Friday 9TH FEBRUARY 2018

Saraki CCT Trial: House Accuses Malami, Magu of Obstructing, Perverting Justice James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion condemning the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, and the acting chairman of the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu of obstructing and perverting the course of justice, in a bid to arrive at a predetermined outcome in the asset declaration case involving the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

It also mandated its Committee on Judiciary to interact with the AGF to ensure that sanity is brought back to the case involving the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar and the EFCC. The condemnation by the

lower legislative chamber followed a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by Hon. Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna) on the need to restore sanity in the administration of justice in the fight against corruption in the country by the AGF

and EFCC. He expressed concern over the recent turn of events whereby Umar had been charged on a two-count charge for corruption before the FCT High Court by the EFCC. He noted that the EFCC and AGF had previously cleared

Umar of the same allegations, which formed the basis of the charges.

Barde expressed concern that the anti-graft agency and the AGF were currently prosecuting cases before the Continued on page 8

NHIS Staff Ask Buhari to Rescind Decision on Usman's Reinstatement.… Page 50 Friday 9 February, 2018 Vol 23. No 8331. Price: N250

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Signposting Confidence, Nigeria’s FX Inflow Hits $30.45bn in Q4 Obinna Chima

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Managing Director/CEO, Beloxxi lndustries Limited, Mr. Obi Ezeude; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; and the Minister of lndustry, Trade & lnvestment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, during the commissioning of the second phase and foundation laying of Beloxxi Industries’ expansion project with the support of Fidelity Bank Plc in Agbara, Ogun State… yesterday abiodun ajala

In a mark of rising confidence in the Nigerian economy, aggregate foreign exchange (FX) inflow into the economy grew to $30.45 billion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017, indicating an increase by 14.5 per cent, compared to the preceding quarter.

This also represented a significant increase by 86.9 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2016.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its quarterly economic report for Q4 2017 released yesterday.

Continued on page 10

Buhari: Cattle Colonies Not Meant to Colonise Any State Again, promises to revisit FG appointments Your goodwill is fast depleting, bishops admonish president Osinbajo backs state police NAF to establish base in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba axis Omololu Ogunmade, Damilola Oyedele and Paul Obi in Abuja Following the mounting resistance to the federal

government’s proposal to establish cattle colonies as a panacea to the conflicts between herders of cattle and farmers that have led to several deaths in the country, President

Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the proposal was not meant to colonise any part of the country as widely alleged.

Buhari also debunked allegations of bias levelled

against him over his appointments since he assumed office almost three years ago, but again promised that he would take a second look at issues pertaining to

the federal character principle when a compendium of all government appointments are eventually submitted to him.

Buhari made a similar promise late last year.

The president who spoke on the cattle colonies and his appointments when he received members of the Continued on page 8

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI: CATTLE COLONIES NOT MEANT TO COLONISE ANY STATE Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama in the State House, Abuja, also explained that he had not deliberately marginalised any ethnic group in the country.

Instead, the president, according to a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, explained that government’s intention with the proposed policy was only meant to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, pointing out that the proposal has been misconstrued as another form of colonisation.

The statement said Buhari expressed regret that what was conceived as a wellthought out policy, after wide consultations with stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.

It added that Buhari assured the Catholic bishops that the federal government would continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure that peace and stability prevail in restive areas.

Adesina also said Buhari condemned the recent spate of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba and Zamfara States, pledging that security operatives would ensure that the perpetrators and all persons caught with illegal arms in the affected areas are prosecuted.

The president was quoted to have said: “The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and at home, enjoying myself while these things happened, is dishonest.

“At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian Army, in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos. “I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get law enforcement agencies to be on alert,” he said.

The statement added that Buhari told the Catholic bishops that he would not be tired of recounting the remarkable progress recorded in the areas of security, the

economy and the fight against corruption.

The president was confident that his government “has done very well in security in the North-east in comparison with what the situation was before we came in and what it is now”.

“On the economy, particularly agriculture, I am very pleased that God answered the prayers of Nigerians who prayed for a bountiful harvest.

“People have taken advantage of the federal government policies and programmes to return to the farms and they have not regretted,” Buhari was quoted to have informed his audience, adding that government would be guided by the laws of the federation in the investigation and prosecution of all graft-related cases.

“People are being prosecuted systematically with evidence. If a permanent secretary has five houses in Abuja, two in Kaduna and one in Borno and Sokoto and he can’t account for the property and there are bank transactions linking him to the property, the prosecuting agencies will not have difficulties making progress on the case,” Buhari was further quoted.

According to the statement, Kaigama, in his remarks, pledged that the Catholic Church in Nigeria would continue to support the government of Buhari and make its contribution to nation-building through prayers, admonitions and assistance to needy Nigerians.

“As the voice of the people, we shall continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitising the government, thus promoting good governance, national unity and cohesion,” Kaigama said.

He, however, admonished that the goodwill of the president was fast depleting because of failure on the part of his government.

Kaigama said as spiritual leaders, they have a moral responsibility to tell the president the truth.

The bishop said they work with the people at the grassroots and this gives them

first-hand information about what they are going through.

“There is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption,” the CBCN president said.

“Nearly three years later, however, one has this feeling that this goodwill is being depleted by some glaring failures of government which we have a moral responsibility to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders.

“We work with the people at the grassroots and therefore have first-hand information about what they are going through,” he added.

Kaigama said there was too much poverty in the land, noting that it looked like the country was under siege of many negative forces appearing to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenceless ones.

“Your Excellency, there is too much suffering in the country: poverty, hunger, insecurity, violence, fear… the list is endless,” he said.

“There is a feeling of hopelessness across the country. Our youths are restive and many of them have taken to hard drugs, cultism and other forms of violent crime, while many have become victims of human trafficking.

The nation is nervous.

“Just as we seem to be gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of an economic recession that caused untold hardship to families and individuals, violent attacks by unscrupulous persons, among whom are terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, have led to near civil war situation in many parts of the country.

“We are saddened that, repeatedly, innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed. Lives are wasted and property worth billions

of naira, including places of worship, schools, hospitals and business enterprises are torched and turned to ashes.

“We are still more saddened by the recent massacre of unarmed citizens by these terrorists in some communities in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba States which has caused national shock, grief and outcry.

“The silence of the federal government in the wake of these horrifying attacks is, to say the least, shocking. There is a feeling of helplessness among the people and the danger that some people may begin to take the law into their hands.

“We therefore earnestly urge the government to take very seriously its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens and ensure that such mindless killings do not reoccur. Herdsmen may be under pressure to save their livestock and economy but this is never to be done at the expense of other people’s lives and means of livelihood.

“We would like to add our voice to those of other well-meaning Nigerians who insist that a better alternative to open grazing should be sought rather than introducing ‘cattle colonies’ in the country.

“While thinking of how best to help cattle owners establish ranches, government should equally have plans to help the other farmers whose produce is essential for our survival as a nation,” he added.

Kaigama further noted that daredevil kidnappers that have had a field day, with a feeling of invincibility, must be made to understand that there is a government in the country.

“Government should invest more in equipping our police force with modern high-tech devices that will help them track down and arrest these criminals and make them face the wrath of the law.

Also on the federal character principle, Kaigama reminded the president of the relevant section of the Constitution that provides for the fair and even distribution of appointments and resources in the country.

“The federal character principle is enshrined in

the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: The government of the federation or any of it and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies (Section 14, Sub-section 3-4).

“Disregard for this principle in some federal government appointments as well as the perceptible imbalance in the distribution of federal amenities has created the loss of a sense of belonging in many parts of the country, hence the constant cry of marginalisation, agitation for secession and calls for restructuring.

“These and many more such problems are, in our opinion, grave matters that should be worrying all political leaders in our country today, rather than any bid for re-election,” Kaigma stated.

State Police Gets Osinbajo’s Nod Even as Buhari met with the clergy yesterday, the much-anticipated National Security Summit hosted by the Senate was convened in Abuja yesterday during which Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo threw his weight behind the creation of state police and community policing as a way of tackling rising insecurity in the country.

He equally said that the federal government’s failure to ensure security, which every Nigerian is entitled to, was not a deliberate act, but caused by the complex nature of the security challenges and the obstacles faced by security agencies in the discharge of their duties.

Osinbajo, in his address at the summit, listed some of the issues that had diminished the ability of the state to adequately secure its citizens to include an inadequate police force, inadequate

funding of the security infrastructure, complexity of the security challenges, and the proliferation of small and light weapons magnified by the fall of the late Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

“For a country our size to meet the one policeman to 400 persons, according to the UN prescribed ratio, we would require almost triple the number of our current police force.

“Far more funding for the military and security agencies is required. We cannot police a country the size of Nigeria centrally from Abuja. State police and other community policing methods are clearly the way to go,” he said.

Osinbajo stressed that every Nigerian was entitled to adequate security from government for their lives and livelihoods.

“Government fails in that responsibility often, but I must say never deliberately.

Every killing demeans us as a people. Every killing undermines the authority of the state.

“The failure to protect the lives of the innocent is inexcusable and we cannot rationalise and diminish that failure of the security apparatus of government in any way,” Osinbajo added.

Despite the challenges that have constrained the security agencies, they have performed creditably well, the vice-president maintained and listed the degrading of Boko Haram, arrests of criminal kingpins and others, among the successes.

The vice-president also defended his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been criticised as being slow in responding to the killings resulting from herdsmen and farmers' clashes, because he is a Fulani man.

“In any event, the herdsmen and farmers' clashes resulting in deaths have been on for at least two decades. I have worked with him for three years now and I do not know of any one issue that has given him more concern, on which he has spent more time on security issues, as Continued on page 10

SARAKI CCT TRIAL: HOUSE ACCUSES MALAMI, MAGU OF OBSTRUCTING, PERVERTING JUSTICE CCT, over which Umar presides as its chairman.

According to him, the EFCC had previously issued a statement absolving Umar of any wrong doing but the same Umar was now being charged and asked to try the Senate President, giving the appearance that a game was being played to arrive at a pre-determined outcome in the Saraki trial.

He said the development portrayed the legal system as capable of being manipulated and should be of great concern to all Nigerians.

The lawmaker also expressed concern that any possible conviction or findings that the CCT may make by the same Umar, who is also facing trial, may be rendered null and void by the Court of Appeal, thereby frustrating the course of justice.

He said he was particularly disturbed that the AGF had been instrumental to the unwholesome saga playing out in the administration of justice, more so since the

AGF, CCT and EFCC are indispensable in the fight against corruption in the country.

Barde said the development was not good for a government that claims to be fighting corruption, adding that it has the potential of ridiculing the country in the international community.

Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim (APC, Adamawa) said though it was not the business of the House to interfere in the judiciary, justice must be seen to be done.

He said a person who is being investigated for an alleged crime cannot be a judge in another criminal case.

Also, Hon. Razak Atunwa (APC, Kwara) said the development had made a mockery of the legal system, stressing: “You don’t need to be a lawyer to see that it’s injustice.”

He further expressed regrets that the AGF had allowed the unfortunate scenario to fester, while President Muhammadu Buhari had done nothing to

arrest the situation.

Furthermore, Hon. Gabriel Onyenwife (APGA, Anambra) said naturally. justice must be seen to be done to the accused, complainant and society.

He argued that in the present circumstances, justice could not be seen to be done while Umar still chairs the CCT. But Hon. Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno) argued that a judge accused of a criminal offence could still preside over criminal cases if the allegations against him had not been proven and if he has not been suspended from office.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Caucus in the House has clarified that the motion condemning the AGF and EFCC was not peculiar to the trial of the Senate President alone but all persons currently standing trial before the CCT chairman.

Addressing journalists after plenary yesterday, the chairman of the caucus, Hon.

Muhammed Zakari, said there was concern over the credibility of the judgments that may be delivered by the CCT chairman if he is allowed to continue with pending cases before him, having been indicted in a corruption investigation.

He said the present anticorruption war of the federal government was being called to question with the development.

He added that as a caucus, it believed the issue must be taken seriously and dealt with professionally.

Also, a member of the group, Hon. Rasak Atunwa, who provided a legal perspective to the scenario said: “The thrust is to bring back sanity in the administration of the legal justice system.

“What puzzled members and troubled the House was: how can the government – EFCC and the AGF – say that they believe Danladi Umar is guilty of the two-count charge, notwithstanding that no court

has made a pronouncement on him?

“How can they, on the one hand, say he’s guilty of corruption and yet, on the other hand, prosecute corruption cases before him?

“And it’s not only the Senate President that is before the CCT, there are several other people appearing before Danladi Umar and if I’m not mistaken, there are about eight Supreme Court judges before Umar.

“If he delivers a conviction for example, will it not be said that he is upholding the charges of corruption so that it fits all those being prosecuted before him?

“If he is acquitted, that acquittal may be tainted as well. You’ll say he was acquitted by a judge who was said to be corrupt.

“I have never seen it happen anywhere in the world; not in a modern democracy that is based on the rule of law.”

According to him, the flipflop in the issue was not good for the justice system.

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NEWS

Obasanjo’s Son Asks Mother to Stop Declaring Him Missing Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta Olujowon, one of the sons of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has debunked the claim by his mother, Taiwo Martins, that he was missing and described the alleged search for him by the police as ridiculous.

During an interview his mother granted a newspaper a week ago, Martins had disclosed that Olujowon was missing and that the security agencies had been alerted to search for him.

But in a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the 34-year-old son of Obasanjo

wondered how there was a search for him by the police when he was not missing.

According to Olujowon, he took the decision of his own volition to stay away from his mother for now to avoid embarrassment.

“At my age, I am over 34 years, and it is ridiculous to the extreme that my mother would ask the police to look for me. I am well, alive and kicking and the police need not look for me.

“For peace in my life, I have decided to keep away from my mother for now. She should not make me part of her seeking media attention.

“My siblings and others in my family who care

about me without negative influence and abhorrent action know my whereabouts and we keep interacting and communicating.

“My father who has supported me and my decisions in every aspect of my life, has been in constant communication with me and he is aware that I am hale and hearty. This is my personal and deliberate decision,” Olujowon said.

On his marriage controversy, the young Obasanjo stressed that he was old enough to marry and manage his marital life “including the decision on what to do with it, if the need ever arises”.

“I don’t want anybody to

shed crocodile tears because of me nor do I need undue publicity from anybody,” he added.

Martins last year had instituted a lawsuit to prevent her son’s marriage slated for May 11 and 12 to Tope Adebutu, the daughter of Sir Kessington Adebutu, the billionaire owner of Premier Lotto, better known as “Baba Ijebu”.

She wanted the wedding to be postponed on the basis of prophesies and warnings from what she termed men of God that the her son should not be involved in any elaborate celebration before his birthday on June 1.

She had appealed to the

Martins court to compel Obasanjo and Adebutu to postpone the date to a date after his

birthday.

But the court dismissed the case.

The summit brings together a wide spectrum of stakeholders including: political leaders, security policy makers, governors – who are chief security officers in their states, security and intelligence chiefs, key persons in the nation’s security architecture, regional and socio-cultural groups, traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs) and others.

It continues on Monday.

Meanwhile, with the Nigerian military intensifying efforts to end the spate of killing in some states in Middle Belt region, where herdsmen and farmers’ clashes have continued unabated, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday said it will soon establish an operational base around the Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba axis.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar stated this during a public lecture at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.

Abubakar spoke on the

plan when he delivered a lecture to participants of NDC Course 26.

Participants of the course were drawn from senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and those of sister African countries, senior officials of other security agencies in Nigeria as well as those of the ministries, departments and agencies of government.

Elaborating on the base, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the plan by the air force is to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba State as part of plans to further tackle the incessant conflicts in the Middle Belt.

The lecture afforded the CAS the opportunity to share his thoughts with the participants on how the National Defence Policy prescribes that the way NAF should be employed.

NAF had earlier announced plans to establish FOBs in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States as part of its commitment to combat emerging security challenges in those parts of the country.

accounted for the bulk (47.7 per cent) of total FX disbursed in the Q4 of 2017, followed by the industrial sector (27.0 per cent).

According to the report, Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensates and natural gas liquids, averaged 1.80mbd or 165.60 million barrels (mb) in the review quarter.

This represented a decline of 0.03mbd or 1.8 per cent, compared with 1.83mbd or 168.36mb recorded in the preceding quarter.

The drop in oil output was attributed to the shut-ins/ shut-down in some of the production facilities.

“Crude oil exports stood at 1.35mbd or 124.20mb, representing a 2.4 per cent decline compared with 1.38mbd or 126.96mb in the preceding quarter. This was due mainly to the continued commitment by OPEC and Non-OPEC countries to avoid flooding the global market, despite the exemption of Nigeria from the production cap agreement.

“Allocation of crude oil for domestic consumption was maintained at 0.45mbd or 41.40mb in the review

quarter.

“The average spot price of Nigeria’s reference crude oil, Bonny Light (37° API), rose from $52.92 per barrel in the third quarter of 2017 to US$62.48 per barrel in the review quarter, representing an increase of 18.1 per cent.

“The increase was attributed to the productioncut agreement, demand growth from China and increased refining activities in the United States.

“UK Brent at $61.69/b, WTI at $55.47/b, and the Forcados at $62.60/b exhibited similar trends as the Bonny Light,” the CBN report explained.

In addition, the report revealed that activities in the industrial sector showed a significant improvement over the level in the third quarter of 2017.

This was attributed to sustained supply of FX and stability in the naira exchange rate, which facilitated the importation of critical raw materials as well as intermediate goods for domestic production, resulting in new orders, output growth and increased export business.

BUHARI: CATTLE COLONIES NOT MEANT TO COLONISE ANY STATE this particular issue,” Osinbajo said.

He assured Nigerians that the executive was working in collaboration with several states to implement workable solutions to the constant clashes between farmers and herdsmen, and to work out plans for cattle breeding and cattle rearing that may include some temporary methods.

To this end, Osinbajo disclosed that about thirteen states had agreed to allocate 5,000 hectares of lands for livestock production.

He, however, reiterated that land would not be taken forcefully to create ranches or grazing areas.

“All insinuations to that effect should be disregarded.

Instead, it is our view that states that are willing should co-operate with willing investors to set up commercially viable and government-supported ranches or livestock production centers for commercial use,” he said.

He, however, stated that in several states, especially in the north, there were duly designated grazing zones and grazing reserves which had been degraded

and left without pasture or water especially in the dry season.

The grazing routes leading to these reserves must also be secured, Osinbajo said, for the reserves to operate effectively and operate as ranches for livestock production centres on a commercial basis, with essential services to boost animal care.

Osinabjo cautioned against giving a religious or ethnic colouration to the herdsmenfarmers’ and other clashes across the country.

Speaking earlier, the President of the Senate called for political will to tackle the level of insecurity ravaging Nigeria.

“I daresay the political will is what is required; and it is my hope that we shall marshal it as a legitimate instrument against this problem. Indeed, there is no reason why that should not be the case.

“This is not a summit to trade blames – in no way is this a blame game. Neither is it convened so that any person or entity can take credit. We just want solutions. Solutions only. That is all Nigerians require of us,” Saraki said.

He pledged the commitment

of the National Assembly to work with the executive to tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity.

“The sharp increase in murderous violence over and above the relatively manageable level of insecurity that has plagued our country for some time jolted us out of any last vestiges of complacency or denial. There can be no denying the horrific reality in many parts of our country today.

“People who should be neighbours are turning on one another and taking up arms.

These attacks and reprisals are an intolerable cycle of hell that must be broken.

“Killings, kidnappings, mayhem and general lawlessness cannot be the new normal. We must take this country back and restore order,” Saraki said.

Saraki also urged Nigerian leaders as well as the security agencies to stop playing politics and trading blames over the killings in the country.

He explained that no one organisation or arm of government can singlehandedly tackle insecurity in the country, noting: “What our

country needs at this time is leadership that will work to douse the flames and reduce tension in the land.

“It is essential that we lower the barriers in our actions and rhetoric, and refrain from playing politics with a crisis situation in which Nigerian lives are being lost tragically and needlessly on a regular basis.

“To the executive, I say this: you cannot do it alone – and this is why we are all here to join efforts.

It is all hands on deck. No one person, organisation or arm of government can single-handedly tackle the hydra-headed monster of insecurity.

“The Constitution makes it clear that the safety of lives and property of citizens is the responsibility of government.

We in government must therefore do everything in our power to ensure that Nigerians are safe from harm and their livelihoods and belongings protected.”

The first day of the two-day summit took place at the NAF Conference Center, Abuja, and is aimed at providing solutions to the security challenges in Nigeria.

Nigerian Air Force Base

SIGNPOSTING CONFIDENCE, NIGERIA’S FX INFLOW HITS $30.45BN IN Q4 Increased FX flows were attributed to the 22.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent increase in inflows through the CBN and autonomous sources, respectively.

Also, the report showed that FX inflows into the economy increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 as a result of the rise in the spot price of Nigeria’s reference crude oil, Bonny Light, to an average of US$62.48 per barrel during the quarter.

The rise in crude oil price was also attributed to the decline in United States shale oil output, increased global demand for refined petroleum products, and extension of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production-cut deal to the end of 2018.

An overall balance of payments surplus of 2.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) was also recorded by the country during the fourth quarter of last year.

“Consequently, FX inflow through the CBN stood at $14.71 billion, showing an increase of 22.7 per cent and 118.7 per cent over the levels

in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2016, respectively.

“The increase reflected the rise in receipts from oil and improvement in non-oil proceeds,” the CBN report indicated.

Aggregate outflow through the CBN, on the other hand, fell to $8.38 billion, from $9.34 billion in the preceding quarter, but recorded an increase over the $4.65 billion in the corresponding period of 2016.

According to the report, the decline in outflow relative to the preceding quarter reflected the fall in interbank utilisation, third party MDA transfer, drawings on letters of credits, external debt service, and FX special payments in the review period.

Overall, a net inflow of $6.33 billion was recorded through the central bank, compared with $2.64 billion and $2.08 billion in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2016, respectively The report also showed that oil sector receipts, which accounted for 10.6 per cent of the total, stood at $3.23

billion, compared with $3.17 billion and $1.97 billion in the third quarter of 2017 and the corresponding period in 2016, respectively.

It also put non-oil public sector inflow at $11.48 billion (37.7 per cent of the total), indicating a rise by 30.3 per cent and 141.2 per cent above non-oil sector inflows in the third quarter of 2017 and the corresponding period in 2016, respectively.

“Autonomous inflows at $15.74 billion rose by 7.7 per cent and 64.6 per cent above the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2016, respectively, with inflows from autonomous sources accounting for 51.7 per cent of the total.

“At $9.19 billion, aggregate FX outflows from the economy fell by 9.6 per cent below the level in the preceding quarter, but represented a 69.9 per cent increase over the level in the corresponding period of 2016.

“The development, relative to the preceding quarter, was driven by a 10.3 per cent and 2.0 per cent decline in

outflow through the CBN and autonomous sources, respectively.

“Total non-oil export earnings received through the banks rose by 20.7 per cent above the level in the third quarter of 2017 to $614.50 million in the review quarter.

“The development was due mainly to the 43.2, 18.0 and 6.1 per cent increase in foreign exchange receipts from agricultural, industrial and minerals sub-sectors.

“A breakdown by sectors showed that proceeds from agricultural products, minerals, industrial sector, manufactured products and food products were $312.6 million, $103.5 million, $98.9 million, $88.5 million and $10.9 million, respectively,” the report added.

Furthermore, provisional data showed that sectoral FX utilisation stood at $7.45 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017, indicating 5.5 per cent increase above the level in the preceding quarter. The development reflected the 7.1 per cent and 5.5 per cent rise in disbursement/ utilisation for invisible and visible imports, respectively.

The invisible sector

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COMMENT

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

FROM‘SAI BUHARI’TO‘KÁÌ BUHARI’

Oludayo Tade argues that President Buhari must work hard to regain the confidence of many Nigerians

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he streets have become an epistemic community where the mood of the country and the direction of thoughts are expressed, moulded, patterned and structured. When one interacts with the streets, one is able to know who is popular and unpopular, which person governs well and which does not; the streets’ engagement is important in sampling the dynamics of thoughts of the ordinary Nigerian who bears the brunt of present mis-governance. Unfortunately, the leadership of the country is surrounded by sycophants who create impression that without President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), Nigeria cannot get to the promised land. To this set of people, who thought there is no alternative to PMB, they must be living in fools’ paradise as PMB has never been the best for the country but a candidate of circumstance and protest vote in 2015. The same reasons of ethnic sentiments, religious favouritism and nepotism which made Nigerians reject PMB in the serial election losses of 2003, 2007 and 2011 have now become real in their consequences. All these elements of his characterisation have played out in governance, fighting corruption and management of the economy.

Nigerians have moved from ‘it must be Buhari’ (SaiBuhari) of 2015 to Káì Buhari. From SaiBuhari to Kai Buhari is how ordinary Nigerians have constructed the social reality which confronts them in present day Nigeria.

As a trained sociologist, the society is my laboratory and I get data through constant interaction with it. I had gone to purchase brake pad and shock absorber for my ailing car owing to the deplorable status of roads in my state. The spare part seller told me the brake pad which I bought last for around N1000 now cost N2500. When I screamed, he simply shuddered and said “we are in the season of change Oga. Na Buhari time. You know na Kai Buhari we dey now. By next year e go be Go Buhari”. After hearing the submission, I marvelled at how ordinary Nigerians construct social reality and map out strategy to make their life better for the future. Those who suffer bad policy and poor governance are planning ahead while the horse riders and their cronies think they can continue to ride the horse for life. PMB as the proverbial horse rider is a big man that is not on ground to feel the pains of those being governed. The fatalities recorded as a result of the killer Fulani herdsmen have surpassed the record of Boko Haram.

Yet the PMB government has been incapacitated by clannish considerations while farming communities are degraded. PMB and his government have shown that man is born equally but some are more equal than others by not arresting and prosecuting his kinsmen who are stretching the limits of tolerance. A seemingly contradictory government wants one Nigeria while tearing it apart by its actions and inactions. Peace eludes settlements where injustice is allowed to thrive. How did we get here?

With the woeful performance of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and the new found alliance with the regional godfather who needed mainstream relevance, a lot of money was pumped into presenting a different narrative of the man Buhari. Note that the same political characters had branded PMB bad in three general elections which Buhari lost. In PMB’s Chattam House 2015 speech, he presented himself as a converted democrat “who is ready to operate under democratic norms”. And for me, rule of law is one of the norms constantly flouted by his government. Many court rulings have been disobeyed. Personal affairs such as health and the accident of his son get jet-speed attention but the health, education needs,

AS THE MINISTER OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, PMB HAS FAILED TO ENSURE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THAT SECTOR. TODAY NIGERIANS BUY PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AT N180 PER LITRE OR MORE OWING TO UNFULFILLED PROMISE TO FIX OUR REFINERIES

unemployment and electricity needs of Nigerians, and carnage of farming communities by Fulani herdsmen gets country’s unification consideration and setting up of committee from PMB and no arrest.

He only begs the victims to accommodate their fellow countrymen.

Such approach to national issue is unpardonable as he had promised Nigerians in his packaged 2015 Chattam house speech never to allow problems to irresponsibly fester. Hear him: “Let me assure you that if I am elected President, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester.” While successes have been recorded in the area of reclaiming territories from Boko Haram (who still kills) and recovering parts of the looted funds, PMB has failed to switch on the inner light of his vehicle which accommodates political complicit and untouchable tribal comrades. PMB should know that those who purport to clean a dirty town must start from within. Unlike Boko Haram that is restricted to the northeast, Fulani herdsmen are everywhere nationwide.

Yet, PMB and associates want colonies established for herders noted for killing, raping and destroying livelihoods. As a criminologist, the widespread of Fulani herdsmen in virtually all nooks and crannies of the country portends security threat going by their activities in the last decade. Accumulation by dispossession has become their trademark while they sabotage the economy of others to sustain their livelihoods.

I should also warn that increasing distrust in the capability of the state to secure lives and properties allows people to resort to self-help. This should not be allowed to happen.

In the area of economic governance, we can’t celebrate either.

The economy has grown on paper while the masses get choked to death in the same economy that favours the rich. To know if there is development we should ask PMB the same question he asked Goodluck Jonathan then: what is happening to poverty? What is happening to unemployment? What is happening to inequality? As the Minister of Petroleum Resources, PMB has failed to ensure governance and accountability in that sector. Today Nigerians buy petroleum products at N180 per litre or more owing to unfulfilled promise to fix our refineries.

What this implies is that Buhari is not the messiah we are looking for.

He can only do his bit while others continue from there. Therefore, Kai Buhari underscores the masses period of agonising and warning to PMB. Certainly, the lice of unresolved problems of unemployment, health, education, economy, Fulani herdsmen terrorism continues to stain our hands. A presidency that approaches public issues with jet-speed, and bridges inequality gap is desired. But can the Leopard change its skin? 2019 presents the opportunity for voters to either say káre Buhari (welldone Buhari) or Go Buhari as my spare part seller rightly puts it.

Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

THE EMERGING DANGERS AHEAD OF 2019

The police must avoid siding with the ruling party to undermine political opponents, writes Ariyo-Dare Atoye

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gainst the backdrop of rising political threats in the polity, Nigeria may be in for yet another rough, vexatious and gruelling prelude to another ritual of elections in 2019.

The signs are no less ominous: from the provoking destruction of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) secretariat in Borno State to the shamefully organised threats that forced a two-time governor of Kano, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to suspend his visit to the state for his scheduled series of political rallies.

Palpable tension is gradually building up, and at the centre of it all, is the ruling All Progressives Congress. At a rally held by the APC faction of Kano Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the state on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, hundreds of youth were seen brandishing various kinds of weapons. The pictures were scary and beyond imagination. Cudgels, cutlasses, knives, daggers and other dangerous weapons have replaced brooms, widely-known symbol of the APC in Kano. It was a declaration of war, as best as one can interpret it.

Having studied the character of Nigerian election cycle since 1999, I believe it is unlikely there will be a let-off in the rising tension in the political space.

The state has vacillated too much; and, there is always no proactive mechanism in place to arrest this dangerous slide in elections season. The usual last-minute interventions by stakeholders to douse tension always come too late. This time round, the situation is not helped by a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, that he is “not in a hurry to do anything.”

At a time when forces of evil are virtually encircling the country; when killings and threats

from Fulani herdsmen are agitating the nation and putting it under constant threat of food terrorism; when Boko Haram is still a present threat; when things are not looking good for the ordinary Nigerians; it is regrettable and worrisome that the president is unperturbed and has had the comfort of mind to tell Nigerians not to expect him to act with dispatch. “I will always reflect on historical antecedents,” he said. There is no doubt that Nigerians expect a better attitude from Buhari, who has seen it all at over 75.

Political desperation is rising. The reported demolition of PDP secretariat located at Dandal Way, Maiduguri “by a combined team of Mobile Police Force and officials of the Government of Borno State” represents a gradual build-up of hostility in the Northeast. “Initially, we thought the threats were part of the usual persecutions we have been facing all these years but when the governor revoked the building’s certificate of occupancy, we knew his desperation to take us out has taken a new dimension,” said Baba Isa, a PDP Chieftain.

The owner of the building that was recently acquired by the PDP was said to have come under intense pressure from the state government to revoke a lease agreement with the opposition party, but he did not budge. Certainly, this is a desperation taking too far. Although, the party has said “this sudden strategy to silence us won’t work,” but we should be perturbed that this can unsettle the polity. Borno State Governor, Ibrahim Shettima, should be very wary of allowing politics to feed on insecurity in his state. Power is very transient in a democracy, and there is every possibility he could be at the receiving end tomorrow. This gathering storm is unhelpful to anyone.

In a similar development, the country should also be very worried that the threats coming out of Kano have now succeeded in forcing Kwankwaso and his Kwankwassiya movement to cancel a series of planned rallies and visits to different parts of the state. As irritating as it could be, it is even more dangerous that the police allowed this cancellation to happen in the first place without factoring the consequential effects on the country at large. There is a high possibility of a bandwagon effect by other political actors, who may replicate this unsavoury development in their states. This is going to complicate issues for the police and give them more problems to contend with in the days ahead.

For a while now, the news coming out of Kano State, a conservatively-politically conscious terrain, has not been palatable. There has been no love lost between the governor and Senator Kwankwaso.

There had been reported pockets of skirmishes between some political thugs loyal to the governor and members of the Kwankwassiya movement in the last one year. This growing confrontation is not hidden to Abuja, and when it started brewing, early in the administration of Ganduje, no concerted efforts have been put in place to address it.

The frosty relationship between Kwankwaso and his former deputy has become a serious concern to those who had watched the two working together effectively for over 14 years, since 1999. Ganduje served as the deputy to Kwankwaso between 1999 and 2003, and between 2011 and 2015. From 2003 to 2007, Ganduje also served as the special Adviser (political) to him as a Minister of Defence.

He also served as member of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) through the goodwill of Kwankwaso. When Kwankwaso supported him

to emerge as his successor, it was applauded across the country.

Although, things started looking bad between the duo before the swearing in of Ganduje, but it was not until the presidential ambition of Kwankwaso started gaining momentum that things became tensed. Every effort made by some stakeholders to reunite the two has failed. While Kwankwaso’s presidential bid for 2019 may be rattling the Presidency, it is not impossible that the hawks in Aso Rock could be using Ganduje to deny him a space in Kano, to test his popularity. Some members of the Kwankwassiya have boasted that their crowd would dwarf those who came out to welcome President Buhari, any day any time Kwankwaso visits the state again.

Since APC came to power, the Presidency of Buhari has been giving vent to a growing politics of isolationism within the party. They have practically cut to size, virtually all the major players who helped him to win the presidential election. The likes of Bukola Saraki, Atiku Abubakar, Kwankwaso and even Bola Tinubu, will certainly have tales of political woes to share one day. Nigerians are aware that the Buhari presidency would not have been possible without these political gladiators.

My fear now is that some governors, who are intolerant of opposition in their respective states, are bound to capitalise on this regrettable loophole, to undermine political opponents. The stoppage of Kwankwaso from coming to Kano by the police was an unwise decision. Judging by the nature of our politicians, they are going to have much more to contend with in the weeks ahead.

Atoye wrote from Abuja via aristotle001us@ yahoo.com

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2018

EDITORIAL CONTAINING LASSA FEVER The health authorities could do more to tame the viral disease

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he gravity of the current health emergency in the country was driven home on Monday when the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, conďŹ rmed that the current outbreak of Lassa fever has led to 31fatalities, including four health workers. Also alarming, the viral disease has spread to 15 states with no fewer than 105 infected patients.

What is particularly disturbing is that the relevant authorities are not consistent on adopting simple measures to control the disease after containing the initial outbreak. According to a statement by the University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), nothing was ever done by the authorities, such that hand sanitisers, electricity and even running water “disappear and become essential commodities in our hospitals, leaving our nurses and physicians with the pathetic option of treating patients largely unprotected�. No fewer than 40 health workers have died of the disease in Ebonyi State alone in the past 13 years.

WHILE WE BELIEVE Indeed, in THAT WITH EFFECTIVE describing JanuCOORDINATION, THE ary as one of the DISEASE COULD saddest months in BE CONTAINED the history of the QUICKLY BEFORE IT country, following the death of mediBECOMES ANOTHER cal doctors in the EPIDEMIC WITH DIRE bid to save Lassa IMPLICATIONS, THE fever patients, the REAL CHALLENGE IS TO Nigerian Medical WORK TOWARDS ITS Association (NMA) TOTAL ERADICATION President, Dr Mike Ogirima, decried the poor condition under which medical practitioners, especially those in public hospitals, work. “When patients are taken to emergency room, there are no examination gloves and hand sterilisers

among other protective gadgets� said Ogrima.

While the nurses also raised several other pertinent issues pertaining to welfare and neglect of the health sector by both the state and federal governments that should be looked into, it is noteworthy that Lassa fever has been a serious challenge for Nigeria’s health authorities since it was ďŹ rst diagnosed in Lassa (the village for which it was named) in Borno State in 1969. Despite the fact that there have been efforts in the past to contain the scourge, it is unfortunate that we have been witnessing frequent outbreaks in recent years.

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t is unfortunate that despite the fact that it is now a national epidemic, there is little public awareness of how the disease could be prevented.

The symptoms, which include fever, sore throat, vomiting, back pain, cough, abdominal pain, restlessness, and general body weakness, usually appear six to 21 days after contact with the virus. But there are recommended preventive measure such as avoiding contact with rats (dead or alive), keeping the house and surroundings clean, clearing all bushes around the house to avoid breeding sites for rats as well as putting refuse into covered dustbins and disposing appropriately. However, because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and non-speciďŹ c, clinical diagnosis could be difďŹ cult, especially early in the course of the disease. For this reason, steps should be taken by the federal government to direct all health facilities in the country to emphasise routine infection prevention and control measures.

Healthcare workers should also be advised to always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body uids in the process of caring for sick persons.

While we believe that with effective coordination, the disease could be contained quickly before it becomes another epidemic with dire implications for the lives of our people, the real challenge is to work towards its total eradication from our country.

That is a task for the health authorities at all levels of government.

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.

Letters to the Editor

ABUJA: A CITY FOR ALL NIGERIANS

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n Monday, February 5, Abuja turned 42.

The journey started in August 1975, when the then military government of Gen. Murtala Muhammed set up the Akinola Aguda Panel to look into the challenges of continued role of Lagos as the capital of Nigeria and to suggest an appropriate location more suitable as a capital. After a careful survey the committee submitted its report on December 10, 1975, recommending the area carved out from Kwara, Plateau and Niger States as appropriate for the purpose. The place recommended was more central, of almost equal distance from the various extremes of the country and was not dominated by any of the three major ethnic groups of the country.

On February 5, 1976 by Decree No. 6 of the same day, Abuja was declared the Capital of Nigeria. The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) was created and a firm of architects, the International Planning Associates was soon commissioned to design a master plan and the journey towards the realisation of the dream began in earnest. The hallowed ground, wherein we stand today, became the culmination of these concerted efforts when on December 12, 1992, the capital finally moved from Lagos to Abuja.

But the journey to a first-class city has not been easy. It has always come with its own fair share of challenges and no minister knows this pretty much like the present helmsman, Minister No. 17, Muhammad Musa Bello.

Arriving to assume the reins of office on November 11, 2015, Malam

Bello was confronted with abandoned or ongoing projects, high level of discretionary powers among pubic officials and flagging service delivery. Coupled with these contending issues, the city was also battling serious traffic gridlocks and in want of sanitation. Confronted by these challenges, Malam Bello set out to restore the promise of Abuja, as the quintessential city it was dreamed by the founding fathers.

From the start, Malam Bello committed himself to transforming governance, strengthening institutions, ensuring compliance with due process and extant laws. He set forth to run an inclusive government as evident in all his appointments. Right from the inner chambers of governance, the minister has striven to reflect the colourful ethnic configuration of the country. In keeping with his mission to restore faith in the Abuja project, the present administration has pursued programmes and projects designed to bequeath to residents a network of functional first-class road networks and public utilities. Consequently, he elected to resist the temptation to embrace the attraction of high sounding new projects which are soon abandoned. To redeem the huge cost sunk into most of these vital but abandoned or ongoing infrastructure projects the minister moved to complete them.

Some of the critical road projects were the two 10-lane express roads: namely Kubwa and the Yar’Adua Airport Express Roads. These were delivered with despatch along with the completion of their pedestrian bridges and interchanges. Similarly, he awarded and completed the Aso Villa Roundabout Bridge capping the Outer Northern Express Road (ONEX) also known as the Kubwa – Zuba Express Road.

Similarly, the Bill Clinton Interchange connecting the Airport driveway was also delivered on record time.

Work on other major road projects like the Constitution and Independent Roads traversing the heart of Abuja’s Central Business District are coasting home to completion. Similarly, critical portions of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Express Road have been completed and have helped to ease traffic flow in the city’s main business hub. When delivered these three major arterials will enable entry and exit from the city on dual mode therefore bring a huge relief to residents.

Other master strokes which have struck right notes on the Abuja chord are the construction of various loops, tangent and flanks roads which hitherto locked up the city at major intersections. Their completions have freed the city from bottlenecks at these major road intersections. To further ease traffic, work is ongoing at the KarshiWasa Road designed to free up the Nyanya-Karu Axis by creating an alternative route to the city through the south eastern flank of the city.

Also the administration flagged off the project for the dualisation of Apo-Wasa with a 12-month delivery period to effectively link up the Karshi-Wasa road to the city proper.

The Abuja Light Rail project is also on course. The rail services, on full operation, would convey between 120,000 and 200,000 passengers daily in the 20 coaches planned in the loop.

It is to the credit of past leaders and the current ones that the Abuja projects have continued to roll.

Danladi Akilu, Gudu District, Abuja

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018

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

POLITICS

APC Reconciliation Committee: Too Little Too Late?

President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to appoint the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu as head of the party’s reconciliation committee may have come too late to save the party from imploding, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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inally, President Muhammadu Buhari has come to the realisation that his All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks cohesion.

By appointing former Lagos State governor and APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building committee of the ruling party, the president could no longer continue to feign ignorance of the disunity within the party. Moreso, to allow the multiple disagreements within the party to continue to fester is to gamble with his re-election.

It was a big relief for APC’s loyalists when on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu issued a two-pragraph statement.

The statement reads: “As part of on-going efforts to improve cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari has designated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts.

“The assignment will involve resolving disagreements among party members, party leadership and political office holders in some states of the Federation.”

Given the fact that APC is having issues in virtually all the states, Tinubu faces a daunting challenge carrying out this presidential assignment. His task is even going to be much tougher because in some states, Tinubu is either directly or remotely connected to the crises. Reconciling aggrieved members of the party many of whom were let down by a president who deliberately chose to ignore those who helped him to win power is even going to be much tougher.

Even Tinubu himself, will be questioning his choice as the head of the committee. After the election and following the president’s inauguration, he was treated as inconsequential. Many of his teeming supporters are still angry at Buhari for treating Tinubu who led the South-west to give Buhari the needed support to win the 2015 presidential election. In case they do not know, those wielding the powers of life and death in Buhari’s government today should be told that had it not been for Tinubu’s deft calculations, Buhari would not have won the APC’s presidential primaries and not to talk of becoming president.

Many of Tinubu’s followers are of the view that not only was their leader used and dumped, he was also humiliated.

In reality, Tinubu will have to start this assignment by first appealing to his followers to forgive Buhari. That is going to be tough.

It is after making a successful appeasement to his followers that he can now reach out to others.

The events that led to the eventual emergence of Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi State and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State fully captured the initial attempt to ‘cut Tinubu to size,’ as it was referred to then.

The delegates’ list for the Ondo APC primary was allegedly doctored to favour Akeredolu by some persons in the party simply to stop Tinubu’s preferred aspirant, Segun Abrahams.

The Ondo situation took a different dimension when Mr. Olusola Oke defected to Alliance for Democracy in a move believed to have been instructed by Tinubu and some persons told the press that he (Tinubu) was under investigation for anti-party activities at that point.

His asking the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to resign, was also an indication that he had lost grip of the party when he was deliberately and tactically sent

John Odigie-Oyegun

Bola Tinubu

President Muhammadu Buhari

far away from the party by some of his former loyalists in the Buhari government.

This is the more reason why some earliest commentators on the new responsibility given Tinubu were of the opinions that rather than make Tinubu head of a reconciliatory committee, the party ought to have openly reconciled with the party national leader.

But the likes of the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani are of the views that the president’s choice of Tinubu to lead the move to reconcile aggrieved party members is a wise decision.

According to him, the action is the last opportunity for peace in the ruling APC saying “Asiwaju’s APC reconciliation committee is the last penalty kick for peace and unity within the party.”

Even prior to now, the Peoples Democratic Party seemed to be aware of how Tinubu was treated by the power that be in APC. PDP chairman in Lagos, Moshood Salvador once said: “But, in APC, he (Tinubu) didn’t know that he was used and dumped. They kept him outside the party, not within the party, and I was so surprised to see him staying outside the party and feeling comfortable.

How can you fight inside the party when you are outside?”

Not long after the announcement, PDP picked a hole in Buhari’s appointment of Tinubu as the chairman of the party’s reconciliation committee.

The PDP, in a reaction to the president’s decision, said the job given Tinubu was an indication that the Buhari-led government is incompetent “What other proof is required than the

announcement by the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as chairman, APC Reconciliation Committee?

“Nigerian president is not aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria is different from APC and such announcement should be made by the party, the APC and not the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the PDP said.

Others also reacted to the appointment of Tinubu as the head of the reconciliation committee.

While some lauded the appointment, the general consensus however was that the government of the day finally remembered Tinubu because of the forthcoming general election.

One of such people was one Dr. Dipo Awojide who succinctly said: “It’s election season. Tinubu is important again.”

Usman Ibrahim said: “I want to believe Buhari has something on Tinubu and willing to use it if he (Tinubu) does not play ball.

“It’s the only reason Tinubu will do anything Buhari asks after the betrayal, disrespect, level of nepotism and bad governance we have witnessed.”

Nnamdi Abana said: “ Tinubu will be a fool to co-operate with Buhari. I wonder if Buhari thinks Tinubu will listen to him after placing him on the bench for three years.”

Raphael Omonu also said: “Tinubu will disappoint me if he chooses to support Buhari’s second term. Buhari doesn’t have anything to offer anymore. He is gone.”

Gege Best said: “I think the lesson for the future is clear. It is not enough to build alliances to gain power. It is important to understand the characters with whom you have joined forces.

“Tinubu and co. claim to be political experts.

Yet they didn’t see that Buhari would be a terrible president.”

There were yet those who were neutral in their opinions, among which was one Ofor Peter who said: “The choice is before Tinubu.

Choose to be played once and learn or choose to be played and replayed.”

Desi Derata said: “Tinubu is caught between a rock and a hard place. Keep the little federal power in the APC contraption or lose it completely if PDP got power back. The choice speaks for itself. Well played Buhari.”

Ayobami Dondekojo said: “So, Tinubu’s new job is conflict resolution. We don’t talk about this enough (because we don’t want to

seem like bigots, since we are revolutionary) but sometimes we have to discuss ethnicity in politics.”

Freke Idio added: “The president is a great player, he knows he has already lost election in Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa States.

“With the South-south and South-east not APC friendly, the only hope is Tinubu in the South-west. 2019 will be a good ground to judge if the South-west truly loves Nigeria.”

Maxwell Ikechukwu said: “There are more serious significant issues but you dig out Tinubu’s new appointment and make it the focal point of your national discussion. You are so lazy.”

But that is not even the crux of the matter now, presently the problem is whether or not the president’s reconciliatory move is not coming too late.

This premonition is predicated on the fact that even if Tinubu is so magnanimous to let go of his embarrassment within the party and goes ahead to pacify aggrieved persons, is he capable of changing the verdict of majority of Nigerians, who are openly disenchanted with the president’s style of leadership and governance?

How the party’s national leader intends to reconcile his kinsmen from the South-west, those from the South-east and the South-south, who feel largely marginalised under the current national leadership will be interesting to watch.

Though Tinubu described the position taken by former President Olusegun Obasanjo advising Buhari not to seek reelection next year as politics and that the former leader ought to have conveyed his opinion privately, but not a few people have said the letter was a huge damage to the president’s reelection bid.

Tinubu said: ”I think Obasanjo was playing politics with his public letter. That’s all I see.

He could have used other means; he met him (Buhari) in the AU (Africa Union) too.

“He has a way of discussing privately, but the letter is being responded to by the government.

Obasanjo wrote it about the government. It is a very good awareness on his part and they are both (Obasanjo and Buhari) from the same background.”

With opposition against Buhari growing on daily basis, can the Tinubu-led reconciliation committee turn the tide of public opinion against the president? Isn’t this committee coming a bit too late? Time will tell.

With opposition against Buhari growing on daily basis, can the Tinubu-led reconciliation committee turn the tide of public opinion in favour of the president?

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018

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POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

Perils and Promises of Obasanjo’s Letter Magnus Onyibe provides a rare insight into the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari

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onsidering the circumstances under which Olusegun Obasanjo, obtained the privilege of leading Nigeria twice, the expectation of most Nigerians that he would not be arrogant was not unreasonable.

But instead of being humble, Obasanjo has gradually taken on the toga of an oracle that must be appeased by anyone who aspires to lead the nation.

But having been assisted to lead Nigeria twice by luck, he may have justification for believing that he is a special one.

So far, evidence abound that he has successfully played the role of a sentinel in previous political developments.

For instance, leveraging on his power of incumbency, as he was exiting office, he thwarted his Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid after a nasty public fight that entailed the washing of dirty linen in public.

Curiously, muckraking which is usually the fall out of his previous letters to sitting heads of state, has not been recorded in the current open confrontation with the government in power .

That may be due to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari might have chosen to observe and honour the military ethos of respect for hierarchy strictly.

In other words, since the military hierarchy is always respected by serving or retired officers , Buhari the current Aso Rock villa occupant might have made the decision not to openly take the battle back to Given the scenario above,it did not surprise some of us that the usually very combative presidential spokesmen and equally loquacious information minister have been tame in their response to the very incandescent missive that Obasanjo addressed to their principal.

For the likes of Garba Shehu , senior special assistant and Femi Adesina, special adviser on media to have kept their usually poisonous arrows in their quivers and allow only Lai Mohamed, the usually pugnacious information minister to try to deodorize the otherwise very pungent , if not toxic public umbrage against Buhari by Obasanjo, there must have been clear instructions from the commander-in-chief to hold fire.

To properly understand the promises or perils of Obasanjo,s open letter to PMB, we must look beyond headlines to unearth underlying factors.

Obviously , Obasanjo has now become a serial public letter writer lambasting heads of government. This is by virtue of the fact that he has authored similar explosive mails to Ibrahim Babangida, late Sanni Abacha and Umar Yar’adua of blessed memory as well as Goodluck Jonathan in the past 40 years.

That the third force which mysteriously made him head of state in 1976 without plotting a coup and again crowned him president in 1999 without going through the rigours of politicking from bottom up, worked again for him in 1998 by mysteriously terminating Sanni Abacha’s life before he could take him to the gallows, further strengthens the mysticism of Obasanjo phenomena.

In the light of his close shave with death, if Obasanjo was an ordinary mortal, he could have learnt a lesson or two but as some have noted, he is mystical hence he has defied all odds and continues to imperil himself by literarily stirring the hornets nest in writing inciting letters to his successors.

Apparently, PMB’s strategy to be taciturn either in deference to the unwritten rule in the military not to engage in public spat with superior officers or in furtherance of his legendary style of taciturnity, has equally paid off.

This is because members of the public who form the support base of PMB have seized the opportunity to pick up the gauntlet by releasing a tidal wave of bile and vitriol against Obasanjo in an equally open letter accusing him of the crimes he levied against PMB which amounts to hypocrisy.

Olusegun Obasanjo

The face-off is now a proxy war as Obasanjo supporters , on and offline in the social media have also been lambasting PMB. It is a case of my enemy’s enemy is my friend.

To demonize him, some of them had resurrected a vitriolic letter written by his daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who had engaged her father in a public brawl, ostensibly for being a very bad dad owing to his alleged megalomanic tendencies.

Curiously, in spite of the damning and ignoble parenting flaws exposed by OBJ’s scions about him, the self appointed moral conscience and messiah of Nigeria, has neither been fazed by it nor has his political capital been diminished.

His hero image is perhaps derived from the fact Obasanjo seizes opportunities to stir up controversies that elevate him by playing to the gallery of the long suffering and unwary members of the public whose emotions he manipulates by pretending to be the champion of their causes.

Against the backdrop of the narrative above, is Obasanjo an opportunist, a genuine and concerned patriot or just a mystic?

It can be argued both ways because his latest letter to PMB could be both a problem and an opportunity.

Clearly, Obasanjo was on point as all the concerns contained in the letter are quite cogent and already being expressed by a broad spectrum of patriots nationwide.

But the only snag is whether he has the moral authority to pontificate as he did in his message to PMB. Love or loathe him, his timing is always right because he only cashed in on an opportunity to be the voice of the voiceless when the back of Nigerians were literarily pushed against the wall owing to hardship arising from a perceived derelict leadership.

Thats why, to me, this is a kind of dejavu encore.

In 2015, candidate Buhari similarly capitalized on the suffering of the masses ostensibly due to the ‘clueless government’ of Goodluck Jonathan which was accused of monumental corruption and rode into Aso Rock on that premise.

In 2018, owing to the absence of a credible presidential candidate with mass appeal to challenge Buhari, it became inevitable that Obasanjo, as ex head of state who still has political fire power in his belly to galvanize public angst against his targets, would seize the moment to muddy the 2019 political water for PMB via his letter.

It is settled conventional wisdom that nature abhors vacuum, and to that extent , it can be argued that Obasanjo is only filling a political void.

And this belief is underscored by the

fact that he is not only tagging PMB a bad product, but he is also marshaling his support base through a political platform aptly tagged Coalition For Nigeria Movement, (CNM) also known as the ‘Third Force’ (which has a mystic connotation) aimed at spoiling the chances of the ruling and main opposition parties, the APC and PDP in 2019 general elections.

And by so doing Obasanjo may be finally stretching his narcissistic traits to new levels by taking the moral high ground of being all-knowing and perhaps the one appointed

by God to save Nigeria. An attitude which his antagonists have alluded to in their scathing responses to his letter.

In 2007, OBJ pushed for Nigerians to vote for late president Umar Yar’Adua and they did. A little over two years into his tenure, he became gravely ill and Obasanjo tried to convince Nigerians to vote against him if he fails to resign and even nudged the National Assembly, NASS to impeach him. But the man passed away before Obasanjo’s fury could become a storm .

Again he cajoled Nigerians to replace late Yar’adua with then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigerians obliged him and a few years after, he literarily bayed for the blood of his ‘blue eyed’ political prince-Jonathan when he sought a second term.

Anybody else but Jonathan, he sermonized.

Obasanjo had his way and the incumbent president Buhari leveraged the void created by the schism within the PDP which OBJ master minded by dramatically tearing up his membership card of the party on whose platform he ruled Nigeria for 8 years.

Obasanjo’s larger than life image can be situated within the foregoing strings of successes in determining the direction in which Nigeria’s leadership pendulum swings.

But given that under his watch nothing spectacular happened in Nigeria in terms of deepening of democracy or growing the economy and he has continued to coax or sometimes coerce Nigerians into voting-in or voting-out of office of at least two presidents that he hand picked after his exit from power , where does OBJ derive his authority or audacity to keep twisting Nigerians between his fingers, one may wonder?

One intriguing answer may be rooted in the new zeitgeist reality that moral decadence does not play critical roles in the process of choosing leaders.

Not in Nigeria and not even in the USA, the acclaimed reference point for liberal democracy.

Adjunct to that is the ability to identify the prevailing sentiment or resentment of the masses and key into it.

The assumptions above are derived from

the fact that Americans elected president Donald Trump about a year ago into the White House despite evidence of misogyny supported by video clips of his boast about groping women and after a handful of women stepped out to accuse of him sexually assaulting them.

Despite his moral issues, what earned Donald Trump the presidency is his America First philosophy which is borne out of the feeling by rural Americans that they were loosing their country to immigrants like Mexicans, Arabs and Africans.

The sentiment is a resurgence of the principles behind Nazi anti Semitism propagated

by Adolph Hitler in Germany and racial segregation hitherto practised in the USA and enforced by Ku Klux Klan, kkk.

Following the same principle, in Nigeria any promise to empower the masses against the elite who are believed to have been emasculating them energizes the masses like opium does to addicts.

Interestingly, Trump who has vociferously denied all the allegations by referring to them as fake news, has effectively leveraged his media prowess, particularly Twitter to drown the voices of his accusers.

By the same token, in Nigeria Obasanjo’s voice has been very loud through his public letter writing just as PMB had also effectively used the media to gather the momentum that propelled him into Aso Rock villa in 2015.

Arising from the above, one clear thing that can be gleaned from both Trump and OBJ’s narcissistic and megalomanic tendencies is that he who shouts the most and panders towards populist ideology by zeroing in on the interest of the downtrodden masses, gains the most public sympathy and support.

So, often times political success boils down to the ability of an astute politician to fully harness the awesome power of the media in the mobilization of citizens by capitalizing on their common concern to achieve set personal agenda/objectives .

In the light of the above, the following three posers are in order : Has lyabo’s letter and Gbenga’s rebellion damaged Obasanjo enough for PMB to continue to ignore him ; has Obasanjo overreached himself this time as his support base might have seen through his subterfuge and will his mission of a new coalition of politicians dubbed the Third Force to torpedo the ruling and main opposition parties, APC and PDP be accomplished? Only time will tell.

Nevertheless and in the mean time, it will be foolhardy for PMB to like Jonathan’s rely on the power of incumbency and awesome financial war chest such as the $1b purportedly budgeted to fight Boko Haram that opponents are alleging is actually meant for the presidency to apply in winning the election again in 2019.

Today, every average Nigerian appreciates better, the power of his/her voter’s card which now counts mainly due to the improvement on the integrity of voting via the introduction of electronic voting.

Presently , Nigerians are like the proverbial Catalonian bull seeing ‘red’ as a result of the socio/economic and political circumstances that are currently strangulating the country.

It is a no brainer to fore tell that in 2019 the electorate will vote with their hearts as opposed to being tele-guided.

As such, a simple antidote to the looming risk of being booted out of power is for the government in power to develop all the concerns raised in Obasanjo’s letter into an action plan for urgent attention before 2019.

Put succinctly, Obasanjo’s letter should be deemed and adopted as a position paper from an experienced consultant to an organization that is seeking remedy for a malignant tumor that has the ability and capacity to become cancerous and terminal.

Onyibe, a development strategist and a former commissioner in Delta State sent this piece from kaduna.

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

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͹͹͹˛͡ͳϹ 0.71% 1.36%

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EXCHANGE RATE N305/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Ethiopian to Start Flights to Chicago

Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced that it would commence direct ight from Addis Ababa to Chicago eective June 02, 2018.

The airline said that West bound, passengers from the entire continent of Africa would connect to Chicago and beyond through our Addis Ababa hub in the late evenings; likewise, East bound travelers from the USA will also connect to all over Africa in the morning through Addis. In both cases, the connectivity is designed in such a way that we are able to avail one of the shortest total travel times for our customers. Regarding the launch of the service, the Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “Chicago will be our 4th destination in the U.S. and our 7th in the Americas. It is the third biggest city in the U.S. and one of the most important global aviation hubs. We will be ďŹ lling a critical air connectivity vacuum as our ights will be the only direct service between Chicago and Africa. Chicago is the main hub of our Star Alliance partner, United Airlines and the ight will be operated together with United to avail the best product for travelers from all over the U.S. connecting to more than 55 destinations in Africa. “The ight will further boost the growing economic and people-to-people relations between the U.S. and Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular by enabling greater ow of trade, investment and tourism.â€?

BOOSTING EXPORT

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza BalaUsman (5th from left); Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Ibimode Adeleye (left); the General Manager Security, NPA, Anas Mohammed (2nd from left); the CEO Connect Rail Services (CRS) Logistics, Edeme Kelikume (3rd from left); GM to MD Office, NPA, Iheneacho Ebubeogu (4th from left); Deputy Comptroller of Custom, Adediran Jamal (2nd from right) and the General Manager Operations, NPA, Joshua Asanga (right) at the official flag off of Solid Mineral Export from Ikorodu Lighter Terminal in Lagos...recently

NAMA Moves to Secure Niger Delta Airspace Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has received approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to build multilateration technology system to monitor low flying aircraft in the littoral region of the country for security and safety purposes.

Multilateration technology accurately locates low flying aircraft, many of which might not wish to be seen and it is used for surveillance and for guidance of operational aircraft.

In Nigeria, there are many helicopter operations in the Niger Delta carrying out oil and gas activities and it is believed that the area is not fully captured

AVIATION by the total radar coverage, as the choppers usually fly low, so it has potential for illegal aircraft incursions, which is not safe for the country.

To secure that part of the Nigerian airspace, government approved the establishment of the multimillion Naira project.

The Management Director of NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu had confirmed to THISDAY that the project has been approved. “We just got approval to do wild area multilateration.

We have approval for it now and it has been budgeted for,�

Akinkuotu said.

THISDAY also learnt on

Wednesday that work has commenced on the project and the objective is to dovetail the wide area multilateration to the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) and when completed it is expected to generate revenues from oil companies for the agency.

THISDAY spoke with the former top official of the agency who rejuvenated the project before the recent approval few years later. He said that government was concerned about the porous airspace in the Niger Delta region and the fact that many helicopter operations are not being monitored so the multilateration project is aimed at capturing these helicopters and linking their operation to

radar which provides surveillance and air traffic management (ATM) service.

When completed, helicopters operating at the region would be monitored and there would now be communication between pilots and air traffic control as the multilateral system is connected to the radar.

It is also expected to provide service to the Nigeria Air Force who would also partner with NAMA to monitor the airspace in that region. “We will be working with the Nigeria Air Force to monitor the airspace in the Niger Delta, just as we are doing in other areas. We work well with the Continued on page 20

Palletisation to Cost Importers N21.6bnYearly Eromosele Abiodun Maritime sector stakeholders have expressed concerns over the federal government’s policy on cargo palletisation, noting that it will cost Nigerian importers about $60million (N21.6 billion) annually.

The stakeholders were also unanimous in their resolution that the controversial policy will increase the diversion of Nigerian-bound cargoes to the ports of neighbouring countries where the policy is not implemented.

The stakeholders made this known at a meeting organised by maritime media consulting firm, Ships & Ports in Lagos to brainstorm on the matter.

The federal government

MARITIME had late last year directed all containerised cargoes coming into Nigeria to be on a pallet.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun had explained that the new measure would aid manual examination of consignment while the country awaits the acquisition and installation of functional scanners at the seaports and land borders.

However, the maritime stakeholders also raised issues on the importation of strange organisms into the country through wooden pallets and the management of the pallet waste after use.

Speaking at the meeting, National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed

Customs Agents (ANLCA), Olayiwola Shittu said the palletisation policy holds no benefit for the country and “will also further breed corruption� at the port. “The policy will be difficult for shippers because we are an import dependent nation.

Palletisation will enhance corruption in the ports, as a good chunk of the internally generated revenue in the port goes into private pockets. Palletisation should not be our priority, rather let us look at how we can improve services at the ports,� he said.

On his part, General Manager Shipping, SIFAX Group, Mr. Henry Ajoh, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo

Afolabi, expressed fears over the implementation of the new policy stating that “it cannot work in Nigeria�.

According to Ajoh, what the ports need urgently is enhanced cargo examination system to facilitate ease of doing business.

He said: “We need scanners.

Government needs to deploy technology at the port for Customs examination and release processes. That is the way to go. Palletisation takes us backward and cannot work in Nigeria.�

Also speaking, the Managing Director of CMA CGM – a leading container carrier operating in Nigeria, Mr. Todd Rives said that the policy would lead to Continued on page 20

Etihad Introduces New Baggage Policy

Etihad Airways has introduced a new baggage policy tailored to varying customer requirements in the international markets it serves. The changes allow for a simpler baggage structure as the allowance for all markets, excluding the US and Canada, is now based on total weight rather than the number of bags checked in.

Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, Mohammad Al Bulooki, said: “In line with global best practice and market trends, Etihad Airways has developed a baggage policy that best caters to the diering needs of our guests around the world. The switch to a policy based on weight rather than the number of bags simpliďŹ es our allowance system and provides greater convenience and customer beneďŹ t while enhancing the travel experience.â€?

With the switch to a weight-based baggage policy, the majority of markets will be entitled to 23kg of checked baggage on Economy Deal fares, 30kg on Economy Saver and Classic fares, and 35kg on Economy Flex fares. Customers in all Business Class fare categories are entitled to 40kg, and First Class customers enjoy a 50kg allowance. Guests inThe Residence onboard Etihad Airways’ agship Airbus A380 eet are provided with an allowance of four bags at 32kg each. Notable exceptions where the policy has been tailored to market requirements include all ights from Africa, where the allowance is 40kg as standard on both Economy and Business Class fares. Customers travelling between Australia and Lebanon are entitled to 40kg in both Economy Class and Business Class, and the allowance on ights from the GCC to the Indian Subcontinent starts at 30kg in Economy Class.

Airbus Opens Skywise

AirAsia, Asiana Airlines and Etihad Airways have become the ďŹ rst airlines to beneďŹ t from the full aircraft data and advanced predictive analytics on Airbus’ open aviation data platform, known as Skywise.

EachairlinesignedapremiumsubscriptioncontractcoveringSkywise Predictive Maintenance. The agreements cover the retroďŹ t of their respective A320 and A330 Family eets with FOMAX - a new on-board data-capture / transmission module which provides greatly expanded volumes of recorded aircraft data – only about 400 aircraft parameters could previously be recorded on an A320, compared with roughly 24,000 from an aircraft equipped with it.

The sheer quantity of information that Skywise can unlock for each aircraft equipped with the new module will be used by airlines to gain deep insights, create bespoke recommendations and apply state-of-the-art Skywise analytics applications for enhanced decision-making. In turn this will allow them to anticipate, with higher levels of accuracy, the needs for maintenance before an event happens, and thus maximise the operational reliability and utilization of their assets.

“From this part of the world (Africa), it is difficult to compete with the big boys (airlines) on the other side�

CEO of Medview Airline)

Alhaji Muneer Bankole

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BUSINESSWORLD NAMA MOVES TO SECURE NIGER DELTA AIRSPACE Air Force at all the airports where they have their command. While the scope of the radar goes beyond the areas under discussion, the radar does not capture low flying aircraft and that is why we need the area multilateration technology,� a source in NAMA told THISDAY. THISDAY also learnt that in other countries with mountainous regions or creeks and mangrove, as there is in Nigeria and where oil exploration is taking place, extra care is provided to monitor the activities of low flying aircraft.

For example, the New Zealand air navigation service recently installed nine advanced multilateration surveillance technology at sites in remote mountainous regions across Otago and Southland to improve airspace safety.

The new MLAT technology was expected to enable air traffic controllers to view the valleys and areas behind mountains, which are currently out of the reach of radar surveillance.

In Nigeria, many industry experts said that the project was long overdue and considering the crises going on around Nigeria, including the Cameroon political agitation that might witness influx of people of Southern Cameroon to Nigeria, the multilateration system is needed.

PALLETISATION TO COST IMPORTERS N21.6BN YEARLY the loss of over $60 million annually, warning that the policy must be thoroughly thought through by government.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello said that palletisation of cargo is international best practice.

He said the introduction of the policy in Nigeria was to enhance physical examination of cargo by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Bello also noted that there are cargoes that cannot be palletised, noting that as a Council, it had to listen to stakeholders and take their concerns to the relevant government authorities.

NEWS

NPA Flags Off Solid Minerals Export from Ikorodu Lighter Terminal Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala-Usman has flagged off the first export consignment of manganese, a solid mineral resource from the Ikorodu lighter terminal.

Speaking at the event, Bala-Usman said the NPA under her management is keen in driving intermodal transport as part of efforts to further decongest the traffic gridlock on Apapa port axis.

She disclosed that the NPA is ready to partner any agency or private investor who will give priority to intermodal transport, “ as the continuous reliance on our road is no longer feasible and should be discouraged.�

The NPA MD added that the flag off event is of huge economic advantage to the country, adding that using barges to ferry containers of solid mineral across the waters to the APM Terminal within Apapa Ports will help to elongate the life of “our roads as this mode of export

Bala Usman

will be most encouraged. “ Furthermore the NPA boss

stated that the occasion is an eye opener and also serves to generate more revenue for the nation and provide employment opportunities.

Calling on stakeholders to key into the window of Public Private Partnership (PPP), she stated that the occasion further deepens NPA management’s efforts at complying with

the federal government’s directives on the Ease of Doing Business at the nation’s sea ports whilst the rehabilitation of the ports access roads are ongoing at Apapa.

In partnering with and encouraging private initiatives, she added that the authority would ensure the deployment of standard

operational procedures (SOPs) with the view to complying with international best practices.

The Chief Executive Officer of Connect Rail Services Limited (CRSL), Edeme Kelikume representing the service provider, appreciated the NPA’s role in the provision of the enabling environment for the take-off of the project.

PROMOTING CLOUD TECHNOLOGY

L-R: CTO Comercio, Aderemi Adejumo; State Co-ordinator of SMEDAN, Adeyinka Fisher; MD, Rack Centre, Ayotunde Coker; Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Muda Yusuf and CEO Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, at the Connect Nigeria 2018 SME Bizfair, where Rack Centre sponsored a session on “Cloud and Internet of Things, held in Lagos...recently

SIFAX Boss Urges Caution on Cargo Palletisation Implementation General Manager, SIFAX Shipping Company Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, Henry Ajoh has urged the federal government to reconsider its position on the implementation of the cargo palletisation policy.

According to Ajoh, the government has not adequately engaged the different stakeholders in both the maritime and aviation industries before coming up with the policy, hence, the stiff opposition that it has generated. Importers, agents and manufacturers, amongst others have condemned the policy.

While it might appear that the government could be solving the problem of cargo examination with this policy, the SIFAX Shipping boss argued that it will adversely affect the country’s economy as the extra cost that the importers will be made to bear, will ultimately be transferred to the consumers, who will be forced to pay more.

He said: “The implementation of the cargo palletisation policy will lead to an increase in the cost of shipment and importation charges. These extra charges will be passed to the end users, who buy

the imported goods. The manufacturers who also need to pay more for his imported raw materials as a result of the policy will also pass this to the consumers. Ultimately, this policy will lead to an increase in the prices of goods and you know the implication of this for an economy just exiting recession.�

Ajoh further noted that the palletisation policy will not adequately address the challenge of faster cargo clearing as all imported cargoes, whether palleterised or not, will still need to be physically examined by the Nigerian

Customs Service officers. “The only way out is to provide modern cargo scanners at the nation’s seaports. The issue of 100 per cent physical cargo examination is outdated and should be jettisoned by the government. We should take advantage of technology to drive the policy of ease of business in the maritime sector.

Providing scanners is the right way to go and not compelling importers to palletise their goods. So, I am appealing to the Federal Government to reconsider their stance on the issue and also engage more with various stakeholders in

order to find a compromise position,� he stated.

Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, had recently advocated the concession of scanning services at the ports to private investors.

The concession of the scanning services, according to him, will help improve the efficient service delivery of the Nigeria Customs Service, protect against the importation of arms and other contraband goods, generate more revenue for the government and keep the country safe.

Eko Disco Decries Violent Attacks on Its Workers By Consumers Ejiofor Alike

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The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi has decried the growing spate of violent attacks on staff of the company in some communities within the company’s operational territory.

This is coming as a Tinubu Magistrate Court in Lagos Island has sentenced one Femi Adeleke, 32, to six months of imprisonment for assaulting a staff member of the company, who was on official duties at the accused residence at No. 3 Saliu Aina Street, Maroko, under the Lekki Business District of the power utility company.

Speaking to journalists on the arrest of a man, who allegedly inflicted machete cut on a staff of the company at Petedo

area of Agabara in Ogun State, which is under the Agbara/ Badagry Business District of the company, Fadeyibi expressed his disaffection against the ugly trend.

Fadeyibi commended the police for arresting the suspect, who committed the offence when the victim, in company of some of his colleagues, was in the area to effect disconnection of defaulters of the company’s electricity bill.

He expressed the confidence that other accomplices in the case would soon be apprehended by the police and brought to book accordingly.

The EKEDC CEO added that the company would explore all legal means to ensure that perpetrators of such criminal acts would not go unpunished.

Fadeyibi disclosed that apart from working with law enforcement agencies to get perpetrators of physical attack arrested, the company’s legal department has been instructed to ensure diligent prosecution of cases of violent attack on staffers of the company.

He advised those who have complaint against the conduct of any of the company’s staff to explore the various platforms provided by the company for customers to lodge their complaints, instead of resorting to violent attack.

In a related development, a Tinubu Magistrate Court in Lagos Island has sentenced one Femi Adeleke, 32, to six months of imprisonment for assaulting a staff member of the company, who was on official duties at the accused residence at No. 3 Saliu Aina

Street, Maroko area of Lagos.

EKEDC’s General Manager in charge of Corporate Communications, Mr. Godwin Idemudia said in a statement that the offence was committed in October 2017 when a team of EKEDC staff on routine revenue collection duty requested for the electricity bill of the accused premises to ascertain level of indebtedness.

According to Idemudia, upon discovering that the house was indebted to the company, an order for disconnection was given by the team leader.

This according to him, the accused attacked the EKEDC staff member holding the ladder for another colleague who had climbed the pole to effect disconnection The accused was also said to have hauled a bottle at the linesman on the pole.

After taking the plea of the accused and evidence from witnesses called by the prosecution, the presiding judge Mrs F.O. Ikolaba found the accused guilty and subsequently sentenced him to 6 months imprisonment on each of the three count charge of assault, obstruction of people on lawful duty and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace. The sentence is however to run concurrently.

Meanwhile one person is now in police custody for a similar offence in Agbara, Ogun State.

The man was said to have attacked Destiny Ubani, also a staffer of Eko Electricity Distribution Company who was in the suspect’s house at Petedo area of Agbara, Ogun state to carry out disconnection for non-payment of electricity bill.

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AVIATION

NAMA Boss Tasks Staff on Excellent Service Delivery The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has charged the newly inaugurated SERVICOM (Service Compact with all Nigerians) committee to ensure that the system of service delivery in the agency meets international best practices in line with its service level agreement with customers.

Akinkuotu, who made these remarks at the inauguration of NAMA SERVICOM Committee which took place at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos said as a service oriented agency, only excellence in service delivery can ensure that NAMA attains its vision of being a leading Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in the world. He stressed that the task before the committee was to monitor and ensure

that fallen standards are raised and that duties are carried out effectively in an efficient manner while also providing a redress mechanism for both internal and external customers in the event of service delay or failure.

While calling on the staff to give maximum support and cooperation to the committee, Capt. Akinkuotu who was represented by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Hajia Maira Bashir said management on its part would provide the needed environment to ensure the success of the committee. Also in her remarks at the event, the National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli lauded the agency for “striving to enhance customer satisfaction through various initiatives” adding that the setting up

the SERVICOM committee is a bold steps towards ensuring transparency in its operations.

She advised the agency’s management to give prompt attention to reports submitted to it by the SERVICOM unit, adding that “the effective functioning of the committee nationwide would serve as a lubricant in the service delivery chain of NAMA for smooth operations and seamless service provision leading to customer satisfaction.”

With membership drawn from different directorates and departments including airspace managers at all NAMA stations across the country, the committee’s terms of reference include inter alia monitoring timeframe in attending to correspondences, monitoring disposition and use of working tools, as well as assisting various departments/units in enhancing service delivery.

Arik Resumes Garden City Express Flight from Lagos Arik Air has announced that it would resume its Garden City Express, which would enable customers to fly directly to the heart of Port Harcourt City from MMA2 terminal in Lagos.

The airline said the daily flight service which would commence on February 12, 2018 would depart from Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) Ikeja, Lagos and arrive at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Base Port Harcourt, a 10 minutes’ drive from down town.

Arik said it maintains a well-resourced terminal at NAF Base Port Harcourt and assures passengers of premium

customer service.

Commenting on the Garden City Express, Arik Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said the service eliminates the almost one hour drive passengers arriving into the International Airport, Omagwa normally endure while traveling to Port Harcourt City.

“We are delighted to offer this premium service to our customers who are time conscious and desire to cut the long drive from Omagwa to Port Harcourt City. This service will offer a great travel experience with our dedicated terminal at NAF Base Port Harcourt and efficient flight crew.”

This is Arik Air’s first and only scheduled flight departing and arriving in MMA2 Lagos.

The Garden City Express is an addition to Arik Air’s three daily flights from Lagos to Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa.

Arik Air has been operating from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) for its domestic services since it relocated from the international wing of the Lagos airport, but recently it has started operating some shuttle services from the Lagos domestic terminal, MMA2 and now it has introduced schedule flight operation.

IATA, CAAS to Launch Global Safety Research Center in Singapore The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to establish a Global Safety Predictive Analytics Research Center (SPARC) in Singapore.

The MoC was signed by IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, and Director-General of CAAS, Kevin Shum.

SPARC will utilize predictive analytics to identify potential aviation safety hazards and assess related risks by leveraging the research capabilities in Singapore, and operational flight data and safety information that are available under IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) initiative. End users across the aviation community can then work collaboratively at the system level to address and implement appropriate safety measures to mitigate the risks, or even to prevent the occurrences of safety hazards.

The first area of focus for SPARC will be runway safety, such as runway excursions, which are the most frequent category of accidents in recent years, according to IATA’s analysis.

“Safety is aviation’s highest priority and all stakeholders are committed to making flying even safer. The accident investigation process will continue to be a fundamental tool in improving safety.

However, as the number of accidents declines, we need to take a system-based, datadriven, predictive approach to preventing accidents, including analyzing the more than 10,000 flights that operate safely every day.

The Singapore Government and the CAAS have been strong partners of IATA and we look forward to working with them through SPARC to help to take aviation safety to an even higher level,” said de Juniac.

Kevin Shum, DirectorGeneral of CAAS, added, “CAAS and IATA have developed a strong partner-

ship over the years. Together, we continue to work closely with the aviation community to enhance safety and facilitate sustainable aviation growth.

The establishment of SPARC in Singapore is especially timely given the anticipated doubling of air traffic in the Asia Pacific by 2036. SPARC’s predictive data analytics capabilities will help the aviation sector in Asia Pacific better anticipate, prioritize and address safety issues more effectively.”

Achieving the cutting-edge approach to flight safety risk management as envisioned in the SPARC initiative will require a mindset change.

Broad consultation and collaboration for knowledge sharing will identify the most effective applications of the safety information produced.

In the coming months, the SPARC project team will be working closely with the industry and its stakeholders to develop safety predictive models to ensure that the output generated meets the industry’s current and future needs.

AIR WATCH Perennial Shortage of Aviation Fuel

There are key factors that determine the growth and success of an airport: facilities, including navigational aids, traffic, aircraft maintenance, facilitation, fuel supply and price of fuel.

When it is difficult to obtain fuel at good price, airlines search for alternative airports close by and that is the situation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the busiest airport in Nigeria and the second busiest in Africa.

At a recent briefing in Lagos, CITA, a major aviation fuel supply in Nigeria, noted that there are two major hindrances to aviation fuel supply to the airports in the country. One is the process of supply and the second is the price of the product.

The company noted that the Lagos airport is the second busiest airport in Africa after OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, but Lagos would soon lose this slot to Cape Town Airport also in South Africa because the Lagos airport does not have adequate supply of aviation fuel and it comes at a higher price compared to the price of the product in neighbouring airports in Accra, Lome and Cotonou.

So what cargo and passenger airlines do is that when they fly to Nigeria and drop passengers and cargo, they then fly to these neigbouring countries to tank fuel and from their move to their next destination. This is one of the reasons Ethiopia Airlines established its operational hub in West Africa in Lome; the same with Rwand Air, which is also building its hub for the sub-region in the small city, all targeting Nigerian passengers.

According to experts, considering the volume of fuel consumed by aircraft, the price of the product is critical to an airline and also considering the fact that it amounts to about 30 percent of the cost of operation for an airline, good price of the product is irresistible. So airlines are inclined to gravitating to wherever the price of aviation fuel is cheaper and that also determines the success or failure of an airport.

CITA said Nigeria presently supplies 500 million litres of aviation fuel per annum but the country has the capacity to supply one billion litres of the product annually if the channel of supply and distribution are smoothened, but the country has failed to refine the product locally.

Speaking during the launch of its partnership with Puma Energy in Lagos, the Managing Director of CITA, Thomas Ogungbangbe said that as the country’s passenger traffic is projected to grow by almost 20 percent in 2023, the country would require two billion litres of aviation fuel to meet this demand.

“Jet fuel sector of the economy has grappled with challenges – not devoid of the challenges experienced by the larger economy, a situation that in recent times, led to airlines having to stop-over in other countries for jet fuel supply.

“As soon as the downward slide of crude oil in the world market became a continuum, some market indices became confused, foreign

exchange became scarce and expensive, so, jet fuel price was going down in the international market but the local market was steadily going up. Because of this hedging became difficult as futures supply price became lower than present selling price,’ he said He recalled that on November 6, 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) threw Jet fuel out of the RDAS (Retail Dutch Auction System),exclusion of an essential product that is not produced in Nigeria and urged the federal government to remove all the restrictions that hamper aviation fuel supply in the country.

Speaking in similar vein, the former Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Reginald Stanley told THISDAY that not having enough aviation fuel and selling the product at relatively high price is taking away the traffic from Lagos.

He said besides the fact that marketers that ought to supply this product are losing their market, the hospitality industry in Nigeria is also losing potential customers because instead of staying overnight in Nigeria, these airlines fly to Accra, Ghana or another nearby country to spend the night and change crew, thus patronising hotels and other services in those countries. So Nigeria loses forex to these countries.

“Many airlines that are coming into Nigeria and also many cargo planes coming into Nigeria go to neighbouring countries to tank fuel. Apart from this loss of supply, it also affects hospitality business because in staying overnight the flight has to change crew and they stay in hotels to do that. Now many of them go to Accra to do that.

“So we are talking about reliability of supply of aviation fuel and the CITA, Puma Energy partnership can guarantee that. It will change the whole supply chain dynamics. The partnership can adequately supply the product because it has been deregulated and Puma has footprints in 47 countries around the world and operating in 65 airports. It is the company that is fuelling as much as Air Force 1, the presidential fleet of the United States. They also fuel Emirates Airlines so they understand what it means to honour contracts,” Stanley said.

The Global Aviation Fuel Manager of PUMA Energy, Seamus Kilgallon warned that although Lagos is second biggest airport in Africa but it may soon lose that position to Cape Town because of high price of aviation fuel.

Kilgallon said Nigeria needs to address the problem in product supply system to prevent occasional scarcity of aviation fuel, which leads to high and arbitrary increase in prices, which is said to be the highest in West and Central Africa, adding that the new partnership between CITA and PUMA promises to bridge these challenges.

He also noted that in addition to high cost of aviation in fuel, the cost of maintaining security for the aircraft and crew is also high; hence international carriers prefer other cities outside Nigeria.

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AVIATION

Addressing the Airport Infrastructure Deficit The International Air Transport Association has called on member states to improve their airport infrastructure in order to secure the aviation industry for the future.

Chinedu Eze x-rays the efforts being made in Nigeria to modernise airport facilities for the projected double growth of passenger traffic from 2023 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that due to the fast growing passenger traffic projected to rise to 7.8 billion in 2036, there is need to urgently address infrastructure challenges in order to secure the industry’s future.

In Nigeria, it is also projected that passenger traffic will more than double to about 35 million per annum by the same period.

Obviously it has become inevitable that airport facilities must be expanded and modernised to take in the high passenger growth.

Airport Privatisation The Director General of IATA said: “Having the infrastructure to grow is vital to our industry’s future. But in many key places, it is not being built fast enough to meet growing demand. And there are worrying trends which are increasing costs. One of these is airport privatisations. We have not found the correct regulatory framework to balance the interests of the investors to turn a profit, with the public interest for the airport to be a catalyst for economic growth. All the optimism supporting strong aircraft orders will mean nothing if we don’t have the capability to manage traffic in the air and at airports.”

He stressed the lack of airport capacity in many countries and saying, by 2036, we expect 7.8 billion people to travel (up from 4.3 billion expected in 2018). Of the 3.5 billion trips to, from or within the Asia-Pacific region in 2036, 1.5 billion will touch on China. “As early as 2022, China will be the largest single aviation market.

India is another emerging power-house—even if it will take longer to mature. And nearly equal potential could be realised as the Indian aviation market continues to develop”, he said.

Also in Africa, Nigeria is expected to have the highest number of passenger traffic in the continent in cognition of its huge population and the mobility of its citizens.

In a recent workshop organised in Lagos by the Aviation Round Table (ART), the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren reiterated the call for public, private sector partnership and noted that Nigeria has the population; it has the travelling public, so every airline that comes to Nigeria makes money, noting that the country has tremendous amount of potential.

Demuren said that the private sector must be brought in to develop aviation infrastructure but government must have to show commitment and encourage private investment.

“Every state must have commitment for aviation, but nobody will invest in your country unless you have corporate governance. Nobody will invest in your country if he knows he will go into litigation when he commits his money to projects. Infrastructure plays major role in aviation and aviation is the engine of economic growth,” Demuren said.

Concession as Alternative IATA said that the major challenge of airport development in Africa is that states are unwilling to vote funds for modernisation and expansion of airport facilities; rather, states are inclined to concession.

The Director-General of IATA, de Juniac in an interview with THISDAY described concession as mixed bag, which must be managed with care.

Juniac stated: “What we say is that we want governments to be cautious about privatisation of airports. We say to them, be careful because privatisation of airports has not led to cost efficient, technology efficient infrastructure. The experience we had from Australia, from Chile, from Europe is not convincing. So we say, beware.

Of course, we understand that to run the airport as operations, privatising or even concession is much better than having civil servants doing the job, that’s for sure. Then we come to the process of choosing the concessionaire, which

Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, inspecting the new terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja

in many countries is based on the man who is buying at the highest price. So it means that the cost increases, at the end of the day the bill is sent to the airlines. And we say in the choice of the concessionaire, they always should look at other criteria.

“We favour privatising the operation through the concessionaire with a process that is not only based on choosing the man who is paying the highest price, we say to government, be cautious about privatising the ownership of the infrastructure, be careful because you may privatise a local monopoly that may go out of control. If you do that, be able to implement a strong regulatory body. And, frankly, there is nowhere in the world, perhaps, except in the UK, that the regulation has been successful.”

On concession, IATA has noted that there is a tendency to concession airports to the highest bidder without ensuring that the company has the ability to effectively manage the airport, provide on regular basis the expected innovations, expansion and facility upgrade. The world body also noted that when such airport is given to the highest bidder the company may increase charges in order to recoup its investment in

There is also the issue of meteorology equipment, as weather report is very critical for safe flight operation. In Nigeria there have been significant efforts to provide meteorological equipment, including low level wind shear detectors, research laboratories and others

a short period, thus over taxing the airlines, which increase is subsequently passed to the passengers as part of the fares.

IATA said that all these charges build up exorbitant fares charged passengers in most African countries which tend to scare people out of the airports. This, it said, explains why in Nigeria with a population of about 180 million people, passenger traffic is still about one percent of the population.

Airfield Facilities Industry experts have observed that most concessions do not provide for the funding of airfield equipment, including navigational aids, airfield lighting, approach facilities, communications and radar equipment. These are basic infrastructure needed for safe flight operations.

There is also the issue of meteorology equipment, as weather report is very critical for safe flight operation. In Nigeria there have been significant efforts to provide meteorological equipment, including low level wind shear detectors, research laboratories and others.

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

Government’s Efforts Industry observers agree that government has shown commitment to airport development but it is yet to meet the needs of airport infrastructure and called for greater commitment of funds to modernise airport facilities. Observing that government may not be able to provide the needed funds, they said that government must initiate policies that would encourage the private sector to invest in airports. They also called for reviewing of existing regulations to remove hindrances to private sector participation in the development of airport infrastructure.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu spoke about how government is funding the installation of navigational aids.

“One of the technology innovations that have come up includes things like the Performance Based Navigation (PBN). This has also lowered

the visibility minimums. We have it in 18 of our airports but as we speak only the foreign carriers utilise it because of the kind of corresponding equipment that they have onboard their airplanes. We have PBN at least in 18 of our airports,” Akinkuotu said.

On providing power to the navigational aids, NAMA boss said: “Pertaining to power, we had reported earlier that we are putting solar panels in a lot of our airports; not only because of outages but also because of the cost of generating power from generators. There are some navigational aids in some stations that run on generators for 24/7. There are certain remote sites of navigational aids that we have to power all the time by generators.

So to lower the cost of operations for us, we started installing solar panels in 2017.

“Of course if we have power from the grid the solar panel will complement public power supply. But then we have to make sure we perfect the system. Solar technology is good and it would be cheaper for us but we have to understand the underlying technology. To take power from the sun we have to energise the panels and store energy in batteries to supply the power when they are required. Because sometime the sun may not be up in the sky it becomes necessary to store solar power in batteries so that it can be utilised at anytime.

The power demand by the equipment is 24/7.

So solar can serve as effective alternative.”

Fuel Distribution One of the snags of fuel supply to Nigerian airports is the sluggish supply of aviation fuel, which hinders smooth and timely operation of flights.

Inadequate supply of aviation fuel creates uncertainty in flight scheduling. Passengers going to the airport to travel were not sure when and if the flight would operate.

Airline operators have called for the reviving of the pipeline that supplied aviation fuel from the depot at Ejigbo to the Lagos airport and the rebuilding of fuel hydrants located at the airside of the international terminal. Then new ones should be built at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and the domestic terminal (MMA2) at the Lagos airport.

The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi told THISDAY that trucking fuel from Apapa to the airport is a big hindrance to fuel supply. He noted the traffic gridlock that delays movement of fuel and the fact that the product is accompanies by debris which have to be filtered before it would be transferred to the aircraft in order not to jeopardize safety harm smooth flight operations.

It has been acknowledged that poor fuel supply is one of the drawbacks of the growth of Lagos as a major airport in Africa.

Aircraft Maintenance Any major airport in the world that could be dubbed a hub always has a major maintenance facility around it. All the international airports in Nigeria have failed in this. So part of the infrastructural needs of Nigerian airports is major maintenance facility. However, Aero Contractors has raised hope with its maintenance facility, which has started conducting major checks on Boeing B737 Classics. It is expected that the federal government would help the airline to boost the facility and that would be an answer to having a major Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation in Nigeria.

With the new terminals at the five major airports in the country, the federal government has shown strong commitment to the development of airport infrastructure, but it has to do more by attracting private investors through friendly policies, as it does not have the funds for continued development of the airport infrastructure.

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

LIVING | P31

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

'I MARRIED MY WIFE WHEN I HAD NOTHING'

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09.02.2018

'I Married My Wife When I Had Nothing' Mr. Daniel Okezie Igbokwe is a retired banker with over 25 years experience. He owns an outdoor advertising company called Frontage Media Advertising with an office in Lagos. On his 60th birthday recently, he spoke to Peter Uzoho about his life’s journey, his banking experience and marriage, among other issues You celebrated your 60th birthday anniversary recently. What does it mean to you?

It means God’s grace to me and my family.

I have a lot to be thankful to God because looking back to where I’m coming from and where I am now, I’m quite happy to say that one has actually achieved quite a lot. I have children, I have a loving wife and, I have siblings who are loving too. And, God has been faithful. I worked and I’ve retired – a banker, a successful one at that. So I have every cause to thank God. Celebrating today is really to say, thank God for keeping me alive and for making things worthy for me to continue again. My hope and prayer is that He guides me on to be able to fulfill His purpose for me here on earth.

Can you take us back a bit? What was growing up for you like?

Growing up was interesting, tough and all that. I came from a very modest home but, I’m blessed to have gotten parents who were loving and that was the backbone. We weren’t rich by any standard but, we were taught to strive and make things work for us. And having loving parents guided and helped me. So looking back really to where I’ve been today is a lot of hard work, planning, and God’s grace made all these possible.

Where were you born?

I was born here in Lagos, at Obalende to be precise. And I grew up here in Lagos too until during the Nigerian Civil War when we had to go back to the village. We all know what war makes people to pass through. We went through a lot of harrowing experiences.

I was in Primary Four before the war and, I completed my primary education there in the village. So after the war, I went to Enugu for my secondary school. I started secondary school at Union Secondary School Enugu. I finished in 1974 and came back to Lagos to do my high school at St. Gregory College. Thereafter, with God’s grace, I got admitted into the University of Lagos to read Finance and I graduated from there. After my graduation, I worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Finance before I went back to do my Master’s at the University of Ibadan where I read Economics. Thereafter, I became a banker. I started with Arab Bank, later moved to Savannah Bank and then, to Commerce Bank. I was one of the pioneer members of Commerce Bank. After the collapse of Commerce Bank, I did a brief business before I joined the Omega Bank and that’s where I retired from in 2004.

What was life like after banking?

After banking, I must say God has been faithful. It has not been easy but, interesting.

You know you can’t do something for 25 years without having something to show back. So I started a consulting firm. I was doing training for banks and companies in the area of credit administration and presentation and all kinds of trainings. Along the line I got into Outdoor Advertising. I became a member of APCON and then went into full time advertising. I have an outdoor advertising company. The company is called Frontage Media Advertising Company and, located here in Lagos.

Where do you reside currently?

I live here in Satelite Town. To the glory of God I have my own house here and I’ve been here since 1995.

When did you get married?

Celebrant, Mr. Daniel Igbokwe and his wife, Adaoma, at the former's thanksgiving service held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Festac Town, Lagos

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I got married in 1988. In fact, by November 26 this year, I will be 30 years in marriage.

How did you find your wife?

Again, I think it was God working it out to perfection. After my Master’s programme at the University of Ibadan, I then came back to Lagos to start a job. So one day, I went to UNILAG to visit a cousin of mine called Nkechi. When I got there I met someone in her room who was actually sleeping. And I looked at her and said wow! This must be the bone of my bone. I walked up to her to ask after my cousin whom I had come to see and that was how the relationship started.

We courted for about five years before we eventually got married in 1988. I must say she has been a pillar to me and very wonderful.

To the glory of God we have two wonderful children – a boy and a girl. Kelechi is my first son and Daisy is my first daughter What attracted you to your wife?

You know I told you earlier that she was sleeping when I got there… I saw the beauty in her. I think something moved in me to say ‘hey! move on’. Going further, like I said it wasn’t a short courting: we courted for five years and, within those years I was able to find out that she is not only homely but, she is the one that would go with you through thick and thin. I was convinced by all she was able to do within the period of our courtship.

She is studious; she is respectful, God-fearing, and loving. If you ask my siblings they will be able to confirm this. We are six in number and all boys. You know how rascally they could be. So she was able to gather all of them under the same roof and ensuring that we all live in peace. I must say she’s been wonderful, she’s helpful and supportive. She’s been my adviser, my everything. I’m not a very easy person to deal with but, if she has been able to stay with me this length and able to contain me it then shows that she has some kind of quality that is wonderful.

How do you relax?

That’s what working has taught me. The reason I stopped at two kids was because I saw my father struggle almost all through his life training his children. So my idea was to get to a point where I need to really relax and, by the time I retired in 2004 what I was doing was to try and see how I could begin to relax. So I try to go to the gym, I try to go to exercise myself; I try to move around and see friends. You know it’s not easy here in Lagos because of transportation issues and all that, but then, I do relax.

Do you like reading?

Oh yes, that’s one of my hobbies. I love reading books.

What kind of book do you like reading?

My background is Accounting, so I love economic books. And then I like novels and autobiographies mostly to guide me to see pitfalls that people had gone through and how they were able to overcome them. And then, I like motivational books too because it helps me in my training. Like I said, I facilitate a lot of consulting in places. It helps me to teach.

Which of the writers do you enjoy most?

To be honest, I don’t have a favourite. You know there is always something to pick from every book. But I will probably say John Maxwell is good because he combines his with the holy book and try to teach principles of living well and all that. But, otherwise, I will say all the authors are good as long as you read them and there is something to get from them.

What’s your favorite food?

My favorite food is beans. Mainly porridge beans and if you add it with fried plantain you’ve caught me.

You have background in banking. So are your kids taking after you?

I don’t know if they would want to take after me. They have their own life to live.

The truth is Kelechi my son read Economics and he is pursuing his own Finance line. I’m not sure he actually wants to be a banker.

He keeps thinking about Asset Management and things like that, not the core kind of banking we have. Daisy I thought would have read Law but she said no. She has done Marketing and she is working as a marketing executive in Canada. So they have chosen

Igbokwe

their own profession and they are moving on quite well. I’m grateful to God that they are able to stand on their own.

Are you a member of Umukabia Progressive Union? (Cuts in) Yes, I’m a member of the association. I don’t know the context you want me to define it but, what it stands for is to help the progress of Umukabia community. So I see that going forward it has been helpful but not as solid as it used to be. I don’t know what exactly is responsible but if I should place it, it has to do with leadership. I think a lot is needed to be done to really achieve what it stands to achieve. But I can see the reorganisation and the reengineering that is going on within the organisation. I’m sure soonest, they would take their proper place.

So it helps in the community development.

How do you feel seeing all these people gather here in their numbers to join you on your 60th birthday celebration?

Let me even tell you, I didn’t know about this thing until yesterday. And that people are fully here without my saying so, without me asking them to come is a sign of joy. If you’ve seen me yesterday, I almost passed out because I didn’t know my younger brother was coming from abroad. My daughter, Daisy, I spoke to her four days ago while she was in Canada only to see her yesterday without knowing, and a lot of them. So I can’t but thank God and say I’m blessed to have friends and families who have come here to celebrate with me. People came almost all over the world. Some came from Ghana, some from UK, Canada, and U.S. without my invitation. I think I can only be grateful to them, thank them and pray to God to guide them back to where they came from.

What is your advice to couples?

My advice to couples is really to be faithful and truthful to one another. And really, the truth is that there is no marriage that is free of frictions. Relationship is all about being able to overlook certain things. To be successful you have to be able to overlook and forgive, and not begin to complain. You know the person you are getting married to already has his or her own laid out ways of thinking.

So you need to begin to harmonise to see a common ground, and that means you will

have to drop a little while she drops a little.

If you expect her to drop a little and you are not willing to drop any then, you are actually causing frictions. So understanding and trust is key.

What should singles be looking out for when choosing their life partners? Is it money, educational background or what?

I will take you a little further. You know when I was getting married my friends used to make jest of my wife. Like I said, I came from a very humble background. I didn’t have a car amongst all the other guys that were driving into UNILAG to chase girls. In fact, I would wait for my Dad to come back with the rickety Danfo that he was using for his business. Then, once he packed it around 7p.m. during weekends I would take it and drive off. And when we started moving eventually, my friends would call her and ask her: ‘come on Adaoma, you just saw P that has no O in it to even define that this your guy has potential but you just saw the P and you spelt potential’. So what every man or woman should be looking out for is someone that has potential to become something. Another thing is: is he or she educated? Does he or she have a home? Is there a base? These are the major things. The money will come later.

And it becomes much more sensible if two of you work together towards achieving that otherwise, you will either be the slave of one or the other one will not respect you. So you need that potential. The P must be big P and then, look out for other attributes.

You have a very solid background in Economics, what do you say about the current state of Nigeria’s economy?

Nigeria’s economy is tottering. It’s unfortunate. I will strongly say that the problem is leadership. All the noise and what have you about change is not change. If you ask me, it’s the reverse gear that they have put us in. I think what we need is to harness the resources we have, both human and material in this country. But it needs a vibrant person to do that. I don’t subscribe to using three to four years pursuing corrupt people and then you leave out major things that are waiting to be done. And from history, we’ve found out that none of the people who we know are corrupt have ever been convicted. So why

don’t we just draw a line and say, going forward, this is the way; put things the way they should be. I think the solution to the problem of this country is really leadership and, it is not the leadership of the old. I’m not even sure if it is of my generation – it should be younger people. Unfortunately too, you see, our young people now are not really encouraging in their quest to get what is deserving of them. They are always thinking that they have a right or that something is going to be placed on their laps. Nothing ever gets to you while you are seated. Nothing ever gets to you while you are sleeping. You have to work for it; you have to struggle for it. And technology and communication have made things a lot better and easier.

If you look at how Barack Obama, a black American was able to overcome the racist tendencies in the U.S. and apply it here in Nigeria our youths will overwhelm the old power brigades. And it is just a matter of harnessing what we have and being honest.

But unfortunately, we always want to run even before we can crawl. So you see, even the youths that are coming are thinking of having big mansions and all that. You can’t get the mansion without working or clearing the road. So that’s the problem. The economy right now is comatose. It’s unfortunate but it can be reversed and the reversal requires hard thinking, like they usually say, thinking outside the box. And thinking outside the box we need some youths who are honest and not pursuing money. Let me tell you, the whistleblowing as far as I’m concerned is a diversion. How much of it have we been able to retrieve? How much of the money have we been able to use? It’s all diversionary tactics.

What we need going forward is to know what we have on ground. How much of our oil is being drilled? How much is it being sold for? If it’s one barrel we sell, how much really gets back to us? And not drilling 100 barrels and we only get one. We have to find a way to correct this. The new leadership has to stop impunity: impunity by the military, impunity by the police, impunity by those who are in authority. That way, everybody will shape in, because without an organised setting nothing can work. Here, there is no organisation. Here it is winner takes all. The strong will oppress the weak. You can never go forward if you operate like that.

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09.02.2018

Adeboye Inaugurates Remodelled RCCG Goshen Building General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has inaugurated the remodelled RCCG Goshen Church, an ultra modern building situated along, Elf Bus-Stop, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos.

The project which was birthed in 2013 and officially completed in 2016 comprises three floors, the ground floor for the youth, an expanded gallery, the children church with toddler classes and playrooms, offices, a multi-purpose hall and a gym for members’ use.

The dedication, which also coincided with the 20th anniversary of the church with the theme: ‘The Set Time is Come’, witnessed a large turnout of worshippers from far and near.

Pastor Adeboye who prayed for 20 miracles as anniversary gift to the parishioners, quoted copiously from the scripture saying “when God visits you at your set time, He has come to demonstrate His mightiness.”

Mother-In-Israel, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye also prayed with the parishioners for more blessings and breakthroughs as she dedicated the viscount organ to the delight of worshippers for the Church use.

Pastor-In-Charge of Goshen Church, Ade

Pamela Iweze ... Kingdom Children

Omokorede and wife (middle) with members of Anniversary and Building Committees at the event

Omokorede said the church has continued to transform lives sustainably in the communities it operates by engaging in interventions that put smiles on the faces of the people.

“The year presented opportunities for us to make impact in the areas of education, medical/health, infrastructure, social services and other soft platforms for the hope of glory in us to relate with our neighbours,” he said.

He added, “We hope to take on more

projects providing financial support, infrastructure, medical outreaches, and vocational skills and further strengthen our interventions required to keep paying teachers’ salaries, maintain our health care facilities and banish hunger from our neighbour’s home. As the Lord lives, we would keep communicating the grace in the message of salvation in a most impactful manner with the expression of love represented in our giving to our immediate communities.”

LG Set to Innovatively Impact the Electronics Industry Mary Ekah As the year begins in earnest, LG Electronics is again poised to impact the electronics industry on various fronts. Year after year, the company is remarkably known for churning out innovative updates on its most popular products and 2018 would obviously see the debut of more exciting technology than ever before. However, in keeping with the company’s reputation for leadership, the company is also planning to showcase its line-up of innovative breath-taking new products to the market at CES 2018.

LG has a history of setting trends and the company aims to interrupt the business-as-usual mind-set that prevails in several key markets. LG Electronics will obviously be one of the biggest exhibitors at the 2018 CES event in Las Vegas. The event will provide a unique opportunity for the company to showcase to the world its latest technological advancement in terms of home entertainment; home appliances; wearables; computers; smartphones and the biggest of it all Artificial Intelligence (AI) aided devices.

It is on record that to create modern homes one requires both human intuition and artificial intelligence (AI) to bring about a smart solution. LG through its open platform and open connectivity strategy is fast

LG V30 Angle

emerging as a leader in the industry. This is obviously one of the tech trends that would shape the year 2018 and beyond alongside many other line-ups of smart products LG is introducing into the market for the benefit of its esteemed consumers across the globe.

Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Taeick Son said: “For LG the year is fully loaded with great products that will be trendsetting, intuitive and perfect for smart homes, which will further shape the year changing the narrative of technological innovation. Indeed, 2018 is a promising year for us, as we intend to upscale existing products and also introduce newer ones that will meet the needs of our consumers.”

LG Electronics is set to expand its reach on SmarThinQ hub, now compatible with Amazon’s intelligent personal assistant Alexia as well as the SmarThinQ Sensor technology with the aim of building Smarter Homes. Some of the features to look out for in LG’s SmartThinQ Hub would be its voice recognition technology, which would enable consumers give commands to kick start household tasks and streamline the control process. LG plans to expand its smart product line-up particularly in the aviation sector with its Airport Guide Robots and Airport Cleaning Robots which are already being experimented with in some international Airports.

LG’s Hub Robot brings together the functions of Amazon Echo, Google Home and more to create the ultimate smart home assistant. The Hub Robot can connect to LG smart appliances, making it easier to complete household tasks. It can even display a wide range of information on its interactive screen, including images of refrigerator content and step-by-step recipe instructions, while simultaneously interacting with multiple household members. The latest LG robot collections would no doubt be on display at LG’s CES booth. This robot is equipped with smart sensors and multiple cameras to ensure a safe and effective performance even in crowded airports.

RCCG Charges Youths on Productivity The Redeemed Christian Church of God Lagos Province 44 has reiterated its readiness to continuously invest in youths development and empowerment activities, saying such actions will bring out the best in Nigeria’s future leaders and make them more focused to achieve their dreams and ambitions.

Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 44, Pastor Amos Emovon who stated this in Lagos, noted that such investment which also aimed at curbing crime in the society, is the Church’s response through its corporate social responsibility platform to arrest the malaise.

Emovon, speaking during the final of the Pastor Amos Youth Football Competition said the CSR initiative would help the youths to fulfill their potentials. The event, according to him, was in alignment with the evangelical and youth empowerment drive of the Mission, as a CSR Initiative, to harness the innate talents of youths around the over 140 Parishes in the Province and provide an enabling environment for the fulfillment of their passion and potential.

He listed previous mega CSR interven-

Pamela Iweze Foundation Reiterates Support for Children Raheem Akingbolu The founder and President of Pamela Iweze Kingdom Children Foundation, Pamela Iweze, has reinstated the foundation’s commitment to help children get better start in life regardless of their social background and circumstances.

Iweze, who spoke at a party organised for children in Lagos said the group strongly hold the promise as the bedrock of its corporate existence. ‘’As a not for profit organisation, we believe our passion for children should always drive our commitment on everything we do to raise children in the proper way. We will solemnly strive in all our projects and programmes to help children imbibe these virtues; do not tell lies, understand the concept of consequences for your actions and learn how to be content with whatever you have.’’

Speaking further, she disclosed that the foundation has concluded arrangement to collaborate with government ministries, departments and agencies together with other charity organisations both home and abroad to achieve the objective of its establishment.

The Pamela Iweze Kingdom Children Foundation Party, which is an annual event for children, was celebrated this year with children from various background, who all displayed excitement while the party lasted.

While appreciating individuals and corporate organisations that partnered the foundation to host the 2018 edition of the party, Iweze pointed out that it is a day set aside in the year to celebrate children and also showcase what the Pamela Iweze Kingdom Children Foundation is all about.

She added that that the party is about children and letting them know they are special, showing them the treasure they possess inside and making every child smile and feel loved. ‘’We sincerely thank the management and staff of DAAR Communication for their resolve to support our cause and promote our activities as corporate social responsibility. We also appreciate the support of the Little Saint orphanage and its founder Mrs. Christiana George.

The Little saint Orphanage and Mrs. George are models and examples for us to follow and we sincerely thank them for honouring us with their presence.’’

The Pamela Iweze Kingdom Children Foundation is a faith based charity set up to promote and raise children in an atmosphere filled with love, care and purposeful affection. It was said to have been inspired by the genuine love and passion for children by Iweze, a mother of two lovely children. It started eight years ago in the United Kingdom UK as a result of the founder’s first experience with motherhood, which made her discovered the wonderful world of children and the role of families in their nurturing and upbringing.

Born in the year 1980 to Retired Major General Cyril Iweze and Mrs. Nina Iweze from Delta State Nigeria, Pamela holds a Law Degree from the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

‘The Menace of Herdsmen is Sign of End Time’ Ayodeji Ake

L-R: Oyitso; Ajibola Opeoluwa-Calebs; Oluwaseun Ogundowo; Emovon; Joseph Ekhator, Samson Atewe and Sola Agunbiade during the event.

tions of the Province to include supply of medical equipment to Randle Children Hospital, equipping and inauguration of an ICT Laboratory for Aguda Junior Grammar School, renovation and donation of security equipment to Four Divisional Police Stations in Surulere, renovation of the dining hall, kitchen and boys hostel of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, provision of exercise books, science text books to Epetedo High School,

skills acquisition and empowerment of over 200 unemployed/underemployed people and Donation of neo-natal equipment to Massey Street Children Hospital.

Others include eye testing, provision of glasses and surgery for the elderly around Lagos Island, provision of boreholes to several communities, provision of street light, monthly feeding within the province communities, various medical/health awareness interventions and others.

The Assistant General Overseer of Manna Prayer Mountain (MPM) ministry, Rev. Flora Kwakpovwe, has condemned attacks by unidentified herdsmen in Benue State, as she warned it’s a sign of end time.

While addressing journalists recently, Kwakpovwe spoke against Christians going to war in retaliation of killings by herdsmen as she urged Christians to be more prayerful and pleaded for the president’s swift intervention.

She said: “The menace of herdsmen is a sign of end time.

We need to be prayerful to seek God at all cost. Christians should learn to defend themselves with prayers and be vigilant by not allowing them come near us at all. We are not saying Christians should strike, that won’t solve the problem. The best is all Christians should come together and pray, that’s the key. The president should also do something before it gets out of hand.”

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09.02.2018

State of Georgia Bestow Honorary Citizen, Humanitarian Award on Nigerian Philanthropist Revered entrepreneur and philanthropist, Felix King Eiremiokhae has been bestowed with the Honorary Georgia Citizen for his charity works in Nigeria’s communities through his foundation, Felix King Foundation.

The honour from the State of Georgia, which took place on the floor of the Senate in Capitol building, confers on him the Goodwill Ambassadorship for the state and according to the Secretary of State, the State of Georgia, Brain P. Kemp, the honorary citizenship affords him to travel to other states and to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America, or wherever he may hereafter travel or reside with the ease and privileges of a citizen.

The resolution for the honour was Senate resolution 608 moved by senators Gloria Butler of the 55th and Seay of the 34th and adopted in the Senate on January 23, 2018.

Part of the resolution read "whereas, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable individual be appropriately recognised. Now be it further resolved by the Senate that the members of the body commend Felix King Eiremiokhae for his many valuable contributions on behalf of those in need and extend best wishes for continued support."

Reading the proclamation on the Senate Capitol in the State of Georgia, Gloria Butler, Senator representing District 55 of the state described

Dr Jacqueline Mohair, Founder/Chancellor, Trinity University of Ambassadors (left) presenting Trinity International University of Ambassadors’ Humanitarian Awards to Founder, Felix King Founder, Felix King at the University auditorium in State of Georgia, United States of America recently.

Eiremiokhae as a philanthropist extraordinaire.

According to her, Eiremiokhae started his foundation in 2015 without enlisting the support of people and institutions other than out of his personal savings and his wife. She said that the foundation’s key objective of giving hope to the poor and vulnerable widows and their children in communities across Nigeria by transforming their lives from despair to hope through different programmes are in line with the principles the

people of Georgia live by.

Apart from his involvement in several humanitarian activities that have brought succour to several poor and vulnerable women across Nigeria, King through his foundation presented a bill to the Edo State House of Assembly last year for that purpose and he is hopeful that it will be passed in 2018.”

In another development, Eiremiokhae was also bestowed with a Humanitarian Award by the

Trinity International University of Ambassadors also in Georgia for his works of charity and care for widows and the vulnerable.

Appreciating Eiremiokhae’s outstanding leadership and humanitarian services, Dr. Jacqueline Mohair, Founder/Chancellor of the University, said the university gave the award “in appreciation and recognition to an outstanding leader for his visionary guidance and exceptional leadership with heartfelt thanks for your world class humanitarian services and leadership.”

Responding to the double honour, Eiremiokhae in his acceptance speech acknowledged America as a land of opportunities and one that can be likened to a land that flows with milk while Nigeria is a land of hope and hidden treasures, saying it was a true testimony of the true American values.

While in Atlanta, Eiremiokhae also paid a visit to Medshare, a humanitarian aid organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of people, communities and the planet by sourcing and directly delivering surplus medical supplies and equipment to communities in need around the world. He discussed possible collaboration to meet the needs of many people and communities in Nigeria. The outcome of this meeting was an opportunity for the foundation to donate 50 hospital beds to one of the specialist hospitals in Nigeria.

RCCG 76 Hours MMP to Feature Over 10 Million Nigerians, I50 Ministers As one of the activities planned to celebrate 76th birthday of the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, a nonstop 76 Hours International Marathon Messiah’s Praise (MMP) season 4, has been designed across 16 countries with 150 worship ministers across the countries, kicking off from the 26th of February to 1st of March 2018.

The Director of Music RCCG, Pastor Kunle Ajayi while briefing journalists at the RCCG camp recently said dedicating 76 hours Marathon Messiah Praise theme ‘The Great Redeemer’, has been schedule to praise God and to usher in a new pattern of worship will redefine the perspective of men to worship and praise in this dispensation, which will feature 100 thousand live participants, 10 million viewers in Nigeria.

“As you all know, that the year will never pass

by without us in the Redeemed Christian Church of God dedicating an overwhelming number of hours to praise The Great Redeemer for His mercies over our Daddy, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, The General Overseer, RCCG Worldwide, this year, we are dedicating 76 hours nonstop praises to God. From the year 2012 when God handed down the vision unto us, Marathon Messiah’s Praise has consistently thrilled the world while setting new records year-in-year-out.

“76 Hours Marathon Messiah’s Praise, over 4,000 people have registered to volunteer in various departments including music, sanitation, welfare, medical and in other various key sections of the programme across the participating countries.

Over 100,000 live participants are expected to be in attendance with over 10 million viewers expected to watch the event on TV and social media channels.

“While the world is yet to recover from the awe that 74 Hours and 75 Hours displayed in the annals of musical history in the world, 76 Hours Marathon Messiah’s Praise is setting a new pace as it will be holding in about 16 countries across all the habitable continents of the world with the exception of South America. Countries that will be participating this year include Nigeria, United States of America, Canada, England, Australia, Spain, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, Cameroon, Kenya, Netherlands, Sweden, Malaysia, South Africa, and Ireland. This is a giant step in our quest to bring Marathon Messiah’s Praise to the doorstep of every living being on the planet,” Pastor Ajayi said.

He further explained 2018 MMP will be having two separate stages this year: Nigeria and Diaspora. The Nigerian stage will be at the Youth Centre, Redemption Camp, Nigeria, while

the Diaspora will have 15 stages spread across the 15 participating countries outside Nigeria.

The stage in Nigeria will host the 76 Hours of Praise and Worship non-stop while the stages in the Diaspora nations will share the 76 Hours among themselves and it will hold concurrently.

This implies that there won’t be any stoppage on the Nigerian stage for 76 Hours non-stop.

The Project Coordinator, Pastor Oluwafemi Oyetunde confirmed that MMP will not only feature international artistes but also expecting over 80 Nigerian worship ministers.

“Over the years Marathon Messiah’s Praise has been a blessing to people. We have recorded a lot of testimonies and we know God will do more.

We have a lot of artistes that will be featuring, not only Nigerian artistes but also international artistes. In Nigeria alone we are expecting over 80 gospel artistes,” he said.

COSON Calls for Resignation of Acting Chief Judge Members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who have since January 15, 2018 been protesting at different Federal High Court locations across Nigeria have called for the resignation of the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, for his role in what COSON has called “a frightening new assault on the Nigerian judiciary and an attempt to turn the Nigeria music industry into a gold mine belonging to no one, from where those who have made no investments nor contributions to the industry can cart away illicit billions of Naira while the true creators and investors in the industry languish in penury.”

Addressing a press conference at COSON House in Ikeja on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, on behalf of the society said that it was the position of COSON that Justice Abdul Kafarati should not be confirmed as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. According to Okoroji, “it is clear to any serious observer that the Acting

L-R: COSON Directors: Ms. Maureen Ejezie, Engineer Sharon Esco Wilson, Kenny St. Best, Sir Shina Peters, Chief Tony Okoroji (Chairman), Hon. John Udegbunam, Mr. Richard Cole and Ras Kimono at the event

Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, is being played like a tambourine and has become the turntable through which

much of this very bad music is coming out of the Federal High Court, an important national institution. Justice Kafarati is not in control. If

all these can happen while he is in an acting capacity, what will happen if he is made the substantive Chief Judge?”

Stressing the resolve of COSON, Okoroji said, “We will continue to protest until the arm twisting and blackmailing of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos is brought to an end, the Federal High Court of Nigeria is left free to do justice to all men as the judges deem fit and the Attorney–General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami is stopped from further meddling in the affairs of the Nigerian music industry.

“We will deploy our voices, drums, cymbals, trumpets, guitars and every other musical instrument available to us and we will employ our talents in our protest until the whole world hears us. We will continue this indefinite protest until the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is returned to the supervision of the minister charged with responsibility for culture as expressly provided in Section 51 of the Nigerian Copyright Act.”

Scripture Union Urges FG to Stem Killings, Insecurity in Nigeria Worried about the current state of insecurity, kidnappings and other vices in the country, Scripture Union (SU) Nigeria, an international, interdenominational and non-denominational Christian organisation committed to the work of evangelising among children, youths, families, has urged the federal government to stem the tide of killings and address all the critical challenges facing the country.

The Union stated this in a communiqué jointly signed by the trio of Prof M.O. Iwe, National Chairman; Mr. Phillips Adewale, National Director; and Mr. Odicha’ Ude,

Council Secretary, at her 101st Council Meeting held at the National Camp of Faith Okigwe, Imo State.

According to the statement, the federal government should look critically and without bias at the various agitations from many ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria in order to ensure equity and fair play for peaceful and progressive co-existence.

The Union also urged the federal government to ensure equitable consideration in appointments considering the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria in order to assure various

ethnic nationalities fair play and sense of belonging.

The SU further enjoined the federal government to address youth restiveness through sustainable employment capable of assuring the children and youths adequate daily provisions. ‘’SU opines that qualitative education in Nigeria stands as the only incontrovertible means of national development, hence the Post-UME in tertiary institutions should be encouraged and sustained," the Union stated.

It stressed that both the federal and state

governments should as a matter of urgency address the issue of unpaid salaries, pension allowances to their serving and retired staff, and serious action be taken to address high cost of doing business in Nigeria due to lack of optimal power supply and lingering poor road infrastructure.

Commending the federal government in her fight against corruption, the union called on the government to transparently declare recovered loots to Nigerians in order to provide level-playing ground in the anti-graft war.

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Ikeja Electric Trains 40 Youths on Culinary Entrepreneurship Solomon Elusoji As part of its corporate social responsibility role within the communities it operates in, Ikeja Electric recently organised a two-weeks long youth empowerment programme to train 40 young people on culinary entrepreneurship.

The programme was held at the Community Vocational Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, and participants were taught how to make varieties of plantain chips, chin-chin and ofada stew. They also received business management trainings and, at the end, were each given a start-up toolkit with which they could effectively start up a small business with the skills acquired.

At the training's closing ceremony held recently in Lagos, Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said the training was designed to empower young people and reduce the level of unemployment across the country.

“At Ikeja Electric, we are deeply passionate about providing opportunities for Nigerian youths to hone their entrepreneurial skills through various platforms, because we believe that there are millions of youths out there who need the right

L-R: Head of Corporate Communications Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue (1st left), one of the training participants, Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan (2nd right) and another participant

opportunities and support to develop,” Ofulue said. “That is why we will continually strive to create the avenues for youth empowerment.”

Representative of the Lagos State Government at the event, Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan, thanked Ikeja Electric for caring enough to empower people in

the communities in which they operate. “Beyond the moral bearing of social responsibility of this project, it is the genuine thought of providing low-entry skills to youths in our communities that matter,” she said. “This reveals the quality of thought behind the initiative. And I do hope that

you beneficiaries will immediately set sail and become productive citizens of Lagos State – part of which is the responsibility to set up your business and pay taxes.”

She further charged the beneficiaries to use the knowledge they had received from the training to empower themselves economically.

“Knowledge is power,” she said, “but knowledge by itself cannot be power, because it is what you do with it that makes it powerful. So it is my hope that this knowledge you have acquired here will be turned into power. You have been empowered. If you do nothing with this new information, you will remain economically powerless.

“Do not despise the days of little beginnings.

The sky should be your limit. What you need to do is to bring somebody else along with you. That's how to spread the knowledge and power. Don’t ever think that whatever you have is too small.

This century is about entrepreneurs. So you need to position yourself properly. Remain consistent in your enterprise and be very disciplined in your finances. You will experience growth and satisfaction beyond your dreams.”

I’m Not Interested in 2019 Presidency, Says Senator Peter Uzoho Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, representing Abia Central senatorial district at the red chamber of the National Assembly, has denied nursing any presidential ambition come 2019.

Orji, who was the immediate governor of Abia State, disclosed this in statement titled ‘Disclaimer: Senator T.A.Orji Not Interested In Presidency Come 2019’ made available to THISDAY.

“Our attention has been drawn to a laughable but deeply erroneous posting on Facebook backed up with a poster portraying Senator T. A. Orji (Ochendo) as a candidate for the Presidency in 2019. The said poster bore the inscription ‘The answer to Nigeria’s problems’ on the top left hand and Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji at the foot. This is a total falsehood machinated by detractors to ridicule Senator T. A. Orji.

“To reveal their evil intent they used a very

old portrait dating to 2017 and wrongly spelt his name. Instead of “Ahamefule” they wrote “Ahamefula”. Evidently Senator Orji cannot spell his name wrongly.

“Ochendo is happy and busy in the Senate executing the task of his people – the Abia Central Senatorial District. In truth, Ochendo has carried this out with multiple Bills and Motions unseen in a first time Senator for which he has been applauded by many organisations through awards and written attestations.

Orji

Sahara Group Upgrades Manhean Technical School Workshop in Ghana Peter Uzoho The students and teaching staff at the Manhean Senior High Technical School in Tema, Ghana, could hardly contain their excitement as they toured the perimeters of their newly refurbished Metal Works Technical workshop.

It was yet another empowerment project in the school sponsored by leading African energy conglomerate, Sahara Group.

Founded in 1991, the technical school was established for the purpose of training young Ghanaians to function as world class professionals in the areas of science, technology and innovation by providing a conducive teaching, learning, research and development environment.

Working in concert with other stakeholders, Sahara Group’s intervention has transformed learning experience in the school. The renovation of the workshop included the construction of a shed to accommodate the formerly cramped carpentry and welding students and the purchase of several machines and accessories to enhance

One of the students at the newly refurbished Metal Works Technical workshop at the Manhean Senior High Technical School in Tema, Ghana

their training.

These include: hand powered angle grinder/

cutting tool, welding machines, Sun-Flex grinding disc, lathe machines, mounted drilling/ milling/grinding machines, welding accessories as well as several electrical and safety gadgets to ensure protection of the students.

The benefitting students who take courses including technical drawing, wood work, building/construction and welding now have ample space and modern tools to aid their training.

Tosin Etomi, Country Manager, Sahara Group, Ghana said, “Our objective was simple. We saw the need for technical education and training in order to produce graduates that can perform competently in their chosen vocations without a need for pre-employment training.

We responded to that need. These bright boys and girls will ultimately form part of the talent pool that will drive ongoing transformation in Ghana towards ensuring sustained economic growth and development.”

According to the Head Teacher of the 27-yearold institution, Mr. Emmanuel Kobina Beddu, “This intervention led by Sahara Group has

exceeded our expectations. Not only do we have a bigger, better space for learning, we now have the equipment we need to teach our students and arm them with adequate technical and transferable skills. We cannot hide our excitement and satisfaction with what the Sahara Group has done for our school.”

Al-Hassan Ibrahim, a 19-year-old student of the school said: “This is a different experience for us. We finally have a modern looking workshop, facilities and equipment needed to sharpen our skills and become real professionals. Every morning I wake up and I am excited to go to school because I know I will do something new.”

Oluseyi Ojurongbe, Manager, Sahara Foundation added that the workshop upgrade is yet another project Sahara Foundation has carried out in the school, having previously constructed 6- cubicle sanitation facility and upgrade of school building with seven blocks of class rooms at Manhean Technical School.

StarTimes Subscribers Hit 4 Million Mark, Invests $220m in Nigeria Chinese pay per view television, StarTimes, has announced that it now has about four million customers on the network.

The figures were given by the Vice President of the company, Mrs. Guo Zi Qi, at the Chinese New Year and Animation Festival in Abuja.

Guo said that the digital TV operator, which partnered with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in 2009, also has over 170 channels and 50 actors on the network.

In addition, she said StarTimes has invested over $200 million in Nigeria in the past nine years in the development of different television contents for its viewers.

StarTimes is collaborating with the Chinese Cultural Department and the Embassy of China in Abuja to promote Chinese animation films in Nigeria.

Eight of the Chinese companies specialising in cartoon character production are in Abuja to market their products.

The firms include Blue Arch Culture, Toonmax Expo Ltd, Fantawild Animation, Left Pocket Studio, China Literature, 2:10 Culture Communication, Migland Film and Television and

L-R: Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Adedayo Thomas; Director, China Culture Centre, Mr. Li Xuda; Representative Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Mr. Al-Marruf Yinka Ajibolu; and Vice President, StarTimes, Ms. Mrs. Guo Zi Qi

National Animation Park of Tianjin.

"The collaboration is to allow Nigerians know more about Chinese culture and animations. We want to import the cartoons to Nigeria because of their educational and entertainment benefits to the children," Mrs. Guo said.

One of the producers, Xin Yu, the President of

Leftpocket Studio, makers of Emma and Gooroo, said the company was exploring the Nigerian market in search of talented artists with potential for partnership for something different and special.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Adedayo Jones, has appealed to China to assist in strengthening

the Nigerian film industry by curbing the influx of uncensored and unclassified films imported through China from being distributed to Nigeria.

Jones made the request at the launching of the Chinese Animation Festival.

He described the trend as a huge development that is impacting negatively in intellectual property for both countries.

According to him, Nigerian producers and Chinese film makers stand to benefit more if that aspect is improved upon.

He said the animation industry has always fascinated everybody because of the interest it has generated, notably the contents produced in China.

"Animation has contributed to the Chinese economic growth. While Nigeria and China are the biggest trading partners in goods, there are many opportunities between both countries if Startimes and the Chinese partners can collaborate with NFVCB to develop the film industry," Jones said.

The Cultural Attachee, China Embassy, Li Xuda, described the festival as an opportunity for children to learn more about animation. He added that the festival will now be held yearly.

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Ondo Pioneers Social Protection Law James Sowole in Akure Ondo State on Tuesday became the first state of the federation to have a law on social protection.

The law, was made by the State House of Assembly with considerable input from the United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF).

While signing the bill into law, the governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said the Ondo State Social Protection Law, presents the very reasons why there should be a government.

"The objectives, as set out in the Bill, encapsulate issues of welfare of citizens which is the primary responsibility of the government," he said.

He said it made provision for a council, which

will regulate the activities of the Social Protection Programme.

Speaking with journalists after signing the bill into law, the UNICEF Field Officer in charge of the state, Dr. Niyi Olaleye, said the law was meant to protect women and children.

Olaleye said the Ondo State Social Protection Law was the first of its kind in the country.

He said the bill was about the welfare of the vulnerable in the society, particularly the women and children.

He noted that the Federal Executive Council had a policy on it in 2017, saying, “Ondo State is the first to pass the bill into law at the sub

national level.”

Olaleye noted that it was well in line with the mandate of UNICEF to assist government to protect children and appreciated the state government for passing and signing the bill into law.

“The bill is about welfare of the most vulnerable in the society, this is well in line with our mandate, we have been working with them for the past one and half years on the bill.

“It is a milestone for women and children of Ondo State, as it makes the state to provide for them. Ondo State is the first state in the country to pass the bill into law”, Olaleye said.

Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu

Lawyer Publishes “Timeless” Book on Nigerian Real Estate Solomon Elusoji Nigerian Lawyer and Blogger, Prince O. Williams-Joel has launched a book titled ‘Compilation of Articles on Law and Property in Nigeria: Simplified'. It was published by Prince Joel and Associates Press.

The book is a compilation of some of the online works of the Owner and Editor-in-chief of www. ibejulekkilawyer.com, Williams-Joel, translated into book form to equip readers far and wide.

The book is divided into four segments namely: Land Purchase and Transaction, Land Verification and Documentation, General Legal Advice and general information on real estate.

Topics exhaustively discussed in the book include the Methods of acquiring land in Nigeria, things to check for and measure when buying a land, the Ibeju lekki lawyer five guidelines for buying property (land or house) in Lagos, notes on Certificate of Occupancy and whether it is an absolute title to land.

Other topics are: Sale of family land in Nigeria, Power of attorney in land matters, Acquisition

L-R : Prince O. Williams-Joel, Managing Partner, Prince Joel and Associates,Nigeria, Rose P. Graham, International Blogger,UK and Gabriel Enuezie, Partner, Chancery West Law Solicitors, UK at the book launch event in London

of land in Nigeria by foreigners and the need for a lawyer in closing land transactions.

“This book is indeed, a handbook of property transactional knowledge to be recommended to Real Estate Practitioners, financiers, developers,

Lawyers and Investors alike,” a press statement from the publishers said.

“It is no doubt that this timeless piece is coming at an auspicious moment, when the Nigeria’s real estate market is projected to

turn the corner in 2018. The incisive analysis and exposition of the complexities fraught in land and property related subject matter in a simplified manner, is reckoned to none,” the statement added.

The book launch, which was held at Rydges Hotel, Gloucester Road, Kensington, London, was hosted by the British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) in collaboration with Prince Joel and Associates. Chairperson, BNLF, Seye Aina, welcomed the audience. Prince Joel delivered the keynote presentation and led the discussion on Law and Property in Nigeria. Gabriel Enuezie, Partner, Chancery West Law Solicitors concluded the event with a thank-you note.

Williams-Joel, who draws from over 15 years of experience in real estate to describe realities of land/property acquisition, ownership and to rectify misguided notions about financing property investment in Nigeria in his latest book, expressed his disapproval of investors not knowing or understanding their rights on land/property matters before acquisition during the launch.

Diamond Bank Launches DiamondXtra Season 10, Thrills Customers with Newer Benefits Ehime Alex For customers’ delights and to sustain its vision as a lender, Diamond Bank Plc has officially unveiled the DiamondXtra Season 10 promo to provide its teeming customers the opportunity to participate and win lots of fabulous prizes.

The DiamondXtraSeason 10 which was formally unveiled recently in Lagos with newer benefits as a way of keeping with its policy of beyond banking initiative would have it give away a total of about N433 million in various prize worth.

In a welcome address, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Uzoma Dozie who noted that more lucky winners would emerged in the promo, said the ultimate aim was to continue to give hope to the bank’s customers.

Dozie said, “It is really one of our most important services to our customers. It is not only important because it serves as a utility but also because it gives hope to our customers.”

He also hinted that, in a charity environment, it is hope that keeps people alive.

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie

Noting that for the past nine years, the bank had used the initiative to affect and impart the lives of its customers, the Bank’s CEO said it was ready to touch more lives, hence the new addition to the offers.

In a remark, Diamond Bank’s Head, Retail Banking, Robert Giles, who said the lender had been in the business of making millionaire

out of its DiamondXtra account holders, stated that the DiamondXtraSeason 10 comes bigger than ever before.

Giles said, “We have been making dreams come through for many of our customers. We have been making millionaires every month.

Peoples’ lives have changed and their businesses are seen growing.”

Giving statistics on how far the bank has fared with the promo over the years, Giles recounted that it had given back over N5 billion in five years to its customers. And also that, over 20,000 of the bank’s customers have had their lives touched, besides other results recorded thus far.

On his part, the bank’s Head, Mass Market Segment, Osita Eze stated that the bank too was delighted to have launched the Season 10 because “it is an opportunity for it to continue to touch lives of millions of Nigerians.”

Eze, who mentioned some of the newer offers to include the Diamond healthXtra, rent advance among others, said, “In this Season 10, we are giving out a total of about N433 million, and

based on the feedbacks we received from our customers after survey, we have added some benefits like accommodation and education grant.”

He explained that, the education grant offers lucky winners the privilege to earn a monthly pay of N100,000 for the next five years.

While stressing that, winners could emerge from any region of the country, he said, the rent advance, gives a winner N1 million straight off.

He also pointed out that another mouthwatering offer is the Salary for Life benefit, whereby lucky customers could have the opportunity to win and earn a monthly salary of N100,000 for the next 20 years.

“What we have been doing with the DiamondXtra is to say thank you to our customers who have been loyal to us for the past years, and this had endeared us to our customers a lot more,” Eze said.

He added that to participate and win, customers are to open a DiamondXtra Account and save a minimum of N5,000 in their account, and any Xtra of N5,000 qualifies them for more chances.

Ake in Lagos Debuts with Bolaji Abdullahi Yinka Olatunbosun Ake in Lagos, a literary talk session series which debuted in Lagos recently featured as guest the former Minister of Sports and spokesperson for All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi. His latest book titled, ‘On the Platter of Gold’ has caused some stir in the polity as it documents the personal account of the final days of President Goodluck Jonathan administration and events leading to the minister’s sack in 2014.

In spite of his success story of returning glory to Nigerian football team at the African Nations’ Cup in 2014, and active social engagement with the public, Abdullahi’s vision for the sports in Nigeria which began in July 2011 was cut short.

Hence, with the release of his controversial book, ‘On A Platter of Gold’, the organisers of the Ake Book and Arts Festival selected the veteran journalist, Kunle Ajibade as the moderator for the session.

APC Spokesman, Mr. Bola Abdulahi

After reading a few excerpts from his book, Abdullahi recounted the circumstances surrounding his exit from the office of the Minister of Sports.

“We went to Ilorin for a rally. As a minister from the state, I was supposed to take the lead in

organising the event in Ilorin. When I got there, I was expected to make a speech to denounce Saraki for his move to APC. That was the reason for my sack. My training and upbringing would not let me do that “Later, I went to UK to see my daughter. I managed to teach her something about loyalty.

And for the first time, I cried about it. Anyone reading the book will know that the situation placed a lot of burden on me. But in writing the book, I tried to be objective,’’ he explained.

After Goodluck Jonathan lost the presidential election, Abdullahi started writing the book. He had access to all those who were part of the Jonathan presidency but he was not planning a revenge book.

“I thought I should write it for posterity’s sake. To score a political point with this book will be a monumental waste.”

He admitted that he may have missed up a few timelines but certainly the facts he presented

in the book are verifiable. On his view of Boko Haram insurgence in the book, he sought to capture the varying perspectives on the terror group.

“Boko Haram is an extensive investigation that I had to do. Jonathan was made to believe that it was not a security situation but a political machination. Boko Haram was a case of civic resistance gone bad. It was never violent until one of their leaders was killed. Conspiracy theories do not substitute for hard facts,’’ he maintained.

Meanwhile, when asked to make an appraisal of the Buhari administration from the point of view of a conscientious writer, he remarked that the herdsmen situation, if not decisively dealt with, is a serious threat to a reelection.

Abdullahi infused some humour in the book reading session and responses to questions from the audience which included young writers, media and other professionals.

34/XTRA

09.02.2018

Ogun State MUPP Gears Towards Efficient Service Delivery Femi Ogbonnikan recently attended a one-day retreat organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, aimed at enhancing efficient performance of the top management force and down to the lower cadre and above all, the revenue generation drives for the state Rising from a one-day management retreat with the theme: ‘re-positioning physical planning as a catalyst for the mission to rebuild Ogun State’, held at Providence Conference Hall, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, January 17, the host ministry took cognisance of the roles it plays as in physical/structural development and revenue generation drives for the state.

While setting the tone for discussions, Permanent Secretary in the Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, Mrs. Yetunde Dina, in her welcome address, underscored the importance of her ministry, according to the giant strides of the current administration, which is geared towards repositioning the practice and administration of the physical planning in the state through the effective deployment of planning tools in the design of the goals and objectives of the state.

According to her, "there is need for the physical planners, especially those involved in the development programmes to meet occasionally and deliberate on ways to sustaining planning policies and effective monitoring of development activities.

"This retreat is fashioned out for the top management staff of the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning (MUPP), as well as its parastatal (the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Board). This will enable us, that is, the top management staff that are saddled with the responsibility of formulating planning policies to dialogue and deliberate deeply where we have got it right (our strength), where we will need to intensify more efforts (our weaknesses), the alternative and sourced available which remain untapped (our opportunities) and the challenges being faced by us in the course of discharging our duties (our threats). By doing so, we will be able to identify our roles, fashion out new roles

L-R Permanent Secretary, Ogun State MUPP, Mrs. Yetunde Dina, Ogun State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, and Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Abayomi Sobande, at the event.

where possible, and consequently increase the revenue base of our agencies," Dina said.

In his own remarks, Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Abayomi Sobande, charged town planners to carry out their duties professionally and ensure that physical planning laws are obeyed.

He said as government representatives, town planning officers needed to be proficient in the discharge of their duties as they were the propelling force that would drive the machinery of the state to greater height, being the first to interact with intending investors.

However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning and chief

host of the retreat, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, in her remarks stressed there is need to ensure professionalism and engage inspectors in the field in order to fortify the activities of the Zonal Planning Officers that are responsible for ensuring that buildings and other structures conform to the approved building plans to reduce incidents of demolition.

“Last year, we embarked on a number of clean up activities aimed at sanitising our setbacks and preserving our urban centres.

There have been suggestions to engage inspectors who would act as auditors. Inspectors would be drafted to the field to fortify the activities of the Zonal Planning Officers

at ensuring that Constructions conform to building plan," said Sokefun.

Besides, she stressed the importance of the ministry and said, it was directly related to the investment landscape of the state, adding that officers involved in the process would be equipped with modern gadgets and made to work more efficiently in order to reduce incessant illegal developments in the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolji Oyeleye said the core responsibility of physical planning ministry could only be achieved when every builder obeys physical planning laws to the letter, charging the staff to be alive to their responsibilities, so that the rebuilding mission of the present administration would be a reality.

"I have come here to speak to your conscience. Failure to do your jobs, it creates more problems, like flooding and building collapses that we have been witnessing all over the country. We need to prepare for what is coming. Failure of the supervisors to do soil test, quality of building materials and other factors result to building collapses. You take pleasures in demolishing structures, but where were you when they were building these structures? As a professional, you are to do your job as it is expected," Oyeleye admonished.

The Special Adviser to the governor on one-stop shop, Mrs. Babi Subair, urged the ministry to synergise with other agencies of government to attract more investors especially now that the World Bank has tagged the state “investors destination of choice in Nigeria.”

Two of the participants, Mr. Waheed Olayinka and Mrs. Felicia Soji-Aleburu, thanked the government for offering them the opportunity to serve, promising to discharge their duties diligently.

Lagos City Chorale in Exquisite Performance of Haydn’s Creation With the Creation by an Austrian Classical Composer- Joseph Haydn, the Lagos City Chorale once more proved its mettle as a choir of high international repute with the exquisite presentation of the world’s favourite Oratorios. Adedayo Adejobi writes The Lagos City Chorale once more proved its mettle as a choir of high international repute with the exquisite presentation of the world’s favourite Oratorios – The Creation by an Austrian Classical Composer – Joseph Haydn. The performance which was recently held in a space of two weeks in two different locations in Lagos; All Saints Church, Yaba and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (OLPH), Victoria Island, drew the largest audience of classical music enthusiasts in recent times.

At the first presentation at All Saints Church, Yaba, the main auditorium and the gallery were full to capacity with enthusiastic and appreciative audience. In attendance were dignitaries such as Dr. Christopher Kolade, Chief Olu Okeowo, Chief Sony Kuku, Sir Demola Aladekomo, Rt. Rev. Pelu Johnson, Chief Akin George and a host of others. While at OLPH, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Philip Asiodu, Mrs. Francesa Emmanuel, Dr. and Dr. (Mrs.) Akinluyi, Mrs. Maiden Ibru, Dr. (Mrs.) Femi Akinkugbe were among the dignitaries that graced the occasion.

The choir, accompanied by a chamber orchestra with seasoned soloists re-enacted in a musical setting, the story of God’s creation of the world as recorded first in the book of the Holy Bible called Genesis.

The performance began with an overture played by the Orchestra lead by Kehinde Davies.

Then emerged Angel Raphael (ably acted by Dennis Adeoti) with a recitative “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form and void.” After this first recitation, the chorus enters sotto-voce with the lyrics, “And the spirit of God moved upon

Classical music enthusiasts

the face of the waters; and God said, Let there be light, and there was light. The chorus and the instruments reached a climactic fortissimo with a bang on the word ‘Light”.

Various recitations, arias and choruses followed in series narrating various scenes in God’s creation of the world. The first part ended with a popular Chorus; “The heavens are telling the glory of God” which was thunderously rendered by an enlarged choir co-opted from the audience.

In part 2, the three angels, Gabriel, Uriel, and

Raphael were joined in beautiful rendition of trios, alternating with choruses in some sections.

This part rounded off with a rousing chorus “Achieved is the glorious work”.

The creation of man in part three was most interesting as Adam and Eve were seen expressing deep love and admiring each other as they sang the duet “By Thee with Bliss and Graceful Consort”. The Last Chorus, “Sing the Lord, ye voices all” was equally thunderous with a rousing climax that prompted a thunderous

standing ovation by the appreciative audience.

The Soloists in the performance were spectacular. They are Nonso Njoku (Soprano), who played the role of Angel Gabriel, Ifunanya Anekwe (Soprano), doubled as Angel Gabriel in the second performance. Others include Deborah Awunor (Soprano) who played the role of Eve, Angela Izegbu (soprano), played the role of Eve in the second performance, Duke Asuquo (a prolific tenor) played the role of Uriel, Guchi Egbunine aka Chief Tenor, acted Uriel in the second performance. Dennis Adeoti who played the role of Angel Raphael with a well resonated bass voice, was a pleasant surprise to the audience, while Diominic Etim who played Adam gave a good account of his baritone voice. On the organ was Tobi Balogun while Alaba Akinselure manned the keyboard.

Most attendees including the special guests posited that the Conductor, Maestro, Sir Emeka Nwokedi and the team were a beauty to behold as they perfectly controlled the large ensemble of the Choir and Orchestra, craftly moudling each segment of the performance to bring out the best interpretation.

Lagos City Chorale has travelled to many parts of the world to participate in various global cultural festivals and music competitions, winning several laurels for Nigeria. Her participation has sufficiently rebranded Nigeria globally and showcased her positive abilities, and also represents Nigeria’s contribution to fostering peace and harmony in the world through harmonious choral music as a Nigerian Choir (LCC) sings in unison and harmony with choirs from other nations of the world.

35/ENTREPRENEUR

09.02.2018

Teaching Moral Uprightness For Miss Blessing Lydia Oluwatunbi, founder of Blessing Liberty Foundation International, total abstinence from sex remains one of the moral attitudes that must be inculcated in the lives of pupils in primary and secondary schools, writes Ehime Alex Every dream or aspiration starts one day.

Miss Blessing Lydia Oluwatunbi could recall how she began to nurture an idea whilst she was serving the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – a scheme set up by the Nigerian Government to involve the graduates of the country in the development of the country – at Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, Ojodu, Berger, Lagos; seemingly, the secondary school she attended.

And, after she had attended the Day Star Basic Leadership Academy courses and its Advanced Leadership Programme, the vision became more glaring and the passion to do so more scintillating. It was in one of the teachings with Pastor Sam Adeyemi, an apt motivational speakerand visionary of Daystar Christian Centre, that the motivation to found Blessing Liberty Foundation International was consummated. “You can change your world; just one idea can rule your world. Make a change in your environment,” were the words of Pastor Adeyemi that kept resonating in her memories thereafter.

Speaking psychologically, one’s view of the future is shaped by one’s past. Again, Blessing could think back as a little girl in secondary school how a female classmate of hers got pregnant (unwanted pregnancy) and the mother of the said girl took her (the girl) to a quack doctor to abort the pregnancy.

Misfortune fell, and within the next three days after the abortion was conducted, the girl died. “It was so painful to me that I couldn’t help. I didn’t have the opportunity as at that time tohave ministered to her. This story kept me in motivation that when I grew up, I would impact my generation.”

Life is worth it when one lives to affect one’s generation. “You can’t give what you don’t have. I am a typical example of sexual purity and I have a very strong upbringing,” that is why I have decided to set up the foundation to affect the lives of the youths of our generation positively.

The Blessing Liberty Foundation International is a youth pre-emptive empowerment initiative which focuses on building culture, moral uprightness, mental soundness and spiritually balanced life among the youths.

Its basic concentrations are sexual purity counseling and career development.

The world over, there is serious moral decadence in many homes – broken homes– where the usage of the internet and other jet-age medium and devices are being put but to full-scale abuse, Oluwatunbi would lay emphasis.

Why do people always want to excuse themselves for doing the wrong things? The truth is, when a child is from a broken-home, it tells on the emotional intelligence of the child. It distabilises and demoralises the child.

In the long-run, such a child might suffer teenage pregnancy, or began to indulge in drug addiction, Yahoo Yahoo and all those social vices inimical to his/her life, the family and the larger society. It is this lack of proper home-training, not really poverty as some persons may claim, thathas been the bane of youthful exuberant and for self-indulgencein amoralacts. All of these worry Oluwatunbi.

“Our message is straight, we want to stop young ones from getting involved in unwanted pregnancy, masturbation, incest, lesbianism, homosexuality and other such immoral acts.

“Abstinence from sex is the best practice for our young ones, whether in school or not in school.” The campaign is about “Boys, zip-up:Girls, button-up.” To achieve the goals and objectives of the foundationis to carry the campaign of sexual purity to primary and secondary schools where we can mentor and inculcate the right moral values in the lives of the youths.

For years now, in the month of October, the foundation organizes a youth-oriented programme which it had christened, ‘Celebration of Freedom’ to sensitise the younger ones of the importance of total abstinence from ‘unholy sex.’ In line with driving the

Oluwatunbi

campaign of sexual purity to the letter, the foundation had as at last year published a book with the title, ‘Sexual Purity In Our Times’, a book relevant for both singles and married people. Oluwatunbi desires that the book be bought by anyone and shared to the teenagers within their reach to read.

The yearly youth programme is also designed to help guard and assist the young ones on their career path. In 2009, Oluwatunbi could recall also the case of a young boy whose father lost his security job and the mother, a roadside coin-seller could not cater for the continuous funding of the boy’s education.

They (the parents of the boy) had resolved that their son would leave school to learn menial work. But the foundation helped responsibly in returning the boy to school, “Today the boy is a graduate of Federal College of Technology, Akure, with a degree in Mining Engineering and is currently a youth corps member serving in one of the states.”

At the maiden edition of the youth programme, the foundation had just about 24 students in attendance. That was 10 years ago.

But now, the last time the programme was

held, over 4,000 students were in attendance from various schools in Lagos. Apparently, getting a large venue/space for the programme is already posing a big challenge for the foundation.

The likes of Teju Baby Face, Patricia King (Midnight Crew) and other celebrities and popular entertainers had graced the programme.

Whilst MTN, Milo, Coca-Cola and Indomie have supported the course, Oluwatunbi would tell.

The Blessing Liberty Foundation International has impacted positively on many.

“I am one of the beneficiaries of Blessing Liberty Foundation International. The founder, Miss Blessing Oluwatunbi has used her love and dedication for the younger ones to affect students’ lives in this school. Besides others, she painted our classroom. We love her!, said Kapko Kemi Marvellous, Punctuality Prefect, SS3C, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School.

Another said “Her programmes have taught us how to be self-dependent, holy, keeping ourselves sexually safe until we are matured to get married. She was my class teacher

Oluwatunbi counselling students at Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School

while I was in SS1. She does talk to us about sexual purity. Most of the things she has been talking to us about are now reality in our eyes,” said Adetoyinbo Doris Oluwakemi, Safety Prefect, SS3C, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School.

Ayere Progress, Classs Captain, SS2A, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, said “The foundation has impacted a lot of positive values in my life. While I was in primary five, I remembered clearly that when I came with my elder sister to the programme, what I learnt was that I should always put God first. Two, if I am with my friends, I should be able to differentiate those I call friends from those I relate with generally.

Three, it has also taught me good morals not to steal and take what does not belong to me unlawfully. Also, it has helped my prayer life and social life too. Blessing is my class teacher.”

The Vice-Principal Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Ojo Joke, said “Blessing is a modest teacher. She does things to promote teaching not minding what it cost her. She has been a counsellor to the student, though she is not a counselor of the school. She is everything you can think of to the students; providing seats to those who have no seat, buying uniform for students without uniform, going extra mile to buy some gadgets that the school even needs.

She source for funds on her own from reliable sources. Even when she gets money for her personal uses, she will divert it to buy things, like all those game equipment you see in her staff office. She would not wait for the government to give her money to do things before she will do them. She has been a blessing to the school and the students.

Someone who can spare her time and not even bordered; gives out her precious time and money. She is a pride to herself and the school. At her age, if you can find a young girl that keeps her virginity the way she has done, is real. It is my prayer that her labour will never go in vain.

“She was my student some years ago.

She graduated from this school, went to the University and came back to this school to impact the lives on younger ones. We now met as colleagues. More than 10 years, I have known blessing.

“While a student, she was and still an obedient child. There are several programmes she had done in this school that touched my life. But, one particular one was when she brought some French teachers to minister to us. Alone the line I was touched.”

36/XTRA

09.02.2018

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS!

adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0811 675 9785

Mr. President! These Drums are Loud Enough I grew up listening to pattern of strokes on drums. From a scared forest near our house, we heard constant drumbeat; from a palace of a deceased famous king we heard early morning beating of drums; and from the market square a few steps away, sound from drums was what Gelede masquerade listened to before putting one foot in front of the other during festivals. My maternal uncle helped me to understand strokes on drums by explaining messages behind a particular drumbeat, the time; where the sound is coming from and why it matters.

So it was in my childhood years that I learned perceptive communications.

I try not to blow the vuvuzela of other people, especially when I don’t agree with their political leanings, but Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Ibrahim Babangida’s recent open rebuke of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership contain sounds from dangerous drums all over the country that the president may find difficult to hear, because of his lickspittles.

Clearly, if there’s one message for President Buhari in the sound of the drums I heard from the South to the North, it is that Mr. President is overstretching citizens’ patience on the state of the nation.

I am aware that President Buhari hears regularly from his constituency, if I go by the much publicised and repeated allegory in the president’s spokesperson’s articles.

“One evening I went to see him, and I told him,” wrote Mr. Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman who is doing a difficult job to sell a broken egg at original price. “Mr. President there is this noise all over the country of hunger, he told me ‘I am aware.

I have a constituency. People from my own constituency pass the word to me and tell me that things are tough.’”

But does Buhari hear more than words from his constituency? Does Mr. President hear the beating of the drums? Does he understand the pattern of strokes on the drums?

This is why Nigerians are bummed out: Some more than 7.956 million Nigerians became unemployed since Buhari was elected. I did not make up the data. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed the truth. Based on what NBS churned out at the end of 2017, Mr. Buhari inherited the burden of creating jobs for less than eight million Nigerians who were out of job in 2015, when he was elected to bring change, but the number of people out of employment has doubled with no sign that it will abate.

In fact, the jump in figures for unemployment rate will be hard to reverse without foresight.

The spiral downward shows “14.2 per cent in Q4 2016 to 16.2 per cent in Q2 2017 and 18.8 per cent in Q3 2017.”

To compound the woe, more people of ability to work bloated the figure for working population from 83.9 million in June 2017 to 85.1 million in September 2017. Certainly, Nigeria under Buhari didn’t prepare for them.

Don’t forget that we missed the opportunity to hold census in 2016.

“The number of people within the labour force who are unemployed or underemployed increased from 13.6 million and 17.7 million respectively in Q2 2017, to 15.9 million and 18 million in Q3 2017,” NBS said.

It is clearly a shattering moment for the country, when breadwinners now sit at home with families or roam the streets to avoid being asked the typical concerned question: how’s work?

NBS figure is enough to make any sitting president and his party lose next round of elections, where people vote based on policy and where votes count. That is what I’m hearing in the drumbeat of despondency across the country.

Will Buhari be able to reverse the trend before the end of his tenure? I doubt. Here is

President Muhammadu Buhari why: the 2018 budget is in limbo, the National Assembly controlled by the All Progressives Congress, the president’s party has said nothing will happen to the appropriation budget until April, because their concerns have not been addressed. How can you run a government on lotto (a game of chance) and expect true change?

Last year, the budget debacle nearly ruined everything and less than 50 per cent of the 2017 budget was implemented.

In a recent interview published by The Punch, a former Managing Director of Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Rislanudeen Mohammed, made a negative pass at Buhari’s economic growth. “The strategies put in place under the economic recovery and growth plan have yet to be effectively implemented,” he said. “For example, for the capital expenditure aspect of the 2017 budget, it was only 15 per cent that was implemented as of the third quarter of 2017 and the Gross Domestic Product of 2.19 per cent projected for 2017 might as well be a mirage.

“Capital expenditure typically reflates an economy by creating more jobs and jumpstarting it towards sustainable recovery and growth in a typical Keynesian economic model.”

Mohammed’s observation puts a question mark on Buhari’s talent in running a country and making it prosperous, after nearly three years in government.

Indeed, it is true. In a year, when Buhari is expected to tell positive narrative of his time in government to stimulate support for his party or his re-election, a damning report by the African Development Bank (AFDB) is equally making him look unserious and uninformed about how to boost ailing economy.

At nearly three years in government, Buhari appears to be a bystander in economic recovery plan. The evidence is in the prolonged agony in different homes and business places all over the country.

Now, under Buhari, the AFDB’s latest economic outlook report shows significant

increase in the number of people who fell into poverty rack with figure of 152 million citizens living on less than $2 a day. That calculation represents about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

“Poverty is unacceptably high,” declares AFDB. “Nearly 80 per cent of Nigeria’s 190 million people live on less than $2 a day,” Okay, it is legitimate for those serving with Buhari to find fault with my analysis, but I’m only taking Mr. President by his words.

I was there in the beginning, when we all hired our minds out to hope, trusting he will truly turn things around, based on his words and “body language,” and we cannot say they don’t matter now.

To be sure, in September 2015, during a three-day tour of France to prepare his government for economic success, he addressed a gathering of investors at the Nigerian-France Presidential Business Forum (PBF) in Paris with unusual conviction that Nigeria under him will accelerate economic growth and pull millions out of poverty.

“Nigeria is now at a new dawn to chart and reposition its destiny for greatness,” he said.

“We have resolved and firmly determined to consolidate on industrialising Nigeria and diversifying its economy into sectors such as agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles.”

Interestingly, the sectors mentioned are still burdened with challenges unattended to by this government in a way that will fire up impressive gains.

The figures of small growth not withstanding in the manufacturing sector is hampered by perennial infrastructure problems such as poor power supply, high cost of self-generated energy, poor road network and rail services.

For instance, Frank Jacobs, who leads Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), said: “Most companies, such as Coca-Cola, Wempco, Nigeria Flour Mills and especially the multi-nationals self-generate their power.

They don’t rely on the national grid.”

Be mindful that these companies produce products that Nigerians go after for one reason or the other and their outlook report is supposed to attract foreign investors. The companies are some of the places where you can find true figure of job creations and employment to make a case for re-election, but their reports are in the negative, from downsizing to closure and losses to lethargy.

In fact, when I learned that companies in the league of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria spend N20.8 billion monthly on power generation to run their production processes, I figured out that Nigerians will pay for it and with household income that is so poor, patronage will reduce when the price of commodity go up. Of course, the poverty level can only be imagined, when purchasing power is low in any economy. It has a rub-off effect on healthcare too.

To flip the narrative, Nigeria will need a president that will not test-run, but take the bull by the horns. For that to happen, I believe Buhari can help the country progress by supporting Nigeria’s quest for a forward-leader.

I’m sure he knows that within Nigeria’s 190 million population there are many brilliant leaders in the North and South, who can continue to take the country forward.

Yes, Buhari can stand for election again, but his statesmanship will be in directing his energy at helping the country find a forward-leader that is desperately needed.

Here are my final words. Presidency of Nigeria is not by divine rights. It is simply a contract. In 1963, America’s civil right leader, Rev. Martin Luther king Jr said something very profound and president Buhari should think on those words that “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Side Effects…

POLICE PALAVER

When a police officer like Moshood Jimoh, who speaks for the force calls a state governor a “drowning man,” he must be acting on intelligence.

With every government in this country, the Nigerian Police Force have played active role siding with a sitting president, especially during election year. Instead of carrying out their duties without fear or favour, they suddenly join the political fray. The force seems to owe its allegiance to Mr. President than to the constitution.

The recent statement by Moshood, during an interview on Channels Television, labeling the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, as a “drowning man” is unprofessional and uncharitable for a police officer who speaks for the force. It should not be condoned.

DAKUKU’S DRIVE It amazes me how one man appears to be accelerating delivery of good news at a time, when the news about this government is generally in the negative.

The last time I checked, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is turning vast coastline of over 850 kilometres into economic hub, where international business groups are taking active interest. One example was recent endorsement by The United States Coast Guard (USCG). That the U.S. expressed satisfaction at the compliance levelofNigeriawiththeInternationalShips and Ports Security (ISPS) facility Code at the nation's ports is commendable. The visit by Lt. Commander Jacob Hopper of the International Port Security (IPS) is an enabler. The resourcefulness of NIMASA at this time comes from its leadership, Dr. Dakuku Peterside. Such a turn-around drive is desired at all levels of government.

COURAGE FROM COURTROOM The technological innovation in our justice system is something that should cheer us.

It is good to know that filing case in court by hand will no longer be acceptable. But I’m eager to see the court move beyond electronic mailing of case documents to making available court records on each local court websites. It will go a long way in improving access to information and public record. The justice system can help improve transparency by releasing unclassified documents (court records) to the public through its website.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

37

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Oyo-Ita and the Future of Nigerian Civil Service Ifeanyi Omokwe For better part of the last decade, the Nigerian civil service sector was largely entrapped in a swamp of corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and all the similar negatives adjectives one could think of.

Expectedly and quite rightly, this has made many Nigerians jittery. But Nigeria is not the only victim of the jitters. It is an economic epidemic, so to say, that has befallen the sector especially in Africa.

But today, there is greater confidence in the Nigerian Civil Service going by the recent reforms by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, and her team.

Since her appointment as the HoCSF in January 2016, Oyo-Ita has not hidden her vision for the civil service, which is to develop and institutionalize an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred (EPIC) culture.

Going by this development, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation under the leadership of Mrs. Oyo-Ita came up with a three-year strategy and implementation plan to chart a new course for the service and reposition it as an effective machinery of government for improved service delivery.

The 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, which was launched in February 2017, is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s “Change Mantra” and the Economic recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The strategy according to the OHCSF is anchored on four goals, which is in tandem with Pillar Four (4) of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms (NSPSR).

This great strategy kicked off on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, with a three-day retreat for members of the Project Management Teams in Calabar, Cross River State.

It is worthwhile to note that this is the Nigeria’s first ever home-grown Federal Civil Service reform. Reforms in the past have been initiated and as well facilitated by the World Bank, Department for International Development and other foreign bodies, but the 2017-2020 FCSSIP, crafted by Oyo-Ita’s team was actualised by civil servants, and is being implemented by civil servants.

After her eloquent and graphic presentation in Calabar recently, the Head of Service expressed optimism that the new strategy which has a 100 percent chance of success is crucial to the success of the ERGP. “This is a civil service reform that is home-grown, it is not brought to us by the World Bank or some foreign loaner, it is think-tank output which has resulted in a strategy document that we believe can push the service to a world class level that we have all being praying for,” Oyo-Ita said.

According to her, “we crafted this plan along with the civil service agenda for improvement in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the National Strategy

Buhari

for Policy and Service Reforms, so this implementation plan is working in line with the Economic vision of the country.

“We identified one critical cause of failure of past reforms, we examined the need to have a governance structure, we need to implement these reforms on a day-to-day basis, we also need to micro-manage the actualisation of these reforms.

“It is this project management teams that have been set-up based on the 8 key priority area, and each priority area is being governed by one project management team, brought from across the service.

“It is a program that have been developed by civil servants and it is going to be implemented by civil servants.”

As to be expected Oyo-Ita gave facts and figures to buttress her assertion that in no distant time, all will be well with the Nigerian civil service. But as she herself said at some point, it is not about the money and it is not about the numbers, but it is essentially about making real difference in the lives of civil servants. On this score, she was particularly proud of what the implementation of the new strategy will bring, noting that it is a win-win for both the civil service and the country. She explained the goals in actualising her vision for the Service to be; *Development and institutionalisation of an efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen centred culture in the civil service which she said is to build upon the core values of the service which are meritocracy, transparency, professionalism, anonymity and

many others. She said this goal will engender the transition to a world class civil service with positive attitude, requisite skills productive and highly motivated workforce. *Development and implementation of an enterprise content management (ECM) system. *Development of entrepreneurship culture and commercial orientation in the civil servant sector. *Improve welfare and benefits packages for civil service.

You may recall that the OHCSF received a presidential intervention following the launch of the strategy in February 2017 that culminated in OHCSF signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) which is an indigenous donor to support its implementation.

The OHCSF received the support of AIG through the engagement of the services of McKinsey & Company to work with the OHCSF to develop a clear communicable action plan for transforming the Nigeria Federal Civil Service by building on the 2017–2020 OHCSF Strategic plan with the following deliverables: *Development of a clear, actionable and communicable roadmap/action plan to kick start and drive a determined, sincere and powerful transformation of the civil service. *Investigation of past reform/transformation effort failures and incorporation of lessons learnt from the investigation.

Highlighting part of what the Federal Government tends to gain, Oyo-Ita said,

includes the FCSSIP to deliver N60-N120bn savings from cleaning Human Resources data on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), save about N2.5bn from digitizing content, train at least 25,000 civil servants through the revamp core modules and cultivate at least 200 future leaders through the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P).

The eight PMTs, which were constituted and inaugurated by the HoS in December, 2017, are expected to drive day to day implementation of eight priority initiatives for the 2017-2020 FCSSIP. The priority areas according to the Head of Service include; capacity development and training; talent sourcing; performance management; staff welfare; culture change; innovation; Integrated Personnel and Pay Roll Information System (IPPIS); and Civil Service Automation.

Addressing questions raised on why this new strategy is different from past ones, which had little or no impact in the service, Ooy-Ita said, adequate steps were taken to review the failures of past administrations and measures have been put in place to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Explaining further, the Head of Service mentioned some of the expected outcomes to include improved staff competences and skills through well targeted and funded programmes across all grade levels, result Based Performance and Meritocratic environment for Civil Servants with clarity on metrics, clear career path value proposition, more innovative Civil Service that brings in innovation from within and outside the service to improve service delivery, improved productivity and governance for Human Resources (HR) administration across all the processes with full transparency on Civil and Public Servants in the system.

She further explained that these improvements will culminate in a value driven Civil Service with Civil Servants that are Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centered (EPIC).

As a first-hand observer at the 3-day retreat for the Project Management Teams, I agree with her and wish to add that even if the situation is dire (which she said is not), we need to re-assure ourselves that all is well. We will call evil upon our country by exaggerating our fears. Agonizing unnecessarily at this point will do us more harm than good. One other thing that caught my attention was the mandate given to the PMTs, which is to immediately follow the retreat with wide-spread sensitization and a 2-day ultimatum to firm up their first 100 days plan of implementation.

There is growing confidence in the civil service following the implementation of the FCSSIP, which has created enthusiasm among civil servants, who now have a rejuvenated hope for a better and more prosperous civil service, a belief that has been long lost.

-

Omokwe wrote in from Abuja

Google Urges Internet Users to Maintain Safe Internet Culture

NPA Pledges World Class Infrastructure at the Ports to Support NRC

Emma Okonji

Eromosele Abiodun

Google has advised internet users to always maintain safety rules and culture while surfing the internet. Google, which promotes global internet usage and connectivity, said the advice became necessary in order for users to take full advantage of the Internet to explore their world.

Google gave the advice during the recently celebrated 2018 Safer Internet Day across the globe.

The company advised internet users to check out the safety centre site, which contains information about the web, including tools from Google to help keep them and their family safe, while

operating online. Some of the security steps include; Using a long, unique password made up of numbers, letters and symbols on all devices and accounts; Not sending passwords via email; Setting up password recovery options and keeping them up-todate; Avoiding scams - don’t reply if you see a suspicious email; Reporting and flagging content that is abusive or illegal, and Enabling 2-step verification after creating a password for Google account and other accounts that allow factor authentication.

Other safe security steps include Incognito mode in Chrome, which allows users to access web pages and files

without any record in their browsing or download history, letting them browse the web in private; and using the Google Account Settings on the account settings page, where users can see services and information associated with their Google account and change their security and privacy settings.

In order to empower people and in the spirit of Safer Internet Day 2018, Google, in collaboration with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), organised an interactive programme for over 150 students from 10 public schools and five private schools across the federal capital territory, Abuja.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman has informed stakeholders and port users of the renewed vigour and determination of the NPA at improving the present state of infrastructure to meet world class standards towards ensuring the swift evacuation of cargo from the seaports across the country to the hinterlands through the rail lines.

According to her, the authority was fully aware of the state of congestion in the ports caused by the bad roads.

This, she regretted, has led to

a reduction in revenue accruable to the organisation as well as the inability of the nation to maximise her potential as a major player in the Maritime sector within the Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hadiza represented by the General Manager MD’s Office, Iheanacho Ebubeogu, made these remarks while on a facility maintenance inspection of the state of the rail lines in the ports accompanied by the top echelon of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) led by its Director of Operations Niyi Alli to terminals within the Apapa corridor.

“Management would collaborate and improve on the existing synergy with the NRC

at addressing the challenges facing the Corporation with a view to increasing the market size of the country in the area of Cargo evacuation,” she said.

Fielding questions after the inspection tour, Alli, who stood in for the Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, stated that the working visit was to assess the present state of the rail lines in order to further collaborate with the NPA in the area of rehabilitation.

According to Alli, the rail service would be optimally utilized for cargo evacuation in line with the federal government’s policy of Ease of Doing Business in the country.

T H I S D AY Ëž , ÍˇËœ 2018

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DMO: Proceeds of $2.5bn Eurobond Will Reduce Debt Service-to-Revenue Ratio Ndubuisi Francis Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The planned $2.50billion Eurobond will help to reduce Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said.

Until last December when the nation’s debt-service-to-revenue ratio reportedly recorded a new decline to 45 per cent, it had peaked at about 66 per cent.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun had on Wednesday disclosed that the proposed $2.5 billion Eurobond already approved by the National Assembly would yield N762.5 billion proceeds for the refinancing of treasury bills.

The DMO in a statement Thursday affirmed that the proceeds would go into the

refinancing of maturing domestic debt obligations of the federal government, adding: “It is not a new or incremental debt because it will not lead to an increase in the public debt stock.�

The agency stressed that the purpose is to rebalance the federal government’s debt portfolio by increasing the external component while reducing the domestic component.

This, it noted, is in line with Nigeria’s Debt Management Strategy, which has a target of a 40:60 ratio for external to domestic debt, from the current position of about 25:75, respectively.

According to the DMO, the proceeds of the planned USD2.50 billion will be converted to Naira and be used to redeem relatively

more expensive domestic debt. “This is expected to save about N64 billion per annum in interest cost which will help to reduce the debt service/revenue ratio and free up the fiscal space for other priorities of government,� it added.

In December 2017, the federal government redeemed matured Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) with proceeds of USD500 million Eurobonds issued in November 2017.

Apart from saving about N17 billion per annum in debt service cost, it was said to have also triggered a significant drop in the Bid Rates at the Auctions of both NTBs and FGN Bonds in December 2017 and January 2018 from a range of 16 per cent to about 13.5 per cent.

FGTargets $24bn Investments through Policy Peter Uzoho The federal government has said that its newly launched Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) focus lab would help the country attract$24 billion worth of investments, saying 80 per cent of the amount is expected to come from the private sector of the economy.

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this yesterday in Agbara, Ogun State during his working visit to Beloxxi Industries Limited.

Osinbajo explained that the focus lab was launched to accelerate the intervention of the government’s ERGP.

He said that the policy was a euphemism that describes a relationship between the public, private sector as well as other state holders coming together in a room to look at the problems plan together and resolve of investments in specific area. “Some of the areas we intend to look at in our laboratory include oil and gas, manufacturing and processing, agriculture and transport,� Osinbajo said. “The goal of this lab is to generate $24 billion worth of investment with 80 percent expected from the private sector, with 15 million jobs and a projected GDP growth of 3.5 percent this year and 7

percent growth by 2020. “We look forward to collaborating with Beloxxi industries across this platform to ensure the economic growth and job creation,� he said.

Osinbajo added: “I therefore urge other indigenous manufacturers and businesses to ensure that they commit to Nigeria’s future and to keep on investing and pushing the frontiers of local businesses. “I want to assure foreign investors that with the way this country is going, Nigeria will not be recognisable in terms of infrastructure in the next few years. This is the country to come in for investment,� he noted.

FitchAffirmsSterlingBank’sRatings,StableOutlook Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sterling Bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘B-’ and National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB-(nga)’ with a stable outlook for reasons that include its coherent strategy and ability to attract more stable deposits in challenging operating conditions.

Cutting through the industry’s jaded product offerings through innovation, the leading Tier Two lender’s IDRs are driven by its standalone creditworthiness, coherent strategy, business transformation initiatives, and strong management team, in an updated rating released yesterday by the global credit rating agency.

According to Fitch, Sterling Bank’s Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio, based on prudential

requirements, was 6.1% at end of nine months in 2017, while impaired loans ratio and NPL ratio are below sector averages.

Remarkably, Fitch noted that the lender has successfully attracted more stable retail deposits. “Positively, we also noted that the bank has successfully attracted more stable retail deposits, including strong growth in ‘non-interest bearing’ deposits (albeit from a low base)�.

It added that Sterling Bank’s capital adequacy ratio based on Basel II of 11.4% at end of nine months in 2017 was above the regulatory minimum of 10%. “In addition to higher retained earnings and by repositioning its balance sheet, the bank is expected to raise subordinated debt in the domestic market

(which counts towards Tier 2 regulatory capital) to improve capital buffers�. “In the medium term, we expect Sterling’s prospects to improve as the franchise strengthens with the expansion of its retail/SME and ‘non-interest-bearing’ lines and business reorganisation.�

Commenting on the rating, the Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank, Suleiman Abubakar said: “The rating affirms the potency of our growth strategy and transformation into one of the most respected financial services franchises in Nigeria offering world-class retail and non-interest banking solutions alongside the traditional corporate, commercial and institutional banking products and service.�

Sokoto, BoI to Disburse N2bn to Small Businesses Sokoto state government and the Bank of Industries (BoI) will disburse the sum of N2 billion to support small scale businesses in the state.

Already, the state government said it had released its counterpart fund of N1 billion to the BoI for the scheme.

The Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Mallam Imam Imam stated this while fielding questions from reporters in his office in Sokoto. “All necessary processes have been concluded and we expect disbursements to start soon after a thorough screening by both the Sokoto State Small

and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA) and the BoI. “We hope to support these entrepreneurs to enable them improve on their businesses. A large section of the beneficiaries will be women. By engaging more female entrepreneurs, government is seeking to enhance their economic status which will have ripple effect on the economy of the state in general. “As for all the beneficiaries, we believe this support will allow them to be more selfreliant and create additional employment opportunities,� he added.

The media aide noted that the terms of the MoU with the Bank of Industry stipulate that the N2 billion fund will focus on micro, small and medium scale enterprises. “This is important because SMEs are critical component in implementing the industrialisation policy of this administration. “Sokoto state government is determined to give the people all the required support to improve their businesses. The government thereby urges our entrepreneurs, businessmen and women to partner with government to ensure the success of this important policy,� he stated.

DG DMO, Patience Oniha

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

Ě™

Ěš

AUGUST 2017 Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ě™ ÍŻĚš

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

ÍŻËœÍłÍ°ÍąËœÍ°ÍąÍˇË›ÍˇÍŻ

---- Demand Deposits

ÍśËœÍąÍ´ÍľËœÍłÍľÍąË›ÍŻÍˇ

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

ÍŻÍ°ËœÍŻÍŻÍśËœÍ˛Í´ÍąË›Í˛Í° 26,821,446.81

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ăž Ù×Ă?Ă?ÞÓĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ă?Þ̚

4,824,226.22

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ Ùà Þ˛ Ě™ Ă?Þ̚ Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?

ÍľËœÍśÍąÍ˛ËœÍłÍąÍ´Ë›ÍľÍ˛

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ Ă?Ă—Ă™Ë? Ă?ĂŽË› Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂœĂœĂ™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ě™ Ěš

-3,010,310.52

Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹Ě‹ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž ÞÙ ĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ě™ Ěš

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

ÍłËœÍ˛ÍśÍ´ËœÍśÍŽÍ˛Ë›Í´Íł

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜

ÍŻËœÍśÍ´ÍśËœÍľÍąÍłË›ÍŽÍľ

Ě‹Ě‹ Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă?Ă?

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month

AUGUST 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

ͰͰ˛ʹ͹

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

ͯͲ˛͎͎

Treasury Bill Rate

ͯ͹˛͹ͳ

Savings Deposit Rate

Ͳ˛͎͜

1 Month Deposit Rate

͜˛͜ʹ

3 Months Deposit Rate

͎ͯ˛ͯͲ

6 Months Deposit Rate

ͯͯ˛ͳͯ

12 Months Deposit Rate

ͯͯ˛Ͳ͎

Prime Lending rate

ͯ;˛ʹ͡

Maximum Lending Rate

͹ͯ˛Ͱ͎ Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, FEB 7, 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $64.30 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $64.83 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ , FEBRUARY 9, 2018

39

MARKET NEWS

Equities Trading Volume Surges 337% amidst Persistent Bear Run Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

up from506.299 million shares worth N4.571 billion traded in 6,155 deals the previous day.

However, Sterling Bank Plc accounted for 78.5 per cent as investors transacted 1.745 billion shares of the bank for N3.839 billion in 108 deals. The high demand for the shares of the financial institution also lifted its price by 4.6 per cent from N2.13 to N2.23.

But the market maintained

The volume of trading surged at the stock market yesterday boosted by huge transaction in the shares of Sterling Bank Plc. Although the market remained bearish for the fourth consecutive day, the volume of trading jumped by 337 per cent to 2.221 billion shares worth N7.495 billion exchanged in 5,468 deals,

its negative momentum as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index went down by 0.49 per cent to close at 43,326.89. Similarly, market capitalisation shed N75.8 billion to close lower at N15.5 trillion.

Accordingly, the month-to-date and year-to-date returns fell to -2.29 per cent and 13.29 per cent in that order.

Yesterday’s decline resulted mostly by sustained sell-offs

across board with Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and FBN Holdings Plc being the drags. Skye Bank Plc recorded the highest price decline of 8.9 per cent, trailed

by Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc with 4.8 per cent. Nestle Nigeria Plc shed 5.0 per cent, just as Diamond Bank Plc and AIICO Insurance Plc lost 4.8 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

Plc followed with 4.7 per cent.

Sterling Bank Plc chalked up 4.6 per cent, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Custodian Plc garnered 4.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively.

Other top price gainers included: Linkage Assurance Plc (3.8 per cent); United Capital Plc (3.6 per cent); NPF Microfinance Bank Plc (3.1 per cent); and International Breweries Plc (2.6 per cent).

Other top price losers were: NAHCO Plc (4.6 per cent); Multiverse Plc (4.5 per cent); Cornerstone Insurance Plc ( 4.5 per cent); WAPIC Insurance Plc (4.4 per cent) and Japaul Oil & Maritime Plc (4.3 per cent).

In all, 28 stocks depreciated, while 17 appreciated.

Unity Bank Plc led the price gainers with 9.3 per cent, trailed

by Forte Oil Plc with 4.9 per cent, just as Royal Exchange

A S AT 3 0 / 0 1 / 2 0 1 8

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1

29 PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

30

973,291.31

31.00

-0.16

434

15,571,720

31

434

15,571,720

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 506,123.63

32

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

33

14.10

0.71

709

41,197,430

34

709

41,197,430

1,143

56,769,150

35 FOOD PRODUCTS

BANKING

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

MARKET CAP(Nm) DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 4,600,937.00 BUILDING MATERIALS

S/N PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

270.00

0.75

37 37 37 1,180

204,887 204,887 204,887 56,974,037

36 37 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED S/N 38

CROP PRODUCTION

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

S/N

1,012.00

0.46

-8.00

2

150,000

40

68,776.91 71,000.00

72.10 71.00

1.43

21 28 51

82,516 1,470,626 1,703,142

FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

39 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,360.00

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.26

-

0

0

0

0

41 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

42 43

1.12

4.67

54

2,204,268

44

54

2,204,268

105

3,907,410

45 46 47 48 49 50

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,588.37

0.60

-

5

21,462

194.58 2,111.93

0.50 3.25

-

5 0

45,305 0

99,994.06

2.46

9.33

693

160,989,028

33,711.17

17.55

-0.28

75 778 778

1,264,489 162,320,284 162,320,284

51 52 53 BANKING S/N 54 55

ARBICO PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 39,600.00 165.00

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

8,314.87

3.20

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC BEVERAGES--BREWERS/ DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC.

FOOD PRODUCTS DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

56

4.79

-

0 0

0 0

57

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

58

30.00 6.60

-

21 0

229,771 0

59

21

229,771

TRADES

VOLUME

%CHANGE -5.00

60 61 62 63

39

2,787,868

39

2,787,868

65

64

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

66

100.00

-

0

0

67

11,300.89

45.20

-

0

0

26,682.70

10.00

-

4

50,000

70

4

50,000

71

64

3,067,639

68 69

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,386.33 MARKET CAP(Nm) 22,470.65

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.50

-

0

0

0

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

76

2.87

3.99

17

288,000

77

242.22

0.89

-

0

0

113.00

2.73

55

1,092,210

550,135.16

64.00

-

10

23,005

1,199,535.31

150.00

-0.60

133

11,553,782

215

12,956,997

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm) 82,000.00

74 75

247,513.26

MARKET CAP(Nm) 65,321.00

72 73

PRICE 101.97

%CHANGE -

78 79 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 80

0

0

81

0

0

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

16.40

1.86

219

8,122,182

S/N 82 83

DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC.

252,600.00

21.05

0.48

77

80,957.72

30.85

-0.16

166

1,041,614 2,728,277

24,425.01

3.08

10.00

492

87,178,626

1,861.25

0.50

-

0

0

1,015.74

5.70

-

2

13,972

55,240.79

20.85

-

24

173,483

3,676.41

13.45

-

0 980

0 99,258,154

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 29,675.59 1,165,204.69

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

15.80 1,470.00

3.27 -2.00

79 59

661,472 113,411

138

774,883

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,767.74

23.25

-

0

0

3,418.97

3.28

4.79

66 66

3,408,479 3,408,479

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

93,504.73

23.55

-

23

137,524

253,929.24

44.20

-0.67

33

170,690

NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC. PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

BANKING

MARKET CAP(Nm) 373,170.83 73,881.64

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC

308,214 116,706,727

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

12.90 3.19

0.39 10.00

318 401

17,920,075 99,863,968

20.00

-2.25

73

767,503

3.80 48.95 1.12 1.54 2.20 8.20

-2.06 0.51 4.46 10.00 10.00 1.23

435 427 115 463 211 107

42,395,216 17,135,756 11,710,291 93,616,198 36,472,650 1,188,042

12.85

-1.15

318

19,602,216

1.44 1.34

9.09 9.84

45 330 3,243

2,933,269 47,385,963 390,991,147

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

9,880.80

0.48

-4.00

1

100,000

4,504.63

0.65

3.17

73

11,465,271

27,405.00

2.61

-

16

426,105

3,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

16,077.75

1.55

1.97

17

1,307,200

7,364.75

0.50

-

0

0

7,000.00 2,411.47

0.50 0.53

-

0 0

0 0

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL 366,991.02 INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC 110,104.23 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 1,440,656.22 JAIZ BANK PLC 32,999.96 SKYE BANK PLC 21,375.66 STERLING BANK PLC. 63,338.92 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 238,790.17 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA 439,462.56 PLC UNITY BANK PLC 16,832.65 WEMA BANK PLC. 51,689.78 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

56 1,455

1,913.74

0.50

-

0

0

3,070.00

0.50

-

0

0

642.04

0.50

-

0

0

3,368.78

0.46

-4.17

2

148,000

4,124.48

0.96

-

2

21,000

5,520.00

0.69

-4.17

29

1,221,073

4,000.00

0.50

-

1

2,000

9,610.52

1.82

1.11

19

549,181

3,869.74

0.50

-

1

2,904

2,648.78

0.48

-

8

111,359

3,334.38

0.50

-

0

0

4,170.41

0.50

-

0

0

6,455.52

0.50

-

0

0

4,670.54

0.50

-

1

1,100

1,291.15

0.50

-

1

1,000

6,933.33

0.50

-

1

55,000

8,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

9,234.09

0.69

7.81

132

14,245,894

304

29,657,087

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

11,799.67

2.58

-

0

0

4,070.22

1.78

9.88

40

1,069,460

40

1,069,460

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1.30

-

0

0

0.50

-

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm) 5,460.00 7,370.87

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

40

WORLD OF ISLAM INTERNATIONAL Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Fall of the Family – 4 Abdal Hakim Murad/jamiat. org/themodernreligion (continued from last week)

T

here are already signs that women are rebelling against the feminist orthodoxy that demands an absolute parity of function with men, and that “dropping out” to look after a child is less outrageous in the minds of many educated women than the media might suggest. But much real damage has been done. The campaign to turn fathers into nurturers and house-husbands shows little sign of success; and many houses have become more like dormitories than homes.

Mealtimes are desultory, tin-opening affairs; both parents are too exhausted to spend “quality time” with active children; and the sense of belonging to the house and to each other is sadly attenuated.

By the time children leave home, they feel they are not leaving very much.

In such a dismal context, dissolution is almost logical. The stress of the two-career family is greater than many normal people can manage. Increased income and (for some) pleasure at work are poor compensations for the increased scope for fatigue and dispute. Deprived of the woman’s gift for warming a house, both husband and children are made less secure. The overlap in functions provides endless room for argument. And when the dissolution comes, it is almost always the woman who suffers most. As an ageing lone parent, she finds that society has little interest in her. She has joined the new class of “wives of the state”.

The state, luckily, can afford to be a polygamist.

The social unravelment of modern Britain has coincided with a massive augmentation of tax revenue. As long as the rate of social collapse does not outstrip the annual growth in GDP there is little for politicians to worry about. And yet the fate of literally millions of single families is a harsh one. The case for traditional single-income families, in which women are permitted to celebrate rather than suppress their nurturing genius, is increasingly looking more moral than the liberals have guessed.

But the feminists are not the only moths to have been gnawing the social fabric. There are others, some of them even more radical. The most strident are the homosexualists, the curious but always repulsive ideologues who are forcing on the population a dogma whose consequences for the family are already proving lethal.

As with feminism, the theological case against homosexuality is related to our understanding of the “dyadic” nature of creation. Human sexuality is an incarnation of the divinely-willed polarity of the cosmos. Male and female are complementary principles, and sexuality is their sacramental and fecund reconciliation. Sexual activity between members of the same sex is therefore the most extreme of all possible violations of the natural order.

Its biological sterility is the sign of its metaphysical failure to honour the basic duality which God has used as the warp and woof of the world.

It is true, nonetheless, that the homosexual drive remains poorly understood. It appears as the definitive argument against Darwinism’s hypothesis of the systematic elimination over time of anti-reproductive traits. In some cultures it is extremely rare: Wilfred Thesiger records that in the course of his long wanderings with the Arabian bedouins he never encountered the slightest indication of the practice. In other societies, particularly modern urban cultures, it is very widespread. Theories abound as to why this should be so: some researchers speculate that in overpopulated communities the tendency represents Nature’s own technique of population control. Laboratory rats, we are told, will remain resolutely heterosexual until disturbed by bright lights, loud noises, and extreme overcrowding.

Other scientists have speculated about the effects of “hormone pollution” from the thousands of tonnes of estrogen released into the water supply by users of contraceptive pills. Again, this remains without proof.

But what is increasingly suggested by recent research is that homosexual tendencies are not always acquired, and that some individuals are born with them as an identifiable irregularity in the chromosomes. The implications of this for moral theology are clear: given the Quran’s insistence

that human beings are responsible only for actions they have voluntarily acquired, homosexuality as an innate disposition cannot be a sin.

It does not follow from this, of course, that acting in accordance with such a tendency is justifiable. Similar research has indicated that many human tendencies, including forms of criminal behaviour, are also on occasion traceable to genetic disorders; and yet nobody would conclude that the behaviour was therefore legitimate. Instead, we are learning that just as God has given people differing physical and intellectual gifts, He tests some of us by implanting moral tendencies which we must struggle to overcome as part of our self-reform and discipline. A mental patient with an obsessive desire to set fire to houses has been given a particular hurdle to overcome. A man or woman with strong homosexual urges faces the same challenge.

To the religious believer, it is unarguable that homosexual acts are a metaphysical as well as a moral crime. Heterosexuality, with its association with conception, is the astonishing union which leads to new life, to children, grandchildren, and an endless progeny: it is a door to infinity. Sodomy, by absolute contrast, leads nowhere. As always, the most extreme vice comes about when a virtue is inverted.

None of this is of interest to the secular mind, of course, which detects no meaning in existence and hence cannot imagine why maximum pleasure and gratification should not be the goal of human life.

The notion that we are here on earth in order to purify our souls and experience the incomparable bliss of the divine presence is utterly alien to most of our compatriots. And yet there is a purely secular argument against homophilia which we can attempt to deploy.

Homosexualism represents a radical challenge to the institution of marriage. Its propagandists will not concede the fact, but it attacks the most vital norm of our species, which is the union of male and female for which we are manifestly designed and which is the natural context for the raising of children. In times such as ours, when nature is no longer regarded as authoritative, and lifestyles are in all other respects an abnormal departure from the way in which human beings have lived for countless millennia, society cannot afford to believe that male-female unions are of only relative worth. The more the alternatives proliferate, the less the norm will be seen as sacred.

Every victory for the homosexualist lobby is thus a blow struck against that normality without which society cannot survive.

It is in the context of the struggle to protect the family that the campaign against homosexualism becomes most universally accessible. The screaming fanatics who “out” bishops and demand a lowering of the “gay” age of consent are among the most bitter enemies of the fitra, that primordial norm which, for all the diversity of the human race, has consistently expressed itself in marriage as the natural context for the nurturing of the new generation. That which is against the fitra is by definition destructive: it is against humanity and against God. This awareness needs to be reflected in legislation, which for too long has sought to relativise the family as merely one of a range of lifestyle options. Muslims sometimes hold that the collapse of family values in the West will serve the interests of wider humanity. Decadence, they say, is what it has chosen and deserves; and the inevitable implosion of its society will leave the field open for morally-strong Islam to regain its place as the world’s dominant civilisation. The trouble with this theory is that the implosion shows no sign of leading to total collapse. Technology and wealth allow the creation of surveillance and social-security systems which can deal with the growing number of casualties. There is certainly an irony in a New World Order policed by a state which cannot keep order in Central Park after nightfall. But unless we are foolishly optimistic, or hope for absolute totalitarianism, we cannot but be anxious about social trends in the West.

The survival of the Western family is a question of immediate Muslim concern, and we must offer our views until the time comes when our friends and neighbours, their doctrines broken on the anvil of reality, are humbled enough to listen.

Concluded

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

George W. Bush: Russia Definitely Meddled in the 2016 Election George W. Bush has risked the ire of Donald Trump by saying there’s “pretty clear evidence” that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, according to Daily Beast on Thursday.

In an unusually forceful intervention, the former president took further aim at Vladimir Putin—saying the Russian president had a “chip on his shoulder.”

Although Bush didn’t mention Trump by name, his comments are likely to anger the current White House resident who has repeatedly insisted Russia made no attempt to influence the 2016 election.

Bush also criticised the hardline immigration policies favoured by the Trump administration.

Speaking Thursday at an event in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Bush said: “There’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled. Whether they affected the outcome is another question.”

The former president added: “It’s problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election system. Our democracy is only as good as people trust the results.”

Trump previously dismissed claims of Russian influence in the 2016 election as “made up” and a Democratic excuse for losing the campaign.

Investigations are now underway to gauge Russia’s impact in the election.

Bush was also heavily critical of Putin in Abu Dhabi, accusing him of lashing out because of the demise of the Soviet Union, despite famously praising the Russian president when the two men were both in power.

“He’s got a chip on his shoulder,” Bush said of Putin, according to the AP. “The reason he does is because of the demise of the Soviet Union troubles him. Therefore, much of his moves (are) to regain Soviet hegemony.”

Bush said Putin “is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses,” before adding: “That’s why NATO is very important.”

Bush and Putin had a strong relationship during the former’s presidency, with Bush once saying of Putin: “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a ver y good dialogue.”

H owever, th e f or mer president latterly soured on Putin, saying theirrelationship was “contentious” and that the Russian president became less interested in working together after the oil price rose.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĐĞƌƟĨLJ ƚŚĂƚ DOSUNMU BOLANLE ĂŶĚ DOSUNMU BOLANLE OLASUNBO FAUSAT ƌĞĨĞƌ ƚŽ ŽŶĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͘ ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘ CORRECTION OF NAME I, AMADIANUFORO ONYEBUCHI, ŵLJ ŶĂŵĞ ǁĂƐ ŝŶĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJ ŵŝƐƐƉĞůƚ ĂƐ AMADINANUFORO ONYEBUCHI ĂŶĚ AMADI ONYEBUCHI ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ AMADIANUFORO ONYEBUCHI͘ ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘

/͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ MISS TEMITOPE BARAKAT GIDADO, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ KEBE ARCHIBONG. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘

CHANGE OF NAME /͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ JAJA MABEL ORENE, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ BENSTOWE ORENE IBAMA. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘ /͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ YEKINI OLAMILEKAN, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ YEKINI OLAMILEKAN AZEEZ. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ & D ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘ /͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ JIMBA OLUWATOYIN PERPETUAL, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ KUSIMO OLUWATOYIN PERPETUAL. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘

/͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ OLUTOLA OLUBUSAYO ERUKILIDE, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ OLUTOLA OLUBUSAYO USIKALU. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘

/͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ JIMOH OLALEKAN, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ ADEBISI OLALEKAN. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘ /͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ MISS SALAU TEMITOPE ANITA, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ MRS AWONUGA TEMITOPE ANITA. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘ /͕ ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ OHANWE CHIOMA PAULINE, ŶŽǁ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ĂƐ LAWRENCE CHIOMA PAULINE. ůů ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǀĂůŝĚ͘ First Bank of Nigeria PLC ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂŬĞ ŶŽƚĞ͘

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NEWS

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

Osinbajo to Multinationals: You Can Bet on Nigeria’s Future Asks them to set up factories in the country Jonathan Eze The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday appealed to multinational companies to continue to set up factories in Nigeria now because the country has great potential.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new Nestle Milo Readyto-Drink factory in Agbara, Ogun State, Osinbajo said the federal government was doing everything possible to make Nigeria attractive for investments.

He said the government was ready to ensure that it implements the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to keep the economy on the path of sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

The vice president noted that the government was fully committed to supporting companies grow and create jobs within the economy.

“One important component of ERGP is the provision of critical infrastructure, such as roads, rail and power, which this administration is fully committed to.

“We’re fully committed to

supporting companies such as Nestle as we spur growth and create jobs within the economy.

“Another is the creation of an enabling business environment, and making Nigeria a progressively easier place to do business.

“To actualise this goal, in July 2016, Mr. President inaugurated the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which he asked me to Chair, and he gave us the task of implementing this mandate.

“The business climate reforms undertaken under PEBEC have already begun to bear some fruit and reflects that Nigeria is committed to creating an enabling environment to facilitate private sector-led growth and development. Many, of course, will recall that in October, 2017, the World Bank released its flagship “Doing Business” report for 2018.

In that report, Nigeria moved up by an unprecedented 24 places, and for the first time the country was also recognized as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world.

“This result shows the power of collaboration across various

levels of government, especially in the reform areas such as getting credit, where we are now ranked 6th out of 190 countries due to our enhanced legal framework, with the potential to unlock credit to small and medium-scale enterprises by giving added comfort to lenders.

“Last week, PEBEC announced a National Action Plan (NAP 3.0), which commenced on February 5 and will run until April 5, 2018. This accelerated intervention programme will focus on implementing some of the most relevant ease of doing business reforms that have ever come within our radar within the next two months.

“For example, we are working with NAFDAC, SON, the Nigeria Customs Service, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, amongst others, to ease the burden of product registrations, quality standards regulation, as well as

the movement of goods and services across the country.

“Since July 2017, the council also began collaborating with state governments to implement ease of doing business initiatives that will make states increasingly attractive investment hubs.

“This year, we are working on a number of key reform initiatives, including the deployment of a National Trading Platform comprising a Single Window Platform, deployment of scanners, and a Ports Community system, that will together promote transparency and efficiency at our ports.

“Our implementation efforts will be underpinned by ensuring compliance with Executive Order 001 and on efficiency and transparency in government, as well as our web-based reporting application for validation and objective feedback from the public.

“Furthermore, we are, once again, collaborating with the National Assembly and supporting the passage of their priority business climate reform bills, while partnering to deliver an Omnibus Bill, which will address various irritants within extant laws that need to be amended for the purpose of achieving a better environment for doing business in Nigeria.

“Last Monday, February 5, Mr. President signed Executive Order 005, a decisive step in the promotion of indigenous businesses, talent and professionals, especially in Science, Engineering and Technology. The order mandates all procuring authorities to give priority to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts. The Order also directs all MDAs to engage Nigerian professionals in the planning, design and execution of National Security projects. The order also specifically

prohibits the Minister of Interior from granting work permits to foreign workers whose skills are already available in Nigeria. Where expertise is lacking, procuring entities are required to give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.

“From a broader perspective, two days ago, we launched what we call the Policy Laboratories, this is an intervention to accelerate the implementation of our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“The laboratories will bring together all private and public sector stakeholders necessary to achieve the specific policy or project objectives of our economic plan. In the first instance, we are focusing on three specific areas; agriculture and transport, power and gas supply, and manufacturing and processing.”

Tinubu Can’t Rescue APC, PDP Tells Buhari Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked the presidency for embarking on what it described as an “ill-fated mission to salvage the badly damaged chances of retaining power in 2019 presidential election.”

The party slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for abandoning its responsibility of governance and now deploying resources meant for the good of the people to push a desperate but ill-fated mission to perpetuate on Nigerians, an obviously unpopular presidential candidate in 2019.

The party said the presidency has become so panicky that it effectively hijacked the functions of the leadership of its dysfunctional and ideologically vacuous APC, by appointing people into partisan offices, outside its much-desired responsibility of governance.

PDP said it finds APC’s attempt to reconcile its dwindling ranks as laughable, cosmetic and politically inconsequential.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement yesterday, said it is ludicrous that after almost three years of failure to deliver on the littlest of its campaign promises, the Buhari Presidency is now moving around, cap in hands, looking for those to use once again to beguile Nigerians ahead of the 2019 elections.

The PDP stressed that the Buhari presidency has failed to be remorseful for its misrule,adding that the disagreements in the ruling party are fallouts of members’ resentment towards its desperation for power.

“There is widespread disenchantment and indignation across the nation resulting from hunger and the inability of the Buhari presidency to provide the

people with basic necessities of life, which they had always enjoyed in the past.

“Nigerians are therefore waiting to see how Tinubu, who has also openly expressed his concerns and disapprovals on the mismanagement of the economy and whose large constituents are direct victims of the ineptitude, impunity, nepotism, dictatorial tendencies, corruption and insecurity that has characterised the Buhari Presidency, will now turn around to preach that all is well and attempt to sell a practically bad product to the nation.

PDP further said the desperate move by the presidency to politically prey on individuals is mere foolhardiness and a totally decadent approach to pitch key leaders against the people on an issue that has already been thrown overboard.

“This is more so as the political institutions and front runners that threw up the Buhari presidency in 2015 have now, not only regretted their actions, but have also strongly advised that President Buhari should not contemplate contesting a second term in office.

“Nigerians today suffer from pains inflicted on them by this administration and no amount of manipulation of individuals and public institutions can make them change their resolve to vote out APC in 2019, particularly as the party is stuck with an unpopular candidate.

“The PDP therefore finds APC’s attempt to reconcile its dwindling ranks as laughable, cosmetic and politically inconsequential.

“It will interest the APC to know that Nigerians are already rallying with the repositioned and rebranded PDP as we are poised to present a credible, competent and reliable candidate through a free, fair and transparent presidential primary. “

MEETING WITH CLERICS

L-R: Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Dr. Ignatus Kaigama, President Muhammadu Buhari; Archbishop of Onitsha,Valerian Okeke; and Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, during the president’s meeting with a delegation of Catholic Bishops at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…. yesterday Godwin Omoigui.

Fayose Asks Benue People Not to Go Back on Anti-open Grazing Law Army arrests two armed Fulani herdsmen in Benue George Okoh inMakurdi Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, has called on the people of Benue State to remain resolute with the anti-open grasing law even in the face of killing by herdsmen.

He threw the challenge yesterday in Makurdi during a condolence visit on Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Fayose who described what the Benue People are facing as ethnic cleansing, maintained that their land which is rich in agriculture had been handed to them as inheritance by their forefather hence, they must protect it.

He noted that the anti-open grazing law cannot be compromised as it remains the only panacea to curbing incessant attack by herdsmen on farmers.

“Leaders of this country will one day give account for thousands of Benue blood that has been spilled.

It is an irony that some people are tried for hate speech while those who kill are exonerated. This government is ruling Nigeria with double standards. He who takes another person’s life will pay for it some day.

“Those beating drum for this herdsmen are behind. Imagine Ghana has dealt decisively with herdsmen and we should do the same. You do not disarm vigilant who use dane guns and allow people with AK47 free,” he fumed.

Fayose who announced a donation of N10 million to cushion the effect of the over 100,000 displaced persons in the state, advised his Benue State counterpart to seek alternative political structure if his party has failed.

“If you enter a vehicle and it breaks down, you are free to take another one. I am the oldest Governor in the country at the moment having served in President Obasanjo, Jonathan governments

and now, am king of the road in Buhari’s government,” Fayose said.

Responding, Ortom said there was a paradigm shift in this country, vowing to join Fayose in speaking out loudly against injustice in the country.

“Even though I am in APC if I see anything wrong with the Nigeria system, I will speak out.

All I am asking for now is justice, equity, fairness and transparency and not giving a dog a bad name just to hang it. I am an elected governor and must speak for my people. The law is a product of the people. Leaders must rise up and leave up to their responsibilities,” Ortom insisted.

Meanwhile, Troops of the Nigerian Army 707 Special Force Brigade yesterday arrested two Fulani (herdsmen) militia in Guma yesterday while planning an attack on the local government area in Benue State.

According to a statement by

the Assistant Director Army Public Relations 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the troops on a routine patrol on Gbajimba-Iyiodeh road in Guma Local Government Area, arrested two Fulani militias who were suspected to be planning a dangerous mission.

He said the troops sighted a group of militias while on their daily patrol.

“The militia who were suspected to be converging, possibly for an attack on Ortom’s fish farm and other innocent citizens, were about to be approached for questioning when they opened fire on the troops who later engaged them,” he added.

The violent herdsmen who also fought back were at the same time trying to flee but the special forces intensified their pursuit and succeeded in arresting two of them while others fled in disarray.

He said the herdsmen had since been handed over to the authorities.

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NHIS Staff Ask Buhari to Rescind Decision on Usman’s Reinstatement The reinstated Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, resumed work yesterday, only to be greeted with a massive staff demonstrations against his return.

The staff under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) led by the branch Chairman, Mr. Razak Omomeji, according to Premium Times, called out his members to express their rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to return the ES to his seat.

Yusuf was suspended from office by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, following an indictment by an administrative panel which found him culpable of mismanaging NHIS funds, totaling N919 million and gross insubordination.

According to the workers, the reinstatement of Yusuf would impede his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The protest began shortly after Yusuf resumed at the headquarters of the agency in Abuja.

“He has resumed work but has not held any management meeting,” Ayo Osinlu, Head, Media and Public Relations of NHIS said.

Buhari last Tuesday reinstated Yusuf exactly six months after he was suspended by Adewole following allegations of gross misconduct.

Yusuf, 54, took over the staterun health insurance provider on July 29, 2016.

But his reign at the agency

has been fraught with alleged controversies.

Some staff described Yusuf’s leadership as causing disaffection and low morale in the system.

The chairman, association of senior civil servant NHIS chapter, Omomeji accused Yusuf of bringing someone born in 1984 to become an assistant director in the scheme.

Omomeji said Yusuf, a professor, has poor knowledge on the management of the scheme.

Alowuyi Kayode, Chairman Medical and Health Association Union, also accused Yusuf of using divide and rule system to transfer staff indiscriminately.

“We believe that this government came to fight corruption. We also believe that whoever must come to equity must come with clean hands. Yusuf’s reinstatement behooves much to be desired.

Presently he is being investigated by the EFCC and ICPC, so we are appealing to Buhari to wait for the report of this investigation to be concluded before any further action,” Kayode said.

“If the man is giving a clean slate then he can return but as it is now, all his activities for the past one year have been that of ethnicity, tribalism, religiosity and nepotism. Imaging him transferring over 40 per cent of the staff outside Abuja and replacing them with 300 NYSC members. It leaves much to be desired, so we are appealing to this government as a union of NHIS to reverse this recall while investigation with EFCC and ICPC

continues,” he added.

There has been a rash of reactions from Nigerians since the news of Yusuf’s reinstatement broke.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, explained that Yusuf’s recall would not stop any corruption investigation by anti-graft agencies.

Though the presidency has not spoken on the reinstatement, a source at the Presidential Villa said the suspended executive secretary was reinstated because the president believed the allegations against him are yet to be proven.

The source said the committee constituted by the minister to investigate Yusuf was neither

independent nor free from bias.

“Barely one year into his assumption of office, Professor Usman was suspended by the Minister of Health on the strength of a petition by the United Youth Alliance Against Corruption, UYAC and Association of Senior Civil Servants.

“The minister, relying on the petition, constituted a 17-man committee under the headship of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry to look into the petition by this body of civil servants. Out of the 17 members of the committee, 16 of them were staff of the ministry while one member was from the Department of State Services (DSS).

The request for a nomination from the ICPC was declined because

they feared a conflict of interest.

“From the composition of the committee, it was obvious that the committee was neither independent nor free from biases.

“Some of the allegations brought against the Executive Secretary by the UYAC could not be substantiated in 20 of the 23 allegations as no evidence was brought forward. “Others were obviously concocted as there were evident alterations and mix-ups in dates on some of the petitions,” the source said.

He said it was clear from the investigation that the presidency identified an acute lack of capacity in the NHIS as an organisation and unless a new set of competent managers are found and recruited,

the objectives of setting up of the NHIS might remain a mirage.

“This is why the minister was directed to work with the Executive Secretary to redress some of the identified shortcomings within the organisations to avoid a breakdown of one of the federal government’s flagship programmes and truncate the intention of government to expand the scope of beneficiaries of health insurance scheme and indeed broaden government’s efforts in repositioning the health sector.”

Meanwhile, the acting Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Attahiru Ibrahim, on Wednesday reportedly met with the senior officials of the agency during which he asked them to prepare handover notes for Yusuf.

Otudeko Affirms Respect for the Judiciary and Rule of Law The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko CFR, has affirmed his respect for the judiciary, the rule of law and the constitution of Nigeria.

Otudeko stated this when he appeared yesterday before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos Judicial Division to give evidence in the suit instituted by Honeywell against Ecobank (Suit No: FHC/L/ CS/1219/2015).

Addressing the court, Otudeko said after his counsel, Bode Olanipekun, informed him of the invitation from the court, he had to cut short his trip to ensure he honoured the invitation.

“This is a first time experience for me, but I am happy to be here as a mark of respect for the courts and my belief in the Judiciary.”

Otudeko said.

But it was observed that instead of opening its defence as expected, Ecobank failed to proceed with its defence.

It was observed that instead of opening his case through examination in chief, Counsel to Ecobank, O.A. Divine, attempted to overturn the court procedure by attempting to commence his defence by cross-examining Oba Otudeko.

Counsel to Honeywell, Bode Olanipekun, however raised an objection, saying that Ecobank’s disregard for the procedures of the Federal High Court was wrong as a witness statement on oath sworn to by Otudeko

was already before the court.

This was simply supposed to have been adopted in commencing its defence.

After listening to counsel for both parties, Justice Idris ruled that cases are not opened through cross-examination but rather through examination in chief.

Justice Idris quoted case law to the effect that “counsel’s unpreparedness cannot be tolerated or used as an excuse to delay proceedings.”

Consequent to this, the court directed that Ecobank’s counsel should proceed with the examination in chief.

Counsel to Ecobank, O.A. Divine, however informed the court that he had no further questions for the witness he had requested the court to invite.

Thereafter, counsel to Honeywell, Olanipekun, sought to proceed with the cross examination of the witness, Otudeko.

However, Ecobank’s counsel objected to the cross-examination

by Olanipekun on the grounds that even though the witness statement was sworn to by the witness, the fact stated therein was not Ecobank’s narrative.

Honeywell’s counsel however said the argument was laughable, as according to him, the only statement on oath before the court was the one filed by Otudeko.

Following the hearing of the arguments from both counsels, Justice Idris adjourned the matter for ruling on February 14, 2018.

VAIDS CAMPAIGN GOES TO ENUGU

L-R: Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, during the launch of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) in Enugu....yesterday.

UN Seeks $1.05bn Assistance for North-east Humanitarian Intervention Records $196m shortfall in 2017, launches 2018 response plan The United Nations yesterday said it requires $1.05 billion assistance to meet up its 2018 humanitarian intervention programmes in the North-east where Boko Haram insurgency has affected more than 10 million people.

According to the UN, 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan appeal was pecked at “$1.05billion, people targeted in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, 6.1 million: number of partners participating in the HRP: 60, number of projects included in HRP 173.”

The UN also disclosed that it recorded a shortfall of $196million in donations from the targeted $1 billion for humanitarian intervention in the North-east of Nigeria in 2017.

The UN in collaboration with other international organisations and government have been actively leading in humanitarian assistance in the North-east in the last nine years, owing to severe humanitarian conditions and insecurity occasion by activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, who made the disclosure yesterday at the

launch of the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for the North-east in Abuja, however announced a target of $1.05 billion for 2018.

He explained that the fund which is expected to come from about 60 donor organisations, would be expended on 173 projects and would impact on the wellbeing of 6.1 million people in the three most ravage states in the region; Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

Kallon commended the partners for their contributions and expressed optimism that through their support, the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan would be successful.

“In 2017, donors – who are represented here today – funded the plan generously.

“The $1 billion appeal was 70 per cent funded by the end of the year – representing more than $740 million, a staggering amount that actually meant that Nigeria was one of the most funded appeals globally. The donor commitment was extraordinarily impressive, and one of the most remarkable I have seen in career. The total donated to the humanitarian response last year, including HRP and non-HRP

interventions, reached $945 million.

“We have also committed this year to including any carry over from last year, so as to be entirely transparent when it comes to funding. The carry-over from the 2017 HRP to the 2018 HRP will be an estimated $196 million.

This means that this sum has already effectively been raised and allocated to the 2018 HRP,” he said.

The envoy stated that the 2018 intervention is aimed at building on the humanitarian work carried out in previous years, adding that it is anchored on three strategic objectives which include; Provision of life saving emergency assistance to the most vulnerable people in conflict affected areas ensuring that assistance is timely and to scale; Ensuring that all assistance promotes the protection, safety and dignity of affected people, and is provided equitably to women, girls, men and boys; and to assist people kick start their lives again and also reconstruct the foundations of their lives so that they are better prepared to face crises.

He said the 2017 HRP provided

live saving assistance to 5.6million people in the North East, thereby, reducing the number of food insecure people from 5.1million to 3.9million.

“A cholera outbreak was contained through the innovative use of an oral vaccine. 1.3million farmers were assisted to help improve agricultural production.

And thousands of children were supported to go to school, against all odds,” he said.

Kallon, however, called for a political solution to the challenges in the North-east, to prevent the crisis from degenerating in 2018.

Responding on behalf of the federal government, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, thanked the international community for rallying support for Nigeria at her time of need.

She also acknowledged efforts by the multinational task force and the military for liberating communities hitherto in the enclave of Boko Haram, adding that the country has now moved from acute crisis to a situation where people are now returning to their homes.

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SERAP Report Exposes Cover up on Corruption, Sexual Harassment by Universities Davidson Iriekpen A new report by the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has revealed how most allegations of corruption in federal universities such as unfair allocation of grades; contract inflation, truncation of staff’s salary on the pay roll; employment of unqualified staff; Senator Dino Melaye’s certificate scandal saga; examination malpractices; sexual harassment; issuance of results for expelled student to graduate; and sales of university certificates for undeserving persons have neither been thoroughly investigated nor punished.

The report titled: ‘Stealing the future: How federal universities in Nigeria have been stripped apart by corruption’ said: “Impunity for corruption in the university system has negatively affected the governance of federal universities and the quality of education received by the students.”

The 58-page report was launched yesterday in Lagos with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

The report presented to the media by Dr. Bolajoko DixonOgbechi Nkemdinim, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos disclosesed that “Most of the time, lecturers miss classes and they never get punished. Getting a job in the universities is not the question of merit but of connections. Ghost workers syndrome is a problem in the universities.”

According to the report, “There have been cases where staff have used their official status to prevent the administration of justice in their units/departments; universities sometimes recruit mediocre or totally unsuitable candidates in preference to candidates of high merit. Most of the time when

non-academic staff are not at their duty posts they never get punished.

People with questionable degrees/ qualifications paid bribes to get into the university system. In several cases, people employed by federal universities through connection with political authorities.”

The report which used the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as case studies, identified other cases of corruption in the university system to include: “bribery to get a position; NYSC mobilisation before graduation; facilitating fake transcripts; short-circuiting employment procedures; auctioning university assets without authorisation; politicised disciplinary action; inflated contracts, admission irregularities and racketeering, result falsification; nepotism; sexual harassment; examination question leakages, abetting examination malpractices; and deliberate poor invigilation of examinations.”

According to Nkemdinim, “The research team administered questionnaires and conducted interviews at the main campus and College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. The team also visited the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where the instrument was also administered at its two campuses. The report focuses mainly on federal universities even though there are three different categories of universities in Nigeria namely, federal, state and private universities.”

The report read in part: “The focus on federal universities is important because the Federal Government of Nigeria is the custodian of tertiary education at the national level and it directs and controls the affairs of the parastatals in charge of tertiary education system in Nigeria to a very large extent.

“We also found several

unresolved cases of diversion of university funds for personal use; embezzlement, mismanagement, unmerited allocation of hostel accommodation, discrimination in the allocation of staff quarters; certificate/transcript racketeering; improper use of university assets; inflation of cost of contracts, award of contracts to friends or relatives; and admission racketeering by non-staff.”

The report launch was attended

by Mr Femi Falana (SAN); Babatunde Ogala; Dr Olumide Ajayi Director African Leadership Forum; Mrs Jumoke Akiyode; Ms Funmi Oluyede, member, National Executive Council of FIDA Nigeria; and representatives of representatives of the media; the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Dr Adeleke Ipaye.

They all promised to work with SERAP to address corruption and bribery in the university system.

SP Binga from the ICPC specifically promised to look into all the allegations contained in the report.

Falana said: “In 2017, over N200billion was disbursed by

TETFund to our universities.

Neither ASUU nor any of the campus unions monitored the disbursement of the funds. Also, how many companies are paying two per cent of its annual profit to support our university system? The bulk of the funds meant to improve the universities end up in the pocket of the contractors. Three vice chancellors are currently standing trials for looting funds allocated for running the universities.”

Falana also said: “Based on the 1992 FG-ASUU Agreement the federal government was compelled to enact the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act. The Act has established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as an intervention agency charged with the responsibility for managing, disbursing and monitoring the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Pursuant to section 1 of the Act every company shall contribute education tax of two of its annual profit to the TETFUND.” Professor Baffa, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND announced in March this year the commencement of activities

to kickstart the 2017 disbursement of the whopping sum of N213 billion to the nation’s tertiary institutions. If TETFUND can disburse N213 billion in one year it is my view that if the education tax is well managed it will go a long way in addressing the crisis of underfunding of our tertiary institutions,” Falana said.

“Just recently, it was reported that the new management of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) paid N5 billion to the TSA. The money was realised from the sale of admission forms to applicants seeking admission to the tertiary institutions in 2017. Meanwhile, university administrators have not accounted for the money realised from the sale of post JAMB examination forms.

“Following the recent arraignment at the federal high court of one of the vice chancellors for allegedly stealing the sum of N1.4 billion, the staff and students of his university invaded the court and practically forced the trial judge to vacate his order for the remand of the accused in prison custody!

Before then, the same staff and students had demonstrated for

days in the office of the EFCC in a bid to prevent the filing of charges against the indicted vice chancellor.

This is not surprising as has never taken any position in the massive looting of the commonwealth by the members of the political class who are aided by the governments and financial institutions of western countries.

“Having fought and won the battle for university autonomy the ASUU should ensure that the internal machinery of each university is deployed to prevent the diversion of public funds. It is high time ASUU established a committee for the purpose of monitoring the management of public funds in the universities, the collection of the two education tax by all registered companies in the country and the disbursement of fund to universities by TETFUND. Unless the public funds allocated to the universities are judiciously spent by the management it is morally indefensible on the part of ASUU to continue to embark on industrial action to press for adequate funding of tertiary institutions and improved working conditions of the staff,” Falana added.

NNPC to Supply 100m Litres of Petrol in February as Scarcity Persists in Abuja Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said it had programmed to supply 100 million litres of petrol every day in February, adding that this would help clear out the lingering scarcity of petrol currently experienced across cities in the country.

The corporation in a statement from its Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja explained that two cargoes containing 50 million litres of petrol each would be brought into Nigeria every day in February.

It stated that this would ensure steady supply of petrol in the country and eradicate queues that have resurfaced in some cities including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, where the supply situation has continued to get tighter and difficult for residents to cope with by the day.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has programmed to bring in two cargoes of petrol per day for the rest of February 2018 to boost supply.

“Each of the two cargoes is 50 million litres making a total of 100 million litres that will be brought in per day for the rest of February to increase supply and replenish strategic reserves,” the corporation said.

Despite the scarcity in Abuja which has refused to go away as queues continue to build up at service stations across the city’s districts, the NNPC said it discharged 45 million litres of petrol last Wednesday from ships into jetties across the country to enhance supply.

According to it, “Prior to the fresh 45 million litres discharge, there was 324 million litres of petrol on land and 432 million litres in marine storage making a total of 756 million litres, enough to last for 22 days at 35 million daily consumption rate.”

It listed the jetties that received the 45 million litres shipments to include Nacj - Apapa; Bop - Apapa; Techo Jetty - Lagos; Dutchess - Oghara; Vine Jetty - Calabar; Chipet Jetty - Lagos; and ECM Jetty - Calabar.

“To ensure efficient distribution of the product to depots in the hinterland, the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), a midstream subsidiary of the NNPC, has been mandated to fix relevant pipeline to facilitate seamless pumping, in addition to massive trucking arrangement that is in place.

“The corporation assures Nigerians that with the measures in place, the fuel queues being experienced in some cities would soon be a thing of the past,” NNPC added.

RUBBING MINDS

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left), and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during the National Security Summit organised by the National Assembly Ad hoc Committee to Review the Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday.

Domestic Airlines Owe Aviation Agencies N513bn, Says Minister Chinedu Eze The Minister of State, for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday said the total debts owed aviation agencies by Nigerian airlines were over N513 billion.

The minister who seemed angry with the airlines for kicking against the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), said Nigerian airlines have refused to grow, noting that they supported the liberation of African airspace when they felt that it would favour them, but they are opposing it now because they are still fragmented with lack of capacity.

The minister lamented that the airlines want the federal government to renege from its commitment to the Yamoussoukro Declaration, which is the liberation of Africa’s airspace because they know that they cannot compete

effectively and urged them to come together.

The minister who spoke to journalists in Lagos at General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos said: “The airlines have refused to grow and the challenges are not caused by government. It is their own making. If I will advise them, let them get their acts together to focus, reorganise, reengineer, take advantage and be futuristic. They should see the bigger future; the bigger pie and organise themselves to take advantage of SAATM; rather than to sit here and whine at a train that is already moving.

“There is an airline that owes one of the agencies N13 billion.

One airline owes several agencies and companies up to N500 billion; just one airline. That airline has been taken over. Is that how

they will compete? I think it is getting their priorities right and by doing the business model that will get money for them that they will operate well. There is a lot they can do in aviation than just passenger scheduled services when they don’t have the capacity, experience and the business model,” Sirika also said.

On the Dana Air incident when the aircraft’s door fell off on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister described the incident as traumatising, but noted that with the way the aircraft is designed, the door could not have fallen off while the aircraft is airborne because it is pressurised, He apologised to the passengers who were in the flight when the incident happened and members of the public, saying investigation

was ongoing and would be made public by weekend.

Sirika also disclosed that plans for a new national carrier were already at an advanced stage and its set up would drive the open sky treaty recently signed with 22 African countries.

He said proper roll out and its establishment would take place within the next few months, before the end of this current administration, adding that in the next one or two months maximum, both the outline business case for the transaction and the full business case for the national carrier would be rolled out, after which processes for the carrier’s set up will begin.

“I will say that we are very close to having the national carrier established. Certainly, it will be within the first term of this administration,” he said.

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Ambode Approves Legislation to Boost Power Supply by 4,000MW Signs six other bills into laws Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has assented

to the State Electric Power Reform bill into law. The law isspecifically designed to generate at least 4, 000 megawatts of electricity under an

Court Orders AbiaVarsity to Restore Orji Kalu’s Certificate Davidson Iriekpen An Abia State High Court sitting Isuikwuato has the ordered the Abia State University, Uturu to restore the degree result and certificate” of former state Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the former governor to challenge the allegations of fraud and breach of admission regulations concerning his graduation and subsequent withdrawal of his degree by the university, Justice Agwu Umah Kalu said university did not give the former governor the opportunity to defend himself of the allegations levelled against him.

The judge held that it was a breach of Kalu’s fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He therefore quashed the proceedings, decisions, findings and or report of the Abia State University Ad-hoc Senate Investigation Panel on Allegations of Fraud and Breach of Regulations concerning the admission and graduation of the former governor.

The former governor had dragged the university and its Senate before the court on May 25, 2013 to challenge the cancellation and withdrawal of his degree without giving him an opportunity to defend himself on

some of the allegations levelled against him.

Kalu through his counsel, C. A. Obianwu, had prayed the court for a declaration that the report of the Ad-hoc Senate Investigation Panel on Allegations of Fraud and Breach of Regulations concerning his admission and graduation and the decision of the senate of the university of March 1, 2013, which cancelled and withdrew his degree result without affording him an opportunity to defend himself amounted to a breach of his right to fair hearing guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He also prayed for an order of court quashing the proceedings, decisions, findings and o report of the senate’s ad-hoc investigation panel In his judgment, Justice Kalu granted all the prayers of the claimant and ordered institution “to immediately restore the degree result and certificate” of the former governor.

The court noted that the actions of the first and second defendants in not giving Kalu the opportunity to defend himself amounted to a breach of his right to a fair hearing guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The court consequently ordered university and its senate to pay the former governor the sum of N100,000 as cost for the suit.

embedded power initiative.

The governor also signed six other bills into laws namely: the Amended Land Use Charge Bill, School of Nursing Bill, Cooperative College Bill, Cancer Research Institute bill, Amended Customary Court Bill, and the Yoruba Language Preservation and Promotion Bill.

He signed the bills at the State House, Alausa yesterday the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo, his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, among others.

After signing the bills into laws, yesterday, Ambode noted that each of the legislation “is expected to contribute to the growth and development of the state. Electricity reform law gives legal backing to the embedded power initiative.

It is designed to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity in 2018 and 3,000 megawatts by 2022.”

He explained that the power reform law “criminalizes power infractions and creates penalties for offenders in the state. “This law strengthens our resolve to commence the journey to provide uninterrupted power supply to businesses and homes in Lagos State.”

Giving insight into the embedded power initiative after the bills were assented to, Oluwo said the law would allow the state government to intervene in major areas of the power value chain to the overall benefit of the people.

He, thus, spoke on the benefits of the embedded power initiative, noting that the law would help the government extend its guarantee “to private sector participants who will come and generate power for us. By this guarantee, we are putting the balance sheet of our state on the table and assuring investors that as they generate power, they will get paid.”

He, also, noted that the law would help the distribution companies “to upgrade their

infrastructure because if they generate the power and their infrastructure is still where it is today, clearly they will not have the capacity to carry the incremental power.”

He added that the third area of intervention “is that it empowers us to be able to open up the gas market in Lagos so that we can have gas on a consistent basis and that is how we can attain the 24-hour power supply.”

Oluwo said the law would also enable the state government “to collaborate with the distribution companies to collect tariff from customers efficiently in a way that the said guarantee would not crystallise, while in the area of enforcement, the law will prevent power theft. ”What has happened today is that the first power theft law in Nigeria has been signed today

by Governor Ambode and this is the first time any government in Nigeria will institutionalise the power theft law.

“It criminalises power infraction.

What we have seen before is that people tamper with and bypass meters and at the end of the day they are arrested and nothing happens but the new law provides for jail terms as well as fines and all sorts of forbearance such that if you tamper with electrical installations, if you import fake electrical materials into this State, you are liable to be prosecuted.”

Likewise, the attorney-general noted that the signing of the bills would mark end of the legislative process, especially on the establishment of the Cancer Research Institute in the state and would advance the dividends of democracy to the people.

He said: “This is a great day. The governor has just signed these bills into law and this shows that the House of Assembly is working in tandem with the Executive. It also shows that Lagos is working. The laws are going to benefit the people of Lagos State and this is what the people are looking for in terms of the dividends of democracy.”

Ex-Aviation Minister Refutes Report of N3.9bn Airport Fund Diversion Damilola Oyedele in Abuja A former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, has refuted reports that the sum of N3.9 billion meant for the installation of security devices across the nation’s airports, was diverted during her tenure.

Oduah who represents Anambra North senatorial district in the Senate, said the report published in a national daily was instigated by detractors who plan to strike at her politically as the 2019 polls approach.

She described the report, which claimed that the money was traced to a firm where she has substantial interests as untrue in its entirety.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Oduah expressed disappointment that the medium did not bother to balance its report by reaching out to her, describing it as the height of unprofessionalism.

“At no time was any money meant for contracts under my watch as the aviation minister diverted to any company belonging to me neither did I pay back any loan from any such funds,” she said.

Oduah who was Minister of Aviation from July 2011 to February 2014, maintained that all contracts awarded by the aviation ministry during her tenure followed due process.

The referenced contract for the

installation of the security devices, was executed, she added.

“As the Minister of Aviation, I committed myself to the service of my country to the very best of my ability and as it is widely acknowledged, my record and performance as the Minister of Aviation remain laudable and unbeatable.

“What we did in aviation was so far reaching that it had never been done before, it was so unprecedented,” she said.

The former minister recalled that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was in such a bad shape, that even the rest rooms were not usable.

Most of the airports, she said, were worse than motor parks.

“We took them on and efficiently and in a very timely manner changed every single one of them: and we did not just change that, we changed the safety of the Nigerian airspace.

“Before then, we were having accidents literally every six months but we made sure that the safety of Nigerian passengers was prioritised to ensure that the landing gears, the flight gadgets, every single thing that has made Nigerian airspace the airspace that it is today, recognised by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), it had never been done before,” Oduah said.

MORE LAWS

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo; and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, duing the signing seven bills into laws by the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday

Court Okays Dasuki’s Trial Without His Lawyer Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday granted the prayers of the federal government to proceed with the trial of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), should his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), fail to appear in court at next sitting.

The judge consequently adjourned till April 9 and 10 for the continuation of trial.

Dasuki is standing trial on allegation bordering illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the court registrar read out a letter from Daudu’s chambers informing the court

that he (Daudu) was attending the Body of Bencher’s meeting at the Supreme Court.

He prayed the court to adjourned the matter to enable him appear at the next adjourned date.

However, prosecution counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyin (SAN), who had at previous sitting complained of incessant adjournments on behalf of the defendant, raised an objection to Daudu’s letter.

Okpeseyin said although he has been served with the letter from the defence lawyer praying for an adjournment, the letter was pregnant with unanswered questions.

He said: “As innocent as the letter looks, it is pregnant

because it is asking the court to decide whether the rights and privileges of a citizen with the authority of the court are subservient to that of the body of benchers.

“Whichever way the court reso lves the issue, we are bound by the decision of the court. On our part, we are ready. Our witnesses are also here in court. The ACJA has specified time and period for adjournment.

“If the defence counsel fails to appear in court at next sitting, the court is at liberty to proceed with the case.”

Justice Mohammed thereafter adjourned the matter to April 9 and 10, 2018, with a nod to the prosecution to go ahead with the trial

should the defence fail to appear in court at the next adjourned date.

Daudu had also on January 18, 2018, prayed the court for an adjournment to attend to other issues.

Dasuki was arraigned before the court on December 2015 on a five-count charge of alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.

The federal government had accused Dasuki of being in possession of five Tavor X95 assault rifles with numbers 45801168, 45801169, 45801175, 45801176 and 4801199 unlawfully.

The other items allegedly found in the residences of the accused person in Abuja and Sokoto were ammunition and cash in various foreign currencies.

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INEC Threatens to Unleash EFCC on Politicians Over Campaign Funds Vows to stop vote buying Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will henceforth work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute leaders of political parties and candidates who violate constitutional provisions on spending limits during elections.

The commission also expressed worry over rising incidence of vote-buying that has characterised elections in the country in recent times, vowing to put a stop to it in subsequent elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during the visit of the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to INEC headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking while receiving the

EFCC chairman, the INEC boss restated that the commission would not be biased or work for any candidate or political party in the conduct of the next general election.

On the strategies for the 2019 general election, Yakubu said the commission would collaborate with the EFCC to check the activities of corrupt elements who are out to circumvent the electoral process.

He said the commission was concerned about the rising incidence of open vote-buying, adding that it would not tolerate open vote-buying during the next general election.

Yakubu equally solicited the support of the EFCC to check the trend.

“As we approach the 2019,

INEC will require the support of your commission essentially in two ways. Number one is that INEC is worried about the recent trend of open vote-buying in polling stations.

“Parties and their candidates besiege the polling units with the aim of enticing voters with money. Votes of the electorate are to determine who wins election.

Our democracy should never be for sale in the open market.

The will of the people must be reflected at all times.

“We hope to be working closely with the EFCC. Open vote-buying will not be tolerated by the commission and the winner of future elections will be determined by the number of votes cast.

“The second issue revolves around party campaign funds.

The Electoral Act places limit to the amount parties and individuals should spend in an election and also the limit to the amount friends of candidates and parties can contribute in any election.

“The EFCC has the capacity to track and trace sources of such funds, and we the commission will work very closely with them so that we operate within the limits of the law,” he said.

Another issue the INEC boss highlighted was the limitation on the election expenditure, which he said has become subject of abuse by candidates and political parties.

He said the commission intends to collaborate with the EFCC in order to ensure that politicians that breach the law are apprehended and made to

face the consequences.

INEC boss was delighted with the visit of the anti-corruption agency to the commission.

Yakubu promised that INEC would remain an unbiased agency and would not work for any candidate or party in an election.

He recalled the steps taken by the commission in addressing cases of 205 staff indicted for election crimes, adding that “I want to assure Nigerians that INEC will remain an unbiased umpire. We will not work for any candidate or party. We are here to work for the Nigerian people, on election day, the vote of the people will determine the winner of the election.”

Yakubu who said over 7,000 staff of the commission were promoted last year as part of effort to reward hard work, however regretted that

about 85 staff have lost their lives since the last general election due to stress of work.

In his remarks, Magu said the commission was ready to support INEC in discharging its mandate to deliver credible elections.

He, however, noted that said that corruption has risen to become the worst enemy of the country, adding that the scourge affects everybody and hence the need for all to join hands to fight it.

“I want to appeal to every Nigerian to join in the fight against corruption. Corruption is disaster because it has done much damage to this country.

“For me, I believe that INEC is also fighting corruption though not in the same way that the EFCC is doing it, but through conducting of credible election.

Coalition for Nigeria Movement Creates Youth, Women Forums Ejiofor Alike In line with the need for the inclusion of women and youths at all levels of Nigeria’s democratic process, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) yesterday announced the formation of the CNM Youth Forum and the Women’s Forum.

CNM’s Director of Media and Public Communications, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, said in a statement that the two fora were created to enable the active inclusion of the youths and women, and also genuinely integrate them in the democratic process and position them for leadership positions across the country.

To steer the affairs of both forums, Osuntokun said the two ad-hoc steering committee’s had been constituted to work closely with women and youths across the country to achieve an altruistic integration of women and youths in the country’s democratic process.

Osuntokun listed their terms of reference to include: “to explore the role of the family, the community, religious and educational bodies and the state in actively preparing young people and women for leadership; identify and analyse the place of youths and women in political, economic and sociocultural affairs and their role in enabling social integration among the various ethnic, religious and cultural divides; explore the problems and causative

factors that presently affect Nigerian youths and women, which hinder their effective integration in leadership positions and the democratic process; develop a holistic approach to addressing problems identified and assiduously proffer durable solutions to them,” he explained.

According to him, they are also required to come up with a strategic report, which will be adopted by the coalition as part of its key agenda, after an inclusive dialogue with youths and women across the country.

“The committees shall also explore collaborative partnerships with private sector and civil society organisations for the purpose of empowering youths and women to actively fit into their rightful place in the build up to the forthcoming elections and subsequently integrate them in leadership positions at all levels of government,” he added.

According to Osuntokun, the members of the adhoc steering committee of the Youth Forum include Shehu M. Bello, who is the chairman; Seyi Adigun; Abubarkar Sadiq; Abayomi Olaleye; Josephine Owuye; Mary Manzo and Jasmine Onyia He also listed the members of the ad hoc Steering committee of the Women’s Forum to include Mrs. Victoria Oviasogie as Chairman, Mrs. Rita Anigbogu, Mrs. Bunmi Adeleye-Ogwuche, Hajia Safiya Muazu, Dr. Tope Olaifa, Mr. Monsurat Omotosho and Ms Rakiya Abba.

Buhari Loses Sister-in-law A sister in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Mamman, is dead.

Mrs. Mamman, 75, died in the early hours of yesterday.

The Information Officer of the Daura Local Government Council in Katsina, Salisu Haro, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura.

He said the deceased died at 11:30a.m. at the Federal Medical Center in Katsina

after a brief illness.

Haro said the deceased was the wife of the late Mamman Danbaffale, the elder brother to President Buhari.

He said Mrs. Mamman was survived by eight children, including Fatihu Mamman, a staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission and Hajiya Rbiya Mamman, a nutrition officer with the Katsina State Government.

Haro said the deceased had since been buried in Daura in accordance with Islamic injunction.

FACILITY TOUR

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Humart Stores, Mr. Murat Bektaslar; Vice President, Marketing, Cheng Fuller; and Vice President, Operations, Mr. Oseji Ezeh Enebeli, during the facility tour of Humart Stores, Lekki in Lagos....yesterday . Sunday Adigun

Lalong Defies Criticism, Budgets N250m for Cattle Ranches in Plateau Sacks cabinet Seriki Adinoyi in Jos In spite of several waves of criticisms across the country and Plateau State against government’s sponsorship of cattle ranches, the state Governor, Simon Lalong, has taken the bull by the horns by budgeting the sum of N250 million for the establishment and management of cattle ranches in his state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Sani Yahaya, disclosed this yesterday during the breakdown of 2018 budget of N146.4 billion held at the state’s cabinet office, Jos. Yahaya said: “The agriculture sub-sector is receiving a boost in this year’s budget, with the state government allocating the sum of N4.1 billion to the sub-sector, representing 5.7 per cent of

the capital estimate, and N250 million was earmarked for the establishment and management of ranches.”

The governor’s action was possibly informed by the unabated clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen resulting in wanton loss of lives and property; he believes that with the establishment of ranches, further clashes will be prevented.

Lalong had said his administration was not considering establishment of grazing reserve and cattle colonies contrary to speculations making the rounds in the state, adding that government has no right to colonise any local government area in the state for any reason.

But several persons in the state, including the senator representing Plateau North and former Governor

of the state, Jonah David Jang, have cautioned Lalong against using government’s money to establish ranches, saying cattle rearing is a private business like many other businesses and should not be sponsored by government for any reason.

He said: “Ranches is a private business and that individuals should cough out money and purchase land from the locals to run their business.”

Yahaya, however, promised that Lalong’s administration would continue to maintain its stand on dealing decisively with any citizen both in public and private sector that try to frustrate efforts of revenue authorities and the task.

He said this year’s budget would be well implemented as the budget has been approved in good time, and we shall explore

all necessary avenues to source for funds to finance it.”

Meanwhile, the governor has announced the sack of his cabinet in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle.

While expressing appreciation to the commissioners for their selfless service and immense contributions to his government in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state, Lalong wished them the best in their future endeavours.

Lalong assured them that as stakeholders in the Plateau project, their wealth of experience would continuously be relied upon “in building the state of our dream.”

The statement directed the commissioners to hand over to permanent secretaries in their respective ministries.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

AFRICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Ukoro Grabs Surprise Greco Roman Gold for Nigeria Duro Ikhazuagbe Peter Ukoro handed Nigeria a surprise gold medal in the 55kg Greco-Roman event for cadet wrestlers on Day 1 of competition at the ongoing African Wrestling Championship in Port Harcourt.

The youngster from Bauchi State defeated Omar Adel Abdelaziz of Egypt 4-0 in the final to win the precious medal.

“I feel very glad and happy about it,” Ukoro said shortly after his he was presented the gold medal.

“It was awesome but enjoyable because GrecoRoman is enjoyable to me. I am glad and by the grace of God, I know I can be the best in this event,” gushed the lad who was carried shoulder high by his teammates after the bout at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Centre in the heart of the Garden City.

In some of the other events decided, yesterday Lu Shawn Leonico KOK of South Africa settled for bronze after overcoming Namibia’s Linus Katujanda, 4-0.

In the 60kg weight class, Ikechukwu Robinson of Team Nigeria won bronze after subduing Tunisia’s Medhi Dheker, 8-0 while Ahmed Merikhi of Algeria

won gold in that class by beating Zeyad Emadeldin Helmi Yakout of Egypt, 8-3.

The competition continues today with more Nigerians gunning for medals.

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Igali has said the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championship has helped the country to identify hidden talents in the sport.

Igali said the cadet and junior wrestlers groomed in three national camps have afforded the country to have a pool of wrestlers for the future.

The Olympic gold medalist was speaking at the opening ceremony of the AWC on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

He commended Governor Nyesom Wike for helping in the preparation of the Nigerian athletes for the continental event.

A total of 90 wrestlers are representing the country in the continental competition which is coming to Nigeria for the first time in 42 years.

Igali said: “We are happy we have young ones who can always be called upon.

The talents are there but we do not have enough competitions to look at them.

“Gov Wike has really helped us and I am happy that of the 180 athletes in

Why GAC Motors is Supporting Lagos City Marathon, By Chan The Chairman of GAC Motors, Diana Chan, has explained why the automobile organisation is supporting the Lagos City Marathon scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Speaking yesterday at the corporate office of GAC Motors in Lagos, Chan said it was important to get involved with projects that would serve the generality of the people.

She stressed that GAC Motors was interested in the race because marathon had a mass appeal because of the huge number of participants, especially in a mega city like Lagos.

“So many people will run and we are happy to be part of the programme involving so many Nigerians because we are in this country to be known with our quality products.

“In the past four years, I have been in this country and investment is rather tough but we are happy to be making impact with the people.

“We love sports and that is why we are proud of our Sport Utility Vehicles in which the very latest, GS 8 will be launched on Friday (today) in Lagos,” stressed Chan

The GAC Motors boss charged all the participants in the Lagos City marathon to aspire to do well in the international race.

She noted that marathon was good for healthy living of individuals generally and it further informed the decision of the outfit to embrace the project.

“Health is wealth and so we encourage people to run for healthy living. There are two or three competitions and we are supporting with our products for the 10km race.

“We are going to continue our support for the marathon to make it better just as we also strive to make more quality products for Nigerians,” Chan stressed.

Diana Chan, Chairman GAC Motors

camp, we have people who can take over from the senior ones in future.”

Wike assured wrestling

stakeholders that the government of Rivers State would create the enabling environment for all the

wrestlers from 35 countries and other participants to enjoy the Garden City.

Minister of Sports,

Solomon Dalung, urged the country’s representatives to be good ambassadors of Nigeria at the championship.

ALL SET FOR LAGOS CITY MARATHON...

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh; President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau; Senior Brand Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc., Mr. Segun Ogunleye and Musician, Sound Sultan at the Press Conference to announce plans for Access Bank/Lagos City Marathon in Lagos…yesterday

Nigeria’s Team to Winter Olympics, Proof of our Can Do the Unimaginable, Says Atiku Former Vice-president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, is wishing Team Nigeria an outstanding and memorable outing at the 2018 Winter Olympics which started in PyeongChang, South Korea yesterday.

A statement released by his media office of the former vicepresident in Abuja, describes Nigeria’s quest at the Winter Games as historic, considering that the country does not experience any snow.

“Once again, Nigeria is proving to the world and, most importantly, to ourselves, that we can do the unimaginable and the impossible once we set our hearts on it,” Atiku Abubakar said.

He praised the quartet of Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga, Seun Adigun and Simi Adeagbo, who will represent Nigeria in bobsled and skeleton respectively, at the games.

The three women competing

in bobsled were originally trained in track and field but eventually switched to bobsled and qualified for the Olympics, a feat which Atiku Abubakar describes as pure evidence of the indomitable spirit of Nigeria to conquer new grounds.

Atiku Abubakar is thrilled to note that the trio’s audacious goal of becoming Africa’s first-ever bobsled team to go to the Winter Olympics was the motivating force in the qualification of Simi Adeagbo

for the skeleton event.

“These Nigerians are an example of what each and every one of us can accomplish once we set hearts to it, irrespective of the obstacles that may lie in our path.

“I wish these brave women the best as they fly our nation’s flag at the Olympics. May they be an inspiration to us all to chart new territories and seek to conquer new grounds,” concludes the former number two citizen.

SpecialTraining for Siasia Stadium Groundsmen Begins Groundsmen at the soon to be inaugurated Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa have began a special training on how to ensure the geo-technology turf is well maintained.

According to the CEO of stadium facility construction outfit Monimichelle that installed the turf, Ebi Egbe, the groundsmen are being schooled on how to change the patterns of the turf to make it TV and spectator friendly during matches.

“The groundsmen are being trained on how to change the patterns of the pitch during different matches. We want to make the turf a beauty to behold during matches. What we have installed at the arena is 95 percent natural lead free synthetic grass pitch with shock absorption system. Our plan is to see the pitch well maintained by groundsmen who have the skill,” Egbe stressed further.

Bayelsa State government and the contractor that handled the stadium project have been receiving accolades for a job well done.

CAF Medical Committee Member, Dr Peter Singabele, said he is happy the state government went for the latest technology and FIFA approved brand of synthetic pitch which is not hazardous.

Samson Siasia Stadium mainbowl

“What we have right now in Yenagoa is different from the rubber synthetic pitches in different stadia across the country. Gov. Dickson and the contractor have done a good job,” Singabele said.

Former Super Eagles forward, Victor Agali, had after feeling the turf last week, described it as “world-class.”

Tarila Okoronwanta, another

ex-international also stated that the Samson Siasia Stadium turf would change the face of football not just in Bayelsa but the entire country.

“We now have a stadium in Yenagoa that can attract international matches,” Okorowanta observed while praising the state government and the contractor that handled the project.

FRI ˜ ͷ˜ ͰͮͯͶ ˾ T H I S D AY

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Mustapha Pledges Integrity, Justice as Watchwords in CAF The new President of the CAF Board of Appeal, A. U. Mustapha (SAN) has assured football stakeholders in the continent that his board will employ integrity and justice to all as watchwords during its tenure.

Speaking in Abuja shortly after he was appointed to the position, the former Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee said: “I want to first and foremost, thank the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, for making

this possible. I never lobbied for the job and I never even knew that I was being considered. Perhaps, the big roles that AITEO continue to play in Nigerian football and at CAF level brought one to prominence. I thank Mr.

Match Hospitality Appoints Integral as Sales Agent for FIFA World Cup in Russia Match Hospitality has confirmed that Nigeria’s leading sports events and hospitality company, Integral, as the Exclusive Sales Agent in Nigeria for the sale of the Official Hospitality Programme of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

Match Hospitality is the exclusive rights holder of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and is the only company worldwide that has been officially appointed by FIFA to promote and sell, either directly or via its global network of sales agents, official commercial hospitality packages including guaranteed match tickets.

The Company has successfully operated the FIFA Commercial Hospitality Programmes for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and more recently, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, where over 290,000 commercial hospitality packages were sold, significantly surpassing the previous largest hospitality programme in international sports events.

The Chief Operating Officer of Match Hospitality, Pascal Portes said: “We feel a tremendous sense of pride in the product range offered

by Match Hospitality as FIFA’s official hospitality rights holder for the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Okowa Mourns Former NFA Spokesman, Austin Mgbolu Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed deep sadness over the death of a former Spokesman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Austin Mgbolu.

Governor Okowa in a condolence message to the Mgbolu family signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, described the late Mgbolu as a gentleman who was passionately devoted to his career as a reputable sports journalist.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, I identify with the Mgbolu family of Ibusa in Delta State, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigeria Football Federation, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria over the irreparable loss.

“He was a committed journalist who approached his job with truth and served the country diligently as the longest serving spokesman to the then NFA, adding that “his wise counsel as an experienced sports journalist would be sorely missed.

The Governor commiserated with the family and associates of the deceased and prayed that God would comfort them.

Russia.

“Nigeria is an established and very passionate market, and we are extremely optimistic about the sales potential for our hospitality programme in 2018.

We know that Integral are our best partners to open the door to a thriving Nigerian market ready for the extraordinary

experiences promised by this exceptional FIFA World Cup™ environment,” he remarked.

In his response, the Managing Director of Integral, Abimbola Ilo, said “we are delighted to act as the Exclusive Sales Agent of Match Hospitality in Nigeria for the sale of the World Cup Hospitality Programme.

Benedict Peters (President, AITEO) for his immense service to football.

“For me, the approach to this new assignment will be simple: integrity will be at the front –burner. A lot of people who know me can vouch for me on this. More importantly, we will follow the rules dispassionately to deliver justice to all.”

A distinguished legal practitioner of over two decades, A. U. Mustapha has excelled in various assignments in Nigerian Football as well as in using strategic thinking to run diverse businesses.

A dynamic, articulate and pragmatic team player, he has attended reputable international institutions including the Harvard Business School (USA), Manchester

Business School, Suffolk Law School (both in the United Kingdom) and the Business School Netherlands in The Hague. He has served in top positions in various businesses and in boards of corporate entities, as well as with the National Sports Commission (Chairman, National Appeals Committee), the NFF (Chairman, NFF Electoral Committee & Deputy Chairman, NFF Committee for Ethics and Fairplay) and the League (Member, Organising and Disciplinary Committee).

“My father was the Chairman of Kwara State Football Association and we used to follow him to the stadium to watch matches, so you can say the love of the game is from the cradle!

“I see every assignment as a

call to service. I have enjoyed the experience all the way, but I will say the most challenging for me was conducting the 2010 NFF Elections, which has been adjudged as perhaps the most credible in NFF history.

There were lots of intrigues and attempts were made to compromise us, with threats and invasion of privacy thrown into the bargain.

“However, our unwavering commitment to a credible process prevailed to the extent that the FIFA observer offered me a job with FIFA, but a highly –placed Nigerian told him that my hands are full in Nigeria!”

A. U. Mustapha was last Friday, at the 40th CAF General Assembly in Casablanca, named the new President of the CAF Board of Appeal.

Friday, February 9, 2018

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MISSILE Akume to IG “His comments have always been very jaundiced. They are not based on professional soundness and they do not show any detachment and impartiality” – Former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume accusing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris of taking sides with the herders accused of killings in the state.

eniola.bello@thisdaylive.com

@eniolaseni 08055001956

2019 and Buhari’s Freudian Slip S ince mid-January, there has been a concatenation of events whose denouement would decide, one way or another, the fate of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election. In no particular order, the events include herdsmen incessant attacks on farmers and destruction of farmlands and the federal government’s inability, if not refusal, to stop it, culminating in the massacre of 73 people in some communities in Benue State and the ensuing national outrage; the “no-apology” endorsement of Buhari by the Nasir el-Rufai-led G7 governors from the north less than 24 hours after the state-organised mass burial of the Benue 73; the president’s consultations with select APC (All Progressives Congress) leaders in what has been interpreted as subtle re-election moves; former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s public statement knocking Buhari’s poor performance, advising him to forget about second term while proposing a different coalition; and former military President Ibrahim Babangida’s statement also canvassing the need to have a new set of leaders, amongst others. Lost in one of these series of events was Buhari’s Freudian slip while seeming to praise immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan for graciously calling him on telephone to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election.

On January 19, 2018, Buhari expressed surprise that his immediate predecessor, Jonathan conceded defeat in the 2015 presidential election.

Hosting to dinner some select leaders of the ruling APC at the Presidential Villa Abuja, Buhari said he “went temporarily into a coma” when Jonathan telephoned to congratulate him.

“After being a deputy governor, a governor, vice president, and president for six years, … he could have caused some problems”, Buhari said of Jonathan before adding, “ having stayed for so long in the corridors of power, he could have deployed all the arsenals within his realm to destabilize the system”.

With that confession, hasn’t the president mistakenly opened a window to his deepest, darkest secrets, or what psychologists call a Freudian slip - in common parlance, slip of the tongue? Was Buhari unwittingly telling us that he wouldn’t have conceded defeat in 2015 were he in Jonathan’s shoes? Or was he implying that should he lose re-election in 2019, as every indication shows he should, he may find it difficult to concede defeat and may “deploy all the arsenals within his realm to destabilize the system”? Buhari’s antecedents made neither of these scenarios an unfair assumption. He never conceded defeat in the three previous elections he lost before winning in 2015, even while his support base was essentially confined to northwest and northeast zones. His disposition had always been any election he didn’t win was fraudulent. Such disposition had always goaded his supporters to embark on violent protests, with that of 2011 in particular marred by hundreds of killings. Of course, rigging marred the elections Buhari lost, like every other election in the nation’s history. However, in none of those elections did Candidate Buhari have the required broad-based support across the nation that could have given him victory. If violence followed Buhari’s refusal to concede defeat in past electoral failures, what would happen should he fail to win as a sitting president in 2019 with power to “deploy all arsenals … to

Buhari

destabilize the system”? Shouldn’t Nigerians be worried?

Indeed, there is every cause for worry.

Although Buhari has not formally made known his 2019 plans one way or the other, there has been a loud shuffle by a cross section of APC leaders and government officials persuading and agitating and endorsing and campaigning for his re-election. The el-Rufai-led “no apologies” G7 governors have endorsed Buhari for second term. So have Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, and the southeast APC leaders.

Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu has even opened a Buhari Campaign Office in Ibadan. Following the growing opposition to a possible second term bid for the president, and the cold shoulders notable APC leaders are giving the idea, the administration’s democratic temper, lukewarm at the best of times, has risen a little. The leadership of a cross section of the security agencies, which ordinarily should have their hands full arresting the deteriorating security situation across the country in incessant herders’ attacks, in kidnappings for ransom, in kidnappings for rituals, in cult killings, and in violent robberies and rape, seem to be more concerned with harassing politicians, blaming the victims of criminality, and curtailing free speech.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, senator and immediate past governor of Kano State had planned to visit his constituents January 30. However, the Kano police command advised him to stay away to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Kwankwaso has been having a running battle with Governor Umar Ganduje who had served as deputy governor when the senator was the state chief executive. It is improbable that the police stopped Kwankwaso’s visit to Kano solely on the strength of his disagreement with Ganduje. Kwankwaso’s problem may not be unconnected with his 2019 presidential ambition.

In 2015, he came second to Candidate Buhari in the APC presidential primary. He therefore already has a shared history with Buhari for the control of Kano, the president’s strongest vote grabbing machine, Almajiri under aged voters and all. Like other political heavyweights in the coalition that helped deliver the Buhari

presidency, Kwankwaso was not only cut off from the internal workings of the ruling party and government, Ganduje his long time associate and deputy that he installed as governor almost single-handed, led the proxy war to whittle the senator’s political reach and influence in Kano. The state police command’s decision to stop Kwankwaso’s visit, ostensibly to prevent a breakdown of law and order from a possible violence that the maneuvering from the Ganduje camp could precipitate, could only have been one of the strategies to rein in the senator using an institution of state. Is that the route to 2019?

Indeed, the police have been unduly hyperactive on issues that have nothing to do with keeping law and order. Babangida’s spokesman Kassim Afegbua was declared wanted shortly after the statement he issued on behalf of his principal became public. Barely 24 hours after the police apologised, perhaps due to public outcry, when Afegbua reported at Force Headquarters, Abuja, the DSS (Directorate of State Security) jumped into the fray. What offence did Afegbua commit in issuing a statement on behalf of a former president to warrant intimidation from security agencies? In a democracy? Did Babangida make a criminal complaint against Afegbua for Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris to have ordered his arrest “for making false statement…?” If the police have issues with the contents of the statement, why leave Babangida on whose behalf the statement was issued to harass the messenger? When has it become a crime for a citizen to express an opinion on issues of national interest? Sometime last month, the police arrested the Bring Back Our Girls campaigners for no other reason than organizing a peaceful protest calling for the release of the remaining kidnapped Chibok school girls still in the custody of Boko Haram insurgents. Even the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, had the nerve to describe Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom a drowning man ostensibly because the governor called for the resignation of police chief Idris. Are we running a police state now? Is that the route to 2019?

In their desire to curtail free speech, top administration officials have taken off where the police stopped. Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali recently directed security agencies to monitor social media postings of some notable Nigerians with a view to tackling what he described as “the propagation of hate speeches”. What criteria qualifies one to be a notable Nigerian? Could that be a veil behind which to hound those opposed to Buhari as the 2019 elections draw near?

Was the attempt not too long ago by state security personnel to arrest Isa el-Buba, general overseer of Evangelical Outreach Ministries International, Jos, for asking his congregants to use their voter cards to vote out “wickedness” in government the administration’s way of tackling notable Nigerians promoting hate speeches? A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has accused a section of the media of promoting hate speech, disregarding decorum and professionalism in the reportage of security issues, and showing disrespect for journalism ethics and press laws. Is the administration preparing the grounds to clampdown on the media? This was how the war against the press in the promulgation of Decree 4 started during Buhari’s first coming as military leader in 1984.

It is curious that the headline (Expect More Bloodshed in Benue) of The Sun newspaper that Garba brandished as evidence of media propagation of hate speech was an interview with Husaini Yusuf Bosso, a top executive of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders’ Association.

Yet there was no indication that any arm of the security agencies arrested Bosso or questioned him for hate speech. Is that the route to 2019?

Officials of Miyetti Allah, an association in which Buhari has long been a life patron, seem incapable of doing no wrong since May 2015 when the president was sworn into office.

Its leadership has been justifying the right of the herders to kill and maim and burn and rape, and they have been threatening more bloodshed if the Benue State government failed to repeal the anti-grazing law. And herders have apparently taken that as a green light, particularly with the apparent indifference of government (until lately) to stop the incessant killings and bring those responsible to justice. Since the killings of Benue 73, the body language of top administration officials has done everything but imbue confidence. President Buhari, who ordinarily should have been mourner-in-chief at the mass burial of Benue 73, did not only fail to attend the ceremony, he rather preferred to, while receiving some grieving leaders of the State at the Presidential Villa Abuja, invoke God’s name to enjoin those in mourning to be accommodating of others. Police chief Idris attributed the killings to communal clashes.

Defence Minister Ali took the position of Miyetti Allah and blamed the incident on the state government’s anti-grazing law. In all this, no government official has cautioned officials of Miyetti Allah to stop making incendiary statements, the security agencies have not told Nigerians the source and sponsors of the AK-47 rifles the herders carry around with ease, and the police do not appear to have the wherewithal, and the inclination, to prevent another attack, and yet another.

Some state governors, who have tied their political fate to Buhari’s apron strings, have unwisely put their states on the frontline. Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, mostly nescient, was not only the first to accept cattle colony in his state without consultation with the people, he’s even threatened to remove traditional rulers in communities where there are clashes with herders. When government officials appear to justify, as Minister Ali has done, that it is right to take arms in protest against a law; when the No.1 police chief takes liberty with the facts of an incident as gruesome as the Benue killings; when officials of a tribal association, like those of Miyetti Allah, threaten other groups within the federation without repercussion in a rabid display of Fulani triumphalism perhaps because their kinsman is president; when a state governor is impervious to the concerns of his people simply to please the presidency; and when the president serially appeals to the goodness of the victims of aggression while seemingly not doing enough to bring the aggressors to justice, the administration unwittingly creates the impression that some group of people are above the law.

Such an environment creates room for all sorts of conspiracy theories capable of undermining national cohesion, if not jeopardizing the country’s unity. Is that the route Buhari would want to take to 2019?

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