Wednesday 17th January 2018

Inflation Slows Down to 15.37% Amid Pressure on Food Prices Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja For the eleventh consecutive month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, ended 2017 at 15.37 per cent (year-on-year) in the month of December.

This was 0.53 percentage points lower than the 15.90 per cent recorded in November – the eleventh

consecutive slowdown in the inflation rate since January 2017.

However, increases were recorded in all Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yield the headline index.

In the latest inflation

figures released yesterday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) noted that on-a-month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 0.59 per cent in December 2017, 0.19 percentage points higher than the 0.78 per cent recorded in November.

The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve-month period ending in December 2017 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 16.50 per cent, indicating a 0.26 percentage point decrease from 16.76 per

cent recorded in November.

Urban inflation rose by 15.78 per cent (year-on-year) in December, from 16.27 per cent recorded in November, while the rural inflation rate eased to 15.02 per cent in December from 15.59 per cent in November.

FCT Demolishes Patience Jonathan’s Property… Page 12

On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 0.66 per cent in December, down by 0.19 from 0.85 per cent recorded in November, while the rural index declined to 0.54 per cent in December, down by 0.18 when compared with 0.72 per cent in November.

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Wednesday 17 January, 2018 Vol 22. No 8308. Price: N250

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Senate Gives IG 14 Days to Arrest Perpetrators of Benue Killings House wants state of emergency declared on insecurity, may summon Buhari Saraki, others meet with president on crisis Damilola Oyedele and James Emejo in Abuja The Senate yesterday issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to apprehend the perpetrators of the recent killings in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State and hand them

over to the attorney general of the state for prosecution.

The attacks led to the deaths of at least 73 persons.

Resuming from its yuletide recess yesterday, the upper legislative chamber said the failure to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, who it said Continued on page 8

Why ONSA Ordered Movement of $44m Belonging to NIA to Safety House to probe removal of funds from agency’s vault Bolaji Adebiyi and James Emejo in Abuja As the House of Representatives prepares to beam its searchlight on the $44 million allegedly removed from the vault of the National Intelligence

Agency (NIA), THISDAY learnt yesterday that the funds might have been taken into custody by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for safekeeping.

Continued on page 8

PARTNERSHIP FOR DANGOTE INDUSTRIES… EFCC Quizzes Former Plateau NEW L-R: President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Aliko Dangote; CEO, Mammoet Holding B.V, Mr. Paul van Gelder; and Mammoet Partner, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, during the signing of a partnership agreement between Dangote Industries and Governor, Jang… Page 11 Mammoet Holding in Lagos… yesterday

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PAGE EIGHT SENATE GIVES IG 14 DAYS TO ARREST PERPETRATORS OF BENUE KILLINGS include “well trained foreign mercenary elements’, will threaten Nigeria’s unity as the crisis was deepening the country’s ethnoreligious fault lines.

The lawmakers also called for an increased security presence

in the affected areas, following findings by its Ad-hoc Committee on Security that the presence of security forces was thin on the ground.

The resolutions reached at the Senate followed a five-hour

deliberation on the Benue killings, which occurred on new year day.

The lawmakers, however, rejected a motion seeking for the establishment of a North Central Development Commission to address the destruction by

A GRATEFUL VISITOR‌ President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcomes the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, to the State House, Abuja, when the Gambian president paid his Nigerian counterpart a visit‌ yesterday godwin omoigui

killer herdsmen in the Middle Belt region.

Adopting the recommendations of its committee, which visited the state last weekend, the Senate also resolved to convene a national security summit to examine the recurring violence and mayhem in the country’s rural communities before the attacks become an existential threat to national cohesion and survival.

In the face of the report by the committee that some faceless persons were sponsoring and harbouring well trained foreign mercenary elements and using them to unleash violence in Nigeria’s rural space, the Senate harped on the need for better policing of the national borders to ensure movement with proper documentation and regular surveillance.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the resolutions of the Senators on the killings would be transmitted to the executive to consider for immediate action.

This, he said, was necessary following Monday’s interaction between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leaders of the National Assembly on the efforts being made in Benue. “One of the points being made is that there must be justice and that is contained in our resolution that the IG must, in the next 14 days, apprehend the killers. “We have condemned the killings, but more importantly, action must be taken to reassure Nigerians that we are not just

talking,� Saraki said. “Our resolution is that some of our discussions here need to be conveyed to Mr. President. We appreciate his action for calling us and briefing us on what has happened. Hence, we owe it to him to tell him what we have discussed and the seriousness with which we have taken the issue. “It is a wakeup call for him and it is a wakeup call for us.

It is a wakeup call for this government. We must address the issue of insecurity. We cannot continue to allow this violence to keep going on from one state to another. “Therefore, something needs to be done. The president must act and those responsible for this must be held accountable,� Saraki said.

The Senate President noted that the military could not be the solution to the country’s security challenges all the time. “This is because sometimes they are overstretched and that has its own impact and problems.

In this regard, we are hoping that the committee urgently comes up with the recommendation to us on what we need to do to strengthen the police, apart from more manpower. Is it community policing? Is it state policing? We need to know,� Saraki added.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in his contribution, urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the country to allow

for extraordinary measures to be taken to safeguard the country.

Ekweremadu pointed out that due to increased insecurity in the country, intelligence and international communities were of the view that war is on the horizon in Nigeria.

He called for the state of emergency to be invoked to temporarily close the borders for about 12 months in order to put the proper apparatus in place to address insecurity.

In the ensuing debate on the killings in Benue, some lawmakers queried the hesitation by the federal government to label the killer herdsmen terrorists, particularly when several government officials had said that the killers were foreigners.

Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo PDP) said if the killers were suspected to be foreigners, then they should be declared terrorists. “2019 is coming, politics is around the corner, everybody wants to play politics with everything. If IPOB was tagged a terrorist group because they were agitating for secession, what about foreigners who come into Nigeria to kill people and then we see them as herdsmen? I don’t believe they are herdsmen,� he said.

His position was supported by the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark

On state-by-state basis, in December 2017, all items inflation on-a-year-on-year basis was highest in Bauchi (21.92 per cent), Nasarawa (18.16 per cent) and Kebbi (18.67 per cent), while Kogi (10.03 per cent), Delta (12.61 per cent) and Benue (13.35 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in headline year-on-year inflation.

On a month-on-month basis, however, all items inflation was highest in Edo (1.48 per cent), Yobe (1.34 per cent) and Kebbi (1.27 per cent), while Kogi (-0.96 per cent), Bauchi (-0.67 per cent), Nasarawa (-0.40 per cent), Kwara (-0.37 per cent), Ebonyi (-0.30 per cent) and Sokoto (-0.05 per

cent) recorded a price deflation on a month-on-month all item basis in December 2017.

In the month under review, food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kwara (24.46%), Nasarawa (22.77%) and Yobe (22.60%), while Kogi, Bauchi and Benue recorded the slowest rise in food inflation.

On a month-on-month basis, however, food inflation was highest in Edo (1.90 per cent), Niger (1.76 per cent) and Akwa Ibom (1.76 per cent), while Kogi, Kwara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Abia, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Gombe, Borno, Benue, Oyo, Kaduna, and Abuja all recorded food price deflation or negative inflation in December.

$43.4 million, N23.2 million and ÂŁ27,800, even as the report of the investigation was yet to be made public.

He also expressed frustration that the controversy surrounding the appointment of the new DG as well as the cash scandals tend to taint “our national security and diminishes the reputation of the agency in the eyes of the Nigerian public and the international community�.

Douye further expressed concern that the identity, nationality, citizenship and competence of Abubakar had become the subject of public speculation and controversy.

He noted that as a highly revered institution, creating a bad image for the NIA could spell doom for the country.

Also contributing to the motion, Hon. Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) said the development was an embarrassment to the

country.

He said it was further worrisome that reports of the Ikoyi probe, which were separately undertaken by both the executive and the House, were yet to be submitted.

Continued on page 10

I N FLATION SLOWS DOWN TO 15 .3 7% A M I D PR E SSU R E ON F OOD PR I C ES The corresponding twelvemonth year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index was 16.92 per cent in December.

This was less than 17.26 per cent reported in November 2017, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in December was 16.10 per cent, compared to 16.29 per cent recorded in November 2017.

The NBS noted that high year-on-year food prices and food price pressure continued into December though consistently at a slower pace month-on-month and at a slower pace year-on-year.

The food index increased by 19.42 per cent (year-on-year) in December, down from the

rate recorded in November (20.30 per cent).

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 0.58 per cent in December, down by 0.30 per cent, from 0.88 per cent recorded in November.

The average annual rate of change of the food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending in December 2017 over the previous twelve-month average was 19.55 per cent, 0.16 per cent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in November (19.39) per cent.

The rise in the index was caused by increases in the prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other

tubers, coffee tea and cocoa, milk, cheese and eggs, fish, oils and fats.

The “All Items less Farm Produce� or core sub-index, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural products, stood during the month of December at 12.10 percentage points, down from 12.20 per cent recorded in November, as all key divisions which contribute to the index decreased.

On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 0.51 per cent in December, lower than 0.78 per cent recorded in November.

The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 13.46 per cent for

the twelve-month period ending in December 2017. This represented 0.47 percentage point decrease over 13.93 per cent recorded in November.

The highest increases were recorded in the prices of fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment, solid fuels, passenger transport by air, clothing materials and other articles of clothing, vehicle spare parts, nondurable goods, furniture and furnishing, carpet and other floor coverings.

Others were shoes and other footwear, bicycles and motorcycles, hospital services and glassware, table and household utensils and appliances.

W H Y O NSA O RDERED MOVEMENT OF $ 4 4 M B ELON GI N G TO N I A TO SAF E T Y The $44 million, said to be the leftover of the intervention fund granted the agency by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, came under scrutiny following the suspension of the former Director-General, Ambassador Ayo Oke, last year.

Oke got into trouble when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided an Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos apartment where another $43.5 million he had kept there was recovered by the anti-graft agency.

Oke had claimed that the money belonged to the NIA and was being used to execute some operations of the agency in the South-west.

However, the now controversial $44 million was also said to have been left by Oke in a vault in the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Following the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo-led enquiry into the discovery of the

Ikoyi cash, Oke’s successor, Ambassador Mohammed Dawuda, who took over in an acting capacity, was reported to have met the $44 million in the vault and promptly intimated the ONSA on the existence of the money.

Aware of the pressure on the acting DG to spend the money identified to be the leftover of the Ikoyi cash, the ONSA was reported to have instructed the agency to keep the funds intact, arguing that it had become an exhibit that might be needed upon the conclusion of the vice-president’s inquiry.

A source close to the intelligence community told THISDAY that in spite of the ONSA’s clear instruction, “powerful forces from above� continued to pressurise Dawuda to expend the money.

The acting DG, according to the source, was, however, able to resist the pressure because

of his strong connections arising from his long period of service and network within the agency.

But following the appointment of Rufai Ahmed Abubakar as the substantive DG of the NIA last week

by President Muhammadu Buhari, the source said the ONSA had to take custody of the funds in the vault for fear that the new helmsman might be pressurised to tamper with the money by the powerful forces.

The ONSA, THISDAY gathered, insisted that the money must be kept intact since the EFCC has persisted with its investigation of Oke and might need it as an exhibit in the event of his prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

Despite efforts to safeguard the money, the House yesterday passed a motion mandating its committee on National Security and

Intelligence to investigate its removal from the NIA. It also charged the committee to look into issues surrounding the appointment of the agency’s new DG, Rufai Abubakar, which has been the subject of public debate.

The resolution of the lower legislative chamber, which resumed plenary sitting yesterday after its Christmas recess, followed a motion by Hon. Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) on the need to investigate the movement of the funds and Abubakar’s appointment.

The House expressed concern that the agency had again been visited by another scandal, barely one year after the embarrassment of the Ikoyi cash haul and a few days after Abubakar’s appointment.

Douye, in his motion, said the country was yet to recover from the shock of the Ikoyi safe house scandal involving

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In New Video, Abducted Chibok Girls Say They Won’t Return Islamist militants Boko Haram on Monday released a new video purporting to show at least 14 of the Chibok schoolgirls whose mass kidnapping nearly four years ago became a symbol of the brutal conflict in the North-east.

But despite a concerted global campaign for their release, and talks between the Nigerian government and the militants, the girls shown in the recording vowed not to return to their parents.

The 20-minute-long video is the first since May last year, when another woman who also claimed to be among the 219 seized from the town in Borno State said she wanted to stay.

Both videos will not only

compound the suffering of the girls’ families and friends but also indicate the extent to which they may have been influenced by their captors.

All of those who were shown on camera were wearing black or blue hijabs and at least three were carrying babies.

One of the students, her face covered by a veil, said: “We are the Chibok girls that you cry for us to return to you. By the grace of Allah, we will not return to you. “Poor souls, we pity our other Chibok girls who chose to return to Nigeria. Allah blessed you and brought you to the caliphate for you to worship your creator. “But instead you chose to return to unbelief."

Shekau It was not clear when or where the latest message, in Hausa and the local Chibok language, was recorded or whether those who appeared on camera were under duress.

According to the AFP,

the woman speaking said the Boko Haram factional leader Abubakar Shekau had “married us off�. “We live in comfort. He provides us with everything.

We lack nothing,� she added.

Shekau was also seen, firing a heavy machine gun and making a 13-minutelong sermon in which he said the remaining girls had “understood the folly� of secular education.

Boko Haram’s name broadly translates into English from the Hausa that is widely spoken in Northern Nigeria as “Western education is sinful�.

The group has repeatedly attacked and destroyed schools teaching a secular curriculum in its campaign to create a hardline Islamic state in

North-east Nigeria.

The jihadists seized 276 students from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in the mostly Christian town of Chibok on April 14, 2014, triggering global condemnation.

Fifty-seven of them managed to escape in the hours that followed. A campaign for the release of their classmates has had the support of Hollywood stars to global leaders.

A total of 107 girls have now been either found, rescued or released as part of government negotiations with the Islamic State group affiliate.

They have now returned to the North-east and are back in education at the American University of Nigeria, in the

Adamawa state capital, Yola.

On January 4, the Nigerian Army said it had rescued another of the girls’ classmates in the Pulka region of Borno, near the border with Cameroon.

Boko Haram has used kidnapping as a weapon of war in the conflict, which has killed at least 20,000 people in the North-east and displaced more than 2.6 million others.

Thousands of women and young girls have been seized and held hostage, including as sex slaves, while men and young boys have been forcibly recruited to fight alongside the militants.

The video also shows a group of policewomen, who were also abducted in Borno State last year.

live in comfort.

He said as long as the federal government cannot create an enabling environment for the herdsmen, sacrifices should be made by landowners (referencing state governors) to volunteer grazing reserves for the animals.

He said if grazing reserves had been created previously, the attacks could have been averted.

Hon. Aisha Dukku (APC, Gombe) said the right questions were not being asked over the N100 billion approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan to governors for the creation of grazing reserves.

She added that by default, the herdsman in fact value the lives of their cattle more than human lives, stressing: “That’s how they are created�.

Reprimanding Dukku over her comment, Hon. Hassan Saleh (APC, Benue) cautioned that there were certain things that ought not to be spoken in public, especially coming from lawmakers.

According to him, not even 10 billion cows were worth one human life, adding that some comments by his colleagues, particularly those from the Northern part of the country were rather insulting and demeaning to the people of Benue State.

His response raised tension, as some lawmakers suggested that the killings in Benue might have largely had to do with tribal intolerance.

In his response, Saleh said: “We should not inflame the polity. It’s failure on the part of government. The security agencies can’t provide security. “We expect Buhari to intervene because we don’t want war, otherwise, you’ll see anarchy as we move forward.

Nobody is a coward and you cannot use people’s land for cattle rearing for free.�

Hon. Nkem Uzoma-Abonta (PDP, Abia) said there was need to revisit the Land Use Act, which according to him, was enacted in the public interest, stressing that cattle breeding was currently a private venture.

He said it was necessary to provide for enclosed spaces for ranching, which should be paid for. He also called for a public hearing for all stakeholders.

Also, in his contribution, Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC,

Benue) said it would be wrong to adhere to the existing grazing laws which were largely out of date and in need of fine-tuning to address current realities.

He argued that ranching appeared to be the only solution to the menace of the killer herdsmen, noting that ranching is practiced everywhere in the world.

He insisted that the Muhammadu Buhari administration had failed the Benue people in the area of security, adding that the sanctity of human lives was not being taken seriously.

Uzoma-Abonta said that this explained why the president chose to commission railway coaches in Kaduna instead of visiting Benue to condole with the victims of the attacks.

Hon. Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno) said while the herdsmen might not have the capacity to acquire ranches to rear their cattle, the federal government should provide the enabling environment for herders. He added that the creation of cattle colonies was the right way forward.

Also contributing, Hon. Oker-jev Emmanuel (APC, Benue) said there was no political will on the part of the president to tackle the issue.

He said: “There’s no determination by the president to address the issue. People can’t come and kill over 70 people and the security agencies are unaware.�

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) further noted that under no circumstances should a human being be killed, stressing that the ECOWAS Treaty, which allows for free migration, needed to be revisited to ascertain whether it still favoured the country in the current circumstance.

He said there was also the need to address the issue of arms proliferation from Libya, as recent killings had been carried out with the use of guns.

According to him, the federal government’s current efforts to stem the conflicts requires that state governments donate land for grazing activities, but only 16 governors had so far complied.

He said the creation of cattle colonies might be preferable to ranches since the existing ones had proved to be ineffective.

SENATE GIVES IG 14 DAYS TO ARREST PERPETRATORS OF BENUE KILLINGS who argued that it was more worrisome that the killings were allegedly carried out by foreigners. “It means Nigeria can be invaded,� Mark warned, and also decried the lack of intelligence transmission among the security agencies.

Mark, who is from Benue State, commended Saraki for cutting short the recess of the ad hoc committee to move to Benue to hear from the people first hand and for the thorough deliberations at yesterday’s plenary.

He, however, called for the implementation of some immediate measures to stop the killings, while short and long-term measures were being considered.

Senator Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi APC) also called on the government to brand anyone found to illegally possess an AK-47 a terrorist, arguing that it is an assault weapon.

Placing emphasis on the threat to Nigeria’s unity by the worsening security situation, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun APC) said countries had not disintegrated from external aggression, but from internal contradictions. “There are wars that have ensued without a formal declaration of war,� he said.

Adeyeye added that if the perpetrators of Benue killings were found to be foreigners, then the head of every security agency in the country should be fired by the president, based on the ease with which foreign elements may have moved into the Middle Belt, which he said should be least prone to external attacks.

Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna APC), however, faulted the report of the committee chaired by the Majority Leader, Senate Ahmed Lawan, for not addressing the president directly.

Sani observed that while the recommendations allude to actions that should be taken by the “federal government�, he noted that the buck stops at the table of the president, who heads the executive arm of government.

The legislature and the judiciary are part of the federal government, he added, contending that the recommendations should have alluded to the president, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. “You see some form of

cowardice, escapism, and people try to water down the truth. In the report that was presented before us, the federal government was mentioned about seven times and we are all part of the federal government. “The security of the country is under the control of the Commander-in-Chief. Why are you shying away from this?

We are calling on the president to wake up and stand up and protect this country,� Sani said. “It has reached a point today that people have lost hope in government. We are here trying to massage the ego than not tell the truth. We don’t want to confront the presidency and the president because people want to come back to the 9th Senate. “They do not want to lose their tickets and people are being killed in this country,� he added.

The senators, however, could not agree on whether or not cattle colonies should be established to stem the conflicts between so-called herders of cattle and farmers in the country.

While some argued in favour of the colonies and grazing routes, others maintained that cattle rearing was a private business which should not involve the government.

Before plenary, the senators had held a closed-door session which lasted for an hour to deliberate on the security situation.

In keeping with its resolution, the Senate President and other leaders of the Senate met with Buhari on the Benue killings.

A source told THISDAY that the leadership of the National Assembly was at the State House yesterday night to brief the president on the resolutions of the Senate concerning the killings and rising insecurity in the country. “Remember that the Senate already resolved to transmit the resolutions reached today (yesterday) to the president for implementation as part of efforts to stop these killings and stop recurrences,� the source said.

State of Emergency on Insecurity Also, after a robust debate on the same issue, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion to set up a high-powered ad hoc committee to interface with the security chiefs over the spate of deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen

across the country.

While also condemning the attacks and killings in all ramifications, particularly in Benue State, the lower legislative chamber further observed a minute’s silence in honour of the departed victims.

The committee is expected to call for a public hearing of all stakeholders and even summon Buhari to brief the House on the deteriorating security situation in the country, if necessary.

It will further demand measures taken by the security agencies to forestall future attacks.

The resolution of the House followed a motion by Hon. Babatunde Gabriel Kolawole (APC, Ondo) on the need for the federal government to declare a state of emergency on rising insecurity over the spate of deadly attacks in the country by suspected herdsmen.

A similar motion was sponsored by Hon. Tarkighir Dickson (APC, Benue) and was jointly taken by the House.

The House drew attention to the deadly and sustained attacks across the country from the beginning of the year by suspected herdsmen, particularly in Benue.

Among other deadly attacks in various parts of the country, the lower House, further noted the attack on worshipers in Rivers State who were returning from a church service to mark the new year, leading to the killing of about 17 persons.

It noted that the orgies of bloodletting were perpetrated in violation of Section 33(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life to every citizen and which shall not be deprived of any citizen save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty.

It added that the incessant attacks on farmers and farming communities could ultimately result in food shortages, artificial scarcity, as well as hamper the drive of the federal government to diversify the nation’s economy through agriculture.

The lower chamber emphasised the need to avoid further attacks with the consequent loss of lives.

However, the debate on the motion commenced on a rather disturbing note, when arguments appeared to be subjective and polarised rather

than being objective.

Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye (APC, Lagos) had criticised the federal government for being insensitive to the attacks and wondered whether it was compulsory to eat beef, if that would resolve the issue.

Hon. Funke Adedoyin (APC, Kwara) noted that the killings and increased clashes were largely the consequences of migration, deforestation and land-related tussles.

She observed that the struggle to possess land had often led to communal wars, stressing that an ad hoc committee be set up to probe the root causes of the killings, which are on the rise.

On his part, Hon. Wale Raji (APC, Lagos) said he was saddened that the casualties resulting from herdsmen attacks were still being debated when the House last year had passed a motion asking the Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh to establish cattle breeding reserves across the country, noting that no action had been taken in that regard.

He decried a situation whereby the IG has to wait for a presidential directive to intervene in some of the killings.

He said the IG ought to have tendered his resignation for failing in his duties. “In other climes, the IG would have resigned by now for failing in his duties,� he said.

Raji added that there appeared to be more to the attacks, as reports had hinted at tribal intolerance.

Hon. Afe Olowookere (APC, Lagos) said the fact that herdsmen need to feed their cows does not give them the right to take lives, stressing that the president has to take rapid steps to arrest the situation.

He said the president had not helped matters and should have addressed the nation and reassured Nigerians over the killings. “We would be failing in our duties if we don’t demand urgent action. Let’s set up a committee to investigate this matter,� he said.

Also contributing, Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim (APC, Adamawa) said the herdsmen need the sympathy of Nigerians because they endanger their lives while others Nigerians

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NEWS

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

Dogara Seeks to Probe Resurgence of Fuel Subsidy, Says No Sanctuaries for Killers Appeals for speedy passage of budget James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has promised to probe the alleged reintroduction of fuel subsidy and the recent scarcity of petrol and charged the relevant committees of the House to determine the causes and claims.

He has also appealed to members to aid the early passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill despite the present challenges with government agencies.

Speaking in his opening remarks at the resumption of the House of Representatives, the speaker warned that there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of people.

He said except the executive adduces compelling reasons why the reverse is the case, it would amount to a betrayal to still pay subsidies after they had been assured that it had been ended Dogara added that the solution to the mindless killings and bloodletting lies in the ability to shun buck passing, while the government lives up

to its responsibility of providing security for the lives of every Nigerian, irrespective of where they live.

While reacting to the killings in Rivers State, Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo and other States, Dogara warned of consequences going forward.

Nevertheless, Dogara said:�We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity in line with the constitutionally stated primary purpose of the government we serve in, which is securing the welfare including the lives and property of our people. This we must do by ensuring that every law abiding Nigerian is protected where ever he choses to live in the country and every one who is up in arms against our citizens is quickly brought to justice where ever they are in the country. That there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of our people. “We are all painfully aware of the wave of murders of innocent Nigerians that has been sweeping through the nation. From the senseless

EFCC Quizzes Former Plateau Governor, Jang Chinedu Eze Former Governor of Plateau State and senator representing Plateau North senatorial district in the National Assembly, Jonah Jang, was yesterday quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial transactions during his tenure as governor of the state.

This was confirmed by his Senior Legislative Aide, Mrs. Â Olivia Dazyam.

The statement signed by Dazyam said Jang was pleased to honour the invitation by EFCC “to give an account of his meritorious stewardship to the people of Plateau State, when he served as their governor for  eight years from 2007-2015.�

The statement also said: “As a man whose seasoned record of achievements in all ramifications of governance are scattered across the nooks and crannies of Plateau State, with visible infrastructural spectacles in all 17 local government areas, he is a firm believer in the mandate of the EFCC where genuine probity and accountability are concerned.�

But political observers in the state said the invitation by EFCC might not be unconnected with the controversy over recent killings in Benue and the reaction of the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and the response of Jang who condemned the governor’s initial statement.

However, Lalong had since apologised to Benue people and the governor, Samuel Ortom, but in Plateau State, the polity, according to political pundits, is

heating up and hence the arrest.

Jang’s invitation also came at a time a Plateau cleric and overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministry International (EBOMI), Isaiah El-Buba, was arrested by security agencies in Jos after members of his church resisted the security operatives from whisking him away.

Reports indicated that he was arrested as a result of his last Sunday’s sermon where he asked Nigerians to reject President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 poll.  However, a group, Plateau Collective Interest, yesterday reacted to El-Buba’s arrest. A statement signed by its Coordinator, David Dmitri’s Ishaku, said the cleric was to answer some questions in connection with some business deals with the former governor, but he failed to honour the invitation. “The anti-graft agency was there to carry out its legitimate duty to recover funds it believes were stolen from the coffers of the state and which the prophet from allegations is said to have immensely benefitted from to put up the imposing structure that is now the tallest building in Plateau State that currently houses his ministry,� Ishaku said.

El-Buba had accused President Buhari of sending men of the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest him.

The pastor had while addressing his congregants during a church service, condemned President Buhari for failing to arrest Fulani herdsmen carrying out attacks in various parts of the country.

killings in Rivers State, to the killing rampages in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo and other States; our dear country is now being painted red with the blood of the innocents on account of unremitting bedlam callously

promoted by cold hearted merchants of death. “On behalf of the House of Representatives, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the governments, people, and especially families of those who have lost loved ones in

these primitive, mindless and despicable rounds of bloodletting across our dear country. “At these moments of intense outpouring of grief across the nation, it is important that we shun buck passing and accept responsibility for these wanton

killings without which we will never find a solution to this evil.

We cannot afford to fold our hands and pretend that all is well with our country. We cannot throw up our hands in defeat.

Cont’d on Pg 54

EMINENT PANELISTS

L-R: President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and Chairman, Africa Initiative for Governance, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, at the high level panel discussion on migration in Monrovia, Liberia....Monday

World Class Hospital, Power Projects Top AfDB’s $2bn Target Investments in Nigeria Ndubuisi Francis Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Udora Orizu Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

US dollars,� he said.

He also cited a $36 million cassava project, which he said As the African Development is a private sector project like Bank (AfDB) officially opens the hospital. its first regional office in Abuja The AfDB chief also disclosed Thursday, the pan-African that a solar power project in financial institution says it is Jigawa State with a cost of set to embark on priority projects about $200 million as well as in Nigeria, some of which it a 55 megawatts solar project in plans to deliver this year.

Sokoto valued at $100 million Some of the projects, which are to be executed. are largely in the power and “The biggest project that we health sectors, with a cost are working on in the power implication of about $2 billion space this year is called the are designed to stimulate growth Qua-Iboe Power project in in Nigeria, the bank’s largest Akwa Ibom and that’s a 540 investor. megawatts power project (about Speaking at an interactive $900 million. session with journalists in Abuja “There’s a Bauchi solar project yesterday, the Senior Director, which is about a $170 million Research and Development, dollars and there is a sky power Nigeria Country Office of solar project as well. So, as you AfDB, Mr. Faal Ebrima, said can see, there’s a lot of solar the bank’s support in Nigeria in projects coming up,� he said. the last four years had averaged He explained another between $700 and $900 million major project that the bank is a year, adding that this year’s hoping to execute this year is a support would be much higher. transmission lines project with According to him, a $27 the Transmission Company of million world class hospital Nigeria (TCN). christened ‘Santa Clara’ is to Explaining why the bank be completed in Lagos this year considered it worth the while, he to check the spate of medical said, “the power is there but how tourism by Nigerians to Europe, are you going to distribute it, so Asia and the United States of that’s going to be an important America. project that we can also bring “In terms of Santa Clara this year.� project, the total value of the He added, “We are also investments is about 27 million working very closely and

partnering with the government not only in terms of the physical projects themselves but also what are the policies and regulatory frameworks that are needed to support the power programme of the government. So that is part of the non-project things that we work on but very important as well.�

Ebrima, who also spoke the bank’s programme called “Jobs for Youths�, he said AfDB was trying to mainstream two things-- “mainstream gender to women and mainstream jobs for youths especially.�

The AfDB top executive, who provided an insight into what led to the building of the Abuja regional office of the Bank, the first outside the headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, said in November 2009, the bank’s Boards of Directors approved the Project “Rent or Acquire Premises for Field Offices.� In this project, it was recommended to construct a new office in Nigeria. Nigeria, he said, was chosen to be the first in series to receive this project, adding that its field office, constitute a model for replication in other countries.

According to him , following several discussions with, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , in September 2010, allocated a plot of land number 1521 with

an area of approximately 7,614 m2 in the Central Area, Abuja, for the project.

He disclosed that a Nigerian architectural consulting firm IAL was contracted to design and supervise the works, which commenced in November 2011. “The detailed designs and tender documents were then finalised in August 2013. The building designed has footprint of 1525m2 and total office area of 6100m2, “The bid for construction was launched in August 2013 but failed because the identified contractor fail to pass the due diligence checks. A new bidding process launched in May 2015 led to a conclusion of a contract with CGC Nigeria Limited. “Work commenced in January 2016 and the building was completed and furnished by end of September 2017,� he said.

Noting that the state-of-the-art building is environmentally friendly, Ebrima stated: “We are in the process of installing solar thermal technology as additional source of cooling and lighting the building and the premises.�

He also disclosed that already, battery charging terminals for electric cars had already been installed in the building.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

CAN Urges Buhari to Designate Miyyeti Allah Terrorist Group Presidency: Buhari poses no threat to democracy

Omololu Ogunmade ËØÎ Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as a terrorist group.

The National General Secretary, Rev Musa Asake, made this call yesterday during a briefing at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, as a way to restore permanent peace in troubled areas of the country.

Asake also called for an overhaul of the entire security architecture of the country and immediately replace the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris.

According to CAN, the Nigeria’s security system has become dysfunctional due to the inability of the various security arms to wrestle to the ground those threatening the existence of Christians and other innocent citizens in Nigeria The Christian body, noted that several attacks were carried out against Christians in the country. Giving instances, Rev Ashake said

“as if the attacks on Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Ogun and Oyo States are not enough, the Islamists and their agents have extended their trail of blood and destruction to Bwari in Abuja and Ilorin in Kwara State. On Christmas Day, 2017, the Christian community in Bwari, Abuja was attacked; several lives were lost while business locations were burnt down.

“On New Year’s Day in 2018, Christians observing “watch-night” service in Ilorin were attacked and three churches burnt. As usual, the security agents did not intervene until the attackers had finished their horrendous assignment.

“This pattern suggests collusion of the Security Units with the Islamists militia operating under such names as Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, “unknown gunmen”, and “group of vandals.”

Speaking further, Asake accused Buhari of not running Nigeria according to the dictates of the democratic values in the constitution and has no respect for human rights, rule of law and democracy

He said: “Unfortunately, within a few weeks of his election, he started creating the impression that he was in power to serve the interests of his Fulani ethnic group only.

Under President Buhari, the murderous Fulani herdsmen enjoyed unprecedented protection and favoritism to the extent that the herdsmen treat Nigeria as a conquered territory.

“Rather than arrest and prosecute the Fulani herdsmen, security forces usually manned

by Muslims from the North offer them protection as they unleash terror with impunity on the Nigerian people.

“The bottom line is that President Buhari failed woefully to protect Nigerians.

He wilfully permitted the Fulani herdsmen to operate, killing people, destroying communities wholesale,

destroying farmlands and turning the entire Middle Belt into “killing fields”, all the while enjoying government protection from counter-attack, arrest or prosecution.”

The Christian body also berated the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association for making very inciting statements before and after the Fulani herdsmen attack in Benue communities in which it stated it would not abide with the anti-open grazing law of Benue State government.

On the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, CAN condemned the president for taking sides in favour of the Palestine, while drawing the attention of the Buhari administration to the non-aligned status of Nigeria in international conflicts.

Asake said they had cause to express great apprehension

when in December 2015, President Buhari, without giving consideration to Section 10 of the Constitution, as well as to the sensitivity of Christians that constitute over 50 per cent of the Nigerian population, led Nigeria to join the Saudi Arabia initiated Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

He said: “Since then, there hthe objection of the Palestinians to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in this case, has a lot of religious undertones.”

However, the presidency said Buhari poses grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

In a swift reaction, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, denied any case of constitutional violations under Buhari.

He also argued that Buhari

does not by any means pose any threat to democracy, assuring that the constitution will never be violated by this government.

He advised Asake to concentrate on his calling and allow politicians to play politics.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports of a press conference by General Secretary of CAN, Asake, in which he passed a judgement on the constitutionality of certain actions of the Buhari administration.

“Unfortunately, he could cite any valid cases of constitutional violations. Buhari’s government poses no threat to the country’s democracy andconstitution.

“There are no cases of any violation of our sacred constitution and there will be none under this president.

“The respected religious leader should stick to his religious duties and leave politics for politicians,” he said.

DSS on Rampage, Harasses Clergy in Jos Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ Kassim Ibrahim Street in Jos city centre went agog on Monday when the youths of the area, pastors and members of the Evangelical Outreach Ministries international (EBOMI) prevented the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) from arresting the General Overseer of the church, Isa El-Buba.

The security agents reportedly laid siege at the church till 11:30p.m. on Monday, but were prevented from arresting the pastor by the valiant youths, after which they retreated.

Addressing the press yesterday afternoon, El-Buba said: “What transpired was that the DSS invaded my house and my church premises and wanted to have me (arrested) on Monday night.

“They came in their numbers, including a Deputy Director to have me in connection with the Cross Over national broadcast I made to Nigerians” on the New Year eve.

He said: “I stand by my words,” adding that he was neither scared nor intimidated by their invasion. “Why should I be scared when I am saying the truth? Righteousness exalt a nation, but sin brings reproach.

I said in my broadcast that the unrighteousness that Nigeria will not do anyone of us any good. And I stand by it.

“This is because our generation and generation yet unborn will suffer if we refuse to do the right thing.

Nigeria is a great nation, but we must uphold righteousness to be able to stand among great

nations. So, I have just said that the right thing should be done in our nation, and I do not have anything against anyone.”

He said he was only advocating for justice for the nation to move forward.

El-Buba, who was flanked by other senior pastors from other churches in Jos that had come on solidarity visit, noted that the killings going on across Nigeria must stop, and all Nigerians must rise up together and ensure that it stops The DSS allegedly accused the cleric of recently preaching an inciting sermon in which he challenged Christians to use their voter cards to vote out “wickedness” in government.

The development has drawn wide condemnation from human rights activists and other observers who believed that his right to freedom of expression was being arbitrarily trampled upon.

The DSS has been on rampage in Jos since last week when it also arrested and harassed Evangelist Jeremiah Datim and his family in Jos for allegedly ‘converting’ a 19-year old Muslim undergraduate of Bingham University, Miss Nabila Umar Sanda, the daughter of Galadima Biu. Nabila and her friend, Simput Dafup were also arrested by the DSS and taken to an unknown location.

Datim was falsely accused of forcibly abducting Nabila, an allegation he vehemently denied, challenging the DSS to present Nabila before the press for a public testimony on her conversion to Christianity.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TRAINING

L-R: Director of Partnership, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu; Deputy Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Major General Ede Ode; Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Guest Lecturer, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Commandant, NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo; and Manager, Vocational Training Centre, NDC, Mrs. Rachel Adeniyi, during the NDC Course 26 lecture, where Elumelu delivered a lecture titled: ‘Strategic Leadership; My Business Experience’ in Abuja....yesterday

FCT Demolishes Patience Jonathan’s Property Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ Abuja A department under Federal capital Territory (FCT) Administration, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), has demolished a multimillion naira sprawling property belonging to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

AMMC pulled down the property for allegedly contravening the FCT Land Use Act. The demolition of the structure, titled: ‘A. Aruera Reachout Foundation/Women for Change Development Initiative’ in Mabushi Area of Wuse ll, Abuja, was supervised by AMMC Coordinator, Umar Shuaibu.

AMMC accompanied by a joint team of security personnel, bulldozed the multi-purpose hall along with illegal structures behind the

main building, after forcibly gaining access into it.

They said the building contravened development control regulations in the territory as the site it was built was a designated Green area.

Shuiabu, who spoke with journalists, declared that Mrs Jonathan’s and all other structures removed by his organization in Wuse II ,were illegal “If they have approval, we would not have been there. Everyone must have approval before commencing any development in the FCT. It is because of this that we give three sets of approval –one is to be on the site, another should be with the owner and the other in our file at Development Control Department, so that whenever we go for inspection and require building plan approval, it

should be handy, Shuaibu said.

According to him, the FCTA would not stop until all illegal structures in Abuja are removed.

AMMC officials had in November last year, pasted a notice on the wall of the demolished property, asking the owners to produce the necessary approvals within six days before resuming work.

Shuaibu said AMMC carried out the exercise because the first lady refused to comply even when served with notices.

“We have a situation where people are given plots for residential purpose, but they convert them into night clubs so much so that the neighbours are always complaining. We cannot allow them to continue cheating their neighbours, disturbing them in the night

and not allowing them to sleep.

“We will not stop at removal of all illegal structures across the Territory, but we will submit for relevant measure that is necessary for that type of action. So it is not only the pulling down, we are now submitting a report, even if it means for the plot to be revoked, because we did not allocate those plots for the use in which they are doing.

“Of course, we are going to sustain this cleaning exercise.

We started from Zuba, one of the entry points of the city. We are going round the city, anywhere there is any illegal development in the city, anywhere there is any activity that is obstructing traffic, obstructing peoples activities based on approved designs, we will stop it,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17, 2018

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COMMENT

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

ONE INJUSTICE BEGETS ANOTHER All issues should be dealt with fair and square, argues Sonnie Ekwowusi

“

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me�.

The above poetic lines on how one injustice begets another injustice masterfully conveyed by prominent protestant pastor Martin Neimoller (1892-1984) during the Nazi reign of terror are evocative of the toleration of injustices in Nigeria. The toleration of injustice is producing more gruesome and barbaric injustice in Nigeria. Instead of tackling the injustices headlong we hypocritically resort to sweeping them under the carpet in the pretence that time will heal the wounds of the injustice. But unfortunately the efflution of time has not managed to heal the wounds of the injustice in Nigeria. As Martin Luther King Jr. rightly stated “one injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere�. When, for example, genocidal attacks and killings were committed against the Igbos on the threshold of the Nigerian Civil War little did we know that 48 years after the civil war the entire spectrum of Nigerian society will be the target of the most vicious genocidal attacks and killings. Yesterday they came for the Igbos and massacred the Igbos. Today they are coming for the rest of us in order to massacre the rest of us. Who knows who they will go after tomorrow? We are helpless. We cry out but nobody hearkens to our assistance.

Within the last three years, the Fulani herdsmen have successfully carried out countless genocidal attacks and killings in different Nigerian communities. Just last week, the bodies of 73 citizens of Benue State murdered by the Fulani herdsmen between January 1 and 2, 2018 were given mass burial amid tears of sorrow. Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has declared that the Fulani herdsmen have murdered no fewer than 1,878 citizens of Benue State within the last three years. He blamed the murder on the security lapses in the Buhari government. Apart from the genocidal killings by the Fulani herdsmen, gross human rights abuses, state-sanctioned killings, extra-judicial killings, sectarian killings and religious killings have been recorded in the last three years. Equally, there have been brutal killings of defenceless civilians by the military in the last three years. For example, following the attack by the army on the Shia Muslim community ostensibly to rescue the Chief of Army Staff from alleged assassination, about 1,000 defenceless and unarmed civilians were murdered in Zaria between December 12 and 15, 2015. On February 9, 2016 the Nigerian soldiers shot and killed countless defenceless civilians who were peacefully holding prayers inside the football field of Ngwa High School, Aba in Abia State. The photographs of the murdered victims circulated on whatsApp at that time. The painful aspect is that while investigations on the Aba massacre were still going on, the Onitsha massacre occurred on May 30, 2016. Over 30 civilians were murdered and many injured by the military after the several clashes involving the military, police and members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and members of the Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) during the Biafra day celebration at Nkpor-Agu, Niger Bridge, Onitsha and Asaba.

In March 2016 the Fulani herdsmen murdered two Catholic reverend sisters and burnt about 17 houses in Abbi, Uzo Uwani Local Government

THE TOLERATION OF INJUSTICE IS PRODUCING MORE GRUESOME AND BARBARIC INJUSTICE IN NIGERIA

Area, Enugu State. On April 25, 2016 more than 50 innocent citizens of Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Council of Enugu State were murdered by the Fulani herdsmen. The herders also burnt many houses and sacked many communities in Uzo-Ukpabi Council and its environs. Shortly after the Ukpabi-Nimbo massacre, the Fulani herdsmen murdered a Delta State monarch and some Delta State citizens. In the same April 2016 the Vicar-General of the Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr. John Adeyi was kidnapped by some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen along Odoba Otukpa-Okwungaga road, Otukpo, Benue State. Sadly, two months later his decomposed body was found somewhere even after his kidnappers had collected N1.5 million ransom. On June 2, 2016, a 70-year -old citizen of Imo State named Mrs. Bridget Agbahime was murdered in Kano for alleged blasphemy. Recently, a Kano Magistrate discharged all the five suspects who allegedly killed Mrs Agbahime. Case closed. Barely 10 days after Mrs Agbahime was murdered, a 41-year- old Christian named Francis Emmanuel was almost stabbed to death in Kaduna for allegedly eating meat during the Ramadan. On July 9, 2016 a mother of seven, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, who was also the wife of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor was murdered in cold blood in Abuja by Muslim fanatics while she was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In August 2016, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed a seminarian of the Catholic Church and others at EnuguAtakwu community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State. The kidnappers reportedly mowed down everybody in sight during their shooting spree.

Between 2016 and 2017 hundreds of citizens of Southern Kaduna were murdered in several renewed genocidal attacks carried out by the Fulani herdsmen. For example, in one attack which occurred in December 2016, a total of 808 people were killed in 53 villages across the four local government areas in the state. Between September 8 and October 17, 2017 the herdsmen murdered about 75 persons and injured 23 others after they attacked two communities in Irigwe Kingdom, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The herders also displaced about 13,726 persons from the communities and burnt about 489 houses during their attacks. On December 8, 2017 some Fulani herdsmen invaded Omala and Yagba West local government councils respectively in Kogi State and murdered about 10 persons after setting their farmlands ablaze. In Omoku, Rivers State, about 17 Christian church worshipers were killed during the last New Year Eve by the same Fulani herdsmen. Some husbands were dragged out of their houses and murdered in front of their wailing wives by the Fulani herdsmen. On January 12, 2018 Fulani herdsmen attacked Dangaji and Ungwan Gajere villages both in Birni Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State and killed 10 indigenes of the area.

The killings are endless. If you like, there are three dimensions to the afore-mentioned murders. The first dimension is the constancy of the murders. The second is that to date none of the murderers have been brought to justice. The Kano Magistrate Court has discharged all the five suspects who allegedly murdered Mrs Agbahime. The third dimension is that the state security appears helpless in the face of the vicious genocidal attacks and killings. How long shall we sit back and watch our parents, children, relatives, brothers and sisters and townsfolks being slaughtered? I leave the answer to you.

CLOUDS OVER HERDSMEN’S KILLINGS

President Buhari has not done enough to end the killings by herdsmen, argues Iyobosa Uwugiaren

T

he Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, would have to do more than a “passionate appeal’’ to get the media and public commentators to downplay the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country, especially the domino effect of the recent killing of over 70 innocent souls in Benue State.

The minister’s recent appeal to the media and commentators to be circumspect will not sink until the people see unpretentious and honest efforts by the federal government to fix the problem.

The truth is that the anguish and pains that have enveloped the entire nation in the past few days over the killing of hundreds of innocent souls in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba and in other parts of the country by the Fulani herdsmen is a reflection of deliberate security lapses of the President Muhammdu Buhari-led federal government. For how long shall the security agencies continue to watch these killings in protection of cows?

Now, resolve this incongruity by the Nigerian security agencies in two similar sad recent events: In Rivers State, dozens of persons were killed by gunmen between the hours of 12.10am and 1am on January 1, 2018 in Omoku in the Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Apparently angered by the deadly criminal act of the perpetrators, President Buhari ordered the security agents to smoke out the criminals and in less than 48 hours, the perpetrators were killed and their bodies paraded before the media by the security agencies. And we all saluted the security agents’ courage and their timely action.

But in a similar case, over 70 people have been

killed in Benue State between December 31and now by the Fulani cattle herders and which also forced tens of thousands from their homes. And shockingly, within 48 hours, the Benue State branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association claimed responsibility for the deadly act.

In justifying the killings, the leader of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders, Garus Gololo, revealed that the attacks by herdsmen were a “reprisal for alleged theft of their cows.’’ In a chat with BBC Pidgin, Gololo explained that the herdsmen were only defending themselves from “thieves.’’ He claimed that over 1000 of their cows were stolen at Nengere, a community in the state when the herdsmen were moving out of Benue to Taraba State.

Sadly, almost two weeks since the group confessed to the killing of innocent souls, members of the group still walk freely the streets of Makurdi and elsewhere without being arrested by security agents. Imagine a leader of Myetti Allah saying, “We killed Benue community people because they stole our cows!�

Take it or leave it: these conflicting approaches

by President Buhari to two similar cases are strongly reinforcing the argument by many that the president was not willing to take punitive measures against members of his Fulani ethnic group in spite of their consistent murderous track records. One can therefore hardly fault the former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode, when he said: “Over 150 innocent men, women and children were hacked to pieces in cold blood because of cows? Are we really one country?’’ While the presidency continues to blame the

crisis on demographic changes, many sound minds do not need more evidence on the inaction of the security agencies than Ortom’s accounts at a meeting with the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Security, which visited the state recently on a fact-finding mission.

The governor had accused the President, VicePresident, Yemi Osinbajo; the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, of ignoring several warnings of the impending attack on the affected communities in Benue State.

The governor told the lawmakers that upon getting security information of the planned attacks, he immediately wrote a letter to Osinbajo, who was then Acting President as Buhari was on medical vacation in London. According to the governor, all attempts to get the vice-president’s attention via the letter failed, as he got no reply from Osinbajo. Ortom said he also wrote “letters’’ to Buhari after his return to Nigeria but got no response from him. He said out of desperation, he went further to draw the attention of Monguno in a separate letter addressed to him, but all to no avail. According to Ortom, “We wrote to the vice-president on the planned attacks on parts of Benue by Fulani herdsmen, because the threat was everywhere on the streets, but he refused to reply. However, when Mr. President returned from the United Kingdom, I intimated him through a letter. The documents are here. I wrote to him on the planned attack by Fulani herdsmen because the threats were on the streets.’’ Still giving detailed accounts of his efforts to get the security agents to be pro-active on the killings, the embattled governor also said that on October

7, 2017 he wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, telling him of the planned attack on his people when there was no response from the presidency. “I also wrote the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to intimate them on the planned attacks.

When there was no action, I followed it up with a reminder on October 27, 2017’’, he said.

What else do we want the governor who does not have control over security agencies to do in efforts to protect his people from Fulani cattle herdsmen attacks?

In spite of the assurances by his media managers, President Buhari has not done enough to deal decisively with the murderous activities of the cattle herders. All we read from his statement, anytime the herdsmen strikes is “You can’t kill to please God.’’ In line with his oath of office, President Buhari cannot continue to be snoring, fantasising that the poisonous activities of this gang of killers will fizzle out one day. No responsive president will think that way when lives are involved. The killings will not fizzle out unless stiff measures are taken against the perpetrators of the deadly crimes.

Already, the vexed issue is taking very dangerous political and ethno-religious dimensions, with the affected states claiming that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen were planned actions against their people.

And Buhari must not allow this dangerous narrative to graduate into hateful speech that will further threaten our fragile country. Time to act is now.

Uwugiaren is THISDAY Editor, Nation’s Capital

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EDITORIAL REVIEWING NIGERIA’S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM The universities need more attention – especially investment in manpower and infrastructure

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n apparent admission of its deplorable state, the federal government has constituted a committee of some credible academics to review the country’s troubled university system for better performance and efďŹ ciency. Professor Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) said last week that there was need, among other things, to reform post-graduate training in the universities. “How do we get to see that serious post-graduate students complete their studies within the normal period of three years?â€? he asked. “It could be less or more than three years but three years is the normal period across the world.â€?

Rasheed’s statement is a signiďŹ cant reminder that the federal government also recognises one of the fundamental problems in the country’s public university administration: the issue of the delay in graduating students. Many students, indeed both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, graduate years after the stipulated time for their programmes. For some universities, it could take up to 10 years or more to graduate a doctoral student.

IF NIGERIA WANTS There are several reasons for this, but TO COMPETE IN THE ironically some PREVAILING KNOWLEDGE are inicted by the ECONOMY, THE government. The POLICYMAKERS MUST growth trend in ENSURE THAT THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS the universities is expansive instead of OF THE UNIVERSITIES developmental. Over ARE ADEQUATELY AND the years, there has REGULARLY FUNDED been a proliferation of institutions of higher learning without the backing of adequate resources to meet the needs of the students and indeed the university communities.

Postgraduate students study in overcrowded and poorly-ventilated classrooms. Even more troubling, qualiďŹ ed and experienced lecturers are scarce while libraries lack relevant materials and up-to-date journals.

Laboratories operate without chemicals. Indeed, as bad as this, some lecturers and senior academics often “moonlight� in some ill- equipped private universities for quick cash. This has created academic and adminis-

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trative problems for the universities many of which lead to delays in graduation of students.

Perhaps even more noteworthy is insufďŹ cient cash ow in public universities to fund research, the heart of postgraduate programmes. In virtually all the universities in Nigeria, little or no attention is paid to research.

The little funds often budgeted for research in the public universities is often diverted. Thus the research units of many of our tertiary institutions are starved of funds in addition to lack of equipment resulting in lack of implementation of the few research results. In a world where knowledge is the key driver of growth and development, Nigerian universities work with bare hands.

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hus under-funding of the universities has collateral damage on the output of these tertiary institutions. The weak ďŹ nancial condition is exacerbated by the current crippling economic crisis aficting the nation. Yet besides increasing personnel costs, funds are also required to rehabilitate dilapidated facilities and purchase new consumables for the ever growing student population. It is therefore little wonder that frequent bursts of strikes have become the routine weapon used by university staffers to force the authorities to listen to their plight. And strikes contribute signiďŹ cantly to the delay in graduation and indeed decline in the quality of graduates of our public universities. The hurried academic calendars, following the end of industrial actions allow for very little attention to serious studies or research.

Therefore, going forward requires the select committee, among which is Prof. Peter Okebukola, himself former Executive Secretary of the NUC, to work hard and ďŹ nd a lasting solution to what has become a perplexing national challenge. In doing this, NUC must set minimum standards for all universities, both public and private.

If Nigeria wants to compete in the prevailing knowledge economy, the policymakers must ensure that the research departments of the universities are adequately and regularly funded. The government, both at federal and state levels, must ensure that more funds are pumped into rebuilding decayed lecture halls, libraries,laboratories, dormitories and in hiring qualiďŹ ed staff. The best universities in the world are those which can attract the best and the brightest.

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.

THE ART OF LIVING

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t is tempting to want to feel a new rush of optimism at the coming of a new year, to bemoan the events of the preceding year and, perhaps, seek life on a new slate. We’d naturally assume that the perfect way to start a new year is to command it such that we prepare a litany of resolutions--habits to discard, connections to secure, ambitions to fulfil amongst others. As happens, we may have vanquished that age-long habit but would always almost have given up on those ideals as surviving gains precedence amongst other priorities.

As I should like to imagine, it is at this point we lose control over ourselves, lamenting the woes of the year and yearning for thr swift usher of a new year that would possibly give meaning to our battered lives. Which, in truth, is highly debatable.

Being creatures of emotion means that we perceive the events of life through the misted lens of emotions--as coloured by our feelings. And that, I dare say, remains the root of man’s manifold troubles. Yet that can scarce be regarded as the problem in this case.

This disappointment that mars our pleasant vision for a new year stems not from our heavy demands and expectations but from our inaccurate projections of reality, which, incidentally, arises from our primal urge for control. We strive to exert control over every New Year and bend it to our will. We expect that a new year brings us closer to our envisaged futures of a greater

promotion or an election victory. Thus we are trapped in a castle of our imaginations, built upon our dreams and memories, that we are terribly crestfallen when this castle comes crashing under the weight of reality.

That our lives are governed by forces over which we have no control is first to be brought to consciousness. It is indisputable that there’s so much we can’t control in life, and, as such, things will never go according to plan, however the strategies employed. Carl von Clausewitz, a philosopher of war, had a term for it--friction; that is, the discrepancy between our plans and reality. Such chaos merely rhymes with course of life. Yet is that to say, seeing your powerlessness before circumstance, that we should retreat to a passive mode, accepting all that come our way with slavish calm?

Not at all. Such defeatism is, in itself, destructive and spirals to a grievous end.

Instead you should take your cue from water, which has the greatest potential force. Never resisting but flowing through the boulders and caves until it’s finally worn away the rock. This would mean that you come to accept your fate, not wish for a better one. You embrace as well the pain and suffering and anguish of your circumstances, knowing that everything happens for a reason. Knowing yet again that such reason is not designed to lead you to a reluctant death, you’ll build for yourself a stoic armour that grants you the forbearance and courage to stand the heat. You

simply nurture a love of fate--Amor fati, as the Greeks called it.

With the epiphany of this, you’re thus able to bend to circumstances. You won’t merely become rigid as a cow stuck in the mud but as flexible as the eel. You’ll understand--and have even visualised--that your plans may not come off as expected, and you’re not disturbed by this reality. In essence, you’re learning to give up control and to, instead, flow with the chaos of life. You cease to command every New Year in your favour but face life as it presents itself, channeling, somewhat subtly, the momemtum of the year in your direction by your action. What’s more, this becomes a mental skill that you’ll refine to an art--that is, the art of living.

You may think that living life in this fashion is to sap the pleasure of hope and promote the nondescript ideal of pessimism.

This isn’t exactly so, however, for what joy is to be got from the day-dreaming, rose-tinted variant of life that only sets you up for disappointment?

I do acknowledge a group of readers, mostly in their majority, who are inclined to think thus: Man is the captain of his ship.

Whilst I’m not particularly concerned about the theories of freewill and determinism in this writing, it is not untrue to say that they are germane to the discussion. And such cliched gospel as peddled by motivational preachers represents, for me, a classic example of man’s urge for control amidst life’s inconsistencies.

Kingsley Charles, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Unmasking the Contenders for Kwara Govt House Shola Oyeyipo reviews the chances of those angling to takeover Kwara’s number one seat from Abdufatah Ahmed

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with at that time over the manner he emerged as Senate President. In terms of competence, Abdullahi is well regarded and has won high praise as a reformer. As commissioner for education in the Saraki cabinet, he stood out as a diligent performer who over time improved the lots of public education in the state. As minister too, he was one of a few outstanding cabinet members in the Jonathan administration who were giving additional portfolios because of the work they did. His most significant achievement as sports minister was the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations won by the national football team, the Super Eagles, 19 years after Nigeria last won the tournament at home soil.

he 2019 general election is almost here. It seemed just like yesterday when the All Progressives Congress (APC) swept to power in 2015 with the promise of ‘change.’

However, In state after state, APC’s fortune appears to be going down the hill, especially in the North Central states of Kogi, Benue and Kwara, where the party, against all odds, had pulled an upset.

Kwara politics has been dominated by a Saraki, father and son, for the last 50 years. What are the issues that will dominate the campaign?

Will Saraki, this time again, get to choose who sits in the government house in Ilorin? Who are the contenders and what chances do they have of succeeding Abdulfatah Ahmed, the current governor of the state?

The Issues Competence One issue that will likely dominate the 2019 gubernatorial campaign in Kwara is that of the competence of the aspirants. The recession and subsequent cash crunch that affected states made many of them to look inwards, seeking to creatively increase their internally generated revenue. Although Kwara is one of the top five states in terms of IGR, it still does not generate enough to meet all its obligations regarding staff salary. One major bone of contention in the state is the government’s claims that local government employees are not its responsibilities. This has pitched it against ALGON, which insists that since the state and local governments have a joint account, the state government cannot wash its hands off the employees of local governments who are owed salaries-ranging from 2 to 10 months. The consequence of this dire financial strait has surprisingly been a good one for the recruitment of political leadership. For the first time, perhaps, many stakeholders are actively scrutinising the resumes of those who have shown interest to run for the governorship. Unlike in the past when the endorsement of the political godfather was all that was necessary, people are now asking for someone with a track record of competence and proven leadership, who can do the complex task of fixing the state. It has become obvious that the job is beyond the pay-grade of the average politician who would only wait for federal allocation from Abuja.

Zoning In the past, the concept of zoning had not dominated political conversations in Kwara State.

That is changing now. The current governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed, is from the south and has spent eight years in the saddle. Prior to his tenure, Bukola Saraki, now Senate President, from the central zone, was governor for two terms. Ideally, one would expect that Kwara North should have a shot at the governorship after the tenure of Ahmed. But it is not that simple. For one, the north has produced more (or as much?) governors than the other zones, even if their tenures were in bits and pieces. Then the central zone which has the largest population cluster in the state appears not willing to be shut out of the top job for a period of 16 years, which would be the case if the governorship goes to the north. It will indeed be difficult for any of the political parties, serious about winning, to ignore the sentiments of the Emirate people, who are mainly in the central. It is perhaps because of this that the majority of the current aspirants have come from the central.

Saraki It is safe to say that no democratic governor has emerged in Kwara without the support of the Saraki family. First it was the father of the senate president, late Oloye Abubakar Olusola Saraki, who controlled the Kwara political space like a colossus until 2011 when he fell out with

Saraki

his son Bukola over whether his daughter, Gbemi, should take over from the son as governor! Bukola emerged victorious from that family contest and became the undisputed political leader of the state. Today, the politics of Kwara is firmly in the hands of Bukola and it is unlikely that the next governor of the state will emerge without his support. His political group, which is firmly rooted in the APC, at least for now, is robust and includes the who-is-who of the politics in the state, starting from the governor. Although there is a small group of national politicians in the APC, led by the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who do not necessarily see Bukola as their leader. However, this group is insignificant and has near-zero influence on the local politics of Kwara.

Yet, the opposition to Bukola is swelling. Even though the Saraki family has dominated the politics of Kwara, there has always been an historical opposition, led by some prominent Ilorin families such as the Abdulrazaks, the Zubairs, and the Saros who view his leadership as akin to slavery. Over time, many young and upwardly mobile Ilorin indigenes have joined the opposition against the Saraki political hegemony. It was this historical opposition, thriving on a youthful base that propelled the failed governorship campaign of Muhammed Dele Belgore of the defunct ACN in 2011. Despite the best efforts of the anti-Saraki group, they have always fallen short of their mark. Will they gain more influence or even upturn the political cart in 2019? This will depend on a number of factors, but especially on the kind of person Saraki nominates for the governorship.

The Contenders Kawu Baraje Baraje is APC chieftain and former Acting National Chairman of PDP He has been a stalwart of the APC since 2013 when he led a breakaway faction of the PDP to join the party. That defection cost him the plum job as Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), a position he was forced

Although Kwara is one of the top five states in terms of IGR, it still does not generate enough to meet all its obligations

to resign from. Among the PDP rebels, who left the party in 2013, he was one of the few who suffered serious losses as a result of the defection, the notable other being Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who lost his job as minister. There is no doubt that Baraje is loyal to the Saraki political family and would abide by whatever decision the group makes on the 2019 governorship. He is also very competent and has been a very close associate of Saraki since his days as Permanent Secretary of Government House when Saraki was the governor.

The major hindrance to his ambition of governing the state, however, may be his age. At 67, he may be considered too old and past his prime for the governorship, especially as many young Turks in their 40s are also angling for the same position. That aside, Baraje is a reliable hand that has proven his loyalty to his political family over time and distinguished himself in various capacities.

Razak Atunwa.

He is a member of the House of Representatives representing Asa/ Ilorin West Constituency He is also a staunch member of the Saraki political family. In fact, in 2011, he was the front runner for their party’s gubernatorial ticket, ahead of the incumbent governor. At that time, he had a larger than life image, as well as following, and was referred to as ‘’the one’’. But those days seem over for Atunwa as his political influence has dwindled over time. After losing the ticket to Ahmed, he was elected member and then Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly for one term and subsequently won election into the House of Representatives. After the 2015 elections, Atunwa seemed to have withdrawn into his shell and many think he may not be too interested in the governorship race.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

Abdullahi is the National Publicity Secretary of the APC and Former Minister of Sports He is a staunch associate of Saraki and perhaps the person whose loyalty has been tested the most amongst the aspirants gunning for the governorship. He was fired in March 2014 as Sports Minister when Saraki led a breakaway faction of the PDP to the APC. After rejecting overtures to dump Saraki, he was kicked out of the Goodluck Jonathan cabinet. He was also reportedly passed over as minister when the APC came to power because of his close association with Saraki, whom the APC leadership was at war

Ahmad Ali Ali is the speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. He was a competent lawmaker in the 7th National Assembly in which he served as a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. In fact, he was the most prolific member of that house, sponsoring more bills and moving more motions than any other lawmaker. His footprints as a lawmaker will probably endure forever for his sponsorship of the revolutionary Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, now Act, which seeks to reduce the amount of time for criminal trial. No doubt, few lawmakers have the energy and passion for law-making as Ali, who certainly has counted on his experience as a lawyer. It was therefore surprising that he did not make it to the 8th National Assembly, but was instead ‘demoted’ to the Kwara State House of Assembly, where he emerged speaker. As speaker, he has brought some vibrancy into the business of law-making in the state as the KWHA has not simply been a rubber stamp. However, many believe he lacks requisite executive experience.

Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) A former gubernatorial candidate, Belgore led a colourful campaign in 2011 tagged the ‘Orange Revolution,’ after the namesake upheavals which occurred in Ukraine and changed the political order of that country. Belgore’s campaign did not cause similar effect in Kwara as he lost to the current incumbent. But it is generally accepted that he made good impression and his luck may turn in future. He however did not build on his popularity of 2011 but almost vanished from the field, appearing intermittently just before elections.

He did not get the PDP ticket in 2015 and is in court facing a barrage of criminal allegations regarding the PDP presidential campaign fund for the 2015 elections. If there was one man people believed would sack the Saraki political hegemony, it was Belgore. But that was then; today he appears to be a shadow of the political giant he was in 2011. It is doubtful that he can be in strong contention for the PDP ticket, as there are many new and brighter kids on the block. But, if the gods smile on him and he gets the PDP ticket and capture popular imagination as he did in 2011, ‘Orange Revolution 2’ may just hit its target.

Moshood Mustapha He is Special Adviser to the Senate President and former member of the House of Representatives Of all the governorship aspirants in the APC, Mustapha appears to be the most aggressive and the one whose campaign for the job is anything but subtle. As far back as 2016, he had set up a central committee and appointed local coordinators for each of the 16 LGA to pursue his goal of succeeding Ahmed. This had irked many stakeholders who felt the Ilorinborn business man had jumped the gun. He also made sure he doled goodies to indigent people during Islamic and Christian festivals.

Mustapha meant business, no doubt. Eventually CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

INEC’s Timetable and the 2019 General Election The comprehensive timetable for the next general election released last week by the Independent National Electoral Commission has set in motion a flurry of political activities across the country, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week released detailed timetable of activities leading to the next general election in 2019.

The timetable consists of schedules for the Presidential, National and State Assembly, Governorship and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council elections.

The unveiling of the timetable by the commission has thus signalled the commencement of various political activities associated with preparations for the general election. It has also removed the veil shielding politicians with ambition to contest the 2019 elections.

According to the election timetable, party primaries for the Presidential, Governorship, Federal and State Elections would begin on August 18 and will end on October7 2018, while that of the FCT Area Council Elections will commence on September 4 to end on October 27 2018.

INEC said formal publication of notice of election for national and state elections would be on August 17, 2018 while that of the FCT Area Council Elections would be done on September 3, 2018.

Also collection of nomination forms by political parties for national and state elections begins from August 11 to 24 while that of the FCT Area Council elections would be between November 3 and 10, this year.

Commencement of campaign by political parties will start in November 18 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections; December 1 for Governorship and State Assembly elections and December 2 for the FCT Area Council elections.

The last day for the submission of nomination forms to INEC for Presidential and National Assembly Elections is December 3 and that of Governorship and State Assembly will be December 17. Submission of forms for the FCT Area Council Elections is fixed for December 14.

INEC equally fixed the last day of campaigns for February 14, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections as well as February 28, 2018 for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council Elections.

While announcing the timetable at a press conference in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, said that the decision to be more proactive in announcing dates and schedules of elections well ahead of time was to engender certainty in the electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders to prepare adequately for elections.

He recalled that the commission had on March 9 2017 announced dates for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections indicating that Presidential Election would hold on February 16 2019, while Governorship and State Assembly Elections would be conducted on March 2, 2019.

A breakdown of the elective positions lined up for grabs in the 2019 contest shows that the commission will be conducting elections for 1,558 constituencies made up of one Presidential

The struggle to register more members will become more intense among the political parties, especially now that the number of the parties has reached 68

Mahmood

constituency, 29 governorship constituencies, 109 senatorial districts, 360 Federal Constituencies , 991 state asesmbly constituencies, six Area Council Chairmanship as well as 62 councilorship positions for the FCT. The commission also announced the registration of 21 new political parties to bring the total number to 68. The new parties include-. All Blending Party (ABP), All Grassroots Alliance (AGA), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Coalition for Change (CC) and Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).Also registered are Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP), Legacy Party of Nigeria (LPN), Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), Modern Democratic Party (MDP), National Interest Party (NIP), National Rescue Mission (NRM) and New Progressive Mission (NPM).

Others are: New Progressive Movement (NPM), Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (NDCP), People’s Alliance for National Development and Liberty (PANDEL), People’s Trust (PT) and Providence People’s Congress (PPC), Re-Build Nigeria Party (RBNP), Restoration Party of Nigeria (RP) and Sustainable National Party

(SNP).

One of the implications of unveiling the election timetable by INEC is that there will soon be a flurry of political activities across the country. Political parties are expected to commence talks over alliances and realignment of forces in a bid to reinforce their chances ahead of the general election. .Some of the political groups that may have been flirting with the idea of merger or reaching understanding on a collaborative deal will have to dust up their files and begin serious engagement.

In the same vein, the struggle to register more members will become more intense among the political parties, especially now that the number of the parties has reached 68 with more still waiting to be registered.

On its part, INEC which had earlier introduced continuous voter registration exercise will be expected to scale-up its preparatory activities.

There will be more engagements with the stakeholders, political parties, civil societies bodies and the media.

While presenting the timetable, Mahmood reminded political parties, candidates and other critical stakeholders that election is a process which is governed by law and that

the commission expected full adherence to the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act. By this, he must have been sounding a note of caution to those parties that have been operating in contravention of the electoral laws to be ready to put their houses in order or face necessary sanctions as prescribed by law.

Last week, during the formal presentation of certificates of registration to 21 associations that have fulfilled the requirements for registration as political parties, the National Commissioner/ Chairman of Election and Party Monitoring Committee, Prof. Antonia Simbine said that about eighteen of the registered 68 political parties in the country had invalid National Executive Committees whose tenures had expired or were not reflective of the Federal Character of Nigeria as required by the constitution.

She declared that the erring parties have been given 90 days to rectify the anomaly. She also said that seventeen out of them had no functional offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as required by the law. Sections 222(a-f) and 223 (1&2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) requires among others that registered political parties must always maintain a functional National headquarters address in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In addition, members of the national executive committees of the parties must not only reflect federal character but also have tenures that are renewed at intervals not exceeding four (4) years.

As expected, the release of the election timetable has begun to elicit reactions from political stakeholders. One of the parties, Action Democratic Party (ADP) has rejected the schedule saying the idea of fixing the presidential election first will give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) undue advantage and an opportunity to outwit the opposition.

The national chairman of ADP, Yagbaji Sani said the party wanted the electoral umpire to reverse the order of the election and to conduct the election beginning from the State Houses of Assembly instead of Presidential election.

The leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said its leadership would meet to consider the timetable of activities for the 2019 general election as released by INEC. Speaking on the release of the election timetable, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said that the party leadership was studying the timetable with a view to responding appropriately to it.

UNMASKING THE CONTENDERS FOR KWARA GOVT HOUSE though, Saraki had to intervene and called him to order while warning his appointees to desist from early campaign. What Mustapha has going for him is his close relationship with Saraki, spanning many years. Even his own father was an associate of Oloye, the father of the Senate President. So his family has a long and rich tradition of being loyal to the Saraki family.

Beyond that, many are not too sure he stands a good chance of becoming the governor in this modern and complex period..

Lukman Mustapha A businessman and Chairman of SobiFM, Ilorin, Lukman is a surprised entrant into the governorship race. Until recently he had not shown any interest whatsoever in politics even though his father was a politician and close associate of Oloye, the father of the Senate President. His elder brother and APC stalwart, Moshood is

also in the race. But Lukman appears set to give the other aspirants a run for their money.

He said his decision to consider himself for the was as a result of pressure from the people.

However, it is very difficult to say how far the businessman will go, considering he is not a known associate of Saraki, the undisputed political leader of the state. But he might not need Saraki’s help after all as most of his associates and admirers are from the opposition PDP. Zakari Mohammed Mohammed is a member of the House of Representative, representing Baruten/KaimaConstituency.

His :chances of becoming the next governor of Kwara State will become brighter if the clamour for the governorship to be zoned to the north gets the nod of the political leadership. A second term member of the House of Representatives,

Mohammed is one of those aspirants waiting in the wings.

Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdularahim Abdulraham is a former Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin. He has always been at loggerheads with Saraki. Their cat and mouse relationship often make it impossible for them to remain in the same political party. So far, Saraki has always emerged victorious of their various contests as his anointed candidates trounced the protégés of the former academic.

Abdularaheem himself had sought his party’s ticket (PDP) severally and lost. But he is well liked among the generality of the Ilorin people, for being always ready to use his position, whether as VC or board chairman, to help the local people to get jobs, admission and the likes.

He is perceived as a good man who will not use the governorship to feather his own nest but to

turn the lives of the people around.

The challenge with him is that he is not very popular outside Ilorin. But if he gets the ticket of the PDP, which still has solid structures across the state, he can be a formidable candidate and may even pull a surprise.

Honourable Mentions Of course, there are many more aspirants gunning for the governorship than those profiled here. But the aspirants above appear to be the strongest. The not-so-prominent one who will get honourable mentions will include Aliyu Ahman Pategi, a member of the House of Representatives (Kwara North), Abubakar Kanike also of the House of Representative (Ilorin East/South), and Alhaji Baba Ahmed, Chief of Staff to the Kwara State governor. Outside the APC, serial governorship aspirant, Dr Mike Omotosho is said to be also warming up.

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FEATURES

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

The Healthy State Despite the economic recession that hurt government finances in recent years, Katsina has soldiered on, ensuring that key projects in the health sector are not allowed to wallow in decrepitude. Ibrahim Shuaib writes

The newly constructed Out-Patient Department, Katsina General Hospital

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he popular perception of most Northern states in Nigeria is that of poverty. “In 19 northern states of Nigeria, human development indices showed they are by far poorer than other parts of the country,� Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said in 2015. And with poverty comes an avalanche of social problems, including a poor health system. But one state, Katsina, is proving the bookmakers wrong, judging from the recent developments in the state’s health sector.

Katsina’s massive engagement with the state’s health sector is quite palpable at the Daura General Hospital in Daura, a town which is about 72km from Katsina, the state capital.

When THISDAY visited, a lot of construction activities were ongoing.

The hospital’s Medical Director, Mohammed Abdulazeez, told this newspaper that 70 per cent of renovation and retrofitting had been completed.

A Radiography Department had been added to the facility, the ward capacity expanded from 150 to 200, and the construction of water fountain roundabout, all completed. The hospital’s entrance gate, too, had been fixed and its fences expanded.

The Outpatient Department, Accident Emergency Unit, Dental and Eye Units and some laboratories had all undergone renovation. A new Paediatric Unit had also been built. “Maternal and child drugs are free,� Abdulazeez said. “Cesarean operation and deliveries are also free at the hospital.�

According to the Medical Director, the hospital’s renovation was divided into three phases, with the entire project 70 per cent completed. “I can authoritatively tell you that we have completed phases one and two while work in phase three is just about to commence,� he said. “Initially, it was just the renovation but lately there were other new buildings that were added to the renovation.�

Abdulazeez also emphasised the progressive nature of the project.

He said: “After renovating the buildings,

Masari...investing in the health of his people

Katsina has three premier hospitals: Katsina General Hospital, Daura General Hospital and Funtua General Hospital and the Masari government resolved to bring these central institutions to a standard level, in terms of infrastructure, hospital equipment, and medical personnel. This January alone, the state is set to employ 50 doctors and about 65 nurses into its health institutions

the wards, the operating theatres, the examination rooms, departments like the Laboratory Department, Radiology Department and the likes, there were also newer buildings that we added. You have the Conference Hall that wasn’t initially there, the main entrance gate wasn’t like this before. We have a roundabout there that has water fountain and then, an entirely new Radiology Department which comprises X-rays, Ultra-Sound and other medical equipments. Those are additional buildings at the site and they translate to more additional buildings because the initial Radiology Department was converted to another department and that department now is converted into two units. We have the Entrance Stabilisation Services Department. In essence, there is an addition.�

However, the Medical Director admitted challenges were still numerous, especially as they relate to the social and cultural dimension of

the community. With Daura sharing boundaries with Niger, about 50 per cent of patients are foreigners. “Of course they are human beings and we must treat them when they come to our hospital, but they overwhelm our health facilities,�

Abdulazeez said. “Also, some of the patients come to the hospital only when their conditions have become critical. “That is a very big challenge because you have patients that come they are so exhausted and you can hardly differentiate the patient from the relatives. This increases our mortality rate because when a patient comes to the hospital after being mismanaged by local quacks, chances of survival are slim. “We would have expected some form of first aid given to them before they come to us,� Abdulazeez said. “Most of our patients from Daura are better because they know their health status - they make use of the PHCs. In the environment of course, we are trying to create awareness, but people are used to their traditional beliefs.�

Another challenge was convincing the patients to stick to the usage of one hospital card, so their medical history can be catalogued in one place.

Abdulazeez stressed: “When I came here, patients come and buy cards every time.

So we decided to create awareness. We go to the communities, we meet the traditional and religious leaders that they listen mostly to. We tell them that if you have a reference card, that reference card is enough for you for a lifetime. When you come to the hospital with a reference card, your card will be sorted out and it’s easier for whoever that is treating you to know your medical history.�

There is also the issue of dearth of manpower despite the state’s massive recruitment. Initially, 12 doctors were allocated to hospital, but some declined the appointment. “So we are now six and the workload is not only on those that are working, it cuts across all cadre, but still we are

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FEATURES

having support from the state government in the sense that the state government maintains the general hospitals,� Abdulazeez said. “Officially, Daura General Hospital is being taken care of by the Usman Dan Fodio University. We have consultants that come from there and they spend a week when they are here. The mother and child mortality rate has reduced drastically with all these interventions.�

Pursuing a progressive path Katsina’s health development project is being driven by the state Governor, Aminu Masari.

And, despite the country’s recent economic misfortunes, he has invested heavily on capital projects in the sector. “I think it has proved one thing, it’s not about paucity of funds alone that is the problem, the problem in this country has been poor leadership,�

Masari told THISDAY. “From what we met on ground and from what we have been able to discover, we believe that with good leadership all these things are possible and they are doable.�

He pointed out that his administration does not possess a magic wand, but has achieved so much only through financial prudence. “Pricing is equally important in terms of costing projects and the insistence on executing quality job,� he said.

Masari noted that when his administration assumed power in 2015, the state’s healthcare system was in tatters. And, understanding the importance of health in the development of any society, the new governor was keen on revamping the sector.

Katsina has three premier hospitals: Katsina General Hospital, Daura General Hospital and Funtua General Hospital and the Masari government resolved to bring these central institutions to a standard level, in terms of infrastructure, hospital equipment, and medical personnel.

This January alone, the state is set to employ 50 doctors and about 65 nurses into its health institutions. “We employed about 690 that consist of nurses, doctors, midwives and other technicians in order to make sure that these hospitals provide minimum requirements,� Masari told THISDAY. “Then, we spent over N700 million on hospital equipment to equip these three hospitals, and now we have brought MRI Scanning in three of our general hospitals. So nobody will go to Kano for scanning. Our plan, is to make sure in the next few years any person who leaves Katsina for medical vacation, is doing it based on his or her choice, and not because state hospitals do not have the capacity to fend for their health needs.�

Beyond the three premier hospitals, other General Hospitals - in Kankia, Musawa, and Malumfashi - have also been drafted into the three-pronged development scheme. This year, the state wants to build three more General Hospitals in Dunsuma, Kpare and Jibia. “We intend to have 11 comprehensive general hospitals,� he said.

A number of medical consultants now working in the new look Katsina hospitals come from neighbouring states. To improve local talent and spur medical research, the state has also gone about establishing a medical school. According to the

His Excellency, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, has done quite a lot in rebuilding the health sector. The government has improved manpower at the hospitals in Katsina State. The government employed over 500 people in all the various cadres in the health sector which is a major kudos to the current administration

The newly built Radiology Unit at Daura Genewral Hospital

The newly constructed Dental and ENT Department at Katsina General Hospital

The renovated Accident and Emergency and OPD Units at Daura General Hospital

governor, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has visited the state on inspection and the first batch of students are expected to file in during the next academic session.

They are also working with the Islamic Development Bank, to finance about 103 healthcare centres in 34 local governments. “Our intention is to have one in each of the 361 wards in the state,� Masari said. “I think if we are able to provide education, health, water, agriculture, our people are limitless, they have the capacity, Katsina has the history.�

Excellence at the centre At the Katsina General Hospital in Katsina, the story of progress is the same. The Hospital’s Deputy Head of Department, Clinical Services,

Dr. Aminu Abdullahi, who spoke to THISDAY, noted that the institution has undergone massive changes since the Masari administration took over. Among numerous other developments, a new administrative building, Dental and ENT Departments have been put up. “The hospital is being renovated in phases

by His Excellency, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari,�

Dr. Abdullahi said. “Phases one and two are completed while we will soon commence phase three of the project. “The phase one includes the external emergency department, the building of the new OPD and the building of the Radiology Department. They are all newly installed. “Then phase two includes the renovation of wards and the erection of the Admin building.�

According to Abdullahi, this current

administration “has done quite a lot in rebuilding the health sector. The government has improved manpower at the hospitals in Katsina State. The government employed over 500 people in all the various cadres in the health sector which is a major kudos to the current administration.�

He added: “Socially and psychologically wise, any patient that sees the facilities, half of the sickness will go and he or she will believe and have confidence in the treatment we give them. In this hospital, we run so many specialties, we have so many doctors, we have consultants, house officers, medical officers from various specialties. The medical officers we have are about 30 and we have resident consultants and expatriate consultants, about 17 of them.�

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IMAGES

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

A Unitholder of Legacy Equity Fund, Mr. Boniface Ekezie; Head, Global Investors Services, UBA Plc, Mrs. Taiwo Sonola; Chief Executive Officer, First City Asset Management (FCAM) Limited, Mr. James Ilori and another Unitholder, Mr. Godwin Anono, during the Annual General Meeting of Legacy Equity Fund, which is managed by FCAM in Lagos...recently President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman Southport Cement, Alhaji Usman Mohammed during a private dinner with President in the Villa Abuja during the weekend.

R-L; General Manager, Sodium Brand Solutions, Mrs. Titilayo Oremade; Winners of Lagos Grows Talent Opeyemi Ishola; ďŹ rst Runner, Onyekachi Alexander; and the Second Runner, Goualin Vidal, at the presentation of Cheque to the winners of Lagos Grows Talent in Lagos, ..recently sunday adigun

L-R: Niger State Commissioner for Health , Dr Mustapha Jubril; Wife of Niger State Governor, Dr Amina Abubakar-Bello and Head of Medical Aairs, Sub-Sahara Africa, Roche, Dr Oladipupo Hameed during the signing of MoU on breast cancer between Roche Product Limited and Niger State Government in Minna... recently

L-R: Mr. Kola James; Chairman Savoy Suites, Mr. Temeyin Okome; Chairman /CEO, Ebony Funeral Undertaker, Mr. Dehinde Herssion and former Lagos State Commissioner for Sport and Youth, Mr. Segun Dawodu during the New year celebration in Lagos....recentl .mubo peters

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Paul University, Akwa, Venerable Professor Uche Isiugo-Abanihe presenting an award of friendship to the Managing Director and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer of Air Sea Freighters Limited, Sir Enoch Iwueze as part of the activities to mark the third convocation of the university in Akwa, Anambra State‌recently

L-R; Financial secretary, Association of Corporate Trustees ( ACT), Motadeni Balogun; Assistant general secretary, Victor Ukadu; CEO, United Capital Trustees/president, ACT, Tokunbo Ajayi; General secretary, ACT, Fatah Kadiri,, Vice president, ACT, Binta Max-Gbinije and Treasurer, Frederick Obodozie during the annual general meeting of the Association of Corporate Trustee in Lagos...recently

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

Íł Ëœ Í° ÍŽ ÍŻ Íś MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 18.33% 19%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

17.83% 18.83% 19.83%

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

333.95% 0.71% 1.36%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

1.36% 1.36%

EXCHANGE RATE ͹͎ͳ˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes KickStart Set to Empower Youths

BEHOLD UNITY BANK BRAND AMBASSADOR

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Unity Bank Plc, Tomi Somefun; Singer/Songwriter, Adekunle Gold & Artist Manager, Afro Urban Records, Niyi Osidipe during the signing of Adekunle Gold as Unity Bank Brand Ambassador in Lagos ‌recently

Market Stakeholders Urge FG to Constitute SEC Board Goddy Egene As the stock market continues to surge, stakeholders have called on the federal government to constitute the Board for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure a better regulation of the market.

SEC, which is the apex regulatory body for the nation’s capital market has been without board for over two years, a situation, stakeholders, said, is not good for the health of the market.

At present, SEC has an acting Director General in the person of Dr. Abdul Zubair. There are no executive commissioners

CAPITAL MARKET and no other board members for robust decision making and implementation of programmes of the commission.

Considering the strategic role the capital market plays in the nation’s economy, operators have said the federal government should no longer delay in constituting the board of SEC. “Given the state of the capital market and recent happenings in SEC, it is very obvious that the absence of a board is affecting its operations. Besides, viewing it from the position

of corporate governance, the commission lack moral justification to take decisions on any breach bordering on corporate governance. If you say you want enforce good corporate governance and you are not leading by example, it is highly discouraging,� a market operator said.

Another operator said with a board decision making process will more robust and more impactful. “As you are aware SEC is implementing its 10-year masterplan, and I believe there are aspects that will need high level decisions that cannot the solely taken by the

DG. I also believe the DG and management may have some other plans that if implemented can make the market to more attractive. However and apparently considering the provisions of the law, such plans may not be executed due to lack of board to ratify such,� the operator said.

A shareholder activist, Mr. Moses Igbrude said it is highly disturbing that a regulator overseeing the market that has hit N15 trillion in market capitalisation can be without a board for such a long time.

Continued on page 24

Firm Rules Out Forex Scarcity in 2018 Obinna Chima Analysts at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited have expressed optimism that foreign exchange (forex) supply in the economy will remain sufficient in 2018 to ensure there is not a return to de facto capital controls that were in place in 2015-2016.

The investment and financial advisory firm also stated that it does not foresee investors or businesses having trouble in accessing forex as was the case before the Investors’ and Exporters’ Window (I&E window) was introduced in April 2017.

The CSL Stockbrokers stated this in its 2018 Economic Outlook titled: “Out of the Woods,� that was obtained on Monday.

That said, they stressed that shifting fundamentals in the form of higher import demand and lower investment inflows

ECONOMY mightlead to depreciatory pressure on the I&E window.

It stated that its CPI-based fair value model suggested that the nation’s currency is 13 per cent overvalued at present and that a fair value for the naira at the end of 2018, based on projected inflation differentials, is around N450/US$. “However, we doubt that the CBN will allow the currency to depreciate that far and we expect the currency to end the year at N380/$, five per cent below current levels. “We expect yields on treasury instruments to remain in double digits across the curve and, given that we are only expecting limited depreciation, carry trade will remain attractive for foreign investors. “From a duration perspec-

tive, we see more value at the short-to-mid part of the curve, with the long-end richly priced,� it stated.

According to the report the outlook for the availability of forex and the naira’s exchange rate in 2018 was the major question occupying the minds of investors in Nigerian assets.

The introduction of the I& E Window (quoted as the Nigerian Autonomous Exchange Rate Fixing or NAFEX) in April significantly improved participants’ access to forex, helping to attract large inflows to the debt markets in particular as investors have become confident that they will be able to access forex to repatriate capital.

However, expectations that treasury instrument yields will fall in 2018 has stoked fears that a slowdown or reversal in portfolio flows will cause a ‘rush to the door’, leading

to renewed shortages of FX in the system and potentially to rationing of FX supplies. “The short answer is that we do not think that such a scenario is likely, and we believe that participants will retain unhindered access to forex via the I&E window in 2018 for three major reasons. “Firstly, we are relatively sanguine on the outlook for both oil prices and production in 2018, believing that output will come in at around the 1.8mbpd mark and that prices will average US$61/bbl, which bodes well for the supply of oil dollars, historically the most important source of forex for the economy. “Secondly and perhaps most importantly, we believe that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will remain willing and able to Continued on page 24

The Managing Director, Poise Graduate Finishing Academy, (PGFA), Mr. Asher Adeniyi has urged Nigerian youths to key into Career KickStart, a programme designed to help disadvantaged youths become competitively employable within the job market.

Citing the added hurdles that disadvantaged youths face in the labour market, he said innovative solutions have to be directed to improving access to quality education and job opportunities.

The solutions, according to him, will improve the employability skills, ICTskills of participants and expose them to internships and permanent job placements. Adeniyi said the beneďŹ ciaries of the career kickstart training have been both university graduates who lack employable skills and cannot sponsor themselves ďŹ nancially for the employability training. “Our experience is that these disadvantaged youths lack experience in the formal job market; and face several self and social discrimination on the basis of gender, disability, race or ethnicity amongst others; and are often geographically isolated with poor access to quality education and job opportunities,â€? Adeniyi said.

The Career KickStart programme, he explained is embedded with theresponsibilityofbridgingthegapbetweentheknowledgegained from the formal educational sector and the knowledge, skills and abilities required to function eectively in today’s global work environment. According to Adeniyi, “Between 2016 and 2017, 528 unemployed graduates in Lagos and Edo State, were sponsored by OXFAM, and were trained under the Career KickStart programme.

Over50percenthavegainedemploymentwhileothersarecurrently been connected with several job opportunities.

Tecno Launches New Smartphone

Tecno mobile phone brand under the Transsion Holdings, has released its ďŹ rst frameless full-screen display smartphone, known as TECNO CAMON CM. The device is the latest in the CAMON Series family and reemphasises the brand’s knack for designing high-end smartphones with sophisticated cameras.

Speaking at its launch in Lagos on Tuesday, the Brand Manager of Tecno Mobile, Nigeria, Eric Liu, highlighted the company’s eorts to make revolutionary smartphones that would usher smartphone enthusiasts into an era of endless possibilities on the mobile devices and exceptional photography experiences.

According to him, “The smartphone has been reinvented and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) globally are always on the lookout for the next big thing to talk about. At Tecno, we take pride in our ability to understand and meet our consumers’ needs, and eventuallysurpass their expectations.�

Yudala Boosts E-commerce

Vice President of Yudala, pioneer online and oine e-commerce outďŹ t, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, has said that the company is set to hit a path of proďŹ tability by 2020, a move that will make it become the ďŹ rst e-commerce company in Africa to return proďŹ ts within its ďŹ rst ďŹ ve years of operations. Ekeh who spoke at a religious concert in Lekki, Lagos, noted that the facts and ďŹ gures on ground showed that Yudala is on track to set another record in what has been a ground-breaking journey in the Nigerian e-commerce industry. “At Yudala, our strategy is clear and distinct from anything else on oer in the market today.

Our fusion of online and oine is not only futuristic, but one that has being copied by other global e-commerce giants. On the back of this, we have seen a consistent growth trajectory that will see YudalaemergeastheďŹ rstproďŹ tableNigeriane-commercecompany by 2020,â€? Ekeh said.

Speaking on the challenges of e-commerce business in Africa, Ekeh said: “We are aware of the challenges faced by players in the e-commerce sector. Research at our disposal indicates that less than 30 per cent of African e-commerce startups are proďŹ table, with many of them hampered by lack of trust, shortage of ďŹ nancing, logisticaldiďŹƒcultiesandthelargely-traditionalapproachtoshopping still in play among these economies.

“Tariff is important. The agency that decides on tariff is the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and not the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing�

Minister of Power,Works and Housing

Mr. Babatunde Fashola

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MARKET STAKEHOLDERS URGE FG TO CONSTITUTE SEC BOARD “This is not good enough and does not portray as a serious market. The presence of a board with executive commissioners that will work with the DG will definitely attract for investors and bring more stability to the market. While there may be senior management staff currently assisting the DG in the discharge of his duties, they may not have the same powers as executive commissioners. The federal government should no longer delay in appointing a board for the commission so good decisions that can sustain the recovery being witnessed was sustained,� Igbrude said.

FIRM RULES OUT FOREX SCARCITY IN 2018 ensure participants’ continued access to the I&E window. “On the willingness side, CBN officials have repeatedly extoled the success of the I&E window in monetary policy communiquĂŠs and in interviews with the press,â€? it added.

Turnover on the I & E window has risen steadily since its introduction in April (total turnover was US$26 billion since inception as of end 2017) and is largely the reason for the improvement in broad sentiment over recent months.

To this end, CSL Stockbrokers’ analysts pointed out that it was unlikely that the CBN would want to alter the system given its positive reception. They also expressed belief that the CBN will also have the ability to persist with the market from a financial standpoint. “Although it has supplied dollars to the I&E window on occasion through its Single Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS), it has remained a net buyer of FX on the market since it was introduced in April. “As a result, reserves have risen steadily to a three-year high of US$38.4 billion in late December, giving the authorities the resources to keep the market supplied during periods of lulls of autonomous inflows.

Group Business Editor

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

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NCAA Gives Nigerian Airlines Conditions to Benefit from Weather Review Chinedu Eze The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman has released the conditions, which domestic airlines must meet in order to benefit from the downward review of weather minima.

A new weather minima regime, which started in Nigeria on January 4, 2018 allows for takeoff as low as 150 metres Runway Visual Range (RVR) for 18 airports in the country, while some airports in the country with Category Two Instrument Landing Systems (ILS Cat II) can permit landing with 300 metres RVR. The implication of this review is that when visibility is as low as 150 meters flights can take off and also land, depending on the navigational aids available at the airports of departure and arrival.

The NCAA Director-General told THISDAY in an interview that for airlines to benefit from the new weather regime, which could bring flight delays and cancellations due to weather, to the barest minimum, the airlines must train their pilots and have corresponding onboard equipment to dovetail with the ground navigational aids before the Authority will give approval for the airline to operate in the new weather regime.

Captain Usman said that when these conditions are met, NCAA would approve the documentation of the airline

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˜ (Cap Mkt) 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

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and it would start benefitting from the reduced weather minima. “There should be training for the crew (pilots) to adhere strictly to the rules because whatever we are doing we have to take safety into consideration first; so training is essential part of safety and also the documentation so that people will understand the procedure and follow the procedure. That is one aspect of what we have done in the review of the landing and takeoff

minimum. In taking advantage of that operators will be able to increase their operations. “The second aspect is the one that requires onboard equipment.

It is satellite based system and you will need to have onboard equipment that will publish the procedures for using that satellite based landing system. Some of the airlines, mainly the foreign airlines have the equipment to use those approaches for successful landing. If airlines don’t have the equipment it will not

be possible for them to use the equipment. All they need to do is to have alternative onboard equipment, train their crew and also document it properly for us to give them approval to make use of the equipment,�

Captain Usman said.

He noted that one of the major airlines in Nigeria, (Arik Air), has that approval and they have been taking advantage of that and “where others are not able to get in they will go in and get out and that has improved

their operation capacity.�

NCAA had explained during the review that the reviewed operating minima provided for a performance based takeoff minima for the affected aerodromes in Nigeria which is determined by available visual aids for takeoff. “These are Runway Centre Lights, Touchdown Zone lights, Runway Edge Lights, Threshold Lights, Runway End Lights and Runway Surface Markings,� the regulatory agency explained.

A FRESH BEGINNING

L-R: Executive Director, Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited, Kazeem Tajudeen; Managing Partner,AT3 Resources, Tosin Adefeko; Director Legal, Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited, Olaitan Tajudeen; General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja, George Balassis; and Director of Projects Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited, Ahmed Tajudeen, at the press conference announcing the partnership between Radisson Blu and Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited in Lagos...recently

NAICOM Releases Guidelines for Micro Insurance Operation Ebere Nwoji Insurance industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has released the guidelines for Micro Insurance operation in Nigeria. The guidelines have been in the works for close to five years.

NAICOM said the guidelines which establish uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for conduct of micro insurance business in Nigeria took effect from January 1st 2018.

The industry regulator said in a statement circulated to insurance industry operators said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by the National

Insurance Commission Act 1997 and the Insurance Act 2003, the National Insurance Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) hereby establishes uniform set of rules, regulations and standards for conduct of Microinsurance business in Nigeria. Part of the guidelines read that “No person shall commence or carry on any class of Microinsurance business without being registered or authorised by the Commission. “The Guidelines supersede all other microinsurance guidelines and shall take effect from January 1st, 2018�.

According to the commission, the objectives of the guidelines include to provide minimum

standards for the conduct of Microinsurance business in Nigeria; to ensure consumer protection; to establish general features of Microinsurance; to establish duties and responsibilities of Microinsurance operators and insurance intermediaries as well as to establish conditions for entry and exit from the Microinsurance market.

The commission, defined Microinsurance as insurance developed for low income populations, low valued policies, micro and small scale enterprises provided by licensed institutions, run in accordance with generally accepted insurance principles, and funded by premiums.

It explained that Microinsur-

ance products are insurance products that are designed to be appropriate for the low income market, low valued policies, micro and small scale enterprises in relation to cost, terms, coverage, and delivery mechanism.

The commission, defined scope of micro insurance for the operators saying the sum insured under a Microinsurance policy(ies) shall not be more than N2,OOO,OOOper person per insurer. “The Commission may review this provision subject to the nature of the low income earners�, NAICOM said.

It further said Microinsurance policies shall exclude

special risks insurance, motor insurance (except tricycles and motorcycles), professional indemnity and other pecuniary risks with sum insured higher than N2,OOO,OOO “Third party liability risks and all other classes of risks with sum insured above N2,OOO,OOO are also excluded, all compulsory insurances on third party liability risks excluded from microinsuance�, the commission stated.

It listed features of Microinsurance operation saying, it shall be simplicity in nature, its policies, conditions, procedures and marketing must be simple and the documentation must be presented in plain language.

Farmers Predict Low Cocoa Production in 2018 James Sowole in Akure

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“

Citing supply of fake and substandard inputs allegedly by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has raised the alarm that the country may witness low cocoa production in 2018/2019 season.

CFAN stated this at a news conference addressed by its president, Chief Raimi Adeniji in Akure, Ondo State capital lamenting that the same reason was responsible for low cocoa

output in 2017.

Adeniji, who was flanked by the association’s National Secretary, Mr. Adeola Adegoke and the National Vice President, South West, Mr. Ayodele Joseph, said the practice would have negative effects on the nation’s non oil earning.

Adeniji also said apart from the issue of the alleged fake and substandard input, fire incidents that ravaged many farm plantations, would also contribute to the low cocoa production.

Thr CFAN president

therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh to urgently look into the matter for the betterment and improvement of cocoa production in 2018.

He recalled that most problems encountered by farmers last year, was due to the supply by contractors of substandard inputs.

Adeniji enumerated some of the substandard inputs procured and supplied by the contractors to which include

jute bag, solo pump, fungicide (champ dp) cutlasses among others. “This has distorted the flowering and untimely ripening of the cocoa pods and may result into further declining of Nigeria cocoa beans production in the year 2018/2019 if the procurement of cocoa inputs by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is not reviewed. “We want to appeal to Mr. President and the Minister of Agriculture to realize that in spite of our numerous complaints, the ministry still

went ahead to award fresh contract to those who supplied the earlier unwanted, fake and substandard inputs without considering the implication on the cocoa and the farmers�, he lamented.

The association also appealed to the President and the minister to assist the cocoa farmers across the country, who lost their farms to fire during the dry season last year.

He explained that letters had been written to the minster for agriculture on the incidents without any response.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NPA Begins Probe of Tincan Island Port Fire Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has set up an investigative committee to look into the recent fire incident at its Tincan Island Port Complex (TCIP) locations, which resulted in the loss of some official documents This is as the NPA boss, on behalf of the management team of the organisation, expressed sympathy to the Executive Committee of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) over the incidents.

Bala Usman pledged that

management will always ensure that the security of lives and property, which is one of its cardinal thrusts since inception, is strictly adhered to. According to her, further steps would be taken to look into ways of safeguarding and taking drastic measures towards preventing a recurrence of these unfortunate incidents across all port locations in the country.

She said the investigative team would look into the remote causes of the incidents and come up with recommendations towards preventing a recurrence of

the sad event.

Executive Committee members of ANLCA led by Dr. Kayode Farinto, while thanking the Bala Usman and her team for the visit, solicited for the inclusion of a member of the association’s committee as a member of the investigative team.

The committee eulogised the quick response and professionalism of the NPA Fire Service Division towards combating the inferno which could have been more devastating. The committee requested that NPA management provides a fire truck to take care of its vicinity.

Jumia Enforces Stricter Standards against Vendors Emma Okonji Jumia has commenced enforcement of stricter standards for all its vendors. This will include stringent fines against vendors who fail to non-comply with the rules of engagement committing them to the business.

CEO, Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah, who made the disclosure in Lagos, said the move would help protect customers who shop online on the Jumia platform.

According to her, the new measures include: Shipping of orders within 48 hours; Listing of only genuine products on the Jumia platform; Never going out of stock, among others.

She said consequent fines for non-compliance would be N2,500 fine for shipping items late, N50,000 fine for shipping counterfeit items, N2,500 maximum fine for items going out of stock. “Vendors can rest assured that compliance to Jumia’s stricter standards will result in orders from the over 1 million customers who visit jumia.com.ng daily.

“Jumia currently partners over 7,000 active. Our mission is to relentlessly build the most effortless and reliable online shopping environment providing consumers with the widest range of genuine products at low prices, Anammah said.

Citing JFK in his popular quotes, Anammah said: “We are committed to our mission, not because it is easy but, because it is hard. Every word in our mission is hard to execute in Nigeria, but it is worth it, because we are building a digital Nigeria one transaction, one vendor and one customer at a time. We truly believe that through digital, Nigeria can leapfrog development.�

She further thanked the 7,000 active vendors on Jumia and extended hearty congratulations to vendors who increased their sales volume by up to 6 times between 2016 and 2017, such as: HAYAT, Oneway Collections, Opeyemi Foods, Best Price Technologies, House of Oge, H&N Couture, Frieslandcampina Plc, Delight

Price, Affordable Luxury and Fashionholic.

Anammah specifically thanked Femadons Consumart, E.Mich, UgoSam and Ojays Store, the 4 vendors who won an all-expense paid trip on Jumia’s Race to Bangkok. The vendors performed tremendously well during 2017, attaining very high sales volumes, seller score greater than 4.6 out of 5 and a wide assortment of products.

Addressing the concerns of intending vendors and customers, the Head, Engagement, Jumia Nigeria, Ojuola Asuquo, said: “Jumia is an online marketplace that presents its vendors’ products to customers and helps facilitate a transaction.

Collaboration with our vendors and customers is pivotal to achieving our mission and vision, which help build, protect and sustain our eco-system. Our sole purpose is to deliver on this mission and that makes our standards stricter than what vendors may have been used to offline. �

Ships & Ports to Hosts Forum on Cargo Palletisation Policy Nigeria’s leading maritime consulting firm, Ships & Ports plans to hold a one-day town hall meeting on the federal government’s policy on the palletisation of imported cargoes in the country.

Coordinator of the event, Mrs. Shulammite Olowofoyeku said the event has been scheduled to hold in Lagos on February 6, 2017.

The implementation of the cargo palletisation policy, which officially commenced on January 1, 2018, has been received with mixed reactions since it was announced by the federal government.

Some stakeholders argue that the new policy will add to the cost of shipment into Nigeria as well as delay cargo clearance at the ports.

The federal government, on the other hand, is of the view that the policy will allow

for secured shipment and better inspection of imported consignments at the nation’s seaport.

According to Olowofoyeku, “It is against the backdrop of the various arguments on the merits and demerits of the policy that the Town Hall Meeting is being spearheaded

by Ships & Ports. “We intend to examine the issue from diverse perspectives and benchmark it against the importation polices in developed countries and international best practice. “The idea is to proffer solution that works in the best interest of Nigeria, Nigerians and the trading community.�

Olowofoyeku said the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun will open the meeting with a keynote

address. “The gathering is expected to draw participants from critical stakeholders along the importation value chain.

These include government Ministries, Departments and Agencies agencies such as the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. “Also billed for the town hall meeting are representatives of the organised private sector including manufacturers, traders, shipping companies, terminal operators, shipping agencies, cargo agents, freight forwarders, customs brokers, marine insurers and haulage operators,� she said.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

What to Do When You Stumble Oprah Winfrey said “it doesn’t matter how far you might rise, at some point, you are bound to stumble�.

I remember when I told one of my mentors that I had resigned and was still wondering what I wanted to do with my life. At that time I sounded very uncertain and he could read that I was worried as I had never been fully engaged since I left university. It was a strange place for me to be.

He gave a wry smile that to me was “you are just beginning to see and understand what life is all about�. Whenever I remember that conversation now I smile, because my experience in the past one year has shown that, we all stumble at one time or the other for various reasons, but the most important thing is to rise up and stand irrespective of what the challenging experience was. According to Alex Jasin “no one reaches a goal without persevering through difficult times.�

Life will not always go according to plan, no matter how hard we permutate.

The goal is to ensure you pick yourself up and work tenaciously towards your goal.

Alex Jasin, wants us to do the following when we find ourselves in this situation:

Take time to feel your pain When you’ve hit the ground on all fours, you may feel the need to deny your situation or take it for granted. Don’t.

Instead, allow yourself to be vulnerable to the way you feel. If you feel angry for failing, accept what you feel.

Taking time to feel your emotions and grieving your situation is a good start to refocusing yourself for what’s to come.

You can’t rise from a fall by avoiding the fact that you fell and actually got hurt. If you do so, the pain will pile up and weigh you down at a later time. So grieve, it helps you feel better. And it will.

Accept what you can’t change This is like grieving, but more about understanding that what’s happened

can’t be undone. If your business failed and you’re deep in debt, you can’t change that fact. Not in a day, at least, and definitely not by numbing or ignoring the situation you’re in.

This is just part of the healing process, and the sooner you’re able to accept and understand what you can’t change, the better.

Be kind, and forgive yourself When life knocks you down, it’s normal to feel guilty, blame yourself and even add self-hate to that pile. However, at the end of the day, you must learn to forgive yourself and find a door within the darkness.

Think about all the people that have been in your situation and successfully lived through it. What did they do to recover?

Do your research and read about it.

The truth is, in the midst of all your troubles and depression, someone else has been in your shoes. Someone else has felt what you’re feeling now, survived and thrived.

Evaluate your options, and redefine your goals Once you’ve forgiven yourself and are ready for the next move, it’s time to evaluate your options. Ask yourself what can be done differently by assessing what went wrong.

If you made mistakes, write each one of them down to learn from your behavior.

If it was something you didn’t do, think about how you’ll change things up next time around. And if you didn’t make a mistake and yet you still failed, focus on the future. There’s probably an aspect from your experience you can learn from.

As you evaluate, also think about your larger vision. What is it that you want to achieve and when do you want to achieve it? Remember that one of the daily habits of successful people is goal setting. You, too, should write down your long-term goals and break them down into smaller daily goals.

Map out a plan for your goals

When you’ve hit the ground on all fours, you may feel the need to deny your situation or take it for granted. Don’t.

Instead, allow yourself to be vulnerable to the way you feel. If you feel angry for failing, accept what you feel.

Taking time to feel your emotions and grieving your situation is a good start to refocusing yourself for what’s to come.You can’t rise from a fall by avoiding the fact that you fell and actually got hurt

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.�

This quote by Antoine de Saint-ExupÊry is a great reminder that just having a goal is not enough. You can write it down, break it down into as many small daily goals as you want, but if you don’t have an action plan to execute it, all will be in vain.

So make plans around your goal. Make plans depending on your unique problem.

If your goal is to get investors for your startup idea, make plans to attend events and approach potential investors. Then make sure you actually follow through on the things you write down.

Over time, it gets easier to rise up and follow through. You won’t have to exert as much will because you’ll have formed a set of habits day in and day out. You’ll have a purpose. Your plans and goals are that purpose. They give you a reason to wake up every morning.

If at one point you feel like you want to pull back into depression sharing your experiences with people can help to avoid setbacks.

But most importantly, remember to not give up. You haven’t failed until you quit, so keep at it.

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

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Between Banks and Tourism Devt Obinna Chima writes on the need for financial institutions to support the tourism sector The enormous richness and diversity of Nigeria’s culture has always been considered as strong reason why tourism should be a primary foreign exchange earner for the country.

From east to west; from north down to south, the country is naturally endowed with rich tourist sites.

Nigeria’s art and cultural heritage are woven from threads of history and diversity, legend and conquest.

That was why the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed recently declared that the federal government was irrevocably committed to the development of the tourism sector.

According to him, the government was mustering the right political will and taking some result-oriented steps to develop and reposition the sector.

Mohammed described tourism as “the oil that never dries�, saying that the government would harness the potential of the sector to boost the revenue profit of the country. “This government is committed to the development of the tourism sector and we are mustering the political will to reposition the sector. “We recognise the potential of tourism to propel the growth of the economy and we will do everything possible to develop this sector and make it a major revenue earner for the country,� he had said.

The minister also said government was focusing on the development of domestic tourism while putting in place the right infrastructure to attract foreign tourism.

He said domestic tourism was not fully explored in view of its enormous potential to the economy of the country.

Mohammed said that the government was giving those areas like entertainment, fashion in which the country had comparative advantage over some other countries, priority attentions in its tourism development agenda.

The minister, while highlighting some of the steps being taken by government to develop the sector, said the Presidential Council on Tourism was being revived.

He said the resuscitation of the committee would engender the rapid development of the sector through policy directions and other enablement.

He said the issuance of tourist visas was being simplified and issuance time reduced to 48 hours to attract foreign tourists.

The minister added that a committee to implement the tourism roadmap had been set up and that a task force on creative economy had been put in place.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the government had designed a festival calendar for the country to stimulate internal tourism and attract foreign tourists.

The minister, however, said the government could not develop tourism alone.

He appealed for the partnership of private sector and other stakeholders to develop the sector.

Clearly, the main thrust of government’s policy on tourism is to generate foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities, promote rural enterprises and national integration, among other things.

Also, it is ideally positioned to contribute to seize the opportunities stemming from urbanisation.

An incredible tour through the history of tourism in Nigeria over the last 50 years of its existence shows that not much has been accomplished and important challenges remain.

According to a World Bank report, tourism is one of the only industries in the world where the ‘good’ or ‘service’ is consumed at the site of production. For this reason, local people are both at an advantage to reap the benefits associated with the sector. A well planned, regulated and responsible tourism can be an excellent mechanism of channelling resources from rich to poor - even at the large scale.

Commercial tourism activities provide an opportunity for local people to participate in

direct employment, in providing goods and services to tourism businesses through the supply chain, but also in direct interaction with the tourist (for example: crafts, excursions, food and beverage).

The generation of earnings amongst those local people directly involved with the industry in turn stimulates indirect spend (of wages) in the local economy.

However, in Nigeria, as of 2016, the direct contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was merely 1.7 per cent of GDP. Also, the third quarter 2017 National Bureau of Statistics figures showed that the contribution of the art, recreation and entertainment sector was 3.45 per cent (year- on-year), representing a decrease of -9.35 per cent points relative to the same period a year earlier, and a decrease of -1.82 per cent points compared with the preceding quarter.

On a quarterly basis, growth was recorded at - 11.74 per cent. The activity contributed 0.19 per cent to total nominal GDP, lower from the 0.20 per cent it contributed in third quarter 2016 and equally lower than the 0.23% it contributed in the preceding quarter of 2017.

Indeed, this showed that the sector requires more attention.

Given the plethora of opportunities provided by tourism, it is surprising that the industry

Clearly, the main thrust of government’s policy on tourism is to generate foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities, promote rural enterprises and national integration, among other things

has not received adequate attention from financial institutions, especially a lot of commercial banks.

Heritage Bank’s Role Driven by the need to boost activities in the sector, Heritage Bank through its strategic partnership with government and private organisations, has continued to make efforts to transforming Nigeria into a tourism sector destination in Africa and position it as lever of Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

The bank’s support was even noted by the Minister of Information and Culture, who commended its efforts recently.

The bank aims at boosting Nigeria’s tourism via creative arts industry supported the sponsorship of exhibition at the National Museum Benin, at the Exhibition Gallery of National Museum Benin by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, in collaboration with the Edo State Government, and the Smithsonian Institute, United States of America.

Also, Heritage Bank Plc partnered with the organisers of the International Festival of Contemporary Dance (IFCOD) to host the second edition of One Language, a musical production of intrigue, dance and drama.

Most prominent of its partnership and supports was the annual Calabar Carnival and festival, tagged “Africa’s Biggest Street Party,� was created as part of the vision of making Cross River State the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and other tourists across the world.

Since its debut in 2004 by a former governor of the state, Donald Duke, the theme of the yearly event has continued to change.

The theme of the recently concluded 2017 edition was “migration and climate change.�

The theme was chosen against the backdrop that Africa has always known migration and it has been the home of many cultures for many centuries.

From the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade era, colonisation and neo-colonialism, the African continent which used to be home to many foreigners, has now become a land of opportunities.

The MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo,

while commenting on the theme of the carnival said: “As far as this is concerned, the bank will continue to support initiatives that have to do with sustainability,� adding that migration is a depletion of human resources, depletion of values and depletion of human capital. “We are here as an institution to help to facilitate and to create awareness that the grass is not greener on the other side, we can develop ourselves, we can build our nation, we can build our continent and sustain it if we do the right things like planting trees, keeping our environment clean, disposing our wastes properly and living a good life.�

Governor Ben Ayade explained that the theme of the event was chosen to create awareness on the need to protect the environment and caution youths against illegal migration.

Also, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa noted the relevance of theme to recent and trending ignoble migrant journey and the menace it has brought to the country.

According to her, the interpretation of the Seagull Band which she leads took a prismatic view of the forms of migration and causal factors of human migration.

Besides the carnival, there was also the Miss Africa Calabar Beauty Pageant 2017 which was won by Miss Botswana, Gaseangwe Balopi, 21.

Balopi emerged the 2017 African queen at the second edition of the pageant which was a keenly contested event after a fourth round of appearances in different attires by 25 contestants.

Ayade also said the event afforded the African continent the opportunity to choose another beauty queen that will use her beauty to create awareness on the need for Africans to see themselves as one. “Blackness is now a perception, beauty and character in the eyes of the people. The Miss Africa pageant is meant to tell the true story of Africa to the world,� Ayade added.

According to him, “how can a continent like Africa that is blessed with abundant natural and human resources be poor? Africans are intellectually sound. For us to tell the true African story, we need a face that is appealing.�

Therefore, there is need for more banks to view investing in thetourism industry as a means to stimulate growth over the long term as well as to grow their businesses.

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NCRIB Collaborates With OPS to Deepen Insurance Penetration Ebere Nwoji In furtherance of its efforts at deepening insurance penetration in the country, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has opened discussions with the Organised Private Sector( OPS) particularly the leadership of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA) on the possibilities of leveraging on the membership of both institutions to further spread insurance distribution in Nigeria.

The proposed partnership will encourage members of the two trade bodies and by extension other OPS members to

have insurance cover especially for their businesses against any peril, and other forms of unforeseen events capable of threatening further existence of their trade.

NCRIB Executive Secretary, Fatai Adegbenro, who led the NCRIB delegations to LCCI office in Lagos, recently said that the Council is poised to assist Chamber’s members to remain in business through risk management.

Bearing in mind the challenging business environment where members of the Chamber operate, Adegbenro noted that insurance remains the best instrument to mitigate any loss to business. He stressed the need to patronise only registered insurance brokers under the

aegis of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers.

In a relative development, Adegbenro, who also led the Council’s delegation on a courtesy visit to Nigerian-German Business Association highlighted the benefits of engaging insurance brokers as a go between for insurance transaction.

He noted that finding the right level of insurance cover can be a time-consuming and expensive task for members of the association, hence, the need to engage insurance brokers.

According to him, using an insurance broker does not cost more adding that Brokers are paid a commission by the insurance provider for selling their products.

Responding, Director General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf, who received the NCRIB delegation in his office, urged insurance industry to upscale rate of awareness campaign especially, among the low level income earners. He noted that the rate of insurance awareness is still very low, and that the

two organisations need to collaborate to deal with it. “I appreciated the value of insurance coverage when there was fire incident that consumed one of the Chambers’ apartments. Our Brokers swung into action and a claim of N30 million was paid to the Chamber. Public enlightenment and sensitisations on the need for insurance and the use of insurance brokers should be the first step on collaboration.�

Yusuf however pledged the commitment of the Chamber

to collaborate with the Council especially on the need to raise the level of insurance awareness.

He further urged the Council to fish out unregistered insurance brokers practicing unethically.

In a related development, Director General, Nigerian-German Business Association, Gbenga Adebija, who also received the NCRIB delegation in his Lagos office underscored the need for insurance for members of his organisation to protect their business interest.

FBNInsurance Wins World Finance Global Insurance Award FBNInsurance has for the third time, won the coveted World Finance Global Insurance Award as the Best Life Insurance Company in Nigeria in 2017.

While acknowledging the massive influence of new technology and changing global economic outlook on the insurance industry in 2017, the organisers gave kudos to the winners for their resilience in weathering the various challenges.

A statement from the organiser ’s website said: “The World Finance Global Insurance awards aim to celebrate those that have stood out as clear industry leaders over the course of 2017 by remaining agile even in the face of rapid change.�

Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBNInsurance, Elizabeth Agugoh, reacting to the award attributed the

success to her company’s continuous commitment to providing responsive insurance to every Nigerian. “In our seven years of operation, we have been able to carve a niche for ourselves by continuously engaging the consumer through our retail drive thereby gaining trust and traction in the market. We are happy to have won this award yet again; we will not rest on our oars even as we set our sights on more successes,� she said.

Established in 2007, World Finance has celebrated achievement, innovation and brilliance in business through their annual awards.

FBNInsurance, won the Best Life Insurance Company in Nigeria at the 2014 and 2016 editions of the awards. The 2017 award is the third time the company will be so honoured with the global accolade.

Nigerian, US Salt Firms Resolve Dispute An indigenous salt manufacturers, Jumbee Limited, has reached an amicable resolution of its dispute with an America-based salt exporter, Michigan Salt Products LLC, over its joint venture agreement.

The terms of settlement, according to the two firms, is a product of voluntary and mutual decision of both parties to meet and elect to broker an amicable resolution of the protracted disagreement surrounding the joint venture agreement and the counter-claim of Jumbee Limited.

The Michigan Salt Products LLC particularly said that by the token, it had retracted an earlier story published in the Nigerian dailies, which Jumbee Limited and its directors found very offensive and had, therefore, taken responsibility to inform t he general public of thisterms

of settlement as a retraction of the earlier publication against Jumbee Limited.

It said, in a statement by its solicitor, Barr. Olu Akinola, that, “Importantly, there is no victor, no vanquished in the dispute that arose from the interpretation of the Joint Venture Agreement between Jumbee Limited, a Nigerian Salt manufacturing company and Michigan Salt LLC, as both parties settled amicably. “The two companies having met and resolved the issues at stake amicably, their solicitors have decided not to have further recourse to arbitration as provided for in the joint venture agreement, having also considered the over six years business relationship that existed between the two entities before the joint venture agreement,� he said.

MERITORIOUS AWARD

L-R: Managing Director, SCIB Nigeria Insurance Brokers, Mr. Shola Tinubu (left), presenting the company’s 2017 Overall Best Sta award to Miss Ejiroghene Efekoha, an Account Executive, during Scib Nigeria 2018 New Year party in Lagos ...recently

Premium Pension Gets New Managing Director The board of Premium Pension Limited, has appointed Umar Sanda Mairami as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive officer.

He succeeded Wilson Ideva, who formally retired from the company.

A statement signed by Head Corporate Communications of the company, Aliyu Mohammad Ali, said Mairami, is a seasoned banker of repute, a distinguished member of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

He began his career with the then Habib Nigeria Bank Limited as a Trainee officer of the Yola branch of the bank and later joined the then Intercity Bank Plc in 1999 where he served as an Executive Assistant to the Managing

Director. He acquired robust experience having traversed and headed major strategic core banking groups which comprised corporate planning; corporate promotions; credit administration; training and other aspects of banking covering credit management, relationship and branch management as well as branch coordination.

The statement said Mairami, also served as Deputy General Manager, Group Head Corporate Services covering, human resources, administration, financial control and information technology departments.

As a result of the banking reforms of 2004, which ensued fusing of Intercity Bank with eight other banks to form Unity Bank, Mairami

was appointed as the bank’s pioneer head of Human Capital Management department.

He was also head of Asset Management Committee and subsequently resigned as Head of Operations of the Bank.

During his maiden briefing to the members of staff at his assumption of office, The statement said until his current appointment, he was an Executive Director Business Development and Investment of Legacy Pension Managers Limited.

According to the statement, in the course of his banking career spanning over two (2) decades, he attended several local and international training programs and business schools across

the globe. He was a member of the Education Committee of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria as well as Director of Northlink Insurance Brokers Limited.

The statement said the Premium Pensions new CEO was warmly received on his arrival by the company’s Executive Director Kabir Tijjani and the entire Management staff of the company.

It said Mairami appointment is in tandem with the strategic focus of the Premium Pension Limited to become the foremost Pension Fund Administrator in the country.

Mairami is expected to bring to bear his several years of cumulative experience in banking and financial industry to Premium Pension.

Ogun to Host over 1000 Tech Disruptors at 2018 Summit Emma Okonji More than 1000 individuals, organisations and future technology disruptors are expected to gather in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for a technology summit tagged ‘The TechSummitOgun 2018.’ With the theme ‘Disruptive Innovation; Where Are We?’ the summit scheduled to hold in Abeokuta, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, on Thursday, January 18, 2018.

Hosted by Vervetree Global, an emerging incubator, the summit will convey leading stakeholders within the digital innovation ecosystem to explore solutions to drive

digital innovation and growth from the early-stage phase of technology innovation.

Speakers at the summit would range from diverse background and industries including, telecommunication companies, technology start-up companies, members of the academic community, policy makers, entrepreneurs, young people and several others with experiences required to drive productive conversations and actions for the future of techenabled innovation.

They will speak across technical sessions and sub-topics, including innovation and start-ups, education, innovation and financing, innovation and

digital media.

The summit will be characterised by keynote addresses, plenary sessions and breakout sessions.

Some of the topics to be treated at plenary include: Promoting Ogun as a Technological and innovation hub in Nigeria; Start-up, education and the digital age: leveraging social and traditional media for growth; Pitching the media, what works?; Turning student into founders: How to run an effective start-up; Investing and seed funding: challenges facing the financing of start-ups in Nigeria; Growing a sustainable technology start-up; Innovating start-ups: targeting the core of

the market; and addressing the shortage of tech talent and innovativeness within higher institutions in Ogun.

Outcomes and key metrics proposed for evaluating the success of the summit include ensuring the largest multistakeholder platform to discuss technology innovation in Ogun State, show commitments for partnerships and likely investment in digital opportunities, commitment to infrastructural development and policy by the relevant stakeholders, and launch of the ‘Tech Challenge Ogun’ and other collaboration towards the future of digital transformation and innovation in Ogun State.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Why Tax Efficiency is Critical for Infrastructure Devt ALagos-based social and economic analyst, Nuru Alabi writes on the critical role taxation efficiency can play in the development of infrastructure, using Lagos State as a case study

Nigerians usually get into the fray each time popular footballers are charged by the Spanish authorities for alleged tax offences. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have at various times been linked to tax fraud, triggering outbursts in Nigeria about the propriety of such actions. The emotional attachment to these footballers or their clubs often beclouds the underlying issues: tax evasion, manipulation or underpayments, which are unlawful. Messi and his Argentina teammate, Javier Mascherano, were found guilty of tax offences last year and sentenced to prison. But the convictions were suspended and replaced with fines. As a people not given to paying taxes, moreso without corresponding social benefits to citizens, arresting anyone over tax issues, to an average Nigerian, represents an overreach by government. The finer details of how taxation is linked to development are lost in the heat of argument.

In the modern world, the overarching purpose of taxation is to fund government expenditure. Taxation itself is a major tool with which to generate income for government, and employed in dealing with some non-revenue objectives such as curtailing objectionable conduct, lessening inequality and allocating resources and incomes in society and shielding local industries from unfavourable competition.

Because taxation has become an acceptable practice in more advanced societies, which itself is anchored on the belief that sustaining government is a shared responsibility, everyone understands and respects the imperative of tax payment. It is a duty. Tax avoidance is seen and treated as criminal and despicable disservice.

Regardless of how we feel about taxation, whether as individuals or corporate entities, there is no denying the fact that it is one of the tools that empower the people to hold

their leaders and governments accountable. By paying your tax, you are handed an instrument to query the government and demand accountability and transparency. In doing so, the government will have no choice but to perform and strive to meet our expectations in terms of social projects and developmental objectives.

Using the instance of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, despite unwavering efforts of the state government, huge g aps still exist in the provision of pivotal infrastructure to drive economic development. Ranging from roads, power, housing, transportation, water, schools and hospitals, to even recreation centers and courts, there are so many things requiring

When you’ve hit the ground on all fours, you may feel the need to deny your situation or take it for granted. Don’t.

Instead, allow yourself to be vulnerable to the way you feel. If you feel angry for failing, accept what you feel. Taking time to feel your emotions and grieving your situation is a good start to refocusing yourself for what’s to come.You can’t rise from a fall by avoiding the fact that you fell and actually got hurt

attention. Everyone feels the need and effect.

The government, according to available records, depends on three major sources of revenue, namely internally generated revenue (IGR), federal transfers and capital receipts.

A closer look shows that IGR is the main income earner for the state, contributing an average of 66 percent between 2012 and 2016.

In 2016, this revenue source yielded N291 billion, translating to about N25 billion per month.

However, owing to the huge infrastructure deficit and the vision to build a Mega City that is safe, secure, functional and productive for all of its projected 24 million people, it is crystal clear that the current revenue position is grossly inadequate to achieve the desired outcome. On the flip side, the State has the potential to improve on its IGR to the projected N50 billion per month from next year.

This is what makes tax efficiency imperative.

What is tax efficiency? There are several ways of looking at tax efficiency. Given a natural aversion to taxation, people consistently seek ways to get around paying taxes. But in countries where payment of taxes is inevitable, the common resort is to seek ways to reduce the amount paid as tax. Amongst issues commonly cited for tax avoidance are high tax rates, lack of transparency, uncertainty and arbitrary exemptions; complexity and corruption as well as massive tax evasion by the rich and powerful. In a nutshell, people dodge taxes when the system is not efficient.

Experts say that an efficient tax system is one that is fair, simple, well-organized and enforceable. Underlining this conclusion is the understanding that the wellbeing of society demands the contribution and cooperation of everyone. Therefore, people must be convinced that paying taxes is in their interest since the system has taken into account their interest and capacity and that the proceeds will be utilized for the common good. This is why a

closer look at measures taken by the Ambode administration in Lagos indicates an ambition to enhance the efficiency of the tax regime that is beneficial to all stakeholders.

In the words of Ambode: “Even with the kind of resources we have in Lagos, it is very clear that there is a huge infrastructural deficit in the State. In addition, the resources are not so huge as to make Lagos globally competitive and deliver the social infrastructure we all crave. So where will the money to drive the Lagos of our dreams come from? The economy is not doing as well as we want it to. We cannot tax the people any more than we are doing presently, but we have to become more efficient in tax collection because that is the major source of revenue with which we can protect the future, as well as improve the welfare and well-being of all Lagosians.�

To the extent that tax policy in Lagos has two key objectives, efficiency and equity, which I expect would benefit me and the economy, I proclaim myself a tax ambassador and encourage everyone to key into this goal and support the government. Everyone suffers when taxes are not paid. Nonetheless, making every Lagosian understand the imperative of paying taxes is a task requiring extensive enlightenment, underpinned by transparency in the utilization of taxes to address collective needs, moreso in infrastructure development.

Recent news reports indicating that the Lagos House of Assembly is looking at ways of enhancing Land Use Charge collection in the state are also encouraging. It is unfortunate that so far, only a relatively small fraction of houses pay Land Use Charge in Lagos.

It is hoped that the House of Assembly will deploy the instrumentality of the law towards helping to ensure that many more houses are brought into the tax net to contribute towards developing the infrastructure that is so urgently needed in Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre.

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ANALYSIS

Oke: Increased Funding for Bank of Agriculture will Boost Farming Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Femi Oke, spoke on the challenges of the agric sector and commended the role of the Bank of Agriculture in empowering farmers, among sundry issues in the sector. Jonathan Eze presents the excerpts What is your assessment of the Agric sector since the beginning of this current administration?

When this present government came into power, we were part of the policymakers that drafted the Nigerian agric agenda, particularly, we were called upon to express our minds as one of the key stakeholders to discuss on issues bordering on the country’s agric sector and their solutions. So what you are seeing happening in the sector currently are some of the things we pointed out that were needed to be resolved in the sector to forge ahead.

Essentially, at the stakeholders meeting with government officials, we told them that the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) needed to be recapitalised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make it viable for farmers to have easy access to agric funds.

In addition, we advised the government on the need to increase funding for Bank of Industry (BoI) for the purpose of strengthening the Nigeria’s industrial sector.

We also advocated for youth inclusiveness and women empowerment in the government. So those are the points we raised at the inception of this government when we were being called upon to participate in charting the way forward for the country’s economy. And we are happy that what we are seeing now are the things we yearned for at the meeting. At least we could say it’s going at about 50 per cent.

Agriculture is one of the three top priorities of this present administration. Can you say that President Muhammadu Buhari has revolutionised the country’s agric sector?

Yes, I agree with you on that area, because if you should look into the country as of today, the era of oil which everybody was focusing on has gone and we are now talking about agriculture as the key sector that every sector in the economy should embraced and we are happy about that.

It is only regrettable that the fund allocated for the country’s agric sector is inadequate. But we realise that Rome was not built in a day as we have started from somewhere that is good for our economy. You will recall that last year’s budget allocation for the sector was about N92 billion and this year’s own its being increased to over N100 billion and this is giving us joy that we are now more recoignised in the Nigerian economy.

So I will say yes again that President Buhari has done well and we are very excited about the situation in the agric sector and the economy.

Besides, we also appreciate what the former Agric Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has done in this sector. You can see that this present government did not rule out the giant strides he achieved for Nigeria’s agric development. You can see that this government has improved on the works of the previous government, especially in the area of agriculture and that is why we are getting these positive results. So everybody is now showing more interest in agric as critical tool to sustainable development. You can see that the country’s agric sector is now private sector driven. So we welcome the revolution that took place in the sector.

There are lots of prevailing challenges facing the nation’s agric sector from achieving its desired goals. What do you think are the missing links and the proffered solutions?

There is no way you will go into agriculture without finance. We are talking about the contributions of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Bank of Industry (BoI) and Central Bank of Nigeria precisely on agric sector development. And this is thanks to the present administration as we have said. It is gladdening to note that CBN officials are now going round across the country to sensitise us (farmers) to let us know what we don’t know on agric financing. They are making us to know that we can borrow money through the banks for agric development in a single digit interest

to make profit. On the multiplier effect, most of these things come back to Nigerians, who are the final consumers buying these products in the market. So there is no way you are planting and you won’t take stocks of what you have planted. So government would have to come in into this area now to assist us resolve this lingering issue. Government needs to mandate the commercial banks that whosoever comes to lend money under agric business should not be more than single digit interest rate and as they are applying they should have a section like in CBN dedicated to oversee and any application from the commercial banks should quickly treated.

Those are the areas I think Government should assist us the farmers urgently.

Oke

rate. On the agric financing, the apex bank told us the commercial banks can apply on behalf of the farmers on a single digit rate. We just had a two-day seminar organised by the CBN for the Nigerian farmers in Lagos recently and we have never had such seminar years back. So all these ones are where we thought we are now seeing a better opportunity from this present government. The links we have lost out before, we are now trying to get it. And that was what is making us now to say that we can easily access funds like YOUWIN, TETFUND, GEP and other intervention schemes that BoI are now introducing for Nigerians. We are very happy to have seen it. It is making positive changes in this economy. So these intervention funds by the BoI and CBN are stimulating our interest to remain in the agric sector. But we will still lay more emphasis on agric financing.

So let the federal government strengthen BOA for the sake of farmers having access to cheap funds.

The BOA is the major bank that links farmers with the government. We are advocating that BOA be funded very well for the sake of Nigerian farmers.

We don’t want a situation whereby it is during harvesting period we shall be told to come for loans. Indeed, we want the BOA to be under the CBN and not under FMARD as the situation is now. Let them be autonomous under CBN so that they can operate like the Commercial Banks and there will be no any bureaucratic bottlenecks like in the past. However, we still want government to form a mutual partnership with the farmers on equipment leasing. Not many farmers can afford all these equipment we are now using in agriculture. Let there be Private-Public Partnership collaboration on equipment leasing in order to assist the Nigerian farmers. With availability of agric equipment, it will enhance farmers’ inputs and productivity.

Basically, lack of access to agric equipment financing is the reason most of our youths are being discouraged to go into agriculture. You will see a young person that read Agric Economics and other related agric courses in the higher institutions, he will tell you he wants to work in the bank because what he is seeing in the sector is not encouraging him. So we want a PPP synergy on agric equipment leasing whereby leasing companies under government can lease farm equipment to farmers at ease for farm cultivation.

Looking at the Nigeria’s agricultural nonexport market, why are Nigerian exporters still facing difďŹ culties at the point of loading goods for exports?

In that area, government agencies have a key role to play in order to achieve zero rejection of Nigerian agric produce meant for export market at the international scene.

Essentially, government agencies like Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and others still have a lot to do in sensitising Nigerian farmers and exporters in the area of agric export market. Because the standards already benchmarked by the European Union (EU) and other countries are high and cannot be manipulated.

So our export market sector is facing a lot of challenges currently now. The sector still has a lot to do in the areas of packaging, processing, documentation, tariff and others. So for us to meet up with the standards of another country, they (agencies) are the ones that know what is really obtainable in these countries’ markets.

So they are in the best position to tell us what to do to meet the standard required in the EU countries. So the non- export market segment is one area that most of our members are not getting it right. For instance, if NEPC can come forward to tell us farmers this is the way you should pack your export produce we will be happy to listen. So NEPC has a critical role to play in this aspect and they should embrace us the farmers and exporters to succeed in the export market. They should let us benefit from the export market like what is happening in Ghana, Liberia and other neighbouring countries.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other key stakeholders have complained on the Commercial Banks charging above 25 per cent lending rate for agriculture. Do you think high interest rate is killing Nigeria’s agric sector growth?

Yes, the high interest rate which we are seeing in the country’s financial institutions has brought us back in agric investment growth because most of the commercial banks will tell you if you want to lend they will give you at 25 per cent or 30 per cent respectively. And if you are talking of agric lending, if it is not single digit interest rate, it should be grants. Most of the interviews I have granted I told them it should be grants. And if grant is not coming up, give them incentives like machines. Let it be free.

We have seen some other countries that have benefitted from these incentives and grants.

And that is why you are seeing most of their products abroad than Nigeria’s own. They are being supported by their countries. If it’s not grant, let it be incentives in the area of provision of landed property, easy access roads among others.

Indeed, the commercial banks are the ones not making agric business to be very interesting and viable for farmers in Nigeria because of the high interest rate they are charging. And we cannot blame them for this because they are in business

Government has been celebrating some of the agricultural produce like rice,. What is your opinion on it?

Agriculture played a peripheral role in the nation’s economy despite the vast array of land at our disposal and the sector has been neglected for so long. But now that oil has disappointed us, we now decided to wake up. Let us take the case of rice. If you asked Nigerians previously about the possibility of planting rice in the country, they would tell you that rice could not grow in the country, forgetting that we had gotten Ofada and Abakaliki rice. How many of the farmers were being encouraged to plant that specie of rice that time? People are now more conscious to diversify into agriculture as we do not retire there. The high cost of farm produces in the country will be things of past because of its availability.

What are the challenges in mechanised farming?

Most of our parcels of land in the Southern region are thick forests, which require bulldozers to uproot the stumps and roots of trees before cultivation of the ground, unlike the land in the Northern region that needs just tractors to till the ground before applying fertilizer. So, we have to rent bulldozers, and an average person will tell you that a bulldozer for a day, which is eight hours, is N80, 000. And they cannot even finish that one hectare in a day; it has to be two days that is N160, 000. Besides that, they will ask you to buy 100 litres of fuel a day, and that one goes for N40, 000. The conductor and the driver of the tractor will still ask for their own cuts like N10, 000. So we are now putting the estimate at about N260, 000 to cultivate just a hectare of land, which is on the high side. So what we are now saying is that the governments, especially, those in the South-west, should have something like leasing machine partnership where we can lease, where they can be subsidised or government to buy them in various areas. For instance, in Lagos, we have many of our farms in Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu. If each of these areas has two leasing equipment, they encourage those of us in crop farming to quickly go there with small money to lease them because it is being subsidised. This will encourage us to do more farming. Those in the livestock farming too are having their own problems, especially maize procurement. These days you will hardly see driers. In our last trip to Chicago, we saw some little driers. If you plant maize this year, you can’t sell it within the year until after a year because you have to dry them before selling.

That is why you will see a crate of eggs cost as much as N1, 000 because there is no maize for those birds to feed on. And the breweries are now using the same maize for their production, meaning that they are now competing with us for use of maize. So, we want government to designate some areas where they can site driers for those into livestock farming to take their maize there, otherwise the cost of maize will still be escalating.

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INTERVIEW

David-West: Over 40m Nigerians Don’t Have Access to Financial Services Olayinka David-West who is an academic director and senior fellow, Information Systems at the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, spoke with Nosa Alekhuogie on digital finance and issues pertaining to financial inclusion in Nigeria. Excerpts: You recently launched the digital ďŹ nancial services report in Nigeria, what informed this and how will the report revolutionise the sector?

The launch of the second State of the Market Report on Digital Financial Services in Nigeria is one of the primary outputs from our research work on sustainable and inclusive digital financial services that specifically studies how financial services can be delivered to the unbanked poor in Nigeria at affordable costs.

The research findings documented in the Report provide an evidence-base of issues that need to be addressed by ecosystem actors to ensure we can actually achieve the financial inclusion commitment of 80 per cent by 2020. In this year’s report, our focus was on identifying market-enabling policies for Digital Financial Services (DFS) to thrive in Nigeria. The policy recommendations proposed are to guide the amendment and development of statutes that will support the business environment.

In terms of revolutionising the sector, I believe that our research work provides the much needed thought leadership and insights that will guide current and prospective industry operators, investors and policy makers. Basically, David-West the insights reported are tools business leaders and policy makers can actually use to guide conducive for DFS operators and the consumstrategies, operations, regulations and policies ers of the financial products and services? For example, our research identified 6 key policy What are your views on ďŹ nancial inclusion areas in need regulatory attention. The first is global identity and know-your-customer (KYC) in Nigeria?

Financial inclusion in Nigeria is really about where the multiplicity of identification systems empowering Nigerian citizens by providing and their altogether low enrollment are limiting them access to formal options in the formal financial inclusion. In these cases, we need financial services sector that are safer and policies to increase the enrolment capabilities cheaper. Using current estimates, over 40 million of both the National Identity Number (NIN) Nigerians do not have access to formal financial and the Bank Verification Number (BVN The second policy area is consumer protection. services. Rather, they access financial services through informal providers that are usually By this, we refer to the systems and processes unregulated and expensive. Hence, being poor that build consumer adoption, utility and trust. is expensive! Beyond the individuals utilising It includes issues relating to pricing, complaints financial services, financial inclusion has other and dispute resolution, cybercrime, data protecsecondary benefits. For businesses serving this tion, and so on. While the consumer protection community of underserved, it provides market issues are diverse, one of the recommendations and business opportunities. For the government, included the use of agents as first-level support the increased levels of economic activity of the specialists. Other recommendations are the underserved, contributes to economic growth, proposal for a centralized Financial Ombudsman and the provision of digital education for law income (taxes), and creates jobs. enforcement and judicial workers to facilitate How can we further deepen ďŹ nancial enforcement. From what I am aware of, the Central Bank is resending this Bill back to the inclusion in Nigeria?

I’ll be honest, there’s no magic wand to House of Assembly.

The third policy area focuses on the DFS deepening financial inclusion, but we have to look at the various issues like an onion and peel supply environment. In particular, issues it one layer after the other. I will provide some relating to interoperability, collaboration and insights identified in some of the key layers. cooperation. One recommendation was for the Looking at it from the consumer’s perspective; extension of membership and empowerment of The preference for cash questions the use of DFS the Financial Services Regulation Coordinating in meeting individual payment needs. The lack Committee (FSRCC) to include DFS and financial of adoption of DFS could also be attributed to inclusion coordination. One of such activities economic factors, where consumers lack access for the FSRCC would be the development of to money either as a result of unemployment or a unified agent framework that cuts across under-employment. The lack of knowledge is financial services – banking, payments, insurance, another factor that is demonstrated by the low pensions, and so on.

Fourth, another policy area in need of awareness of the various DFS options. Finally, access to digital devices such as smartphones, attention is the enabling environment for a thriving DFS ecosystem. Issues in this bucket is also cited as a constraint.

In the case of the suppliers and providers of include development of a harmonized tax digital financial services, some need to go back regime across the three tiers of government to the drawing board. In hindsight, the size and the implementation of the March 2013 of the addressable market did not necessarily National Executive Council (NEC) resolumean high adoption rates. Hence, providers tion on right of way (RoW). Discussions on and operators really need to develop products financial inclusion cannot be complete without and services for a target group of customers addressing lapses with the infrastructure and which address customer pain points. However, strategies to effectively reach the consumers this knowledge of the intended consumers of close to their habitations. The demarcation of digital financial services is somewhat nascent. telecommunications infrastructure as national These unbanked individuals are not on any and critical infrastructure and the passage of database and hence their behavior and traits the national critical infrastructure bill is one are unknown. To include these individuals, such example. Also, the expansion of telecoms we need to “know� who they are and what infrastructure to rural locations or locations problems they have that may be addressed by that don’t yet have a proven business case for commercial investment using specialised financial services.

As for Regulators, the policies for DFS intervention funds such as the universal service is another layer. Is the market environment provision fund (USPF).

managers that will impact society in Nigeria and Africa. Financial inclusion is a social imperative of bringing people at the bottom of the pyramid into the formal financial system.

Thus, as a business school, we are contributing knowledge for social impact. Other than the knowledge contributions, I believe another significant contribution LBS is making to the ecosystem, is the ability to convene all the ecosystem actors for open conversations. In the two years of working in this sector, we have built relationships with policy makers and government ministries, departments and agencies, executives in private sector institutions - mobile money operators (MMOs), banks (deposit, microfinance), insurance, pensions, payments systems providers, mobile network operators (MNOs), professional associations, the IT community, and so on. The ability to convene different stakeholders helps broaden understanding of challenges across the ecosystem and reduces the tunnel vision of any particular actor group.

Tell us about the state of the Digital Financial Services (DFS) market in Nigeria The DFS Market commenced in the 1990s when banks introduced technology-based channels using the internet or other communications media.

Despite these self-service alternatives enabled by technology, the growth of financial access was still relatively low. In addition, Nigeria has been trying to address rural banking (now financial inclusion) since 1977 through schemes such as the Rural Banking Initiative, Peoples Bank, Community Banking and now Microfinance.

The telecommunications revolution of the early 2000s and the penetration of mobile devices sort of opened Pandora’s box. With telecoms infrastructure and mobile devices and telephony available in remote locations, their adoption as a delivery channel for financial and other services was ideal. This solution was music to many ears given the costs of establishing and maintaining physical infrastructure, especially in these underserved and under-resourced rural locations.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has several policies aimed at deepening ďŹ nancial inclusion, do you think they are achieving their objectives with some of these policies?

Our analysis of current policies by industry stakeholders revealed that the various policies related to digital financial services and financial inclusion are collectively not achieving the objectives. Indeed, the CBN has been pivotal in the national drive for financial inclusion with the establishment of policies and regulations guiding financial inclusion. The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) is the overarching policy for financial inclusion, defining strategies and targets for financial inclusion. Alongside this, the CBN has progressively developed complementary policies like the regulatory framework and guidelines for mobile money, the agent banking guidelines and super-agent framework and the tiered KYC regulations.

Despite these guidelines and frameworks, financial inclusion estimates as reported by the various demand-side studies conducted in the country are yet to improve. While the CBN has developed the policies, their successful implementation and rollout is dependent on a myriad of policy gaps as highlighted earlier.

Furthermore, the pricing tariffs imposed by the CBN are not market-based without due consideration of the high business establishment and maintenance costs.

Can you shed some light on how LBS is improving ďŹ nancial inclusion in the country?

The role of LBS is to create responsible

What do you hope to achieve with the conference held?

The main objective of the conference, titled, ‘Driving Inclusion with Digital Financial Services: Strategic Innovations to Reach the Last Mile’, was to bring ecosystem stakeholders together to discuss financial inclusion issues around the key themes - policy and regulation, last mile enablement of DFS and responsible finance. A major highlight was the launch of the Digital Financial Services in Nigeria: State of the Market Report 2017, a Lagos Business School research report providing evidence-based insights on financial inclusion. Using consumer demographic profiles, the report describes the characteristics of potential financial services customers. The report also presents an examination of the policy and legal frameworks defining financial inclusion and proffers market-enabling strategies for attaining the commitment of 80 percent Financial Inclusion by 2020. The conference also featured panel discussions and presentations by key stakeholders and decision-makers in the digital financial services industry locally and internationally.

What plans do you have to sustain your effort and where do you see ďŹ nancial inclusion in Nigeria in the next ďŹ ve years?

We launched this research initiative in 2015.

It was specifically designed to provide insights that could identify sustainable business models that support the delivery of digital financial services to lower income unbanked Nigerians.

There are still many insights that would help operators enhance financial inclusion that we plan to continue working on. For example, we are already studying the economics of DFS both at the macro- and micro-levels.

The macro investigations involve the use of empirical data to assess the impact of financial inclusion on macro-economic indicators such as economic growth, income, and the likes.

We hope that by demonstrating the impact of financial inclusion on the national economy, the importance of financial inclusion will be escalated as a national imperative. The micro-economic evaluation will include a deep-dive to address cost-to-serve considerations of operators that will inform financial decisions such as pricing.

We are also working with other partners to build behavioral and attitudinal profiles of the Nigerian unbanked. The result of this study will be shared with operators to provide deeper understanding of the consumers for improved product development. In addition to these we will also continue monitoring demand-side studies produced by EFinA, Intermedia and the World Bank to provide demographic traits of the underserved.

Before we even think of five years, let’s remember the commitment to attain 80 percent financial inclusion by 2020.

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Nigeria’s Economic Resurgence Tunde Olatunji, in this article, highlights the current administration’s unwavering commitment to diversifying the Nigerian economy

Buhari

If there is one thing we must credit this administration for, it is the unwavering commitment to diversify the Nigerian economy. At a time global commodity prices hit an all time low, the decision to explore opportunities in trade became a necessary desideratum. Nigeria entered into several trade agreements in the past but failed to bring them to logical conclusions to enable the nation derive maximum benefits that should accrue from them.

Nigeria needed to exploit the bountiful opportunity available in this sector. So, with the appointment of Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, a thorough breed equity investment expert as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the stage was then set for a robust engagement with our regional and global trading partners. The outcome has been quite positive as Nigeria has once more regained her position as a leading voice not only in Africa, but the world at large.

Positive developments in trade continue to resonate with critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy. The conversation on trade and investment dominate the public space now. Additionally, it has emerged a major influence and advocate of trade facilitation as a viable policy framework to achieve sustainable development and economic growth.

Trade and Investment Being the largest economy in Africa, the nation’s strategic leadership in trade and investment will immensely benefit the continent. Africa’s over two billion strong and diversified market size can be converted into huge resources for trade and investment in growing its economies, creating jobs, improving service delivery domestically and regionally as well as fostering shared prosperity for its teeming population.

For the Nigerian government, trade facilitation agenda occupies a prominent place on its priority list. Its mainstreaming of trade in the macro-economic agenda towards growing the economy is apt. Also, is the promotion of intra-Africa trade as the center piece of Nigeria’s trade policy. Establishing the Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiation (NOTN), and appointment of an experienced substantive Director/Chief Negotiator in the person of Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe strengthens trade facilitation efforts. Through NOTN, the trade sector is scaling up engagements and initiatives with partners, which will in turn positively affect the country’s rating and effectiveness regionally and globally.

The Abuja High Level Forum

Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

In furtherance of the commitment on trade and development, on November 2 to 3 2017, the Nigerian government and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) co-hosted the High-Level Policy and Private Sector Forum on Trade and Investment Facilitation for Development in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital in partnership with World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development (FIFD). Delegates from 30 African countries cutting across ministers, business leaders and policy makers attended the two-day conference, which arrived at far reaching resolutions on trade and investment.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo declared the forum open, with WTO’s Director General, Roberto Azevêdo, United Nation’s Commission on Trade and Development’s Secretary-General Mikhusa Kituyi, President of World Economic Forum, Børge Brende, the ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel Alain De Souza, and Commissioner for Trade and Industry of African Union Commission, Albert M. Muchanga.

The forum’s deliberations focused on why scaling up investment is key for expanding trade and development across the continent; how African countries can deploy trade domestically and regionally to facilitate investment; and how cooperative global approaches in the WTO could reinforce, advance, and build upon efforts of African countries.

The Forum recognised huge opportunities that abound with increased intra Africa trade facilitation given the dramatic increase in Africa’s population, increasing pressure for jobs, expanding prosperity, as well as the need to accelerate industrialisation across the continent. It also acknowledged the need to leap frog technological development and

Nigeria’s global position in the trade and investment ecosystem has been recognised by partners both at regional and global levels. This will attract required goodwill that enables the country reap its beneďŹ ts

leverage Africa’s demographic dividend for sustained and inclusive growth for Africa to emerge as the next growth frontier with a global impact and potential.

At the end of the forum, The Abuja Statement: “Deepening Africa’s Integration in the Global Economy through Trade and Investment Facilitation for Development� was adopted. The document prepared Africa’s framework for effective engagement at the WTO’s MC11, where important issues on global trade were to be deliberated by member-states.

Africa, Nigeria at the WTO The Abuja High Level forum was a prelude to the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) scheduled for Buenos Aires, Argentina from 10 to 13 December 2017.

The MC11 was aimed at strengthening WTO as a global public good that remains central to the welfare, prosperity, and development of member-states. It was also an opportunity for the African Union (AU) member-states to consolidate actions on strengthening the global trading system, deepening ongoing negotiations on establishing the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement - a single market for trade in goods and services across Africa Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu .Enelamah attended the Ministerial Conference as Vice chair representing Africa. This clearly, reinforced the country’s leadership role in trade policy matters in Africa. As the representative of the African region, he used the platform to reiterate critical positions as enunciated in the Abuja Statement The minister’s remarks entitled: “Modernisation, job creation, enhancing welfare, and widening prosperity circle�, therefore, reinforced expectations of Nigeria and indeed Africa from the WTO on reaping the benefits of trade and investment through the WTO framework of rules-based trade.

The minister conveyed Nigeria’s decision to support the consensus building efforts of WTO investment facilitation (IF) as contained in the Abuja Statement agreed to by member-states. Dr. Enelamah asserted that “The major position in the statement was the affirmation that trade and investment are inseparable, they are twin engines for economic growth, modernisation and development.� “As chairperson of CFTA process, Nigeria is working hard with other AU members to launch CFTA in 2018. This is a paramount priority for the African Union and Nigeria.

Nigeria appeals to WTO members to support the efforts of the AU in this regards�, he continued. The minister disclosed that Nigeria’s commitment to reform its domestic economic policy to align with its trade facilitation objective which supports the WTO agenda for trade remains unwavering.

Winning through Trade and Investment It is important to note Nigeria’s continual inputs in framing several declarations and decisions at major global trade forums as co-sponsors. These include the Joint Ministerial Statement on Investment Facilitation; the Ministerial Decision on Investment Facilitation; the E-Commerce and Digital Economy (One of the fastest growing areas of the Nigerian economy); the Friends of Electronic Commerce for Development (FEDs), with Nigeria as an original member of the 13 member state coalition. Member states include Argentina; Brazil; Chile; China; Colombia; Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Qatar.

Others are the Declaration on e-commerce with Singapore along with Nigeria as a co-sponsor; the decision on e-commerce with Japan, Nigeria is also a co-sponsor.

The “Friends of the System� (FOS), a WTO Middle Grounders coordinated by Switzerland to which Nigeria is a longstanding member. The FOS group rows the mid-course and underscores the value of the WTO, as a global public good.

Nigeria’s global position in the trade and investment ecosystem has been recognised by partners both at regional and global levels. This will attract required goodwill that enables the country reap its benefits. The administration’s decision to engage WTO, CFTA, ECOWAS processes, and bi-lateral trading partners is timely and appropriate.

Nigeria’s minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and his team’s participation at WTO MC11 2017, marked a continuation of the Abuja High Level Forum type of engagement in November 2017. This demonstrates inherent possibilities that are available when Nigeria and other African countries work collaboratively and partner for the common agenda. The consensus reached by the AU on the CFTA is commendable and a pointer to better days ahead for the continent and Nigeria. The country has been pushing the boundaries of trade on behalf of the African continent since the inception of this administration and it is gaining traction. There is therefore the need to sustain this emerging influence of Nigeria on the global arena.

- Olatunji, an economist writes from Abuja

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EDUCATION Ensuring Effective Learning through Standardisation of Schools In this interview with Funmi Ogundare, the Director-General, Office of Education QualityAssurance,LagosStateMinistryofEducation,Mrs.RonkeSoyombohighlighted the efforts of her office in monitoring, evaluating and ensuring standardisation of schools in the state. She said school owners must work hard to be creative and ensure that students take ownership of learning that will impact their lives in future. Excerpts: At the resumption of the new term last week, your team went out to monitor schools, what was the outcome and how prepared are they for the academic calendar?

I must say a big thank you to most school owners, at least 98 per cent of our schools opened on January 8 which is very good.

A lot of schools were prepared. However, we still have problems where parents are not sending all their wards to the school.

That is something that parents have got to work seriously on and should they need a clarification on when they are actually coming back to school, they can get that online as well because we want all children to return to school. Quite a number of schools that we visited did baseline assessment on their first day back at school; and Mathematics and English Language, which was a big credit to a lot of schools. In our public schools, they did a lot, they tested the students on baseline assessment in Maths and English Language, few private schools did that too and at the same time, most of the private schools that we visited, teaching and learning were going on from the first day. I say thank you to private school owners and the public schools leaders and at the same time, parents will still need to do more concerning their children.

So far, your ofďŹ ce has been involved in standardisation, monitoring and evaluation of schools in Lagos State, would you say you are satisďŹ ed with the quality?

I will say I am satisfied with the improvements we have made. However, we still have a lot of room to do better, though not fully satisfied yet because there are quite a lot of schools that are underperforming. We must also note that there are a lot of schools that have improved tremendously. How have they improved? You will see that we have a clear assessment template that every school can download from our website which tells them what schools should do satisfactorily and what they should do to be good and outstanding. As a result, quite a number of schools have filled the form online and are assessing themselves to see where they are and identifying what their targets are.

Some of them have actually emailed it to us. It is telling us that people are actually on the right track with us. To me we still have very low percentage of schools that are seriously underperforming, but we are not going to sit on our oars because what we are doing is to make sure we intervene. In terms of intervention, when we have schools that are performing well, we work out how they can work together with schools that are underperforming such that at the end of the day, it is about the children and not the adults.

What is your ofďŹ ce doing to ensure that underperforming schools are up to standard?

What we are doing is to ensure that we visit them for evaluation, but there is no way we can cover over 20,000 schools that we have in Lagos. What we have been doing is that we are very transparent with all our resources so people can actually access it online: www.lagoseduqa.com, they can assess their schools and also contact us. Now there is a big awareness out there where people can

Soyombo

petition schools that are underperforming, so people have been writing to us and we have been visiting those schools and doing monitoring and investigation of Lagos State schools. In terms of standard, we have also been having stakeholders’ session where we have been enlightening people on the things we do and what they actually need to do to get better.

learning and not just listening to teachers alone, but take ownership of learning when teachers can become better facilitators to our children so that they can become great learners for tomorrow.

How do you categorise the schools?

If you go on our website, you will see that we have an evaluation schedule that easily categorises according to the standard that is being maintained. So easily, if a school has been able to achieve the seven important areas to be outstanding, then it goes a long way. For a school that has not been able to meet up with everything but had been able to meet up in five different areas, it can be categorised as a good school and with all that, you easily see it online.

Your ofďŹ ce recently organised leadership training for your directors and ofďŹ cers, what are the objectives?

It has been a brilliant professional development for all the officers in quality assurance because at the end of the day, we don’t want to continue to do the same thing and get the same result; we need to ensure that the leaders are actually aware of what they are supposed to do. Leadership is about developing great leaders so the fact that it has impacted on quite a lot of people today, it is going to impact on all our evaluators in all our 20 local government areas in Lagos State. For me, I think it has being a very brilliant programme.

What is your message to schools as they resume for a new term?

School owners should work hard, students should work harder as well and also they should work more because we are looking for creativity in our schools. Students should be more innovative; we are looking for where students can actually take ownership of

What are your expectations from your ofďŹ cers?

We are expecting all our officers to still continue to work with great integrity and ensure that the code of conduct is adhered to strictly, and at the same time to ensure that standard is maintained in schools because if they don’t keep themselves abreast of

changes, how can they make corrections?

How can we intervene in schools? We are working with the ministry of education to improve standards in Lagos State. We need to keep abreast of changes because at all times, they must know what is expected in different schools. I would say thank you to them, they have been working hard, but at the moment we are expecting more.

So far what has been the achievement of your ofďŹ ce?

We have achieved a lot, but not just by ourselves, under the leadership of the deputy governor of Lagos State who has a clear vision and because she drives everybody well; this has really helped the system. As a result, we have worked collaboratively with tutor general/permanent secretaries of secondary schools; we have also worked with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure that standard is maintained in our primary schools. To me with all the things we have achieved, standards have gotten better in most of our schools moving from 40 per cent in 2015 to 50.4 per cent in the previous year and to 66 per cent this year, it is a drastic improvement.

What my office has been able to do on our own is that we have worked collaboratively with other agencies of government.

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EDUCATION

Kogi to Convene Education Summit Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Kogi State Government is set to organise an education summit as part of activities to mark the two years in office of the current administration, which would serve as feedback mechanism and agenda setting for the sector.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya, made this known after an unscheduled monitoring and inspection of some schools in Lokoja.

She reaffirmed the commitment to correct foundational problems and attitudinal anomalies that have bedeviled the state education sector for over two decades of its creation.

According to her, the monitoring of teachers and students’ resumption in the state capital revealed many irregularities in the school system due to the past institutional disregard for education.

The commissioner expressed disappointment over the inability of principals and head teachers to keep relevant administrative and academic records of students for future recourse, stressing the need to keep a comprehensive record of all students.

She noted that the teachers were not prepared to teach their students as they all failed to make available their written lesson notes and the curriculum for subjects to be taught in their classes for the day or week.

She called for the updated copies of standard records all the students, and directed the schools’ management to henceforth keep the schools’ comprehensive record in order to enhance government’s policies and decision making. “When policy makers make certain decisions, people begin to shout about witch-hunting

when in actual fact, they are the ones witch-hunting themselves.

Many things we saw in the schools we visited today were shocking and totally unacceptable in this information age. “The problems we are facing in education were caused by the people who work in the sector and they should be the people to correct those anomalies; there must be a paradigm shift,� Osikoya said.

She advised the teachers to go back to the baseline and do things right; have a change of attitude towards their job; train themselves and put their professionalism to work.

Osikoya, who assumed office on January 2, 2018, reiterated the need to tackle foundational problems in education by getting accurate data of all schools and teachers in all public schools in the state before thinking of embarking on an exercise to check their competency.

She restated her commitment towards ensuring that the education policy of the New Direction Agenda of the governor is achieved, calling for the cooperation of all critical stakeholders in building a formidable sector.

The schools visited were Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS); LGEA Primary School, Sarkin-Noma, among several other schools visited by other monitoring teams of the ministry.

The Principal of GGSS, Mrs. Habibat Albdulrahman appealed to the government to provide the school a befitting laboratory, additional classrooms and perimeter fencing of the school.

She appealed for Physics, Maths and Chemistry teachers as the school does not have any of them, adding that most of their teachers rarely come to school because they are being owed salaries between 11 to 15 months.

Kwara Poly Students Commend Saraki for Slashing Tuition Fees Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Students of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin have staged a peaceful protest to express their appreciation to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for his recent intervention on the slashing of their tuition fees of about N19,000 payable to the institution. The students also commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad for heeding the advice of the senate president on the need for the downward review of the institution’s tuition fees.

They praised the duo for setting up the joined executive-legislative committee, which recommended a drastic reduction in the fees payable by returning and fresh students of the polytechnic.

The elated students carried placards with inscription such as, ‘We are Proud of Bukola Saraki’; ‘The Poor also Deserves Affordable Education’; ‘Thank you ABS’; ‘We are Grateful to ABS’, among others.

Speaking with journalists during the event in Ilorin, the

Vice-President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Olugbode Damola, advised all students to make full payment of their school fees before the end of this month. The student leader, who also urged the students to maintain peaceful and mutual coexistence, said such attitude would sustain uninterrupted academic activities in the institution. He described the intervention of the senate president in their struggle to achieve a reduced tuition fees as unforgettable, saying that “Saraki’s gesture attested to his love and concern for the masses in Kwara State and Nigeria at large. “We also appreciate the entire members of the eighth Kwara State House of Assembly led by Dr. Ali Ahmad for their fair hearing and sincere disposition on the matter. “We extend our sincere gratitude to members of the executive/legislative joint committee set up to look into the issue for coming up with merciful resolution that reduced the tuition fees far beyond our expectation.

Ambode Harps on Capacity Building to Boost Teaching, Learning Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed confidence about the rapid infrastructure growth and strategies of the state, saying that this could only be sustained by corresponding capacity building to enhance teaching and learning.

Ambode, who made this known recently at the inauguration of the Girls’ Junior Model College, Agunfoye, Ikorodu, said the new school was to further drive the ‘Change Lagos’ initiative of his administration.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, he said the administration

has invested in the future of the children of the state through strategic reforms and planning in the education sector to ensure that their potential to compete favourably with their peers globally is assured. “Upon the take-over of the school from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the state government invested substantially in the provision of infrastructure and facilities towards meeting the set standard.�

He expressed delight that the intervention of government in the education sector has been yielding positive results as evidenced in improved students’ performance in examinations, national/

international competitions, as well as improved morals, etiquette and confidence in public speaking.

Speaking to journalists, Adebule said the move is about commitment and ensuring that education is accessible particularly to the girl-child. “We understand that as a government, we have new developments coming up in the environment to make education available to children. The girl-child has a special place in the heart of the governor because we know that giving them a conducive environment will make them to do better. “We know that a conducive environment for learning with the best of teachers around

them, they will do excellently well. We have that conviction and that is why we have inaugurated this school which was established in September 2017. It is about excellence and learning,� the deputy governor stressed.

The inauguration of the college brings the number of existing model colleges in the state to 16 and the second model college for girls.

The Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Ganiyu Sopeyin said the state is poised for greater things, adding that inaugurating a number of projects which are now at completion stages would be paramount.

L-R:The Chairman, Board of Directors, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, Mr. Babatunde Akinleye; Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Ganiyu Sopeyin; Director of Special Duties, SUBEB, Mrs.Tola Obadofin, at the inauguration of the teacher training programme, in commemoration of the foundation’s second anniversary in Lagos‌ recently

Don Predicts Great Future for Private Education The immediate past ViceChancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Rahamon Bello has said that the educational service provided by private investors has come to stay and that it has a promising future.

He made this known in a lecture titled ‘Private Education in Nigeria, Sustainability in the next 50 years’, which he delivered as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Grace Schools, Lagos.

According to him, any serious attempt to assess the place of private education in national development in the next 50 years must take note of four main factors: public sector activities in education, quality of public school education,

the economy and government policy.

In terms of public sector activities in education, Bollo noted that “the increasing demand of other competing social services like health and transportation may not enable fund large enough for the public sector to meet its obligation in education. “Hence the involvement of the private sector in primary and secondary education is likely to keep expanding if the objective of the compulsory even if not free education up to basic nine or junior secondary school is to be met.�

On the issue of quality of public school education, he said if there is no significant change in the prevailing low

quality of public schools, then more people will keep opting for private schools in the foreseeable future.

The don also argued that as the economy improves and more people fall into the middle class, more money will be available to more people who would demand private education. In terms of government policy he observed that a ban on private education is unlikely.

He added that even when government is able to fund education effectively, people are likely to still patronise private education because of its high quality. To support this view, he cited the situation in the tertiary education where parents send their children abroad despite the high cost.

Bello therefore stressed that the demand for private education rather than wane will multiply in the years ahead.

In her remarks, the school Administrator, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun commended the effort of her late mother, Deaconness Grace Oshinoaro, who founded the school on January 8, 1958, saying that the school in line with the aspiration of the founder has kept its commitment to the education of all round individuals with global perspective and zeal for excellence “We are confident that the next 50 years will be amazing.

We stand on our principles of benchmarking the best in technology to deliver world class education.�

Professor Malami Leadership Centre Launches Essay Contest Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi As part of efforts to bridge the gap between the youths and the government, the Professor Sani Malami Leadership and Development Centre has launched its maiden essay competition among youths in Bauchi State.

Speaking to journalists at the commencement of the competition in Bauchi, the initiator of the centre and a renowned scholar of Medicine at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Professor Abubakar Malami, said the objective of the competition is to create an avenue for youths to contribute their quota to national development, pointing out that “youths are the future leaders and there is the need to harness their potential with the aim of preparing them for future leadership positions in the nation.� Malami said the essay competition titled ‘How Can Bauchi State Government and the Youths Collaborate to

bring Sustainable Development’, is “targeting youths from Bauchi State that are under 30 years of age and submissions of entry will be open until the end of January 2018.�

He added that the winner of the competition will receive a cash reward of N100,000 and that other cash prizes will be awarded to the second and third place winners.

While calling on the youths to avail themselves the opportunity the competition provides in highlighting some of the

major challenges being faced by youths in the state, he said “the Sani Malami Leadership and Development Centre is ever ready to partner with progressive youths in the state in order to groom them for a productive and purposeful leadership positions that will bring economic development and prosperity to Bauchi State and the Nigeria at large.�

The climax of the competition will culminate in a ceremony in Bauchi that is tagged ‘Leaders of Tomorrow Prize 2018’.

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UK Varsity Partners NGO to Empower Nigerian Teachers Funmi Ogundare The University of Sussex, United Kingdom, in partnership with the TeachForNigeria, a non-governmental organisation, recently held a-day training for 132 Nigerian teachers, aimed at enhancing teaching and learning.

Speaking at the event held at the City Hall, Lagos, the university’s Head of Education, Dr. Simon James Thompson, who was the leading resource person, said the programme was designed to share knowledge on different techniques the teachers can apply while in the classrooms without necessarily getting stuck to the traditional way of teaching. “We tried to examine how teachers can meet individual needs of the pupils. The impact of this on the pupils is for them to realise that their needs are being met and they are making progress.

If the teaching progress is adapted, it is likely that more students are going to make progress.�

He expressed optimism about the likely positive impact of the training session, saying that techniques

taught were not peculiar to any country, but universal training approach that cuts across.

The Chief Executive Officer, TeachForNigeria, Folawe Omikunle explained that the partnership was geared towards giving every Nigerian child the deserved quality education regardless of where they come from. “To achieve the goal of equality of quality education for all children of school age, we instituted a fellowship programme that is also a leadership development programme, and it is about young Nigerians going into poor communities or less advantages areas to teach as teachers for two years.

The whole idea is to expose them to realities within these schools, the realties within the communities within where they live and see, so that they will be the leaders to spearhead change and transform the education sector. “One of the big components of that programme is training and this is where the partnership between us and the University of Sussex comes in. We got introduced to the university saying they

are interested in training our fellows. When the offer came, we felt it should not be for our fellows who are just 45 in all. University of Sussex and TeachForNigeria thus decided to open the training to as many teachers as possible. So we are having as participants here today, teachers from the low-cost private schools, and teachers from the Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN). In all, we have 132 in attendance.�

The University of Sussex Director, International Recruitment and Development, Professor Richard Follet said the idea behind the training is aimed at developing human capacities in the area of education. “I have been working in Nigeria in the last three years and the university has within the period shown tremendous interest in developing human capacities in the area of education. This is just one of such gestures. We have hosted a similar training programme in Abuja not too long ago and we hope this will go a long way in building a respectable and sustainable partnership.�

The institution’s Senior

International Officer (Africa and Middle East) Tosin Adebisi, said the workshop was borne out of the passion for educational development and mission to help expedite the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across subSaharan Africa. “Capacity building and continuing professional development are central to our work at Sussex.

We hope that this free workshop will be the first of many more trainings to widen participation and we are delighted to welcome the teachers to this session having had a very successful outing in our first training session in Abuja.�

One of the participants, Olasumbo Adigun, a primary school teacher from Abeokuta, Ogun State, said she learnt a lot from the training session as it exposed her to new techniques of teaching, making her classes interactive, breaking down the barriers between pupils and teachers and encouraging a relationship that will see the brilliant pupils assist the average ones.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (middle) anked by royal fathers and other oďŹƒcials of the state government at the inauguration of Girls’ Junior Model College, Agunfoye, Ikorodu‌ recently

SchoolsCompass Vows to Ease Parents’ School Search Issues With the commencement of a new team, a school discovery platform, SchoolsCompass has restates its commitment to solve the problems associated with school search for parents in Africa who are looking for the right schools and wishing to engage with schools online.

The firm also announced that it has crossed the milestone of 1,000 schools that trust it to increase enrolment into their schools by connecting them to ready parents that are looking for schools to enroll their children.

Briefing journalists in Lagos recently, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Boye Oshinaga observed that a good number of parents have

to make a decision about which school to place their children. “Some find the exercise quite difficult given that there are ever increasing options of private schools to choose from nowadays but inadequate information on most of them to make a decision “Some parents have had to rely solely on the recommendations of their friends which is mostly limited. Others have had to go through the grueling work of visiting school after school to ask pertinent questions and view their facilities.�

According to him, unlike traditional online school directories with just contact details of school officers on their websites,

SchoolsCompass is a school proprietor-led collection of relevant school information to guide parents in choosing the dream school for their children. “With a click of the mouse, parents can now perform powerful searches to reveal relevant information on school location, facilities, fees, curriculum and academic performance per school. In addition, they can view the reviews of other parents, as well as perform a comparison of select schools to weigh the pros and cons of their choice.�

Oshinaga stressed that the platform helps parents to find schools that match their budget, location, facility

and curriculum preferences, adding that a recent research shows that providing information about schools in a private schooling market increased test scores by 42 per cent, reduced school fee prices by 17 per cent and increased enrolment by 5 per cent. “This is because better comparisons across education providers improve market efficiency which in turn raises child welfare.�

While thanking parents for their confidence in the platform (with over 20,000 monthly parent visits), he said the firm hopes to be the key destination for Nigerian parents throughout the schooling life of their children.

Your Ageless Fantasies andYou ÚËÞÒ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ę¨Ă–Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë›

Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ě‹Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂŽĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÎÓËÖÙÑĂ&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂšĂžËœ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁĚ‹ĂšĂ–Ă™ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă˜Ă“ĂšĂšĂ?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? ×Ùà ÓĂ?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëž Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă—Ă?Ëž Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëž ÎÓËÖÙÑĂ&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?ËŞ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă™ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ę¨Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂžĂ–Ă? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ËŠĂ˜Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?ËŞ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă?Ă?Þ̋ ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ë? ĂŽĂ?Ę¨Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ë› Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă? ËŠĂ˜Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?ËŞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœËŞĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă™ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂŒĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?Ëœ ÞÙã Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŁ Ă™ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?ĂžËœ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÚËĂ?ÞÓ×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹Ă˘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ÞËĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ÚËÓÎ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ę¨Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă–Ă“Ă¤Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ×ÓÑÒÞã ĂŽĂ?ÞËÓÖĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Þ̙Ă?Ěš ĂŽĂ?Ę¨Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă‘Ă˜Ă™Ă?ÞÓĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă‘Ă˜Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă—Ë› Ă’Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ËŠĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Þ˪ˣ ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ě™Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă—ĂŁ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ěš Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ÓʨĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ?Ă™ĂœĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă™ĂŒĂŒĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă“ĂžĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‹Ă&#x;Þã Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? åÓÞÒ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă‘Ă˜Ă™Ă?Ă?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă— Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă–ĂŁ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽË Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă? ÒÙåĂ?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă•Ă?ʾÖĂ? Ă™Ă? ʨĂ?Ă’Ë› Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă?ÒÙå Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙÖĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒËÞ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĘĽ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ù×̋ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĚ‹ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ăœ ÚÖËã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÒËÞ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ™ ÞÒÓĂ?Ë› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ËÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă?ËÚËĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ’Ă™Ă™ĂŽËœ ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;ÖÞÒÙÙβ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ?Ă?ÞÓĂ?ĂŁ ÞÒËÞ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ ËÎÙÚÞĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ‹ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă? ÞÙÙÖĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;ÚÓÖĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă?ÓËÖ̋ÚÖËã˛ ÙãĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂŁ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă?ÞÙÓĂ?Ëœ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă Ă&#x;Ă–Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ‹Ă—Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă“Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă‘Ă˜Ă™Ă?Ă?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă—Ë› Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙÎÓËÖ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ?Ë› Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă Ă&#x;Ă–Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ Ă˜Ă“Ă– Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁË› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ăš Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ʨĂ?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă•Ă?Ë› Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ™Ă˜Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ęś Ă™Ă™Ă˜ËŁ Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–Ăž åÙ×Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂĄĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‘Ă™ ÞÒĂ? Ă•Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁĚ‹ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă™Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă“Ăž Ó×ÚËĂ?Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ËŁ

Ě‹ Omoru writes from the UK

SokotoVarsity to Introduce New Courses in 2019, SaysVC Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto The Vice-Chancellor of the Sokoto State University, Prof. Sani Dangoggo has announced that the institution would introduce additional undergraduate programmes for the 2019 academic session.

Dangoggo made this known when he received members of Senior Course 40, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, led

by Brig-Gen. O.R. Aiyenigba in Sokoto He said the new courses would be in the Faculties of Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Law and Environmental Sciences, adding that the institution is currently undergoing accreditation exercise by the

National Universities Commission (NUC) to accredit its 23 degree programmes.

According to him, the programmes are part of the implementation of the institution’s second phase development plan for its phase II from 2019/20 to 2023/24 academic sessions.

Dangoggo told the visitors that the university was licensed in 2009 by the NUC and commenced academic activities in 2013/2014, adding that it would soon graduate its first set of students. “We have three faculties, 17 departments and 23 degree programmes which are currently undergoing accreditation by the NUC. The accreditation exercise will be completed in December this year.�

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Group Calls for Federal College of Education in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The umbrella body of all socio-cultural organisations in Ilorin emirate, Kwara State, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has called on the federal government to without further delay provide the people of the state with a federal college of education to boost the educational development of the state.

While speaking on current issue of restructuring, the

National President, Ambassador Uthman AbdulAzeez said the emirate by providence is part of the northern region of Nigeria and north central in particular.

The group argued that the state that was created over 50 years ago could not boast of a federal college of education whereas Kogi State that was created out of the state in 1991 has a federal college of education.

AbdulAzeez disclosed this in Ilorin, while reading the

communiquĂŠ issued at the end of the national summit convened by the union to fashion out a way forward towards the socio-economic development of the community.

According to him, “since Kwara State is part of the federation, it behoves on the federal government to extend the federal presence to the state in the provision of a federal college of education.�

He said such development would contribute to the

educational development of the area and would provide employment opportunities for the people of the community and the state in general.

Abdul-Azeez also expressed concern over the increasing rate of activities of cultists and ritualists particularly in the emirate and in the state, while calling on all security agencies to re-energise their apparatus to protect lives and property. “The persistent cultists/

hoodlums’ activities in our institutions with spiral effects on the entire emirate and indeed the state is worrisome. We appreciate the efforts of the government and various community associations working in concert with IEDPU on this challenge. We urge them not to relent in their efforts in this regards. “Once again we call on government to step-up its efforts at reducing this social menace to the bar-

est minimum. We also urge parents to be more alive to their duties of proper upbringing of their children and also instil in them the values and the rich culture of the emirate.�

He also called on sons and daughters of the emirate to be creative and dynamic, saying that such is the only way to be involved and be able to participate in the modern economic space of the emirate, the state and indeed the country at large.

AUST Has Highest Employability Rate in Nigeria, SaysVC Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) has claimed that it has the highest employability rate in Nigeria as it conferred masters and doctorate degrees on 106 students in the class of 2017.

The President, Prof. Kingston Nyamapfene disclosed this at the seventh graduation ceremony of the institution, where he stated that over the last 18 months, the graduates have not only demonstrated that they are serious, but that they are creators and inventors.

He revealed that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the institution’s existence, saying that the school started the year with series of events to celebrate the milestone and that the graduation ceremony was the last in the series. “If we reflect at what has been achieved over the years, this is also a good time to start thinking ahead in terms of how we can take the dividends from these to ensure that the next 10 years will be filled with even greater accomplishment.�

Nyamapfene explained that the graduating class has representatives from seven countries - Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

“I will like to think that in many ways we have actually started by taking actions that have already shown that we have started following a new trajectory. “In that regard I will share with you a few factors. This year’s graduating class is far the largest in the history of the university. We are graduating today 101 MSc students and five PhDs. The last graduation ceremony had a large number of PhDs, but the total number of graduating students this year is far the largest. “I also want to point out to you that at the doctoral level this year, the university produced its very first PhD in the area of Theoretical Physics and I think those of you who are familiar with sciences will know that that is a very difficult area of study. “At the same time, with this graduating class, for the first time in the history of the university we are graduating students at the PhD level in Computer Science and in that regard we are graduating three.�

The president said as part of the institution’s mission as a pan-African university, the incoming class that starts in January 2018 will have the highest number of foreign students.

Entrepreneur Unveils Hostel with Internet Facilities at Law School Kasim Sumaina in Abuja To make learning easier for students of the Nigeria Law School Abuja, an entrepreneur has launched a private hostel equipped with internet facilities for them.

The initiator of the project and owner of Williams Courtyard Apartment, Mrs. Efe EgbariDavis while inaugurating the hostel, said the aim was to meet a demand, provide service and make learning easier.

In a chat with journalists at the unveiling of the facilities in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Egbari-Davis said: “Williams Courtyard is a hostel and it is private and that is why we have services that will help students do better.

“We are going to be providing accommodation and services and a few people have expressed interest in certain things that they will like. “Here, we have free Wifi, internet and CCTV. You know so many good security and so on. Other services that we will have are the gym, restaurants and these will be open to the public. The restaurant is mostly Nigerian food and some continental.�

She added: “We are trying to keep the price reasonable within what the students can afford. So we find out what is going on and what they have around the area. It is just at minimum cost only to make them come to somewhere that is comfortable.

L-R: Eze Mike Igwenma; Sir Emmanuel Obi; Sir Paul Obi (Chairman); Lady Maryanne Obi; and Eze Damian Obianigwe, Trustees of Sir Paul Obi Foundation at the inauguration of the foundation in Ogberuru Orlu LGA, Imo State‌ recenetly

Briton Donates Digital Cameras to ATBU Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A Briton and the Curator of View 4 International Photography, Liverpool, Mr. Simon Mac Dougall, has donated digital cameras and equipment to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

Presenting the items to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Saminu Ibrahim, Mac Dougall, who is married to a Nigerian woman, said the gesture was to assist students in expanding their studies and practice in photography.

The father of two said: “I have an Anglo-Nigerian family, my wife is from Bauchi. My parents in-law are academic doctors at ATBU. I have visited Nigeria three times in two years. “This donation is because of my ATBU link with my family, a perfect opportunity to give back to ATBU for what it has

done for my Bauchi family, collaboration for academic expansion. “We expect and we hope that from this small seed that great trees will grow, the students will be inspired, they will learn new skills and share knowledge for their skills to produce fine Nigeria photographic work.�

He said last March, View 4 international Photography carried out exhibition in Nigeria, which featured artists from around the world and included Bauchi students from ATBU who entered the competition. “The March exhibition, which will expand again this year, is symptomatic of the need for direction from all universities to have equipment, to have the vision and to allow students use their creative talents. “This year we are in discussion with the National Museum in Lagos and Abuja. We have

been in touch with the director and we have plans to go to Abuja this year. We also have plans to exhibit in Australia and Japan and Nigeria will be part of this process. “With this equipment, we hope that this will achieve this purpose. I hand it to you with great pleasure and will be interested to see in future years, to return and to see the small seed being sown expand and produce quality work�

Receiving the equipment, the vice-chancellor, who was accompanied by the Registrar, Dr. Ahmed Hassan and other management officers of ATBU, thanked Mac Dougall for the gesture.

The VC said: “The university is pleased that we have been able to get this intervention from Mac Dougall and this tells about the issues- he is married to one of us, his wife

is a daughter of one of our colleagues here, then the issue of collaboration whereby there was an exhibition and ATBU featured, and then there is the issue of alumni angle which is important because his wife Ijeoma is an alumnus of ATBU and I believe those three issues brought together to see what we are seeing today, getting donation of digital equipment for our Industrial Design and IT Departments�

Ibrahim promised that the items would be put to good use by ensuring that the students use them to develop their talents and projects.

He also called on other alumni to come to the aid of the university as government cannot do it all. “I really want to ask them to come to support this university with donations, either monetary donations or equipment donation.

Firm Pledges to Revive ABU’s Transportation Scheme Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Galaxy Transportation and Construction Services has promised to revive the transportation scheme at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, which is in comatose.

The Managing Director, Babagana Dalori made the pledge in Abuja after receiving the ‘Humanitarian Icon’ award by ABU Students Union Representative Council.

Dalori, who commended the

council for finding him worthy of the award, said there was need to try as much as possible to stimulate greater innovative minds towards growing the Nigerian economy. “While I accept this recognition as a humanitarian icon, it is my sincere hope that I will endeavour to enhance and be of great support to Nigerian youths with great abilities and entrepreneurial acumen taking in cognisance their high ethical values at all times, as well as

appreciate the greater commitment and of responsibility to the growth of our economy and service to humanity.�

He added: “On your request for proper transportation scheme in ABU, by the grace of God, our company will ensure that smooth transportation system is established. What we will establish at ABU is going to be in such a way that the beneficiaries of the profit coming from the transport system are the

students because we want to make it in a way that any student who so wishes to invest in that transportation system will buy a seat in the bus, whatever the seat generates, the profit goes to whoever invested in that seat. “After a period of time when investors must have gotten their profits, we will also come up with a plan where the driver because he has worked so hard, we will make a room for him also to own the bus.

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Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă?˛ËÔĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Bayelsa’s Bold Step Emmanuel Addeh, who has closely monitored the Bayelsa Transparency Initiative, which criminalises opacity in governance, takes a look at how the law which took effect six years ago has fared

Dickson... delivering his address at the event

T

he world over, even in the most open of societies, leaders crave some level of obscurity in certain areas of public life, especially when it deals with the very treacherous issue of the handling of public funds.

For many Nigerian leaders, being lucid with how money belonging to the public purse is disbursed and spent remains a major challenge.

So important, yet so elusive is the issue of opening up government and its workings to the citizenry that the Dalai Lama once captured it in the following words: “the lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.�

Ordinarily, it would take a lot of courage, if not suicidal in this clime to even contemplate a law criminalising the non-disclosure of all government incomes and expenditures by any political leader.

The government’s opponents would not only take advantage of the figures to rubbish the leader, but in a very toxic political environment like Nigeria’s, may eventually lead to their downfall.

So, the legalisation of the Bayelsa transparency initiative, which in essence, by law prescribes certain punishments for those who flout it, at all levels of government in the state in 2012 was seen as going against the norm.

Indeed, part one of the law which prescribes it as a duty for the Governor to publish the income and expenditure of the state in order to ensure and guarantee transparency in the management of the finances of the state. “The governor of Bayelsa State shall not later than 14 days after the end of every month, cause to be published and delivered to the office of the commissioner in charge of information or such other officer that may be designated for that purpose by the Governor, a summary of the report of the income and expenditure of the state for the previous month. “The report shall specify the various sources of income and the amounts of such income.

A copy of the report for each month shall be forwarded to the Assembly�, the law says.

As for the punishment for breaking the act enacted by the State House of Assembly six years ago at inception of the Governor Seriake Dickson administration, it says: “ Any of the persons ... found guilty of the commission of an offence in this law shall be liable to 12 months imprisonment and or an option of fine of N100,000.00.�

Therefore, on a monthly basis, in a live broadcast attended by stakeholders, the governor or his representatives are mandated by law to tell the people of Bayelsa how he spends their money.

In what has now become a monthly ritual, he would thereafter, break down how much was allocated for what and how much deficit or surplus is left, before providing an opportunity for stakeholders, including journalists and civil society groups to seek clarifications.

In June 2016, the government took the initiative a notch higher by inaugurating a made-for-purpose

I have directed that this brieďŹ ng should be done, not just every month, but that they must print out and make available the ďŹ nancial statement for that month. I have also directed that there should be no more delay once they come from the federation account. If I am not around, the deputy governor will handle it

Dickson...leading by example

website called “The Bayelsa Watch� which the public can access at the click of a mouse at www. bayelsawatch.org and get all the information they need on how the state spends its money.

In his inaugural address at the time, Dickson had said, : “On transparency, we believe that it

is the right of the people of the state to know what funds accrue to the coffers of the state and the various local government councils and how they are utilised.

He added: “This is the only way to secure the trust and confidence of the people in whom

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Dickson's cabinet members at the event

A cross section stakeholders during the brieďŹ ng at the Alaimeyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa

sovereignty lies. I have directed all local government chairmen to comply with this paradigm shift on the issue of transparency, probity and accountability, to reflect the new Bayelsa we are building.�

But the local councils' angle to it remains a blight on the transparency initiative as none of the councils has taken a cue from the state government to make its books open to the public.

It also appears that no punishment has been meted by the authorities on the councils for routinely breaking the law.

The State House of Assembly which passed the executive bill presented by Dickson when he assumed office and is supposed to ensure compliance also seems to be looking the other way, while the councils do not find the need to be accountable to residents.

Nonetheless, it has become routine for the governor to personally take charge of the first edition of the monthly programme tagged ‘transparency briefing’ at the beginning of every year.

At this month’s transparency briefing which took place last week, Dickson urged the local council bosses to sit up and ensure that the people they lead know how their finances are expended.

He insisted that unlike some other states, he had never touched nor interfered with funds allocated to the councils by the federal government, adding that in the entire federation Bayelsa is the only state with a transparency law that makes it a crime not to communicate the state of the finances to the people.

Flanked by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah, Speaker of the State Assembly, Konbowei Benson, a large retinue of Commissioners and Special Advisers, the governor mentioned several of his many people-oriented projects including the diagnostics centre, the hospitals built in all the local governments, the health insurance scheme, the drug mart, and free antenatal care for pregnant women.

He boasted about the free boarding schools, the road projects in the deep coastal areas, the ongoing airport project, maintaining that despite the difficulty in erecting structures because of the peculiar terrain, sometimes building concrete of up to 20 feet before putting any project on it, his administration had touched every sector and area.

According to him, the era of sharing free

It must be underscored that the bold move to institutionalise transparency without any external prompting, by the Dickson’s government was a courageous decision which should be emulated by his colleague governors

money to the elites which constitute a small percentage of the people in the state was over, stressing that much of the bond and bank loans his government was paying were incurred by the preceding administration.

Because of the prudent way the finances of the state were being managed, the governor said, his intention this year is to embark on massive housing for the poor, including the new Yenagoa city. “There are monkey bridges leading to monkey houses (slums). But we can’t destroy them. We need to provide alternatives because these are poor people,� he said, noting that the land covers over 100 hectares.

In explaining the rationale for the three-hour transparency briefing, the governor assured that under his watch, nobody will be allowed to self-aggrandise or commit financial impunity in the mould of what obtained before his administration, saying that he will be taking the programme a notch higher soon. “I have directed that this briefing should be done, not just every month, but that they must print out and make available the financial statement for that month. I have also directed that there should be no more delay once they come from the federation account. If I am not around, the deputy governor will handle it,�

Dickson explained.

The governor continued: “I can never pack money and give somebody. I cannot and will never do that and I will not also close my eyes and allow somebody to pack our money because all the money is not even enough for

me to work with.�

He argued that being a new and equally small state, the Internally Generated Revenue was still meagre compared to old city centres like Port Harcourt and Warri from where their respective states get their huge tax revenue.

Reeling out the figures for income and expenditure for the month under review, Dickson gave lectures on even the minutest details of how he and his team had managed the state’s resources.

From salary payments to the several deductions to even Commission on Transactions (CoT) from the banks, Dickson explained to residents, who in turn punctuated his remarks with thunderous applauses.

Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, had earlier set the tone for the commencement of the programme.

He argued that in the entire country, only Bayelsa has an open governance system backed by law, stressing that any state which is interested in accountability should borrow a leaf from the current administration.

But as the state marks the 6th year of the novel law which has operated without hindrance, many are of the view that for full effect, the local councils must also be compelled to throw their books open .

However, it must be underscored that the bold move to institutionalise transparency without any external prompting, by the Dickson’s government was a courageous decision which should be emulated by his colleague governors.

T H I S D AY Ëž , JANUARY 17, 2018

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DMO: FG to Borrow Additional $700m from Multilateral Agencies Obinna Chima The Debt Management Office (DMO) has revealed that the outstanding amount of $700 million in the federal government’s external borrowing programme is expected to be borrowed from multilateral sources.

The debt office revealed this in a statement yesterday.

The DMO explained that in line with its statutory mandate of funding the federal budgets, it raised a total of N1.254 trillion from the domestic market through the issuance of Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds, Nigerian Treasury Bills, as well as Sukuk and Green Bonds last year.

According to the DMO, this

amount was consistent with the provision for New Borrowing in the 2017 Appropriation Act. “The DMO also raised $2.8 billion in the International Capital Market through a $300 million Diaspora Bond in June 2017 and a $2.5 billion Eurobond in November 2017 which together represent about 80 per cent of the N1.0675 trillion (about USD3.5 billion) provided as New External Borrowing in the 2017 Appropriation Act. The outstanding amount of USD700 million in External Borrowing is expected from multilateral sources,� it added.

The debt office also revealed that the federal government has so far released a total of N1.2 trillion to finance capital

projects in the 2017 Appropriation Act. It noted that given that the 2017 Budget was finalised in July 2017, the disbursement of N1.2 trillion over a short period of six months to capital, “is a strong and positive development in Nigeria.�

Furthermore, the debt office stated that the release of such amount for capital was a strong demonstration of the commitment of the present administration to prioritise improvement in infrastructure in order to stimulate economic growth and development. “Since the 2017 Budget is still being implemented, more releases to capital are expected,� it pledged.

Standard Chartered Projects Stronger Global Economic Growth Standard Chartered Bank has predicted a stronger economic growth with rising inflation for the global economy in 2018.

This formed part of the Wealth Management Advisory Outlook for 2018 of the international bank titled: “Turning up the Heat.�

According to the Chief Investment Strategist at Standard Chartered Bank, Steve Brice, growth accelerated in 2017, while inflation did not.

He added: “We believe a gradual ‘heating up’ of the global economy is likely in 2018, with robust economic growth and inflation finally increasing. Our Outlook 2018 report is designed to help our clients navigate these market conditions.�

The report highlighted

the takeaways from its 2018 economic to include that the “Goldilocks� environment (that is not too hot, not too cold) of strong growth and limited inflation was likely to extend into the early part of 2018, adding that continued earnings growth means equities and corporate bonds have room to extend gains going into 2018 “Inflation is the main risk to this “Goldilocks� scenario, especially further into 2018.

A larger-than-expected rise in inflation would mean the environment could turn too hot, forcing central banks to tighten policy more aggressively than markets currently expect.�

Commenting on the investment implications, its Regional Head of Wealth Management for Africa, the Middle East

and Europe - Head of Wealth Management for the UAE, Standard Chartered Bank, Gautam Duggal said,“We suggest investors continue to tilt towards equities, which generally do well in the late stage of the economic cycle, as we do not believe valuations are a constraint to a strong performance in 2018. To contain potential downside risks, we advise investors to progressively increase allocations to diversified alternative strategies, likely to be less volatile than traditional asset classes.�

The bank was also of the view that the US Dollar would weaken modestly, supporting its preference for bonds in Emerging Markets – especially USD sovereign and Asia corporate bonds.

FirstBank Upgrades Internet Banking Solution First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced the upgrade of its internet bankingsolution- FirstOnline, with improved features to promote and safeguard the electronic banking experience of customers. The bank explained that the “user friendly and secure internet banking tool, which can be carried out on one’s computer or mobile devices,� was designed for both individual and corporate customers to experience with ease, cutting-edge banking services anywhere, at anytime and place,

with good internet connection.

According to a statement, some of the features on FirstOnline include: self-verification for intercepted transactions, statement download in different file formats, multiple transactions with a single token entry, bills payment, creation and cancellation of standing orders or recurring transfers, improved security to mention a few.

According to its Group Head, e-Business, FirstBank, Mr. Chuma Ezirim, “the modern age is driven by technological

advancement in business activities, including banking, and at FirstBank we are committed to leaving no stone unturned to continually reinvent and enhance our electronic banking operations across the board with a view to constantly providing secure and efficient state of the art banking services round the clock to our teeming customers. “The upgraded FirstOnline is designed to promote flexibility in electronic banking whilst ensuring a user friendly and secure customer experience�.

Ecobank Raises International Spend Limits on Naira Cards Nume Ekeghe Ecobank Nigeria has announced an increase in the maximum daily limit of its naira debit cards abroad, depending on the type of card held by its customers.

Customers with naira debit cards can now pay up to $4,000 and $5,000 per day on online channels and point of sale (PoS) terminals respectively across the world.

A statement from the bank yesterday also added that foreign currency debit card holders can spend up to $5,000 daily from their domiciliary accounts.

For Ecobank Premier Cus-

tomers with Platinum Credit Cards, daily transaction limits of $15,000.00 apply. These limits are however subject to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s annual spending limits on naira and foreign currency denominated cards.

Commenting on this development, the Consumer Distribution Head, Ecobank, Mr. Ayotunde Kuponiyi remarked that this change was a response to customers’ feedback,saying the bank was determined to reach and provide the customers convenience at all times.

He said: “This is positive news for our customers, particularly for those travelling abroad for business and leisure

and for our Customers in Diaspora. It is very important that Customers of Ecobank access their accounts with relative ease wherever they are, within or outside Nigeria.�

Kuponiyi reiterated that Ecobank Customers can walk into any of the bank’s over 400 branches to pick up an instant card under five minutes. These cards are enabled for value added services and online transactions both locally and abroad, he said, adding that foreign currency denominated debit cards, (USD, GBP and EUR) can also be accessed directly for use in transacting from domiciliary account withdrawals.

Buhari

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2017 Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,523,239.91

---- Demand Deposits

8,367,573.19

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,118,463.42

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,821,446.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,824,226.22

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,834,536.74

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-3,010,310.52

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

--Currency in Circulation

1,868,735.07

--Banks Reserves

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month

AUGUST 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.35

Savings Deposit Rate

4.08

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.86

3 Months Deposit Rate

10.14

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20 Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MON, JAN 15,2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $67.78 a barrel on Monday, compared with $67.17 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations..

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY Ëž , JANUARY 17, 2018

39

MARKET NEWS

NSE Boss Explains 2017 Impressive Performance, Bullish on 2018 Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

of 42.3 per cent recorded by the market in part, to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s monetary policies that resulted in increased liquidity in the foreign exchange market. Speaking during the NSE 2017 Market Recap & Outlook for 2018 in Lagos, Onyema said that the equity market activity rose by 121 per cent from N576 billion in 2016 to N1.271 trillion.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema yesterday said the Nigerian stock market recovered from the macroeconomic overhang to become the third best performing market in 2017 globally.

He attributed the growth

According to him, the initial public offering (IPO) activity in the year remained mute, noting, however, that there were several other positive indicators including the revival of supplementary listings and the return of new issuances.

The value of supplementary listings increased by 27 per cent, bringing the total value of equity issues in 2017 to N408

billion. On bonds, Onyema remarked that the NSE fixed income market recorded mixed performance.

He said new bond issuances increased over the previous year, while bond yields gradually moderated from 2016 levels amidst easing inflation and greater FX stability.

The NSE boss also noted that NSE made steady progress on

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

its strategic focus areas set out at the beginning of 2017. “Demutualisation remained a key strategic focus in the year under review.

Through targeted engagement efforts with our members, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Assembly (NASS), NSE members including Association of Stockbroking Houses of

Nigeria (ASHON), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and other key stakeholders, we achieved the broad-based support required to secure approval for demutualisation from the exchange’s members and successfully progressed the Demutualisation Bill through the first and second reading and public hearing stages of the law making process,� he said.

A S AT 1 1 / 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)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

1,052,096.51

33.51

4.72

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--NON-ALCOHOLIC S/N 28 29 30

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 461,254.51

MARKET CAP(Nm) DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 4,430,531.93

BUILDING MATERIALS

PRICE

%CHANGE

12.85

10.21

PRICE

%CHANGE

260.00

1.96

VOLUME

31

458

25,145,100

32

458

25,145,100

33

TRADES VOLUME 660 67,631,212

34

660

67,631,212

35 FOOD PRODUCTS

1,118

92,776,312

S/N

TRADES

VOLUME

53 178,155 53 178,155 53 178,155 1,171 92,954,467

36 37 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED S/N 38 39 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

CROP PRODUCTION

S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

1,100.00

0.50

-

68,853.22 72,300.00

72.18 72.30

1.26

FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

PRICE

%CHANGE

4.26

-

TRADES 0 0 16 14 30

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.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,270.00

PRICE 1.09

%CHANGE -4.59

42,294 63,094 105,388

40 41 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

TRADES VOLUME

S/N

0 0 0

42 43

VOLUME

44

50 4,792,153

45 46 47 48 49 50

0 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

VOLUME

TRADES 50

4,792,153

80

4,897,541

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,906.05

0.72

-4.00

3

126,250

194.58 2,111.93

0.50 3.25

-

0 0 0 0

94,303.34

2.32

9.95

196

34,575.56

18.00

-2.70

49 859,876 248 90,725,979 248 90,725,979

89,739,853

51 52 53 BANKING S/N 54 55 56

ARBICO PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 40,880.40 165.00

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

TRADES VOLUME

57

0 0 0 0

58

%CHANGE

TRADES VOLUME

59

9.74 -

42 531,698 0 0

60 61

42 531,698

62

PRICE

%CHANGE

4.79

-

PRICE 30.97 6.60

63

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES VOLUME

8,055.03

3.10

-

22 466,893

65

22 466,893

66

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

TRADES VOLUME

67

0 0

68

PRICE 100.00

%CHANGE -

45.22

-

0 0

26,682.70

10.00

-

0 0

71

0 0

72

70

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,386.33

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/ MARKET DISTILLERS CAP(Nm) CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 23,488.49 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 242.22 GUINNESS NIG PLC 249,703.64 INTERNATIONAL BREWER540,249.92 IES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 1,185,321.29

FOOD PRODUCTS DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 65,321.00 MARKET CAP(Nm) 81,700.00

73 74

PRICE

%CHANGE

0.50

-

PRICE

%CHANGE

3.00 0.89 114.00

4.17 4.60

62.85

-0.24

149.49

0.28

TRADES VOLUME 0 0

PRICE

%CHANGE

101.97

-

75

0 0

76

TRADES VOLUME

77

70 2,461,417 0 0 49 172,778 52 6,343,054 129 833,130 300 9,810,379

BEVERAGES--NONALCOHOLIC 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC.

69

11,305.89

64 998,591 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

64

TRADES VOLUME

78 79 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 80 81

0 0

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS

0 0

S/N

TRADES VOLUME

82

PRICE

%CHANGE

16.34

0.55

221 4,706,655

255,720.00

21.31

4.98

120 3,660,987

78,727.12

30.00

0.03

326 13,247,932

83 84

HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

26,169.65

3.30

-5.98

1,861.25

0.50

-

1,015.74

5.70

-

58,552.59

22.10

0.41

3,676.41

13.45

-

MARKET PRICE CAP(Nm) 30,257.83 16.11 1,173,131.25 1,480.00

%CHANGE -1.41 -0.67

270 9,607,266 0 0 0 0 57 1,967,102 0 0 994 33,189,942 TRADES VOLUME 68 1,003,463 36 51,894 104 1,055,357

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

1,766.22

23.23

-

3,356.43

3.22

-0.31

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

92,591.52

23.32

-2.79

55 1,043,916

270,130.15

47.02

0.04

40 351,517

%CHANGE

TRADES VOLUME 0 0 61 1,778,381 61 1,778,381 TRADES VOLUME

95 1,395,433 1,554 47,229,492 MARKET BANKING CAP(Nm) ACCESS BANK PLC. 352,631.97 DIAMOND BANK PLC 66,470.32 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL 366,073.55 INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC 104,019.52 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 1,500,990.14 JAIZ BANK PLC 27,696.39 SKYE BANK PLC 13,741.50 STERLING BANK PLC. 63,338.92 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 243,740.70 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA 430,912.71 PLC UNITY BANK PLC 10,987.98 WEMA BANK PLC. 34,717.02 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

PRICE

%CHANGE

12.19 2.87

4.19 9.96

19.95

5.00

3.59 51.00 0.94 0.99 2.20 8.37

6.85 1.80 4.44 8.79 10.00 4.89

TRADES VOLUME 936 158,549,288 88 25,183,708 89 2,370,269 204 388 17 84 70 150

36,065,901 18,911,512 1,248,280 10,461,872 4,507,687 3,196,904

12.60

5.00

277 45,461,086

0.94 0.90

9.30 9.76

19 904,703 53 8,135,243 2,375 314,996,453

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

10,292.50

0.50

-

4,158.12

0.60

-3.23

72 4,815,329

28,035.00

2.67

4.71

21 717,989

TRADES VOLUME 0 0

3,000.00

0.50

-

0 0

15,766.57

1.52

-

8 530,100

7,364.75

0.50

-

0 0

7,000.00 2,411.47

0.50 0.53

-

1 200 0 0

1,913.74

0.50

-

0 0

3,070.00

0.50

-

0 0

642.04

0.50

-

0 0

3,661.72

0.50

-

0 0

3,608.92

0.84

-4.55

6,880.00

0.86

-

4,000.00

0.50

-

8,554.41

1.62

4.52

48 1,749,500 3 53,000 0 0 32 1,839,873

3,869.74

0.50

-

1 2,000

2,759.15

0.50

-

1 213

3,334.38

0.50

-

0 0

4,170.41

0.50

-

0 0

6,455.52

0.50

-

2 12,000

4,670.54

0.50

-

0 0

1,291.15

0.50

-

0 0

6,933.33

0.50

-

1 100

8,000.00

0.50

-

0 0

7,092.85

0.53

-3.64

52 3,522,853 242 13,243,157

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

11,799.67

2.58

-

3,658.62

1.60

-4.19

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES VOLUME 0 0 15 2,038,826 15 2,038,826

MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC

TRADES VOLUME

5,460.00

1.30

-

0 0

7,370.87

0.50

-

0 0

6,005.46

1.44

-

0 0

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ

41

˾ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

MARKET NEWS

NSE, Coronation Merchant Bank Partner to Enhance Derivatives Trading The Nigerian Stock Exchange

(NSE) and Coronation Merchant Bank, have invited the former Chair of the United States Commodities Futures Trading Commission (US CFTC), Mr. James Stone, to deliver a special lecture on the ‘Pluses and Pitfalls of Derivatives Trading’ tomorrow (Thursday January 18, 2018) as part of strategic initiatives to enhance the efficiency of operations in the Nigerian capital market.

The initiative, which is a component of the NSE’s

international stakeholders’ engagement strategy that commenced four years ago, will also see Mr. Stone - a former lecturer in Economics at Harvard University and the former Commissioner of Insurance, Massachusetts - interact with leadership of the Lagos bourse and leading operators in Nigeria’s capital market.

Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NSE said: “Having Mr. Stone, a fellow of the American Society of Arts and Sciences,

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

who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as Chairman of the US CFTC, is an amazing opportunity because of the quality of engagement and insight that will be gained from the interaction.”

According to him, the exchange is committed to building capacity and enhancing the expertise of operators and other associated parties towards collective efficiency. “Therefore, the lecture on ‘Pluses and Pitfalls of Derivatives Trading’ to be delivered by Mr. Stone will provide enriching perspectives

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 15-Jan-2018, unless otherwise stated.

and strengthen the capacity of capital market operators, who create value for investors through their operations on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange,” he said.

Similarly, Coronation Merchant Bank Group, a major player on the NSE, whose subsidiary, Coronation Asset Management recently listed three mutual funds on the exchange noted that a collaborative approach to capacity building will unlock the inherent value on the exchange.

The Managing Director of

Coronation Merchant Bank Group, Abubakar Jimoh said: “We are excited about our collaboration with the NSE on this noteworthy initiative, which will have positive effects on capital market operations in Nigeria. As a wholesale, financial institution focused on transforming the face of merchant banking in Africa, Coronation Merchant Bank is not only open to innovative collaborations that will bring development to the African financial landscape, but will serve as a catalyst for revitalising

capital market operations across the continent.”

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission is an independent agency of the US government created in 1974 that regulates in futures and option markets. Mr. Stone, the founder and CEO of Boston-based Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation, and Chief Executive of The Plymouth Rock Company – the holding company- served as its chairman until 1983 following his appointment in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

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 196.44 196.52 10.33% Nigeria International Debt Fund 239.02 239.11 3.19% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.85 0.86 3.72% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 -4.16% 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 16.55% 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 20.33 20.95 11.29% ARM Discovery Fund 422.56 435.30 8.61% ARM Ethical Fund 28.75 29.62 5.23% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.66% 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 164.87 166.02 8.68% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.97% 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 18.25% Paramount Equity Fund 12.95 13.28 4.75% Women's Investment Fund 101.47 104.07 0.83% 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 0.00% 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 1,167.75 1,168.91 9.12% FBN Heritage Fund 150.56 152.11 8.08% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.80% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $114.17 $114.29 1.67% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.59 $113.70 1.73% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 191.76 194.59 12.28% 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 1.42 1.45 8.74% Legacy Debt Fund 2.90 2.90 0.61% 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 3,173.00 3,221.68 6.54% Coral Income Fund 2,481.25 2,481.25 1.44% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.22% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.51% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.23 2.26 5.91%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.86% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 115.87 115.87 0.59% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.17 1.19 1.31% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,059.98 1,059.98 0.72% 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 16.78 16.94 19.08% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.72% 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 1.27 1.30 7.31% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.13 11.21 0.94% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.93% 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 141.77 144.99 10.36% 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 1.49 1.49 0.54% 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 2,372.19 2,390.76 5.73% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 182.22 182.22 3.27% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.09 1.11 8.91% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 222.59 222.74 1.10% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 187.28 189.73 4.67% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.56% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,519.35 10,662.12 8.78% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.07 1.07 0.94% 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 1.41 1.43 17.15% United Capital Bond Fund 1.58 1.58 24.35% United Capital Equity Fund 1.01 1.03 10.31% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 14.66% United Capital Eurobond Fund 103.15 103.15 7.83% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.12 24.15% 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 13.69 13.90 9.01% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.84 14.00 5.69% Zenith Income Fund 19.20 19.20 1.49%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 132.85

1.01% 0.29%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.58 164.23 123.79

12.68 167.84 126.13

3.78% 15.02% 13.32%

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

5.86 10.43 20.38 22.32 153.27

5.90 10.51 20.48 22.52 155.27

23.53% 8.95% 14.71% 13.40% 3.14%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

North Korea Calls Trump Nuclear Botton Tweet the ‘Spasm of a Lunatic’ North Korea’s state-run media has labelled Donald Trump’s tweet about having a bigger nuclear button than leader Kim Jong Un’s the “spasm of a lunatic”, according to the UK newspaper, The Independent.

Rodong Sinmun, the ruling party newspaper, criticised the US President after he tweeted: “I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

A summary of the commentary by North Korea’s official news agency described

the tweet as “the spasm of a lunatic”.

“The spasm of Trump in the new year reflects the desperate mental state of a loser who failed to check the vigorous advance of the army and people of the DPRK,” the article said, using the acronym for North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“He is making [a] bluff only to be diagnosed as a psychopath.”

The tone of the commentary is not uncommon for

Trump Makes U-turn on ‘Shithole’ Comment United States President, Donald Trump, yesterday he wants immigrants from around the world.

“I want them to come in from everywhere,” he told reporters at the White House during an appearance with visiting President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

Trump was responding to a reporter who asked if he

wanted more immigrants from Norway.

Following a visit last week by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the president allegedly told senators in a private meeting that the US should accept more people from Norway instead of “shithole countries” in Latin America and Africa.

the North Korean media.

But Mr Trump’s willingness to respond in kind – he has repeatedly called Mr Kim “little rocket man” – is rare for an

American leader.

Mr Trump has more recently suggested he might be willing to meet with Mr Kim, and reportedly told the Wall Street

Journal the two “probably have a very good relationship”.

The US President’s controversial “nuclear button” tweet was in response to Kim’s New

Year’s Day warning that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is a real threat and that he has a nuclear launch button on his desk at all times.

Split Social Democrats Could Sink Merkel’s Coalition Plans The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) tried on Tuesday to quash a grassroots rebellion against a blueprint agreed with Angela Merkel’s conservatives to enter formal talks on a “grand coalition” which could scupper her plan for a fourth term, according to

Reuters.

After five days of intensive talks, SPD leader Martin Schulz agreed a framework deal with Merkel and Bavarian conservatives on Friday but before he can start official negotiations he needs the backing of his party in a vote at a conference on

Sunday.

Convincing them is proving difficult. Two regional branches have already said they do not back his deal.

Many rank and file members accuse Schulz of selling out to Merkel and failing to win a signature policy to take to coalition talks, such

as a major healthcare reform or tax hikes for the rich.

Schulz is touring the country to convince his party base.

“We have a duty to look at how to make life better for people,” Schulz said in a live Facebook broadcast on Tuesday.

Prominent Kosovo Serb Politician Killed in Drive-by Shooting Prominent Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic was shot dead in a brazen drive-by shooting on Tuesday that sparked fears of a resumption of ethnic tensions in the volatile region, according to AFP. The assassination of Ivanovic -- who was facing a retrial on war crimes charges over the 1990s Kosovo conflict

-- occurred on the very day that Belgrade and Pristina resumed EU-moderated talks on normalising ties after a hiatus of more than a year.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described the murder as a “terrorist act” against “Serbia as a whole”.

Both Serbian and Kosovo Albanian officials refrained from explicitly accusing each

other of being behind the killing as the international community urged the two sides to remain calm.

Ivanovic, 64, was shot dead by gunmen firing from a car as he arrived at the headquarters of his party in the flashpoint town of Mitrovica at about 8:15 am (0715 GMT), police said.

The moderate politician,

who had publicly spoken out against Belgrade’s policies in Kosovo, was hit by five bullets and died on the spot, his lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic told AFP. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and the government in Pristina “strongly” condemned the assassination, as did US and UN representatives in Kosovo.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Falana Suggests Measures to End Herdsmen-Farmers’ Conflict Ejiofor Alike A human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has suggested measures to end the senseless killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen, saying that the federal government should disarm the AK47-bearing herdsmen as announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in an extensive interview published in the May 4, 2016 edition of a national newspaper.

In a statement issued yesterday over the tragic killing of 73 people during the violent attack in Benue State, Falana faulted the position of the

Governors of Nasarawa and Plateau States, Tanko Al-Makura and Simon Lalong respectively, who had blamed the killing on the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of Benue State Falana pointed out that the two governors failed to explain the basis of the reckless killing of farmers in Benue State before the enactment of the law or the incessant killing of hundreds of farmers by herdsmen in other states of the federation.

He noted that after the Benue incident, not less than 10 people were killed by herdsmen in Kaduna State.

“Apart from the fact that

Saraki Cautions Against Neglecting Governance for 2019 Campaigns Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has cautioned political actors in the executive and legislative arms of government against neglecting governance in the bid to campaign for the 2019 general election.

Speaking while presenting his welcome address on resumption from Christmas/New Year break, Saraki said rather than being distracted, politicians should focus on the work for which they were elected, by the Nigerian people.

“It is my appeal to each and every one of us, that our legislative duty to Nigeria and her people, must be uppermost in our minds. We must not allow the upcoming 2019 elections to overshadow our work for the people that elected us - or distract us from that which we are mandated to do by the constitution and the trust reposed in us by the people.

“This is my appeal: it is too early for 2019 politicking to override the legislative agenda and the larger work of governance. We have begun a good thing with the economic core of our agenda; let us see it

to its proper conclusion. It would be most insensitive to the needs of the people of this country if we were to do otherwise. I am directing this appeal not only to us in the chamber but to the National Assembly as a whole, as well as to the executive and indeed all political actors,” Saraki said.

The senate president also decried the hardships experienced

by Nigerians during the festive season, where many had to spend endless hours on fuel queues.

While the Senate could not immediately respond to the crises, it is determined to get to the bottom of the cause of the fuel scarcity, Saraki said.

“My own estimation of the fuel scarcity phenomenon is that it is man-made. We thought we had left the problem of fuel queues firmly in the past in this country, but sadly, that appears not to be the case. In any event, there is a problem, and it must be solved. We await the findings of the Investigative Panel on Fuel Scarcity, firm in our resolve that whoever is responsible must pay the price for visiting this needless hardship upon our people,” he added.

Army to Reorganise Deployment of Troops in North-east Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË Following the recent resurgence of Boko Haram attacks, the Nigerian Army yesterday said plans were underway to reorganise the deployment of troops in the North-east where the military has been fighting war against the insurgency.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Tukur Buratai, said the military authorities were currently planning the re-organisation of deployment of troops in the battlefront to achieve operational efficiency and boost the morale of troops.

Buratai, who did not give details of the plan, stated that “the military would pursue its goals and objectives diligently in line with the constitution of

the country.

The COAS made the remarks while receiving Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He added that “the military would remain apolitical and observe the supremacy of the political class over military institutions in the country.”

Buratai said: “Let me assure you that as one of the arms of the armed forces, we will continue to remain apolitical, we will observe the supremacy of the political class over the military institutions; that is to say political control of the military will continue to remain. We will do our responsibilities diligently in line with the constitution.

Kaduna State has no anti grazing law, Governor Nasir El-Rufai once announced that he had paid an undisclosed sum of money to the herdsmen to stop further killing of unarmed farmers in the state,” he added.

On the claim by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that over 800 Fulani people were killed by ethnic militias in Taraba State, Falana noted that the Taraba State government had clarified that in the violent clash between the Fulani and Mambilla people in Sadauna, “both sides suffered casualties and the figure of death from both sides put together was nothing close to genocide.”

The human rights lawyer argued that Sanusi ought not to have waited for the killing of 73 people in Benue State before

crying out over what he has described as “these acts of ethnic cleansing” by some influential people in Taraba State.

He called on the Taraba State government and the Police to ensure the prosecution of all persons indicted by the Justice Nuhu Adi commission of inquiry which investigated the crisis and has since submitted its report to Governor Darius Ishiaku.

He stated that the federal government should disarm the herdsmen, stressing that the decision had been announced

by Ogbeh in an extensive interview published in the May 4, 2016 edition of the Vanguard newspaper.

Falana said since the establishment of ranches is in the national interest and in the

interest of cattle owners and breeders, the federal government should restrain Ogbe from confusing the Nigerian people with his pet project of cattle colonies.

He called on the federal government to enter into dialogue with the patrons and leaders of the Miyetti Allah to work out the logistics for establishing ranches in the states with large scale livestock.

“It has to be made abundantly clear to the members of the Miyetti Allah that the freedom of movement of herdsmen and their cattle is circumscribed by the rights of farmers to life and property. Furthermore, that no one is authorized to bear weapons and that the killing of any unarmed person in any part of the country is punishable

with death,” he said.

On claims by Ogbe that the federal government had assisted other farmers and neglected herdsmen, Falana recalled that until the Miyetti Allah claimed responsibility for the reprisal attacks in Benue and other states, the federal government had given the impression that the armed herdsmen were nationals of Senegal, Mali, Niger and Libya.

Also speaking on claims by the Buhari administration that regime that the herdsmen were not disarmed by previous regimes, Falana reminded the federal government that this administration had crushed other armed groups in the country and cannot justify the decision to treat the armed herdsmen like sacred cows.

MEETING ON TERMS OF TRADE

L-R: Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru; Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; and the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, during a meeting on change in trade terms from Free On Board (FOB) to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) in Abuja....yesterday

NNPC Justifies Preference for FOB Nigeria’s Crude Exports Chineme Okafor ÓØ ÌßÔË The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has given reasons why it prefers to use the Free-on-Board (FOB) system to export Nigeria’s crude oil to their respective destinations and not the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) system.

The NNPC, according to a statement it sent out yesterday in Abuja, explained that despite the value erosion inherent in the FOB sale arrangement, prevailing security situations and the need to guarantee steady revenue into the Federation Account had informed its preference for the system.

The corporation justified its preference for the FOB during a high-powered meeting of stakeholders in the maritime industry which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, attended.

The meeting according to the statement signed by the Group General Manager, Public

Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, was convened to generate ideas on how best to export Nigerian crude oil to attract maximum benefits for the country.

It had as its theme: “Free On-Board (FOB) and Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) Incoterms Framework for Export of Nigerian Crude Oil and Gas”, and was organised by the NNPC in conjunction with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

While Kachikwu, stated in his welcome address that various attempts in the past to transit from the FOB to CIF system of exporting Nigeria’s crude oil had failed and that there was no better time than now to comprehensively revisit the issue to determine which of the systems best serves the interest of Nigeria, Baru, however noted that the corporation was mindful of past experiences the country had with the Nigerian Airways and Nigerian National Shipping

Line, in making its choice.

According to Baru, under CIF, petroleum cargoes are legally the property of the federal government which could pose a danger to the country’s earning as creditors could procure court orders to confiscate crude oil cargoes as a means of securing payment of Nigeria’s indebtedness to them.

He noted: “The experiences of Nigerian Airways and the Nigerian National Shipping Line both of which had their vessels/ crafts and cargoes confiscated on court orders obtained by creditors is unpleasant to recall.

“Due to these peculiarities, we find it most appropriate to transfer the potential risks associated with the ownership of the cargo to the buyer at the load port in Nigeria which FOB incoterm allows. Government/NNPC’s liability ends as the crude oil passes from loading hose at the vessel’s manifold to the loading vessel. The buyer pays for freight, marine insurance, unloading and transportation

from the load port in Nigeria to the destination,” he explained.

He also said the NNPC was, however, not unmindful of the value erosion inherent in the FOB sale arrangement, and that the corporation was open to new ideas on the proper mix that could enable synergy and collaboration amongst different stakeholders to guarantee security of federation revenue as well as guard against associated risks involved in delivery of crude oil and gas to customers.

The statement also quoted the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to have said that while there was no correct answer to the issue of freight system to adopt, there was need to be open-minded about possible alternatives that could help in the quest to diversify the economy.

Peterside, reportedly urged participants to be guided by national interest in their discussion while exploring all possible opportunities.

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NEWSXTRA

PDP Calls for Unity, Peace in Nigeria Donates relief materials to victims of herders attacks Plateau, Benue lost 14,000 persons to conflicts, says Lalong George Okoh Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ“ The People Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday paid a condolence visit to the government and people of Benue State over the mass killing by Fulani herdsmen.

The National Chairman of PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, disclosed that they were in the state with their widows’ mite as they believe that the lives of Nigerians matter and the safety of the citizens remains a priority irrespective of political party affiliations Represented by the Deputy National Chairman, Yemi Akinwomi, the party commiserated with Benue people over the recent killing of over 73 persons, stating that it was on the basis of that they came to give their little contribution to cushion the effect of the displaced persons. “PDP sympathises with innocent children and our mothers who were brutally killed for a problem they know nothing about. The party sues for

peace and unity of the country,�

Secondus said.

Among items donated included food items like bags of beans, rice and maize, mattresses, blankets, buckets and wrappers worth millions of naira.

Responding through his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Michael Gusah, Governor Samuel Ortom appreciated the party leadership for the gesture, noting that it has demonstrated true brotherliness in spite party affiliation.

He promised that the relief materials would be judiciously distributed to the displaced persons.

Also, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State yesterday led a delegation to Benue State to condole the people and state government and disclosed that both states had lost over 14,000 people to herdsmen attacks.  Lalong was represented by the Commissioner for Town Planning, Mr. Festus Fwanter Also in the entourage were members of the state elders’

Taraba Gov, Speaker Ask Security Agencies to Fish out Killers of Lawmaker Wole Ayodele Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă™ Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has charged security agencies to fish out the masterminds of the kidnap and killing of a member of the state House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi. Equally, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abel Peter Diah, told security agencies in the state to do everything humanly possibly to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

Ibi was abducted at his home in Takum on December 30, 2017 and his corpse was later discovered in a bush last Monday at Kwari village along Takum/Kashimbila road.

Ishaku, who was visibly shaken by the killing of the lawmaker, who incidentally was the representative of the governor’s constituency in the assembly, said his administration was prepared to give security agencies all the necessary support to ensure the killers are arrested and prosecuted.

The governor, who gave the task at the exco chamber at government house and during his condolence visit to the slain politician’s home in Jalingo yesterday, however, warned residents of Takum against blaming any ethnic group for the death of the lawmaker.

He wondered why the abductors of Ibi would go ahead to kill even after collecting a huge amount as ransom for his release.

Though the governor came short of disclosing the amount paid to the kidnappers, THISDAY gathered that a total sum of N40million was paid to them in two tranches. Â Warning the people of Takum to refrain from ethicising the

incident, Ishaku maintained that Ibi’s gruesome murder is a criminal act that is unacceptable to any ethnic group and must be treated as such. “This is purely a criminal act. I have warned people against attacking anybody or any tribe because this is not about tribe. Nobody should go and say that they have attacked a Jukun and you are going to retaliate. It is purely a criminal act that would be handled by appropriate authority.�

He further enjoined those planning to foment trouble with the death of Ibi to desist from it, saying: “Do not bring more problem to us because we already have many to deal with.�

While praying for the repose of Ibi’s soul and the fortitude for the family to bear the loss, the governor described him as a quiet, level-headed and a courageous gentleman who contributed his quota to the development of the state.

While condoling the governor over the death of their colleague, the Speaker described the perpetrators of the abduction as murderers who must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Commending the governor and the security agencies particularly the police for their efforts in securing Ibi’s release, Diah noted that it has become obvious that the perpetrators were not really after money but his life. Diah described Ibi as a great democrat, a seasoned lawyer and a dogged fighter for the progress of the state just as he appealed to whoever that has useful information that could lead to the arrest of the killers to avail such to security agencies.

forum led by its Chairman, Chief Joseph Dim. Lalong said the two states shared so many things in common, having been together in the past before the creation of Benue and said they should not allow the separation to divide them. “We are both food basket of the nation and we have both lost over 7,000 people each to herdsmen attacks, as what happened in Guma, Logo and other parts of Benue State, Plateau also shared the same in Bassa, Jos North and Jos South which is still happening till date. “Though through administrative process, we have been separated but that should not in any way divide us, we should not fail as leaders to compromise the future of our generations.�

Benue State Governor, Ortom, who received the delegation in his office, appreciated Plateau State Government for the visit and stated that people of Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States are brothers and sisters.

He noted that the three states still have some challenges that

bind them together. These he enumerated to include; poverty, underdevelopment and insecurity.

Ortom said anything that affected one state has affected all the states, stressing that the challenges were beyond them. “We have been brothers and sisters all along and in spite of the separation we all have the same challenges that bind us together, they are; insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment. “So we should see that whatever that affect one of us affected all of us so all these challenges are beyond us.�

Ortom however, used the occasion to apologise to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, over the comment he made, explaining that the situation on ground made him to make the statement. “Let me use this platform to apologise to my colleague in Nasarawa State over the statement I made. It was due to the situation at hand then.

I should not have made the information public rather it should have been a private discussion between us, i will

try and and see him,� Ortom said.

Meanwhile, foremost journalist and governorship aspirant under the platform of the PDP in Benue State, Mr. Telumun Nyitse, has stated that President Muhammad Buhari made a mockery of the state with his statement, ‘in the name of God, accommodate your countrymen’.

Nyitse, a retired permanent secretary in the state, described the herdsmen attacks as terrible and ugly.

Nyitse said the state had since 2013 turned to theater of war by the herdsmen who constantly invaded, killed and maimed people.

He stated that his personal house was burnt down in 2012 in Guma while in the new year attacks the whole village had been destroyed.

According to him, “Do you know the loss we recorded in Guma in the last attacks on our communities, imagine innocent people sleeping in their houses only to be woken up in the dead of the night and were slaughtered. “Even Muslims when they

are slaughtering animals they pray over it but if you see the senseless manner our people, pregnant women, little children and our brothers were slaughtered in their homes you will pity us.� “Personally, in 2013 my house in the village was bunt down by these herdsmen. In these last attacks, my whole village was completely destroyed, 12 of my 45 hectares of rice were destroyed.� “And you want us to continue to live with these kind of people, there is no way we can live with them, else we do it at our own peril.�

Nyitse who condemned the meeting between Benue leaders held on Monday at Aso Rock, said the president was cracking jokes while the state was mourning. “The little aspect of the meeting I have opportunity to watch, I saw them cracking jokes while we are mourning. “It is despicable, shameful for president to be cracking jokes and laughing while we are mourning, it shows unseriousness, though, I don’t know details of their discussion.�

CALL TO SERVICE

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel (left) ,swearing in the new Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo....yesterday

Akande: Buhari is Running DifďŹ cult System of Government Yinka Kolawole Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă‘ĂŒĂ™ The former Interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has again reiterated his call for parliamentary democracy if Nigeria would succeed.

He asserted that if the country continues with the present system of government, Nigeria would not succeed.

Akande who is also a former Governor of Osun State, stated this in his country home, IlaOrangun, at a press conference to mark his 79 birthday yesterday.

Expressing his view about the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the elder

statesman insisted that there is no how Buhari would succeed with the present system of government.

He said: “Buhari is my personal friend, he is running a very difficult system of government. Even if Angel should come to run the system of government he’s running, he cannot succeed. “Nigeria democracy is the military democracy of sharing. The longer you practice American democracy, the poorer you become in Nigeria. “The system is unworkable.

Any law under any unworkable constitution is a bad law. They are doing a difficult thing under

a very bad system. So long we continue with this form of system, Nigeria will not succeed.�

Akande who also faulted centralisation of power at the federal, insisted that police must be decentralised.

Listing countries like Isreal, UK, India and others that have succeeded with the parliamentary system, he said: “Up to the present age, evidence-based analyses has proved parliamentary democracy to be the most accountably transparent form of government in the whole world. “Considering that, apart from being transparent and very

accountable, parliamentary democracy is absolutely inclusive. Therefore, it appears to be the best form of governmental structure for Nigeria now. “The American democracy of multi-party presidentialism is too complicated and costly for a country of poor people with large illiteracy rate like Nigeria. “Multi-party parliamentary democracy is the best form of government that is left available for Nigeria, if it wants to catch up with the rest of the civilised and rapidly developing world in the next decades before oil revenues will no longer be in vogue,� he submitted.

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Cameroonian Secessionists Demand Nigeria Releases Its Leaders Shola Oyeyipo Leaders of Cameroon’s separatist group, the Ambazonian Governing Council (AGC), have called on the Nigerian government to unconditionally release their members, including their self-acclaimed president, Julius Ayuk Tabe and 10 others arrested on January 5 in the Nigerian territory.

Chris Anu, Secretary for Communication and IT, Federal Republic of Ambazonia, a British Southern Cameroons being claimed by the group as their territory, who signed a statement on behalf of the

AGC, expressed dismay that the arrested persons have not been allowed access to their lawyers and family members since they were taken away.

According to him, his group is also demanding the immediate and unconditional release of: Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, Dr. Fidelis Nde Che, Dr. Henry Kimeng, Prof.

Che Awasum, Dr. Cornelius Kwanga, Mr. Tassang Wilfred, Dr. Ojong Okonghor, Nalowa Bih, Barrister Shufai Blaise Berinyuh and Eyambe Elias.

He said the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia was dismayed by the fact that

Lassa Fever Outbreak: Ebonyi Gov Doles out N5m to Equip S’East Virology Center Benjamin Nworie ÓØ ÌËÕËÖÓÕÓ Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, yesterday released N5million for sourcing of medical experts to activate the Lassa fever virology centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) built by his administration and taken over by the federal government.

He also released the sum of N2million for contact tracing of Lassa fever virus which resurfaced in the state early this week, killing about three person.

The governor called on the people of the state to minimise handshaking, shun consumption of rats and keep their environment clean to avoid contracting the disease The contact tracing is to commence in Ala Awusa in the state where the virus started, spread to Mater Miscordae Hospital, Afikpo and Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).

Umahi who expressed sadness over the death of some health workers in the fresh outbreak of the disease, said he had summoned series of meetings to control the virus.

He regretted that since the federal government took over the N350million virology centre constructed by his administration, it has not been fully functional.

“Since we handed over the Lassa fever centre to the federal government, they have not fully taken it over. It is not fully functional. Also very annoying is that the committee we set up to build the place and equip it did not tell us that the supplier of the equipment has not fully installed the equipment. Nobody told us and that is very bad.

“We have had several meetings since yesterday and today over this disease outbreak. We have agreed to release N5million to source experts from Lagos. I have also called the Minster of Health and he has sent expert also from Abuja. N5million is to activate the place fully and get experts to start training because we are committed to

releasing more funds as the need arise. In our meeting with NMA and CMD, we agreed to release the sum of N2million for contact tracing to control the spread of the virus,” he said.

Meanwhile, Medical Doctors at FETHA yesterday urged the federal government to urgently equip the virology centre in the hospital.

The state government constructed the N350million ultra modern virology centre in 2015 which was taken over by the federal government.

But the doctors in the state said the virology centre has not been equipped resulting to patients who show Lassa fever symptoms being referred to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State for diagnosis and treatment.

There has been fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in the state which resulted to the death of two medical doctors; Felix Ali, Abel Udoh and a nurse while another doctor of the hospital is in critical condition in Irrua virology centre where he was receiving treatment.

The situation created panic and tension in the hospital as the doctors now go on mask.

Yesterday, the doctors wore black attires to mourn the death of Ali, Udoh and the nurse who died in the fresh Lassa fever outbreak.

They marched round major roads and street in the state before proceeding to government house where they were addressed by the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umahi on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala.

The doctors had emergency meeting and came up with a communiqué before protesting the death of their colleagues.

While reading the communiqué to journalists in Abakaliki shortly after the emergency meeting, the state Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman, Dr. Ikwudinma Austin, called on the federal government to equip the Lassa fever virology centre in the state which it took over from the state government.

since abducted at gunpoint on January 5, 2018, Tabe and the 10 members of his cabinet have not been granted access to any lawyers and family members by the Nigerian government, which he alleged worked with the Cameroon regime in Yaoundé to facilitate their ‘abduction.’

“We condemn vehemently, the fact that the Nigerian government, more than a week after the abductions, has not as much considered a press statement on the abductions even when the majority of those abducted are duly registered refugees in Nigeria.”

Noting that as a signatory to international conventions on human rights, the Nigerian government is “acting recklessly” Anu said: “The Interim Government IG of Ambazonia calls on the Nigerian authorities

to immediately effect the unconditional release of our president and others arrested along with him.

The group stressed further that as long as the government in Cameroon continues it clamp down on its members, it would equally sustain its attack on the country’s economy.

“Abducting our leaders isn’t going to deter us, it will only just spur us the more. And killing, arrest, torture, rape and even a hundred thousand more refugees will not deter our resolve.

“We like to bring to the attention of the Nigerian government, and the world at large the fact that these victims abducted in the guise of fomenting trouble in the nation of Cameroon are not Cameroonians. They are Ambazonians. And as long as the Cameroon government continues the

military occupation, assault, rape, killings and the savagery on property in the Ambazonian territory, our resolve to launch a campaign aimed at economic divestment in la Republic du Cameroun will not relent.

“We will target foreign companies that do business in La Republique du Cameroun and whose revenue supports Mr. Paul Biya’s corrupt and inefficient functionaries. It is time for Western governments to pass a Cameroon Divestment Act that will force their governments to cut investment ties with companies doing business in La Republique du Cameroun.

But if they don’t, our actions will definitely force them to do so.

“The interim government will like to make this clarification; the Cameroon crisis is not about secessionists or separatists, as is being widely reported. Ours is rather a classic problem of a failed decolonisation from

British colonial rule.

“If Britain had granted Southern Cameroons independence like all other colonial powers did to their territories, this problem would not be here now. So let it be made plain and clear, Ambazonians are not separatists or secessionists, we are freedom fighters in the order of Nkrumah, Lumumba, Awolowo, Azikiwe, John Garang, Nyerere etc., fighting colonisation by La Republique du Cameroun.”

Anu maintained that the union between Cameroun and the Southern Cameroons was never consummated and that as such, the IG of Ambazonia, will continue worldwide campaigns for Southern Cameroons’ right to self-determination and continuous non-violent protest within Cameroon until they have a completely free and independent Ambazonia.

TIPS ON HOW TO REDUCE POVERTY

Kano State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism, Ahmad Rabiu; Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II and Managing Director -designate, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, at the Sterling Bank organsed public lecture themed: ‘Reducing Poverty and Unemployment through Non-Interest Banking” …in Kano....Monday

Benue Killings: Mark, Others Commend Senate’s Intervention Former Senate President and the senator representing Benue South, Senator David Mark, has commended his successor, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on his timely directive to the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Security Infrastructure to cut short its recess and investigate the New Year killings in Benue State.

Mark who gave the commendation while contributing to the debate on the interim report of the committee submitted to the Senate, also lauded the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led committee for its prompt response to the directive of the Senate President.

The retired general urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crimes and their sponsors as an immediate step towards addressing the clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in the state.

He said: “Mr. President, there

are several recommendations towards addressing these clashes. In the interim, the best way is to arrest the sponsors since the Governor of Benue State said the government has identified the sponsors.

“The long term recommendations of the committee on cattle colony, ranching and others are still good but they can not be implemented now. The best way to save life in the interim is to arrest the sponsors since they have been identified. Saving a life now is as good as saving the situation and preventing it from degenerating further.”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, stated that all Nigerians are worried about the killings across the nation.

“The Senate is not the only group or body concerned, Nigerians are also worried,” the Deputy Senate President said, “We are tired of always observing a minute silence, we must have peace and

security before even thinking of infrastructure and development in the country.

“We should revisit the constitution review where we can start State policing and community policing so as to curb these kind of internal mayhem,” said the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.

The Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, stated that all Nigerians needed to rise above religion in putting an end to the killings. While Senator Shehu Sani, urged the President to suppress the killings across the country on a long term scale — not just for the particular incident.

“There is no reason why these things are happening, and we have an Attorney General of the Federation, yet no single prosecution,” said Senator Ibn Na’Allah, the Deputy Senate Leader. Na’Allah also commended the Senate President, for setting up the committee to review Nigeria’s

security infrastructure for better performance.

Senator Andy Uba, representing Anambra South, called for community police to curb future killings.

“The issue was on CNN which means it is becoming a national embarrassment,” Senator Uba said: “If setting up state police is difficult — we should look into setting up community policing system instead.”

In his own contribution, Saraki noted that the Senate’s debate on the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Benue and other states has shown that it is not religious-based, but a breakdown of law and order in that part of the country.

“I commend my distinguished colleagues for their sincerity and patriotism during this debate. This killing is also a wake up call for all of us to put all hands on deck to address this crisis,” he said.

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Buhari Receives The Gambian President, Advocates Complementary Agenda for Both Countries Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË For the first time since he was helped to power early last year, The Gambian President, Adama Barrow, paid a thank you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, among other West African countries, were at the forefront of the struggle which forced out Barrow’s predecessor, Yahya Jammel, who had vowed to hold on to power after losing to Barrow in the presidential poll.

Speaking at the event, Buhari who said the best effort was deployed during the time to end the political quagmire, suggested the need for both Nigeria and The Gambia to raise separate teams that will come up with a programme meant to complement the development agenda of both West African countries.

“We did our best in the most critical time. Hopefully now, the president will raise his team and we will raise a corresponding team and we will sit together and see how we can draw a political programme that will complement each other’s effort on development. So, this is the next thing we are going to do,” Buhari said.

Answering questions from State House correspondents during the visit, Barrow said the visit became compelling in view of the huge support Nigeria gave to The Gambian during the political impasse which forced Jammel into exile as well as other supports the country had given to The Gambia in other areas such as education and judiciary.

According to Barrow, at the heat of the crisis, Buhari made a statement which he said spoke volume during the battle to unseat Jammel and made a big difference during the struggle.

He said: “My visit is very important to us. We have always wanted to say thank you when Nigeria gave us all the support during and after the impasse. Nigeria has been supporting The Gambia for a long time in different areas like technical assistance in the area of education, judiciary.

“When we met in Mali, he (Buhari) took a decision as a leader in a closed-door meeting.

He made one statement that changed everything, that if The Gambian President (former) wants to challenge the subregion, he is welcome. This was his word and that made a big difference as a leader.

And that leadership role was very important not just for

The Gambia but for Africa because the problem was an African problem with an African solution.

“So, we are very grateful and that was why we wanted to come and say thank you. There is a saying in my country that if you want to thank a farmer for a good job, you have to visit

him at his farm and that is why we are here.”

He recalled how the deal he struck with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the international community became the bedrock on which his

eventual victory was predicated.

“Basically, the deal was: ECOWAS was involved, UNDP and the international community were involved to mediate, and in this mediation, Nigeria was involved and Liberia as the chair was involved. The Guinean President and the Mauritanian

President were also involved.

“The Guinean President and the Mauritanian President were physically on ground, for him to accept the will of the people, exit to allow us assume office.

This was the deal. He accepted to go on exile which we couldn’t guarantee his security. This was the deal,” he said.

PDP Alleges Plot to Rig Kastina By-election WE HAVE A BUDGET NOW Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, flanked by state officials during the signing of the 2018 budget into law in a ceremony at The People Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure to rig the Katsina by-election.

The National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Katsina, had last November, nullified the Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency election won by Mansur Aliyu Mashi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

INEC on May 20, 2017 conducted a by-election into the constituency following the death of Alhaji Sani Bello.

But the tribunal ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in 15 polling units based in a petition by the PDP candidate in to election, Nazifi Yusuf.

However, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP alleged that there was “pressure from certain presidency quarters on INEC to manipulate the process and rig the poll for the APC for obvious reasons.”

It described such as a failed mission because “the PDP is coasting to victory as the people of Katsina are already rallied with us ahead of the poll.

“APC leaders from Katsina including those at the helm of affairs of the country know that they have failed their people.

“They know that their

bandwagon of propaganda, lies and empty promises can no longer work, hence the attempt to compromise INEC. “The electoral body must therefore immediately reject all ploys of the ruling party to rig the election against the will of the people,” he said.

PDP cautioned INEC to reject all ploys of the ruling party to rig the election against the will of the people.

The party has also congratulated Taraba State governor Darius Ishaku and the people of the state on the victory of the PDP in last Saturday’s by-election into Ardo-kola state constituency.

It attributed the victory to the outstanding performance of Governor Ishaku and the stance of the PDP as a people-oriented party.

“Governor Ishaku’s giant strides in infrastructure development in addition to well-thought-out economic empowerment programmes remain critical milestones no APC government at any level can offer, while underpinning the good governance bearing of the PDP. “The Taraba victory and PDP’s popularity in Katsina ahead of the Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency bye-election reinforces the acceptance of the PDP across the nation, the readiness of Nigerians to resurge the party at all levels and return the PDP to power at the centre come 2019,” the statement added.

Government House, Damaturu....yesterday

Even If Grudgingly, Nigerians Accept I’m Doing My Best, Says Buhari Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË

legacy of free and fair elections which he described as the biggest President Muhammadu Buhari guarantee for democracy. yesterday said no matter how The statement also said Buhari much grudge they might have, compared experiences with Nigerians believe he’s doing his the president of the Gambia, best. noting that one of the biggest Buhari, according to a challenges facing Nigeria was statement by his Senior Special unemployment.

Assistant on Media and Publicity, “Sixty percent of the 180 Malam Garba Shehu, made this million people are under 25 remark while receiving The years. They all wish for a Gambian President, Adama secure future. Those of them Barrow in the State House, who are educated feel they are Abuja. more qualified for employment.

According to the statement, “We have studied the problem Buhari said if African countries and are doing our best to could get the institutional stabilize the situation. structures of democracy working ‘‘We took over from a properly, the continent would party that had been in power develop successfully. for 16 years. During those It also said Buhari urged The years, the country earned an Gambian leader to uphold the unprecedented amount of money

as revenue, never seen at any time before. It is noteworthy that, no matter how grudgingly, the people are accepting that we are doing our best,” he was quoted as saying.

The statement also said Buhari expressed disappointment that he and other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had to use strong-arm tactics to get Barrow’s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, out of office after losing re-election bid.

“We had to go through those actions because it was the only option for Nigeria and ECOWAS,” Buhari reportedly said.

It also said Buhari recalled that in spite of all entreaties,

the former president refused to accept the outcome of the election he superintended over which he said was widely accepted as credible.

“We thank God for the role He allowed us to play in the Gambia. We believe in multi-party democracy.

In Africa, it is absolutely necessary but for the system to work and one to come out of it clean, there is need for patience. ‘‘Patience on the part of leaders is also necessary in view of ethnic and religious diversities that prevail. Leaders must be patient, hardworking and resourceful,” he was further quoted.

Ohanaeze Leader Denies Accident Rumour Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË

Nnia Nwodo, has been drawn to a wicked news circulating in The President General of the social media that he was Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief involved in a fatal motor accident Nnia Nwodo, has dismissed and fractured his arm. social media reports that he “The mischievous character was involved in a fatal motor circulating the news even went accident and fractured his arm. ahead to post the picture of In a statement issued the vehicle he was said to be yesterday by the Ohanaeze traveling on when he had the chieftain, he described the report accident. as false and a mischievous act “As a result of this wicked which should be disregarded. act, my mobile phones have The statement read: “The been inundated with calls from attention of the President concerned persons wanting to General of Ohanaeze, Chief sympathize with him.”

Nwodo said he could not have been involved in any accident since he did not travel.

“I am yet to make out what the intention of the person or group circulating the news are, or who wishes me dead when they are not the owner of my life.”

The Ohanaeze boss while urging the public to discountenance the dangerous news, thanked all the concerned persons including governors and traditional rulers who reached him to confirm the news.

“I am hale and hearty enjoying the mercy and grace of my creator,” he said.

“Social media has a lot of positives, which the people should highlight rather than always going for the negative. Every freedom has a responsibility attached to it.

Nwodo finally warned social media practitioners to be careful and be professional in carrying out their responsibilities and eschew all forms of character assassination.

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42% of Capital Projects in 2018 Budget Have No Direct Impact on Nigerians, Says BudgIT Obinna Chima BudgIT, a civic organisation has decried what it described as the “masking of several opaque administrative items as capital projects just to shore up the percentage of capital component in the 2018 budget.”

The organisation, in a statement yesterday explained that a recent analysis it conducted showed that approximately N744.48 billion or 42.9 per cent of the N2.65trillion capital allocation would go into administrative items which includes the procurement of cars, retrofitting of government offices, trainings, consultancies, purchase of furniture and computers and so on.

Given that the funds marked for capital expenditure would be largely borrowed (as highlighted in the proposed 2018 budget), BudgIT stressed that it was disheartening to discover

that most line items therein showed a great disconnect from the developmental goals of government, as stated in its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

According to the group, in a pre-election year, “we would have expected that capital projects will be solely devoted to projects with direct developmental impact on the larger population.

“We have seen several items included in the capital budget that should ordinarily have been excluded given the tight fiscal condition and meagre economic growth.

“Most of the administrative capital items as shown in our research analysis will benefit less than one per cent of its populace - politicians and civil servants.”

It further stated that the scope of developmental capital projects as urgently needed in the country

should include the acquisition, upgrading, construction and maintaining of physical assets such as hospital, schools, roads, railways, power plants, street lights, boreholes among others.

In contrast, BudgIT pointed out that administrative capital items in the 2018 Appropriation Bill were projects that cannot be easily accessed by the general public and have very little or no developmental impact on the population.

It explained: “We also notice the fragmentation of capital items as 94.7 per cent of the 9331 line capital items in the 2018 proposed budget have monetary values below N500 million each.

“These capital items are accompanied with vague descriptions that will prove difficult to monitor or track in

physical and auditing terms.

“Only 26 per cent of capital allocations to the ministries of Health, Education, Agriculture, Transportation, Niger Delta, Water resources, Science, Works, Power and Housing are trackable, and/or can be directly linked to the written, medium-term aspirations of the government as highlighted in the ERGP. “Across the board, a significant amount of capital allocated in the 2018 budget falls under certain genericallynamed items which have no detailed description and do not communicate the number of beneficiaries of such items.

“It is common to find the following entries in the budget of every Ministry, Department and Agency of government: - Welfare

packages, Sporting activities, Drugs and Medical Supplies, Medical expenses, Software acquisition, Monitoring and Evaluation, Budget Preparation, Access to Credit, Food & Agricultural policies, Budget Preparation and International Training etc.”

This system of budgeting with “one-liners” without details, according to the Lagosbased organisation, gives room for financial indiscretion and the potential abuse of funds.

This, BudgIT also noted was antithetical to what the government continually professes to stand for.

“Most crucial is that the federal government is yet to come out plainly on the amounts spent on capital items in the 2016 and 2017 financial years.

“While the Ministry of Finance repeatedly claims a sum totaling N1.2 trillion has been released, the Budget Implementation Reports released by the Budget office of the Federation show otherwise.

“Repeated letters to seek clarification on details of the projects funded have not been honored by the Ministry of Finance. We place on record the disdain shown by the Ministry of Finance for accountability.

“Overall, we believe that the 2018 budget proposal will need proper interrogation from all stakeholders. It is also important for the National Assembly and Executive to significantly reduce the administrative component of the budget and direct funds towards improving education, health and other critical infrastructure.”

Elumelu Calls for Setting up of Military Industrial Zones Paul Obi iØ ÌßÔË The Chairman of Heir Holdings and Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr Tony Elumelu, yesterday called for the setting up of military industrial zones so as to elevate Nigerians position as a super power.

Elumelu stated this when he delivered a lecture titled: ‘Strategic Leadership: My Business Experience,’ at the National Defence College, Abuja.

Elumelu who spoke with the college’s Course 26 participants ,explained that it was imperative for the military and the private sector to partner and develop

local military arsenals in order to fortify Nigeria militarily.

He maintained that such partnership and collaboration was needed for the advancement of the military, and will be significant to winning the war against terrorism in the North-east.

Elumelu frown at what he called Nigeria’s acute dependence on importations of military hardware, adding that, “the federal government must follow the path of other former third world countries such as Brazil, India and Pakistan who had now grown their indigenous technology and reduced dependence on imports.

DOGARA SEEKS TO PROBE RESURGENCE OF FUEL SUBSIDY, SAYS NO SANCTUARIES FOR KILLERS We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity in line with the constitutionally stated primary purpose of the government we serve in, which is securing the welfare including the lives and property of our people. This we must do by ensuring that every law abiding Nigerian is protected where ever he choses to live in the country and every one who is up in arms against our citizens is quickly brought to justice where ever they are in the country. That there are no sanctuaries anywhere in the country for killers and other hardened criminals who feed on the blood of our people.”

He said no one or group should be allowed to foist the reign of tragedy and group polarisation on Nigeria, while noting that while violence does not result in victories, democratic ways of addressing conflicts through compromise and consensus should be adopted for their effectiveness.

On the energy crisis, he said:”We embarked on the recess at a period of great hardship faced by our constituents. The unending and shameful story of fuel

shortage reached an unbearable level as to make traveling and other economic activities almost impossible. We expected that with the legislative cooperation given to the Executive arm, to effect an increase in the fuel price from N87 per litre to N145, and based on their assurances, incidents of fuel scarcity would be a thing of the past. We were also assured that fuel subsidy had come to an end.

From recent developments on this subject, except the Executive adduces compelling reasons why the reverse is the case, we will be justified in feeling betrayed.

“As a parliament, we must unravel the causes of this scarcity and the alleged re-introduction of fuel subsidy. I charge our relevant Committees to get to the root of these issues through the instrumentality of oversight to enable the House take an informed position on this totally undeserving precarious situation that our already overburdened citizens are subjected to. This has to be done with minimal delay.”

Dogara charges his colleagues to finish all work on the 2018 budget proposal expeditiously and ensure that their legislative duties do not suffer as political activities pick up.”

GAS EXPERTS L-R: Deputy Managing Drector, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Sadeeq Mai-Bornu; First Vice President, Nigerian

Gas Association (NGA), Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, President, NGA, Dada Thomas; and Managing Director, NLNG, Tony Attah, during a courtesy visit by NGA officials to the NLNG in Bonny Island .....recently.

Alheri Denies Owing FG N27.2bn over Fibre Optic Agreement The management of Alheri Engineering Company Limited has vehemently denied owing federal government the sum of $75,500,000.00 million over fibre optic agreement.

In a statement yesterday, the company described the accusation as wrong and fallacious and assured its customers that the story is “…not only untrue but a distortion of facts and events twisted to achieve a predetermined goal. The story is as bizarre as it is deceptive, calculated only to sensationalize and to smear the good corporate reputation and image of Alheri” It stated that after a very extensive and competitive bid selection process, it was shortlisted with Phase3 as preferred bidders for the award of the concession for the fiber optic deployment project under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement “The Concession Agreement required the Concessionaires to take over the operations of TCN’s fiber optic network, Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) the infrastructure with unhindered

access to existing and future fiber optic infrastructure on the network. For the purpose of execution of the Project, the entire country was divided into two. The Easter half of the country awarded to Alheri and the Western half to Phase3. It is worth to note that the Concession area granted to Alheri covers less economic viable cities,” it stated.

Despite the deployment challenges as evidenced by TCN’s refusal to meet its obligations under the agreement for example by providing lines upon which Alheri is to build upon, the company revealed that it has expended huge capital outlay to carry out extensive expansion and upgrades on TCN’s telecommunications infrastructure but could not deploy fiber to the North which constitutes a significant market as “there is no line between Makurdi and Jos, which constitutes the bridge between the South and North.”

Revealing that a request by Alheri for timelines within which TCN intends to provide the

requisite lines between Makurdi and Jos since 2011 has not been provided by TCN till date, the company stated that despite Alheri’s serious challenges, and inheriting next to nothing on the infrastructure concessioned to it, it was still able to deploy a total of 1000km and installed state-of-art transmission equipment along these lines. …” Alheri inherited no lines from TCN. The concessioners have therefore thus far expended more than $100m as capital and operating expenditure on the project,” it affirmed.

Alheri’s management expressed surprise at the publication of TCN online and in some Newspapers as Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has already intervened to resolve the impasse, being the moderator in the resolution process and posited that the “unfounded allegation is the attempt by TCN to resist the restructuring of the concession fee due to the changes in the regulatory and market environment as suggested and recommended by SIAO the auditors appointed to

audit the Concession Agreement with specific terms of reference which included financial audit, technical audit, audit observation and recommendation, with the understanding that parties will be guided by the outcome of the auditors’ report. The audit confirmed that prices on capacities for sale of transmission services on fiber per km dropped by about 89 per cent by 2015. The report submitted by SIAO confirmed the need for a review of the Concession Agreement, especially the Right of Way (RoW) charges for the deployment of fibre optics on power lines to be at par with other RoW charges available in the telecom industry.”

Noting that Alheri has always honoured the terms of the Concession Agreement with TCN in line with kilometer of fiber available as well as market realities, it stated that it has never been and would never be part of any diversion or misappropriation of funds accruable to TCN as wrongly claimed by the news media.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

55

WEDNESDAYSPORTS CHAN 2018…

CHAN 2018…

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CHAN 2018…

Amuneke Drums Support for ‘Wasteful’ Home-based Eagles Femi Solaja While many soccer loving Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the barren result against Rwanda in Group C of the ongoing CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco, former Golden Eaglets Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has urged Nigerians to stand with the team.

Amuneke who took time off his present job as coach of first division side in Sudan to watch the clash with Rwanda observed yesterday that the Home-based Eagles still look good to top the group should the technical crew correct the lapses noticed in the match played at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangiers, Morocco.

“It was an exciting match that failed to produce goals for the Nigerian team. We missed a lot of scoring opportunities in both halves. May be the lads are nervous because of the result of the other match in which Libya trounced Equatorial Guinea 3-0 to lead the group temporarily.

“The quality of the team to me was okay but they lacked cutting edge in front of goal. It was unfortunate that they could not convert any of the scoring chances that came their way,” the former FC Barcelona winger remarked last night in a telephone interview.

The stalemate leaves Eagles tied to second spot with Rwanda in third on same one point.

Libya remains top at least till

the next match on Friday after a resounding win in the opening match against Equatorial Guinea.

Coach Salisu Yusuf’s men will have to go out for a win on Friday night when they come up against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya on Friday.

Despite a slow start, the Super Eagles pushed forward and hits on the cross bar through Shooting Stars’ Adelemi Faleye in the 10th minute with a header. Stephen Eze and Faleye missed two clear-cut opportunities.

In the 40th minute Nigeria’s Rabiu Ali struck the cross bar with a fantastic strike from a long distance.

Eagles scored in the 58th minute through Eze after they were awarded a set piece, but it was disallowed for offside.

Towards the last 20 minutes, the Amavubi grew in confidence and Eric Rutanga saw his curling effort from a set piece missing the top right corner by inches.

Equatorial Guinea will take on Rwanda at same stadium after Nigeria versus Libya clash. Two teams will qualify from each group into the knockout phase starting next week.

“We must all stand by the team.

We must give them psychological boost to reach the height we expect them to attain. This is not the time to look down on the players, they are out there to make name for themselves and achieve for the country,” the former Super Eagles forward pointed out.

Home-based Super Eagles forward, Rabiu Ali contest for the ball against Rwandan player on Monday night at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangiers, Morocco

Aiteo to Bankroll National Youth Council FC Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

AU ST R A L I A N O P E N 2 0 1 8

Federer Beats Bedene as Djokovic DismissesYoung in Return to Action Defending champion Roger Federer outclassed former Briton Aljaz Bedene 6-3 6-4 6-3 to reach the Australian Open second round in Melbourne.

Also yesterday, six-time champion Novak Djokovic returned to action for the first time since Wimbledon with a one-sided win over Donald Young in the opening round match.

In his match, Federer produced a majestic display to show why he is favourite to win his sixth Australian Open and 20th Grand Slam title at the age of 36.

Bedene, who has switched his allegiance back to Slovenia, played well but the result was never in doubt.

Federer won in 99 minutes and will face Germany’s JanLennard Struff next.

He broke Bedene’s serve in the fourth game of the first set in which he conceded only three points on his serve.

The five-time Australian champion pounced immediately at the start of the second to gain another break and eased through the rest of the match, finishing with 41 winners against a player who has now made six

appearances in the tournament without a win.

Federer is seeded second behind Rafael Nadal, whom he beat in last year’s final, but with doubts over the Spaniard’s fitness plus other long-term rivals Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss is seen as the man to beat this year.

“I am hoping for another good year,” said Federer, who also won Wimbledon for a record eighth time in 2017.

“I am not sure it will go that well because last year went so well and I’m a year older, Rafa’s looking in tip-top shape and others guys are coming back.

“Last year was a fairytale and I can’t control everything. Last year could be my favourite year of my career but I am hoping to stay healthy, give myself chances and play my very best in the big matches like last year,” he remarked.

For 30-year-old Djokovic who was seeded 14th after missing the second half of 2017 with an elbow injury, he won with ease in 6-1 6-2 6-4 display.

He used a remodelled service action designed to take pressure off his elbow, and he dropped serve just once.

Super Eagles sponsors, Aiteo Group has graciously offered to be the sole financier of Bulldozers Football Club, a grassroots outfit to be operated by National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

NYCN President, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, made this disclosure yesterday at the unveiling of the club and the swearing in of Oladimeji Ekengba and Bassey Henshaw as the substantive Deputy President and Secretary General of the Council.

Ugochinyere said Aiteo

Chairman, Benny Peters, a Life Patron of the Council, is the sole architect of the Bulldozers and has given 100 percent assurance to take the outfit to the national level.

“There will no problem with funding as Aiteo, one of the indigenous groups in Nigeria and a key partner of CAF and NFF has promised to ensure this dream sees the light of the day,” Ugochinyere said.

Victor Danladi is team captain of NYCN, while Bishop Amakiri, expected to deploy his vast expertise in ensuring speedy

growth of the club is named the Technical Adviser.

A former Super Eagles star will be unveiled as the Chief Coach pending the conclusion of terms of contract.

The Bulldozers will campaign in the FCT Second Division League.

Ugochinyere said the football club was born out of the need to engage the youths, using the instrument of sports from the grassroots to national level.

“Apart from playing in the football association games we will also be launching the Nigeria youths

grassroots sports competition to haunt for new talents from the poorest of villages, bringing them to national relevance”.

NYCN congress will also convoke the National Youth Roundtable Series on unity and security as a platform for engagement and consensus building among Nigerians on Knotty national issues.

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Speaker House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara will be conferred as the National Patrons at the Roundtable Series.

Pamodzi UnveilsThree New Sponsors for Nigerian Football Sports marketing company, Pamodzi Sports Marketing Limited, has concluded arrangements to unveil three new sponsors for the Nigeria Football Federation within the next one week.

Kingsley Ozumba, who is Client Accounts Manager of the outfit, said in Lagos on

Monday that his organization chose to ensure all ends were firmed up and the contracts delivered before picking a date for the public announcement.

“We have worked with the corporate organizations involved to consummate the agreements, but we will leave out the names of the brands and organisations

for the moment. Within the next one week, we will unveil the new partners alongside the Nigeria Football Federation.

“There are two organisations involved but there are three product categories, so in effect, we are talking of three sponsorship agreements,” Ozumba stated, while congratulating the NFF and

the Super Eagles for qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

“For us, it is not just about getting contracts signed. There are key roles to play in activation, which is the real sponsorship deal.

Nigerian Football is growing and the big players need to really come out and help it to blossom.”

NOC Pledges Support for Dolphin Swimming League The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has thrown its weight behind the maiden Dolphin Swimming League as the inter-school tournament officially kicks off on January 20 at the Lagos Preparatory School in Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the Secretary General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, the staging of the league would surely help to grow swimming

in the country.

He also believes that this would help to unearth talents.

“Let me congratulate you for this laudable project to develop swimming in Nigeria and the search for talents to represent this great country of ours in nearest future. The NOC is usually in support of projects like this and will continue to support such. We hereby endorse

the Dolphin Swimming League and will continue to give support to its development,” the NOC scribe said.

Also, the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Kweku Tandoh, also lauded the organisers for the initiative while pledging government support for the tournament.

Tandoh, believes such a

programme would help to groom world beaters for Lagos and Nigeria as a nation.

For the initiator and CEO of Dynaspro, Oluseyi Oyebode, the ideal behind the tournament is to discover and develop young, talented swimmers to compete on the international stage for Nigeria while also developing youth swimming coaches across the country.

Wednesday January 17, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE ADP on Buhari

“Believe me; President Buhari should be in his ranch drinking fura de nunu.

We are not saying he doesn’t have the right to contest. But morally, it is wrong. What impact has this administration made? We now have kidnappings and killings. Corruption is even more endemic. Fuel scarcity has come back.”

The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabaji Sani chastising those urging Buhari to run for a 2nd term.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

The Hidden Moral of Trump’s Insults

T

he most popular response from Nigeria to the shithole insult from the United States President Donald Trump is, perhaps, the one that goes like this: Trump’s statement hurts, but he is telling the truth about the African condition. For this group of critics, that is the moral of the unfortunate story.

An attempt is being made to infuse some logic into an insane statement.

In dismissing the case for immigrants from Africa, Haiti, El Salvador and other places Trump reportedly asked: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”

Despite some attempts to deny the story, some American congressmen who were at the meeting have insisted they heard Trump say so. In any case, that Trump is an incurable racist and irredeemable bigot is hardly deniable. Besides, what is the moral fibre of Mr. Trump, who is now providing the clues for some commentators to criticise the African condition? Only eight months ago, in a rare pursuit of the public good 27 American psychiatrists and mental health experts questioned the mental state of their president. Their concerns have been put together in a book entitled The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump. In fact, a few days ago, one of these professionally courageous experts actually briefed the congress on the mental state of Mr. Trump.

While Trump is still probably a philosopher-king in the Nigerian social media, decent Americans are embarrassed about the sort of statements their president has been making in the last one year. At the close of last year, the American ambassador in Panama, Mr. John Feeley, felt “honour-bound” to resign his appointment because he could no longer stand by Trump’s policies in the South America.

That is the president whose ignorant statement is now inspiring a cohort of critics in this land strangely imbued with an orgy of self-flagellation.

An unrepentant racist president employed insults in articulating his government’s anti-immigrants policies. In response some commentators in Nigeria, the largest African country, are incredibly admitting that they actually live in shitholes all in the name of criticising poor governance and underdevelopment.

That’s the real tragedy thrown up by Trump’s abuse, which many rational persons must have elected to ignore just as Trumpspeak. The hidden moral of the story could be found in this confounding response from Nigeria. There is absolutely nothing to rationalise in Trump’s insults. So the matter becomes doubly tragic when the targets of the insult now attempt to locate some logic in a purely vulgar statement.

The point at issue is an intangible one; it is actually the premium placed on the dignity of the human person and the right of every human being to insist on the respect of that human attribute whether in poor or rich circumstance. The Trump-has-a- point line is riddled with a high dose of Afropessimism.

It’s symptomatic of a moral collapse, manifesting in a loss of self-respect. A person should demand respect for his human dignity from another in any situation he finds himself. That is why the response from decent quarters of the world has been a condemnation of Trump without reservation.

The United Nations Commission for Human Rights has spoken for the decent people on the planet in this respect. The African Union has also upheld the legacy of its forebears by demanding a “retraction and apology” from the White House.

At the national level, the official and non-official responses have been varied and very instructive on the consciousness about human dignity. When you compare the official and unofficial responses from big Nigeria to the ones from small Botswana, this consciousness becomes more striking. The government of Botswana swiftly denounced Trump and asserted the dignity of its people. Nigeria

Trump officially took its time to respond. Only two days ago a response came in a statement from Abuja. The Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja, Ambassador David Young, reportedly told Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama that “the derogatory remark allegedly made by the US President Donald Trump against

Africans was neither here nor there owing to the different versions” of the reports of the meeting in which Trump made the statement. So the “veracity” of the statement should be doubted, according to Ambassador Young, who said America would continue “to hold the people of Nigeria in very high regard…” Well, diplomats at both sides of the game are entitled to their styles.

In the past, Nigeria’s style would be different.

The contemporary Abuja diplomatic style could not, of course, be compared with that of 44 years ago when General Murtala Mohammed delivered the famous “Africa Has Come of Age” speech in a summit of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in response to the moves by America to influence the Nigerian position on the decolonisation process in southern Africa. Mohammed called a letter from the United States President Gerald Ford at the eve of the OAU meeting a “gross insult.” Mohammed made the bold statement to the acclaim of other African leaders at the meeting. That was leadership acting with dignity of purpose.

To be sure, Nigerians and other Africans should criticise the African condition as combatively as they could until the problems are solved. It is legitimate to express anger about poverty, joblessness, ignorance and disease plaguing the landscape of Africa’s political economy. It is also a duty to do so. It is even more politically important to join in the efforts take democratic steps to transform the condition.

Yes, the Nigerian reality is defined by poor power supply, bad roads and less than decent housing.

Yet, nothing in the Nigerian condition makes it a shithole. In other words, all the negative indices of development that define the economy, society and polity could be deprecated in the sharpest tone without unwittingly drawing inspiration from Trump. Trump was not making any intelligent critique of the abysmal underdevelopment of Africa; he was just exhibiting his bad manners by insulting peoples of African descent. He is making no sense at all. It is, therefore, an expression of loss of self-respect and hope for any Nigerian to rationalise a collective insult to Africa.

The story is another poignant reminder that long after the more tangible questions of development must have been answered the moral, cultural and intellectual decay might take a while to tackle.

In a tenure of four years, a government with a sense of purpose and vision could build some highways, increase power supply, create millions of jobs and invest more in the social sector to raise the quality of education and healthcare delivery without limiting the access of the poor these good things of life. However, it may take more than a tenure to change the orientation of a generation that cannot distinguish vulgar insults from reasoned arguments and informed criticisms. Unfortunately, this aspect of the underdevelopment story is not yet hitting the headlines.

Between Farmers and Herdsmen Femi Falana

F

ollowing the tragic killing of 73 people during the violent attack on Logo and Guma in Benue State January 1, 2018, Chief Paul Unongo, a former minister had accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of masterminding the crisis since he is a patron of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

Although Alhaji Abubakar promptly denied the allegation and threatened to institute a libel suit in court the governors of Nasarawa and Plateau states, Governors Tanko Al-Makura and Simon Lalong respectively, have publicly blamed their Benue state colleague, Governor Samuel Ortom for the tragic killing. As far as both governors are concerned, it was the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of Benue state, which provoked the violent attack.

But the two chief executives did not explain the basis of the reckless killing of farmers in Benue state before the enactment of the law or the incessant killing of hundreds of farmers by herdsmen in other states of the federation. In fact, after the Benue incident, not less than 10 people have been killed by herdsmen in Kaduna state.

Apart from the fact that Kaduna state has no anti grazing law Governor Nasir El-Rufai once announced that he had paid an undisclosed sum of money to the herdsmen to stop further killing of unarmed farmers in the state! Even Governor Ortom has not been left out of the blame game.

In his presentation to the visiting Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Security the governor said that the authorities in Abuja should be held liable for the crisis for ignoring several warnings of the impending attack. However, upon realizing the futility of blaming the Benue state government over the tragic incident, Governor Lalong has displayed maturity by apologizing for his comments.

But in his reaction to the tragic incident in Benue State, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamed Sanusi and Patron of Miyeti Allah alleged that

over 800 Fulani people were brutally killed by ethnic militias in Taraba state in one weekend last year. In denying the allegation the Taraba state government has said that in the violent clash, which occurred between the Fulani and Mambilla people in Sadauna last year “both sides suffered casualties and the figure of death from both sides put together was nothing close to genocide.” With respect, the revered Emir ought not to have waited for the killing of 73 people in Benue state before crying out over what he has described as “these acts of ethnic cleansing” by some influential people in Taraba state. We ought to have built a nation whereby the killing of every citizen is viewed as an assault on our collective humanity.

On that note, the Taraba state government and the Nigeria Police Force should ensure the prosecution of all persons indicted by the Justice Nuhu Adi commission of inquiry, which investigated the crisis and has since submitted its report to Governor Darius Ishiaku. However, in moments of ethnoreligious crises, traditional rulers, political office holders and religious leaders and should desist from making inflammatory statements which are capable of aggravating violence in the society. It is high time the political elite stopped the practice of blaming the victims of injustice in the land.

Since the federal government has a legal duty to protect the life and property of every citizen it has failed to put an end to the perennial violent conflicts between farmers and cattle herdsmen which have needlessly claimed many lives and destruction of properties worth several billions of Naira in many states of the federation.

The official negligence of the federal government cannot be justified because, as far back as May 2016, the authorities in Abuja had rightly decided to establish ranches in line with modern practice in civilized countries. The plan was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbe at a public hearing organized by the Senate Committees on Agriculture, and National Security and Intelligence on May 3,

2016. On that occasion, the Minister of State, Agriculture, Honourable Heineken Lokpobiri, who represented Chief Audu Ogbe said that as a result of climate change resulting from global warming and desertification, herdsmen had no option than to migrate southwards to find pastures for their animals, which now faced starvation in the North. Mr. Lokpobiri pointed out that nomadic cattle rearing had become obsolete and this was why ranches were a necessity to provide adequate food to the cattle and forestall unnecessary clashes.

He further said that with ranches, the livestock would be healthier, more productive, while the herdsmen would avoid unnecessary attacks and would also be able to give their children opportunity to be educated.

On May 30, 2016, Chief Audu Ogbe justified the decision to establish ranches across the country during the National Summit of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria. In his address at the summit the Minister said that the federal government had dropped the idea of acquiring grazing. He allayed the fears of governors who had thought that land in their states would be compulsory acquired when said “Either way, ranches will not be established on lands extracted from communities, people have to farm in the ranches. In some parts of the North, some governors have given as much as 5,000 hectares of land, some even 10,000 hectares. Our job is to bring the right kind of crops, do the right kind of water source and provide veterinary services because some of these cows have some disease issues. We cannot afford to allow cows and human beings mix the way they are doing now. The essence is to stop the crisis. Too many people have died, there is too much violence in the land, and we can’t go on like that. We can’t boast to the rest of the world that we thrive in killing each other. It is not right.”

NOTE: The rest of this article continues in the online edition of THISDAY: www.thisdaylive.com

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