

He completed his elementary and secondary education in Rivers State. He further attended the London Chambers of Commerce Institute where he obtained a certificate in commerce.

While state party chair, he earned the sobriquet “Total Chairman”, and headed an influential group in the National Executive Committee known as G.84.

In 2007, he was the South-South Coordinator for the PDP National Campaign Council that organized the campaigns for the party during that year’s general elections. In 2008, at the party convention, he gained further promotion as National Organizing Secretary, the office he held till 2012.

On 1 September 2013, he was elected Deputy National Chairman of the party. He also served as acting National Chairman of the party, following the resignation of Adamu Mu’azu in 2015. On 10 December 2017 at the Eagles square, Secondus was elected as the PDP National Working Committee chairman after a keenly contested election.

U G W UA N Y I K E E P S FA I T H W I T H E N U G U Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, Senator Fidelis Okoro, former governorship candidate of the party, Chief Okey Ezea, former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Eugene Odoh, Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu, Senator Emma Anosike, among others, provided a veritable platform for them to appreciate the uncommon leadership style of the governor.

The National Vice Chairman of the APC in the South-east, Hon. Emma Eneukwu in his goodwill message commended the governor for his bi-partisan approach to governance, saying

that such an exceptional disposition has united leaders of the state, irrespective of their political differences. He stated that the governor has created a peaceful atmosphere that has made it possible for co-existence in the state. The APC chief also praised Ugwuanyi for the level of security in the state stressing that the people now sleep with both eyes closed.

“I want to thank God for today, because this thanksgiving signifies the fact that whatever we do in this state, we are one. Irrespective of party differences, once any of us achieves anything that is worth celebrating, we come

together. It is worthy of note that the kind of governor we have is one who appreciates talent irrespective of affiliation party,” Eneukwu said.

Also at the event, the former Senate President and a chieftain of the APC, Senator Ken Nnamani said Ugwuanyi has demonstrated political maturity in the state by creating an ambience of peace and tranquility where everybody was accorded his or her due respect irrespective of political divide. He applauded the governor for providing good governance and quality leadership , adding that he has through the reception for Ambassador Eze reaffirmed that

he is “a governor for everybody”. He called on other states to emulate what is happening in Enugu State, stating that “our National Vice Chairman has alluded to the fact that we are enjoying peace in Enugu State, and we are enjoying somebody that has a large heart, not minding his political affiliation.”.

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who has been a fierce critic of the governor’s party at the national level, also appreciated his bi-partisan disposition, saying that the APC has not and will not take such a rare gesture for granted.

19

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 3.83% 4.50%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

6.33% 7.58% 8.67%

D E C E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

329.91% 0.03% 3.90%

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

2 9 , S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 0 1 7

11.66% 25.84%

EXCHANGE RATE N306/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Medview Apologises to Passengers

Medview Airline has oered an apology to passengers who were aected by its operational hitch between December 22 and 27, 2017, just as it announced the normalisation of ights on the Lagos-London and Lagos-Abuja-Dubai routes.

In a message by the Chief Executive OďŹƒcer (CEO), Alhaji Muneer Bankole, the airline declared:â€?We sincerely oer our unreserved apology to all our esteemed customers/passengers for the inconveniences experienced between December 22 and 27, 2017 due to challenges in our ight operations. We recognised and acknowledged that the little we did to ameliorate your pains cannot compensate adequately for the days you lost, and not being able to meet with your loved ones or keep important appointments during the Yuletide season while your ights were rescheduled.â€?

The airline explained that the its ordeal started on December 22, 2017 in the United Kingdom when its fully boarded B777 aircraft made an air return to London Gatwick for safety reasons, which called for serviceability checks and certiďŹ cation lasting 72 hours.

He said the airline spirited eorts only paid o on December 24, 2017 with relief ights but the holiday period compounded the backlog of passengers, which stretched to December 27 even though two aircraft were deployed.

‘Air Safety Improves in Africa’

BEHOLD OUR MATRON

L-R: Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman receiving a plaque commemorating her appointment as a Matron, from the Governor of the Women in Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Bola Muse in Lagos‌recently

Federal Government Insists on Airport Concession Chinedu Eze The federal government has insisted that concession of airport facilities remains the best option to attract private sector funding for airport development.

The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said there would be no going back on the policy because concession remains the best option for infrastructural renewal of the airports.

He said that the federal government would lay a solid foundation for the takeoff of the programme so that succeeding administration would continue from where the present one stopped.

Despite protests from labour

AVIATION and workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Minister noted that there has not been any reliable alternative to concession proffered by those who oppose the plan.

THISDAY spoke to airline operators who said that concession may be the solution to the infrastructure deficit at the airports, noting that when transparently carried out, concession would provide alternative funding to the nation’s airport development.

The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema said that concession could be the

answer to poor airport facilities and stressed that it should be transparently done.

According to him, if that if that would modernise airport facilities that would be good for the operators.

The CEO of Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole spoke in the same vein, noting that government may not be able to fund airport infrastructure, therefore, the private sector must come in to develop the airports.

Reacting to the wish of the airline operators to see the airports concessioned, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman noted that concession should be the answer to airport development.

In a recent chat with THISDAY, Usman :“Well, it is very interesting and I am happy to hear that people appreciate the need to try something else in the proper management of the airports because if over the years, for the past several years, our airports have not been able to achieve that potential especially in view of the fact that God has made us a natural hub for air transportation. And we have not been able to take advantage of that natural position given to us freely by God because everything was centred on the government; even though we know that aviation is a major player in the GDP of any country.�

Continued on page 20

FG’s Intervention Lifts Domestic Fish Supply by 71% in Two Years fisheries development Eromosele Abiodun

A report by FBN Quest has revealed that over the past two years domestic fish supply has risen by 71 per cent to 1.2mmt following increased investment in the sector by the federal government.

Aquaculture remains an integral part of Nigeria’s agriculture sector, with annual fish demand estimated at 3.3 million metric tons (mmt).

Analysts at FBN Quest in the report attributed the pick-up to increased government intervention stressing however, that there remains a supply gap of 64 per cent, which points towards investment opportunities.

MARITIME

“Based on the recently released national accounts, fisheries contracted by 2.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 and accounted for just 1.5 per cent of total agricultural gross domestic products (GDP). There has been a steady decline in output since the start of the year, according to the same report: the segment generated N135 billion in the third quarter of 2017, compared with N138 billion in the second quarter of 2017 and N171 billion in the first quarter,� they said.

The analysts added that the fisheries industry faces numerous challenges, noting,

however, that the high cost of fish feed continues to stick out as a major issue. “We understand that the price of fish feed has surged by 67 per cent year-on-year ( y/y) to N7, 500 per bag. Olam, a multinational agribusiness firm, has recently set up a fish feed manufacturing facility in Kwara State. The initial milling capacity is 75,000 tons per year. Logistics issues also require immediate attention to push the segment forward. “Improved road networks to farms (including fish farms) would assist with boosting the value chain. The European Union has set up a â‚Ź50 million fund to encourage sustainable

and marine security across Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (Nigeria inclusive). The European Union estimates the annual commercial value from fisheries at $3 billion from the sub-region.�

Following the recent hosting of the 10th Annual Conference of the Fisheries Committee for West and Central Gulf Guinea (FCWC), by Nigeria, the federal government had disclosed intensifying effort to reduce annual fish import bill.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri who stated this during a media conference Continued on page 20

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has acknowledged that aviation safety in Africa has continued to improve over the past ďŹ ve years. The Senior Vice President, safety and ight operations (SFO) of the association stated this in a report. He emphasised that commercial air travel is the safest form of long distance transportation that has ever existed.

According to report, IATA research has found that globally the overall trend in aviation safety continues to improve. A survey of airline safety over the past ďŹ ve and a half also indicated that IATA members had a lower accident rate than non-IATA members as well as an accident rate lower than the industry average. “We constantly strive to ensure standards of safety are maintained and improved,â€? said Meyer. Furthermore, airlines registered as part of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) have outperformed non-IOSA airlines globally over the period from 2012 to 2017. The IOSA audit reviews many areas of operator systems to ensure the highest standards are met. As of November 21 the IOSA registry contained 427 airlines of which 281 are IATA members. “While no operational standard will never have an event, the data show that operators who maintain IOSA standards have better a safety performance over time,â€? Meyer added.

In Africa, for example, the accident rate is 1.18 for IOSA registered carriers compared to a rate of 9.79 for non-IOSA carriers.

Meyer noted that one of IATA’s goals is to make more eective use of data to identify risks to safety and develop strategies to mitigate them. In this regard IATA is collaborating with a number of organisations all over the world.

Airbus Delivered 700 Jets in 2017

European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) delivered over 700 aircraft in 2017, breaking company records and meeting its core industrial target for the year, industry sources said.Exact ďŹ gures have been kept under wraps ahead of an announcement on January 15, but the sources said Airbus handed over a record monthly total of jets in December, surpassing the previous monthly peak of 111 seen in the closing weeks of 2016.Coming on top of 591 deliveries posted between January and November last year, that implies deliveries of at least 703 aircraft in 2017 as a whole, up at least two per cent from 2016.According to Reuters, a spokesman for Airbus declined comment.Airbus stuck throughout 2017 to an oďŹƒcial target of more than 700 deliveries for the year, but abandoned a more ambitious informal goal of more than 720 deliveries in October due to continued delays in engine deliveries for the A320neo family.Airbus oďŹƒcials have said the delays have now eased, following a two-year wrangle with supplier Pratt & Whitney over late engines for the company’s fastest-selling jet.

“Aviation is certainly the way to go and the only way for our country to develop�

Minister of State, Aviation,

Senator Hadi Sirika

20

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INSISTS ON AIRPORT CONCESSION Usman said that it is obvious that government resources are limited so it becomes pertinent that alternative sources of funding should be sought. “But we all know also that where the resources are limited there are other priorities. Now having said that, the only way forward which is what is done worldwide now, is the concession of the airports.

This is whereby the airports are not actually sold but a genuine investor or a group of investors are allowed to come in and invest, taking advantage of our natural location whereby the investor will make his money and also government will make its own money based on the agreements reached between the two parties.

FG’S INTERVENTION LIFTS DOMESTIC FISH SUPPLY BY 71% IN TWO YEARS held in Abuja, said government do not give waivers on fish importation, rather allocates quota to fish importers through the seaport in order to regulate importation of the commodity.

The conference was the second Nigeria hosted, and she was made to head the FCWC for successful hosting of the 10th edition.

Lokpobiri said: “To reduce the annual fish import bill, we give quota and we are not giving any waivers and would not give anybody waivers.

Anybody who imports fish without a quota or obtaining a license is guilty of the crime and where he is found guilty will pay a fine of $250, 000. “Fish imported with our quota comes through the seaport and subjected to good quality control, and while you are importing you do your backward integration thereby adding more value to local fish production. “We still have a deficit of 2.1 million metric tonnes of our national demand for fish which is 3.2 million metric tonnes, and to make Nigerians understand 10, 000 tonnes is 334, 000 containers, and you can imagine how many containers it will be if we have a deficit of 2.1m mt.

th Group Business Editor

NEWS

‘2017, Safest Year for Aviation in History’ Chinedu Eze with agency report International aviation agencies have assessed the year 2017 as the safest in aviation history.

According to Airline Geeks, a publication dedicated to aviation, 2016 seemed to be a year of never-ending aviation incidents. From an Egyptair flight being “forcibly diverted� to Cyprus by a man wanting to impress his girlfriend, to then-Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence’s chartered Eastern Airlines 737-700 overrunning the runway at LaGuardia, the accidents and incidents seemed to pile up. The publication noted that the good news, however, is that 2017 was remarkably safer than the year prior. In fact, with the clock striking midnight on December 31 to signal the end of the year, 2017 was officially the safest year for aviation in history.

The year is dubbed the safest by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) because in 2017 no passenger jets crashed.

Airline Geek quoted a Netherlands-based aviation consultancy firm, To70, which reported that only 13 lives were lost last year due to aviation-related incidents.

While any loss of life is tragic, regardless of its circumstances or comparativeness to years prior, that number is a strong improvement from 2016’s 271

losses.

While there were non-fatal incidents throughout the year, the first fatal incident occurred in October, more than a third of the way in the year. The incident involved an Embraer E120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft being flown as an air ambulance in the African country of Angola. An engine failure led to a loss of control and the aircraft crashed, killing all seven on board. The historic

denotation was almost challenged on New Year’s Eve as two aircraft crashes resulted in the loss of life. First, in Sydney, Australia, a seaplane carrying six passengers crashed mid-flight.

Unfortunately, this resulted in the loss of all six passengers.

Second, in Costa Rica, a Cessna Caravan carrying 12 passengers crashed in a remote section of Costa Rican jungle, making rescue attempts difficult and leaving no survivors.

However, according to the consultancy firm, those incidents were not recorded in the final tally of lives lost because the aircraft were lighter than 12,500lbs, differentiating them from large passenger aircraft.

In years prior, large passenger aircraft, such as a Boeing 777-200 operating as Malaysia Airlines flight 370 and an Airbus A320 operating as Germanwings

flight 9525, have crashed entirely, raising the death toll.

The increase in safety can be attributed to better pilot training and more advanced technology being featured in aircraft. New technology in the cockpits of today, such as the heads-up display (HUD) and weather avoidance programmes has been the driving force for safer flights.

With this enviable record, 2018 will have a big shoe to fill.

STANBIC IBTC LISTS FUNDS

L-R: Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema and Acting Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Akeem Oyewole during the memorandum listing of Stanbic IBTC Mutual Funds on the NSE in Lagos‌recently

TCIPC Fire: NPA Reiterates Commitment to Safety Standards Eromosele Abiodun The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has expressed concern while sympathizing with those affected in the unfortunate fire incident which occurred at locations in the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC), Apapa during which no lives were lost.

The fire outbreak occurred on Tuesday 2018 and engulfed part of the PTML Terminal as well as the “National� areas both in the port.

However, in statement, the NPA reiterates its resolve at ensuring that safety and security of lives and property at the nations’ seaports are key priorities in its operations

across board. “Stakeholders, operators and port users are therefore enjoined to imbibe the tenets of safety and security dictates as required by the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) and other International agencies in their operations. We assure all and sundry of a safe, secure and customer friendly environment for the ease of doing business at the nation’s Seaports,� it stated.

NPA charged stakeholders to continue operations and activities without fear and be vigilant at all times as all necessary machineries have been deployed by the Management to contained and subsequently stem

further re-occurrence.

Clearing agents operating at the Tin-Can Island and Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) had on Tuesday in Lagos escaped death when office complex was razed by fire.

The office complex which was densely populated was rented out by a subsidiary of the NPA, Seaview Properties Limited to clearing agents.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the fire broke out at one of the container offices thereby affecting about 40 offices in the complex.

Earlier on the day, a similar fire outbreak happened at an NPA building popularly known as ‘National’ located at the Tin Can Island Port second gate.

The fire outbreak affected several offices including that of a former vice chairman of Association National Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

Tin Can Port chairman of International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA), Ojo Akintoye told THISDAY that he was still at the scene of the fire at PTML container complex.

He said operators with offices inside the complex are suspecting foul play, adding that the fire might have been caused deliberately.

He said the office of a BOT member of ANLCA Sanni Shittu as well as other top clearing agents occupying the left wing of the complex have been razed down completely.

Also, a former Public

Relations Officer of ANLCA, Gaming Adeola also confirmed the development claiming sabotage. “That was the New Year gift we got but we are unperturbed,� he said on phone The NPA had given occupants of the PTML container complex an eviction notice in 2016.

But chairman of the complex, Chukwuemeka Shedrack had kicked against the order, saying that NPA was trying to render the operators homeless. The occupants alleged that there is an attempt by NPA to concession the complex to a popular port concessionare.

The occupants subsequently took NPA to court in 2017.

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

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

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

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Senior Correspondent

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

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

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? Ě™ Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Þ̚ Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? Ě™ ËÚÓÞËÖ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Þ̚

BPP Grants ‘CertiďŹ cate of No Objection’ on N10bn Varsity Power Programme Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has granted the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) ‘certificate of no objection’ to award contracts for the first phase of its Energising Education Programme (EEP) which would collectively cost N10 billion.

REA, in a statement, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that in addition to the certificate from the BPP, the EPP has

also been included in the 2017 and 2018 budget of the federal government, and as such the first phase of the programme would now be executed in eight universities and one university teaching hospital.

It said the beneficiary universities and teaching hospital are: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi; Bayero University Kano; Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto; Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi; Nnamdi Azikwe University, Anambra;

University of Lagos, Akoka; Federal University of Petroleum Resources Delta; Obafemi Awolowo University and Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, with whom it had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU).

The REA also stated that allegations that its Managing Director, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, said that universities in the programme would not get electricity supplied to them from the programme were untrue.

It said: “Allegations that the MD/CEO made any statements to the contrary are patently untrue and are at best, a misunderstanding and at worst, a campaign to deny our federal universities the opportunity to access uninterrupted power. Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi stated in fact that a majority of the universities under the EEP are located in rural as well as underserved communities, hence the REA’s involvement.

“The REA wishes to make clear that the planned Energising Education Programme (EEP) which aims to provide dedicated and reliable electricity to federal universities is on course for delivery in 2018, and is already part of the 2017 budget.�

It added that it had got approval for the programme from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and regulatory approval from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

21

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NIMASA to Acquire Vessels to Boost Maritime Safety Eromosele Abiodun In line with the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is set to acquire strategic maritime safety and security assets, which are also in line with the total spectrum of maritime security strategy.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who made this known in Lagos recently, also announced the establishment of a command and control centre as part of the strategic initiative.

According to him, “The four components of the initiative are situational awareness, response capability, law enforcement and local partnerships, and regional cooperation which are the fulcrum upon which

tackling maritime crime will be built on.�

Peterside noted that the implementation of NIMASA’s total spectrum maritime strategy in collaboration with the agency’s partners is a panacea to piracy and maritime crime within Nigerian territorial waters.He also assured that NIMASA will continue to collaborate with the military especially the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force among other partners to make Nigerian waterways safe and secure.“We are not unmindful of the peculiar environment of Niger Delta which poses its own challenge in tackling maritime crime, especially kidnapping of crew and illegal bunkering that leads to pollution; we will continue to work with the Nigerian Navy and regional organizations to strengthen our

regional approach to tackling maritime crime,� he said.

While giving the assurance that NIMASA will not relax in its quest to see the early passage of the anti-piracy bill, the draft of which the Federal Executive Council recently approved for legislative action, Peterside added that eradicating maritime crime and piracy will be a priority for the Agency and her partners in 2018.

He also used the opportunity to guarantee Nigerians that NIMASA is focused on working with all relevant Stakeholders, using its laid out strategy to make maritime crime history in our domain.

The NIMASA boss has collaborated with stakeholders, both locally and internationally, which has seen to the feat the agency has achieved in the year 2017.

IDPs: APM Terminals Waive Charges on Fish Container Eromosele Abiodun In a major show of support to the effort at ameliorating the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country, Nigeria’s leading container terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa Limited has waived handling and storage charges running into several millions of naira on a container load of fish which was donated by the federal government to IDPs in Yobe State.

The federal government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had directed that the 40-feet container laden with Tilapia fish, confiscated by the Apapa Area Command of the NCS be released to the Nigeria Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST) for onward delivery to Yobe State for use

by IDPs. Disclosing this in Lagos, the Managing Director of APM

Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob said APM Terminals is always willing to support the host government in any country it operates in bringing succour to its citizens as a way of giving back.

Jacob also said that APM Terminals is supporting the Nigerian government’s food export drive through the provision of modern cold chain transportation alternatives for farmers in the agricultural centers of northern Nigeria to bring fresh produce intact and unspoiled to market centers in Lagos.

He said the initiative could save an estimated 15 million metric tons of perishable goods, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, ginger, and carrots, which are lost annually due to poor logistics infrastructure and high transportation costs.

APM Terminals Apapa is the largest container facility with a capacity of the three serving Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and business centre. It is also the largest container terminal operation in West Africa, having doubled container traffic after concession began in 2006, with dramatically improved productivity.

A $350 million investment and expansion programme was announced for APM Terminals Apapa since 2006. The company currently operates the Apapa and WACT Onne facilities in Nigeria, with plans to develop a third at Badagry.

More than 40 million people have become displaced worldwide within their own country as a result of violence, with the majority of the new displacements occurring in Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq.

Competition Begins for Production Site of Boeing’s New Airplane Boeing is expected to announce whether it will build an aircraft to address the perceived gap between its widebody and narrowbody jet offerings. But various public-private consortiums have already begun working to influence the company’s decision about where to build it.

According to agency reports, Boeing has opened an office dedicated to studying the concept of a so-called New Midsized Airplane(NMA). The company said in terms of size, the twin-aisle NMA would fit somewhere between the 737-10 and the 787-8 Dreamliner. And if Washington commerce secretary Brian Bonlender gets his way, Boeing will build it somewhere in the Evergreen State. “We have a very positive story to tell about our relationship with Boeing over the

decades,� said Bonlender. “It’s a relationship that’s produced success repeatedly. We’re [Boeing’s] most efficient, least risky, quickest partner-to-profit in the world.�

Bondlender serves as chairman of governor Jay Inslee’s “Choose Washington NMA Council,� which includes the executives of three Puget Sound-area counties, as well as representatives from the International Association of Machinists and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). One of the three counties is Snohomish, home to the Everett 777X plant. There, executive Dave Somers has formed his own aerospace task force. “Boeing and our world-class workforce are vital to the prosperity of Snohomish County,�

he said in a statement. “We face fierce global competition and need to maintain our position as the aerospace leader of the world. For continued success, we must aggressively work to retain and grow jobs. We cannot afford the risk of losing any business when it comes to our aerospace cluster.�

Across the Cascade Mountains, Chief Executive Officer of Spokane International Airport and the Chairman of the West Plains/Airport Area Development Authority, appears equally determined to land the NMA. With rail construction set for completion later this year extending through the site Krauter hopes to market to Boeing, the Authority sees itself as a viable alternative to the Puget Sound region.

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

The Fuel Debacle – In Need Of An Enterprise Wide Solution

G

overnments all over the world face a seemingly ever-increasing array of risks that may significantly afĂ?Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă™ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ to deliver on key mandates and promises – no region is uniquely different in this regards. What stands successful and popular governments apart is how they prioritize and manage key strategic imperatives. Many enhance their understanding and management of strategic risks by embracing Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ě‹ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ëœ driven by technology. Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ě‹ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? ÞËÕĂ?Ă˜ ÞÙ ×Ùà Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă‹ĂŽ Ă’Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?âÚÖÓĂ?Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ assessment and monitoring processes.

The nagging petrol scarcity across the country should be of major concern to the government because it affects every citizen. Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ÓÞã˛ Ăž Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă? transportation and movement of people Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÑÙÙÎĂ?Ë› Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– availability at retail distribution stations is a core responsibility of government and ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ă?Ă&#x;Ă— Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă• Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ and will require that a drastic and deliberate solution be put in place.

Various reasons have been attributed as the cause of the problem ranging from the inability of NNPC to create a window for ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ëœ ÞÙ Ă‹Ă˜ importation gap caused by the landing cost margin of N171 per litre and the selling cost pegged at N145 per litre.

Shortage of foreign exchange and increase in crude prices have made it unprofitable to import petrol and sell same at N145 per litre.

Private importers have backed out because the increase in crude price has made the landing cost high. The result is that importation of ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă?ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă–Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ͚͸͸ ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž

by NNPC. There is also the issue of huge debts Ă™Ă? Ùà Ă?Ăœ ΀͸͸ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂŁ NNPC. The issues involved in fuel refining and/or importation and distribution are multifaceted. Ă’Ă? ÚÖËãĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă? ÙÓÖ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ě™ ËŞĂ?Ěš Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ëœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă¤Ă?ĂŽ that such a complex system involving the input of different players comes with inherent risks. With an understanding Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?âÓÞÓĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? wide solution within a well-designed Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă?ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ě™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă?ÓÚÖĂ?Ă?Ěš ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– be required. This will ensure a holistic approach to solving the problem in a sustainable manner.

It appears that the downstream oil industry which is saddled with the important role of fuel distribution has been slow to embrace ERM concepts. Red tape and a status quo mentality seem to hang over the entire industry when it comes to risk management. This has to change if this perennial problem of scarcity must be solved. Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ăž åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ of ensuring petrol availability to retail outlets nationwide should be set up. This unit will be assigned the role of Risk Owners. This is one first major milestone to be reached. Defining who is responsible for handling certain risks is key. It must be clear who is responsible for

being a risk owner of a certain area. The unit will also provide a strong tone at the top. If managers see their administrators accepting ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă™ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ then it would become important to them as well. By taking this first step of assigning risk Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? will be able to get on the same page about ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă— Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ how it could affect the strategic mandate of petrol availability.

Risks must be prioritized. The complexities Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă—Ëœ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă™ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă¤Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂ™Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă•Ă? that their risks are the most important. This is why it is so important that this process is driven from the top. It will be easier to see which risks were most prominent at an enterprise-wide level. This is important to apportion effort and resources so that Ă‹ ËŤĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă?Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă?åËÞÞĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂœË›ËŹ Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ăž map - which is a risk management tool that measures likelihood and impact of risks can be used to do this.

Involve experienced hands at the coordinating unit. The government may want to consider appointing a board of trustees with explicit responsibility for risk management leadership. The head will lead the development of structured processes related to risk. The unit will coordinate the risk thinking so that senior management of the various operators and ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă™ĂŒĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂžĂ™ĂšĚ‹ĂŽĂ™ĂĄĂ˜Ëœ enterprise view of the portfolio of risks on the horizon for the system. They can also push the operators to do more when it comes to risk management and hold it to the same standards stockholders expect of manageĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?Ë› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ the board must be very careful not to cross into micromanaging risks and preventing the operators from taking operational risks for potential gains.

Implementing an ERM process across such a wide system is a daunting task and it is tempting to cut corners or to attempt to move fast in order to get a robust process Ă—Ă™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁË› ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂšĂ? ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ ERM professional needs to be taken to ensure that each step is fully completed and done correctly before moving onto the next step.

Government leaders and senior executives may benefit from an honest assessment of the efficacy of our current approach to managing ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ă?Ăž ËŞĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ risks for decades but generally implement risk oversight using a siloed risk management approach whereby different functions manage specific types of risks with little coordination among silos.

Given the expectations and the demands Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?ÓÞÓäĂ?Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÒËÞ status quo risk management will likely lead to failure and significant missed opportunities to make a desired impact. Ëž ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ëœ Ëœ Ëœ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ëœ Ě™ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ěš Ë› ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ë› Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ ÚÙĂ?Ăž Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?ĂĄ Ă™ĂœĂ• Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?

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

Ă?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă’Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

22

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Why Opening New Abuja Airport Terminal May be Delayed Chinedu Eze The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said despite the tremendous work already done at the new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja its for business would be delayed.

The minister, while inspecting the facility on Tuesday explained that one of the causes of the delay was a foundational issue which had altered the master plan of the airport.

According to him, the planning of the project did not envisage that the building

would lead to additional works, power and water supply.

He said that it was also discovered that the building would block both the control and fire towers which would require relocation, so additional work was required to link it with the existing terminal as well as expanding the apron to accommodate bigger air planes.

He said that all the challenges would result to additional funding, remarking that the project is being funded through $500 million loan from Chinese EXIM Bank and $100 million

counterpart funding from Nigerian government. “The contractor has told us some of the challenges he has been facing regarding some of the components of work and some additional works required for this project to be put into use.

Unfortunately, some of these components are complex which would delay this job and some of them are from the foundation like that of the sewer and water. There is also the problem of the control tower blocking the access into the terminal apron and also the inadequate nature of the apron itself,� Sirika said.

Air Peace to Expand Operations in 2018 Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace has announced that it would introduce new routes in Nigeria and in the West Coast to operate some destinations that are currently underserved and thus offer air travellers better choices.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema gave the assurance at the airline’s end-of-year management session in Lagos to review the airline’s flight operations in 2017.

Onyema said the airline deserved commendation for rescuing the Nigerian aviation industry and giving air travellers hope in 2017.

He said he was quite satisfied that Air Peace was able to expand its fleet to 24 aircraft despite the economic downturn in the country and what the aviation sector experienced in 2017.

He attributed the airline’s

success in the three years of its existence to the unflinching support of the flying public and the quality leadership of its management team.

The Air Peace boss said the airline would remain grateful to its customers for their patronage over the years, urging the flying public to continue to trust the carrier ’s services.

Air Peace, he assured, would continue to strive to sustain its uncompromising approach to safety, prioritisation of the comfort of its customers and job creation.

The airline, Onyema, however said, still had a lot of grounds to cover in its vision to transform air travel experience in Nigeria, the West Coast of Africa and the Dubai, Guangzhou-China, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg routes.

He charged the airline’s management to brace up for the challenge of implement-

miles per euro spent, corresponding with their particular booking habits and flight patterns. The new reward system applies to flights with the Lufthansa Group airlines Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings, as well as to all other Miles & More partner airlines, provided the ticket for the flight was issued by a Lufthansa Group airline.

Specifically, this means that Miles & More participants would always receive at least four award miles per euro spent on flights with the previously mentioned airlines. Members with frequent flyer status will receive six award miles per euro on flights with Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines as well as with United Airlines and Air Canada.

This means that the bonus

FAAN’s New Terminals and 2018

Minister Inspecting New Abuja Airport Terminal

ing its plan to deepen air connectivity on many routes in the North of Nigeria, including Kano and Yola, and other domestic routes.

He regretted that industrial unrest by Air Traffic Control in Senegal compelled Air Peace to suspend the launch of its Freetown, Banjul and Dakar routes planned for December 15, 2017.

Onyema, however, assured that the carrier would soon announce a new date for the launch of the three suspended West Coast routes.

He said the airline, which commenced flight operations to Accra-Ghana on February 16, 2017, was determined to expand to about nine destinations on the West Coast of Africa.

The airline, he added, was awaiting the delivery of the two Boeing 777 it recently acquired to start its flight operations to Dubai, Guangzhou, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

Lufthansa Introduces New Method for Miles to Passengers The airlines of Lufthansa Group are changing how award miles are credited to participants in the frequent flyer and reward program Miles & More.

Beginning in March 2018, the number of award miles that are credited will be based on the price of the flight, that the price of the ticket plus any additional fees charged by the respective airline, and on the frequent flyer status of the participants in the programme.

Under the old system, booking class or rather booking class and the length of the route determined the number of miles that were awarded. Lufthansa in Nigeria has a dedicated Miles & More desk at the city office in Lagos.

Going forward, Miles & More participants would be receiving four to six award

AIR WATCH

award miles that status members receive for flights with the network airlines and transatlantic joint venture partners will be doubling to 50 per cent, from currently 25 per cent.

The same applies to the airlines Adria Airways, Air Dolomiti, Croatia Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, which also participate in the Miles & More frequent flyer and reward program.

On flights with Eurowings, Brussels Airlines and all other Miles & More partner airlines, the award mile bonus will remain at 25 percent, which means that status members will receive five award miles per euro spent. Award miles can only be credited according to this new system if the tickets for the flight were issued by a Lufthansa Group airline, not by other airlines.

Many passengers who travelled through the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja since early 2017 after the ease of doing business policy was introduced by the federal government acknowledged that passenger processing has improved and now travellers spend less time checking in and going through security checks.

That was after the almighty security tables were dismantled and security operatives were made to stay away from where they would have direct interaction with the passengers. That way the process saves time and also the well known alleged extortion by security operatives was reduced to the barest minimum, according to officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who spoke to THISDAY. The newly appointed airport manager for the international airport, Lagos, Tunde Ogini, told THISDAY on Tuesday that his priority was to make sure that the toilets are very clean and the cooling system is working in order to enhance passenger comfort. According to him, in the next three to six months the international wing of the Lagos airport would witness a lot of improvement and that would be in addition to what has been achieved since last year.

The historical visit made by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to the Lagos Airport last year on unscheduled inspection of facilities seemed to have spurred FAAN to uplift service at Lagos and other major airports in the country.

Passengers who regularly travel through the airport told THISDAY that federal government’s ease of doing business policy is felt more at the airports than elsewhere because even the Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS) at the airports has transformed, as the agency has removed “those unnecessary bottlenecks that frustrate passengers at their desk and now it is easy to obtain visa on arrival if you have made the necessary plans and documentations.�

On improving the toilets and the cooling system at the Lagos Airport international terminal, Ogini said: “In addition to improving every aspect of the airport, our priority is to ensure that passengers are comfortable while they pass through the airport. So we are going to make sure that the toilets are clean and that the air conditioning system is working efficiently.

If you go there now you will notice positive changes already at the concourse, arrival and departure, so in the next three to six months you are going to see a new airport in terms of service. The ease of doing business is making our job easier and passengers are happy for it.�

However, THISDAY investigations reveal that the security operatives at the airport, from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Quarantine, Customs and other security agencies at the airport, besides FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC) are not happy that

they have been “consigned� to anonymity so they have been trying to create an opportunity to start direct interface with passengers so that they will continue the alleged extortion.

At the entry of the terminal there is x-ray machine where the passenger must pass his luggage. Besides the x-ray machine, these security operatives have created a space where they stay and call in passengers with their luggage to quiz then and even search the luggage, thus starting all over what has been eliminated by the ease of doing business policy. “We have planted cameras to monitor the activities of these security people, so when they are captured indulging in those excesses by CCTV they will not be able to deny their actions,� a FAAN official told THISDAY. But the greatest achievement FAAN will record this year is when it will open the five new terminals at the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu airports. According to FAAN management, it is expected that when the terminals would come on stream there would be increase in passenger movement by 25 per cent in the next three years. So it is projected that there would be overall passenger traffic from the current 15 million per annum to 22 million and international passenger traffic will increase from the current 4.2 million to seven million.

Recently the Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma spoke to THISDAY about the new airport terminals.

He said:“We are working hard to make sure that sometime next year (2018), maybe by middle of next year. The two terminals in Abuja and in Lagos will come on stream because these are where we are experiencing upsurge in traffic. So since we have the same contractor handling the five terminals, we are asking the contractor to concentrate on Lagos and Abuja for now. When they are completed it will alleviate some issues as far as traffic growth is concerned in these two airports.

Now, the other effort that we are making to get them on stream in good time is to make sure that other technical issues that are affecting or that will affect the operation of the terminal building are quickly handled.�

He explained that the new terminal in Abuja would face some challenges which the agency and the federal government are making serious effort to overcome so that it would be opened for business this year. “In Abuja, we have an issue because if you look at the structure in Abuja, before the new terminal, the structure was small, so there was no need to install a huge capacity of electricity. So we now need to increase the capacity of our standby. We are already working on the relocation of the tower and the fire house. We have done the assessment.

We have located the place and we are planning that we will increase that capacity so that we will be able to accommodate this terminal in terms of power supply,� Dunoma added.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Hailu: Nigeria is Biggest Chunk of Air Travel Market in Africa The Managing Director of Ethiopian Airlines International Operations, Esayas WoldeMariam Hailu recently spoke with select journalists inAddisAbaba. He spoke about the airline’s operations in Africa, open skies for the continent, and the dominance of the region by international carriers.

Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts: In what ways would you say that Ethiopia Airlines has contributed to Nigeria’s aviation industry and that of other countries in Africa in concrete terms?

As a Pan-African airline, serving our beloved continent, Africa has always been a source of pride for Ethiopian Airlines. With this commitment, Ethiopian has been able to create a missing link; availing easy movement of Africans from one corner to the other. During the temporary closure of Abuja Airport for reconstruction a few months ago, we were the first foreign carrier to land at the Kaduna Airport, allowing our passengers to experience ultimate comfort on-board our Boeing B-787 Dreamliner. In line with our long term strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, expanding and availing a more efficient intra-African network will remain at the core of our operation and we shall keep on playing the positive role in catalyzing the socio-economic development of our continent.

Ethiopian Airlines maiden flight to Nigeria dates back to the 1960’s same time the country got independence from foreign colonisation.

What for you is the most challenging aspect of running Ethiopia Airlines in global aviation industry and challenging economy?

The competitive environment is not conducive for African Airlines in general and major challenges include uneven playing field, high fuel cost, high taxes and navigation fees, poor Infrastructure etc, but despite these challenges, Ethiopia has managed to remain successful, being the fastest growing airline in Africa.

Beyond rhetoric, how ready are African states to embrace open sky for Africa and what efforts is Ethiopian Airlines making to actualise the implementation of that policy? As far back as 1999, 44 countries agreed in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire (the Yamoussoukro Decision) to deregulate air services and promote the opening of regional air markets to transnational competition. Since then, however, implementation has been slow and inconsistent. Industry experts often criticise African countries for having more bilateral open sky agreements with partners outside the continent than with African partners.

Ethiopian along with African Union, AFCAC (African Civil Aviation Commission), AFRAA (African Airlines Association) and all African carriers are lobbying for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) that is geared towards a comprehensive reform of the air transport industry and the unification of the fragmented African air transport market. The Yamoussoukro Declaration is an African Civil Aviation Policy geared towards a comprehensive reform of the air transport industry and the unification of the fragmented African air transport market. To make this happen, Ethiopian is trying hard to the full liberalisation that makes Africa as one sky.

This will in return help Ethiopian to boost its market within African more than ever.

Knowing that it cannot go it alone how is Ethiopian working to support other African airlines to erode the market already dominated by European and Middle East carriers in the region?

In November 2016, AFRAA declared Ethiopian Airlines the best in Africa for the fifth consecutive time, recognising, in part, its “exemplary� cooperation with other African carriers. It has embarked on an ambitious development program, which includes promoting travel hubs in East and West Africa with regional partners.

Other airlines such RwandAir are following suit, indicating that, with open skies and fair competition, African airlines can successfully find their way to profitability.

Hailu

What has continued to inform the choice of Ethiopian Airlines aircraft types and does environmental factor and fuel utilisation in any way play a role in your choice of aircraft?

In line with this, the followings are our values for selection and operation of our fleet: young, modern, new generation, state-of-the-art aircraft that are fuel efficient, with less than five average years, right–sized fleet that best fits the airline’s projected traffic and route network; suitable aircraft for point-to-point service delivery by availing more frequencies and creating seamless and convenient connections. Products that give Ethiopia Airlines the competitive edge both in existing and new markets. We have comfortable and pleasant on-board services for our passengers by providing the best and high standard passenger amenities and in-flight services. By ensuring fleet type commonalty as much as possible – reduce maintenance cost, increase common crew type rating, and decrease spares holding; highest standard in technology and maintainability to ensure aircraft airworthiness and safe operation and environmentally friendly fleet with low emission.

The competitive environment is not conducive for African airlines in general and major challenges include uneven playing ďŹ eld, high fuel cost, high taxes and navigation fees, poor Infrastructure etc

How much does it cost to train a pilot and an engineer (separately) in the Ethiopia Airlines academy and in terms of ďŹ nances what does the academy contribute to the general ďŹ nances of the airline?

Training fee for Commercial Pilot Training Programme is $68,000.00 for the entire 20 months programme. The training fee includes:training material, uniform and training aids, accommodation expenses; and monthly pocket allowance of ETB 2,960 (Ethiopian currency).

In all the countries you operate in and from, what position does Nigeria play as regards your market share and earning?

Even since our maiden flight to dates back to the 1960’s, Nigeria has been an ally for us. Flying to five Nigerian cities, we have been serving the Nigerian market Ethiopian Airlines has been frugal in managing its resources and has succeeded for decades, how has the airline managed to survive despite the collapse of other national carriers in Africa?

We are very confident that we know Africa better than anyone because we have been serving the continent for the last 70 years. There is the existence of uniquely dedicated and highly committed work force led by experienced and seasoned executive management and board of directors. Highly skilled and dedicated employees – we have a dedicated and skilled workforce highly perused for employment even by our competitors and self-sufficient in training of aviation personnel, who embody the values and spirit of Ethiopian Airlines, through our aviation academy. We have dedicated team which can cope with the volatile, uncertain, complex issues. We also have efficient network of connectivity based in a strategically advantageous located hub which enables us to connect Africa with the rest of the world better than anyone else.

Ethiopian has positioned vast intra-Africa network better than any airline, making its customers available with the best connection with minimum layover in Addis. We also

have multi-hub strategy and one of Ethiopian strategies is to have multiple hubs in Africa connecting it with our main hub, Addis Ababa, as well as hub to hub connections. Next to the main hub, Ethiopian has established its second and third hubs in: LomĂŠ (Togo) in partnership with ASKY Airlines and the third at Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawian Airlines.

Ethiopian is a customer-focused airline, which offers to business travellers to and from Africa the most convenient connectivity options, onboard the most modern and most comfortable aircraft. Ethiopian is a Pan-African global carrier operating 95 youngest fleets in the continent with an average age of less than five years, which is under the industry average age and currently serving more than 100 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian, being a Star Alliance member, offers its customers with multiple connections and the airline also offers passenger the opportunity to accrue miles for boarding on operating airline for code share flights among Star Alliance partner airlines even when the traveller has made reservation with another airlines flight number. And the passenger is a beneficiary in using Star branded owned lounges upon Star Alliance lounge access policy.

The liberalisation of air transport is one policy your airline has pursued vigorously but leaders in the region seem to be reluctant to embrace it?

Liberalisation of air transport has been proved to be the best way to bring about high traffic volume, economic growth, free and fair market competition among carriers. Since this policy is advisable and very useful, governments are not encouraged to put restrictions on this as liberalisation helps carriers to optimise networks within the cross continental market.

What airline model of a national carrier would you suggest for Nigeria?

As for Ethiopian, its direction is clear: CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

24

BANKOLE: 80% OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE COST SPENT OVERSEAS traffic is uplifted by non-African airlines. All African airlines put together have only 20 per cent of the market share in Africa, it is very unfortunate. So our bid is to ensure that Africa’s traffic is distributed by African airlines. That is why we are establishing regional carriers like Asky Airlines in West Africa, Malawian, now we are in discussion with numerous African airlines to do that, so that they can integrate the regional traffic and then we do traffic feeders, that way we try to stimulate Africa’s energy to defend Africa’s traffic for Africa’s airlines. So Yamoussoukro Declaration is very important. And whoever has not been doing it, it is high time for them to come to terms and apply that.

fast, profitable and sustainable growth is the underlying management philosophy at Ethiopian and it is in this vein that it has outlined a long-term vision that will transform the airline to a leading aviation group in Africa by 2025.

Nigerians can emulate this best practice for the betterment of their airline. Though Ethiopian is fully owned by the government of Ethiopia, it is fully managed by highly experienced aviation professionals with an average service year of more than 25 and 30 years. This clear disparity between ownership and management is regarded as one of the key factors for our sustainable success.

African aviation is small and fragmented, how do we take advantage of the huge market in the continent?

African airlines have to sit and consult on the ways in which they work together to benefit from the huge market opportunities through cooperation and learning from one another (experience sharing).

African airlines enjoy just three per cent of the market share while foreign airlines get the largest chunk. How can the continent address the imbalance?

African airlines should see this as a serious threat as it is impacting on all the airlines, not only one or two airlines in the continent.

Therefore, they have to integrate their transport policies and strategies so that they can jointly work together through different code sharing strategies, as well as cooperation’s and alliances.

African countries improving their air transport share should be central at the continental agenda for Africans. By doing so, they can maximise their existence in the sky of Africa. Otherwise, the existence of Africans in their own sky will be a fable if things continue in this way.

What do you think African governments can do to improve aviation growth and development in the continent and long-term existence of African airlines?

First, African governments should bring this serious agenda to their conferences, meetings, consultations and should device short and long term plans to tackle the challenges. There should be experience sharing and benchmarking good aviation models come next. After that, adapting the best calculated practice to their reality and implementing them can be a solution.

Despite the challenges in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Ethiopian Airlines has remained resilient and has expanded its routes. What is the attraction? And what’s your long term and short term plans here in Nigeria?

As Ethiopian is a Pan-African airline, serving our beloved continent Africa has always been a source of pride for us and it will ever be.

In line with our long term strategic roadmap, Vision 2025, expanding and availing a more efficient intra-African network will remain at the core of Ethiopian and we have to play the positive role in catalyzing the socio-economic development of our continent.

You noted that most of your operations in Africa are not solely guided by proďŹ t, there is this obligation to serve. How do you evaluate your operations in Nigeria and looking at the performance of Nigerian airlines, what advice do you have to give for them to operate efďŹ ciently. And do you think having Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) locally will be critically important for Nigerian operation?

Not all of the routes in Africa are profitable, but each of them has little contribution to the overall traffic. All the routes in Nigeria have their contribution to that traffic. We have the largest number of passengers from the continent from Nigeria. Number two, whatever you lose from here you subsidise it from the other and with that we serve the whole continent as one piece.

But without having Nigeria to your network doesn’t work because that is the biggest chunk of the market. Because the people are very mobile and it is the largest population on the continent. It is because there are a lot of airlines there and because of competition the

Hailu

yield is very low and the operating expenses in Nigeria are very, very high. But the entire network contribution is very good; plus we have that civic duty of ours. When we started our commercial tag line was bringing Africa together, that was 72 years ago. At that time there was no African Union and we were talking about bringing Africa together, now having established the largest network in Africa, we have succeeded in that civic duty of ours to our own continent. Now we are linking Africa to the rest of the world. Our current commercial tag line is the new Spirit of Africa. Why the new, because people perceive Africa as a place of conflict and problems. But now Africa is an emerging economy with one billion young population, endowed with natural resources, human capital, ready for foreign direct investment. So the New Spirit of Africa is completely different, it is an emerging continent, so now we want to play our role in facilitating that.

So it is not only counting profit and loss but as a whole the entire network contribution need to be regarded as one. MRO is very important because aviation without MRO is incomplete. This is because the aircraft needs to be maintained, it has A checks between every cycle and then B and C checks are there. If we were doing our aircraft checks with other aircraft maintenance facilities and other things, they will be charging us hands and legs and it is not going to be sustainable.

So we need to be very careful about being self-sustaining when it comes to maintenance.

And as we earlier said, safety is paramount so the maintenance needs to be considered very seriously. That is why Ethiopian Airlines has maintained its own MRO. It maintains all aircraft not only for itself but also for Gulf and African carriers. Ethiopian airlines is an aviation group, it is a complete aviation group, it is not just an airline, it has its own maintenance, cargo, domestic network, its own international network, its own catering, and ground handling. So we cater for all airlines operating to Ethiopia. There is a choice for any business make or buy, should I procure catering or should I do it myself. Should I do ground handling or I should outsource it. For those Ethiopian airlines chose to do those in an integrated way because we are an aviation group and we supply this service for ourselves

We are very conďŹ dent that we know Africa better than anyone because we have been serving the continent for the last 70 years

and for others including the training. Unless you have trained aviation personnel who are able to maintain the aircraft, able to fly the aircraft then you have to depend on foreign skills and that can be very expensive.

What do you think aided the actualisation of Ethiopia Airlines Vision 2025, considering the fact that you have almost done over 80 percent of your plans?

The number one factor is having a clear strategy, clear matching order that is not vague.

So where we are going tomorrow, today we are planning for it. The plan includes infrastructure, fleet planning, human resources management, systems procedures. Whatever we have to plan for tomorrow we do those things today, this is our four pillars. In terms of human resources, we have been recruiting and we have opened up the largest aviation academy in Africa and that is recruiting pilots, flights engineers, cargo logistics, aviation finance, marketing and sale and what have you. In systems and procedures, Ethiopia Airlines is adapting the SAAP (System Application Products) system integrator, and so we have clear policies and procedures for everything to reach that vision 2025. And number three is fleet planning We have been planning our fleet much earlier and we have been doing negotiations with Airbus and Boeing and bringing the right sized fleet to launch to all the destinations we have been planning to go.

We also plan the human resources management, performance management, training, fulfillment and all these things for our more than 12,000 employees. And as I said earlier, the strict corporate governance which precludes and disallows any kind of mismanagement and the government is also not interfering in any of the things that we are doing. Although Ethiopian Airlines is 100 per cent owned by the government, the government has given 100 per cent autonomy to the senior management of Ethiopian airlines to conduct the business without any interference. So those things have been the factors that are helping us to achieve and beat our own plans for the future.

Do you think Open Skies Africa will succeed?

Africa is one continent, people are talking about Africa Union, so free skies for African carriers, and this has already been ratified and agreed by all individual governments.

Some have applied it some have not, so when we have that challenge of blockade of traffic right in some places in Africa, what we do is that we try to surmount that problem with a bilateral negotiation with that particular country. Some of the African countries while granting free skies to other airlines which are coming from overseas; are not giving it to their fellow African airlines. Because of that, as I am speaking, more that 80 percent of Africa’s air

What was the reason behind Ethiopian Airlines’ decision to use an all women crew for one of your newest aircraft in your eet recently; was it more of a gender thing or a Public Relations stunt or a business decision?

You know we are all in Africa in the sense that our mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, half of us are women. But in our culture in Africa there has been a long history of loving them but at the same time looking down on them. So we just want to dispel and break the stereotype that women are not able to handle everything and anything even a hitech machine like a new Boeing or Airbus or whatever equipment, to fly it, engineer it, to operate it and to conduct it. So we just wanted to show that because I heard some people talking about the history of Adam and Eve, people say that Adam must be a white man because if he was an African he wouldn’t have listened to his wife. So our sisters are people to listen to and they are able to do everything and anything, so we just wanted to show in our own continent in Africa that the role women play is something very big and also to show to our brothers in the continent that our sisters are capable of doing anything and everything. Number two, by so doing, directly or indirectly there is public relations advantage of it because people who are in the gender cause, which is called social cause marketing, they appreciate what we are doing and they try to decide to do business with us. So that is an added advantage. Even our mother Africa we call her a She. Why do we use feminine gender to refer to our country?

This is because it is more affectionate. It has a Public Relations angle although the primary aim is not that but in addition it has that public relations angle.

What are your reasons for establishing your cargo facility?

You know Africa has a lot to export to the rest of the world be it fresh produce. Now if we talk of fresh fruits from Nigeria for example, in fact we have a plan, if there are produce like mango, pineapple and others; if there is guarantee in supply, we are ready to carry it to Middle East, Asia, China and other destinations.

By way of import also, Africa imports a lot of technological things like mobile telephone equipment, computer parts, automotive parts and the rest of it. So for those we are trying to attract a lot of foreign direct investment like LG, Samsung and the rest of them to have their regional logistic hub in Ethiopia. This is because geography also allows them to come directly here and from here because we have the largest Africa network in the entire history of aviation, more than 55 destinations in the continent, daily routes, cargo as well as food freight. We have a lot of freighter aircraft, 100 ton capacity, Boeing B777LR. So with that we want to distribute from this regional distribution hub to the rest of Africa and also to take Africa’s produce and airlift them to Middle East, Asia and Europe. So that way Africa will not only be an importer but also an exporter, so the trade balance will be okay. And with that Ethiopian Airlines wants to play it role as the new spirit of Africa, it wants to take Africa’s produce to the rest of humanity and also bring other countries produce to Africa. So for that we need to have 800,000 tons of cargo capacity per annum with electronic transport, cool storage, valuable storage and the rest of it that is why we built that cargo facility.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Ending Piracy in Nigerian Waters Eromosele Abiodun writes that the report by the International Maritime Bureau on rising cases of piracy in Nigeria focused on government agencies responsible for tackling the menace

-Amaechi

Recently, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) released a report naming Nigeria as one of the hotspots for sea piracy.

The IMB in the report said: “Of the 27 seafarers kidnapped worldwide for ransom between January and March 2017, 63 per cent were in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria is the main kidnap hotspot with 17 crew taken in three separate incidents, up from 14 in the same period in 2016. “All three vessels – a general cargo ship, a tanker and a bulk carrier were attacked while underway 30-60 nautical miles off the Bayelsa coast. Three more ships were fired upon at up to 110 nautical miles from land, and many other attacks are believed to go unreported.�

Director of IMB, Pottengal Mukundan, said: “The Gulf of Guinea is a major area of concern, consistently dangerous for seafarers, and signs of kidnappings increasing. IMB has worked closely with the response agencies in the region including the Nigerian Navy, which has provided valuable support, but more needs to be done to crack down on the area’s armed gangs. We urge vessels to report all incidents so that the true level of piracy activity can be assessed.�

IMB said guns were used in 18 of the incidents and vessels were underway in 17 of the 20 reported attacks. IMB further stated that 39 of the 49 crew members kidnapped globally occurred off Nigerian waters in seven separate incidents. Other crew kidnappings in 2017 have been reported 60 nautical miles off the coast of Nigeria. “In total, 92 vessels were boarded, 13 were fired upon, there were 11 attempted attacks and five vessels were hijacked in the first nine months of 2017, “it stated.

The flagship global report noted that, while piracy rates were down compared to the same period in 2016, there is continuing concern over attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and in South East Asia.

Who’s Responsibility?

Since the report was released a number of attacks have been recorded, showing that government agencies responsible for the monitoring and foiling of attacks are clearly failing in their responsibility.

Put simply, Section 22 (P) of the NIMASA Act provides opportunity for the agency to provide maritime security. The obvious question then will be why the agency is not doing what is necessary to put an end to piracy in Nigerian waters. For those who don’t know, the NIMASA

Peterside

only last year awarded a surveillance contract worth billions of naira, a move that was intended to check raising cases of piracy and other vices in Nigerian waters. This has not happened and no one seems to care. Late last year, the United States of America, through its Maritime Administration, warned ships to be wary when approaching Nigerian waters. “Two incidents have been reported in the Gulf of Guinea in the past six days. The first reportedly occurred south of Port Harcourt, Nigeria at 0600 GMT on October 21, 2017. The second reportedly occurred in the vicinity of 03-35.50N 006-49.20E at 1905 GMT on October 25, 2017; both incidents have been confirmed, “it said in a report. “The nature of the first incident was piracy and kidnapping; the nature of the second incident was piracy,� it noted.

Quoting the latest quarterly report from the IMB, the US Maritime Administration stated that “the latest quarterly report from the International Maritime Bureau notes that a total of 20 reports of attacks against all vessel types were received from Nigeria, 16 of which occurred off the coast of Brass, Bonny and Bayelsa. In general, all waters in and off Nigeria remain risky, despite intervention in some cases by the Nigerian Navy.

We advise vessels to be vigilant, “it concluded.

The US advisory report to ship masters and owners further warned that ship transiting Nigerian waters to be cautious and seek further information, even as it stated that the alert subsists until November 2, 2017.

Deadly Waters Late last year, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside confirmed the U.S maritime administration report that Nigeria water is deadly and unsafe.

Dakuku stated this against the backdrop of Nigeria’s loss of a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), noting that country’ insecure and unsafe water contributed immensely to the election loss.

Speaking to Journalists at the end of a meeting of the ‘G7 Friends of Gulf of Guinea Group’ in Lagos, he explained that G7 Friends of the Gulf of the Guinea Group is one of the international initiatives Nigeria is leveraging on to strengthen fight against piracy and other criminal activities on the sea.

The NIMASA boss said the impression of the international community is that Nigeria was not doing enough to tackle the challenge adding that it contributed immensely to Nigeria

losing the election. “I cannot deny the fact that the issue of piracy may have had some impact on the elections.

Our colleagues did not have much information about what we were doing to tackle piracy and there was a general impression that Nigeria was not doing enough to tackle the issue of piracy,� he said Also, speaking on the amount spent on the lost election, the DG said a whopping N100million was expended on Nigeria failed election bid. “NIMASA spent less than N100million for the IMO campaign and it was only three delegates that attended the conference from NIMASA, “he said. He explained that countries like Singapore, China, and United Arab Emirates attended the IMO with highest number of delegates.

Speaking further on why Nigeria lost out of the IMO Election, Dskuku identified late preparations, delay from the Federal Executive Council and recession as another reason why the country lost. “Also, late preparations and the fact that we did not go round other countries like others did, it would have cost plenty of money but we are not willing to spend such money. We had considered economic factors in context of our political aspirations. “It is Nigeria that ran for IMO category C, and for you to use the name Nigeria, you must get the approval of the man who is managing all the country, the president just got elected, so it would have gone through a process, we have lost some time but the approval eventually came, after we got the approval, there are also budgetary processes to go through, even if the approval was given two years ago, we also need to do the background work to get budgetary provision for it before we begin the campaign, all of these things affected our early preparations. “But now that we know better, we are starting the next preparations immediately, because we deserve a place in the council of the IMO, these are what we meant by late preparations, “he explained.

Lasting Solution However, to find a lasting solution to piracy, Dakuku explained that the G7 Friends of the Gulf of the Guinea Group is one of the international initiatives Nigeria is leveraging on to strengthen the fight against piracy and other criminal activities on the sea. “What you are seeing now is an international dimension of the fight against piracy and maritime crime which is a new strategy. G7 is an initiative

of the group towards finding lasting solution to the issues of security in the gulf of guinea. “For the first time, they decided to take the program outside the continent of Europe and the lot fell on Nigeria because they think the gulf of guinea suffers the peculiar problem and criminal activities on sea.

Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Hamma Misau encouraged the group to sustain its intervention beyond the direct anti-piracy policies to ensure that appropriate resources and taxation flow into the region, so that public health, education and employment are equitably offered in the region.

He said that this would help address the underlying socio-economic root causes of piracy in the region.

He added that to boost maritime development on the Gulf of Guinea, there is also the need to strengthen maritime institutions.

Safeguarding Vessels Meanwhile, Nigeria will spend $186 million to combat piracy in a bid to safeguard its waters and vessels moving in and out of the country.

Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi revealed this in a speech at Nor-Shipping’s inaugural Africa Podium in Oslo, Norway recently. The fund is meant to acquire three new ready-for-war ships, three aircrafts, 12 vessels and 20 amphibious vehicles to combat the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Amaechi allayed potential investors’ fears of growing security concerns in Nigeria’s seaway amid the rise in attacks by pirates.

He revealed that over the next six months, the Nigerian government would give additional training to its navy, while providing technical and further support to patrol vessels in the region. “Rest assured, in six months you will no longer be harassed in our waters,� he told the delegates. Amaechi said piracy is not the only issue currently impacting the progress of the maritime sector in Nigeria.

While admitting that eradicating this growing menace was the main priority, Amaechi was keen to point out that Nigeria was also making significant strides in its bid to improve its creaking transport infrastructure. “All you hear about is efforts to stamp out corruption, but we are working extremely hard to develop transport infrastructure,� he added.

Whether this be roads or railways, the development of ports, the dredging of inland waterways and coastal regions, he said there was huge investment and resources earmarked for projects now and in the future.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

26

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

2017: Challenging Year for Insurance Sector In 2017 the Insurance industry was faced with challenges emanating from the lingering effects of the economic downturn, writes Ebere Nwoji

The insurance sector, like every other sector of the economy in the year 2017, struggled to overcome the challenges posed by the lingering effects of the economic recession experienced in the previous year which left businesses in stagnated position and eroded the purchasing power of the masses thereby slowing down their urge for the industry patronage.

The effects of the recession, which manifested in job cuts in various sectors and slowed down in economic activities in both formal and informal sectors of the economy was that renewal of most policy contracts in both life and general business suffered major significantly due to lack of funds to execute such renewals.

As a result, efforts by the sector operators and regulators to deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria and improve on the sector’s contributions to the gross domestic product (GDP), yielded not much result as the sector merely recorded minimal growth during the year.

Indeed, in third quarter (Q3) of the year, its growth was just 0.32 pe rcent This depicts an abysmal performance that is 24.53 per cent lower than its growth performance in the corresponding period in 2016 and 21.56 percent lower than the growth rate achieved by the sector in the preceding quarter.

According to the Q3 2017 GDP report the Finance and Insurance Sector consists of the two sub sectors, Financial Institutions and Insurance, which account for 87.09per cent and 12.91 per cent of the sector respectively in real terms.

The contribution of Finance and Insurance to real GDP totaled 2.69 , lower than the contribution of 2.90 per cent recorded in Q3 of 2016, yet lower than 3.32 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter.

This by interpretation means that despite efforts to ensure that the insurance sector contributes meaningfully to the GDP of the economy, it has maintained its hitherto position as the poor cousin of the banking sector which obviously is the leader of the finance sector of the economy.

This is despite the projection by the insurance sector regulator the National Insurance

Commission(NAICOM) that come the year 2017, the insurance sector would achieve its target of growing its overall premium from the current level of N400 billion to N1.1 trillion riding on the platform of its much talked about Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) , a medium term plan for the industry launched in 2009 by the regulator.

According to the Director General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Richard Borokini, who is a former Group Managing Director Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, the sector’s major problem has remained lack of awareness of its value in Nigerians’ day to day living. He also said poor purchasing power of the masses in the face of the dwindled economy directly affects insurance products sales as consumers always strike out insurance from their budget once there is lack of funds to meet their needs.

The President of CIIN, Mrs. Funmi BabingtonAshaye, said poor perception of insurance by Nigerians and religious and cultural beliefs also constitute big problem to the industry.

The major effect of the lingering effects of the down turn n the economy was inability of insuring public to renew their insurance contracts and pay their premiums.

The federal government for instance, despite the ‘no premium no cover’ policy of the industry could not pay for insurances of its assets including the group life insurance of its workforce until the third quarter of the year when it managed to pay less than 50 per cent of its insurance premiums to the industry.

Indeed, the insurance sector’s balance sheet recently published by the NAICOM, the regulator of the industry showed that outstanding premium due from brokers, agents, sundry debtors and others to underwriters amounted to N92.98 billion in 2017, a major shift from what was obtained in the industry since January 1, 2013 when NAICOM commenced the enforcement of the ‘no premium no cover’ policy.

This development, combined with late passage and implementation of the year’s budget to slow down activities in the industry.

However towards the second and third quarter of the year, the economy grew for the first time in over a year especially in the second quarter. Activities in the economy was spurred by a stronger energy sector due to higher oil prices and a return to normal production levels occasioned by relative peace enjoyed from the hitherto restive youths from the oil producing areas of the country.

In addition to the negative effects of the recession, the industry, during the year under review, grappled with two major issues which include regulatory changes with its challenges and high speed of technological changes demography, and consumer needs and expectations.

Experts like the PWC observed that these factors, during the period continued to disrupt the industry’s traditional way of doing business and had continued to put severe strain on traditional business models.

According to PWC, in the face of this, many insurers responded by re- imagining their internal operations and business strategies, but the pace of change outside the industry has been relentless and even proactive companies struggled to remain on the cutting edge.

From the regulator’s side, the industry commenced the implementation of the Risk Based Supervision(RBS) model which it started to introduce in the previous year. This came along with a lot of changes in traditional way of doing business by operators including the drive on insurance firms to seek for new investors in order to beef up their operating capital.

The RBS, is an European Insurance market supervisory initiative, and according to the World Bank, is a supervisory approach that considers each of the risks that companies face and through a structured process, identifies the risks that are most critical to the financial viability of the institution.

Under the model, the supervisory on-site review process looks at the management of the key risk areas of a company and focuses attention on the critical net risk exposures.

NAICOM said in introducing the model, which is expected to place Nigerian insurance industry on global best practices pedestal, it

will ride on the van of Solvency 2 Supervisory Principle in regulating the activities of Nigerian insurance industry operators.

Prior to its implementation, NAICOM, had early in the year released a document it titled: Statement of NAICOM’s Regulatory Priorities in 2017.

In the document, NAICOM highlighted its regulatory priorities for the year as: Undertaking verification of capital resources, assets of insurance institutions, re-launch of the MDRI with special and intensified implementation efforts on enforcement of compulsory insurance, diversification of distribution channels, increase in access points for insurance services, micro insurance, Takaful insurance, improvement in data collection as well as promotion of financial literacy.

The commission said taking the above actions will enable it ensure protection of policyholders and beneficiaries of insurance contracts against unexpected losses of insurance companies.

The commission said this has become necessary because since the last recapitalisation exercise in 2007, the business environments and the risk profile of all insurance institutions have changed. “It will entail a verification of the assets and liabilities of all insurance companies.

In preparation for this, boards are advised to ensure fairness in valuation of assets and liabilities of their companies when presenting the financial statements for the year ending 31 December, 2016. .

The commission further noted that the level of expenses of some insurance institutions is becoming a cause for concern. It said in this regard, it will pay more detailed attention to reasonableness of management expenses to ensure that each company’s level of expense is appropriate for its business model and does not adversely affect its profitability, liquidity and capital adequacy.

The industry, during the year under review consolidated on the positive growth it recorded in the first quarter of the previous year as a result of improved awareness of many more CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

LIVING | P31

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

A PHILANTHROPIST’S KIND GESTURE

28/COVER

05.01.2018

A Philanthropist’s Kind Gesture HRH Appolus Chu, the Egbere Emere Okori 1 Eleme, has brought the Okori community in Eleme, Rivers State, to limelight and elevated the lives of the downtrodden through his foundation, writes Mary Ekah Ever since his ascension to the royal throne of the ancient kingdom of Okori in Eleme LGA of Rivers State, the Egbere Emere Okori 1 Eleme, His Royal Highness Appolus Chu has not relented in his efforts in transforming the once sleepy Okori kingdom to a very lively, busy and developed community, so much that a lot of people have come to reckon with it. He has brought Okori Community in Eleme, Rivers State to limelight and has elevated the lives of the downtrodden through his Foundation which has provided scholarships, skills acquisition as well as equipped economically hundreds of people including non-indigenes in Eleme.

HRH Appolus Chu is not just a king but a traditional ruler per excellence, a devoted Christian, a philanthropist, captain of industry, prolific writer and of course the Egbere Emere Okori 1 Eleme.

He has been able to portray that a traditional ruler can be a Christian without sacrificing the tradition and custom of his people. He has also been able to show that a traditional ruler can touch the lives of his subjects through the act of giving. His generosity knows no bounds.

One of his numerous noble gestures, recently, which will remain unforgettable in Okori, Eleme and Rivers State in general, was the official opening of the palace of the Egbere-Eleme Okori, Eleme Kingdom. The occasion, which also witnessed the dedication of a new church building for the Commonwealth Covenant Church located in Okori, can only be described as historic, trailblazing and profound in all ramifications.

It was an occasion that replicated what national unity represents. It was a day that witnessed, for once in a very long time, a united Nigeria, where all geo-political zones in Nigeria were represented under one roof to discuss matter of national interest without bitterness and rancour.

It was a day for the traditional rulers to celebrate one of their own.

No wonder the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon whose presence was conspicuously felt at the occasion, described the event as unprecedented. He said, “The array of people here from all parts of the country, really gladdens my heart. I must thank you all indeed for coming to this unity forum and must say thank you to HRH Appolus Chu for this. And honestly it has been long that I have been able to see all Nigerians gathered in one place to pronounce our love for the country and this is really what Appolus Chu has done.”

Speaking further, the obviously excited former Head of State noted, “When you came to see me, you didn’t tell me that you are asking all Nigerians to be here. You are trying to sort of build the unity of this country. I must say I’m really impressed that all Nigerians are here. And for me to be robed as a chief of Okori, I can assure you that I really appreciate it and I say well done your majesty.”

“HRH Appolus Chu was very convincing when he came to see me even though I didn’t quite understand what he was doing. He was so positive that I had no choice but to accept his invitation and now I see the reason. You have done so well and from what we have heard, your faith is so paramount and you have done so much to promote your faith not only in this area but throughout Nigeria.”

To portray the fact that he is a true custodian of tradition, culture and custom, the host, HRH Chief Appolus Chu started his opening remarks by first saluting the people of Okori in his dialect after which he went on to addressed the congregation of people that gathered at the hall in a language that they all understand.

“I thank God for today’s occasion. I thank all the royal fathers who have taken the pains to travel from all over Nigeria to grace this occasion.

I also appreciate the presence of my colleagues in this domain from whom I’m learning a lot to become a better king.

“I unreservedly welcome our father and special guest of today, former Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon. As a child in primary school in those days, I used to admire afar. I have a few role models in my life. He has been one of them. I never knew that one day I will grow up to not just meet him face to face but to also be friends with him and also invite him to my

Clerics and traditional rulers during prayers to flag off the new church building

Some of HRH Appolus Chu's business partners exchanging pleasantries with Gowon

community like I have done today. This is not only a surprise to me but dream come true.”

Speaking on what informed his decision to bring together Nigerians from all parts of the nation to gather in one place, HRH Appolus Chu said, “I have noticed that communication is one of the major problems of most of us that are gathered here today. We have found it difficult to come together in unity and address issues of national interest. We conceived our feelings and then hold onto them without expressing them, and then let it out in form of grievances, bad feelings, anger, ill-thoughts and so on; we then turn them into actions - blackmail, restiveness, killings, sentiments etc. I felt this was one of the ways to ensure that we come together and express our feelings without rancour and sentiments.”

“As a traditional ruler, as I flag open this one of kind palace in my community today, I could have invited just people in my community to celebrate with me, but I decided to bring people from all over Nigeria to celebrate with me, so that we would use the opportunity to integrate with our fellow brothers from different tribes in one mind despite our diversity.”

“Also as a business tycoon, I have also come to learn that collaboration brings quick and timely success. That is why I have thought of applying same strategy with the traditional rulers in Nigeria by bringing them together from different tribes in the nation to fellowship together in unity. I also thought it will afford an opportunity for the man from the East, North, South and West to sit together, express themselves in a peaceful manner and share contacts, so that if any Eleme person finds his/her self in trouble in any part of the nation, I can easily call on the traditional ruler to address the situation.

So this is all about us partnering and forming a strong synergy with one another.”

In his welcome address, Chairman of the Day,

Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and Chairman, South-South Monarchs Forum, HRM, Dr. Edmund Daukoru (Mingi XII) described Appolus Chu as a king who has done something that is beyond kingship.

He said: “He has put God first in his affairs and that is worth celebrating. He is very humble and God-fearing. Faith is very much at work in his life. God has prospered him and he has been doing a lot of good in the community not for self-aggrandisement but for the love he has for God and for his people. And anybody who calls himself a leader or a king ought to borrow a thing from him. What he is doing is to showcase in the process royalty. HRH Appolus Chu has demonstrated here today that whatever he does and achieves, is for the purpose of moving his people to the next level. He has put God to task because he has honoured God first by building a place of worship all by himself and dedicated it to God. He is a book from which much can be learned. So we would continue to learn from Appolus Chu’s exemplary life.”

Also speaking at the event, Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Ruler, HRM, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, described the occasion as another mile stone in our fight for unity of the country. He said: “We are here to witness and to be part of history making in this country where the unity of Nigeria is uppermost in our hearts. Royals father from various parts of the country have gathered here today to show our support. We are here to share the joy and blessing of the Almighty God as bestowed on one of us, King Appolus Chu – a king with foresight, a king with understanding and fear for Almighty God.” On behalf of himself and the Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, the Etsu Nupe, who is also the coordinator of the group, presented a live size portrait of HRH

Appolus Chu to the King.

On his part, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi described King Appolus Chu as a great man, adding, “A kingship position is a position of service to humanity. We came to be servants to the people and being servants to the people is an emulation of God’s existence because God is our servant. We only ask and God provides, the provider is always the servant. That is why I thank God for this day, that I have found a brother and friend who understands what kingship is all about. You are great indeed and God will bless you the more.”

The coordinator South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence Eze (Dr.) Eberechi Dick, said, “There is extreme joy in our hearts that a fellow traditional ruler has done so well. And today he has assembled the whole nation to witness what is happening in his kingdom. We are here to associate ourselves with you. And we are saying that what you have done for your people; you would continue doing more and more. And we pray that the Almighty God will help us to be like you.”

Presentations of cash and other items were made to beneficiaries of the HRH Appolus Chu Foundation. Explaining the impact of the Foundation so far, Coordinator, Promise Ikharine, said it has so far empowered over 700 people in various capacities. “Since 2011, the Foundation has been making a marked difference in the lives of indigent youths, women, and men of Okori.

Many have been trained in different skills after which they received start-up packs to enable them begin their trades and crafts. The Foundation has given over a thousand computers, laptops and other office gadgets to such SME start-ups,” he noted.

While declaring blessing upon the beneficiaries of the Foundation, founder of Salem International Christian Centre (SICC), Abuja and presiding Archbishop of Foundation Faith Church Worldwide, Dr. Sam Amaga, said Gowon’s presence at the event gives hope to everyone that he has not abandoned the vision that he pursued as a head of state then. He advised that a king must constantly make positive proclamations upon his people, adding, “For wherever the word of the king is, the Bible says, there is power. So God is going to take the word you speak to bless your people and your kingdom.”

“Speak forth wisdom, for wisdom establishes the seat of a king; and as you keep speaking the wisdom of God upon your people, it is going to come to pass and the land shall be full of wisdom. Whenever wisdom prevails wealth and prosperity prevail too. And remember that a praying king is a deliverer and also a fountain of life to his people. As you bend your knees before the Almighty God, the grace and wisdom of God will come upon your land,” the cleric said.

29/PERSPECTIVE

05.01.2018

Boko Haram: State of Counter-Insurgency Operations Timothy Antigha examines the efforts of the Nigerian military in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east In the past couple of weeks so much has been said and reported, particularly in the new media about the so called resurgence of Boko Haram insurgency and the progress or lack of progress in the efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to deal with the crisis. A few of the reports and commentaries have recognised the nuances and ramifications of the insurgency and counter-insurgency, and have therefore offered holistic and balanced assessment of the situation. Others, unfortunately, have rendered largely sensationalised reports and simplistic commentaries on the crisis. These have seriously confused the situation and added little value to efforts at understanding the dimensions of the crisis or resolving it. However, the end of the 7th year of the Boko Haram insurgency provides an opportunity to assess what has been achieved in the counter- insurgency efforts in the general sense, and the military line of operation in particular.

Before examining the efforts of the military in the North-east, it is relevant to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Boko Haram phenomenon. At its outbreak, Boko Haram insurgency represented what Combs describes as “a synthesis of war and theatre, a dramatisation of the most proscribed kind of violence – that which is perpetrated on innocent victims – played before an audience in the hope of creating a mood of fear, for political purposes.”

Also, apart from being religious fundamentalists, Boko Haram is a terrorist social movement. Like all social movements, it represents groups that are on the margins of society and state, and outside the boundaries of institutional power, Boko Haram seeks to change the system in fundamental ways, through a mix of incendiary rhetorics, unbridled criminality and unmitigated terror.

The strategic end state of the insurgency is the establishment of an Islamic State in the Sahel covering parts of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, in the likeness of what ISIS envisioned for Iraq and Syria.

Without doubt, 2011-2014 was Boko Haram’s most active and successful years. During this period, the public lost confidence in the ability of the military to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Media editorials and commentaries in both traditional and new media clearly indicated flow of public opinion. At a point, the three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe were placed under a state of emergency. Some commentators even called for the removal of Service Chiefs. However, this order of events was not entirely strange.

Extant literature on the life cycle of terrorist organisations suggests that terrorist groups are most violent at the initial stages of their campaign. In this regard, Peter Phillips argues that “at the centre of the life cycle sits the grassroots support for the terrorist organisation. Competition for grassroots support shapes the timing and intensity of the terrorists’ competition with the government. The grassroots support that is captured during the early stages of conflict will eventually shape the life cycle of the terrorist organization.” Therefore, the behaviour of Boko Haram leadership could be rationalized within this premise.

The emergence of a new government and leadership in the Nigerian Army in 2015 resulted in a new operational framework and design for the North-east. The restructuring directed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, brought about the creation of the Theatre Command and 8 Task Division, as well as Logistics and Forward Operational Bases.

Additionally, the concept of Mobile Strike Teams enhanced troop’s capacity to undertake fast strike operations to suppress Boko Haram terrorists. These efforts have given traction to full spectrum and logistics supported kinetic operations

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai

across the North-east Theatre. Similarly, reorganisations carried out by the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force helped to shape the battle space for effective joint operations. For instance, the Nigerian Navy established a Forward Operational Base in Fish Dam, Baga, while the Nigerian Air Force upgraded its formation in Maiduguri to the status of a division and established a Forward Operational Base in Munguno, among others.

Earlier efforts to analyse Boko Haram insurgency have been hampered by fixation on assessment metrics developed for conventional wars. These formulae are largely irrelevant to the situation at hand and accounts for the inaccurate and misleading conclusions regarding what has been noted as “ancient but new” type of warfare in the North-east.

Therefore, in seeking to put forward a realistic assessment of Boko Haram counterinsurgency operations, it is essential to reference the pioneering work of S Bjelajac developed during the Vietnam War, as the United States Department of Defence embarked on the measurement of its success or failure in the conflict. Though developed decades ago, the determinants remain valid and applicable to similar insurgencies, such as the Boko Haram insurgency. Some of the factors include the following: The latitude which a nation’s security forces enjoy in the conduct of military operations, Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) and civic duties within a contested territory (the three states of the North-east is considered contested following Boko Haram’s declaration of a Caliphate) is a huge indicator of its firm standing during a counter-insurgency war.

From a position where in 2015 troops were barely able to hold positions in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola, to a situation where troops currently hold and conduct offensive operations in border towns like; Mallam Fatori, Damasak, Baga, Bama, Gwosa, Chikun Gudu, among others, clearly shows that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have made considerable gains in its counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram.

It is also important to note that paramili-

tary organisations are also re-establishing their presence in these localities. The clear conclusion therefore is that Boko Haram and its ideology are in recession.

The Chinese military Strategist and Philosopher Sun Tsu noted, “If you know your enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles”.

This assertion highlights the primacy of intelligence in military operations, particularly counter-insurgency. Consequently, the pattern of the flow of intelligence is an excellent determinant of progress in insurgency or counter-insurgency. Probably, the most significant general indicator of progress has to do with the source of intelligence. If the bulk of government intelligence is acquired as a result of volunteered support from the civilian population, it indicates strong support for the government and declining support for insurgents. The successes achieved by security forces in the North-east, vis a vis the unrealised dream of an Islamic Caliphate are indicative of the direction of the pendulum. It is important to note that the critical issue is not the validity of the intelligence, but the voluntariness of the members of the public in providing information.

The main objective in an insurgency or counter-insurgency war is legitimacy and allegiance of the people. Popularity and support, and not geographical areas under control are the ultimate measures of success.

As it stands, public opinion, both local and international are overwhelmingly in favour of government. This again shows Boko Haram in serious deficit. In spite of healthy indicators and the general direction of the counter-insurgency operations, skepticism abound. Analysts and commentators have pointed to the "slow pace" of execution of victim support programmes and reconstruction of the war ravaged communities in the North-east as evidence of the lack of progress. It is therefore suggested that authorities at the relevant strata of government could look into these observations to leverage community participation in the continuing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The exercise of political authority and

control in a contested area is also a key determinant of who has won the war, the insurgent (Boko Haram) or counter-insurgent (Government). Across the three states of the North-east where Boko Haram had declared its caliphate, there is none where the terrorist group has political control or administrative machinery in place. Currently, the legitimate authorities in the three states determine and make political decisions across the strata of political authority.

From all observable criteria, Boko Haram has no political influence whatsoever.

Certain legal indicators also point to who is in charge and in control in contested areas. For instance, it would be relevant to ponder on the following issues; How effective is government detection and prosecution of crime in the North-east? Are laws being enforced? Is law enforcement being supported by the civil population?

Is Boko Haram successful in their efforts to impose their own shadow laws on the population? The answers to these questions and their implications for the North-east are obvious and do not call for any debate.

Another critical factor in determining which side has clearly established and imposed its authority is control of transportation and communication. For instance, the degree to which government feels free to transport its goods and services in unarmed or less armed convoys is a clear indication of firm government control. Also, the degree to which government has possession or guarantees the operability of telecommunication infrastructure is an indicator of its strength. In this regard, it is relevant to note that major arterial road networks within the North-east which were hitherto closed for safety reasons have reopened and are currently being used daily. The fact that occasional attacks have been reported on some routes cannot invalidate the fact that other routes still remain safe. Also, communication has been restored to most areas within the states.

Contrary to the widely held belief, acts of terrorism such as the suicide bombings being experienced in the outskirts of Maiduguri of late do not represent an escalation, but a sign of weakness on the part of Boko Haram. At this stage in Boko Haram’s insurgency, such actions serve primarily to compensate (psychologically) their sponsors and sympathisers within the population for the failures and lack of progress in other areas. Therefore, the recent resort to suicide bombings is basically an indication of Boko Haram’s frustration, declining influence and loss of confidence in its ability to achieve its strategic objective.

On the whole, insurgency and counterinsurgency operations are complex conflict situations. Deliberate and painstaking efforts are therefore required, if one must observe the nuances, subtle and swift changes that occur in such conflict environments. Drawing from the foregoing, the national strategic narrative that Boko Haram terrorists have indeed been defeated is unimpeachable. It is established.

The factors discussed above are very clear indicators. However, the successes achieved by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the North-east and their multiplier effects in other sectors do not summarily mean the end of Boko Haram insurgency.

It should be understood that the issue is also ideological. Therefore, credible threats still abound. Consequently, there are still imperatives for continuous investment in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, particularly in the areas of Training, Intelligence gathering, Aerial surveillance systems and Platforms.

The time to do this is now. As we say in the military; a soldier who sweats in peace time, bleeds less in time of war.

Colonel Antigha, is the Deputy Director Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army

30/ NEWS

05.01.2018

Osinowo, Muazu Get Chieftaincy Titles in Okori Community Mary Ekah Two distinguished Nigerians, former Acting Chief of Staff to the President, Chief (Dr.) Gbolade Osinowo and former GOC of Nigerian Army, Major General Sanusi Nasir Muazu, have been duly honoured for their contributions to the development of the countryand for the pleasant relationships they have had with the people of Okori Community in Eleme, Rivers State, over the years.

Osinowo was given the title, Nyime Ekoo Okori, meaning ‘Good friend of Okori’ while Muazu was given, Egbere Awia Emere, meaning, ‘Great Brother of the King’ by HRH Appolus Chu, the Egbere Emere Okori 1 Eleme.

The chieftaincy titles, according to HRH Appolus Chu, aims to strengthen the intertribal relationships between the communities from which the persons honoured are from with that of Okori people, thereby fostering unity and harmony in the nation at large.

Osinowo and Muazu, on their part, accepted the honour with gratitude and thanked the king immensely for his thoughtfulness and generosity.

Describing the ceremony as very symbolic and capable of strengthening and harmonising the nation at large, HRH Applus Chu said, “We are making them part of the Okori community by enrobing them with these chieftaincy titles and now they have become chiefs of Okori and automatically members of the Okori community. It is like an alliance; they have now become one people with our community and would also stand uprightly for the Okori community wherever they find themselves.”

Chu, who also spoke on the relevance of traditional rulers in the African society noted, “Traditional rulers are the last hope of any government administration. When

L-R: Nyime Ekoo Okori, (Good friend of Okori) Chief ( Dr,) Gbolade Osinowo; HRH Appolus Chu, the Egbere Emere Okori 1 Eelme and Egbere Awia Emere, (Great Brother of the King), Major Genera Sanusi Nasir Muazu

government fails and lost grip of its citizen, it falls back on the traditional rulers to come to its rescue and help call the people to order. We are very powerful but sometimes government do not recognise how important we are to them. We are the roots of our communities and we stand for the unity of the nation. If anything goes wrong in a particular community, it is the traditional ruler, who is closer to the grassroots people that is consulted first to bring peace and order to whatever situation that arises.

And when the communities are peaceful; government would be focused and able to carry out the primary duties it owes the people.

“For our community to prosper and be healthy, it lies in our spoken words.

After God, the next persons that power is given on earth are the kings. The kings are the custodian of the power of the earth and if we the kings speak positively into the lives of the subjects, when the king makes a pronouncement on you and you are prosperous, that means the land has also prospered. So let us as kings learn

to make positive statement into the lives of our subjects at all times and when we continue to do this, it will go long away in allowing peace in our kingdoms and the nation at large.”

During the very brief ceremony, which was part of larger event held recently in Rivers State, the Okori women also made a symbolic cultural display of a bride been given away in marriage, which was later interpreted to the audience by King Appolu Chu. “In our tradition, if you are giving your daughter out in marriage, as parents you are worried that your daughter will not go hungry in her matrimony home and so as he leaves for her new home, the parents present to her all kind of food stuff to keep her going in her new home and also for her to plant for harvest in years to come.”

He also declared prayers on his people for good harvest in the year to come.

Apart from the array of traditional rulers that assembled at the event, many other personalities of great repute also graced the event.

“We’re Bringing Civility to Tejuosho Market” Mary Ekah Saddled with the enormous burden of putting in place, the new ultra-modern Tejuoso Shopping Centre in the heart of Yaba for the public convenience of Lagosians, the General Manager of Tejuoso Property Development Company Limited, Edward Stevenson, is determined to transform the erstwhile small fragmented Tejuoso Market to the biggest ambitious shopping centre in the country.

Gone are the days when the once boisterous Tejuoso Market was known for traffic chaos. Presently, Stevenson through his meticulous efforts and team work has brought normalcy to the market and its environs.

Speaking on the efforts his company has put in bringing decency and orderliness to the once rowdy market, Stevenson

GM, Tejuoso Property Development Company Limited, Mr. Edward Stevenson

said, “We have an underground car park that can hold 350 cars, so to get to the complex, you go to the top of Tejuoso and come in through the underground where we have the car park. We are talking to a

management company that will be managing the car park for the entire complex. When we are fully open, the first month will be free parking. But afterwards, we will be charging a fee. That is because we do not want a situation where people come from all over the areas to park or abandon their car here. The entire car park space has to be for customers coming to shop here.”

Stevenson, who said his company, was considering convenience, relaxation and entertainment even within the shopping environment, added, “My mandate when I came here was to create a shopping centre instead of an open market. I had to create larger shops that appeal to the people on the street and at the same time appeal to the guy up there in the corporate world. So we had to turn things around, merge shops, make it attractive and enable shopper’s easy movement.”

Arclights Foundation Holds Awards for Educators As part of commitment to promote educational development and improvement of educators in Africa, Arclights Foundation has organised 2017 Awards for educators who have achieved successes in education.

The award ceremony which took place at the Oriental Hotel Lekki, Lagos, provided an opportunity for educators and stakeholders in education to interact, and plan the way forward on how to improve the standard of education in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony, the Managing Director, Arclights Foundation (AF) Mrs. Abisola Obasanya, said the annual end of year awards was focused on celebrating educators who have achieved greatness. “We are happy to pioneer such laudable event. We are improving education in Nigeria through Free Teacher training with our Teacher Improvement Programme (TIP), STEM Education in Partnership with LEGO education and World Robot Olympiad WRO, Affordable Teachers Academy (AFTA) and through this AF Teacher

Arclights Foundation awards recipients; from left: Mrs Gloria Rhodes Nash, Sade Adefisoye, CEO Arc Lights Foundation, Abisola Obasanya, Yinka Ogunde and Alero Ayida Otobo at the event

Awards Programme (TAP).

Obasanya further disclosed that the Foundation has concluded plans to engage with the society and stakeholders through a talk-show titled ‘Education Viewpoint with Abi’ which features interviews, documentaries, celebrating the positive as well as proffering solutions to the challenges in

education within Nigeria.

The Education Man oF The Year went to Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education. While Education Woman of The Year went to Mrs. Soyombo Ronke, the Director General of Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance.

Ambode Calls for Eradication of Discrimination against Women, Girls Wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has called for total eradication of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. She made the call in her office in Alausa, Ikeja, recently, while chatting with journalists on the occasion of 2017 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Ambode Ambode noted that violence against women and girls remained one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violation in the world, stressing that achieving gender parity would require more vigorous efforts and legal frameworks to tackle established anti-female practices spread across socio-cultural and political landscapes.

According to her, “Everyone has the right to live their life without the threat of violence. This holds for everyone irrespective of age, gender, religion or any other characteristics of human identity. “We must all come together to put an end to these acts by supporting not just by the passing and implementation of laws to protect girls and women from child marriage, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment but by agitating for it to be properly monitored and evaluated,” she stressed.

Speaking further, she said, prevention of violence against women and girls must begin early, adding that children and young ones must learn the principles of equality, respect and non-violence for future generations. She urged women and girls not to keep silence in the face of brazen discrimination and abuse but speak up boldly and report such cases to appropriate government agencies, for immediate action.

HOMEVIDA Films to Address Issues on Child’s Right Ayodeji Ake As a giant step to combat societal issues on child’s right, public harassment and domestic violence, the Nigeria Integrity Film Awards (HomeVida) has shown commitment and advocacy in promoting core integrity values and positive messaging by educating and empowering the public on legal rights through films.

At a press conference organised as part of the activities of the 8th Nigeria Integrity Film Awards in partnership with U.S, Agency for International Development (USAID), HomeVida Administrator, Mr. Samuel Umejiaku noted the organisation is focusing on tackling corruption in the society through films. “We are preaching citizens engagement and participation in government and how that could help tackle social issues such as corruption, underage marriage and others. We work with agencies to use film to promote values. Corruption is the focus this year,” he said.

A film producer, Mrs. Omoni Oboli, whose movie ‘Wives on Strike’ was shortlisted for the award, said the movie was produced to address societal issues on how child’s rights and domestic violence in the society can be address.

“People will say they don’t want to go to the cinema to watch a movie on child right. It’s not only about child right but also about accountability in government. Child right issue is very serious and close to my heart. I can only imagine what these young girls face out there. It’s a very sad situation where a lot of them loses their life or rather get injured emotionally. These are issues that need to be confronted we are addressing the issue of domestic violence and women in government,” she said.

Speaking on piracy, Oboli noted the fight with pirates cannot be fought individually but with the intervention of the government because according to her, the pirates are fully armed. She said “Piracy is a big topic that involves a lot of stakeholders. When there Is demand and no supply, its leads to piracy. The pirates are dangerous because they go about with harmful weapons. To be sincere, it is only the government that can fight them because only the government is more powerful; of course we will protest and we have been protesting but the government needs to intervene.”

A filmmaker, Mr. Ishaya Bako, whose film ‘ Silent Tears’, was also shortlisted for award said the movie was intended to address rampart gender based violence in the society “It’s a documentary about gender-based violence. We have issues of women being harassed publicly and it caused us sleepless nights.

31/ LIVING

05.01.2018

The Nigeria Media - Evolution, Trends and Projections for 2018 Bolaji Okusaga Introduction Since the advent of the internet in the early 1990’s, the media space has been gravely altered with huge consequence for media practitioners and consumers of traditional news media – what with the altering of media consumption habits, the reinvention of old professional practices, the altering of agenda setting platforms and status-conferral processes, the bursting of old media conventions and the creation of new traditions.

Today in Nigeria, there are clear signs of the eclipse of the traditional media as once vibrant traditional news-media organisations today struggle to fund their operations, given dwindling circulation numbers brought on board by expensive news-prints and difficult to manage printing presses as well as shrinking advertising patronage, given the hot contest from nibble, cost effective, smart and widely accessible digital news platforms.

Origin of the Nigeria Media Nigerian news media grew out of a need to inform and enlighten the people. The first mass-media platform to arrive was a native language publications - Iwe Iroyin in 1859, a Yoruba language publication championed

by Reverend Henry Townsend a British Missionary. This newspaper though secular, had a religious bent given the fact that it had its foundation in the then Church Mission Society (CMS).

The 1960’s saw a Nigeria emerging from the clutches of British Colonialism – a fledgling democracy with a delicate ethnic balance. At independence, it was obvious that Nigeria was grappling with the challenges of new nationhood, and so the media continued to play the role of the conscience of society with journalists such as the likes of Ernest Ikoli, Anthony Enahoro, Lateef Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo having become part of the new political elite, still continuing to push the frontiers of the new Nigerian nation using the conduit of print journalism.

However, following the two coups of 1966, the vibrancy of the Nigerian media received a huge bashing as a result of military decrees and restrictions in the Mid-1960’s to the late 70’s, climaxing in the acquisition of the flagship newspapers in the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria – the New Nigeria and the Daily Times in 1975. The return of democracy in 1979 saw a easing of restrictions with titles such as Punch and Concord recording huge distribution figures and a rapid rise in advertising revenues.

The 80’s was a time of mixed blessings as it saw the emergence of powerful titles like the Guardian in 1983 just before another military interregnum and the birth of Vanguard Daily Newspaper and Newswatch Weekly News Magazine. However, the return of the military also meant the return of restrictions. Hence such law as the Public Officers (Protection against False Accusation) Decree No. 4 of 1984.

The 1990’s also saw the liberalisation of the electronic media space after General Ibrahim Babagida promulgated Decree 32 of 1992 which gave private individuals access to own electronic media stations.

The year 1999 saw the return of democracy and the lifting of press censorship. This period heralded the proliferation of the print media as every political tendency and gladiator saw a need for the establishment of a news media outfit for the purpose of propagating their political views. Prominent news outfit that emerged in this regard include Daily Trust (which started as a weekly paper in 1998, but became a Daily in 2001), The Sun, The Nation, The Compass (now defunct), Leadership and a host of others.

It must be noted that the decade following the return of democracy saw a decline in the vibrancy and quality of output of the media as rapid proliferation continued. The decline in quality is largely attributable to a lack of focus on training and proper resourcing of media outfits given the failing economic model on which these news media organisations were built.

The Mainstreaming of the Internet and New

Nigerian dailies

Technologies i. Arrival of Digital News Media in Nigeria The first news sources to arrive on the internet were the specialist blogs that catered to various segments seeking information from lifestyle to entertainment, gossip and technology. The first of such news-site which gained traction and following was Elomobah.com, followed

by Sahara Reporters. Other offline news-media which came to the party with strong online news offerings include The Guardian, Vanguard, Thisday and the defunct Next Newspaper.

Overtime online news-sites became popular with the likes of Premium Times, Cable News and News-Guru pushing the bounds of incisive and investigative journalism.

Upstaging the Traditional News Media - The Place of other New Technologies Following the mainstreaming of Social Networks other new technologies aligned to the web began to surface. The first to arrive were online applications feeding-off the back of web and mobile technologies and creating ease of access. This further alienated traditional news media as they lost the power to break news and create the usual gatherings at major vendor spots which were the traditional bases for discussions of breaking news given the convenience which these new technologies brought onboard – creating a 24 hour newscycle which could be readily followed with immediacy of feedback and user generated content unlike traditional media.

Media Convergence – Challeges and Opportunities From the foregoing, it is clear that new technologies are not only disrupting the operations of the media, but are driving a convergence of the media and creating platform agnostic news channels which are at once a big challenge to traditional and conservative news-media organisations and represent a major opportunity for news-media organisations ready to embrace change and run with it.

Readers are now tuned to a 24-Hour News Cycle Well before the advent of new technologies, the competition for readers and news-consumers have driven news organisations to rethink traditional news-cycle, especially how it pertains to breaking news and developing stories. Once upon a time, newspapers were the best source of news but with the invention of the radio, television and the creation of 24hr news channels such as the Cable News Network in 1985, and competitive news websites that came with the internet, the way consumers get their news and what time of the day, has changed completely. With these developments, the newspaper, once seen as the best source of news and incisive news analysis, now has to struggle for the attention of readers and news-consumers. Three critical things drove

this change: Staying on Old News Presentation Model for over a Century Traditional news-media were slow to reinvent its news presentation and newscycle, keeping the traditional daily cycle for over a century and sinking into cold comfort without noting the changes that were soon to come with Michael Faraday’s invention of electricity, Thomas Edison’s invention of the light-bulb and Graham Bell’s invention of the Telephone.

Failure to Observe Changing Trends On the back of these three inventions came the radio and television, yet the newspaper failed to reinvent itself until consumers started to adjust to the 24 hour on-the-go news-cycle with the establishment of cable news in the mid-1980.

Cable News and Internet as Albatross of Old Traditions Even the establishment of cable news could not force a reinvention of the newspaper, until the internet arrived in the early 1990’s and the traditional newspaper started a race to the bottom given the huge potentials of the internet and how new technologies have leveraged this for the creation of interactive news, speed to market and ease of access.

Playing the Survival Game – The Need for the Reinvention of the Newspaper Today, the Media industry has a different competitive landscape from the erstwhile analogue production and distribution model which thrived for centuries going bust. The fast-paced transformation from analogue to digital models together with an economic downturn is resulting in constant shocks and failures in the news media industry.

Media convergence is now driving a platform agnostic approach to navigating complexities as a tradition print media business now has to compete with a television news media, radio broadcasting, newsprint business, film and video industries, blogs online news-sites, social media, chat platforms, news-wires and news applications – all at the same time.

Winning in the News Marketplace – How Media Organisations Can Respond to Convergence and the Young News-Consumer in 2018 Digital technologies have opened-up the world and created a new set of young people.

The young news-consumer is no longer interested in just reading, listening and watching alone, he wants to be at the centre and driver’s seat of news creation.

Urged on by the freedom created by new technologies, young news-consumer are also making their own news and building their own content without waiting for traditional news institutions to use it. Social Media

communities and content syndicators and aggregators are daily springing up to give vent to the voice of this generation as they strive for self-expression rather than media approval of their creative output.

The young news-consumer, growing up in this age, has moved mindset from competition to cooperation. From a ‘Me’ perspective to a ‘We’ perspective underscored by big-data possibilities developed out of the emergent sharing economy – moving from an old individualist perspective to a collective mindset.

In this milieu, the traditional media needs to change its business model to adapt to changes not just in technologies but also in culture and media consumption habits. In adapting to change and staying at the cutting edge of the emergent media industry, the forward looking and future oriented media organisation needs to make the following changes: Become Platform Agnostic rather than a Platform Purist For starters, a newspaper can be produced using newsprint, but must also have a very strong online presence – with on-demand voice and audio-visual content which is either paid for or freely distributed using the social media and digital applications with an integrated news-room which creates a 24 hour chain and presence with resources available to manage the news experience by courting user generated content through allowing the consumer become an active news source or responding to questions and enquiries on the go.

Establishing a Minute-by-Minute News Desk and Realigning the Structure of the News Operation around a Continuous and Unbroken News Cycle The business model must borrow the cable news model and the news-room must be transformed from one that captures static news to one that operates on a minute-by-minute basis, given today’s fast-paced, round the clock lifestyle and the young voracious appetite for news on-the-go by young news-consumers.

Creation of a Creative Content Hub that Transforms Content into a Variety of Expressions.

One of the cardinal points to note on the use of digital channels is the need to manage user experience – this requires a combination of platform design and content optimisation.

It is often said that the medium determine the content type.

In capturing the interest of young newsconsumers under an Omni-channel strategy, news-gathering must be under-pinned with a variety of creative content opportunities from graphic to info-graphics, audio-visual to cartoons, 3D expressions and Animations – sometimes personalising content or introducing virtual reality – in order to capture attention and interest.

Okusaga, is the Managing Consultant of Precise, a Reputation Design Company based in Lagos, Nigeria

32 / PERSPECTIVE

05.01.2018

2017 in the Eyes of a Prison Officer Ugwuoke Kelvin Abuchi Today (December 31) is the last day of the year 2017 and it is pertinent to take stock of this year in order to herald the New Year. As a prison officer, this year has been interesting and full of ups and downs. However, to say the least, I have not had it so good careerwise in my almost nine years in service, and I believe that most prison officers and men, and even inmates will agree with me that this year has been worthwhile nay justifiable.

The year started with the carryover of the promotion of over 10,000 officers and men of the Nigerian Prisons Service which was announced towards the twilight of 2016. This is considered as the largest since the inception of the service. Though, I was not involved, but I was affected as most of my colleagues who were promoted wore smiles and became rejuvenated to do the job whole-heartedly.

This gave the rest of us hope and made us to believe that better days are here again. Inspectors of Prisons (IPs) who were stagnated for more than a decade were all promoted, while those that have additional qualifications were upgraded.

Then came what I term as the biggest achievement this year (2017): the purchase and distribution of operational vehicles and farm machineries to prison formations nationwide. This singular gesture soared many hopes in the service. It brought about a renewed vigour among staff and inmates.

Prior to this, we all know how it used to be: logistics conundrum. Inmates were not produced as at when due in courts because most prisons lacked court duty vehicles. This compounded the congestions we had in our prisons as cases were adjourned endlessly owing to the non-production of Awaiting Trial Inmates in courts. Well, that is now history as inmates are chauffeured to and fro court in brand new escort vehicles that can stand any standard. Prison Farm Centres (PFCs) have been mechanised and the results are there for everyone to see. It was heartwarming to learn that one of the Farm Centres situated in Plateau State made a harvest of over 400 bags of rice in 2017. Can you beat that?

The year 2017 has been a very busy one

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed

for our training institutions; and for the staff too. Myriads of courses, seminars, workshops and conferences were held in all the training institutions to refresh staffers on the rudiments of the job. It was a handful for our staff in the various training schools and colleges. Various courses of varied durations were conducted. In fact, the appellations for some of the course were grotesque and made yours truly wonder if they ever existed.

For example, a 2-weeks course was held for orderlies and drivers! In my almost a decade of staff-ship herein, I have never heard of such a course. But I learnt of it this year.

Yours truly was not left out as I attended a weeklong training on Dynamic Security and Modern Prison Management which held in Jos Prison, and also a 2-Day Workshop on Application of Social Media in Contemporary Communication Strategy which held in Kaduna.

The abecedarian mission and vision of every prison in the world is to churn out reformed persons who would shun crime, fit into the larger society and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Hitherto, Nigerian prisons were regarded as dungeons where criminals are hardened

the more. This made the general society to write off our Prisons and even regard prison officers as bad examples. This year (2017), the perception of the public towards the prison has changed for the positive. This is due to the philosophy of the present management towards ridding the service of bad eggs and bequeathing a change in every inmate that passes through the prison.

Today, we are happy to beat our chests that our prisons are transmogrifying into citadels of learning vis-à-vis centres for skills acquisition. This year (2017) recorded a high increase in educational activities and skills acquisition programmes in various prisons nationwide. Prisoners are acquiring degrees in prison, thanks to the partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and well-meaning organisations. This year (2017), we saw a prison inmate enroll for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme! This year (2017), there is an increase in enrolment into the various educational programmes available in our facilities. This has culminated into high turnover of prisoners who sit for external examinations like UME, SSCE, BECE and others. And these efforts have not gone unnoticed. I read in Vanguard Newspaper of 27th December, 2017 that the foremost examination body, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), having noticed the drive of the prison towards custodial education, has sought to collaborate with the Nigerian Prisons Service to assist prison inmates to have easy access to education.

This is a pointer that there is improvement in the modus operandi of the service. Yes, imprisonment should not limit the prisoner from attaining his or her goals in life; instead, it should serve as a stepping stone to self-actualisation. That is the ideology of the present management of the Nigerian Prisons Service.

Again in this withering year (2017), we witnessed the purchase and distribution of large cache of medical drugs. Snippets from some quarters rate this gesture as the highest in the annals of the service. We had infirmaries which lacked basic drugs thereby making it difficult to manage ill-health among inmates. But with the purchase of these drugs and their subsequent distribution,

the healthcare of prison inmates has been improved magnificently.

Just recently, all junior prison officers nationwide were given free uniform materials and accompanying accoutrements. Yours truly has never seen this happen since I joined the service nine years ago. I use to hear that uniforms were supposed to be free for junior officers, but it sounded theoretical to me as I have never seen it happen. But in 2017, all junior officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service were given free uniforms and accoutrements.

And it did not stop there as blankets, beddings, provisions, toiletries and other store materials were also distributed for the use of the inmates. This is a miracle happening in our time!

One of the pleasing-to-the-mind achievements of 2017 is the increased reportage of prison activities in the media. Hardly does any day goes by without a report of activities in one prison or the other. Prior to this, prison and its activities took the back seat in the media. The public were kept in the dark about happenings in the prison. But with the liberal poise of the present management, and the effulgent initiatives of the Public Relations Unit, the Nigerian Prisons Service is now enjoying the front seat in the media and the Nigerian literati. Kudos must be given to the management for partnering with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) in this regards.

There are several areas that have witnessed improvement in 2017 that for want of time and space, I will mention them passively.

Such areas like infrastructural renaissance, improved budgetary provisions, restoration of discipline in the service, and many other areas.

What else can we pray for than to supplicate that the source of all these goodies should not run dry, but continue to be an eternal fountain? Like the popular maxim: the reward for hard work is more work. We pray and hope that the good works of the present management will ricochet into the New Year.

With the present vigour to reposition the service, 2018 will be much better than 2017.

Happy New Year!

ASP Abuchi, wrote from Medium Security

When EFCC Operative Becomes AML Scholar Yushau A. Shuaib Apart from the suspects, only very few Nigerians can identify the faces of anti-corruption operatives who were actively involved in the investigation of several high-profile cases of money laundering in the country. The officers, mostly in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have their names and identities hidden from the public glare because they investigate highly complex risky cases of financial crimes.

The identity of one of the dogged antifraud operatives was recently unveiled by the pioneer Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at a presentation of a book on anti-money laundering (AML).

Launching the book ‘Improving Anti-Money Laundering Compliance: Selfprotecting Theory and Money Laundering Reporting Officers’ by Dr. Bello Abdullahi Usman, Nuhu Ribadu described the author as a thorough, disciplined and intelligent investigator who had handled high profile cases at the ant-corruption agency.

Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, the author of the book holds a PhD in Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. He also obtained a degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Islamic Banking and Insurance from the Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance, UK. Bello is also Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He was the Deputy Head of Department, Monitoring and Analysis at the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and the Head of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigation at the EFCC. He was also a lecturer at Newcastle Business School, UK and a former banker. He is currently the

Pioneer Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Managing Consultant at Abdubel Consulting, a Forensic Accounting, Financial Intelligence Analysis and Anti-Money Laundering firm located in Abuja.

At the book presentation, Ribadu said: “Dr. Abdullahi Bello is no doubt a thorough professional and authority in this particular area, and any offering from him should be taken with all seriousness. He is a rounded expert that was from the financial sector background and has worked as a law enforcement officer to the satisfaction of his superiors.”

Ribadu recalled how Dr. Abdullahi Bello among few others were poached from the financial sector to help in cracking the nut of money laundering. He said Abdullahi particularly worked on a number of very key cases, and provided links that helped in the process of investigation and prosecution.

Reviewing the book at the occasion, former Director General of the Inter-Governmental

Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Professor Abdullahi Shehu, said that the book provides recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Anti-Money Laundering Law compliance by introducing the theory, framework and approach for dealing with the concerns of money Laundering Reporting Officers within the banking industry.

Also speaking as the chairman of the occasion, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele said the author produced a timely scholarly material in understanding the theoretical framework on anti-money laundering and how the flow of illicit financial transactions can be curtailed and combated globally. He therefore recommended the book for policy makers, scholars, bankers and students as he bought copies for Central Bank and selected financial institutions and libraries in Nigeria.

Going through the copy of the 207 page book, which is currently available for purchase online, the author explains the dilemmas encountered by reporting institutions, particularly designated Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs).

The Chapter one introduces the money laundering as a global phenomenon and the challenges of compliance with acceptable international standards against money laundering from the perspective of the MLROs. The chapter also outlines the aims and objectives of the book, which is to provide an understanding of the AML environment from the perspective of MLROs and suggests an effective and efficient approach to compliance among other objectives.

While Chapter two provides the background and context on the legal framework for AML and the role of international organisations in setting standards, Chapter three justifies the articulation of the “Self-Protecting

Theory” by presenting the main thrusts and key elements of discharging, complying, communicating and complaining.

The Chapter four reviews some literature on regulation and in particular the challenges of AML compliance. While the Chapter five demonstrates the academic and theoretical prowess of the author in analysing in detail the concept of “self-protecting theory.”

The Chapter six generalises the theory to other areas of human endeavour by integrating it into other theories in social and management sciences. While the concluding Chapter seven, the author posits that his “self-protecting theory” emerged out of the exigencies of defective regulation based on a risk based approach, which did not take into account the constraints, limitations and challenges of MLROs and their organisations.

Apart from the depth of theoretical and eloquent presentation in an academic style of narration, the book largely focuses on the United Kingdom rather than Nigeria, the author’s home country. His grounded theoretical analysis were based on research and interviews conducted amongst reporting officers in the UK on “Self-Protecting Theory.”

He could have made a comparative analysis of the challenges of regulation across the United Kingdom and Nigeria to represent the challenges and similarities between the two continents of Africa and the Europe.

Nevertheless, the scholarly book has made significant contributions to the evolution of self-protecting theory on anti-money laundering. I therefore join Ambassador Ibrahim Yerima Abdullahi, who at the official presentation recommended the book for policy makers, bankers, legislators and those involved in anti-money laundering campaigns.

Shuaib wrote from Abuja , Email: Yashuaib@ yahoo.com

33/XTRA

05.01.2018

Emerhor: Deltans Must Stand Up to Be Counted Congratulates President Buhari for providing leadership Peter Uzoho The Leader of Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s 2015 governorship candidate, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, has welcomed Deltans into the New Year, 2018, charging them to stand up to be counted.

Emerhor who disclosed this in a statement signed by his media aide, Aghogho Abraham Orotomah,

expressed thanks and gratitude to Almighty God for granting the nation smooth passage into the New Year.

“I’m ecstatic that Nigerians and indeed the world have a new opportunity to make the world a better place and urged all men of goodwill to work harmoniously for peace, joy and prosperity to reign among men in the new year!”

He also encouraged Deltans, in this New Year to work with the ruling APC federal

government and the APC in Delta State in its quest mission to rescue the state from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Deltans should no longer despair as liberation is near,” he further assured.

Emerhor, also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for providing leadership to the country, pledged the commitment and support of Deltans as “Mr. President works assiduously to make Nigeria a better place for all in the New Year.

Emerhor

Oba Adesina, Obasanjo Call for More Unity among Owu People Solomon Elusoji One of the prominent royal fathers in Owu-land, the Olowu of Owu-Ijebu, Oba Segun Adesina, has called for Owu people to do more to help each other.

The royal father made this call during the recent 26th Owu National Convention held at the Cultural Centre, Mokola, Ibadan.

“We need to do more for our people wherever they are, especially when we find ourselves in positions of political authority,” he said.

“We are not saying they should be partial, but where our people have excelled, they should not be deprived of the opportunity.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, himself an Owu son, echoed the words of

Oba Adesina.

“Let’s look everywhere for where there are Owu people,” he said, during a speech at the convention. “Someone told me there might be Owu people in Ekiti State, in Ondo State, let’s look for them. Our fathers do not throw away their children. In fact, anyone who says he is an Owu person and behaves like an Owu, let us accept him. Owu people do not steal. If we find such a person, we must ask his mother where he was brought.”

The Owu National Convention is an annual event in which people of Owu lineage come together to discuss about their origin, their various challenges in their various locations and the way forward for progress and development.

Oba Adesina, who spoke to reporters during

the convention, said the Ibadan edition had been a success with the help of the Owu-Ijebu delegation, who made invaluable contributions to the process. “We have made positive contributions to the Oba Council meeting which were well appreciated,” he said. “And our members at the council are doing very well, which makes us very proud.”

An Owu son and Otuba Atunluse of OwuIjebu, Otunba Femi Adewunmi also reiterated that “Owu descendants are all from the same eventual lineage with shared common interest, so we must be our brother’s keeper.”

He also said he would like to see his people become a “strong pressure group to ensure advancement of all Owu communities – starting from my own stronghold, Owu-Ijebu.”

Oba Segun Adesina

MOUAU Female Staff to Build N112M Skills Acquisition Centre Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The female staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) have concluded their 2017 women and girls empowerment week with a vision to give education and skills to women and girls residing in the rural communities.

To this end the university women under the aegis of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Women Association (MOUAUWA) have set their mind on building an ultra modern Skills Acquisition Centre estimated to cost N112 million.

President of MOUAUWA, Mrs. Bertha Otunta, who is also the wife of the Vice-chancellor of the university, made this known at the “friend raising luncheon” held at Umuahia for the purpose of raising friends who would assist the group by providing the needed funds for the project.

She said that the skills acquisition centre would serve the needs of rural women and girls in the South-east and South-south zones

The Crime Novel You Have to Read Solomon Elusoji One of Nigeria’s most entertaining writers, Hymar David, has published his debut crime novel, ‘The Gundown’.

Laced with breathtaking suspense and beautiful language, The Gundown follows Cobra Joe who, after hearing about the death of his childhood friend and partner Enom in a gunfight, leaves Port Harcourt for Lagos to find his killers. Enom’s killers, however, turned out to be the most dangerous guys in town and Joe is left with a choice to either stay or flee. He stays.

David’s The Gundown is a gripping tale of friendship and duty. With an original voice and street-styled scripting, it delves into the local underworld of crime and violence, and how ordinary people evolve into merciless monsters.

The novel, which was released in e-book format, can be purchased on Amazon.com and Konfamd.com.

as well as the rest of the country by empowering them in agriculture and acquisition of vocational skills.

“We believe that we are specially positioned as the only agriculture specialised university in the entire South-south and South-east regions of Nigeria to change the narrative of the rural women and girls from lack to empowerment,” the MOUAUWA leader said.

According to her, there was no better way to give women and girls than to empower them through education and skills.

Otunta appealed to friends and well wishers of MOUAUWA “to open your minds, your hearts, your purses and wallets” to support the association in order to realise its vision of empowering rural women and girls.

Though she acknowledged that the skills acquisition centre “is a tall order” given its estimated cost the MOUAUWA nonetheless was optimistic that “with God helping us and our friends, we can't make it a reality."

The Vice-chancellor of MOUU, Prof. Francis Otunta, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-chancellor, Prof. Joy Nwabueze, lauded

the female staff members for their noble dream of taking empowerment to the grassroots, adding that the institution would stand by them.

Chairman of the occasion and former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor, said that he has always been an advocate of women empowerment hence the vision of MOUAU was in tandem with his own, which he is pursuing through his OUK Foundation.

Kalu, who was represented by his younger brother, Mascot Uzor Kalu, backed the MOUAUWA empowerment project with N2 million.

Senator Theodore Orji, who represents Abia Central in the Senate, also expressed deep appreciation to the MOUAUWA for its vision on practical steps to make life better for the female gender in the rural areas.

The immediate past Abia governor, who was represented by the former Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Longman Nwachukwu, supported the project with the sum of N500,000, adding that empowering women would guarantee a healthy and prosperous nation.

The Vice-chancellor of MOUU, Prof. Francis Otunta

Fraser Suites Wins Double Luxury Business Hotel Awards Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The newest luxury hotel in Abuja, Fraser Suites has won two prestigious awards by the internationally renowned 2017 World Luxury Hotel Awards. The award was presented in St Moritz, Switzerland on December 1.

The first award, 2017 Luxury Business Hotel Award for Nigeria, was in recognition of sustained commitment to excellence in hoteliering and outstanding achievement in the international luxury hospitality industry.

The second award is Global Winner for Luxury Business Serviced Apartments. The Executive Director Royal Pacific Group, promoters of Fraser Suites Abuja, Mr MG. Nasreddin and accompanied by Gilbert Ng. Technical Services, received the award plaques.

Incidentally, Abuja marks the first foray of Fraser Suites into Africa, which makes

Nigeria’s made to measure capital, the latest addition in the luxury hotel group’s global collection.

Fraser Suites Abuja was soft-launched on June 15, 2017 and is set for grand commissioning in the first quarter of 2018.

The hotel hosted some of the Ministerial Delegation for the D-8 Summit and from November 27- December 2, it successfully hosted the well-attended International Week of Italian Cuisine organised by the Italian Embassy in Abuja.

Fraser Suites is strategically located in the Central Business District, with proximity to the International Conference Centre, foreign embassies and the Three Arms Zone.

Its 126 Gold Standard residences combine comfort, style and technology with outstanding facilities and exclusive in-house services with a wide apartments from studios to 4-bedroom

penthouses. The rooms range in style from 28 square metres to 337 square metres and are luxuriously styled to complement the magnificent vistas. Each unit is exquisitely appointed with contemporary interiors and luxurious finishes created by skilled craftsmen, while offering spectacular views across the lush city landscape.

The two, four-bedroom apartments are the largest in the city, and offer unobstructed views of the FCT. Long stay residents can take advantage of 50 one or two bedroom serviced apartments featuring fully equipped kitchenette, dining area and living room.

For guests, Fraser Suites Abuja unlocks the most vibrant, undiscovered serenity in the city which guarantee unmatchable offerings of a new perspective of hospitality in Africa, delivered by attentive and caring team members.

34/XTRA

05.01.2018

On Corruption: One Thing President Buhari Must Do to Regain Moral Authority Magnus Onyibe Let’s commence by reminding ourselves that the final straw that broke the camel's back before the last administration was booted out of power in 2015 was the stench of corruption oozing out of Aso Rock Villa which had become unbearable.

Of all the allegations against the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari's watch, ranging from the lopsided appointments into public offices in respect of which l wrote and published several opinion articles including one titled ‘Federal Republic of Inequality?’, financial impropriety by top government officials has been the weightiest.

These include corruption allegations against about half a dozen members of the current federal cabinet in their previous functions; a military service chief , immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachar Lawal, former Director General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NlA), Wole Oke. The others are Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); acting Head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, as well as Inspector General of Police (lGP), Ibrahim Idris.

Except for the SGF and NlA DG that have been sacked after a long period of dilly dallying that created a negative impression of acquiescence in public eyes, the presidency and the relevant agencies that are supposed to act on the multiple allegations and indictments against the seeming untouchables around the corridors of power by driving the investigations to logical conclusions, have been practically silent.

Given the aggression with which the same anti graft institutions went after members of the National Assembly (NASS) accused of corruption while in fact they were being targeted for acting contrary to the ruling party's dictates with respect to sharing of parliamentary offices, the lack of zeal to arraign the accused in President Buhari's inner circles is quite unsettling.

Another arm of government which has received the ire of the presidency in its bid to tackle corruption even unconventionally is the judiciary.

When high ranking members of the bar and bench accused of impeding justice by being plied with proceeds of criminal enterprise were found at odd hours in their sleeping robes instead court robes in detention facilities, members of the public were excited that if judges, including Supreme Court justices were not spared, then the death knell for corruption has been sounded.

But the accused judiciary members who argued that they were only being victimised for refusing to do the bidding of government against opposition politicians, fought back and subsequent court trials have vindicated most of them.

Arising from the above, the impression that has been created in the minds of the discerning members of the public locally and internationally, is that the much vaunted anti corruption reputation of President Buhari and his governmentt may be a ruse.

Skeptics are convinced that it is a mere political antic by the ruling party aimed at crushing the opposition.

As more Nigerians become aware of the current lukewarm attitude of the authorities to corrupt officials in the corridors of power as contradictory, President Buhari's anti corruption initiative is looking more like the pot calling the kettle black.

Indeed, l have heard some comments that suggest that labeling members of the former ruling party, PDP as corrupt, is akin to giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it simply because the new ruling party, APC is no different.

An evidence of the lack of transparency and equity is that under President Buhari's watch which is just in excess of two years, the thirteen billion Naira (N13b) in assortment of currencies discovered in a flat in Osborne Road, Ikoyi, deemed to be NIA slush funds; the NNPC twenty billion dollars($20b) worth of contracts awarded without due process as alleged by Ibe Kachikwu, the Petroleum Minister of State and the fantastic Mainagate scandal which is about a fugitive civil servant that allegedly stole between N1050b pension funds, got sacked by the previous governmentt, fled Nigeria but found his way back into government after allegedly bankrolling the campaign for 2015 general elections that brought current government to power.

By every stretch of imagination, the alleged

Buhari

stealing of public funds by the current government already dwarfs the previous government's flagship $2.1 Dasukigate scandal which involves misappropriating funds meant to procure arms to fight Boko Haram terrorists insurgents by the former NSA, Ahmed Dasuki and the alleged $12b or so un-remitted NNPC funds to the CBN which then governor, now Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi raised alarm over before he was retired from the job by the government he accused.

By and large, given that President Buhari's administration has only been in power for less than three years compared to 16 years that the immediate past government held sway, it's easy to see why Nigerians may be feeling skittish if not frustrated over the inability of successive governments to rein in corruption despite all the public display of anger .

It is more so because the current government in power rode into Aso Rock Villa on the back of its presidential candidate, Buhari being a man of impeccable character with zero tolerance for corruption.

Against the backdrop of the embarrassing level of sleaze in government now, Nigerians may be more perturbed if not miffed by the apparent realisation that those who came to cleanup identified economic mess arising from corruption have turned out to be bigger mess creators.

The Holy Bible says it is easier for God to forgive the man that did not know Jesus Christ at all than the one who knew Christ and still deliberately rebelled by reveling in sin and I won't be surprised if the Holy Quran has an equivalent injunction on Muslims.

So both on moral and spiritual grounds, there needs to rectitude by this government.

And herein lies the moral hazard on President Buhari that he must deal with to regain moral authority.

He must rise above the current tactic of denial by his reputation managers in order to close the credibility gap that would enable him regain his fast waning moral authority so that he could continue to earn the respect of the hoi poloi that swept him into power.

Make no mistake about it, this type of moral dilemma is not unique to President Buhari and Nigeria.

In the USA, the bastion of liberal democracy and indisputable leader of the free world, it's current President Donald Trump is facing serious cases of moral hazard.

For instance, the question: did Abdulrasheed Maina, suspected pensions funds fraudster contribute part of the stolen funds to APC and President Buhari's campaign and subsequent victory in 2015?

It's similar to the question being asked about Russia's alleged involvement in USA presidential election that produced current President Donald Trump.

In the USA, a special prosecutor, Robert Mueller has been appointed to investigate the allegation and he is leaving no stone unturned.

All those involved and who are now appointees of Trump are being investigated and arraigned including Micheal Flynn the former National Security Adviser (NSA) that Trump was forced to sack.

Incredibly, other close associates of the president amongst whom are Jeff Sessions, Justice Secretary, Donald Trump Jnr, and the son-Inlaw of Donald Trump, Jared Kushner who are advisers, are also being investigated.

Even Paul Mannerfort, former Trump's campaign chairman and a billionaire has been taken into custody and has been under house arrest in the past one month.

Could there be such a situation in Nigeria whereby Mr. President's son and daughter in-law would be made to face the full weight of the law?

Given the fact that Nigeria's democracy is at infancy- after less than 18 years of continuous practice compared to the USA that's in excess of two hundred years, it may be too ambitious to expect Nigeria to be as liberal.

So nobody is expecting such extreme level of transparency in our country, but in order not to further tarnish his impeccable image of integrity, Mr. President should set up a proper investigative panel to unravel the mess concerning what is now being tagged Mainagate, and other financial improprieties leveled against top government functionaries.

It's also not being suggested that President Buhari should literarily throw his close associates under the bus as the Americans would say.

But there is more risk in delaying the day of reckoning by kicking the can down the road to the extent that his brand might become so diminished and thus render him unelectable and subsequently height face inquisition by the opposition party that might take over from him in Aso Rock, if as a result of his failing to come clean, his party looses reelection.

Sadly, the nobility of being fair to every Nigerian no matter the creed or tribe do not seem to be the priority of concerned agencies in government who for lack of better term, are now speaking from all sides of their mouths.

What such pussy footing has done is to suggest to most Nigerians that our president is not wholeheartedly fighting corruption and as such the so called anti graft crusade of this regime is either a hoax or a witch hunt of opposition politicians who have been complaining that they are victims of abuse of power.

To debunk this negative appellation and given the otherwise laudable objective of president Buhari in fighting corruption, the lukewarm attitude currently being exhibited by the presidency must change.

Mr. President must lead by example and be seen to be doing so.

As tough and painful as it is for President Donald Trump of USA, he has allowed the appointment of a private investigator on the alleged Russian influence on his successful emergence as president of the USA. The matter might not have become the gigantuan lump in the throat of President Trump that it is now, if he had not in his political naivety made suspicious decisions like sacking former FBI director James Comey.

President Buhari made a similar mortals mistake by not dealing decisively with the SGF and NIA fraud cases until it assumed a scandalous dimension.

In the USA, it is because the Russian investigation was considered an irritation and distraction

by President Trump, that he hastily sacked the FBI director, who was investigating the matter.

He thus inadvertently escalated the issue as the impropriety of the sack has triggered the appointment of an independent investigator to examine whether the president's action was not aimed at obstructing justice.

Clearly, independent inquiry is the minimum transparency standard required in an ideal democratic setting. Without such principled approach, most Americans could have lost confidence in President Trump and democracy which thrives on openness. That's also the irreducible minimum expected of President Buhari if Nigerians must continue to repose confidence in our democracy.

Otherwise the system of governance in Nigeria might as well be referred to by any other name such as militocracy or monarchy.

Considering that a lot of opposition politicians were arrested and paraded in the media for allegedly receiving funds from Ahmed Dasuki, former NSA to fund Goodluck Jonathan's failed campaign for re-election in 2015, it's unfair that APC and its leaders are similarly being accused of receiving money from Maina for 2015 campaign which launched them into office and the usually

very vociferous Itse Sagay who heads the federal government panel on anti corruption is mute on the matter except to say that it was arrogant for Maina to say he wants to meet with President Buhari in order to disclose more details of the heist that he allegedly shared with some top government officials.

Apart from convicting opposition party members suspected of corruption in the media, what is the Sagay panel that has had opinion on all the other corruption cases and has in the process labeled practically all Nigerians as corrupt, doing about the Mainagate and corruption indictments hanging over the neck of other government officials so far accused or indicted?

It will certainly not help President Buhari if he continues to ignore the deafening clamour by citizens for him to prosecute all involved in one sort of fraud or the other even if they are members of his inner circle.

If nothing else, it will reinforce his famous quote on his Inauguration Day on May 29, 2015 "l belong to nobody, l belong to everybody" which should be a sort of desiderata of his government.

In my view, the only other mantra that resonated amongst Nigerians as much as President Buhari's statement on his Inauguration Day is: Go On With One Nigeria. A slogan formed with the acronym of GOWON-the surname of the army general, Yakubu Gowon who led Nigeria through the civil war of 1967-70. It gave hope to Nigerians for a new dawn as the remark in President Buhari's inaugural speech did.

Disappointingly, the potential benefit of that remarkable quotable which to me is the most galvanizing comment by President Buhari remains unharnessed.

That's why it gladdened my heart when Mr. President during the recent EU-AU conference in Abidjan referenced the famous quote as the propelling force for proposing Akinwunmi Adeshina as the President of Africa Development Bank (ADB) despite the fact that he was the Minister of Agriculture under the opposition party, PDP that he defeated.

With President Buhari touting the spirit of inclusiveness inherent in the noble gesture to the ADB president, my confidence that he is reading and listening to comments in the media and therefore abreast of the expectations of Nigerians was affirmed. That's because in my piece titled ‘Anambra Elections: When Losing Meant Winning For APC’, l had counseled that Mr. President starts reflecting the letter and spirit of the famous quote in his policies and actions.

So when he attributed his support to Adesina to the philosophy in his Abidjan speech, l was elated because to my mind it is quite a significant change.

Finally, one thing that a politician would do without hesitation that President Buhari has not personally done and which strengthens his statement that he has upheld his Inauguration Day speech of belonging to nobody and belonging to everybody, is that he has not taken any overtly partisan action since he took office.

Let's discount the fact that under his watch, government has been accused of engaging in lopsided appointments in favour of his kits and kins into strategic public offices which l reckon is a collective decision and focus on personal idiosyncratic such as feel-good actions that massage the ego.

Isn't it rather fascinating that President Buhari did not, or has not fired those who do not show total commitment to his cause such as the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhasan, who openly declared that she would not vote for President Buhari even if declared the intention to re contest for office in 2019.

It is on record that the minister vowed to vote for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar if he decides to vie for the office of president of Nigeria against Buhari in 2019.

Typically, such vote-of-no-confidence on her boss could have earned Alhassan a sack but strangely she remains in President Buhari's cabinet and that's quite commendable.

The foregoing magnanimity towards Alhassan and kind gesture towards Adesina are rare strength of character and evidence that just like President Buhari is reluctant in sacking members of his inner caucus who get indicted for corruption and other infractions, he also does not take pleasure in sacking people in his government that are not on the same page with him.

35/ENTREPRENEUR

05.01.2018

‘We Add Extra Value to Our Houses’ Kennedy Okonkwo, Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks, is one of Nigeria’s finest real estate developers. With projects across Lagos Island, his 10-year forage into the industry has been a remarkable success. Gap toothed, suave and flippantly ebullient, he carries with him a papal charisma that wraps those around him in a cocoon. Recently, Solomon Elusoji had a chat with him at his Lagos office, where he shared parts of his life story and thoughts on Nigeria’s real estate the industry and standardise the processes.

Lagos State Government has employed over 2,000 hands into the Lagos State Building Control who go from site to site monitoring construction work. Today they have a material testing laboratory. They go around doing non-destructive testing on these buildings while construction is ongoing to ascertain structural integrity. We also have agencies such as the Lagos State Safety Commission that ensures constructions are carried out in safe environments. So there is so much the state government is doing.

You recently signed a memorandum of understanding on solar energy. Can you tell us about this?

It was about our partnership with one of the leading energy providers in Nigeria, Forte Oil. The driving force behind that was the urgent need to start providing alternative power solutions to the houses that we build.

We have an upwardly mobile middle income housing bracket that we serve; and to serve them we are always thinking of solutions that will last long and benefit the home buyers.

Overtime we have had other companies provide such services but you end up with little or no after-sale solutions. So, in that light, we sought a new partnership which is expected to take us to the next level. We wanted a situation where as we give warranty on those houses, those warranties are also extended to the solar solutions. And only a reputable company like Forte can provide such service.

We want our clients to start experiencing less noises from generators. If somebody buys a house and NEPA is able to provide about 12 hours of electricity per day, then the solar can fill in for the remaining 12 hours.

What drives you?

I am passionate about our industry. I came across a report sometime that said Nigeria needs $363 billion to fill its housing deficit.

Reading that alone, I have come to realise that there is so much if you keep building.

And if you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, housing is an existential need. When you have food, the next thing you are looking for is shelter. So I realised anyone who is providing accommodation cannot go wrong.

I believe there are so much opportunities in this industry.

At some point in my life, around 1994, we were kicked out of a shop that we called a house in Ikeja. We had to stay under the Ikeja Bridge for a few weeks before a Pastor helped us into his boys quarters. I was just about to get into the university then. Then I had to go live with my elder sister before moving in with a cousin of ours who trained me in school.

Seeing my family then, I knew that I needed to do something better when I left the university. I knew I had to work hard.

After school, I had the privilege of living in Oniru; I got my first set of leases from the Oniru family; I did that while still holding my daytime job.

After 10 years, how would you describe the growth of the real estate sector in Nigeria?

I have witnessed a lot of real estate companies go down. Some of the leading companies that were around 10 years ago are nonexistent today; it’s just a handful of them that are still alive. But we are grateful to God. Today, we have a much more robust industry, in the sense that more people are coming into the sector. People are beginning to realise that the real estate sector is a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. The sector provides at least 7.2 per cent of the country’s GDP, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics. It goes a long way that our industry is growing at a rapid rate. Despite that, there is still a huge gap of housing to be provided, both at the state and federal level. There are so many satellite villages that need to be connected via road infrastructure. There is also need to provide telecommunication, water and power infrastructure.

How did you get started in real estate?

Back then I used to have this cousin I was living with who used to do contracts with ALGON (the Association of Local Governments Association of Nigeria) and he was building local government headquarters. During my holidays, I supervised some works for him; and I enjoyed to see those projects. When I finished school, I did my first business and I made about N280,000 from where I bought my first car. So when I did that in 2001, I knew there was an opportunity in this sector to make money. So even while I was working, I still had my eyes on the sector. I was doing things like agency, build-operate-transfer: take long leases, build houses and then transfer them back to the owners. That was where I started from.

How were you able to earn the confidence of your first clients?

To build trust in the consumer does not come in one day. But one of the things we have tried to do is to under-promise and over-deliver.

Anytime we tell our clients that we will deliver a house in nine months, when you come in the seventh month, that house is already being cleaned and tested. And that goes a long way to gain the confidence of clients.

You were not daunted by competition at the beginning?

There will always be competition, but there is always a space for everybody to play. In every sector, you have the very big players and the upcoming ones, but with innovation and creativity, there is so much we are doing with our houses. Today, we are one of those companies that provide uninterrupted after-sales support for the houses we have built. We are one of those companies that can actually boast of adding extra-value to our houses such as CCTV cameras, home audio systems, internet services and solar power systems. And we are looking to do newer things that will improve the lives of our subscribers.

How did the sector fare during the recession?

When they say the economy is out of recession, I’d ask, ‘is government spending the way they used to spend?’ ‘Has the price

What other things excites you about life apart from real estate?

My family. I think that is one of the most fascinating gifts that God has given me. I have a young family and love to spend time with them. Those are moments that a billion dollars cannot buy.

Okonkwo . . . once slept under the bridge with his family

of the dollar gone to the price before the recession?’ The answer is no. Today, the price of cars and commodities are double what they used to be. Yet, the price of housing has not increased. What has happened is that the developers have lost their margins. The number of houses that will be churned out this year cannot equate the number that was churned out last year. The reason being that the funds are not available. So there is no sector that did not feel the recession.

How did you stay afloat?

This is the time for creativity. This is the time

for organisations to bring out their innovative best. When the economy shakes, only great companies survive. We are a young, dynamic organisation and we try to be creative with what we do. We are delivering our Victoria Crest Luxury apartments. This same year, we flagged off our projects in Ikoyi, Oniru and Osborne. So we are doing our best to stay afloat and keep being profitable.

What do you think about standards in the real estate industry?

There is so much that the government is doing now to curb the influence of quacks in

What are your favourite books?

The bible fascinates me. I think there is a part that says when a man marries, they should give him a holiday so he can be with his wife for a certain period of time. It’s so strange that things like that are in the bible. I read all sort of books though. I had a privilege of reading a book Donald Trump collaborated on, Marketing 101, and I was fascinated that things like that were in a book. And I had not read it until he became president. So there is so much to read. As a young boy, I grew up using my feeding allowance to buy newspapers.

36/COLLAGE

05.01.2018

L-R: Nigerian rapperand songwriter, John Raoul (aka Skales); Groom; Kolawole Ajayi and bride Yewande Ajayi; Nigerian songwriter and producer, Babalola Gabriel (aka Bigiano) and Song Producer, Temitayo Ibitoye (aka Tee-Y Mix; after the holy solemnization of the couple at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos... recently

L-R:Chief Responsibility Officer, Ensure Insurance Plc, Owolabi Lekan-Salami: Chief (Mrs) Ayodele Lekan-Salami; The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Idowu Lekan-Salami; and Taiwo Lekan-Salami during the visit of the Salamis to Alaafin in Oyo...recently.

L-R: Eldest daughter of the celebrant, Mrs. Adeola Aminu; husband of the celebrant, Dr. Teslim Sanusi; celebrant, Alhaja Modinatu Abiola Sanusi; Chairman of the occasion and former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Muslim Smith and daughter of the celebrant, Mrs. Sherifat Olawande during the 70th birthday of Sherifst and 50th wedding anniversary ceremony of the couple in Lagos...recently.

L-R; LAGOS STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, IMOHIMI OLUWOLE EDGAL AND, COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENT LAGOS STATE, DR. BABATUNDE ADEJARE DURING VISIT TO COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN LAGOS...RECENTLY YOMI AKINYELE

L-R: Wife of Osun State Commissioner for Finance,Chief Mrs. Atinuke Oyejide; Dr. Mrs. Sekinah Bola Oyebamiji; and Professor Emeritus Ademola Oyejide, during the presentation of Excellence Award to Mr. Bola Oyebamiji at the Oke Ada Ikire Day, in Ikire, Osun State... recently

L-R; Former Corporate Communications Manager, (NBC), Akomen Omijeh, Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Sade Morgan; an official of RDF Strategies, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu; and Chief Executive Officer, RiHaGo Auction Limited, Seye Morgan at the Amity Annual Awards held in Lagos... recently.

Mr Ogunleye Oluwakayode Emmanuel and Miss Oluwajobi Esther Adeola, during their materimonal wedding at RCCG Church of First Born Alapere Estate Lagos... recently

L--R: Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo; Principal, Comprehensive Secondary School, Egbede, Aba, Abia State, Chinyere Stellar Nwankwo; and Head, Wealth and Investment, Stanbic IBTC, Busola Jejelowo, during the Eat, Drink Lagos event sponsored by Stanbic IBTC in Lagos, recently

37/ THISLIFE

05.01.2018

Honour Well Deserved Traditional Rulers from all parts of South-east states recently converged at Mbosi community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State to honour Chief Lambert Obi, the Chief Executive Officer of Lambecca Industries, writes Anayo Okolie Mbosi Community, a town located in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State will not forget in a hurry what their eyes witnessed at the coronation of Chief Lambert Obi. All the major roads leading to the country home of Obi, were taken over by dignitaries from all walks of life.

Obi, according to the people, deserves to be honoured because he is said to be man of the people, who honours invitation irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, religion or even age.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lambecca Industries was honoured by the prominent traditional rulers with the title of ‘Ogbuwaruzo Dike Di N’ugwu’ following his dedication to service humanity and among others.

The decision to decorate Obi with the Ogbuwaruzo Dike Di N’ugwu title, was taken by the traditional rulers in the area without any dissenting voice.

Speaking during the coronation, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife, who represented the host, Oluoha the fifth of Mbosi, Greg Nwokeoha disclosed that after a critical look at the activities of Chief Lambert Obi, all the traditional rulers concluded that he should be honoured with ‘Ogbuwaruzo Dike Di N’ugwu’ as part of the efforts to encourage the good work that he has been doing in his community and beyond.

According to him, “Igwe in Council has checked on your activities and as a good citizen of Anambra State, we concluded that you are worthy to be recognised and honoured to encourage you to keep up with the good job.”

Also speaking to journalists on why he was honoured by the traditional rulers, Obi said: my people must have seen some rare qualities in me to have found me worthy of the title amongst so many notable sons of Mbosi, I therefore promise to uphold their faith in me.”

According to him, one of the reasons the title was conferred on him was as a result of “my efforts in making a small road become big and beautiful.”

“I got to where I am today not because I had a good foundation or that I had the money stock piled for me, no; it is rather due to years of hard work, dedication, commitment and God’s grace.

“I knew what I wanted in life and I diligently pursued my dream until I achieved it. As a result of the challenges I faced while growing up which resulted in my inability to further my education as I would have wanted, I made a resolve to sponsor anyone from my community who has the zeal and determination to go to school but had financial constraints, and today by the special grace of God I have been able to produce so many graduates in my community.

“I was only able to get secondary education.

At a point, I worked as a labourer to be able to support myself and gradually I was able to make something good out of life.

“One basic problem with Nigerians is that everybody wants to either work in the prestigious oil companies, banks or become politicians, as it is believed that these are the places where they could make it big time. As an individual, how would you just stay in a place and expect the government to do everything for you? Do you even know what you really want? If yes, how determined are you at ensuring that you achieve your dream?

“We have had carpenters who as a result of the passion that they have for their jobs, went on to become furniture specialists; we also have mechanics who as a result of the same passion, went on to become mechanical engineers; also masons who went on to become building engineers, I mean the list is endless.”

The most important factor, Obi said “is to know what you want and to have the needed determination to help you achieve your dreams.

You cannot expect the government to employ every graduate that is seeking for a job, or even to provide the needed capital for those that are interested in starting up business; you can as well start from that little position that you have found yourself and you never can tell where and when your blessing will be coming from.

“Like I mentioned earlier, I had to face a lot of challenges while growing up, but I knew

Chief Lambert Obi and his wife, Ndidiamaka (middle) flanked by some of the South-east traditional rulers at the coronation

Chief Lambert Obi with his wife, Ndidiamaka, during the coronation

what I wanted out of life, hence I remained determined and dedicated to the course and by the grace of God, here I am today; all those years have now summed up my story on the way to success.

“It is important to note that Nigerians expect a lot from government but they do little or nothing to fulfill their individual responsibilities as good citizens. How many people pay their taxes promptly? For those seeking jobs, how many of them are ready to start small and grow gradually? Success does not come suddenly; it takes years of hard work, dedication, proper planning, execution and ultimately the grace of God. “You could get a small space and start with 100 chicks, feed and nurture them and within five to seven months they would have become matured enough to be sold. By the time they would be ready to be sold, having managed them properly and by the grace of God, you should be able to get between three to four times what you spent as returns. Gradually, before you know it you would have built something

you would be proud of.”

On the part of the government, Obi said they should endeavour to provide citizens with the necessary infrastructure and amenities to help Nigerians excel.” Nigerians are creative people, hence given the necessary favourable conditions, they will thrive.”

According to him, there are many people out there who want to venture into one form of business or the other, but for lack of accessible roads, epileptic power supply, poor medical facilities and poor security just to mention a few; they cannot thrive in their different fields of business endeavour.

For instance, he said: “I import doors both hard and soft from countries like Turkey and China; funny enough these countries do not have hard wood, so how do they now produce hard doors when they do not have the most important raw material? Their governments provided the necessary infrastructure and amenities thus creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, these business men in turn come down to sub-Saharan Africa to

buy the hard woods and export them back to their countries.

“After they must have finished the production of these doors, we the owners of these raw materials now go back to these countries to buy these doors, how sad! Now if I decide to go into local production of these doors, the following is bound to happen; buying a big generator to power my manufacturing plant and face the high cost of diesel all due to the epileptic state of power supply, very high cost of transporting the woods from the point of collection to the manufacturing plant, high sales price of the finished doors due to high cost of production and so on.

“How will the business thrive? Hence the provision of necessary infrastructure and amenities is a responsibility that the government owes Nigerians and it should be taken very seriously.”

State governments, Obi believes should forget about federal allocation and concentrate on making states better. “They should concentrate on activities that would help their states to grow. People say that Lagos State Government milks people.

“For me, Lagos State Government knows what they want and they have drawn up a plan on how to achieve it. One thing stands out, no matter how good a government is, people will definitely complain. As it is today, whether or not Lagos State receives federal allocation, she will survive because she makes enough revenue from her internally generated revenue.

“Nigerians must know what they want and work hard to achieve their dreams, the government also has the responsibility of providing the necessary infrastructure and amenities to enable Nigerians take shots at succeeding in their endeavours. If these things are done appropriately, there would be no talk of our youths wanting to travel out of the country in search of greener pastures,” Obi added.

Obi struggled like most successful businessmen to get to the level he is today and he believes in hard work.

Obi’s growing up was not as rosy as he had hoped due to certain difficulties like finance and other challenges.

Though, obi has passion for business right from his childhood days. When he was growing up, while his friends were wishing to be doctors, lawyers and engineers, Obi was dreaming of studying Business Administration.

Unfortunately, Obi couldn’t fulfill his dream of studying Business Administration in the university due to financial problem which forced him to stop at secondary level but that didn’t limit his potentials in life.

38/XTRA

05.01.2018

Help Save Lawal Adedipupo, a Rising Star Solomon Elusoji In 2015, Lawal Adedipupo joined a team of amateur space scientists at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to launch a balloon into space and measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. A pioneering member of FUTA’s Space Club – the largest of its kind in Africa – Adedipupo is a rising technology star with a promising future. But, since Adedipupo got involved in a ghastly accident some months back, his once effervescent light is beginning to blink.

“He was very instrumental to the success of all the projects we did when he was around,” one of his close friends, Temidayo Oniosun, told THISDAY. “He’s the kind of person who is not okay with the status quo. He is very passionate about not just living but making significant impact in the society.”

Oniosun, who is also a Space Scientist and Software Developer, noted that Dipo as he is fondly called by his admirers is equally a great footballer with outstanding skills, but has been

Oladipupo on the sick bed

divorced from his favourite sport since he was involved in the road accident in late 2016, one that has permanently destroyed his spine.

“Oladipupo also plays good football,” he

said. “He is so good that he can make it at the professional stage. It is unfortunate that he has been unable to do this since he had the accident.

Dipo is no ordinary person. He is one of those few

people who make others believe in this country.

Losing him will be a great loss to our nation.”

Signed by Dr. Oluwakemi Aderonke and addressed to the Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, his medical report from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, reveals that he has been diagnosed of traumatic myelopathy. The document also states that as a result of an accident in which he was involved, he is unable to move his upper and lower limbs, and has bisphincteric dysfunction and numbness below the shoulder level. In simpler terms, he is unable to do anything for himself and by himself.

To bounce back to life, Dipo urgently needs N12 million to undergo a stem cell transplant, the only known procedure that can make him lead a normal life; he will also acquire an electric and manual combined wheel chair to aid his movement and plastic surgery to heal the bedsores suffered as a result of his long-term confinement to the bed.

To contribute to Adedipupo’s recovery, send donations to Lawal Adedipupo Hafiz, First Bank, 3120267225

Heart2feed Goes to Ajegunle Solomon Elusoji Heart2feed, a nonprofit charity, recently decided to put smiles on over 800 children in Ajegunle, Lagos, by feeding them during the yuletide.

Tagged the ‘Ajegunle Charity Food Drive’, the initiative took place at Caro Favoured College and had “little children and their friends troop in with joy to share in the goodness of Christmas,” a statement from the nonprofit said.

This is the third year Heart2feed is organising such a food drive.

Beyond the feeding, Heart2Feed also provided

free eye tests and free glasses to about 200 children. “The bleak economic situation in the country was no hindrance for Heart2Feed to show love to these beautiful children of Ajengule, in the spirit of love and sharing,” the statement added.

Heart2Feed is an initiative of Otres Restaurant, with support from ’êth Communications, SME 100 Nigeria, Bukka Hut, Dreams from the Slum, CookPad, Grubs Magazine, Lolly Kitchen Affairs, Seguro Limited, Sozo Life Foundation, The Tribe Lagos, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust, Eko Café, MasterCare International School, My Passion My Life Media, SALT Lagos.

One of the children enjoying her meal

Bende Embraces Mrs. Ikpeazu’s Empowerment Programme Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The empowerment programme of the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, has continued to enjoy the support of Abia communities as hundreds of beneficiaries have been placed in good stead to start making their living.

At Bende Local Government 50 persons were empowered with relevant equipment after undergoing training in their chosen vocational skills in catering, interior decoration and fashion designing.

At the empowerment ceremony, which took place at the council headquarters, stakeholders of Bende expressed their profound appreciation of the efforts of Mrs. Ikpeazu to make life better for women and youths of Abia hence they heeded her call for partnership by donating over N2.7 million for the project.

The governor’s wife who has been fighting unemployment among youths among women through the Springboard Skills Acquisition programme, which is among the several programmes under her Vicar Hope Foundation (VHF).

“I believe that this programme will reduce our unemployment rate and add true value to people’s lives, especially the beneficiaries and their dependants,” she said.

The governor’s wife said that her foundation would not abandon the beneficiaries of the empowerment items, saying “we will monitor their progress to see that they really apply what they have learned and grow their businesses.”

Speakers after speaker lauded Mrs. Ikpeazu for making empowerment a cardinal aspect of her pet project given the rate of unemployment in Abia.

Wife of the Abia State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu... caring for the less-privileged

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emmanuel Ndubuisi noted that with the Springboard Skills

Acquisition programme the Abia governor’s wife has “positively touched lives, homes and has put smile on many faces.”

He said that the impact of the empowerment was not limited to the direct beneficiaries, noting that the skills acquisition training “is for the whole community” hence the beneficiaries were expected to extend the skills others.

Chairman of Bende Local Government, Hon. Okereke Elendu, said that he was happy that Mrs. Ikpeazu, who has been going round the council areas empowering people, has come to Bende to make people become economically self-sufficient.

He said that his administration was replicating the empowerment programme in the local communities so as to further expand skills acquisition among the people of Bende.

Isuikwuato DPO Now Feels at Home Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia For any divisional police officer (DPO) posted to Isuikwuato Local Government in Abia State the problem of finding a suitable accommodation had always been a big problem. The situation was so persistent that some of them were compelled to operate from outside their area of operation or bear the cost of staying in hotels. The immediate past DPO was said to be operating from the commercial city of Aba. For many years the accommodation problem had lingered and in fact became the lot of every DPO that found himself posted to Isuikwuato. But now all that has become history as a befitting house has been built and handed over to the Abia State Police Command by a non-governmental organisation, the Emma Nwaka Foundation (ENF) to henceforth serve as permanent abode for any DPO posted to Isuikwuato. The police took possession of the house recently to the joy and relief of the current DPO, Mr. Jeremiah Udo. He was barely two weeks old at his new duty post and was already facing the same “pathetic” accommodation problems like his predecessors when he was presented with a new house. So the DPO now feels at home at Isuikwuato.

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi was highly elated by this rare gesture from the Emma Nwaka Foundation.

Represented at the handover ceremony by the deputy commissioner of police, Sagir Abubakar, the CP called on all people of good will and organisations to emulate the patriotic gesture of the Emma Nwaka Foundation. He noted that if the DPOs in each of the 774 local governments in the country could be provided with befitting houses like the one at Isuikwuato such assistance would greatly enhance national security. The CP reiterated that security remains everybody’s business hence Nigerians should always be willing to contribute their own quota in making the police perform their duties better. He also pointed out that community policing would record the expected success if people begin to see the police in their locality as their own and offer the needed assistance to enhance their operations.

Chairman of Emma Nwaka Foundation, Senator Emma Nwaka said that he was touched by the difficult situations under which DPOs had been working to provide security for his local government. “We thought it wise and necessary to build a house and hand same over to the Nigeria police in perpetuity on the understanding that it shall become the permanent abode of any DPO posted to the area,” he said. According to Nwaka, the police perform critical and highly dangerous function in the society hence everything possible should be done to provide conducive environment for the police to do their job. He

The deputy Commissioner of Police Abia State, Sagir Abubakar,inaugurating the DPO House built by ENF

said: “The job these men/women do can at times be quite hazardous. Often times, they lead their men to confront dangerous criminals. It is not fair that at the end of the day such an officer goes back to dwell among these miscreants without absolute control over his own house.”

The Isuikwuato DPO house, which is a threeunit partially furnished complex, is located at Amokwe-Amiyi, less than 500 metres from the divisional police headquarters. The edifice comprises a three bedroom flat en suite, a tworoom semi-detached component for his orderly/ assistant and a security post. The house is also

provided with the compliments of perimeter fencing, water supply and a dedicated generated 7KVA generating set to augment public power supply. Not only that a good access road leads to the DPO’s residence.

Though the police is the direct beneficiary of the befitting house built by the ENF it is expected that the gesture would rob off on the security of the entire Isuikwuato Local Government, Abia State and Nigeria in general. This resultant benefit was pointed out by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa in a letter of congratulation dated December 7, 2017 which he sent to Senator Nwaka.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

39

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

2017: CHALLENGING YEAR FOR INSURANCE SECTOR Nigerians on insurance and ability of the sector operators to block some loop holes through which operators suffer premium drip to fake operators, However, the much desired insurance inclusiveness and insurance penetration to the grassroot with the proposed introduction of micro-insurance, was not totally achieved .

Not much was heard about operation of “Takaful�, a model of micro-insurance based on Islamic principles, which guidelines the commission introduced in 2016.

In 2017, it was not certain whether the commission licensed more companies in addition to two companies it licensed for the class of business in 2016.

Also, the use of alternative channels of distribution tagged referral / partners/ agents introduced by the commission during the year while suspending previously existing alternative channels was not well pronounced during the year.

Similarly, the industry could not fully achieve the much desired enforcement of the six compulsory insurances, one of the major objectives of instituting the MDRI launched in 2009.

It could also not hold the re-launch of the MDRI, which it listed as one of its priorities during the year. However, it recorded tremendous improvement in insurance awareness among the people compared to what was obtainable before 2009.

Although insurers in 2015 celebrated timely payment of federal government for its workers’ group life insurance, 2017, just like and 2016, contrarily witnessed delay in payment of group life insurance by government.

Till date the federal government is yet to finish paying premium for its group life insurance obligations to the federal civil servants as well as the renewal of insurance of its assets located in various parts of the country.

With the outstanding payment, civil servants and the assets are exposed to risks of uncertainties to the extent that in event of any disaster, no insurance company will be held liable since the principle of “no premium, no cover� applies.

Speaking on this recently, the President of Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers(NCRIB) Mr. Shola Tinubu said the insurance industry can only give cover to government to the extent the premium it paid can cover. According to him, any other thing outside that, no insurance firm will be held responsible.

The issue of capital inadequacy of insurance companies, which had continued to constitute a militating factor against their capacity to independently handle or underwrite big accounts in oil and gas, aviation, among other high risks sectors of the economy like their contemporaries in developed countries of the world was not addressed during the year by the regulatory body, NAICOM and the Ministry of Finance.

The commission only maintained its earlier statement that the RBS would classify operators according to level of business they underwrite and will compel those with lesser capital to restrict themselves to businesses that the capital can underwrite.

Indeed no action was taken with regard to new round of recapitalisation in the industry. It is now 10 years since the last recapitalisation exercise was carried out in the industry.

This is despite the fact that in 2016, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had noted the declining level of the nation’s insurance sector when compared to the expansion in the banking sector and the growth of the recently reformed pension sector saying it calls for worry.

Expressing concern over the issue, Adeosun said there was need for a fresh round of recaitalisation and consolidation in the industry to strengthen the industry operators’ financially.

The need for this within the same period was buttressed by the Nigerian Insurers Association( NIA) which in its periodic insurance industry digest stated that about seven insurance firms last year operated with shareholders’ fund below the minimum capital base.

The association also in the publication said about 10 insurance firms operated during the year with shareholders’ funds that is slighted above the minimum required capital calling for beef up of the operators’ capital.

Kari

The finance minister in her remarks on the financial strength of the insurance sector said: “There is a need to immediately address the decline in the Nigerian insurance industry as it is lagging behind global and African peers. Despite being the largest economy in Africa, the Nigerian insurance industry remains largely underdeveloped. The industry has under-performed the Banking sector and even the recently established Pensions sector.�

While citing the extent of backwardness in capitalisation of the insurance sector, she said in 1981, the minimum capital requirement for banks was N1million while that of composite insurance companies was N0.8 million.

However, she observed that by 2014, banks had grown theirs to N25 billion while composite insurance companies grew to N5 billion showing

The federal government for instance, despite the ‘no premium no cover’ policy of the industry could not pay for insurances of its assets including the group life insurance of its workforce until the third quarter of the year when it managed to pay less than 50 per cent of its insurance premiums to the industry

that banks had grown capital requirements eight times faster. To rectify the anomaly, she said: “The industry needs to recapitalise. Capital levels were last raised in 2007. To take true advantage of the opportunity for the industry, we must recapitalise and reposition. The top three banks have capital in excess of N300 billion each. The top three insurers have capital of between N14 billion to N25 billion. “The insurance sector needs to raise minimum capital requirements in a manner that is comparative to what happened to the banking sector in the last two to three decades. Increased capital will provide funding for publicity and product development. It will raise the clout of insurance companies in policy formulation and will enhance our capacity to hire the best people and deploy the technology and marketing, product awareness and investment needed to support the industry.�

From the positive point of view, the regulator and the industry operators made remarkable preparation to achieve deeper penetration of insurance nationwide.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, from the beginning of the year said his main area of focus would be on awareness creation. Kari said the moment Nigerians become aware of what they stand to gain from insurance, they will be willing to buy insurance and the problem of Nigerians’ apathy towards insurance will be solved.

With this in mind, he mainly collaborated with the media to spread the good news of insurance to Nigerians.

The commission during the year continued to collaborate with the insurance committee through regular meetings to chat the way forward for the industry.

The committee, however was unable to kick off insurance industry rebranding project due

to funding problem.

The CIIN, during the year keyed into the commission’s awareness creation and enlightenment strategy as its new president Babington -Ashaye said during her tenure, she would focus attention on awareness creation and enlightenment of Nigerians on insurance starting from the youths.

Since her investiture, she has been collaborating with universities in the country to carry insurance awareness to university students. She also said the institute would collaborate with private secondary schools in the inclusion of insurance in curriculum of secondary schools.

The institute had previously focused on government schools in this regard but during the year under review, it has spread tentacles to private schools.

Generally the industry during the year, in the mist of many challenges which operators had to contend with in their efforts to keep head above the waters, consolidated on the awareness creation strategy which it believes is the only solution to address Nigerians’ poor attitude towards insurance.

But the insuring public in their positive response to this seem to have put trust on big players like Leadway Insurance, AIIC0 Insurance and Custodian and Allied Insurance.

Leadway, during the year controlled more than 25 per cent of the entire insurance market share, indicating the need for other operators to position themselves for improved performance.

In all, despite the challenges faced by the insurance sector during the year, operators are very optimistic that the future of the industry is very bright and that the future rests more on their ability to bring the upcoming generation to know about insurance and its values.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

40

CITYSTRINGS Facelift for Tolu Primary School

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

It was happiness galore for pupils of a school in Ajegunle recently, when one of the world’s foremost technology companies renovated their once-decrepit classrooms, writes Solomon Elusoji

Tolu Primar School after it was renovated

Tolu Primary School before it was renovated

O

ne sunny morning last December, scores of primary school pupils – dressed in blue uniforms – huddled under a small white canopy erected opposite some blocks of newly painted classrooms. They could barely sit still, their voices a joyous cacophony.

“Our school don fine,” one of them, a boy – probably five, definitely not more than eight years – proclaimed, revealing a set of missing teeth.

About two years ago, a block of classrooms had been destroyed at Tolu Primary School in Ajegunle, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, after a torrential downpour and more than 300 pupils had to move to Oremeji School 1 in Mokola, a few blocks from their original site. “I thought we were not going to come back,” one of the kids told THISDAY. The renovation of the classroom, however, was undertaken and funded by a technology

company, SAP Nigeria. They re-roofed the building, painted it and supplied it with furniture and teaching materials.

“The condition of these classrooms was an eyesore,” the school’s Parent Forum Chairman, Felix Nwabueze, said. “We tried to make

As a company, we are always looking to create the maximum possible impact and this was very important to us because the pupils were squatters and they couldn’t learn properly

some little amendments but the breeze just blew everything away. But now we can see that God is good and we want to appreciate the vessel God used to do this. We did not know them from anywhere. But when we heard that they wanted to do something like this, all the parents jumped up in happiness.

I am very happy that it happened during my tenure as Chairman. What we need now is continued assistance.”

For the love of service Every October, SAP embarks on a signature Corporate Social Responsibility initiative tagged – Month of Service, where it devotes resources to charitable causes like renovating classrooms and supplying equipment to underprivileged people in society.

In line with this global CSR programme, SAP Nigeria, over the years, has invested in funding “particular areas of education that correspond to improving the learning outcome for underserved young people,”

according to a statement from the company.

In 2015, SAP Nigeria funded the provision of 12 units of toilet facilities in Primary Schools in Victoria Island, Lagos. In 2016, the company also set up a 16-seater fully equipped Digital Learning Centre in Lagos Model Primary School at GRA, Ikeja. Last year, they decided to go to rural Ajegunle.

“If there was ever an intervention that would make a difference, this school was it,” a SAP statement said, “which was the reason SAP Nigeria decided to intervene as part of its Month of Service 2017.

“Any right thinking organisation has to be interested in education,” SAP’s Marketing Manager for West Africa, Juliet Omorodion told THISDAY. “As a company, we are always looking to create the maximum possible impact and this was very important to us because the pupils were squatters and they couldn’t learn properly.”

The intervention was facilitated through AYECI Africa, a non-profit organisation com-

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

41

CITYSTRINGS

Tolu Primary School was re-opened earlier this month

L-R: An officer from SUBEB, SAP’s Marketing Executives Mrs Juliet Omorodion and Ms. Dumebi Okeleke, a SUBEB Director, Mrs. Bunmi Okeju, Education Secretary, Hon. Solomon Aboluwodi and Founder, AYECI Africa, Mrs Ifeoma Adibe

mitted to improving the learning outcomes of resource-poor children in underserved communities.

AYECI’s founder, Ifeoma Adibe told THISDAY that completing the project was an herculean task given the rascally nature of the project site. “Financially, it was way over our budget because materials were stolen, contractors from the local government ran away,” she said. “But because we had already started, we just had to finish. The only reason I am happy is because of the children who will benefit from this. This means that more children will have more access to better education.”

She promised that SAP, the sponsors of the project, “will be doing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that everything we have put in place is well utilised. We also hope that the school authorities will be able to appreciate and maintain the facility.”

According to a statement on its website, “SAP is at the centre of today’s technology revolution. The market leader in enterprise application software, SAP helps organisations

fight the damaging effects of complexity, generate new opportunities for innovation and growth, and stay ahead of the competition.”

Not yet uhuru Ajegunle is one of Lagos’ most iconic ghetto communities. It has a reputation for producing music and soccer superstars. The likes of Super Eagles’ legends, Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke are said to have been discovered on its sandy grounds. But the quality of education in the community is a throwback to the dark ages.

“Wherever you go in Ajegunle, you see young boys sitting in groups discussing all

I am very happy because my people will now be comfortable while teaching and learning will be much more effective

manners of issues,” Zika Bobby, writing for one of the national newspapers, said last year. “Football, fashion, how to make easy money, women, booze and sex are usually the most common topics. You will hardly hear them discuss education.”

When THISDAY visited Tolu Primary School last month, during the unveiling of the newly renovated building, one of the school’s instructors, Adeshewa Simeon said one of the main issues is a lack of teachers.

Simeon was posted to the school by the federal government’s N-Power as a volunteer instructor in April, but she has assumed a full-time role. “I don’t have a choice,” she said.

“And it can be very difficult, especially when we were squatting with the other school.”

The Parents Forum also told THISDAY that the school needs more teachers if the pupils are to start reaping the fruits of the renovation that has lifted its spirits.

Meanwhile, the Education Secretary of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Education Authority, Solomon Aboluwodi told THISDAY that he was delighted at the unveiling of the project.

“I am very happy because my people will

now be comfortable while teaching and learning will be much more effective,” he said.

But he also admitted that Tolu Primary School was only one of many schools in the area with similar challenges and called on other private organisations to emulate SAP’s humanitarian gesture. “There are other schools around this area that need such intervention; there is a need for private organisations to be like SAP and invest in the education sector,” he said.

Primary schools in Ajegunle, also, are not the only ones with dilapidated facilities. In fact, it is a problem that is omnipresent in schools across Lagos, Nigeria and even in Africa. Recently, Premium Times published an investigative story on a school in EseOfin, St. Philips Anglican Nursery/Primary School, describing an institution with no “functional toiler, tattered ceilings and an unfenced premises.”

While the government needs to do more to arrest the unfortunate decline in the quality of primary education, the private sector, as Aboluwodi suggested, must also rise to the occasion before the mites morph into monsters.

T H I S D AY Ëž , ÍłËœ 2018

42

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Moody’s Foresees Oil Price Range of $40-$60 in 2018 Oil prices will remain at $40-$60 per barrel in 2018 despite the extension of OPEC-led production cuts through the end of the year, Moody’s Investors Service has stated in in its 2018 trend report for the global oil and gas industry.

It noted that higher prices within or above that range would see supply grow as countries lessen their compliance with production quotas and US shale production continues to increase.

Meanwhile, abundant supplies of US natural gas will constrain prices, even while demand goes up. “Political unrest in the Middle East, alongside assumptions of OPEC extending its agreement to cut production, helped to bolster oil prices in late 2017,� observed a Moody’s Senior Vice President, Terry Marshall said.

He added: “Yet even with these factors offering a boost, prices will likely remain range-bound, and possibly volatile, on a

combination of increasing US shale production, reduced but still significant global supplies, and potential non-compliance with agreed production cuts -- especially if demand growth is more tepid.�

After strong capital investment in 2017, North American exploration and production (E&P) companies would focus on boosting capital returns in 2018, though greater capital discipline will rein in this growth thereafter, Moody’s says.

According to the report, E&P companies would be aiming for profitable growth within existing oil acreage and cash flow, with improvement favoring companies with the greatest exposure to the best acreage and producers in the Permian Basin leading the way.

It further noted that the global oilfield services industry would continue its recovery from the oil price slump in 2018, though the health of the sector will

remain frail.

Higher utilisation of equipment would help improve pricing, but supply will align more closely with demand only later in the year, as current oversupply diminishes, it noted. “Oilfield services companies will face ongoing pressures from customers, reactivation and upgrade expenses, and higher labor costs.

At the same time, slower growth will prompt providers of energy infrastructure to increasingly eliminate incentive distribution rights, retain more cash and simplify their corporate structures. “Such actions will likely improve the credit quality of midstream firms, provided they do not take on more debt in the process,� the report added. “In 2018, larger E&P companies with strong balance sheets will seek efficiencies of scale in higher-return basins,� Moody’s Vice President -Senior Analyst, Amol Joshi explained.

R-L: CEO, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Richard Burge; Executive Director, Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Country Head (Nigeria), CWEIC, Obinna Anyanwu; Head Investor Relations, Fidelity Bank, Samuel Obioha; and the Council’s Head of Business Development, Abdul Hamza, during a courtesy visit to bank’s head oďŹƒce in Lagos‌recently

MARKET INDICATORS

FCMB Customer Wins Car in Jumia Black Friday Promo A customer of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Clinton Nnajiaku, has emerged winner of a brand new Ford Figo car after he shopped and entered the Jumia Black Friday festival lottery. He also enjoyed the 10 per cent discount offered to FCMB customers who shopped during the course of the Black Friday sales on Jumia.com.ng.

He won the car courtesy of Coscharis Motors, distributors of Ford brand of cars, who were also partners with Jumia during the Black Friday festival, which ran from November 13 to December 13, 2017.

FCMB partnered Jumia, Nigeria’s leading online retailer, to make this year’s Black Friday sales bigger and more rewarding for Nigerians, especially new and existing customers of the bank. Under the partnership, which was also designed to drive financial inclusion and the cashless policy, all FCMB customers who purchased items via JumiaPay (that is, direct debit from their accounts) during the Black Friday Festival got an extra 10 per cent discount on their purchase.

New customers of the bank who took part in the promo only needed to visit the FCMB website, open an account (which

took less than five minutes after which the account number was instantly generated), fund it, and order for the item they wanted to purchase. The winner of the Ford Figo car, Nnajiaku (aged 22), who recently passed out from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) having served in Lagos, expressed his joy and appreciation to Jumia, FCMB and Coscharis Motors during the car presentation ceremony. “I was saving N30, 000 to purchase a Play Station 18 gaming device, but while browsing online during the Jumia Black Friday sales, I saw it at N15, 000 and I confirmed it to be of high quality and I quickly paid with my FCMB account and got a 10 per cent discount from the Bank. I ended up buying it for N13,500 and I was happy it was a good buy, the delivery was fast and safe,’’ he said.

He added that, “few weeks later, I got a call from Jumia that I have won a brand new Ford Figo car and I was so glad, because what that means is that I am passing out from the National Youth Service Corps with a brand new car. I am one person that believes in hardwork and so my philosophy has always been that people must work hard to earn anything,

but I have won the promo car without hardwork and I thank God Almighty for that�.

In his comment on the development, the Group Head Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo, expressed delight that a customer of the bank emerged as the winner of the grand prize of this year’s Jumia Black Friday festival sales promo, while also commending Coscharis Motors and the other partners for ensuring the success of the festival. ‘’We are very excited that our partnership with Jumia has made it possible for one of our customers, Mr. Clinton Nnajiaku to benefit from all that Jumia Black Friday offered this year including winning a brand new car. This is another confirmation of our commitment in providing cutting-edge and exceptional electronic banking and payment offerings to our teeming customers and the Nigerian public. As a forward-looking institution built on the culture of excellence, we will continue to invest in digital platforms and other modern solutions that will enable us sustain the tempo in the provision of simple, helpful and reliable banking services driven by robust technology and best practices,’’ he said.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ě™ ÍŻĚš

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

ÍŻËœÍłÍ°ÍąËœÍ°ÍąÍˇË›ÍˇÍŻ

---- Demand Deposits

ÍśËœÍąÍ´ÍľËœÍłÍľÍąË›ÍŻÍˇ

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

ÍŻÍ°ËœÍŻÍŻÍśËœÍ˛Í´ÍąË›Í˛Í° 26,821,446.81

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ăž Ù×Ă?Ă?ÞÓĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ă?Þ̚

4,824,226.22

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Þ˛ Ě™ Ă?Þ̚ Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?

ÍľËœÍśÍąÍ˛ËœÍłÍąÍ´Ë›ÍľÍ˛

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? Ă?ĂŽË› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂœĂœĂ™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ě™ Ěš

-3,010,310.52

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ ĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ě™ Ěš

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

ÍłËœÍ˛ÍśÍ´ËœÍśÍŽÍ˛Ë›Í´Íł

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜

ÍŻËœÍśÍ´ÍśËœÍľÍąÍłË›ÍŽÍľ

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?Ă?

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month

AUGUST 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

ͰͰ˛ʹ͹

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

ͯͲ˛͎͎

Treasury Bill Rate

ͯ͹˛͹ͳ

Nosak Group Rewards Workers with Long Service Awards

Savings Deposit Rate

Ͳ˛͎͜

1 Month Deposit Rate

͜˛͜ʹ

3 Months Deposit Rate

͎ͯ˛ͯͲ

Sunday Okobi

6 Months Deposit Rate

ͯͯ˛ͳͯ

12 Months Deposit Rate

ͯͯ˛Ͳ͎

Prime Lending rate

ͯ;˛ʹ͡

Maximum Lending Rate

͹ͯ˛Ͱ͎

In line with its policy of honouring deserving staff, the management of Nosak Group of Companies has recognised and rewarded 180 workers who had served meritoriously for five years and above.

Speaking at the Long Service Award event, which took place in Lagos recently, the Chairman of Nosak Group, Dr. Toni Ogunbor, eulogised the awardees who he said had remained resolute in their faith in the Nosak mission and vision despite a challenging year.

He further urged the younger employees to emulate the wor-

thy examples of the awardees as the group was set to be among the leading private sector organisations in Africa.

Among the 180 awardees, 126 members of staff were awarded for five to 10 years of service; 34 members of staff for 11 15 years of service; 15 members of staff for 16 to 20 years of service and five members of staff for 20+ years of service.

Each of the awardees also received gift items which included gas cookers, televisions, microwaves, steam irons, blenders, kettles among others.

One of the awardees, who has spent 16 years working for the company, Ukeni Anthony,

couldn’t hide his excitement when he spoke to journalists.

He showered praises on Nosak Group as he encouraged young staff to remain industrious and sincere in their service delivery, saying: “Being hardworking, sincere and purpose-driven are the ultimate tools for such upliftment.� Highlighting Nosak Group’s commitment to staff training, another award recipient, Adeyinka Olowonyo, who has spent seven years working for the company, had nothing but praise for the group. She commended the company’s custom of training its staff, a gesture which she said has positively impacted her.

Ě™

Ěš

AUGUST 2017

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, JAN 3,2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $65.12 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $64.83 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ , DECEMBER 5, 2018

43

MARKET NEWS

Debut Sovereign Green Bond Records Oversubscription Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

N10.791 billion compared to the N10.69 billion offered.

“Among the investors who subscribed to the green bond were banks, pension funds, asset managers and retail investors,” the debt agency said.

The DMO had offered N10.69 billion Sovereign Green Bond for a tenor of five years and coupon of 13.48 per cent per annum.

“The DMO is pleased with

The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday announced that the debut Sovereign Green Bond offered to the general public in December, 2017 was successful as it was very well received by a wide range of investors. According to DMO, at the close of the offer, the total subscription received was

the strong interest shown by investors. It shows investors’ interest in new products and support for the objective behind the issuance of b ond which is to invest in projects that will contribute to preserving the environment. It also shows support for the Paris Agreement on the Climate, which Nigeria has endorsed,” it said.

The green bond which was rated ‘Excellent’ by Moody’s,

was issued as part of the federal government’s new domestic borrowing in the 2017 Appropriation Act to finance three Projects.

The projects are Energising Education Programme, Renewable Energy Micro Utilities and Afforestation Programme.

The DMO expressed its commitment to providing products that meet the needs of investors for their portfolio

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

the bond would support the federal government’s shift to non-oil base assets for project financing for economic growth and development.

According to him, the proceeds of the bond would be used for environmental projects such as renewable energy microutilities in three communities and would provide an average of 33KW of power through solar technology.

preferences and to continue to promote financial inclusion.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had last year explained the reasons behind the decision to issue green bonds.

Speaking at the Green Bonds Capital Market & Investors Conference organised by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO) in Lagos, Osinbajo said

A S AT 0 4 / 0 1 / 2 0 1 8

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1

BANKING ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 857,752.21

PRICE 27.32

%CHANGE 5.00

BANKING S/N 2 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N 3 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 S/N 17 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N 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 27 BEVERAGES--NONALCOHOLIC S/N 28

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

BUILDING MATERIALS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 341,364.23

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,801,907.61

TRADES

VOLUME

29 30

176

11,022,250

176

11,022,250

31

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

32

9.51

3.37

466

25,669,566

33

466

25,669,566

34

642

36,691,816

35 FOOD PRODUCTS

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

223.11

0.05

74 74 74

1,242,120 1,242,120 1,242,120

716

37,933,936

S/N 36 37 FOOD PRODUCTS-DIVERSIFIED S/N 38

CROP PRODUCTION

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

1,100.00

0.50

-

1

20

64,570.17 66,500.00

67.69 66.50

-

26 16 43

90,278 53,002 143,300

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.26

-

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.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,730.00

MARKET CAP(Nm)

0.91

4.60

24

1,438,398

24

1,438,398

44

67

1,581,698

TRADES

VOLUME

45 46 47 48 49 50

PRICE 0.70

-

2

39,739

194.58 2,111.93

0.50 3.25

-

2 4

4,272 30,112

69,101.58

1.70

9.68

357

144,921,583

32,635.49

16.99

0.53

73

3,656,920

438

148,652,626

438

148,652,626

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.79

-

0

0

0

0

PRICE

7,899.12

3.04

BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC.

FOOD PRODUCTS DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC

56 57 58

TRADES

VOLUME

-

10 0

52,516 0

10

52,516

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.11

17

309,243

64

17

309,243

65

TRADES

VOLUME

66 67

0

0

11,305.89

45.22

-

2

10

26,682.70

10.00

-

MARKET CAP(Nm) 70,200.00

54

%CHANGE

-

MARKET CAP(Nm) 65,321.00

S/N

PRICE

100.00

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/ MARKET DISTILLERS CAP(Nm) CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 16,285.35 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. 242.22 PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC 205,895.98 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES 489,878.17 PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 1,078,357.72

51 52 53 BANKING

28.00 6.60

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,386.33

42 43

55

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

%CHANGE

1,853.10

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

S/N

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS

VOLUME

41 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm) 36,960.00 165.00

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

0 0

S/N 40

PRICE

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

0 0

39 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

PRICE

%CHANGE

59 60 61 62 63

68 69

0

0

70

2

10

71

29

361,769

72

74

73 PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.50

-

1

50,000

1

50,000

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2.08

-

17

166,000

0.89

-

0

0

94.00

-

22

37,882

56.99

3.64

20

180,423

136.00

0.74

105

1,519,154

164

1,903,459

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

101.97

-

9

16,026

9

16,026

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

14.04

10.12

286

8,587,734

75 76 77 78 79 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 80 81

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.

263,400.00

21.95

0.37

138

2,449,226

79,908.02

30.45

5.00

47

1,117,236

19,032.47

2.40

3.90

39

882,495

1,861.25

0.50

-

0

0

1,015.74

5.70

-

1

1,000

55,081.82

20.79

5.00

41

1,039,448

3,676.41

13.45

-

1 553

5,000 14,082,139

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 29,112.13 1,188,984.38

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

15.50 1,500.00

3.68 -3.60

58 59

436,124 248,534

117

684,658

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,766.22

23.23

-

0

0

3,387.70

3.25

4.84

42

1,253,663

42

1,253,663 VOLUME

NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

BANKING

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

80,997.73

20.40

-3.77

55

803,425

228,995.92

39.86

-

20

124,631

MARKET CAP(Nm) 309,529.30 43,773.14

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATION311,942.37 AL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC 85,185.90 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 1,246,116.13 JAIZ BANK PLC 20,330.33 SKYE BANK PLC 7,911.77 STERLING BANK PLC. 37,139.64 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 128,592.39 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA 384,401.50 PLC UNITY BANK PLC 7,130.50 WEMA BANK PLC. 21,601.70 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

MARKET CAP(Nm)

82

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC

928,056 18,918,001

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10.70 1.89

2.39 9.88

305 540

16,539,547 169,058,132

17.00

1.55

104

2,207,923

2.94 42.34 0.69 0.57 1.29 7.57

5.00 3.77 4.55 7.55 9.32 0.80

223 232 5 154 336 110

27,982,482 5,745,511 155,350 89,258,210 37,812,321 14,238,490

11.24

4.36

223

14,175,144

0.61 0.56

7.02 3.70

20 60 2,312

1,957,097 10,167,076 389,297,283

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10,292.50

0.50

-

0

0

3,811.61

0.55

3.77

27

2,487,970

23,100.00

2.20

3.77

19

2,822,950

3,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

14,521.84

1.40

-

4

13,111

7,364.75

0.50

-

0

0

7,000.00 2,411.47

0.50 0.53

-

0 0

0 0

1,913.74

0.50

-

0

0

3,070.00

0.50

-

0

0

642.04

0.50

-

1

2,000

3,661.72

0.50

-

2

53,359

3,308.17

0.77

-

9

421,748

6,000.00

0.75

4.17

8

307,500

4,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

8,290.39

1.57

-4.85

11

479,050

3,869.74

0.50

-

0

0

2,759.15

0.50

-

0

0

3,334.38

0.50

-

0

0

4,170.41

0.50

-

0

0

6,455.52

0.50

-

0

0

4,670.54

0.50

-

0

0

1,291.15

0.50

-

0

0

6,933.33

0.50

-

0

0

8,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

6,959.02

0.52

4.00

19

150,651

100

6,738,339

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

11,799.67

2.58

-

0

0

3,132.69

1.37

4.58

7

1,217,300

7

1,217,300

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS S/N

75 961

MARKET CAP(Nm) 5,460.00

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1.30

-

0

0

˜ ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

44

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž ZĞďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž Ͳ ĂŶ ŝŶĚĞdž ŽĨ ϰϬ ŵŽƐƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ĨƌĞĞ ŇŽĂƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƌĞďĂůĂŶĐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞďĂůĂŶĐŝŶŐ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ͕ ϳhW͕ KEK/>͕ D E^ Z ͕ h^dK z/E ĂŶĚ KEd/E^hZ ǁĞƌĞ ƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉůĂĐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ E'&>KhZ͕ dZ E^ K,͕ E ^ KE͕ hW ĂŶĚ d '> ^͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘ϰй LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϯ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϯ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϵ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

ϮϬϭϳ ƋƵŝƚLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ /Ŷ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŐůŽďĂů ƌŝƐŬͲŽŶ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ŽƵƚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƌŝƐŬ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ͕ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŶƟĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͕ ϮϬϭϳ ǁĂƐ Ă ƐƚĞůůĂƌ LJĞĂƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƋƵŝƚLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƉŽƐƚĞĚ ŝƚƐ ĮƌƐƚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŶ ƚŚƌĞĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ;нϰϮ͘ϯйͿ͕ ƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϭϭƚŚ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĂŶĚ ϮŶĚ ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƵŶĚĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ĞůĞǀĂƚĞĚ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƌŝƐŬ ĂŶĚ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞŝŐŚĞĚ ŽŶ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŇĞdžŝďŝůŝƚLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ʹ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ Θ džƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ͛ tŝŶĚŽǁ ʹ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ YƵĂƌƚĞƌ ŵĂƌŬĞĚ Ă ƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŝŶ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ƉĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ďŽůƐƚĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶƚ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͕ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ Žŝů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƐŬ ƉƌŽĮůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĨƵĞůůĞĚ Ă LJĞĂƌͲƌŽƵŶĚ ďƵůů ƌƵŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƚŽƵĐŚŝŶŐ Ă ϯͲLJĞĂƌ ŚŝŐŚ ŽĨ ϯϵ͕ϱϯϰ͘ϭϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ ŽĨ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ͕ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ Ăƚ ϯϴ͕Ϯϰϯ͘ϭϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ůŽŽŬ Ăƚ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƐŚŽǁƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƵŶƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůLJ ŽƵƚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ LJĞĂƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă zͲŽͲz ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ϳϯ͘ϯй ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞƉƌŝĐĞĚ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĨĂǀŽƵƌĂďůĞ ŵĂĐƌŽ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůƐ͘ &/ >/dz ;нϭϵϮ͘ϵйͿ͕ h ;нϭϮϴ͘ϵйͿ͕ ^^ ;ϳϴ͘ϬйͿ͕ E/d, ;ϳϯ͘ϴйͿ͕ / DKE ;нϳϬ͘ϱйͿ͕ d/ ;нϲϱ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;нϲϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ĂŵŽŶŐƐƚ ƉĞĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ ϯϳ͘Ϭй͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ůŽǁĞƌ ĐŽƐƚ ƌĂƟŽƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďŽůƐƚĞƌĞĚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶƐ͘ E'^h' Z ;нϮϮϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;нϭϵϰ͘ϲйͿ͕ E'&>KhZ ;нϭϴϱ͘ϵйͿ͕ E ^ KE ;нϭϭϳ͘ϲйͿ͕ E ^d> ;нϵϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ &>KhZD/>> ;нϳϬ͘ϵйͿ͕ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϲϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ hZz ;нϱϮ͘ϯйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ Ϯϯ͘ϴй͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ĞŵĞŶƚ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌĞƌƐ Ͳ EE ;нϵϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯϮ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ t W K ;нϭϱ͘ϴйͿ Ͳ ǁŚŝĐŚ ďĞŶĞĮƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶƐ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ĐĞŵĞŶƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĞŶĞƌŐLJ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ͘ 'ĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ E D ;нϱϴ͘ϭйͿ͕ KEd/E^hZ ;нϰϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;нϯϮ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;нϭϱ͘ϲйͿ ƉŽǁĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ Ă zͲŽͲz ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ϭϬ͘ϰй͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ůĂŐŐĞĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ƌĞƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ϱ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůĂĐŬůƵƐƚƌĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĚŽǁŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŵĂũŽƌƐ ʹ &KZd ;Ͳϰϴ͘ϱйͿ͕ DK /> ;ͲϯϬ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ dKd > ;Ͳ Ϯϯ͘ϭйͿ Ͳ ĂīĞĐƚĞĚ ďLJ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ůĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƌĞŐƵůĂƚĞĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƟŇĞĚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶƐ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ƵƉƐƚƌĞĂŵ ĨŽĐƵƐĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ Ͳ ^ W> d ;нϲϰ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϮϳ͘ϰйͿ ʹ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚƌŝǀĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƚƵƌŶƐ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĐĞƐƐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂƩĂĐŬƐ ŽŶ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌ ĞůƚĂ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ KƵƌ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ĮƐĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ďĂůĂŶĐĞƐ ʹ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ʹ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŬŶŽĐŬͲŽŶ ŝŵƉĂĐƚƐ ŽŶ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĚŽǁŶƐŝĚĞ ƌŝƐŬ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƵƉĐŽŵŝŶŐ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ůĞĐƟŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽƵůĚ ǁĞŝŐŚ ŽŶ ƉŽůŝƚLJ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƐŚŽƌƚͲƚĞƌŵ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƉŽůŝĐLJŵĂŬŝŶŐ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Friday, January 5, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Current Price

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

3.4%

59.5%

24.3%

7.6%

7.6x

1.0x

3.6%

10.9%

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,594.99

2.36% 3.8%

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

42.34

21.5%

3.9%

4.4%

26.0%

4.3%

8.8x

2.2x

4.8%

11.4%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

27.32

5.0%

13.4%

6.6%

5.4%

21.7%

3.2%

5.4x

1.1x

7.4%

18.5%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

136.00

0.7%

8.8%

0.8%

0.7%

18.9%

8.6%

33.5x

6.1x

2.6%

3.0%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,500.00

-3.6%

7.5%

-3.6%

-3.6%

78.4%

19.0%

39.1x

25.8x

1.7%

2.6%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

223.11

0.0%

5.8%

-3.0%

-3.0%

30.4%

15.7%

15.4x

4.4x

3.8%

6.5%

3.4%

5.8%

8.1%

8.2%

2.6%

0.3%

15.5x

0.5x

2.1%

6.5%

4.5%

2.4%

0.9%

15.1%

2.0%

4.3x

0.6x

6.1%

23.1%

4.9x

6

FBN Holdings Plc

9.51

7

Access Bank PLC

10.70

2.4%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

11.24

4.4%

4.6%

9.1%

8.0%

17.2%

2.2%

0.8x

6.7%

20.3%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

17.00

1.6%

3.2%

0.0%

4.5%

-14.6%

-1.3%

0.6x

3.6%

-20.4%

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

650.00

3.8%

3.1%

3.8%

3.8%

-12.4%

-6.7%

0.8x

0.0%

-16.1%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

41.00

2.8%

-1.2%

0.2%

28.7%

3.4%

9.4x

2.5x

1.5%

12

Guinness Nigeria PLC

94.00

0.0%

2.2%

0.0%

0.0%

4.5%

1.4%

66.1x

3.3x

0.7%

1.5%

13

Lafarge Africa PLC

49.10

4.2%

1.7%

9.4%

9.4%

47.1%

9.8%

4.4x

7.4x

2.0%

22.8%

14

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.94

5.0%

1.5%

19.5%

14.0%

8.0%

1.1%

2.6x

0.4x

4.8%

39.0%

15

Oando PLC

5.99

0.0%

1.3%

0.0%

0.0%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

0.4%

10.6%

37.0%

16

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

21.95

1.2%

9.8%

7.8%

23.8%

10.3%

8.6x

3.7x

2.3%

11.7%

17

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

67.69

0.0%

1.1%

0.0%

0.0%

37.4%

25.9%

9.0x

2.9x

2.2%

11.1%

18

Unilever Nigeria PLC

39.86

0.0%

1.0%

-2.8%

-0.9%

50.3%

8.4%

24.6x

9.3x

0.2%

4.1%

19

International Brew eries PLC

56.99

3.6%

0.8%

4.6%

3.6%

24.6%

7.4%

59.7x

13.6x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

30.45

5.0%

0.7%

5.0%

5.0%

10.4%

2.6%

8.4x

0.8x

3.0%

11.9%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.7%

1.70

9.7%

0.7%

16.4%

14.9%

19.6%

4.1%

6.8x

1.2x

0.5%

0.6%

0.5%

0.5%

6.3%

2.2%

10.9x

0.7x

20.4%

2.5%

0.3%

7.6x

0.2x

0.0%

37.3%

7.4%

8.6x

3.0x

2.6%

11.7%

20.3%

3.8%

0.6%

5.5x

0.2x

5.3%

18.1%

4.7%

11.1%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

16.99

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.89

9.9%

0.6%

26.0%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

229.95

0.0%

0.5%

0.0%

25

FCMB Group Plc

1.90

9.8%

0.6%

26

11 PLC

170.00

-3.8%

0.4%

-12.6%

-12.6%

32.6%

12.0%

9.0x

2.5x

5.0%

0.5%

1.4%

5.0%

44.3%

3.7%

11.1x

4.9x

14.7% 5.8%

9.2% 13.1%

27

Forte Oil PLC

44.10

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

20.40

-3.8%

0.4%

-1.0%

-3.5%

10.7%

5.0%

19.3x

2.0x

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

15.50

3.7%

0.4%

-1.1%

-0.6%

4.5%

1.6%

44.2x

2.6x

30

Presco PLC

66.50

0.0%

0.4%

-2.9%

-2.9%

42.9%

25.9%

3.3x

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

20.79

5.0%

0.4%

12.4%

8.2%

53.4%

18.1%

11.7x

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

7.57

0.8%

0.3%

-2.9%

0.8%

5.6%

1.2%

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

28.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

-12.2%

-1.2%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.29

9.3%

0.3%

19.4%

14.2%

6.1%

0.6%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

14.04

10.1%

0.3%

15.6%

15.6%

61.6%

15.8%

4.5x

2.0x

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

21.61

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

61.2%

23.6%

4.5x

1.6x

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.70

0.0%

0.2%

5.0%

0.0%

84.3%

38.5%

15.6x

10.9x

6.2%

6.4%

39

Beta Glass PLC

51.31

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

18.4%

11.9%

7.2x

1.2x

1.9%

13.8%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.21

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

4.7%

2.8%

21.4x

1.0x

5.5%

4.7%

T o p 10 G a ine r s T ic k er

9.7x

6.8x

9.0% 2.5%

5.2%

1.2x

2.3%

30.5%

5.4x

3.4%

8.5%

0.8x

6.8%

2.3%

0.5x

10.3%

1.5x

-8.1%

0.4x

14.7% 22.0% 1.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P rice

P rice C hg %

D A N GF LOUR

14.04

10.1%

D IA M ON D B N K

169.1

M A YB A KER

2.75

10.0%

FCM B

163.3

9.8%

D IA M ON D B N K

1.89

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

144.9

9.7%

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg % 9.9%

FCM B

1.90

9.8%

SKYEB A N K

89.3

7.5%

T R A N SC OR P

1.70

9.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

37.8

9.3%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.29

9.3%

OA N D O

31.2

0.0%

SKYEB A N K

0.57

7.5%

F ID ELIT YB K

28.0

5.0%

UN IT YB N K

0.61

7.0%

FB NH

25.7

3.4%

FO

44.10

5.0%

A C C ESS

16.5

2.4%

C ON OIL

29.40

5.0%

UB N

14.2

0.8%

P rice

P rice C hg %

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 N EM C UST OD IA N N EIM ET H M OB IL PZ N EST LE

22.3%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

-4.8%

N EST LE

373.0

-3.6%

-4.8%

D IA M ON D B N K

314.2

9.9%

0.66

-4.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

297.7

5.0%

170.00

-3.8%

FCM B

297.6

9.8%

20.40

-3.8%

D A N GC EM

283.5

0.0%

1500.00

-3.6%

T R A N SC OR P

241.8

9.7%

GUA R A N T Y

240.4

3.8%

FB NH

239.9

3.4%

NB

205.9

0.7%

OA N D O

186.7

0.0%

1.57 3.79

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

45

˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

MARKET NEWS

GTBank Board Meets to Consider Financial Results, Dividend The Board of Directors of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc will on January 24, 2018 meet to consider the audited financial statements of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2017.

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), GTBank said the board will also discussed issues relating to full year dividend. The financial institution is one of the banks that have a policy of paying dividend twice a year.

The bank had already paid interim dividend of 30 kobo per share, which is higher than the 25 kobo interim dividend paid the previous year.

With higher interim dividend, it is expected that the final dividend for 2017 will equally be higher than the 175 kobo final dividend paid last year.

GTBank has already reported a profit after tax of N125.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, up from N138

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.

Its gross earnings fell from N329.3 billion in 2016 to N309 billion in 2017. However, net interest income improved from N133 billion to N159 billion. Loans impairment charges fell from N57 billion to N8.4 billion, bringing the profit before tax to N150 billion, as against N137.9 billion in 2016. Profit after tax stood at N125 billion, compared with N117 billion in 2016.

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 03-Jan-2018, unless otherwise stated.

A further analysis of the results showed that GTBank reduced its loans and advances to customer from N 1.589 trillion to N1.428 trillion, while deposits from customers also declined from N1.986 trillion to N1.897 trillion. But the bank ended the period with total assets of N3.212 trillion, up from N3.116 trillion.

The bank had ended the half year (H1) to June 30, 2017 with a PBT of N101 billion, representing a growth of 18 per cent over

N85.69billion recorded in the corresponding period of June 2016. PAT stood at N83.6 billion compared with N71.7 billion in 2016.

Commenting on the H1 results, the Managing Director/CEO of GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Our strong performance in the first half of 2017 reflects the strength of our businesses, the quality of our past decisions and the success of our efforts towards becoming a digitalfirst customer-centric Bank

that offers simple and easily accessible products and services.”

He said despite the challenging environment of slow economic growth, “we focused our resources on strengthening relationships with our customers, creating business platforms that seek to add value across all customer segments, whilst consolidating our leading position in all the economies in which we operate.”

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 180.69 180.72 42.01% Nigeria International Debt Fund 238.77 238.80 12.67% 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 -0.03% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -2.89% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.75% 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 18.55 19.11 1.55% ARM Discovery Fund 394.26 406.14 1.34% ARM Ethical Fund 27.73 28.57 1.49% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.47% 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 154.06 155.14 1.56% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.63% 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 18.01% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.40% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.09 1.11 9.65% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.03 1.06 4.32% FBN QUEST 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 1,152.85 1,154.01 7.73% FBN Heritage Fund 139.90 141.27 8.57% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.53 $113.64 1.05% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.89 $113.00 1.06% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 175.85 178.46 1.21% 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 1.41 1.44 51.60% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 3.00 3.00 16.77% 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 3,011.66 3,049.80 36.87% Coral Income Fund 2,472.42 2,472.42 18.60% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.84% 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 17.12% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.10 2.13 25.06%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 0.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 115.08 115.08 18.61% 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 1.20 1.22 0.31% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,055.56 1,055.56 0.30% 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 14.58 14.72 3.43% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.80% 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 1.25 1.28 25.86% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.05 11.12 6.33% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.07% 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 129.39 131.63 27.66% 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 1.48 1.48 19.13% 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 2,258.16 2,272.72 23.37% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 176.89 176.89 14.89% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.01 1.02 31.82% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 220.89 220.89 18.19% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 181.30 183.63 39.64% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.84% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,717.07 9,835.52 28.17% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.06 1.06 6.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.35 19.30% United Capital Bond Fund 1.57 1.57 28.26% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.93 36.13% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.30% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.74 12.92 18.21% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.45 13.60 7.88% Zenith Income Fund 19.00 19.00 14.87%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 132.64

1.01% 6.99%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.04 146.42 110.22

12.14 149.35 112.24

-0.66% 47.89% 45.42%

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

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.63 9.51 17.87 19.48 148.47

4.67 9.59 17.97 19.68 150.47

67.14% 35.08% 50.78% 21.99% 16.88%

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.

46

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

47

INTERNATIONAL WORLD OF ISLAM email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Trump Administration to End Obama-era Marijuana Policy - Source The U.S. Justice Department will rescind on Thursday a policy on marijuana that eased enforcement of federal laws as a growing number of states and localities legalised the drug, Reuters reported a source familiar with the matter as saying.

The ending of the policy, begun under Democratic former President Barack Obama, could sow confusion about how strictly federal laws will be enforced and potentially hamper efforts to cultivate local businesses.

The change under Re-

Indian Pilots Grounded after â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mid-air Rowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; An Indian airline said Thursday it had grounded two pilots over allegations they had a fight and both briefly stormed out of the cockpit during a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day flight from London to Mumbai, AFP reports.

Jet Airways is investigating claims that a male pilot slapped his female colleague during a heated argument while the plane was in the air with 324 passengers on board.

Reports in several Indian newspapers, quoting unnamed sources, said the mid-air altercation led the female pilot to leave the cockpit in tears and she had to be persuaded to go back in by cabin crew.

At one point the male pilot also left the cockpit, leaving the controls briefly unattended, the Times of India claimed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A misunderstanding occurred between the cockpit crew... However, the same was quickly resolved amicably and the flight... continued its journey to

Back to School Umme Ammarah/jamiat.org

S

chools are about to open and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re probably feeling excited and publican President Donald to enforce U.S. laws on maybe a little sad that holidays Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration marijuana as they see fit are just about over. Back to School comes just days after in their own districts, added comes with a barrage of projects, California formally launched the source, speaking on homework, sports practice and of course the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest regulated condition of anonymity.

There has been a surge in a day filled with pickups and drop offs. commercial market for â&#x20AC;&#x153;The roots of education may be bitter, legalisation of marijuana in recreational marijuana.

The current policy rec- U.S. states in recent years. but the fruit is sweetâ&#x20AC;?

Back to school time also means adjustments ognised marijuana as a Besides California, other â&#x20AC;&#x153;dangerous drug,â&#x20AC;? but said states that permit the regu- for children and families; the first day of the department expected lated sale of marijuana for grade one, new schools, new classrooms, states and localities that recreational use include new teachers and for adults sometimes authorised various uses Colorado, Washington, new jobs.

Change is sometimes exciting and and of the drug to effectively Oregon, Alaska Nevada. Massachusetts sometimes frightening, but this can also regulate and police it.

Going forward, federal and Maine are on track be an opportunity to set new goals. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prosecutors around the to follow suit later this is a new year, and each year goes so fast like a quick turn of a page. This is why country will have leeway year. planning and setting goals is so important.

As Muslims all our plans should be aimed at achieving our final goal which is to please our Creator Allah Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He who fails to plan, plans to fail!â&#x20AC;?

Here are a few points to keep in mind when planning for this year. r /JZZBI 0VS JOUFOUJPO CFGPSF EPJOH The missile fell out of the sky April 28 missile test. anything is very important. The Messenger The missile was ďŹ red out over North Korean territory of Allah (peace be upon Him) has said after its ďŹ rst-stage engines of Pukchang AirďŹ eld, and it â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every deed is judged by its intention.â&#x20AC;? failed after about a minute of landed on what appears to 1MBO BOE EP MPUTwCVU JU NVTU CF 0/-: powered ďŹ&#x201A;ight, The Diplomat be either an agricultural or to please our Allah. reports, citing U.S. government industrial complex in the North sources with knowledge of the Korean city of Tokchon. As the r %VB &WFSZ POF PG VT OFFET UP BTL BOE pray to Allah Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala daily for all our Northâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weapons programmes. liquid-fuelled missile did not, OFFET " WFSZ CFBVUJGVM %VB UIBU 5IF Relying on photographs according to U.S. government Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace be released by North Korea sources, explode in ďŹ&#x201A;ight, there upon Him) made whenever he left his during a concert held in July, is reason to believe that the home â&#x20AC;? In the name of Allah, I trust in Dave Schmerler, a geolocation missile exploded when it "MMBI PI "MMBI * TFFL SFGVHF JO :PV GSPN specialist and research associate slammed into the earth, causing straying or being led astray or against at the James Martin Center considerable damage. slipping or being caused to slip or doing The full extent of the for Non-proliferation Studies injustice or injustice being done on me at the Middlebury Institute damage is unknown, but or doing wrong or having wrong done of International Studies at satellite images show UP NF u "CV %BXVE

Monterey, and Ankit Panda, clear differences between a foreign affairs expert and the the i m m e d i a t e b e f o r e r .BLF NBTIXFSB TIVSB NVUVBM DPOTVMUBUJPO 5P DPOTVMU XJUI ZPVS GBNJMZ senior editor at The Diplomat, a n d a f t e r p i c t u r e s o f were able to use satellite images t h e f a c i l i t y b e l i ev e d t o is important as it unites the heart on a to identify both the launch site h a v e b e e n h i t b y t h e common purpose. All activities whether and the impact point for the f a i l e d m i s s i l e . big or small should be discussed. Sit with the family daily at a mutually convenient time and plan our activities.

See where we are and where we want UP HP UIJT ZFBS $IFDL PVS MFWFM PG %FFO BOE QMBO UP JNQSPWF VQPO JU %JTDVTT our day to day affairs. We may even Mumbai, landing safely,â&#x20AC;? been derostered pending an discuss and allocate turns for household internal investigation that Jet said in a statement. chores, or even who sits where in car, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The airline has re- has since been initiated,â&#x20AC;? etc.â&#x20AC;Śthis can save a lot of time and ported the incident to it added. arguments early in the morning. To make the Directorate General of Mashwera is a sunnah and will bring Civil Aviation (DGCA) and great Barakah (blessings) in our home.

I, formerly known and addressed the concerned crew have It will also grant us an opportunity to as MISS EHIKWE SANDRA plan our lives Islamically.

NKEMDELEM now wish to be r .BLF BUUBJOBCMF HPBMT 4FU HPBMT SFBMJTUJDBMMZ known and addressed as MISS and intelligently. Set goals that are EHIKWE SANDRA OLUWAKEMI. All BUUBJOBCMF .PTU JNQPSUBOU .BLF %FFO former documents remain valid.

The general public should please the priority in our lives. Monitor your take note. progress and place reminders and back I, formerly known and addressed your resolutions with planning. as MISS IYATUM VICTORIA r 'BNJMZ UJNF 4FU BTJEF RVBMJUZ UJNF GPS ADODE now wish to be known UIFN #F JOUFSBDUJWF -JTUFO UP UIFN BOE and addressed as MRS. IYATUM pay attention to them when they call on VICTORIA ADODE KOBITI. All you. Engage them in Taleem (Educational former documents remain valid. programs), for the smaller ones also read The general public should please Islamic stories and even make it a practice take note. to discuss the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events with them.

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. RICHARD UBAKA OKAFOR now 5IFSF JT /0 46#45*565& GPS QBSFOUBM wish to be known and addressed as MR. guidance and supervision.

WILFRED RICHARD OKAFOR. All former i:PVS DIJMESFO OFFE ZPVS QSFTFODF NPSF documents remain valid. GTBank, The than your presentsâ&#x20AC;?

Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Lagos State Lands Registry and the r )PNFXPSL 5VSO PGG UIF 5 7 8IBUT"QQ 'BDFCPPL BOE PUIFS TPDJBM OFUXPSLTw general public should please take note. put away your concerns and concentrate I, formerly known and addressed PO CFJOH B QBSFOU -PPL UISPVHI ZPVS as MRS. MARY ITORO EKAH now childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homework diary as your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wish to be known and addressed teacher uses this as a main connection as MRS. MARY MONDAY NNAH. between you and the school.

All former documents remain valid.

i%PO U EP IPNFXPSL GPS UIFN %P JU The general public should please with them!â&#x20AC;? take note.

North Korea â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bombedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Itself with Failed Missile Test, Report States North Korea appears to have accidentally sent a missile crashing down into a city during a test that went awry last April, a new open source intelligence report cited by The Daily Caller Foundation revealed Wednesday.

North Korea tested a new intermediate-range ballistic missile six times last year.

The ďŹ rst three tests ended in failure, with one test sending a ballistic missile into a town not too far from the test site.

North Korea conducted its third test of the previouslyunseen Hwasong-12 IRBM, an impressive weapon that served as a stepping stone in the development of a longer-range missile able to range the U.S. mainland, on April 28, 2017.

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

r %BJMZ SPVUJOFT -FU ZPVS DIJME CF JOWPMWFE in the small things like packing lunch, laying out clothes (uniforms) etc. as this teaches them responsibility. Start bed time routines a week before school starts. Ensure punctuality in Salaah QSBZFST 3FBE ZPVS %VBT UPHFUIFS JO the morning and evening. Make going to and from school educational by reciting %VBT DPMMFDUJWFMZ JO UIF DBS *O B TIPSU UJNF UIFZ XJMM NFNPSJ[F UIF %VBT GPS protection and of travelling. r &EVDBUJPOBM HPBMT 1MBO CJH &OSPM your kids for the best available Islamic Educationâ&#x20AC;Śenrol your kids for Hifdh NFNPSJTBUJPO PG UIF 2VS BO :PV NBZ have also realised how weak your Islamic knowledge is. Make time to attend some Islamic classes. Consult with your local Islamic Scholars regarding suitable Islamic educational programs. r *EFOUJGZ ZPVS DBSFFS HPBMT $IPPTF ZPVS curriculum carefully and wisely. Maybe you always talked about making the career switch to a more Halaal (pure) source of income or adjusting your work times for 4BMBBU XJUI +BNBBU DPOHSFHBUJPO :PV may need to adjust your times so as to spend some quality time with your family.

Whatever your reasons maybe, identify a career that will benefit your family both in this world and the Aakhirah (hereafter). r 8BLF VQ FWFSZ EBZ XJUI B QVSQPTF We wake up often knowing we should be doing something important today, but have failed to plan! Prepare for our higher purpose otherwise our day will become less productive. r 6OJGPSNT CPPLT BOE TUBUJPOFSZ .BLF sure uniforms are purchased timeously and that it conforms to Sharia (Islamic requirements). If your kids encounter any resistance from the educational institution regarding their Islamic attire or other Islamic practices, then be diplomatic, discuss and resolve the matter with management respectfully. Also ensure that you obtained a list of stationery and text books required early so that it could be budgeted for and purchased well before hand. r -VODI CPYFT CSFBLGBTUT BOE EJFUT 3FTFBSDI shows that breakfast eaters have better concentration and muscle co-ordination.

Kids need healthy lunch box snacks that maintain blood glucose levels which help concentration, so keep away from fuzzy drinks, chips and chocolates for lunch. A good idea is to plan a lunch box menu for the week. r 5BLF BDDPVOU PG ZPVSTFMG EBJMZ 8F OFFE to be alert of our development so that we progress. Therefore, we need to daily reflect on our progress or a lack of it.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the feet of the son of Adam will not NPWF PO UIF %BZ PG +VEHFNFOU VOUJM IF JT BTLFE BCPVU Ă WF UIJOHT IPX he spent his life, how he spent his youth, from where he acquired his wealth and how he spent it, and what he did with his knowledge.â&#x20AC;?

So we need to be conscious on how we profitably use every second of our livesâ&#x20AC;?.

Remember that a Muslim sets goals that are in harmony with our accountability in the Aakhirah (Hereafter)â&#x20AC;Ś so take pen to paper and plan for a better life, seeking Allah 5B BMB T (VJEBODF )FMQ BOE 'PSHJWFOFTT The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has encouraged us to make the following %VB i0I PVS -PSE HJWF VT HPPE JO UIJT world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of the fire.â&#x20AC;?

Back to School may be demanding and at times stressful but keep in mind that an investment in knowledge always pays the best returns!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

48

NEWSXTRA

Clampdown on BUA: Edo Acted to Forestall Outbreak of Violence To investigate sponsorship of militias in Okpella by company The Edo State Government has countered the claim by BUA International Limited that it

adopted “a gestapo-style to forcibly shutdown the Obu mine site” in Okpella last

Ogbeh Condemns Mindless Benue, Rivers Killings Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has expressed sadness at the continued spate of killings across the country.

Ogbeh decried the high deaths recorded during the Yuletide in Benue, Rivers, Kaduna and Kwara States.

In the statement signed on his behalf yesterday by Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa of Information Department Ministry of Agriculture, Ogbeh linked the mindless killings to acrimony triggered by clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

He described the killings in those parts of the country as extremely disturbing and wondered how the country could hope to enjoy happiness and fruits of God’s blessings when people engage so violently in hurting each other.

The minister said: “This is to really express sadness at the

continued spate of killings across the country. We entered the New Year with hope, prayers, wishing everyone happy new year. Unfortunately, across the country, from Kaduna, Rivers, Benue, to Kwara States is nothing but a harvest of deaths.

I believe some of this has to do with clashes between herdsmen and farmers. Nevertheless the killings are extremely disturbing.

We do not know how a country can hope to enjoy happiness and fruits of God’s blessings when people engage so violently in hurting each other.”

In a condolence message to those who lost their beloved ones, Ogbeh expressed optimism and hope that as the country’s economy recovers, the degree of desperation, anger and venom would definitely reduce.

He also appealed to every Nigerian to continue to pray to God to bring freedom and relief to the country.

Wednesday, describing the claim as ludicrous.

In a statement issued yesterday in Benin City, the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, maintained that the state government’s primary duty as a responsible government is to ensure that the prevailing peace in all parts of the state is not punctured by any individual or organisation and that the rule of law is upheld at all times.

Osagie said BUA’s statement is fraught with contradictions, and urged the company to behave as a decent corporate citizen of the state by virtue of its investment in the state.

“In the first paragraph of BUA’s statement, the company claimed that the state governor effected a gestapo-style to forcibly shutdown the mine.

“In the very next paragraph, BUA said that ‘Upon reaching the mining site and not meeting any personnel or equipment, two BUA Cement employees were invited to the mining site

to receive the governor.

“Are these two statements not contradictory? If no one was at the site, then why would the governor use gestapo-style to shut it down?

“So why is BUA spreading falsehood? The workers and equipment were being evacuated by the time we got there, and understandably, they had heard that the governor was around and were rushing out of the site. They clearly flouted the stop-work-order and now want to mask their violation of the order by resorting to blackmail.

“The state government acted in the interest of the Edo people in Okpella. We do not want any individual or organisation to create a mafia group within the state. We have intelligence that BUA is instigating a section of the Okpella community against other groups within the community, and we will not fold our arms to allow such a plot to be hatched as it could lead to the loss of lives and property,” Osagie said.

According to him, “The

state Governor, Obaseki, has consistently maintained that no amount of money is worth the life of any Edo man or woman and that is our stand on this matter.

“The matter is in court and we cannot even begin to pre-empt its outcome by commenting on it. We owe Edo people a non-negotiable obligation to keep them from harm’s way. As they say, when two elephants fight, the ground suffers. If anything will suffer from this fight, we want it to be the Obu site and not our people in Okpella.”

He noted that “BUA’s narrative of what transpired at the Obu site is miles away from what transpired and suggests some desperation on their part.

“It may interest you to know that at some points, we faced resistance from some youths and security personnel planted

by BUA at the site and this is disturbing. We welcome investors, but we do not want any organisation to turn any part of our state to a breeding

ground for militias. BUA is not the first investor we have had in Edo State and will not be the last. We are open to investors but we insist on best practice.

“We want all the parties involved in the matter to respect the pronouncement of the court and in the interest of the Edo people, refrain from acts that can result in crisis. As we speak, some interest groups in Okpella have accused BUA of employing divide and rule tactics to dodge the fulfilment of social and economic benefits to the community contained in the Community Development Agreement as provided for in the Nigerian Mining Act. “High Chief Hanson Aimofumeh has threatened to go to court to stop the activities of BUA until it fulfils its pre-operational obligations.

That is just one case. There are many more. But as a state that is committed to opening up our space to investors, we want to ensure that there is mutually beneficial relationship between investors and Edo people.”

Osinbajo, Family Leave Nigeria on Vacation Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The vice president is currently observing his vacation in what seems to be his very first since May 2015 when the current administration came into power.

His spokesperson, Laolu Akande, in a tweet, said Osinbajo left the country alongside his wife and children.

“Osinbajo, his wife and children have been resting abroad on his annual leave. He is expected back in the country this weekend from the UAE,” Akande said.

Osinbajo had a busy 2017 while President Muhammadu Buhari was in London for medical treatment.

Many Nigerians then hailed him as an “active” acting president.

Police Arrest ASP over Alleged Killing of Seven Adamawa Farmers The Adamawa Police Command yesterday confirmed the arrest of a policeman who was alleged to have shot to death seven farmers in the state.

The arrest, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), followed a petition by a civil society organisation, Progressive Mind for Development Initiative.

The petition signed by the President of the CSO, Abubakar Abdulsalam, alleged that the officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, committed the offence on November 23, 2017.

It indicated that the police officer, while in charge of Safer Highways Patrol Team, arrested the farmers who were working on their farms at the outskirts of Gombi town, tied and shot them to death.

The petition further alleged

that the same officer had on April 30, 2016, while in charge of a police outpost in Kem village, Shelleng Local Government Area of the state, killed four people suspected of committing robbery.

“We as a concerned organisation consider the act of the suspect (policeman) as an act against the provision of the constitution and infringement on the fundamental rights of the people in question.

“If such act is not checked it will continue to spread like wild fire and eventually Nigeria will be unsafe for its citizens,” it added.

The spokesman of Adamawa State Police Command, Othman Abubakar, said the policeman had been arrested and detained as investigation had continued into the case.

USE THEM JUDICIOUSLY

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (left), handing over the keys to 20 Hilux vehicles to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai, donated by the state government to the 27 Task Force Brigade Buni-Yadi, in Damaturu.....yesterday

Despite Challenges, We’ve Performed Credibly, Says CDS Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, yesterday said despite the enormous challenges the military faced in 2017, they have performed credibly.

Olonisakin made the remarks in a New Year message to military officers, soldiers, ratings and airmen and women in the armed forces.

He said: “It is with great pleasure that I felicitate with all officers and soldiers, ratings, airmen and airwomen of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on the New Year “In 2017, we all were engaged in various operational

commitments across the country.

“Undoubtedly, we have performed creditably in spite of the numerous challenges.

On the international scene, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has done well.”

Olonisakin explained that “in addition to our involvements in various international peacekeeping efforts, we have played a significant role in restoring democracy to The Gambia.

“The accolades from both Nigerians and the international community in 2017 would not have been possible without the loyalty, gallantry and dedication of all officers, men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“I therefore use this opportunity to appreciate the efforts of all personnel of the armed forces for these noble achievements.

“Our responsibility for the country’s security and sovereignty is a continuum.

Therefore, I charge you to re-dedicate yourself to the performance of your duties in line with our constitutional mandate and oath of allegiance.

“I also urge you to remain loyal and appreciative of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is unwavering in his commitment to improving the capacity of the armed forces as well as the welfare of its officers, men and women.

“I felicitate with our officers, men and women across the country and other parts of the world who could not be home to celebrate the season with their families due to their deployments in various operations. Our prayers are with you and members of your families.

“We thank you for your service to the country as we continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the course of their duties.

“As we march forward into 2018, I urge you to redouble your efforts in ensuring that Nigeria remains one strong, safe, secure and indivisible country.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWSXTRA

New Killing Spree: Presidency, APC Not Keen on Arresting Perpetrators, Alleges PDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the attitude of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to the recent massacre of defenseless Nigerians in Benue, Rivers, Kaduna and other states as insensitive.

While condemning the action of the marauders as extremely wicked, iniquitous and horrifying, PDP said the mayhem would have been averted if the relevant authorities had responded to danger signs.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement yesterday further lamented the insensitivity of the APC presidency which reacted to the ugly incidents only after the PDP and wellmeaning Nigerians called them to task.

The party also described as inexcusable, the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC federal government to act upon early danger signs and threats by

taking cautionary measures that could have averted the killings, particularly in Benue State.

According to the opposition party, “the height of insensitivity of the APC presidency became glaring in its reaction, wherein a media aide issued some apathetic and indifferent lines without any precise commitment towards bringing the perpetrators to book and assurances of adequate security to forestall a reoccurrence.”

The PDP also called on the presidency to have some soulsearching with regard to its silence and loud indifference whenever citizens fall under such horrifying attacks.

“What a way to start the new year! The sheer insensitivity of the APC government has continued to cause our country a lot of pain and sorrow.

“Is it not only a careless and inept leadership like the APC government that will ignore the danger signs in any part of the country and leave its citizens defenseless, just to be massacred by marauders?

“If the APC federal

government had effectively acted upon the danger signs and had provided adequate security in flash points across the country, particularly in Benue State, North-central and Southern Kaduna area, this massacre of Nigerians, who were already impoverished by the APC’s misrule, could have been prevented.

“Is it not a tragic trajectory of governance that while the APC presidency was busy basking on its orchestrated New Year self-praise and

empty promises, bandits were having a field day mowing down citizens in cold blood?

“Is it not also an irony that when the government was prompted to react to the spate of killings, all its officials could do was to respond in a most indifferent, nearly unconcerned and almost without compassion manner?

“Indeed, PDP aligns with Nigerians that the APC and the presidency should have a serious soul searching

on their clear indifference towards the persistent killings and maiming of citizens by bandits who constantly invade communities, slaughter the people and walk away with blood of our compatriots in their hands.

“We insist that for the country to be reassured, the federal government must show commitment by ensuring that the perpetrators of these killings are immediately brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“We therefore charge our military and other security agencies to leave no stone unturned in this direction.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us; every citizen has a right to life and no man should take the life of another for any reason or under any guise whatsoever,” the statement said.

The PDP commiserated with the families of the victims, and directed its members across board to assist and continue to pray for them.

Uba Condemns Recent Killings The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Andy Uba, has condemned the recent killings in Benue, Rivers and Kaduna States.

He described the acts as sheer heartlessness and barbaric while also urging the relevant security agencies to bring the criminals behind the attacks to book.

He stated that the perpetrators were out to destabilise the relative peace currently enjoyed across the country.

In view of the dastardly acts in Kaduna, Rivers and

Benue, the Senate Committee on Interior, has summoned the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen Abdulrahaman Dambazau (rtd), to appear before the committee to brief them on the outcome of his visit to Benue State and plans to mitigate further occurrence of these cowardly wanton crimes.

Uba commiserated with the families that lost their loved ones in the attacks, and he prayed for God to give them the heart to bear the irreparable loss.

IPOB Launches Hausa Radio Service The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday announced the launch of its Hausa Radio Service.

This announcement was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful.

It said the maiden daily broadcast would hit the airwaves on January 6, 2018, at 7.a.m. Nigerian time on Short Wave 15110 KHz 19 Meter Band.

The statement read: “In keeping with our promise to facilitate the creation of an unbiased informative platform to take the message of liberation to the down trodden and oppressed indigenous populations of northern Nigeria, we the family members of IPOB worldwide and it’s indomitable leadership, wish to happily announce the official launch of the much anticipated IPOB sponsored Radio Nigeria Hausa Service. ”The broadcast will have the widest coverage of any radio signal in Africa. It will be received all over West, East and

Southern Africa. Every Hausa speaking community in Africa will be able to receive it.

In our opinion, we feel it has become imperative to educate the poor masses of northern Nigeria.

The ruling class cleverly enslaved and impoverished ethnic populations of the North by keeping vital information and knowledge away from them.

This information deficit is what Radio Nigeria Hausa Service has come to remedy. ”All the hitherto hidden history of the conquest of indigenous Hausa speaking populations of the North will be laid bare for the world to know.

More importantly, enslaved minorities of Arewa North, brutally savaged by Fulani terrorist herdsmen, through this unbiased platform, will acquire the necessary education needed to liberate them from the suffocating stranglehold of the caliphate born-to-rule class.

HER MAJESTY

L-R:Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu; Eze Eunan Eke, Ohazurume 1 of Umuokpo; and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. shortly after the installation of Mrs Akeredolu as the A ‘ da Emeabiam II’ of Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government of Imo State...recently

Fire Guts Customs Warehouse, Several Vehicles Destroyed Eromosele Abiodun A warehouse belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ was yesterday gutted by fire destroying several vehicles.

The warehouse which was filled with seized vehicles and foreign parboiled rice occurred yesterday at about noon.

According to an eyewitness, the fire razed substantial part

of the warehouse destroying six trucks, 15 cars/vans and a fully loaded truck with seized foreign parboiled rice.

An eyewitness told THISDAY that goods worth several millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.

But speaking to journalist, the Deputy Head, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaki Musibau, said the fire started from a burst cylinder stored under one of the burnt

vehicles.

“From available information, the fire started from a burst cylinder stored under one of the vehicles and enhanced by the harmattan,” Musibau told journalists.

However, the Customs Area Comptroller of the unit, Garba Uba, thanked the fire service for their quick response to combat the raging inferno.

The customs boss also harped on inter-agency

collaboration saying that was what helped quell the inferno.

A similar event had occured on April 2016 when an early morning fire razed a warehouse located within the Nigerian Customs Service Training School, Ikeja, Lagos.

The cause of the fire which started around 6.30a.m. and destroyed property worth several millions of naira is yet to be ascertained.

Ahmed Orders C’ttee on Religious Matters to Investigate New Year Attack in Kwara Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ Piqued by the recent attack on Christians and Muslims worshippers on the eve of new year in Taiwo area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday ordered the state committee on religious matters to investigate the circumstances leading to the attack with immediate effect..

During the attack, according to THISDAY checks,

worshippers at Methodist church and members of Al-Fath Quarreb Muslim worshippers were affected.

Property worth several millions of naira were allegedly destroyed during the attack The state police command had paraded 32 suspected hoodlums that allegedly participated in the dastardly act.

However, a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State

Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said: “The investigation into the attack by the committee is in keeping with the present administration pledge to religious leaders in the state during a meeting in his office last Tuesday in the aftermath of the attack”.

The statement read in part: “The committee, under the Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship of Alhaji M. S. Koro and Chief P. A.

O Olorunisola respectively, is to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem”.

The statement added that the committee would ascertain the level of damage to lives and property, identify the culprits in the crises and make adequate recommendations to government.

Gold however said the committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

50

NEWSXTRA

Buhari Inaugurates Dry Port, Rail Coaches in Kaduna Warns customs, port officials against frustrating businesses John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË

and exporters.

Buhari said the dry ports, President Muhammadu when completed, would Buhari yesterday inaugurated reduced congestion and the Inland Dry Port in traffic gridlock at the sea port while time and cost of Kaduna.

The president also doing business would be inaugurated new train reduced.

Buhari noted that “the coaches and locomotives at the Rigassa train station development of inland dry port is an important factor in in Kaduna.

Speaking at the our economic development inauguration of the dry port, efforts as Ports of origin Buhari warned the Nigerian for exports and ports of customs service and Port destination for imports.”

According to him, “The officials against frustrating business activities at Inland Inland Dry Ports will accelerate the implementation dry ports in the country.

He said customs and of our economic diversification port officials must make policy.

“The concept of Inland the facilities work and not to frustrate business, commercial Dry Port has gained importance and industrial enterprises widespread the tremendous with unnecessary bureaucracy with and delays, thereby defeating changes in international the objective of the whole transportation as a result of exercise as it was in in the the container revolution and the introduction of door-topast.

He said apart from the door delivery of cargo.

“It provides importers and Kaduna Inland Dry Port, six other dry ports located exporters located within the in Ibadan, Aba, Kano, Jos, nation’s hinterland, especially Funtua and Maiduguri, had industrial and commercial been gazetted and were at outfits, access to shipping various stages of completion. and port services without Buhari urged relevant necessarily visiting the stakeholders across the public seaports.

“It also enables them and private sectors to utilise to process clearance of the facility optimally.

He noted that the hinterland their import cargo and business community had take delivery of their raw waited for too long for such materials and machinery close facility with tremendous to their places of business. potentials to ease the way of Furthermore, the Inland Dry doing international business Ports will also provide our for interior based importers exporters the much needed

facilities to process, package, consolidate and forward their exports to their customers all over the world without having to physically be at the seaports.

“This replicates the port economy in the various centres where the dry ports are located inland thereby generating employment and contributing to the ease of doing business.

He commended the initiative of Nigerian Shippers’ Council towards promoting the provision of modern transport infrastructural facilities and urge the concessionaires of the other six dry ports accelerating work on theirs.

Speaking earlier while inaugurating the new train coaches and locomotives at the Rigassa, Buhari

said his administration was committed to linking all major commercial and production centres as well as state capitals with railway system to bring about rapid socio economic development.

“Let me recall that, I commissioned and flagged off the Abuja-Kaduna train service in July last year, which was Nigeria’s first ever outstanding train service.

“I am glad that this service has become very useful to commuters and has even become the preferred form of transport for the commuters for journey between Abuja and Kaduna.

“You may want to recall that during the commissioning in 2016, I restated our resolve to rigorously pursue development in Nigeria through the implementation

of the 25 year strategic railway master plan.

“Additional critical project which are in particularly to start, include the rail lines in Lagos to Calabar, which branch us to Benin, Agbor and Onitsha.

“Port Harcourt to Maiduguri standard guage rail line will branch us to Owerri, Awka, Abakaliki, Yola and Damaturu and Kano to Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibiya to link with Maradi in Niger republic as part of regional railway interconnectivity.

“Other important projects which have been approved is the procurement of more locomotives, coaches, workshops and equipment that will be used for new standard gauge lines by way of encouraging private sector

participation in our railway development” Buhari said.

He added that negotiations for concession of the narrow gauge railways with a consortium is in progress.

“We are looking forward to a more efficient train service on the narrow gauge lines to be driven by the private sector. It is on the basis of this, that we are creating a more conducive environment for private sector, especially by strengthening our legal and regular trade frameworks.

“This is not only a statement of intentions, but a benchmark which we are using to measure the performance of our administration. Our resolve to develop our railway system to a world-class standard remains,” Buhari said.

Ashimolowo Bemoans High Mortality Rate Among Men in Osun Vanessa Obioha Statistics generated by a charity funded by, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo and his wife, Yemisi, the founder of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) from a 12-year engagement with widows in Osun State shows that an increasing number of men do not live up to 55 years. Osun is ranked the 19th most populated state in Nigeria with a total population of 3.42 million; made up of 1.079 males and 2.45 females.

The clergyman revealed the stunning statistics during a press briefing on his upcoming annual Widows Empowerment Event.

For the past 12 years, Ashimolowo alongside his wife gather widows in his hometown Ode-Omu and seven other neighbouring towns including Ile-Ife. Modakeke. Isokan, Ikire, Apomu, Ikoyi and Osogbo, to empower them with food, clothes, cash and other gifts.

This year, the philanthropist received an astounding list of 17,000 widows from eight towns.

This is a very far cry from its first year when it had only 308 widows in attendance.

As the news of the programme spread in the state, it has become one of the most anticipated

ceremonies in the region, so did the number of widows.

Last year, over 10,000 widows benefited from the charity.

While this speaks volumes of his goodwill to the less-privileged, Ashimolowo is still worried about the staggering number of widows.

He elaborated on his findings.

“About 60 per cent of the widows are Muslims, so this has not been targeted at Christians.

However, that itself sent a message across in the state and to the widows and it changed certain perspectives. Secondly, the median age of widows in that part of the world is beginning to look like more on the younger generation.

This is often times because young men who do not have as much care for their lives as they should get married to two or three wives.

So instead of taking care of aged widows from 60 years which according to biblical injunction are those who should be taken care of, we find younger widows in need of help and solace. The statistics we have revealed that infant mortality is so high, the death rate for men is so high. A lot of men in Osun State do not hit 50 years. Things as basic as malaria is a high killer in that part. This has influenced and caused the increase in number of widows.”

MOTHER AND SON

Mother of the Governor of Bayelsa State, Madam Goldcoast Dickson (right),Governor Seriake Dickson, during his New Year visit to the maternal home of his mother at Toru-Angiama, Bayelsa State....yesterday

I May Become a Pastor After Tenure, Says Fayose Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ

However, Fayose, who is also the Chairman of the As the tenure of the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (PDP) Governors’ Forum, ends on October 15, 2018, the was silent on whether governor has declared that he he would go back to the could end up being a pastor denomination his late father, who would be a fisher of men Pastor Olufemi Oluwayose, for God. played a prominent role.

The governor, who stated His father was a cleric in this yesterday, said he had the Christ Apostolic Church, the premonition of becoming while he attends the Deeper a great evangelist with a big Life Bible Church. ministry.

On his criticisms of the In a statement by his President Muhammadu Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Buhari-led federal Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti government, Fayose said yesterday, he quoted the everything was being done governor as saying, “I am in good faith.

Peter the rock who presently He, however, added that is a fisher of men for politics, he was available if the All but who God has destined Progressives Congress (APC) to end up as a fisher of men administration decided to go for God.” after him for criticising their

obnoxious policies, saying he would refuse to be cowed.

“My criticism of President Buhari is not out of hatred, but to lead to making the necessary corrections. When a driver is driving dangerously and you are sitting in the vehicle, you have to call him to order, otherwise, both of you will perish. Buhari has no solution to the problems of this country. He should go back to Daura to look after his cows.

“President Buhari should allow the country to move forward. Age is not on his side and is also not a plus for him. Anybody calling on him to contest again is his enemy and not doing him any good. Moreover, such a call is a great disservice to

our country.

“We need a young and dynamic man as the president of this country. Both the PDP and the APC should look for young persons as their presidential candidates for the 2019 elections. I want to be the president of this country because I have all it takes to lead this country,” he stated.

On Buhari’s New Year message, the governor said it was not only empty, “it is very disappointing and was a mere repetition of what he had said in the past.”

On this year’s governorship election in Ekiti State, Fayose expressed confidence that his party, the PDP, would win convincingly.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

51

NEWSXTRA

Dickson Attacks Buhari, Says FG Politicising Security Issues Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÏØËÑÙË Governor of Bayelsa State Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday

took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of introducing partisan politics into serious national security matters.

Benue Killings: Fulani Blame Hostilities on Government’s Draconian Law Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), a Fulani group, has blamed the prevailing hostilities in Benue State that have claimed scores of lives on “the enactment of draconian, repressive and peace-breaching laws targeted at the means of livelihood of over 18 million Fulani herdsmen in the country without regards to the consequences of such oppressive laws to the corporate existence of the country,” by the state government.

In a statement signed by the National Secretary General and Board of Trustee (BoT) member of the association, Alhaji Sale Bayari, the group urged the federal government and the leadership of the National Assembly to immediately set up a high-powered committee to look into the deadly clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country, which according to him, has the capacity to a cause a national security crisis.

Bayari also called for a cessation of hostilities in Benue “while amicable and long-lasting solutions are being sought at a national level over the unnecessary bloodletting that has the capacity of radicalising and militarising both the farmers and the herdsmen that can

result into an insurgency and resistance, with the consequent total breakdown of law and order in the country.”

He observed: “There is a relative peace in Taraba State today despite the alleged killing of over 900 herdsmen on the Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna Local Government Area of the state between June 17 and 23, 2017, was because the association instituted a legal intervention by employing the services of a lawyer, Professor Yusuf Dankofa, who filed a suit against the Taraba State Government and the federal government at the ECOWAS Court and the International Criminal Court of Justice at the Hague respectively seeking justice for the victims.

“The association also filed another law suit challenging the Taraba State House of Assembly and the state government on the enactment and signing into law the Taraba State Anti-Open Grazing Law.” He added that “GAFDAN did all these in order to discourage people from taking the law into their hands for self-help like what is happening today in Benue State. As a law-abiding association, we shall always operate within the ambit of the law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The governor who had before now seemingly exercised restraint in criticising the president, maintained that Buhari had failed to personally take charge of the nation’s security and had rather handed the franchise on the handling of matters relating to security to his All progressives Congress (APC) party leaders.

He added that the result of the president’s action or inaction in the face of deteriorating security situation in the country is what is currently manifesting in all parts of the country in form of herdsmen attacks as well as other reported killings in parts of the country.

He called on the APC-led federal government to stop politicising national security and urged Buhari to personally take charge of the nation’s security and engage critical stakeholders, including state governors to resolve the security challenges.

In a strongly worded statement signed by his spokesman, Francis Agbo, and made available to journalists

in Yenagoa, Dickson insisted that some APC chieftains were taking advantage of the ‘dysfunctional federal structure’ to hijack the country’s security architecture to torment innocent citizens for their selfish ends.

The governor said the wind of insecurity blowing across the nation and particularly the upsurge in herdsmen/farmers clshes were not unconnected with the politicisation of security by the government at the centre.

He accused some APC leaders, especially in Bayelsa of stockpiling arms and ammunition, noting that despite reporting them to the President he had refused to act on it.

The governor said that rather than reprimand his party members for breaching security in the state, the federal government not only shielded the ‘criminals’ from prosecution but provided them with additional security.

Dickson urged Buhari to personally handle security matters as well as engage state governors with a view

to knowing their specific challenges in the various states and call his party leaders especially, those in Bayelsa State to order.

“These APC leaders exploit the fact that the President is not personally involved in the handling of national security to breach national peace and security . They know that he is not in charge of the critical issues of national security because he is not personally handling them the way he should.

“So, they take advantage of the president’s attitude and the dysfunctional Nigerian state to intimidate and blackmail security agencies for their selfish interest and in the process, endanger the safety of lives and property of Nigerians.

“These APC leaders use the name of the president to sponsor criminals to unleash savage violence on innocent citizens. Their aim is to cause panic and force them to align with them”, Dickson alleged.

According to the governor, the inability of

Buhari to take charge has led APC leaders in Bayelsa, hiding under the protection of the federal government to stockpile arms and ammunition to maim and kill innocent citizens just to instill fear in them.

“I have personally reported this to the President and to the best of my knowledge, there has not been any decisive action from him or the federal government. Instead of prosecuting these criminals, the federal government has beefed up security around them. The politicisation of national security must stop for there can be no country without security”, he added.

The governor also condemned the recent killings across the country and warned that the country ceases to have a future if the government at the centre fails to urgently unite the peoples of Nigeria to avert the “nationwide senseless killings”.

Dickson declared that the country had never been as divided and unstable as it is currently under the APC-led federal government.

Ekeremor Crisis: Bayelsa Urges Fleeing Residents to Return Military to move into troubled communities Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÏØËÑÙË Bayelsa State Government yesterday called on fleeing members of Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state to return home as ‘everything is now under control’ after youth clashes in the area.

The assurance is coming in the wake of a meeting between Governor Seriake Dickson, security chiefs, officials of the military high command, leaders and stakeholders of the community including the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Fred Agbedi.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson in a statement said arising from the meeting it was resolved that the military will move into the community and return normalcy there while the government begin a peace process.

The statement therefore called on all those who have left for fear of being caught up in the incident to return as their safety is now guaranteed, assuring that with the presence of the military they can go about their normal businesses.

It maintained that the situation is now under control following government’s intervention while equally expressing regret over its occurrence especially with the start of a new year which came with so much peace and hope.

Part of the statement read: “His Excellency Governor Seriake Dickson met with very senior security chiefs and the military high command as well as leaders and key stakeholders to decide on the steps to take and it was agreed that the military will move in to provide the needed peace.

“So we call on all those who have fled the community to return. There is no cause to be scared as government has intervened to ensure that the situation is brought under control.”

FOR OUR FALLEN HEROES

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (left) being decorated with an emblem during the emblem appeal fund launch for the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day by the Sole Administrator of the Nigerian Legion, Rivers State Command, Ogborun Chichi, in Port Harcourt....yesterday

Abductors of Taraba Lawmaker Demand N75m Ransom Wole Ayodele ÓØ ËÖÓØÑÙ Five days after being incommunicado, abductors of Hosea Ibi, a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly have finally demanded a ransom of N75million for him to be released.

Hosea Ibi, representing Takum I constituency in the assembly was kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday night at his country home in Takum and whisked away on a motor bike to an unknown destination.

THISDAY gathered that the kidnappers had contacted a member of the House who is a close confidant of Ibi to make their demand.

The member, whose name was not revealed to journalists, is said to be coordinating activities aimed at ensuring the abducted lawmaker regains freedom though it is not clear whether the demand of the kidnappers would be met or not.

The state Police Command has however denied knowledge of the demand of the kidnappers

insisting that efforts are in top gear to secure the freedom of Ibi. Fielding questions from journalists in a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal, said the command is neither aware nor informed of the demand but urged the family not to pay any ransom to the kidnappers.

He assured the family and the entire people of the state that the command is doing everything possible and would not leave any stone unturned to

ensure Hosea Ibi is freed from his captors.

Despite huge efforts by security agencies particularly the Police to rid the state of criminal elements, Taraba is fast gaining notoriety for kidnappings in the country.

On February 2, 2016, mother of Taraba State Deputy Governor, eighty-year-old Hajia Beli was kidnapped at her residence in Mutum Biyu, Gassol Local Government in similar circumstances among several other cases of kidnapping.

52

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Pandemonium as APC, PDP Clash in Ondo James Sowole ÓØ ÕßÜÏ

Supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday clashed at Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State

causing injuries on some people.

A PDP chieftain, Mayowa at the venue were destroyed. for permission to organise the The two parties had fixed Akinmoladun, who spoke Speaking on the matter, the party yesterday. yesterday for their get together with journalists said the party APC Acting chairman in the Joseph said the police would for the New Year 2018. members started preparation state, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, give permit to the PDP if they It was gathered that the for the party after obtaining who is an indigene of the decide to hold the get together crisis started at about 8:30a.m. permission from the divisional town, said he was not aware any day they decide to hold when supporters of the APC police station in the town. of the clash. the party. allegedly went to the house Akinmoladun, who was Adetimehin said as the He said normalcy had of the PDP chairman in the the former Special Assistant number one APC man in returned to the town as the local government, Mr. Bola to Governor Olusegun Mimiko the state, he was supposed to Caretaker Chairman of Idanre Auditor-General, Yusuf Okala. Ogunmolu at Isalu Quarters of Political Matters, said the know if such thing happened Local Government had reached Onyegbule said the report was when the cooking was going on. party chairman in the local in the town. an agreement with the PDP on According to findings, APC government was attacked on a case of misappropriation The party chairman said the matter. of pensioners’ fund, forwarded supporters allegedly destroyed in front of the police station the party got approval from The PPRO said the chairman to the office of the Head of all that were being cooked in where he had gone to lodge the police for the party to hold. had agreed to compensate the Civil Service by the Secretary the house of the PDP chairman. a complaint.

When contacted, the Police PDP for whatever they might The attackers were said He said some people got Public Relations Officer (PPRO) have lost. to the State Government (SSG) where the governor had directed to have scattered everything injured during the crisis as for the Ondo State Command, He said there was no arrest as that immediate action be taken that was being done while attackers went away with food Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the members of the two parties had the women that were doing items including rice and raw clash. appropriately. agreed amicably to allow peace “In the report, the auditor the cooking ran for their lives. meat just as canopies and chairs He said the APC duly applied to reign in the town. general recommended the immediate dismissal of all civil servants indicted in the police report.

“The personal confession by Ameh to the State Intelligence Bureau and that he (Ameh) has commenced repayment attested to the fact that he actually committed the fraud.

“The late Ameh confirmed to the committee that he received the sum of N2 million as his own share of the looted pensioners’ fund, which he thought was a Christmas bonus.

“Ameh also confirmed that he had refunded part of the money, and pleaded that the committee should temper justice with mercy considering the numbers of years he had spent in the service.

“The committee said that since Ameh affirmed his participation in the sharing of the misappropriated fund, coupled with the fact that he (Ameh) had commenced refunding part of the money, also confirmed that he was guilty of the offence.

“The committee added that Ameh has violated the Public R-L: Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo; Commander of 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Service Rule (PSR) No. 4, section Major General Ibrahim Garba; and state Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Makinde Ayinla, at the Obu 04401 No. VIII, XI and XII, liable mine site in Okpella, Edo State, where they arrested officials of BUA Int’ernational Limited for violating a Stop-Work-Order....Wednesday to dismissal from the service, and therefore recommended that the punishment stipulated by the PSR should be upheld as a deterrents to other civil servants.”

Late Director was Sacked for Fraud, Says Kogi Govt Yekini Jimoh ÓØ ÙÕÙÔË The Kogi State Government yesterday disclosed that the late Director in the state civil service, Mr. Alphonsus Ameh, was sacked due to his alleged involvement in fraudulent diversion of over N225 million pensioners’ fund.

The late director died last Tuesday after allegedly receiving his sack later from the state government.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor, Mrs. Petra Onyegbule, disclosed this to journalists yesterday while reacting to the death of the director.

According to her, the late Ameh and four others in the State Pension Board were sacked due to misappropriation of pensioners’ fund amounting to N225,936,425. 72.

She mentioned other culprits as Mrs. Florence Adewunmi, Chairperson of the Pensions Board; Mrs. Haruna Amina Mudi, Director Accounts; Mr. Abdul Musa, Deputy Director Accounts, and Mr. Itodo Gabriel, Head of Accounts of the State Pension Board.

The CPS noted that a nineman senior management committee was set up by the state government, which had Mr. Aiyedero Jethro, the acting Permanent Secretary as Chairman, and Mr. John Ekele, the acting DAF as the Secretary for fair hearing.

She added that an emergency meeting of the committee was held on May 4, 2017, which drew the attention of the members to the report from the State Intelligence Bureau and the review of the same by state

AVERTING CRISIS

Badoo: Lagos Police Arrests Couple, Herbalist, Two Others

Tambuwal Approves Purchase of 8,000 JAMB Forms for Sokoto Indigenes Mohammed Aminu ÓØ ÙÕÙÞÙ Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has approved the purchase of 8,000 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for the 2017/2018 academic session for distribution to qualified indigenes of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the State Ministry for Higher Education, Nura Bello Maikwanci, made available to journalists in Sokoto yesterday.

The statement said the gesture was meant to enable children of the less privileged persons have access to tertiary education.

It advised all interested candidates to go to their various local government secretariat to obtain the forms next week.

The statement assured

qualified candidates of transparency in the distribution of the forms.

However, only those with five credits and above including English language and Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination would be eligible.

It further said the state government would also pay for the online registration fee for all the candidates.

The statement to this end, urged the candidates to justify the huge resources being expended on education by concentrating on their studies in order to pass the examination.

“The state government is spending huge resources on education in the state. So, the onus is on the students to do their own part by studying hard to pass their examination,” the statement added.

Arrests car snatchers, armed robbers, drug peddlers

Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of the Badoo ritual gang, including a couple and a herbalist, operating at the Ikorodu area of the state and its environs.

The suspects who were yesterday paraded by the State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, were said to have been in the practice of first hypnotising their victims to sleep before smashing their heads.

The suspects were identified as Chibuzo Igwe, Samuel Akaeze aka Samito and his wife Gift, who doubles as their informant, Omotayo Abamoyegun and Fatai Adebayo, their herbalist, who fortifies them before they embark on each operation.

In what was his first briefing for the year, Imohimi told newsmen that on December 30, 2016, at about 2:30pm, the peace of the state was disturbed at Alajo Close, Obese, a suburb

of Ikorodu.

He said the suspects had invaded one late Shakiru Yekini’s, compound where he was killed and his wife with his six-month old baby injured.

He said, “Abamoyegun usually spray powder substance into the abode of their victims which makes them fall into deep sleep after which other members of the gang smash their head with grinding stone.

“Having certified that they are dead, the suspects use white handkerchiefs to scrub their victims’ blood for ritual purposes.

“Luck however, ran out on them when one of the victims raised alarm and the vigilante men on duty alerted policemen who quickly cordoned off the area.

“Chibuzor Igwe was arrested at the scene and he made startling revelation which led to the arrest of Abamoyegun and Akaeze.

“Please note that a grinding stone used to smash the victims’ head, smeared with blood was

recovered at the murder scene and taken to the lab for forensic analysis to back up our evidence in court.

“One Gift Akaeze, wife to one of the suspects, Samuel, was arrested for allegedly supplying information to the suspects on where to strike.

“Abamoyegun also usually takes the suspects to one Fatai Adebayo, a herbalist who specialises in fortifying the suspects and blessing their stone before each operation.

“The herbalist has been arrested and his shrine in Ijebu Imosan had been destroyed in an operation which I led.” he said.

Imohimi added that the war against the suspected ritual gang will not stop, adding that the police will also not relent until all the killers are brought to justice.

He furthered declared wanted one Alaka Abayomi Kamal, the purported leader of the ritual group, following a warrant of arrest issued by a magistrate court in Lagos.

In another development,

the CP also paraded some car snatchers and drug peddlers arrested at Sunday Market at the Ogba area of the state.

THISDAY gathered that one Musiru Adeniyi, was arrested with a master key while trying to gain access into a car at Ogba.

Adeniyi’s arrest led to the arrest of two other drug peddlers who were apprehended on January 3, 2018 with 18kg of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and 300 wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine.

Also, one Taofeeq Olawale, was arrested as a suspected armed robber and a pistol, double barrel gun, a pump action and 13 life cartridges were recovered.

One Sunday Issa was also paraded for forcefully dispossessing one Omoruyi Endurance of property worth N7m.

The CP further urged members of the public to say something whenever they see something, as crime fighting needs partnership.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

53

Ë&#x153; Í˝Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ëž T H I S D AY

54

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Mohamed Salah Crowned Aiteo/CAF Player of the Year Oshoala wins Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Player of the Year award for the third time Duro Ikhazuagbe Egypt and Liverpool playmaker, Mohamed Salah, was last night crowned African Player of the Year 2017.

The 25-year old, was selected as Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best player for the next one year at the Aiteo/CAF Awards Gala 2017 that took place last night at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana.

Salah who polled 625 points fended off opposition from his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane of Senegal who got 507 votes and 2015 winner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to pick the most prestigious individual honour in African football.

It was a fitting honour for the player who was earlier selected as 2017 Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Player by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last month.

Salah netted 12 goals in 15 Premier League appearances for the Merseyside club this season as he further cements himself as one of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading players in the world today, playing a pivotal role in leading the Pharaohs of Egypt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

He turned himself into a cult hero in Egypt after expertly taking the penalty in the final minutes of the World Cup qualifier against Congo in Alexandria. That goal ensured a 2-1 victory which sent Egypt through to her first World Cup since 1990.

Salahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feat was the climax of a memorable evening for Egyptian football which saw the Pharaohs being named National Team of the Year and their Argentina-born trainer, Hector Cuper, Coach of the Year.

Speaking shortly after, Salah described the award as the best of his career, coming after a very difficult year for both club and country.

For Nigeria, only Asisat Oshoala who was adjudged Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Player of the Year for the third time, after 2014 and 2016 and Junior Ajayi who plys his trade with Al Ahly of Egypt made the podium.  Ajayi was listed in the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest XI midfield.

Oshoala beat both Cameroonian Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa to the top prize.

Both Gernot Rohr and Super Eagles nominated in the Coach of the Year and National Team of the Year categories respectively were beaten to the titles.

In other categories, Banyana Banyana was named Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Team of the Year while African champions, Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco deservingly went home with the Club of the Year award.

Patson Daka ensured Zambia was represented on the podium with the Youth Player of the Year, ten years after compatriot Clifford Mulenga was decorated Most Promising Talent of the Year.

Former Ghana player Ibrahim Sunday, a member of the Asante Kotoko squad that won the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1970 was decorated with the Legend award.

AWARDS African Player of the Year Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool) Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian) Youth Player of the Year Patson Daka (Zambia & Liefering) Coach of the Year Hector Cuper (Egypt) Club of the Year Wydad Athletic Club National Team of the Year Egypt Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Team of the Year South Africa Legend Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana) Platinum Award Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; President of Ghana George Weah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; President-elect of Liberia & former World, Africa and European Player of the Year Fansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Finest XI Goalkeeper:Â Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel) Defenders:Â Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly), Eric Bailly (Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire & Manchester United), Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly) Midfielders:Â Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord), Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly), Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club) Forwards:Â Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool), Taha Yassine

Salahâ&#x20AC;Ś Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for 2017

A H E A D 2 0 1 8 N P F L S E AS O N â&#x20AC;Ś A H E A D 2 0 1 8 N P F L S E AS O N â&#x20AC;Ś

Make History, Win Premier League, Niger Govt Tasks Tornadoes FC Laleye Dipo in Minna As the new 2018 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season is scheduled to kick off next weekend, the Niger State government has tasked its professional football outfit, Niger Tornadoes of Minna to win the elusive league title for the football loving people of the state.

In the more than 30 years history of Tornadoes FC it has

been able to play only in the FA Cup final once when they lost 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 to Stationery Stores of Lagos. While it oscillated between 6th and 14th position on the league table since it gained promotion from the lower division.

The government gave the charge through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Gana at the inauguration of the newly appointed eight-man management

committee for the club.

The new management committee is headed by a one time Vicechairman of the committee Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha Gawu with Alhaji Aliyu Muazu Kontagora as Secretary.  Alhaji Mohammed Gana also challenged the new management to ensure the club surpassed last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Federation Cup performance when it finished as runners-up to champions Akwa United on penalties.

The permanent secretary challenged the committee to eschew unnecessary rivalry and bickering saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;everyone should focus on his mandate and work in accordance with the schedule contained in your appointment lettersâ&#x20AC;?.

Alhaji Gana also told the committee to look inwards for other ways of  funding  the club, because  government alone cannot fund the club adequately while also tasking them to be

prudent in the management of funds disbursed to the committee.

The committee has Mallam Bello Auta Maikunkele as vice chairman;Â Usman Alfa Ziga is the Team Manager while Awwal Idris Baba is Welfare Officer.

Mallam Abdullahi Abdul Likita is the liaison officer with Alhaji A.U Sani Balarabe as the Marketing officer. A lecturer at the state-owned College of Education, Minna, Alhaji Abdullahi L. S Dangana is the Media Officer.

2018 DOAM Foundation Charity Golf QualiďŹ er Set for January 6 Qualifiers for the eighth edition of the Daniel  Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAMF) Golf Tournament  have been scheduled to hold on Saturday January 6, at the Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos. Participants at the qualifiers will be hoping to pick a spot in the final of the  event billed for February 3, 2018 at the same venue. Thousands of lives have been touched through the annual golf event that pulls over 200 golfers to play to raise funds for charitable projects through the DOAMF

platform. Organisers are already looking forward to another exciting outing at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eveny.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Pat Bassey, said that the event has built a tradition of excellence that they are committed to sustain and improve on each succeeding edition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have people who come out yearly to volunteer and serve passionately because of what the event means to us all in the golfing community. We have golfers who also are committed to be part of the event despite their tight schedules,

being evidence of   strong identification with our objective of bettering our society through the platform.â&#x20AC;?

The funds generated through the DOAMF Charity Golf events have been channeled to support social causes in the specific areas of education, health and medical intervention within needy families and communities.

Bassey also highlighted some of the projects embarked on with donations and monies realised from the events in the past:Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;some of the projects that our seven

years of sponsorship has helped commission include, scholarship awards, renovation/rehabilitation of health centres in rural communities (Mowe in Ogun State and Amaimo in Imo State), building and equipping an accident and trauma centre at Mowe in Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun state, sickbay, lavatory and library projects (in various schools across the country), skills acquisition for widows and mothers of vulnerable children, and Free medical screening

and treatment for the less privileged in rural communities, amongst others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The interest to be part of the tournament continues to be overwhelming among corporate and individual sponsors and golfers and, we are obliged to do our utmost to accommodate as many as possible. As is usual, we do all we can to ensure the best possible tournament day experience, whilst keeping to the underlying purpose of giving back to a society we all belong toâ&#x20AC;?.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

55

FRIDAYSPORTS

Injured Murray Pulls out of Australian Open Britain’s Andy Murray has pulled out of the Australian Open after failing to recover from an ongoing hip injury.

The three-time Grand Slam

champion has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon last summer.

“Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am

WINTER TRANSFER…

not yet ready to compete,” said Murray, 30, who will fly back from Australia to London and “assess all the options”.

The Australian Open starts on 15 January.

“I appreciate all the messages of support and

I hope to be back playing soon,” Murray added.

In an emotional post on social media this week, Murray explained how demoralising it is to be short of fitness despite six months of painstaking rehabilitation.

He stressed surgery was still

something he wanted to avoid, but that it was now something he may have to consider.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: “We are fully aware that Andy has been going through a difficult period with

Everton Agrees £27m Deal for Besiktas Forward, Tosun

Tosun Everton has agreed a deal with Besiktas for striker Cenk Tosun and are now working on personal terms with the player, says boss Sam Allardyce.

The club held talks with Besiktas President Fikret Orman on Wednesday over a deal expected to be worth £27m.

Tosun, 26, had been in London awaiting permission to complete his move.

Allardyce said he was hopeful Tosun would be registered in time to feature against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round today.

“We’ve agreed a deal and are at the stage of personal terms,” he added.

The deal had been delayed as Besiktas held out for a better deal than the £25m Everton thought would be enough to seal the

transfer.

Tosun has helped Besiktas reach the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will meet Bayern Munich.

Everton manager Allardyce identified the Germany-born Turkey international as the forward to add goals and threat to his squad following the failure to replace Romelu Lukaku after his £90m move to Manchester United.

Orman flew to London to try and reach an agreement with Everton as a transfer deal they hoped to do swiftly once the January transfer window opened threatened to become drawn out.

Tosun will become Allardyce’s first signing since succeeding Ronald Koeman.

Liverpool Duo Coutinho, Salah out of FA Cup Derby

Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger (left) watching his latest addition to the Gunners, Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, at the contract signing ceremony… yesterday

his hip and that he’s done everything possible to prepare for the Australian summer.

“Personally, I also know that Andy loves tennis and would do anything to play. This is a very hard decision for Andy and we totally respect it.”

Former British number one Andrew Castle says Murray’s career at the top level will be over if he has to have an operation, but stressed he did not know the extent of the injury.

“People don’t generally, in sports like tennis, recover from this level of hip injury assuming it’s either a labrum tear or full on arthritis that requires a new hip,” Castle told BBC Radio 5 live.

“Either way, months of physical therapy are required after you have surgery and it’s too central an area, too important to the body’s movement, to come back early from.

“The signs are not good. If he needs a full on hip replacement, I would say his career is over at the top level.”

Former world number one Murray has slipped to 16th in the rankings since he was beaten by America’s Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last summer.

He attempted to return at the US Open in August but pulled out two days before the start of the tournament.

The Scot’s most recent match was a one-set exhibition fixture against Roberto Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi last week.

He also played an exhibition match against Roger Federer in November, losing 6-3 3-6 10-6 to the 2017 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.

Murray had hoped to make his return proper at this week’s Brisbane International tournament, but withdrew 48 hours before his first match with the American Ryan Harrison.

Egypt to Represent Africa at ITTF World Team Cup in London Coutinho Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho will miss tonight’s FA Cup third-round derby with Everton with a thigh injury, boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

The Reds are braced for another Barcelona attempt to sign the Brazil player, 25, BBC Sport has learned.

He also missed the recent win over Burnley but Klopp said: “I have nothing to say about it. All the things I could say now will only create stories.”

Top scorer Mohamed Salah will also miss the match through injury.

Liverpool rejected three offers for Coutinho, and a transfer request from the Brazilian, before the start of this season.

Liverpool has refused to be drawn into any public debate over Coutinho’s future and Klopp maintained that stance at

Salah his pre-match news conference yesterday.

“I opened the door halfway because I mentioned it was the transfer window but there is nothing I can say about it which would help me, the player or the club.

“Maybe 80 per cent of the cameras are here for these answers - that’s a waste of time then.”

He added that he expected Coutinho to be “available for the Manchester City game on 14 January”.

The Reds’ home tie with Everton, is scheduled to kick off at 8.55pm.

Klopp also confirmed £75m defender Virgil van Dijk could make his debut.

“Mo and Phil are not available.

Virgil is obviously healthy, we’ll see what we do with him,” the manager said.

As the champion of Africa, Egypt (men and women) will fly the continent flag at the 2018 ITTF World Team Cup holding in London between February 22 and 25.

Egypt qualification was confirmed during the 2017 African Championships held in Morocco having emerged as champions in the men and women team events.

Egypt’s men team claimed bronze at the 2013 edition in China.

Egypt will be joined in the

tournament by world and Olympic champion, China as well as host – England for the 12-team tournament holding at Copper Box Arena on London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Captain of the Egyptian women team, Dina Meshref is the most successful star in the team having claimed more medals that anyone in the team.

In the last four years, she has won the sole slot to represent Africa at the ITTF World Cup and as an experienced star, the

America University of Cairo (AUC) graduate has a lofty ambition going into this year’s World Team Cup in London come February 22 to 25.

As the team resumes training ahead of the tournament, Dina Meshref still believes they can make their presence felt in London.

“We have started national team training this week, and I hope we can be all in good form by the end of February in order to be able to perform well at the World Team Cup

in London. Many of the team members will also participate at the 2018 Hungary Open, which will be a good preparation for the event in February,” she said.

For the London tournament, she said: “It will be very tough, if we get a good draw, I hope we could win a match and qualify to the main draw.”

She however, expressed optimism on the men’s team by saying, “I believe the men’s team can repeat their achievement in China one more time in London.”

GOtv to Broadcast FA Cup, La Liga Matches Live This weekend, GOtv MAX and Plus subscribers will be treated to select games from the FA Cup and in addition, GOtv MAX subscribers will also get to enjoy all the action from the Spanish La Liga.

Liverpool will host Everton in an FA Cup third round

Merseyside derby today.

The match will be live on SuperSport Select 2 at 8:45pm.

Other matches in the FA Cup will be broadcast live on Saturday. Manchester City vs Burnley will be live at 3:50pm, Fleetwood Town vs Leicester City at 1:30pm and Norwich

vs Chelsea at 8:20pm.

On Sunday, Shrewbury will meet with West Ham United at 2:50pm, while Nottingham Forest will take on Arsenal at 4:55pm at The Emirates.

La Liga matches continue on Saturday, with Atletico Madrid vs Getafe at 12:55pm,

followed by Valencia vs Girona at 4:10pm.

On Sunday, league leaders, Barcelona, will take on Levante at 4:10pm, while Celta Vigo will play defending champions Real Madrid at 8:40pm. All matches will be available on SuperSport Select 4.

Friday, January 5, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE FDC to CBN â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fast-paced growth recorded in Ghana, within a short space of time, signiďŹ es the need for Nigeria to embrace an accommodative stance, reduce interest rates and increase liquidity to boost its recovery.â&#x20AC;? A recent report released by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce interest rates on lendIng to spur growth in the economy.

RENOOMOKRI GUEST COLUMNIST

Nigeria: Once a Nation, Now an Abattoir

I

n July 2012, clashes between natives and herdsmen reached a head in Plateau state leading to tens of deaths on both sides. Then President Jonathan, when briefed about the situation insisted that there wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be such impunity under his leadership and immediately ordered the army to go to the affected communities and fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

The military immediately obeyed the then presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orders and sent troops to Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

They ordered all residents to leave their President Muhammadu Buhari residence for temporary accommodation provided for them so they could conduct who is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;strongâ&#x20AC;? by his supporters, a joint air and ground operation to flush has refused to do anything. out the armed herdsmen who had been And so today, when I read about suspected of killing innocent Nigerians. the killings perpetuated by herdsmen The residents complied and the soldiers in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Adamawa, went in and not only did they clear Taraba and other parts of Nigeria, I really the area, they made arrests which led feel for our citizens who have to go to trials. through these ordeals of impunity. No That is how a commander-in-chief acts. arrests are made, no forms of deterrence When your people are being slaughtered whatsoever is carried about by the Buhari you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t send them commiserations, like administration. the frequent commiserations President I heard that the Benue State governor, Muhammadu Buhari has been sending Samuel Ortom, wept when he saw corpses to the people of Benue State. No. You of his citizens massacred by herdsmen. assert yourself as the leader by using the It might sound harsh, but can Ortom nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symbols of strength to quash recall that only last month he smiled as any threat to the national security of he told Nigerians that President Buhari the nation. deserves a second term?

That is what Jonathan did in Plateau My question to Ortom is this: If state in July 2012. So effectively was President Buhari gets a second term, Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orders carried out that would there be human beings left alive Malam Nasir El-Rufai tweeted his now in Benue? infamous tweet on the 15th of July 2012 It is a fact that herdsmen belong to threatening that â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will write this for the same wider ethnic nationality as all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that President Muhammadu Buhari, although kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable most killer herdsmen are not mainstream one day no matter how long it takes.â&#x20AC;? Fulani, but rather fringe Fulani of the (his exact words).

Wodaabe (also known as the Mbororo So when he was elected governor or Bororo) subgroup of the Fula people. and we began to hear him say that he It is also a fact that President had paid public monies to herdsmen Muhammadu Buhari was the grand patron to prevent further killings (there was of the umbrella union of herdsmen in actually a spike in killings), and that he Nigeria known as Miyetti Allah Cattle as a governor was of the same ethnicity Breeders Association of Nigeria. as these herdsmen, I was not at all taken From that vantage point, he had in the aback as others were. The man had past angrily and malevolently confronted publicly signified his intentions long state governors in states were herdsmen before he became governor. had received the wrong end of the stick But the point I am trying to make is that in their acts of marauding. former President Jonathan, who was called As a matter of fact, on October 13, weak by the All Progressive Congress, 2000, Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity did something to end the menace of as the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah herdsmen killings, but President Buhari Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria,

demanded for and got a meeting with the then Governor of Oyo state, Lam Adesina, were he angrily said the words below to Governor Adesina: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Excellency, our visit here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoplesâ&#x20AC;Ś the Fulani cattle rearers and merchants are today being harassed , attacked and killed in Saki. That some arrests were made by Oyo State Police Command in the massacre with their immediate release without court trial. This was said to have been ordered by Oyo State authorities and they were so released to their amazement.

The release of the arrested suspects gave the clear impression that the authorities are backing and protecting them to continue the unjust and illegal killings of Fulani cattle rearersâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

Muhammadu Buhari then ended his speech by demanding for an â&#x20AC;&#x153;immediate stoppage of the killings, justice and compensation to the Fulanis.â&#x20AC;?

After listening to Muhammadu Buhari, Lam Adesina asked the then Commissioner of Police for Oyo state to respond to his angry visitor and the Commissioner responded thus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The killing of the natives by the Fulanis was duly reported to the police and, of course, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make arrest because, as soon as they kill, they migrate to other areas. Who are you going to arrest? That is the problemâ&#x20AC;?.

On the killing of Fulanis, which he said was as result of â&#x20AC;&#x153;piled up angerâ&#x20AC;?, the commissioner disclosed that arrests had been made and the suspects were in police custody.â&#x20AC;?

When the Commissioner was done, Governor Adesina responded to Buhari thus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to say also that we really have to appeal to our people, the itinerant Bororo people, that they should observe less aggression. It is not good , it is not right just coming from somewhere then you just pass through farm lands cultivated may be with the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life savings and then over night everything is gone. That is not right, even Allah does not approve of that. We even wonder when they talk about this people carrying dangerous weapons, I say do they really believe in Allah? When you just take life like that and go away! Are we not forbidden not to take human life? So I

think General Buhari, General Marwa, you have to be educating them. It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Presidential Lodge, we have made some arrangements for refreshments so that before you go we can refresh togetherâ&#x20AC;?.

That meeting of October 13, 2000, was recorded and the quotes above are from Agbaakin Kehinde Olaosebikan, then Chief Press Secretary to late Governor Lam Adesina of Oyo state.

Now imagine the level of concern and care that President Muhammadu Buhari showed for his kinsmen in in October 2000, that he went to challenge a sitting Governor to a pissing contest when herdsmen were killed in reprisal killings. Why hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Muhammadu Buhari shown that level of concern for Nigerians killed by herdsmen?

Now that same man is our President and Commander-in-Chief, and herdsmen killings have exploded exponentially under his watch to the extent that the United States Congress declared Nigeria as the most dangerous place to be a Christian in the entire world bar none, principally because of the killings by herdsmen.

Can it be a coincidence that herdsmen killings has multiplied just as soon as their immediate past Grand Patron became President?

Where is the anger that Buhari displayed to Governor Lam Adesina now that Fulanis are killing Nigerians?

How many people were killed in the Southeast before President Buhari ordered Operation Python Dance? Now ask yourself how many thousands have died at the hands of herdsmen in Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba and Adamawa?

The answer proves we are not all equal in Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nigeria.

That is why I laughed when Governor Ortom said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have reiterated my call on the Federal Government to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Horeâ&#x20AC;?. Why is Governor Ortom talking like a child? Can a Mafia godfather order the arrest of a mafioso to please a non mafia member? You are asking their Grand Patron to arrest the people who made him Grand Patron!

Apparently, Governor Ortom does not know his friends from his enemies. r 0NPLSJ B GPSNFS BJEF PG FY 1SFTJEFOU (PPEMVDL +POBUIBO XSJUFT GSPN $BMJGPSOJB

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com