THURSDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2018

Fuel Scarcity May Linger as Marketers Issue 14-Day Ultimatum over Unpaid Subsidy Claims Ejiofor Alike There may be no end in sight for the lingering fuel shortage in the country as depot owners under the aegis of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria

(DAPPMAN) have given the federal government and its agencies 14 days to approve and pay off its remaining subsidy era indebtedness amounting to over N650 billion to them and all other petroleum marketing

companies.

The marketers have also stated that they do not have any other option to forestall increasing debt burdens of borrowing to pay staff than to immediately commence massive staff disengagement

after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, which was obtained by THISDAY, the marketers referred the minister to their earlier letter with ref:

DS/ES/Presidency/16, dated 24th January, 2018 where they had claimed lack of response on the part of the federal government to the plight of petroleum marketers, many of who have become financially insolvent.

The Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, who signed the latest letter with Ref: DS/ ES/16 and dated February 20, 2018, informed Kachikwu Continued on page 6

FG Mobilises CBN, IFC, Others to Finance Modular Refineries… Page 6 Thursday 22 February, 2018 Vol 23. No 8344. Price: N250

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Barclays Confirms Teleology as Preferred Bidder of 9mobile Gives 21-day window for payment of $50m Emma Okonji Barclays Africa, the financial adviser handling the sale of 9mobile, yesterday, finally put to rest several media speculations about the actual sale of 9mobile.

Continued on page 10

HONOUR FOR EXCELLENCE…

L-R: Former Delta State governors, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief James Ibori; the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; business mogul and Deputy Managing Director Aiteo, Mr. Francis Peters; his wife, Mariam; and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino; at the 1st edition of Aiteo/NFF Awards in Lagos… Monday

Boko Haram: 48 Missing School Girls Return as Buhari Dispatches Ministers to Yobe Asks military to take charge Saraki condemns attack Omololu Ogunmade, Damilola Oyedele in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Damaturu Forty-eight of the 94 girls declared missing on Tuesday after a Monday evening Boko Haram attack on Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State,

have returned to the school, the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Mohammed Lamin, said on Wednesday.

He spoke in Damaturu just as President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched three ministers, Brig-Gen. Mansur Continued on page 6

El-Rufai Tightens the Noose, Asks Factional Leader, Hunkuyi, to Pay N30.4m in 30 Days… Page 10

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal (left); and Executive Chairman/CEO, BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; during BUA Group’s visit to the governor, preparatory to the inauguration of the company’s new 2million metric-tonne cement plant in Sokoto… yesterday

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FG Mobilises CBN, IFC, Others to Finance Modular Refineries Offers investors incentives Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government on Wednesday said it was talking with potential financiers, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to provide contributory finance to investors in modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja, Mr. Rabiu Suleiman, who is the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated that the government would also guarantee regular crude oil supply to investors in modular refineries in the region.

Suleiman said this would be in addition to tax and custom duties waivers the investors will

also enjoy from the government to ensure their projects took off and remained profitable.

Apart from NSIA, CBN, and IFC, Suleiman, said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and some state governments had equally indicated their willingness to invest in the refineries and gain equity in them.

The federal government in November 2017 disclosed that it was considering granting 13 operational licenses for modular refineries in the Delta region. It also has, as part of its policy to revive the country’s oil sector, the Seven Big Wins, plans to incentivise the construction of modular refineries in the region.

Suleiman, however explained in his remarks at an executive session titled: Petroleum Products Supply and Demand in Africa Translating Crude Abundance to Product Abundance, that these

were parts of the government’s plans to incentivise modular refining and create jobs in the Niger Delta.

Suleiman said: “Nobody wants to invest heavy amount of money in places where you are not very sure of doing the business without being interfered in one way or the other. Modular refining is a small ticket business and it has very long impacts.

“We have a lot of programmes that will support modular refining initiative, and a lot of incentives have been put together to support this initiatives, right from customs duty waivers. Anybody who wants to invest in modular refining in the Niger Delta is going to benefit from such custom duty waivers and tax relief that is being discussed at very senior level and we have reached a very serious level and that is going to happen.”

He further said: “On financing, we have engaged the government and the Central Bank; we have engaged the Bank of Industry, we have engaged Sovereign Wealth Fund, and we have engaged Infrastructure Bank. We have engaged a lot of them including the IFC and the rest.

“We have all worked with them and they all promised to make contributory finance into that. Only two weeks ago, we engaged with NDDC, the MD made a commitment that they are going to see how they can put in some money even if it means to pick up an equity either in one or two or three of the refineries.

“State governments have said they want to be part.

So, we are encouraging a lot of financing. In the next two weeks, we intend to call for an investors’ engagement forum

that will address some of the funding arrangements that we intend to bring on board.”

Suleiman equally stated: “Crude is guaranteed more or less. The crude is for sale, we take it offshore to sell, there is no justification why crude should not be made available to the refiners, in-country. Today we have already issued a letter to one of the proponents of the modular refineries and we directed ExxonMobil to guarantee crude supply to that refinery because they are in close proximity to Mobil in Eket.”

Also speaking in the session, Mr. Babajide Soyode, who is the Technical Consultant to the President of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, explained that claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that it was experiencing an under-recovery in its importation and sale of petrol in the country

was comical.

Soyode, who questioned the country’s continued regulation of its downstream petroleum sector, explained that underrecovery was synonymous with subsidy. He thus suggested that the corporation had gone back to subsidising the country’s consumption of petrol.

He also questioned the 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) collective nameplate production capacities of NNPC’s four refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt, adding that the refineries have some irregularities in the capacities of their units.

According to him, 15,000bpd of Warri, 10,000bpd of Kaduna, and 65,000bpd of Port Harcourt were not available, and as such it would be wrong to continue to state that the refineries collectively have a processing capacity of 445,000bpd.

FUEL SCARCITY MAY LINGER AS MARKETERS ISSUE 14-DAY ULTIMATUM OVER UNPAID SUBSIDY CLAIMS that the marketers are continually under pressure by their banks and AMCON, with looming threats of imminent take-over of their petrol stations and Tank Farms.

In the letter titled: “Re: Outstanding subsidy induced debts owed petroleum marketers: Notification of formal disengagement of staff due to our inability to continue bearing the

costs alongside interest burden,” Adewole also disclosed that other creditor labour unions such as the National Association of Road Transporter Owners (NARTO) and the Petrol Tanker drivers (PTD) are also threatening the marketers.

He explained: “In the light of the fore going, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers' Association of Nigeria

(DAPPMAN) members do not have any other option open to us to forestall increasing debt burdens of borrowing to pay staff than to immediately commence massive staff disengagement as earlier forewarned in our letter of 24th January, 2018, where we had, in the light of the above and after exhausting all formal avenues to secure payment of these debts, alerted the Federal

Government, via a 21-day notice to the likelihood of disengaging personnel; a last resort to curtail spiralling borrowings and interests in the effort to meet salary obligations to underutilised personnel.

“The unfortunate primary fallout of this step is the likely shut down of all DAPPMAN depots nationwide due to lack of man power to operate same

pending the time the Federal Government will pay off its indebtedness to petroleum marketers. This unfortunately will have a multiplier effect on the nationwide supply and distribution of petroleum products which currently is still a struggle.”

According to him, this letter serves as a fresh 14-day reminder and an opportunity for the

federal government and its agencies to speedily approve and pay off its remaining subsidy era indebtedness to all their members and indeed all petroleum marketing companies.

“Whilst we would remain expectant of federal government’s positive response and financial instruments to offset the debts Continued on page 10

BOKO HARAM: 48 MISSING SCHOOL GIRLS RETURN AS BUHARI DISPATCHES MINISTERS TO YOBE Dan-Ali (Defence), Chief Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs) and Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), to the state to collate information on the attack and report back to him.

The president, according to Mohammed, who briefed State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, also directed the military to immediately take charge of the school and ward off any other potential security threat.

Updating journalists in Damaturu, Lamin said 48 of the 94 missing girls had returned to the school leaving the search team of the state government with 46 more girls to find.

He said 28 of the missing girls returned on Tuesday night, while 20 more were received from Magwaram Village on Wednesday morning.

“This has brought down the 94 missing students realized at the yesterday's (Tuesday) headcount to 48 this morning (Wednesday). We are still hopeful that more are returning soon,” Lamin said.

The commissioner asked parents to report to the school whenever their children arrived home to enable the government update its record.

An anonymous source in the school told our correspondent that the 28 students that returned were rescued by villagers in bushes around Dapchi town.

“You know, some of the children trekked 15 to 20 kilometres in the bush to save their lives. We also received calls from Fulani settlements that they were bringing more students they found in the bush,” the source said, adding: “So far, no dead body of the students has been recovered, but we,

however, had one student who was bitten by a snake. She was treated locally and would be taken to the specialist hospital, Damaturu for better medical attention.”

It was also gathered that a combined team of security operatives had been drafted to the area for the search of the remaining missing students.

Meanwhile Yobe Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has charged the military and other security outfits to ensure that none of the students was lost.

The governor in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Abdullahi Bego, said: “Following the incursion of suspected Boko Haram terrorists into Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari Local Government Council, and the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC), the Yobe State Government is working with the Nigerian Army and other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all students in the school are fully accounted for.”

Saying the students were helped by their teachers to escape through the night to the surrounding bush and villages as the terrorists stormed the town on Monday, the governor said 50 out of the 926 students remained unaccounted for.

“The State Government is coordinating with the army and law enforcement to ensure that those girls are returned safely,” he said, adding that the state government had no credible information yet on whether any of the school girls was taken hostage by the terrorists.

“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the unfortunate event,” Gaidam said, directing all relevant personnel and agencies of government to work closely with the army and other security

organisations to address the situation.

Buhari Dispatches Ministers to Yobe Meanwhile, President Buhari has ordered the military and other security agencies to immediately take full charge of the school as a result of Monday's attack and provide him with update on the situation.

The president, according to the Minister of Information and Culture, also sent a delegation comprising ministers to the community to provide him with original information about the situation.

Mohamed who made the disclosure to journalists after over six hours of FEC meeting in the State House, listed members of the delegation to include: Dan-Ali, Onyema and himself.

He said: "Mr. President has directed the military and other security agencies to take immediate charge and control of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, and inform him of developments.

"He has released a delegation led by the Minister of Defence to Dapchi, to get first-hand information as to what is happening.

"Others in the delegation are Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information."

Asked about the information at his disposal on the state of the missing girls, aside 48 that had reportedly returned, Mohammed said it would be made known as soon as the picture is clear.

"That is precisely why Mr. President is in direct contact with the military and the police, and as soon as we get any information, we will let you know," he said.

The military has, however, said it was waiting on the school authorities to ascertain if any

student was abducted.

It also claimed that the attack on the school was the desperate last kicks of a dying horse.

Speaking on phone to our correspondent on Wednesday, the spokesman of the military counter-insurgency operation in the North East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said troops had been deployed in Dapchi to restore normalcy and go after the marauding insurgents.

He said the military could not say for now if there was any abduction from the school as it was still waiting on the school authorities to make a roll call and check through the school register to ascertain if there was any student missing.

Nwachukwu said it was also gathered that some of the students who have relatives in the town ran home when gunshots were heard.

He said: “The Dapchi incident is quite an unfortunate one. The information so far received is that the principal of the school dispersed the students on hearing sporadic shooting before the insurgents arrived the school premises.

“Many of the students some of whom are indigenous had scurried to safety in different directions. So far no destruction of property or killing has been reported but there were cases of looting of food and provisions.

Our troops have moved into the community and are on the trail of the insurgents.”

He added that: “I will like to add that the attack on Dapchi is diversionary because of the heat being brought upon the insurgents by our troops in the ongoing operation Deep Punch II.” He absolved the military of any blame on the attack.

Nwachukwu said: “Operation Lafiya Dole troops have a mandate to carry out counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in north eastern Nigeria and as such are deployed vis-a-vis the threat situation.

“It is fundamentally a fluid security architecture, considering the pseudo and asymmetrical nature of the adversary. Hence, as troops clear Boko Haram insurgents from a locality or community, the expectation is that operatives of other sister security agencies take charge of security in such cleared areas, while the troops move ahead to continue their counter insurgency operations.”

He added that: “Apparently given the vastness of these areas you have mentioned (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States), troops cannot be deployed in every inch of the geographical space to hold the ground in cleared locations. Troops must be relieved of this burden by other security agencies while they continue to conduct kinetic operations against the insurgents in the hinterlands.”

The military spokesman, however, said patrols and ambushes, were being carried out by troops who, he added, maintain blocking positions and checkpoints to deny the insurgents freedom of action.

Saraki Condemns Attack The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, condemned in strong terms the attack on the school by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

In statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki described the attack as one too many even as he urged the security agencies

to get to the root of the matter, bring the perpetrators to book and ensure that all students of the school are accounted for.

He called on security agencies to reinforce security around academic institutions in the country in order to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of such soft targets to disrupt academic activities and wreak havoc at a time the federal government is working assiduously to end the incidents of terror in the Northeast and other flash points in the country.

He urged the security agencies to be proactive in protecting lives and property in the country and also ensure that accurate information about attacks such as the Dapchi’s, are promptly made available to members of the public to prevent unnecessary speculation and panic by family members of victims and citizens alike.

He expressed sympathy with the affected students, parents, school authorities and the government and people of Yobe State over the incident.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN JAPAUL 0.02 0.37 CHAMPBREW 0.13 2.83 CONTINENTAL 0.07 1.58 0.47 PRESTIGE 0.02 LAWUNION 0.03 0.72 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN CONOIL 3.40 32.10 UNIC 0.02 0.30 FIDELITYBANK 0.18 3.00 COURTVILLE 0.02 0.36 UPDC 0.15 2.85 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦ 1,370.00 Volume: 570.259 million shares Value: N5.326 billion Deals: 5,794 As at 21/2/18 See details on Page 41

% 5.7 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.3 % 9.5 6.2 5.6 5.2 5.0

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El-Rufai Tightens the Noose, Asks Factional Leader, Hunkuyi, to Pay N30.4m in 30 Days Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, tightened the noose on opposition elements in his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, when he slammed a 30-day ultimatum on the party’s factional leader, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, to pay N30.4 million as ground rent for his private residence in Kaduna, the state capital.

The levy came barely a day after another property of Hunkuyi at 11B, Sambo Road, Kaduna hosting the secretariat of a faction of the party in the state was demolished by the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA).

KAPSUDA had on Tuesday carried out the demolition, alleging that the state’s land use laws were violated. It also alleged that ground rents on the property had not been paid since 2010.

As the action attracted widespread condemnation, the governor’s Special Adviser on Politics and Inter Party Affairs, Malam Uba Sani, addressed newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday and asked those aggrieved by demolition to go to court for redress.

According to a demand notice, which was also posted

by Hunkuyi on his twitter handle, the fresh N30.4 million levy is to be paid within 30 days.

The notice, however, did not state what would happen if the money was not paid within the stipulated time.

The house in issue is located at 18A, Inuwa Wada Road, Gabasawa, Anguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna.

Hunkuyi who represents Kaduna North Senatorial District in the Senate, has been having a running battle with El-Rufai following differences in political views.

Hunkuyi described the bill as ridiculous.

The demand notice, dated February 20, 2018 and signed by the Director General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Services (KADGIS), indicated that the ground rent was for a period of 24 years, 1995 to 2018.

It read: “You are, therefore, requested to pay a total of N31,467,861.60. You are also expected to pay this amount at any commercial bank into the KADGIS PAY Direct platform.

“This bill should be settled within 30 days please.”

Reacting to the notice, Hunkuyi said: “Once again, the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has sent a ridiculous bill to me for a purported ground rent of my personal house at Inuwa Wada to the tune of N30million to be paid within 30 days, failure to do so might probably result to another demolition like he did on my other property.”

In Abuja, however, el-Rufai’s political adviser, Sani, spoke

from the unit to ward, local and state levels, were with the Alhaji Shuaibu Idris-led state executive, which is recognised by the national leadership of the party in Abuja.

KAPSUDA had in a statement signed by its Director-General, Alhaji Ibrahim Husseini, said the demolition was part of the operations the agency was undertaking across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate.

According to him: “In partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across Kaduna; this morning, a building on 11B Sambo Close

was removed for flagrant violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010. ‘’This illegal violation of use had begun to distress neighbours who were being forced to endure an influx of thugs and blockage of the road.”

The agency said it duly served the occupants of the building a notice of revocation, in line with the requirement of the law, which they did not respond to.

KASUPDA added: “The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) issued a revocation notice of statutory right of occupancy No. KD. 16712, that covers 11b Sambo Close in the Ungwan Rimi area. ‘’The appropriate notice of revocation was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property. The notice was also delivered to the building in question, and sent by post to the registered address of the previous title holder.”

KASUPDA said the land had now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that would provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that residential neighbourhood.

The senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, had said the demolition was masterminded by el-Rufai.

Sven-Axel Brudnicki, with over 20 years’ experience as telecom executive with international leadership across two continents.

The first Nigerian CEO of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, is the legal and regulatory, sales and distribution director of Teleology, while the former Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Demola Elesho, is the Chief Technical Officer of Teleology.

Elesho is a specialist in network re-engineering and large scale deployments and has worked for Multi-Links Telecom, MTS, Vodafone Spain, MTN, Airtouch USA, BT and Cellnet.

The Chief Financial Officer is Mr. Kemal Shefik, who has over 30 years’ experience in finance and strategy executive with extensive international

experience on three continents.

Other team members include Mr. Paul Crosa as sales, marketing, MFS, commercial strategy, with over 20 years’ experience in commercial executive with international background across Africa and Latin America.

Mr. Richard Noren is the procurement, supply chain, systems manager with over 20 years’ experience in procurement, logistics and supply chain executive with international management roles across three continents.

Mr. Rodney Wayne is the finance, internal auditor, and Terry Moorhead is the chief network architect with over 40 years’ experience, while Mr. Robert Gerrity is the Enterprise, B2B and Multimedia Solutions Manager.

El-Rufai to the media and insisted that the demolition of Hunkuyi’s property on Tuesday was in accordance with extant law of the state.

Subsequently, he asked, anyone aggrieved by the demolition to approach the court for redress.

Insisting that the owner of the demolished building refused to comply with notices requesting the payment of ground rents and recertification fee, he argued that the building was liable to be removed in accordance with the law.

Wondering about the fuss over the demolition he said: ‘’In the course of on-going reform in the urban centre, many illegal structures have

been pulled down, including those owned by the poor. How come nobody protested on their behalf? Is it because they don’t have access to newspapers, radio and television stations?”

Justifying the demolition of the building located at 11b Sambo Road and used by some aggrieved members of APC, Sani said that some politicians were out to create a scenario to weep up political sentiments for their selfish political agenda, saying the state government had no regret over its action.

He refuted the claim that the Kaduna State branch of APC was factionalised, saying the over 7,100 officials of the party,

BARCLAYS CONFIRMS TELEOLOGY AS PREFERRED BIDDER OF 9MOBILE The financial adviser, yesterday, transmitted an official letter to Teleology Holdings Limited, confirming it as the preferred bidder in the sale of 9mobile.

The letter also directed Teleology Holdings to make a non-refundable cash deposit of $50 million within 21 days from the date of the letter, dated February 21, 2018, or lose the bid to the reserve bidder, Smile Holdings Limited.

A source at Barclays Africa who confided in THISDAY, said the letter served as the official document for the conclusion of the sale of 9mobile.

Although it has been reported that Teleology had been selected as the preferred bidder, but such reports were based on speculations, as Teleology had

not earlier received any official document from both Barclays and 9mobile, and not even from the telecommunications industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

NCC had on February 1, 2018, clarified that it was yet to receive any information from Barclays Africa and 9mobile concerning the sale of 9mobile, and dismissed as speculations, reports making the rounds then, that Teleology had emerged as the preferred bidder.

The official letter signed

by Barclays and transmitted to Teleology yesterday, has, therefore, finally confirmed Teleology as the preferred bidder.

The source also told THISDAY that Barclays had on January 26, 2018, communicated to Teleology

Holdings of its emergence as the preferred bidder and gave it a 30-day window to finalise all financing agreements, as well as regulatory issues with the NCC. It was also given access to 9mobile's records and financial books as well as the opportunity to seek further clarifications concerning 9mobile from the management of 9mobile, within the 30day window, which started counting from January 26, when the first letter on the third phase of the auction process was transmitted to Teleology Holdings.

Based on the official letter written to Teleology, informing it as the preferred bidder and to also make the initial cash deposit, the ball is now in the court of Teleology to prove its financial status and capability to buy 100 per cent stake in

9mobile.

Teleology, which seeks to acquire and develop underperforming telecoms and electronic media operations in emerging markets, has deep expertise in recovery and transformation of licensed fixed and mobile operators, Information Technology (IT) firms, as well as design, consulting, application and content service providers.

Its operational team comprises of the second CEO of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Adrian Wood, who managed Nigeria's biggest telecoms company from 2001 to 2004, after the first CEO, Mr. Karel Piennar.

Wood, who is the face of Teleology Holdings, is the chairman of the telecoms company, with over 30 years’ experience in the global telecoms sector.

Teleology Group CEO is

FUEL SCARCITY MAY LINGER AS MARKETERS ISSUE 14-DAY ULTIMATUM OVER UNPAID SUBSIDY CLAIMS owed, please accept the assurances of our highest regards,” he added.

Adewole also copied the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The marketers had repeatedly warned that unless the claims were paid, they could kill not only their businesses but also worsen the liquidity crisis

in the banking sector with the attendant unsavoury implications for fuel supply nationwide.

In a recent communiqué issued at the end of one of their meetings in Lagos, the marketers, under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs), had argued that the outstanding debt was money borrowed from banks to fund importation during the subsidy regime.

The communiqué added that the outstanding claims arose largely from importation of petroleum cargoes authorised by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that since government is a continuum, the contracts of President Jonathan’s government will remain binding on successive governments.

“The CBN has also offered foreign exchange

to IPPIs under a special window aimed at liquidating outstanding matured Letters of Credit at an exchange rate of N305. However, the exchange rate of N197 when Letters of Credit were initially opened for IPPIs and transactions concluded and the current CBN offer rate of N305 is an increase of 55 per cent and a significant rate differential,” the marketers explained.

They said: “This means

that for every 15,000 metric tonnes of petrol imported by the IPPIs at a rate of $500 per MT and whose foreign exchange differential claims have not been paid then it means that the cargo of 15,000MT imported at the N197 rate will now be given foreign exchange at the rate of N305. By implication a cargo of 15,000MT at $500 per MT is S$7,500,000 or N1, 477,500,000 at N197 rate or N2, 287,500,000 at N305

rate. If these outstanding payments to IPPIs are made at N305 they would suffer a loss of N810, 000,000 per 15,000MT cargo of petrol.

Government’s delay in paying debts to IPPIs and the difficulty they face in procuring forex at equitable rates will likely see the extinction of many of the IPPIs in 2017 thereby creating petroleum products shortages and attendant insecurity,” the marketers added.

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COMMENT

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

APPRECIATING THE CASH SNAKE

Nigeria has made history as the country where the cash snake was first identified, writes Ikeogu Oke It should not surprise us That a snake would swallow Cash in a country so rich It sought use for money.

Even animals in a zoo Know the use of money.

That it builds and keeps their cages, And feeds their beastly souls.

And the snake is the one They send to hunt for cash.

– Ikeogu Oke, “The Cash Snake” he snake that recently swallowed N36 million kept in the offices of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Makurdi was not the first of its kind to interfere that remarkably in the affair of humans.

In the Garden of Eden, one of its ancestors, a snake that could speak and was full of guile, played the key role in The Fall of Man. As stated in the book of Genesis, it managed to convince Eve, Adam’s wife, to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in disobedience to God, even after God had warned the first couple that they would die any day they ate the fruit. Think of a snake so cunning and mischievous that it could convince the matriarch of humanity to eat what would then amount to the fruit of suicide!

The encounter between Eve and the snake took place in Adam’s absence. And as soon as she reunited with Adam she offered him the forbidden fruit and managed to convince him to eat it. And both, having eaten it, realised that they were naked, to God’s chagrin.

And for foiling what seemed to have been God’s plan to keep humanity in an ideal place, a garden, a pristine bower of innocence where humans would roam naked like other animals, the snake, you might say, got its comeuppance. God cursed it, together with man and woman. God declared that it would thenceforth live without limbs.

“Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field;” God fumed. “On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life.” God also ruled that the snake’s offspring and those of humans would always be at loggerheads. And that the snake’s descendants would bite those of humans whenever the opportunity presents itself, and the descendants of humans crush the heads of the snake’s offspring underfoot as often as possible. Over the intervening millennia millions of casualties, dead or injured, have piled up on both sides of this endless confrontation between humans and snakes. And not a few snakes have strangled humans and swallowed them whole like the JAMB cash, even though there is no record, to my knowledge, of any human having swallowed a whole snake, dead or alive.

So, between snakes and humans, we should know who is winning the war, especially in terms of enacting the bizarre, even without any snake having taken it to the point of swallowing millions of cash belonging to one of our government agencies, and by implication humans, and disappearing without trace.

In passing, it must be said that the snake that deceived Eve has been rightly condemned for its role in the Fall of Man, by which is meant God’s expulsion of man and woman from the Garden of Eden for the sin of disobedience.

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OUR CENTRAL BANK CAN DRAFT THE SNAKE INTO ITS CAMPAIGN FOR A CASHLESS ECONOMY. IMAGINE HOW EFFECTIVE IT WOULD BE TO PERSUADE OUR CITIZENS TO ACCEPT A CASHLESS ECONOMY WITH THE MESSAGE ‘BEWARE OF THE CASH SNAKE! GO CASHLESS!’

However, I think it would be wrong not to acknowledge the silver lining in the cloud of that deceit, especially with regard to how things evolved in the post-Eden world. For, since the first couple realised that they were naked and needed to wear “clothes” after eating the fruit whose consumption the snake introduced to them through Eve, resulting in God producing “clothes” for them, it then follows that the world owes the origin of its highly lucrative textile and fashion industries to that snake, which crept limbless out of Eden and into improved versatility, possibly flicking its tongue in contempt of the curse placed on it by God. And as a proof of the improved versatility, it has since evolved from a mere fruit-plucking reptile into the only creature that can swallow its own kind whole. And what’s the use of limbs when, without them, a snake can run faster than most limbed creatures; and can climb to the top of the tallest trees faster than most limbed creatures, for fun or in search of prey; and its menu is comprised mainly of limbed creatures including man, its sworn adversary on account of the divine curse?

And when the lack of limbs has not prevented it from reaching the farthest ends of the earth? And when one of its type has evolved – a development that even Darwin should find intriguing – into the cash snake, to which I would ascribe the genus Pythonidae Moneytarius, able to swallow N36 million of public funds without distress, it becomes indisputable that its species has scored the ultimate triumph in adaptability. Which other creature can do this?

Even God must be amazed that the same creature that thwarted Him in Eden has also subverted His curse by contriving to become not the eater of dust He wanted but one of earth’s most successful predatory carnivores. But there are more reasons why the cash snake should be for us an object of appreciation, besides wonder. Its feat reinforces our Central Bank’s case for a cashless economy. The snake wouldn’t have bothered about an ATM card because it would know that it would need the owner’s PIN to access the cash, and given the almost non-existent probability of its discovering the PIN let alone cashing N36 million from an ATM with theN100,000 seal on daily withdrawals. So our central bank can draft the snake into its campaign for a cashless economy.

Imagine how effective it would be to persuade our citizens to accept a cashless economy with the message “BEWARE OF THE CASH SNAKE! GO CASHLESS!” laid beside the image of a snake swallowing wads of naira notes.

And for those who may be wondering why a snake would swallow N36 million of public funds – even in a country so rich it sought use for money – it is to show us Nigerians that animals know the use of money unlike us, especially those living in zoos and game reserves.

They know that money is useful for their feeding and for building and maintaining their cages and other facilities. So, like I said in the above epigraph, the cash snake is the one they send to hunt for cash (to fund their welfare). And we should appreciate its risking its life in the service of the animal world and what its mission says of the type of organisation that exists in that world compared to our country. Also, we should be appreciative that, as it did recently by being the first country to appoint dead people to public office, ours has made history again as the country where the cash snake was first identified. ikeogu.oke@gmail.com

BUHARI AND POLITICS OF 2019 Odilim Enwegbara reckons that the president has squandered his goodwill

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resident Muhammadu Buhari’s condition is typical to one suffering from amnesia.

Or the absolute fault of his handlers who forgot so quickly how he eventually got to become president in 2015. It’s unbelievable how quickly it has been forgotten that Buhari tried his luck in 2003, 2007, and 2011 and failed all elections woefully.

What a short memory they have got, forgetting that he became president because of President Jonathan’s refusal to be an ally to the imminent bloodbath awaiting Nigerians as President Buhari had sworn: “If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, the dogs and the baboons will be soaked in blood.”

Maybe Buhari himself has forgotten that he actually got the presidency on a platter of gold. Or should he have become president of Nigeria in 2015 were northerners — including northern members of the Peoples Democratic Party — decided to humiliate President Jonathan for refusing to respect the agreement reached with northern political juggernauts in 2011 that he would not be contesting in 2015? Buhari’s handlers may have forgotten that it was as a result of the whole north overwhelmingly voting for Buhari in 2015. Of course, like northwest and northeast, southwest and north central (middle belt states) too, had to be solidly behind him, based on such an unverifiable assumption that here was a man with an impeccable “zero tolerance” for corruption.

Since there is no hiding place for the truth, is it possible for everyone to be fooled again into believing that Buhari is truly a no-nonsense anti-graft leader? What about our comatose economy? Are we still waiting for Buhari’s magic wand? These

unknown truths about Buhari have finally been in the open for everyone to see: the president does not understand the problems facing our economy, not to mention having any understanding of how to fix it.

Unbelievably, Nigerians cannot believe that the once revered no-nonsense, anti-graft Buhari could be worse than his predecessors. That political quick fixes could paralyse our senses cannot be more embarrassing. But more embarrassing is the fact that, rather than reducing corruption in Nigeria Buhari is sheltering corrupt politicians so long as they join the president’s ruling All Progressives Congress.

In fact, all you need to do to be set free from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s dragnets is to simply go to the APC national secretariat to pick up their membership card. In other words, for you not to find yourself in Kuje prison, simply pick up APC membership card and voila!

You are free and stainless, guilt free!

What has compounded the Buhari tragedy - tragedy caused by our misplaced judgment, is fuelled by our increased nostalgia for Jonathan. Since becoming president, Buhari has become such an unbelievable source of ethno-religious conflicts as has never been seen in the history of this country. What used to be cold ethnic and religious war in Nigeria has today reached a boiling point.

It is this endless embarrassment that led northern political juggernauts to come out in public to announce that the north is in search of a consensus candidate to present to Nigerians. Here, they are looking for such a good leader who will not be blamed for the country’s woes.

But while Nigerians in the southwest, southeast, southsouth, and middle belt could have forgiven Buhari’s lack of vision in the areas of the economy

and corruption, what finally sealed his fate in these battleground geopolitical zones come 2019, have become the Fulani herdsmen menace and terror.

Thousands of Nigerian farmers have lost their farms to the Fulani herdsmen as well as innocent and powerless Nigerians have been killed by AK47carrying herdsmen, who kill them for refusing their intrusion; making everyone to believe that their cows have become more priced than human lives.

Southwestern political juggernauts have decided to not only fight Buhari but also fight Senator Bola Tinubu, who lured them into supporting Buhari in 2015. Their anger is that Tinubu’s political naiveté has no limits given that after all he did for Buhari, he was abandoned.

For some time now, it has become so unbearable that these political power brokers could hardly swallow the insults associated with Buhari’s kind of monarchical presidency, that seem to make him indisposed, including to their demand for restructuring.

But while they could have forgiven his insensitivity, what they cannot forgive is President Buhari’s looking the other way while Fulani herdsmen go about on killing spree, including in the southwest.

That is why, if Senator Ahmed Tinubu hasn’t read the handwriting on the wall, taking the Yoruba nation for another ride is going to be resisted come 2019 presidential election when their PVCs will finally speak for them, assuming they wouldn’t be boycotting the presidential election.

No wonder, talking to some political power brokers in the southwest, all you hear from them is, “Yes, they have fooled us in 2015 but there’s no way they can expect to fool us again into believing in this government, including their kangaroo midnight

restructuring agenda. Their agreed fear is that lacking constitutional teeth, the so-called restructuring could be an easy candidate for repeal once he gets sworn in for second term.” That is why it will come down to Buhari vs Atiku.

Being well-known for his pro-restructuring, no doubt, southwestern political power brokers will do everything possible to make sure that it is Atiku that is handed the region’s votes.

Southeasterners too would have gone ahead to forgive President Buhari not only for his unfortunate pronouncement that those who gave him 97% and those who gave him 5% wouldn’t expect equal treatment in his administration. Not even his still going ahead to make political and security appointments that completely marginalised them.

That he has continued to look the other way while Fulani herdsmen go on a killing spree is one of the reasons southeasterners have decided they will never forgive Buhari. Also like southwesterners and southsoutherners, southeasterners want Nigeria to be returned to its pre-1966 federal system, where all the regions will not only be in full control of their resources, but also allowed to develop at their own pace. Now that there is no more Jonathan to be taught a political lesson, it is certain that the northern establishment has finally come to the realisation that it’s a mistake having Buhari to preside over the affairs of this country at this point in time when the country urgently needs to transit from an oil-based economy to full-blown industrial economy. The shocking reality has since become how to recover the country from the devastating ‘Buhari effect’ and his insensitivity to the plight of millions of Nigerians, the same people who joyfully came out en-masse to vote for him in 2015.

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EDITORIAL THE TUBERCULOSIS SCOURGE The relevant authorities could do more to contain the disease

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recent journal report on the high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Nigeria calls for concerted efforts by the health authorities, especially when the disease, better known by its acronym, TB, still constitutes a major health problem in the country. The urgency is underscored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2017. “In 2016, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide with 10 per cent of the number living with HIV� said the report adding, “seven countries accounted for 64 per cent of the total burden, with India bearing the brunt, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa.�

What is more disturbing is that while other countries are gradually winning the war against TB, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. According to the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), there are thousands of new cases every year.

To compound the CURRENT EFFORTS ARE challenge, substantial NOT ENOUGH TO FIND, numbers of the people TREAT AND CURE PEOPLE infected in the counSUFFERING FROM THE try are unreported or AILMENT EVEN THOUGH undiagnosed, most TREATMENT CENTRES FOR of them women and DRUG-RESISTANT TB HAVE children in neighGROWN bourhoods where poor ventilation and squalor abet the spread of the disease. “If you do not reach those women and children infected�, said Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, WHO representative in Nigeria, “they will continue to spread TB in their communities.�

Tuberculosis is perhaps the single leading cause of death from any infectious agent. It is caused by a bacterium which most commonly affects the lungs and transmitted from person to person through air droplets. TB affects all species of vertebrates and though control measures had reportedly limited the spread through animals, they (particularly cattle) still

Letters to the Editor

constitute a signiďŹ cant source of risk in countries like Nigeria where meat and milk inspection by health ofďŹ cials are often overlooked. Globally, TB has for years been one of the top causes of death. It has even been recording more fatalities than HIV and malaria.

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owever, tuberculosis is both preventable and curable. But as the WHO authorities have consistently argued, ending the TB epidemic requires action beyond the health sector to address the risk factors and determinants of the disease. The political authorities have to take the lead if we must effectively tackle the scourge. Besides, for the victims, early detection and correct diagnosis aided with proper treatment. Many patients aficted with TB do not complete the TB therapy and even worse, many do not make themselves available for treatment. Failure to complete the treatment and the mismanagement of drugs had led to the death of many patients and an increase in variants of the disease that are drug-resistant.

Ironically, current efforts are not enough to ďŹ nd, treat and cure people suffering from the ailment even though treatment centres for drug-resistant TB have grown from one in 2010 to about 12 in the country today while some states are said to have initiated treatment of drug-resistant TB patients in their communities. According to the NTBLCP, directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) services are currently provided in about 6000 health facilities in the country, and diagnosis in 1515 microscopy laboratories. DOTS is said to be an efďŹ cient and cost effective strategy that consists of physically observing patients as they take the TB medications to ensure treatment compliance.

Unfortunately, the challenge indeed is huge and will require much more. For instance, while 10 per cent of the global TB patients are people living with HIV, in Africa where Nigeria leads, 74 per cent of them are people living with HIV. What this means is that the relevant agencies have to put in more effort if Nigeria is to achieve the global target of 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in TB cases by 2030.

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.

DEALING WITH FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

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emale Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a practice whose origin and significance is shrouded in ambiguity and mystification. World Health Organisation (WHO) defined it as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organ for non-medical reasons.

This dangerous tradition and women’s right violation has been so widespread that, many still erroneously see it as a form of cultural identity.

Though still practiced in more than 28 countries in Africa and a few scattered communities worldwide, the burden of FGM is seen in Nigeria, Egypt, Mali, Eritrea, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Northern part of Ghana where it has been an old traditional and cultural practice of various ethnic groups. FGM is also said to persist amongst immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation worldwide, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115-130 million circumcised women in the world. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2013 showed a prevalence of FGM among adult women by geopolitical zone to be highest in the South-West with 56.9 per cent; South-East 40.8 per cent; South-South 34.7 per cent; North-Central 9.6 per cent; North-East 1.3 per cent; and NorthWest 0.4 per cent.

As reported in the NDHS, 45 out of every 100 adult women living in Lagos State for instance have undergone FGM at one

time or another. This is largely due to migration from those states where the prevalence is much higher.

It is a sad irony that the southern states that have higher literacy levels are also the most involved in this primitive socio-cultural practice. Reasons range from a belief that it reduces sexual desire and promiscuity; promotes chastity and helps young ladies attract husbands early. It is also wrongly ascribed to religious beliefs and traditional norms of female rites of adulthood. This has regrettably done more harm than good.

Positive side of the advocacy to stamp out the scourge is the buying-in of policymakers and influencers especially in recent time. In most states today, wives of our governors are the faces of the fight against the scourge. This is to tell us that we are not in a hopeless situation of totally eradicating the barbaric women violation.

From informed religious perspective, none of the three main monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – prescribe female circumcision. Even if they do, should religion be indifferent to a cruel and barbaric practice? Evidently, proof people hold on to as religious verdict to engage in the practice is also rooted in culture and not divine injunction per se. Meanwhile, culture itself, is not static but it is on constant flux, adapting and reforming. In other words, man creates culture in the first instance before culture started to create man.

To discerning minds, promiscuity largely stems from orientation rather than the non-tampering with the female genitals. So, knowledge about the problems could help people take appropriate

decisions and act in accordance with decisions taken. As of now, much of the accumulated knowledge about FGM and fistula indicates that FGM and fistula have negative health implications.

Worse, medical experts and studies by WHO, UNICEF and other world bodies assert that, unlike male circumcision, FGM has no medical benefits whatsoever. On the other hand, says the UN Population Fund, “FGM does irreparable harm. It can result in death through severe bleeding, pain and trauma and overwhelming infections.� WHO adds that it also results in problems with urinating, could cause cysts, infections, infertility and complications in childbirth. “Women with FGM are significantly more likely than those without FGM to have adverse obstetrics outcomes including: prolonged or obstructed labour, obstetric fistula, postpartum (after delivery) haemorrhage and extended maternal hospital stay.

For the infants, young girls and women who are subjected to the dehumanising practice; it is routinely traumatic and has been linked to cervical cancer, a major killer of Nigerian women. At the same time, it is more often also undertaken by local birth attendants or untrained “surgeons� using crude and un-sterilised instruments. It is reported that FGM victims go through extremely painful menstrual periods when they reach puberty and painful sex in marriage.

Given these points, FGM constitutes violence against women and it is about time it is stoutly resisted and completely eradicated just same way culture of killing of twins was done.

Rasak Musbau, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.soniyi@thisdaylive.com 07054786260 SMS ONLY

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Buhari Remains Nigeria’s Best Bet, Says Princewill Despite the mounting opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, Tonye Princewill is confident Buhari will pick the APC presidential ticket and ultimately win the presidential election. He spoke to Tobi Soniyi. Excerpts: Nigerians aren’t comfortable with President Muhammadu Buhari’s tardiness in responding to issues of urgent national importance, which almost bothers on complacency. Aren’t you disturbed by that attitude, considering the enormity of the challenges facing the nation?

Look, I think people sometimes forget where we were coming from and more importantly they also forget that where we need to go also requires a lot of efforts. Nigeria has been on the wrong track for a long time.

Like a tanker that is in the water, trapped trying to turn. It will take an amazing efforts to reverse the current trend. Now, did our government make promises that are unrealistic?

Yes, we did. Either through enthusiasm or through their lack of understanding of the problems on ground. I think we should ask ourselves, do they really have the intention to move the country forward and I think the answer is yes. The capacity might have been right, but slowly it is being built. For me, I am a business man and I ask myself, how can we continue like this. Things need to be done differently and then when somebody comes and start to make a difference, do you think it is going to be easy at the beginning? No. if you have a bad tooth and somebody wants to pull it out the pain that you are going through is so that you can have less stress tomorrow.

So, the pains that we are going through is so that we can place the country on a sound footing. Because of what the dentist will do to you, you will say you won’t go to a dentist. You will continue to wallow in that pain until it slowly and eventually kills you. Let us go through that pain now so that we can have a brighter future tomorrow.

If Buhari was concerned about the next election, he will avoid some of these things.

There are things that have fast, quick solutions but they may not be lasting and sustainable.

The man has decided that he is going to do what is lasting and sustainable as a result of that electorally he is taking a heat. But I am looking for statesmen, I am not looking for politicians to lead me. That’s my position and I believe that we should recognise that and join the dentist to pull out that bad tooth. I think Nigerians have two choices: to go back to the old ways of doing business and the other one is to go through this pains which ultimately nobody is disagreeing is going to set us on a better platform. That to me is the message...

Nigerians were taken aback when you decided to leave Labour Party to join the APC. What actually informed that decision?

Common sense. For me, it was probably one of the easiest political decisions that I have ever made so I can’t imagine why anyone will be taken aback. I believe that all politics is local. Therefore, when you are in politics, you have to look first at your local environment. I don’t understand why so many people focus on national and international politics, and completely forget their local politics. To me, local politics is what matters the most, it isn’t that I am downplaying all other politics, but local politics matters most. So, what is the situation in Rivers State? We have a governor who has gone wild and we have an opposition that was not giving him the kind of opposition he deserves. My opinion was that, the opposition was still disjointed.

We have an APC formidable as it is, we have a Labour Party and we have other parties, and I thought to myself, we are all opposed to PDP and Wike, but our inability to work together is working in his favour. With my passion, the organisational skills of many of

principle that a region or state is owned by a particular party. I have never believed in that concept at all. Many times in our region we don’t really have elections so to assume that the peoples’ votes are what counted to put them in that place. I think it’s a misnomer.

There are some things we just deceive ourselves about as if we don’t know the truth.

I am not fooled by that script. I know that for instance in Rivers state in 2015 there was no election. The Supreme Court can say what it must, but if you go back home and you are in your bedroom and somebody outside proceeds to tell you that the colour of your green bed sheet is red, you will smile, because you know the truth.

As far as I am concerned, free and fair elections and the decision of the people in the state have been missing. Hopefully in 2019, we will get a lot closer to reality and we will see whether PDP is truly on the ground.

But after the 2015 general elections, we have had senatorial elections in Rivers and PDP still won overwhelmingly. Does that not reinforce the fact that it is in charge there?

Maybe you don’t have the full picture, so let me remind you that thanks to the APC, Senator Magnus Abe won and he is in the Senate today. So PDP was defeated. There are many other examples. The reality of it is that in 2015, we had a 419 election in Rivers state that was supervised by the security agencies and INEC on behalf of PDP. That is why they are where they are. Let us see what will happen in 2019. Let us see whether Wike will come out and deliver PDP in Rivers state.

By then you can come and ask me these questions again.

Princewill

the APC members and the commitment that we all have to free the state, then all we need as like minds is to have an arrangement to join forces because if we don’t join forces, it will make Wike stronger.

I have said that we are not God, so, we cannot say we will definitely remove PDP. But by God, we are going to at least improve them. If in the process we are able to remove them, then may His name be praised. To sit back and do nothing, or leave the fight for APC alone, that is not an option.

But you now find yourself in the same platform with the likes of Magnus Abe, Rotimi Amaechi. Considering the fact that you had done political battles with them in the past. How do you reconcile yourself with them?

Let’s not make any mistake about it. Even good friends have disagreements. I am a lot more comfortable with the APC platform than I could ever been in the PDP platform. I have

Hopefully in 2019, we will get a lot closer to reality and we will see whether PDP is truly on the ground

an affinity to APC from my days, initial days in Action Congress, of course as the pioneer Action Congress governorship candidate in 2007. So, for me, as AC metamorphosed into the APC, I still have many friends there.

The difference between the political parties is not really about anything more than the individuals within it. Especially the leaders.

It is there they are different. So, if you are looking for leadership, go to the top of the party, you will see what type of party to talk about.

So Amaechi for me is one million times better than Wike. Does he have faults? Of course. We all do. Nobody is perfect. I have my own issues, but the reality is, if you are looking to play politics, Amaechi is one million times a better option than Wike. The likes of Magnus Abe, Dakuku Peterside, they are all big names but beside them and beneath them, there are so many other good people who may not be as well known to the national media, but they are just as effective and so I know that the APC team have the capacity to move the state forward.

You aren’t a rookie in politics, having been the governorship candidate of Action Congress and the Labour Party in Rivers state. Do you think your decision to move to APC was well thought out? I ask this, against the backdrop of the perception that the average south-south person doesn’t want to associate with the party.

The reason it isn’t seen to be strong in the south-south is that the other party was in power in 2015 and rigged the election in favour of themselves. I think in 2019 we will get a clearer picture of who amongst us is truly in power. I never believe in the

You sound so confident that APC is formidable in Rivers but there has been intractable crisis which could undermine efforts to make it a potent force against the ruling PDP. An example is the cold war between Senator Magnus Abe and Rotimi Amaechi Is that not a set back for the APC? No, I won’t describe the situation as a setback at all. I think that when you see people pushing and fighting, which is often common in politics, it is because there is value in what they are pushing and fighting for. I think keen observers know that APC is well placed to win the 2019 elections. In Rivers therefore, there is a genuine fight for that ticket. Admittedly Magnus Abe might have shot his gun too early, that’s my opinion, but he is well within his rights to demand and push for the position. If it wasn’t viable, if it wasn’t valuable, he wouldn’t. But in the context of crisis I want to remind you that based on my little experience of having been involved in both parties, I can tell you that this isn’t a crisis. If anything, this is a mini display of friction. Why do I say that? It is because I have seen crisis in political parties in the fight for a ticket. In 2007, I fought for the ticket of AC against Sergeant Awuse and I know what crisis means. When in 2015, we fought for the ticket of PDP in Rivers, I know what crisis was. This isn’t a crisis, this is simply a man opting to push for a governorship ticket. I think Magnus may have wanted an early endorsement from Amaechi, but he refused to give it to him and so the man has decided to pursue his ambition regardless. I don’t see that as a crisis. Ultimately in Rivers state, APC will choose a candidate and everybody will rally behind that candidate. That’s just the way we work. Amaechi isn’t going to come and point and say, this is the person. No. Leaders of the party at different levels will sit down CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

POLITICS

Longyen: Why Lalong Dissolved His Cabinet Mark Longyen, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong explains why the governor recently sacked his cabinet. He spoke to Tobi Soniyi who presents the excerpts:

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in the state with the opposition pointing accusing fingers at government and the electoral umpire, Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC). What’s amiss?

I do not speak for PLASIEC, but suffice it to say that it is uncharitable and absolutely wrong for the opposition to accuse the Lalong government of underhand efforts in the postponement because government was not responsible for the postponement of the elections.

The truth is that PLASIEC postponed the elections based on a credible security report that was too scary to ignore and go ahead with the elections. Security report is not something that you treat with levity, you only do so at your peril, especially for a state that has recently been the target of isolated attacks and killings by unknown gunmen. We stood the risk of reversing and rubbishing all our gains in bringing about peace in the state if the elections were conducted without first heeding security advice and guaranteeing security before elections. The opposition should please stop their political mischief of playing politics with security issues. The question is: what is the essence of conducting elections in an atmosphere of insecurity where many lives will be wasted, the results cancelled or declared inconclusive and the hundreds of millions of naira spent on the elections also wasted?

overnor Simon Lalong recently dissolved the State Executive Council, what informed that decision?

The decision to dissolve the cabinet was a routine exercise taken basically to reinvigorate governance in the state in line with the rescue agenda of the governor. It’s like you buy a brand new car, you know that routine servicing of the car is mandatory if you don’t want the engine to knock.

Prior to the dissolution, the commissioners had served for about 25 months and, obviously, the governor must have observed some governance gaps and realized the need to dissolve the cabinet and later swap some of them or bring in new ones with a view to putting round pegs in round holes. The fact that the governor immediately submitted the names of three new commissioners-designate to the state’s House of Assembly after the dissolution for screening further reinforces his desire to place round pegs in round holes. They have all been cleared to be sworn in soon so as to man key strategic ministries -information, justice and agriculture, while others are underway.

The governor’s decision was greeted with loud applause with people saying that it was an action long overdue due to some of the commissioners’ poor performance. Isn’t that the case?

Performance rating is relative. If, for instance, 17 of us are students in a class, you don’t expect all of us to perform at the same level. Somebody must come first, another second, third, last and so on.

But you don’t blame anybody for that because our brains, backgrounds, creativity, education, experience, exposure, etc, are different. Some are gifted and creative, while others are not.

Political patronage was also the reason behind some of the appointments, ab initio, that is, the need to carry along those who supported the campaign to ensure the victory of the ruling party. There are people who also worked for the party, who are equally good or even better than those who got appointed but missed out.

So, strategically, the governor has to strike a balance between merit and patronage to ensure that nobody is left behind by the Rescue Train.

The governor’s media team has also been criticised as comprising of square pegs in round holes. Will this be addressed in the new dispensation?

Longyen

The change that the governor wants to bring about is holistic in dimension and revolutionary in nature, so the information management aspect is just one out of a plethora of others. Call it the Lalong Revolution, if you like! In this digital age, information and communication is key to positively projecting government’s policies and programs to the public. You can’t take

The report linking Plateau State with cattle colony is absolutely false and mischievous

that for granted, especially with the advent of the Social Media, which allows for fake news and hate speech to fly out at the speed of light with devastating consequences. If the media managers are not professionally, proactively, savvy enough to do their job, then there’s trouble in the horizon.

I’ve been a journalist for the past two and a half decades so I know what I’m talking about because I clearly understand the essence and the nitty-gritty of the media component of governance. Right now, with the appointment of Mr Yakubu Datti, the most articulate, most eloquent and most vibrant ever former Plateau State Commissioner for Information and immediate past spokesmen of FAAN as the incoming Information Commissioner, I think with his wealth of experience, we ‘ll have the most robust media team this time around.

Controversy has continued to trail the indefinite postponement of the local government elections

Which federal government’s agricultue policy has Plateau State keyed into? Is it cattle colony, grazing reserve or ranching?

It is simply ranching and nothing else. Following a series of consultative stakeholders’ meetings in 2016, Plateau people opted for and adopted ranching, which is the modern way of livestock farming with lots of attendant socio-economic benefits as obtained elsewhere in the developed world. Even though government inherited an April 2009 gazette by former governor Jang that favoured and approved humongous funds for grazing reserves, we’ve jettisoned it and opted for ranching. It is noteworthy that the report linking Plateau State with cattle colony is absolutely false and mischievous.

Right now, government is working on a policy and legal framework for the implementation of ranching for livestock farmers who are interested in animal husbandry. The economic benefits of ranching are so enormous and irresistible especially now that we’ve embarked on economic diversification with agriculture as the mainstay of Plateau State’s economic future.

BUHARI REMAINS NIGERIA’S BEST BET, SAYS PRINCEWILL and a decision will be taken and we will all rally round that decision. At the end of the day, we will go forward and move to a general election. If Wike is unfortunate to present himself, then he will face the APC candidate. Simple.

You said there is no crisis but the perception out there is that Amaechi is the one bullying the others to fall in line.

Bully who? I am a chieftain of the party and I don’t see Amaechi bullying anyone. He is a democrat. He delegates. That is how Wike got his freedom to scheme. Some people say the minister is stubborn and all that. What they call obstinacy is because at the end of the day he takes a position and he stands by it. But it is often a principled position; for the greater good, if you watch, you will see. My argument has always been that we shouldn’t impose candidate. Let a candidate emerge and that’s also what Amaechi has committed himself to. We have all committed ourselves to that. If at the end of the day, Magnus Abe emerges, then we will all support him. The reality is that there will be a primary that will be transparent and a candidate will emerge.

So this talk about bullying is being bandied by people that don’t like Amaechi. It is a little too early to start discussing who will be

the candidate of APC in 2019. I understand that in the media, good news is not news, so where there is no crisis, it will be sought, even if it is friction. There is a process for choosing candidate and that process will be followed. In politics, people will be amazed at how serious crises are resolved and you see politicians enter the room, sit down and discuss and people will be saying, look at these people that were fighting.

Tomorrow, they see them talking and laughing. Political crisis is many times, a disagreement played up in the media to mean something else. They enter the house, settle and discuss. At the South-south meeting the other day, I saw Amaechi and Magnus Abe discussing. It isn’t a crisis, there is a disagreement in timing and approach. Magnus has shown he doesn’t need Amaechi’s support, he is a serving Senator. Power belongs to God. The security challenge in the state has earned itself the name, Rivers of Blood. Why does it appear insurmountable?

I think it is already being tackled. Of course, in the past few weeks a lot of progress has been made when the federal government decided to take charge. Unfortunately for our state we have a governor who entered by violence and has continued to condone

violence. Maybe he cannot address the matter effectively, because his hands are tied. We hope and we pray that Rivers people will learn from mistakes of the past and that all politicians will learn that this kind of violence, this kind of association will not do us any good. I want to think that the signal has been sent by the killing of leader of the gang… and the taming of his team. It will be a message to everybody else that there is only one law and that’s the law of Nigeria and we won’t tolerate any other alternative laws in the land. If that message is heeded, I think there will be peace. But don’t let us lose sight of the fact that the administration entered by violence and the boys that they used have been left largely unattended. Therefore, they will seek to keep their heads above water.

As best as they can. It is natural.

You aren’t comfortable with the administration in Rivers but a lot of people are quick to applaud his developmental strides in the state. What really do you have against Wike?

You are right when you say I am uncomfortable about him. To put it diplomatically, I think he is the worst governor . You must compare resources versus development. You have to compare what he has achieved, compared to what he has had. You will then understand that he is building nothing. He believes, and

he maybe right, that everybody has a price, so he can pay for image, he can pay for perception and he can pay his way through anything. He has a lot of reasons to think it, having earned multiple awards for what I am not sure of. When you talk, people say you are bitter because you didn’t win the election.

I am not talking about just my opinion but the opinions across the length and breadth of the state. Wike is a one-man show. This man hoarded the budget for 3 years and everybody was quiet as if it was right. Now that the opposition has come together and found its voice, he is sweating. Just last week, he signed the 2018 budget into law, the last of his peers to do so. We simply haven’t seen anything like this before. On the security angle and the economic angle, people are leaving the state.

Is that peculiar to Rivers?

They are going somewhere else, they aren’t leaving the country. They are leaving Rivers to go elsewhere and we are losing business.

Losing jobs. To my utter surprise, people are leaving Rivers for Imo to do business. I don’t know of anybody in his right mind that will look at Wike and say he is developing Rivers. But he was not put there to develop the state.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Innovation Driven Startups In order to meet the demand for competent and professional software engineers, Aboluwarin David and Mofesola Banjo co-founded DevCrib. In this report, Ugo Aliogo, examines the technology startups

Banjo

David

“

We have great talents in Nigeria and companies like ours are grooming these talents to global standard.

We work closely with global and local corporations (Microsoft, Code. org, SeedDev, and ODSG) that support us with tools and resources needed to get our Devcribbers effectively trained.

An important factor that has helped us is that our engineers live and work together, thus, learning is faster and good human relationship qualities are acquired.”

The above statement captures one of the goals of DevCrib, a technology startup hub. The startup was founded by David Aboluwarin and Mofesola Banjo. Aboluwarin is also the Co-founder of Planet Nest, a technology startup hub based in Akure, Ondo State. He is a graduate of Computer Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).

The story of Aboluwarin is not only amazing, but one imbued with moral courage and hope. Aboluwarin is one of those few privileged individuals who could be described as having a happy childhood, one where children had access to some of the best things of life.

He was detached from the rumble and tumble of daily grind.

Growing up, the father emphasised two things; every child in the family must learn how to play a musical instrument and operate a computer system to the full knowledge of it. This helped Aboluwarin to develop a strong liking for technology at an early age. His father’s personal passion and commitment to the values of good parenting helped to build the touchstone which shaped the future for every child in the family. His father ensured that the children were enrolled in schools that had a computer laboratory.

At the age of five, Aboluwarin was already exposed to operating a computer system,

A cross section of developers

an experience which has helped him find his feet in the scheme of things. Like every child at infancy, he had an inquisitive mind, therefore questioned everything around him especially computer gadgets in order to understand how they were built and if there was a need to improve on them.

“I began my journey into technology by playing with computers and learning to know how a game was created. When I play a game, I want to know how the game was created. Then I went online to learn coding,” he noted.

When he finished secondary school in 2007, he stayed back for three years, honing his skills in computing. While staying back at home, his father introduced him to a Professor friend who gave him unrestricted access to the computer system in his office.

During his sojourn with the Professor, he often spent long hours at night browsing and learning about various software issues.

To further his dream in computing, he went

I began my journey into technology by playing with computers and learning to know how a game was created. When I play a game, I want to know how the game was created.

Then I went online to learn coding

to Lagos to undergo a year professional training in Java, a programming language.

After the training he decided to focus on being a java programmer.

In 2010, he secured admission to FUTA to study Computer Engineering. In the first one month in the university, Aboluwarin met a friend who later became his partner.

They both had a similar story. He also has been involved in coding since 2007 and building chat applications.

This partnership became something rewarding for the two friends as they decided to put their heads together to work on the particular project. They also realised that in the technology space, new languages and technology were developed daily; therefore there was a need for them to keep up with trends and improving knowledge base as developers.

They embarked on training their friends, working on projects and representing the school at competitions. From their first to fifth year in the university, they won 15 national competitions in software challenges for the university.

They also did works for the school “especially in the virtual reality laboratory, where an individual can navigate through the school from a room. We were the technical team that built it for the school. We also took part in building software solutions for the other projects which the school was working on.”

In 2015, after graduation from FUTA, Aboluwarin and his partner decided to setup DevCRIB, an arm of Planet NEST which is a social enterprise focused largely on building a skilled Africa.

Their focus is to groom talents across Africa in a residential programme on their campus in Akure (a vibrant and fast growing technology ecosystem). These talents will have the opportunity of learning from world class engineers and growing steadily to

be able to work remotely or onsite with global technology corporations in solving problems. It is important to know that it is a paid programme.

With the increasing demand for competent and professional software engineers in the world, DevCrib has realised that there is need to fill this skill gap by building a skilled Africa, through talent development and training of young professions.

Despite the potential and opportunities present in the continent of Africa, the perception often times from the Western media is not favourable.

There is always the picture of an impoverished Africa. The narrative is narrow gauged. However, Aboluwarin is of the view that the pocket of successes recorded from the technology ecosystem in the continent can used positively to change this ugly narrative.

According to him, “We have great talents in Nigeria and companies such as ours are grooming these talents to global standard.

We work closely with global and local corporations (Microsoft, Code.org, SeedDev, ODSG) that support us with tools and resources needed to get our Devcribbers effectively trained. An important factor that has helped us is that our engineers live and work together, thus, learning is faster and good human relationship qualities are acquired.

“I think Africa needs to come up with more globally relevant solutions; this creates the awareness that we are doing stuff in Africa. When we have these globally relevant solutions, we will have more experts and global companies will respect us for the value we can offer.

“For us to be a force to be reckoned with we need massive collaborations, more technology ecosystems where people are forward thinking and building globally relevant solutions. Also, technology startups

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˾ T H I S D AY THURSDAY˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

FEATURES

Developers at NEST

For us to be a force to be reckoned with we need massive collaborations, more technology ecosystems where people are forward thinking and building globally relevant solutions. Also, technology startups require flexible policies that would help them bootstrap before gaining enough financial strength

SeedDev curator during a training session for kids

require flexible policies that would help them bootstrap before gaining enough financial strength.

“All our engineers and developers participate in creating solutions for the local community; one of such is http://ballot.live an election monitoring platform that was piloted at the last Ondo State gubernatorial elections. Our engineers are our greatest products; we have artificial intelligence engineers that have experience working with European and American companies.

A number of junior engineers already work remotely for local and international companies.”

Accessing the growth of technology startups in Africa Aboluwarin explained that in terms of technology hubs in Africa, the hubs have helped to get people what they want and accelerate ideas, and also bring people together such as the Co Creation (CC) hub in Lagos, PlanetNEST in Akure, ventures hub in Abuja, Nhub, Slatecube, Advancement hub, Impact Hub, Leadspace and others.

He argued that these hubs have really helped to access quality information in terms of building and developing some of the startups present in the country. He hinged his argument on the premise that these hubs provide access to some of the best forms of exposure and experiences that individuals won’t get anywhere else.

He explained that these hubs help leverage on the experiences of people who know what the market wants and get to prepare them for the global market, “we have a lot of hubs all over Africa from Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Nigeria, Ghana and a whole lot of others trying to match up globally.”

He added: “The sector we address is a very large one, we do the best we can to skill up Africans and present them to the world. We have a strong learning culture and we place our engineers to work alongside world class senior engineers across the globe, however, Africa needs more NEST and DevCRIB and across all technological sector and not just Software engineering as that’s the skill we focus on.

“In the area of funding, we have boot-

strapped this long as all funds have been put in by founders. We train, house and pay our engineers and it has been great so far, we have few local investors interested in what we do, we are open to investors and investment that is the direction, we are looking into.

Our software application is global, we get request for remote software engineers from different part of the world and our engineers work with these amazing companies.”

Government efforts in supporting technology startups Aboluwarin is hopeful that if government supports startups in the country, especially by putting in place policies to favour the growth of startups, it would help the technology ecosystem to grow at a phenomenal rate.

He noted that the country has enough entrepreneurial zeal, but lacks funding opportunities, “the government should act as a facilitator for the upcoming startups by giving an access to seed funding and also develop incubation centres.”

Aboluwarin added: “I believe another

major setback is the lack of infrastructure.

Government should look into setting up world class accommodation space for startups and Small Medium Scale Entreprises (SME).

“Fund raising is an important aspect which is one drawback for most startups to go global; Government should create an easy relationship for VCs to enter into the tech ecosystem.

Government should spend on improving the quality of skilled personnel in the country by investing in hubs around to train citizens.

“Often times the talents groomed by the technology hubs get drafted into the private sector.

For effective flow, the private sector should partner with the technology hubs to source for the right talents. Because for every technology solution they want to drive the private sector needs they need the right talent from the forward thinking technology hubs to push ahead. The technology hubs will also help train, and this will give the private sectors the right pool of people to choose from.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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R-L: Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu; Director, Logistics, Nigeria Navy, Jo Oluwole and Director, Special Procurement, BPP, Mr. E. J. Obasi, during a workshop on Public procurement, at the Nigeria Navy Headquarters, AbujaÖ...recently L-R: Director-General, Lagos Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf; Consul General, Embassy of Switzerland, Mr Yves Necolet; and President. LCCI, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, during a visit by the Consul General to LCCI office, In Lagos... recently

L-R: Asst. Comptroller of Immigration, Kofo Idowu, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello and Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Ekpedeme King when the Immigration boss paid a visit to the SSG in Lagos...recently L-R: Global Fund Implementation Adviser, Richard Noamesi Amenyah; Director- General, National Action Committee against AIDS (NACA), Dr. Kayode Ogungbemi and Marketing Director, West Africa Reciutt Benciuser (RB), Alizo Leferink, during the RB presentation of 100,000 units of condoms to UNAIDS/NACA, in AbujaÖ..recently

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli; and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders’ Management, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Sunday Dare, during his visit to the governor, in his office, in Ibadan...recently GOVERNOR’S OFFICE L-R: Past President, Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Rotarian John Senaya; Coordinator, Free Eye Cataract Surgery

by Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Rotarian (Dr.) Wale Omole; Beneficiary of Surgery, Mrs Oladipupo Olajumoke; President, Rotary Club of Ikoyi, Rotarian Isichei Osamgbi; beneficiary, Mr Israel Obasesin; Dr Alarape Taofik of Eye Foundation Hospital; with beneficiary, Mrs Afolayan Bose; Director Community Services, Rotary club of Ikoyi, Mr. Charles Okonkwo; and Matron, Desert Eye clinic, Agnes Anyameli, during the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Free Cataract Surgery operation in partnership with the Eye Foundation Hospital in Lagos,recently

Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa (middle), flanked from left, Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Ayodele Olusola Phillips; Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery, Alamala Command, Brigadier General Basil Adonkie; Commissioner, Ogun State Police Command, CP Ahmed Illiyasu and Deputy Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Alade Bankole , during a press conference shortly after the Ogun State Security Council meeting in Abeokuta... recently

L-R: Head of Marketing, Spectranet 4GLTE, Mike Ogor; General Manager, National Rollout, Spectranet, Umesh Budhrani; President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, (ATCON), Olusola Teniola; Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, Ajay Awasthi, and Executive Secretary, ATCON, Ajibola Olude during ATCON’s courtesy visit to Spectranet in Lagos... recenly(Tuesday) YOMI AKINYELE

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Quick Takes HP Launches New Ink Tank Printers Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă?Ă• Ă?Ăž ͳ͜Ͱ͎˚͎ͯ ÞÒËÞ ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂžĂ? ÒÓÑÒ̋à ÙÖĂ&#x;Ă—Ă? ÒÙ×Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă›Ă&#x;ÙÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ëœ Ă?Ă Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŁĂ•Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ à ÙÖĂ&#x;Ă—Ă? ÒÙ×Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĘŠĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÖÙÙÕ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ë› Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ě‹Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĘĽĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă• ĂœĂ?ʨÖÖ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ě‹Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă• Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?ËÚËĂ?ÓÞã ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ ÍśËœÍŽÍŽÍŽ ÚËÑĂ?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?ÙÖÙĂ&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĘľĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ ÍłËœÍŽÍŽÍŽ ÚËÑĂ?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ–Ă‹Ă?Ă• Ă“Ă˜Ă• ĂŒĂ™ĘľĂ–Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ™Ă˘Ë› ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă•Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂš ĂžĂ?Ă˘ĂžËœ Ă Ă“ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÒÙÞÙĂ? ÞÒËÞ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë›

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L-R: Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; Prince Judge Bola Ajibola and Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, during book launch on Durojaiye, titled ‘Durojaiye: Dare To Be Dierent’ in Lagos...recently

Data Centre Operators Move to Up Nigeria’s Rating on Data Economy Readiness Stories by Emma Okonji Worried about Nigeria’s low rating on data infrastructure and data economy readiness, which currently stood at between 2-3 per cent, Data Centre operators have proffered solutions on how best to boost the country’s data economy readiness.

The operators who spoke at a recent breakfast meeting organised by Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos, said one of the ways to improve Nigeria’s data economy readiness was for Data Centre operators to work together in establishing more data centres across the

ICT country, and also encourage Nigerian business owners and their foreign counterparts, who operate businesses in Nigeria, to domicile their data hosting locally in Nigeria, as against the current practice where most business owners prefer to host their local data abroad, for fear of data insecurity and high service cost.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Medallion Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, one of the major players in Data Centre operations in Nigeria, who made presentation at the breakfast

meeting, said: “Nigeria needs to develop local content and more data that would enable Nigerians and Africans to tell their own stories better and change the old narrative.�

He also said Nigeria needed at least two Data Centres established in each state of the federation, in order to bring data centre operation closer to the people, which he said, would help reduce the cost of data centre services across the country.

According to Nnamani, “If our contents are local, we should have better opportunity of telling our own story in a positive light and all these will

help our rating to improve. For instance, I seat on the board of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), which is the .ng domain administrator, and I have the opportunity to know that as at last year, less than 5per cent of all active .ng domain name registered in Nigeria was hosted in Nigeria and over 95 per cent was hosted outside Nigeria.

The implication is that more of the local contents generated in Nigeria are hosted outside the country, amounting to huge loss of revenue stream through capital flight.�

Continued on page 24

NBC Sanctions 86 Broadcasting Stations The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the broadcast industry regulator has sanctioned 86 broadcasting stations in nine zones of the country for various offenses resulting in contravention of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

The stations were fined N11.8 million, with each getting up to N100,000 fine.

Head Public Affairs at NBC, Mrs. Maimuna Jimada, who confirmed the sanction, said the contraventions included breaches of the rules on vulgar lyrics, unverifiable claims and hate speech among others.

According to her, “The Commission wishes to re-iterate to all broadcasters that they

IT have a duty to promote the socio-economic well-being of the Nigerian state and abide strictly by the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.�

A detailed list of the errant stations and the sanctions applied, showed that NBC investigated 10 zones across the country and discovered that broadcast stations from nine of the 10 zones contravened the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

The zones investigated included Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Maiduguri, Sokoto and Uyo. Among the 10 zones, only one zone, which is the Sokoto zone complied fully with the broadcasting code

and was not fined.

While 19 broadcasting stations in Abuja zone were fined a total of N2.4million; four broadcasting stations in Benin zone were fined N500,000; 20 broadcasting stations in Enugu zone were N2.8 million; 12 broadcasting stations in Ibadan zone were fined N1.3 million, and only one station in Jos zone was fined N100,000.

In Kaduna zone, 12 broadcasting stations were fined N1.8 million; three stations fined N1.05 million in Lagos zone; another three stations fined N300,000 in Maiduguri zone, while 12 stations were fined N1.6 million in Uyo zone, totaling N11.8 million from 86 broadcasting stations in all nine

zones that were investigated.

Having sanctioned the broadcasting stations, NBC directed them to pay their fines without delay.

The Commission also advised other stations that have complied with the broadcasting code, to continue to do so in the interest of the country, and warned those stations that erred to amend their ways immediately.

The NBC also warned against unprofessional broadcasting that could incite the people against each other, especially as the country is preparing for its 2019 general elections.

The Director General of NBC, Continued on page 24

Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă‹ Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ęś Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ— Ă?ÙÙÎ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă— Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ Ù×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ÖÙà Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? Ă?ÙÙÎ Ă?Ă&#x;ÚÚÖÓĂ?Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă‹Ăž Ă‹ ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă–Ě‹ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁË› Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ÙÙÎ Ęś Ùà Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;ÚÚÖã Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă?ÙÙÎĂ? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ Ù×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÙÙÎ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă’Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă™Ă–Ëœ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹ Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă? Ă?âÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžË› ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÙÙÎ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă™Ă˜Ă•Ă? ĂŽĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă–Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă‹ĂžËœ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă˜Ă™ ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ ÞÓ×Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? ÖÙà Ă? ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ăž Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂžĂ’Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ę¨ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÚÞÓ×ÓĂ?Ă— ĂŽĂ?Ă?ÚÓÞĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă™ĂŒĂ Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂžĂ?Ă Ă? Ă”Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ëœ ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ÞÙ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë›

Gulfstream G500 Jet Launched Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ě‹Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă— ͳ͎͎ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ÞÒÓĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ëœ åÓÞÒ Ă&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă— Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă? Ă™ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă?Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ę¨ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ę°ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ě‹Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ę°Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?ÒÓÚ˛ Ă’Ă? Ă&#x;Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă— ͳ͎͎ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŽĂ“Ă?ÚÖËã Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x; Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă–Ă‹ Ă&#x;Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂŽ

Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă“ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ÍŻÍ´ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ͯ;˛ Ăž Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁËœ Ù××Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă—ĂŽĂ‹Ă’Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĘŠĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? ÞÓĂ?Ă? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞËÞĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ë›

Sodium Appoints General Manager Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁËœ ÙÎÓĂ&#x;Ă— ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂžËœ ÓÞÓ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ě‹ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂœË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă‹ Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– åÓÞÒ Íś ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ęś Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă– Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă™Ă?Ă‹ ÙÖË Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽË› Ă’Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă›Ă&#x;ÙÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? ĘŠĂ?Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÙÎÓĂ&#x;Ă— ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ“Ă?ÙãĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ˞

CSR is key to community development and brand building as it will bring the brand closer to the people

CMO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Rahul De

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

DATA CENTRE OPERATORS MOVE TO UP NIGERIA’S RATING ON DATA ECONOMY READINESS People host data outside of Nigeria because most of them are unaware that there are standard Tier 111 Data Centres in the country, even though they are not sufficient, Nnamani said.

Director of Operations at Rack Centre, another big player in Tier 111 Data Centre and colocation operations, Mr. Ezekiel Egboye, said all that needed to be done was for the existing data Centre operators to boost their hosting capacities by expanding their data centre operations beyond their current location.

He said Rack Centre is already upgrading its data centre facilities and ready to increase the capacity to accommodate the increasing demand for data centre services. He said one of the ways to boost Nigeria’s data economy readiness is to ensure that all local data are domiciled locally and hosted locally in Nigeria.

General Manager, MDXi, Mr. Gbenga Adegbiyi, at the breakfast meeting, said before now, Nigeria did not have the right data infrastructure spread across the country, and this to a large extent, affected data centre efficiency, which also affected the country’s data infrastructure and data economy readiness.

He said government at all levels needed to understand how technology drives development fast, in order to create the enabling environment that will help technologies develop economies faster.

NBC SANCTIONS 86 BROADCASTING STATIONS Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, had warned broadcasters not to broadcast contents that are not factual and capable of destabilising the Nigerian economy. “Permit me to remind our broadcasters, that as we approach the electioneering period, stations must do everything professional to promote democracy.

Broadcasters are reminded that they have a duty to respect all extant laws related to the reportage and coverage of the electoral process. Don’t broadcast campaigns when the period for commencement of campaigns have not commenced.

Corporate Governance Code Will Create Value, Growth, Says NCC Boss Emma Okonji The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta has reiterated the need for telecoms organisations to adhere to good corporate governance, which he said would add real value to the organisation’s operations and enhance growth.

Danbatta, who gave the advice at the just concluded zonal sensitisation workshop on the code of corporate governance for telecoms industry, in Kano, said the adherence to good corporate governance code, would create the real value proposition that will lead to sustainable growth and stability in the telecom ecosystem.

Citing the World Bank Report of 2017, which disclosed that Nigeria moved 24 points up in the international ladder on that body’s index on ease of doing business, Danbatta said such movement could be attributed to the deliberate efforts of the federal government initiative in that regard under the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) geared towards creating transparent business investment environment, which will be attractive to potential investors.

According to him, “These have in less than two years yielded positive fruits. These positive trends have equally resulted in more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the period.

The combined focused policy strategies of the federal government have not only enabled the country to exit recession but also

recorded modest confidence in building positive GDP growth rate of 1.4 per cent in Q3 of 2017 according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the quarter ended September, 2017.�

Danbatta was optimistic that further ease in doing business in the sector, which adoption of the principles of the code will usher, would lead to improvement in the sector growth trajectory and overall contribution to the gross domestic product(GDP).

“The foregoing speaks to the central and pivotal role of our sector to the overall attainment of our national developmental objectives, hence the need for the sector to lead in integrity, transparency, accountability and ethically, which are the values espoused and promoted by the principles of the code,�

Danbatta said.

He assured the people of Nigerians that NCC would continue to show commitment to deliver regulatory excellence and facilitate operational

efficiency, geared towards making the sector attractive to drive the level of investment and capital inflow needed. “Current evaluation report of the state of the industry suggests that whilst not understating the impact of other external and fiscal issues confronting the sector, that most challenges negatively affecting the health of operators in the sector today are attributable to poor governance issues,�

Danbatta said.

He also assured stakehold-

ers of the commission’s determination to provide needed regulatory interventions to ensure that the sector plays effectively, the enabling role it is mandated to create by the Act, the NCA 2003.

He said NCC is currently rejigging its regulatory oversights in the areas of ensuring that consumers get cost effective value for money spent on telecommunication services; and that service delivery by providers are qualitative and efficient.

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

L-R: Chief Strategy OďŹƒcer, Deloitte West Africa, Tope Aladenusi; MD/CEO, Precise Financial Systems (PFS), Dr. Yele Okeremi; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and President, Nigeria Compute Society (NCS), Prof. Adesola Aderounmu during the investiture of IT Personality of the Year Award conferred on Okeremi by NCS in Lagos...recently

Report: Fundamental Shift in Leadership Essential for Technology Advancement Emma Okonji The recent Accenture Technology Vision 2018 report has called for a fundamental shift in leadership position in Africa if the continent must achieve rapid advancement in technology that will boost African economies.

The report said that adopting artificial intelligence for growth and positive social impact means forming new partnerships with customers and business partners.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and other

technologies are accelerating the creation of intelligent enterprises and enabling companies to integrate themselves into people’s lives, the report said, while predicting key technology trends likely to disrupt business over the next three years.

This year’s report, “Intelligent Enterprise Unleashed: Redefine Your Company Based on the Company You Keep,� highlights how rapid advancements in technologies, including AI advanced analytics and the cloud, are enabling companies to not just create innovative products and services, but

change the way people work and live. This, in turn, is changing companies’ relationships with their customers, employees and business partners.

As part of the Technology Vision, Accenture surveyed more than 6,300 business and Information Technology (IT) executives worldwide. More than four in five respondents, which is about 84 per cent, agreed that through technology, companies are weaving themselves seamlessly into the fabric of how people live today.

The report gave example of

how Google, through its many applications and analytics capabilities, has integrated itself into people’s everyday lives thereby influencing their way of life. Google maps are used for journey management, references and suggestions on places, products and services of interest and through this, Google can shape people’s consumption behaviours.

Also, feedback from users can influence uptake of suggestions from Google by other people.

Giving further details of the research report, Accenture Nigeria’s Managing Director

of Technology, Niyi Tayo, said: “Technology is now firmly embedded throughout our everyday lives and is reshaping large parts of society. “Just as cities developed around ports and then railroads, or people rebuilt their lives around electricity, the world today is reimagining itself around digital innovation, and by extension, the companies that provide those services. This requires a new type of relationship, built on trust and the sharing of large amounts of personal information in a secure manner.�

FG Pushes for Modern Techniques in Mining to Protect Lives, Environment Raheem Akingbolu

Group Business Editor

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The federal government has advocated for a safer mining environment and adequate personal safety as Nigeria aspire to further explore her huge mineral resources for greater benefit of her citizens.

This was practically demonstrated recently when a team from the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, organised a three-day tour of gold mines in various communities in Ilesha part of Osun State. The event was also packaged to include training of hundreds of artisanal and small-scale miners on personal safety and environmental protection. It attracted participants from Ibodi, Badaye, Epe, Iyere, Ijana, Igun, among

other villages.

According to a safety professional, Dr. Adebola Odunsi , the training which was in two parts; fieldwork and stakeholders engagement forum, was put together by the government to sharpen the skills of the itinerant miners as well as giving them tips on how to protect themselves and the environment. The expert, who was also one of the facilitators at the training, disclosed that government has since discovered that artisanal miners were engaging in practices, which exposed them and the host communities with gold deposit to health and environmental hazards. ‘’The mission of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Develop-

ment to push this initiative is to introduce hundreds of artisanal and small-scale miners scattered around towns and villages in Osun State, to modern ways of mining. It is also introduced to serve as a platform for stakeholders to speak on challenges they are facing as well as improving the economic and physical wellbeing of the host communities,’’ he said. He further added that government initiated the programme to take the local miners through basic modern techniques and importance of protective kits during mining activities to protect them and the environment.

While the training lasted, the miners were exposed to various health and environmental

issues in mining. It also gave opportunities to stakeholders; the host communities and the miners to bond together discuss issues that are of mutual benefits to them and in the process deepened their relationship.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of gifts, gadgets and certificates to participants. Aside certificates, miners and their supervisors were given protective items like; helmet, steel toe-boot, rain boots and hand gloves. Other items are; nose mask, reflective jacket and overall.

Meanwhile, for effective monitoring and supervision, three people, including a traditional ruler, Chief Sunday Ogunsiji, the regent of Epe; the patron of the Artisanal

Miners Welfare Association, Chief Friday Israel Mmecha and one of the oldest miners in the state, Abubakar Aliyu, were presented with brand new motorcycles.

Earlier, Odunsi had pointed out that the federal government was determined to end hazardous practices in the bid to boost safer mining, which would help the miners, the communities and the nation’s economy.

He advised them against digging without wearing protective clothing, adding that they must stop the use of chemicals such as mercury and cyanide in their mining activities in order not to expose themselves to grave health issues and pollution of the rivers as well as the flora and fauna.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Much Ado about Non-renewal MultiChoice’s Licence

of

The notice given by the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu on the non-renewal of licences owned by digital terrestrial television operators by 2019, has generated a lot of controversy based on misinterpretation, writes Emma Okonji In a bid to meet up with its second deadline of June 2015 to conclude the process of switching Nigeria from analogue television broadcasting to digital television broadcasting, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in 2014, licensed MultiChoice and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) as pay Terrestrial Television (DTT) operators to provide digital contents as well as distribute digital signals. They were licensed as both content providers and signal distributors, to speed up the process of Digital Switchover (DSO).

At the time, NBC was under pressure to put an end to analogue television broadcasting in Nigeria and to subsequently switch the country to digital broadcasting by June 2015, having missed the first deadline of June 2012, due inadequate preparation by to implement the white paper on DSO. The licence, which has a lifespan of five years, is supposed to expire by June 2019. But during a press conference in Abuja penultimate week, Kawu told journalists that government has advised MultiChoice and NTA to begin discussions with the two signal distributors, ITS and Pinnacle Communications because the two pay DTT operators would no longer be licensed to operate as both content providers and signal distributors after June 2019. This, according to Kawu, was in line with government white paper on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The statement from Kawu was, however, misinterpreted to mean that NTA and MultiChoice will lose their licences and that MultiChoice will not be able to operate GOtv, which is its digital terrestrial platform.

Although NBC has tried to clarify that the inability of MultiChoice to renew its Licence as both content provider and signal distributor after 2019 does not mean that MultiChoice will cease to operate with its GOtv platform in Nigeria, the misrepresentation had already gone viral.

NBC’s statement on DTT At the Abuja press conference Kawu said that a recent retreat in Uyo, to review the progress of the DSO, the industry took some major steps, which it believes will further guarantee a seamless transition. Each player, he added, now understands more clearly, the roles they play in the DSO eco-system.

“We have also consciously delineated revenue streams for all players, an issue, which was the basis for some of the rancor that existed before.

The broadcasters’ signal distributors, content aggregator, Set Top Box (STB) manufacturers, are all on the same page now, to help strengthen the work of delivering the DSO. “NBC has also informed the pay DTT operators, GOtv and NTA/StarTimes, to begin discussions with the two signal distributors, ITS and Pinnacle Communications. This is because, in line with the government White Paper on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, after June 2019, these pay DTT operators would no longer be licensed to operate as both content providers and signal distributors. He also explained that the agency will also begin a phased Analogue Switch Off (ASO), in Plateau state and the FCT, by the end of the First Quarter of 2018, adding, “as part of acceleration of the work, we have commenced the digital mapping of Nigeria. It is a process that would help to give clarity to the entire DSO process.”

Public reaction Based on the statement by NBC on non-renewal of DTT licence by 2019, Nigerians were of the view that MultiChoice, which launched GOtv in 2014, was on its way out of the Nigeria broadcasting network. Their thinking was that GOtv will not have the opportunity to operate in the country’s broadcasting space after 2019.

The licence issued to MultiChoice in 2014

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is being insinuated not to be in line with the DSO White Paper and that is why it will not be renewed.

The misinterpretation has raised a lot of concerns, and if not well managed, could cause stalemate between the Nigerian government and the South African government, the home of MultiChoice, since majority of South Africa investments are in Nigeria, ranging from Shoprite, PEP, among several others.

The DSO White Paper is a policy, regulatory framework and a broadcasting model for the migration process from analogue TV broadcasting to digital TV broadcasting.

It was established in 2009 by a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC), to smoothen the transition from analogue to digital. The committee was created because Nigeria had signed an international and regional agreement to conclude the digital switchover by June 17, 2012, which was the first deadline that Nigeria set for itself.

MultiChoice entered into the Nigerian space

Based on the statement by NBC on non-renewal of DTT licence by 2019, Nigerians were of the view that MultiChoice, which launched GOtv in 2014, was on its way out of the Nigeria broadcasting network. Their thinking was that GOtv will not have the opportunity to operate in the country’s broadcasting space after 2019

Kawu

in 1994. In 1995 it launched its Digital Satellite Television (DSTV), a direct broadcast satellite service for the sub-Saharan African market.

In 2011 MultiChoice launched the GOtv digital platform, a pay television offering on digital terrestrial television (DTT).

NBC’s position In response to the misinterpretation of the DTT non-renewal licence, the Head Public Affairs at NBC, Mrs. Maimuna Jimada, told THISDAY that the statement from the Director General of NBC was misinterpreted.

According to her, both NTA and MultiChoice have the opportunity to renew their DTT licences by 2019 when they will expire, but that the terms and conditions of the licence will not be the same anymore, in line with government white paper on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. She further explained that GOtv, which is a subsidiary of MultiChoice, has the DTT licence and that Pinnacle Communications and ITS, which are licensed signal distributors, also have the DTT licence. She said at the expiration of GOtv licence in 2019, it has the opportunity to renew the licence but that the terms and conditions of the licence will change and may not permit GOtv to distribute digital signals anymore, hence the advice that it should open discussions with the existing licensed signal distributors on how best they could distribute their signals.

MultiChoice reacts Worried about the drama of non-renewal of DTT licence by 2019, MultiChoice said it was a thing of surprise to read from some newspapers, a statement credited to the Director of NBC that GOtv would be shut down from the Nigerian broadcasting space by 2019, following government new directives on digital switchover as captured in government white paper on DSO. MultiChoice however promised to further investigate the matter to know the true position of things, come 2019.

According to a statement signed by its Public Relation Officer, Jennifer Ukoh, and made available to THISDAY, “GOtv is provided under a fully licenced and registered entity in Nigeria, and this license comes up for renewal in March 2019. As a law-abiding and committed Nigerian operator, which has fulfilled and continues to comply with all

regulatory requirements and applicable laws, it is not clear how or why this license would not be renewed, and as such the company will investigate further in the best interests of the many customers it serves in the market.

MultiChoice remains committed to providing its customers with a wide variety of quality entertainment through the usual best standards.”

DSO and the journey so far The journey of DSO started in Nigeria since 2006 when the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nation agency, issued the Geneva 2006 agreement, signalling the development of ‘all-digital’ terrestrial television services, for African countries, including Nigeria.

With a good intention to join the rest of the world in the entire process of digital migration, Nigeria, in agreement with ITU, initially chose June 17, 2012 as its deadline to complete the DSO, but failed to meet up with the deadline for lack of adequate preparation on the part of government. une 17, 2015, was again chosen as the second deadline to complete the DSO process, and NBC in 2014, licensed NTA (StarTimes) and MultiChoice (GOtv) as both content providers and signal distributors to drive the entire process of DSO, but Nigeria still could not meet up with the deadline of June 2015.

Having missed the deadline twice, Nigeria, again, chose June 17, 2017 for the completion of the DSO process, but still could not cover 95 per cent digital access across the country, as at June 17, 2017, even though the NBC, the government agency responsible for driving DSO in Nigeria, continued to insist that so much have been achieved in the entire process of DSO since 2016.

“We have rolled out in two more states, namely Kaduna and Kwara at the end of 2017.

The rollout in Kwara and kaduna brought the number of states now switched on to four.

We are committed to roll out in many more states this year.

“We have also scheduled to switch on six more states , one each from the six geo-political regions, during this year, 2018. We envisage that by the end of the third quarter of 2018, we would have switched on in 12 states around Nigeria. We are steadily implementing this new digital broadcasting process,” Kawu said, during a recent press conference in Abuja.

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Eniolorunda: Nigeria Needs Seamless Digital Ecosystem Connectivity The Chief Executive Officer of TeamApt, a fintech startup, Tosin Eniolorunda, spoke with Emma Okonji on how the company is positioning to seamlessly connect banks, people, businesses and governments across Africa. Excerpts: Leaving a promising career in a firm like Interswitch to chart an entrepreneurial course may be an impossible mission for many.

What motivated you and your partners to start TeamApt? Entrepreneurs are usually restless people. They are not usually after money but they thirst greatly on making an impact. They know the money will follow. I needed to make an impact in my life and it was becoming harder to do so with my employer so I left. I figured that the worst that would happen will be that I would fail, and I could always get another job even with the startup on my resume. I, however, knew I was not going to fail. I had planned to do this all my life and I knew it was time.

I was 29 years old then. While in school, I had acquired entrepreneurial experience while studying Mechanical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University. I had a consultancy business for students, while helping them with various hardware and software projects. I was single and I knew it would only get harder if I didn’t do it then. It was then or never. So I had to leave Interswitch in just under three years after.

I could not have made a better decision.

The desire of most startups is to woo potential investors. Why has your organisation taken a different approach to grow your business, particularly at this early stage?

We are fundamentalists at TeamApt. The purpose of a business is to create wealth. Wealth is profit.

Sometimes startups hype promises of profit making to investors in order to receive higher valuations. Hype is not value. Profit is value.

Profit with hype is, however, greater value. In the B2B industry that we play, customers are expected to pay for value. We figured if we recycle their payments and do this quickly, we

I think some of the government’s policies have been great.

The cashless policy is a good initiative that reduces the cost of cash handling while increasing its traceability. The ďŹ nancial inclusion drive is also another good initiative to further boost the economy and allow the bottom of the pyramid to participate in institutional ďŹ nance, have access to credit and therefore increase their economic potentials.

Last year’s inclusion of software companies in the pioneer status list is another example of a laudable initiative.

Eniolorunda could reach the scale quickly without external funding. This is what we believed will help us build the muscle we require for a sustainable growth. The second reason is that it takes time and effort to raise significant institutional capital. We did not have that time. We would rather spend that time with our customers and understand their needs deeply. Our clients have rewarded us with millions of dollars of revenue in 26 months without raising a dime from investors.

For most startups, penetrating the market is usually a daunting task. How well have you fared in two years of existence. What are your milestones, and what should the market expects from you in 2018?

Any company that is thoroughly focused on customer success has a high chance of succeeding.

Our experience has helped us to see the needs and this allows us to envision a better future where banks, businesses, people and governments can be connected in a seamless end to end digital financial ecosystem to improve efficiency for the banks, reduce financial friction for the businesses and increase financial inclusion for the people.

So far we have reached a milestone of providing digital web and mobile banking for 16 banks and about 50,000 businesses. Our banks are delighting their retail and corporate customers with our solutions. Banks have approached us when they heard of the exploits we have done for other banks. The banking industry should expect more of this in 2018. We are also providing solution to a serious financial problem that all businesses in Nigeria are facing. We are experiencing this challenges too while running our business. It is estimated that billions of naira are lost annually to this operational problem.

Presently, we are building a solution to address this while working with our partner banks.

This year, we will consolidate our ecosystem of banks and include businesses in it for our mission of providing frictionless digital finance.

Fintech innovation requires a particular skill set but the skill gap in the fintech industry is quite alarming. Getting good programmers is a huge challenge. What do you think could be done to address this?

This is a real challenge. Good programmers are few and there is a competition for them in and

outside the country. The country’s brain drain is alarming as many experienced developers can get jobs outside the country. They can get jobs in Dubai, Ireland, and Estonia with far greater compensation compared to what they would get in the country. To foster innovation and develop the country, a lot of engineers will always be needed and I think it’s high time the industry and the nation banded together to solve this epidemic.

I think the challenge can be resolved fundamentally in two ways. The first is to increase the supply of good quality software engineers and to make the industry more lucrative for them. Supply of good programmers can be improved through internship programmes for secondary and university students to catch and mentor them while they are young. The second solution is slightly harder as it is tied to the macroeconomic performance of the nation.

The naira devaluation, for instance, has led to increased emigration of experienced software engineers. The industry can, however, try and raise rates for the engineers.

What are the infrastructure and policies the industry stakeholders, regulators and government need to put in place for Lagos to become No 1 Africa’s hub for Fintech?

With all the right conditions in place, I believe Lagos would not only be Africa’s No 1 Fintech hub but would be at par with other Fintech hubs around the world. Currently, the Fintech space is developing with a huge focus on Lagos and asides key factors such as talent, capital and consumer demands which are essential for the growth of any Fintech hub in the world, government policies can either stunt or accelerate the growth of a Fintech hub in Nigeria. If the government steps in and creates policies and procedures that protect and encourage Fintechs in Nigeria, there would be better promotion of innovation and foster healthier competition. Just like London and Singapore, which are two leading Fintech hubs in the world, their regulatory bodies Financial Conduct Authority, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, have established certain initiatives to strengthen collaboration between Fintech hubs.

Initiatives, such as accelerator programmes, Fintech offices, international agreements, and sandbox environments, where both Fintech

companies and other financial institutions can test their innovations without incurring heavy regulations, have accelerated the growth of Fintech in those countries. Asides these regulations, the government can also establish policy programmes that would support the development of Fintechs and other financial related startups in Nigeria. For example, StartUp India was established by the Indian government to provide mentorship opportunities, funding, simpler regulatory processes and many more benefits for startups in Indian. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if the Nigerian government take learning from these countries and establish similar initiatives in Nigeria to accelerate the growth of Fintechs and place Lagos on the map of Fintech hubs globally.

Europe and North America have embraced Open Banking system for different reasons and adopting different models. What is your view on Open Banking and how should Nigerian banking industry approach it?

Open Banking is a welcome innovation in the global financial industry and there is going to be a noticeable shift of power from financial institutions especially banks to consumers. It has started already just as you mentioned in the UK and North America. The Australian government has started putting in place policies known as the consumer data rights which will give customers access to their banking data. I believe it wouldn’t take long before the Nigerian banking industry join the global community of Open Banking. We already have organisations in Nigeria such as Open Banking Nigeria that is developing free API Standards that would give customers the power to access and share data with the third parties.

Some people are of the views that the best direction for fintech might be to collaborate instead of competing, as new consumer-financial applications can be built on top of old banking infrastructure. How should fintech relate with banks?

The truth is that banks and Fintechs are mutually dependent on each other in the financial industry.

It doesn’t matter how great your technology processes are, if there is no demand, then it’s Continued on page 27

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Estream Networks Supports Cost Based Pricing on Retail Broadband Services Stories by Emma Okonji The move by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to introduce a new cost based pricing for broadband and data services in the telecoms sector, has continued to get commendations from industry stakeholders, who are of the view that the new cost will stabilise broadband pricing and also address a whole lot of industry issues.

The Managing Director and CEO of Estream Networks Limited, Mr. Muyiwa Ogungboye,

this week, joined other industry stakeholders to support NCC for the initiative.

According to him, “I want to specifically drum support for the move that the NCC is making to deliberately reposition the Nigerian telecom industry ecosystem. The recent event ‘On Cost Study For The Determination Of Cost Based Pricing For Retail Broadband And Data Services In Nigeria’, organised by NCC recently, shows and can testify to the determination by the Commission to stabilise the industry.�

It takes a visionary leader

to embark on such sensitive and nationalistic project for the betterment of the industry.

We are optimistic that the consultant would do an excellent job and the entire industry is waiting for the outcome of this important exercise.

The Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has on many occasion organised events to see how all existing companies that are operating in the industry can continue to exist and as well as make the industry more attractive to the investor with the plan to get true cost of

Medallion Expands Data Centre Infrastructure to Enugu, Other Cities Medallion Communications Limited has said it is expanding its Interconnect and Data Centre infrastructure to Enugu, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano and Asaba in an effort to accommodate more service providers in other parts of Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer of Medallion, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, who made the disclosure recently in Lagos, said the expansion, which is in phases would help boost the experience of telecom users across the country. “Apart from our Data Centre in Lagos and Abuja, we are also on the verge of expanding the infrastructure to other parts of the country,� he said.

He noted that the expansion is majorly part of the company’s plan to fortify it in readiness for a possible surge that would be experienced by infrastructure companies

as a result of the advocacy for local hosting of data and content. “The biggest push we are making this year is to expand our available infrastructure and services to other regions so they can also participate and benefit. We believe that the moment you get content closer to the users, you achieve two things: better user experience at a faster and better rate and lowering the cost,�

Nnamani said.

According to him, Enugu and Port-Harcourt would start operations in the first quarter of 2018, while Ibadan, Kano and Asaba would be operational before the end of third quarter this year.

He said a lot of infrastructure remained domicile in Lagos, leaving other parts of the country less attractive in terms of telecom services.

He believes that a win-win situation remains the best offer

for the industry, saying the more the users across the country get benefit from the services, the more the service provider gets more profit.

Medallion’s expertise revolves round building and operating technologically advanced and secure neutral telecommunications infrastructure that enable the exchange of telecom traffic among the different operators in Nigeria.

Nnamani said its carrier neutral Data Centre infrastructure is the most connected in Nigeria, with over 83 service providers, including international gateway/submarine cables, GSM operators, CDMA/ LTE operators, Fixed line/ fixed wireless, long distance providers, metro fiber providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Value Added Service (VAS) provides and other content providers.

producing broadband. “I am sure that it would lead to more players and investors coming into the industry and this would definitely grow the industry.

The government at all levels must encourage investment into the sector by reducing the cost of right of way, discontinued multiple taxation and have one shop for all their taxes and make foreign exchange available for the industry,�

Ogungboye said.

NCC had in 2016, at the expiration of the old interconnect regime, engaged the

services of the consultant, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) UK to review and update the existing model, taking into account the changes that have occurred over time and produce an interconnection cause model that is more in line with the current realities in Nigeria.

The outcome of the study is expected to usher in a new interconnect rate for voice calls in the telecoms sector, which is being planned to take effect from March 1 Interconnect rate is the amount of money that operator

‘A’ pays to operator ‘B’ when voice calls generated from the network of operator ‘A’, are terminated on the network of operator ‘B’.

Before now, the industry was operating at N24.40k per minute for international call termination rate and N4.30k per minute for local call termination rate, but some of the telecoms operators were not comfortable with the rates, and have complained that they were incurring huge debts from unsettled voice termination calls, a situation that has impacted negatively on voice call quality.

OYSHIA Sets Pace in Health Insurance with NEXUSINSURE Software The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) is set to deploy NexusMax Software 365, to power its operations in the state.

The system, based on NEXUSMAX’s commercial off-the-shelf NEXUSINSURE software, was implemented by a joint government and privatesector team comprised of the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency and NEXUSMAX. The adoption of the software is to ensure that at least five per cent of the population of Oyo State is enrolled before the end of the first year of the Health insurance Scheme.

According to the Ag. Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr. Olusola Akande, the agency chose NEXUSINSURE because it offers a one stop platform to manage the activities of the Agency.

It also comes equipped with a comprehensive biometric data capture which is critical when

verifying enrollees at the point of accessing health care in the state. The agency went live with the new system in July 2017 on schedule. The system allows all stakeholders like HMOs, Hospitals and Enrollees to conduct many activities online, including payments, renewal of premiums, and biometric registration of enrollees. “One of our major goals was to ensure—from day one of production—that this system would continue to support our operations and provide an improved customer experience without issue,�

Akande said, adding; “Our team accomplished this goal, and the system streamlines our processes and allows us to serve our customers with greater accuracy and efficiency,� he said.

NEXUSINSURE provides access to several portals for the use of OYSHIA portal which is a dedicated portal to members

of the agency.

From the portal, access to required information on progress of the scheme can be viewed by users.

It also powers HMO Portal, a private portal for all HMOs involved in the scheme ; Enrollees Portal, where subscribers can change their providers, manage their dependants and perform self-service functions through the internet or gsm/ sms; Providers Portal that allows providers to be more than just buildings, it allows them to be partners.

They can download enrollee lists, verify enrollee identification, lodge their claims online real time, view claims lodged, paid and outstanding etc.

Enrollee verification can be done via sms.

NEXUSINSURE also supports different payment channels like scratch cards, online payment as well as USSD based payment alternatives.

ENIOLORUNDA: NIGERIA NEEDS SEAMLESS DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM CONNECTIVITY increasing its traceability. The financial inclusion drive is also another good initiative to further boost the economy and allow the bottom of the pyramid to participate in institutional finance, have access to credit and therefore increase their economic potentials. Last year’s inclusion of software companies in the pioneer status list is another example of a laudable initiative.

The government can however still do more to allow Fintechs to thrive and improve the country further.

The democratisation of access to social data like identity is a major example. Opening up the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identity Number (NIN) databases for programmatic access and modification, for example, will create a new slew of products that will further improve access to credit and include the bottom of the pyramid faster.

almost useless. On one hand, banks have the large customer base, credibility, trust, experience on financial regulations and the right audience to sell these services or products to. On the other hand, Fintechs bring innovation, faster processes which can cut down operation costs, increase revenue for these banks and increase their customer base and turn these customers into advocates for the banks. Bringing these qualities to the table, the relationship between Fintechs and banks should be forged into a partnership programme.

This would ensure that in the end, everyone wins, the banks, Fintechs and the customers who are now better served as a result of this collaboration. The only objective is for the customer to win. Banks need to foster Fintech collaboration by opening up APIs and by funding startups through accelerator programmes. The Africa Fintech Foundry from Access Bank is a good example. Fintechs also need to collaborate with banks by making their arguably superior products available to the banks through whitelabelling or source code licensing arrangements.

Eniolorunda

Regardless of how it unveils, a revolution in finances has already started and regulations are the biggest obstacles that fintech innovators face today. What is your assessment of the current regulatory environment and your suggestions for improvement?

The banking and finance industry is the backbone of the nation’s commerce and regulation is very important.

Regulation should foster growth and control malpractices that will hinder the growth of the industry. One of the ways regulation does this is by licensing players activities.

The apex bank is doing a good work in protecting the industry and ensuring that only serious players with value to offer are allowed in the industry. The methodology

today is cash deposit for the period while the license is being granted. This often filters a lot of unserious players but it unfortunately also precludes otherwise nascent companies who do not have the financial muscle. I believe the position of protecting the industry should not be compromised however other ways to encourage serious players without the financial muscle can be encouraged.

Startups can, for example, make a case for an exception if they satisfy these conditions: a year old company and employs more than five Nigerians in the period of 12 months, that can demonstrate that industry players (e.g banks) are using their solution in a different capacity other than one that requires licensing and can get the bank to attest to this fact, that can show

evidence of tax payment and revenues in books, a fidelity guarantee and professional indemnity from a reputable insurance firm to guarantee against losses dues to fraud and errors. If an intention of licensing regulation is to ensure only serious players are licensed, these steps can achieve the same objective without the financial hurdle.

The importance of removing obstacles in fintech innovation cannot be overemphasised. How can the fintech industry convince government to make space for innovative technological products in the financial market?

I think some of the government’s policies have been great. The cashless policy is a good initiative that reduces the cost of cash handling while

What is the outlook for TeamApt in the next five years?

Our mission is to facilitate financial happiness for banks, people and businesses. We believe happiness is the goal in life and money helps people to be happy. Banks are at the centre of money in the world and this is why we set out with serving banks. We help banks to deploy web and mobile banking applications for their customers so that the customers can find it easier to pay, collect, manage or grow their money.

In the next few months, we will be serving businesses and we will allow them to do same. In the next five years, we would have connected all the banks, businesses and people in a symbiotic and frictionless ecosystem. Our vision is to see that the friction of people dealing with money is gone completely, the bottom of the pyramids are financially included and people are generally happier by using our systems and infrastructure to deal with their finances.

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Odesile: Adulteration is Killing Distilleries in Nigeria The Managing Director, Grand Oak Limited, Fatai Odesile, was a council member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and former President of the Advertising Association of Nigeria. In this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, he spoke on a wide range of issues including the state of the economy, the wine and spirit market and counterfeiting. Excerpts: How will you assess the Nigerian economy in view of its current rating as amongst the 10 most conducive business environments by the World Bank?

Much as I would have been excited about the news, having been to other climes and being able to establish that our environment is not entirely bad; it is difficult to believe those assertions because of the largely unreliability of available data. There are really no reliable data for planning in Nigeria; so, in a number of times, what we hear conflict with what we see.

For a fact, if you have data to support it, I think the economy is not doing too badly; I think that it can be simply considered favourably amongst other climes. It might not be exactly as rosy as it has been painted but from what I have witnessed in other places, we are not doing badly.

The only challenge is that we don’t have data to back it up and many Nigerians will remember the famous decision to invest in Nigeria by Vodacom and MTN. When Vodacom based it on data, it said look their per capital income, their GDP per day is even not up to $100, why would you want to go and take that kind of risk, where will they get money to buy recharge cards and all of that. But MTN thought differently and it got it right.

The result is what we see today. At least, we all see what happened, MTN became successful and the rest is history. So, I think the economy is not as bad as some people think. It may not be as rosy but I think that the claim might not be too misplaced.

What are the growth indices for private sector concerns in this economy?

Let me go with the published report, if you check the Guinness published report of 2017, as well as the Nigerian Breweries published report; you have some appreciable level of over 39%, 14% growth respectively.

Right now, I am speaking purely for the private sector, so from the economic perspective, I think we have seen some respectable growth in the economic performance. To that extent, that is supportive of the proposition that the Nigerian economy is one of the positive economies in Africa as at today.

How do these indices and interplays impact on various business sectors?

I think that if the current policies are sustained, we will all see the interplay in every of these areas. I think that it will be very positive on the economy; I think that it will be very positive on the business and on the industry as a whole.

If you look back to June through October 2016, was it really possible to predict the price of an item the following morning? No, because at that time you find out that a dollar to a naira was changing every hour, so if you want to buy dollar for your import items, you could get it at N380 in the morning and by the time its get to the evening, it could be N400.

Those periods did not allow industries to plan. What it also did was to put everything on cash and carry. Companies that were extending credit line before aptly turned round to demand for cash; because most were not sure what the price will be the following day. It puts a lot of pressure on everybody. As such, all those inconsistencies and the ability not to be able to predict what might happen made the economy dicey. In the overall analysis, to a large extent, all those inconsistencies are reduced now; we can plan better these days because there is some level of stability.

In the economic indices today both manufacturers and consumers can sleep with their two eyes fairly closed. And that is very crucial because

Odesile

one can’t be changing the products’ price in the market everyday and yet we have to sell.

Point blank, I want to say that the stability is really helping this economy to move in the right direction.

What are the challenges in the sector that you are operating in?

The challenges are numerous, so from the economic point of view, we still need a stronger naira because what you will find is that a lot of the inputs materials that are dependent on sourcing from abroad are still proportionally higher than what we could pass on to the consumers.

How are you coping with the challenges?

One of the ways is that we have been looking inwards; we have to now even look more inwards to cut down some inefficiency. Unfortunately and painfully, people are also part of these. It is all about looking at what is it that we can do to cut down time and at the same time identifying multi-skilled people. So, one sure way is to reduce unnecessarily overhead, cut back on wastage.

One other challenge confronting the industry and which is more peculiar to the distilleries in the drink segment is the problem of adulteration.

You know, the entry barrier to distillery business is quite low. The recycled bottle business has become a booming business today and its possible for some people to sit at the corner of their houses, manually apply cork, used label and package fake gin and masquerade it as the original.

That is one major problem that is confronting us and we have been collaborating with NAFDAC on this. Checkmating faking and adulteration is necessary because as brand owner we owe it as a responsibility to protect the consumers.

Indeed, faking is killing businesses and driving marketing budget up.

Based on that, we constantly have to communicate to the consumer to alert him/her, this is the new feature, watch out for the original, go for the original Seaman’s Schnapps and all

of that. So, it is a lot of issue confronting the distilleries in particular that may not be as much with other drinks, such as beer, because of the return bottle scheme.

How would you assess consumer attitude in terms of products consumption and patronage?

Today’s consumers are much better informed; they are not carried away by the imported mentality hence there is a lot more focus on Nigerian-made goods. The attitude of today’s consumer is now driven by quality rather than foreign obsession. Today’s consumer wants to know: is this good for me irrespective of where it comes from. I think that we are beginning to see a much more rational consumer, a consumer that is not driven by geographical emotions but are driven by basic realities of time, quality and value. Value proposition is beginning to take the centre stage for most consumers of today rather than origin or colonial bias as we used to have.

What areas give you more challenge? Is it market penetration and patronage or meeting consumer needs and lifestyles with your brands?

For me, the major area of challenge is the value proposition. It is actually hitting the consumer at the core of his value need, getting the mix right and tailor-making the brand to the consumer.

That gives a lot more challenge today because then you have a lot of pressing needs hitting that same consumer. You really need to get to the heart of his needs, determine what he wants, how he wants it, when he wants it rather than shooting in the dark.

The other challenge is that our people do play to the gallery at times. You have a focus group study; people do tell you what they want you to hear in a focus group. People who rarely consume certain brand in the house will tell you, I have a carton of it, I buy this etc, we realize the need to filter that to really get to who and what he does and when he does it and how he does it.

So, to answer your question, data, and getting into the real heart of value proposition of a

consumer in Nigeria is one of the challenges facing a lot of business owners.

In recent times, promoters of beer have been educating Nigerians on the health benefits of beer due to the threat that your brands pose to them. Has this not had negative impact on your sales in the last two years?

Well, you could not say that most things that are done are not impactful. If we look at it this way: look at the drink business in 2016 or in 2017 and look at the situation in 2015, there is a clear difference.

Today, practically any brewery or any beer manufacturing company that is worth its salt is into distilleries too. If you look at Guinness, the company has been riding largely on spirits for awhile now. So, what does that tell you?

Spirit has become an attractive proposition no matter what the current perception may be.

Even from the economic point of view, if I want to host about 5 guys for instance, it pays me to just buy a bottle of Lord’s Dry Gin, put it on the table and four or five of us will enjoy ourselves. So, people are beginning, on their own, to realise the benefits of spirits; I mean, if you look at Diageo, what is the biggest aspect of Diageo business?

Yes, it is always good to campaign the benefits and all of that but the consumer is also very smart and he is aware of the health benefits.

For instance, if you take a shot of Whiskey, no sugar and it burns your fat, it keeps you smarter and healthier. Of course, you will take a decision as to what to drink.

So in respect of the safety campaign, we in the Distillery subgroup of MAN have been in consultation with the beer group on how to support the initiative. That is, we are collaborating to run the safety campaigns, ‘don’t drink when you drive’ and all of that. We are doing that as a stakeholder together with the promoters of beer brands to ensure that we enlighten the people and boost the effort of the Road Safety Unit.

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BPE: 142 Enterprises Privatised from Inception The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has privatised 142 enterprises from inception to date, Director General of the agency, Mr. Alex A. Okoh has said.

A statement by Head, Public Communications, Amina Tukur Othman, quoted the BPE boss to have stated this while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Yerima who were on an oversight visit to the Bureau in Abuja on Thursday.

Okoh said out of the number, 94 enterprises have been monitored while the rest have been not because “some were either assets sale or in the first phase of privatisation and as such did not fall within the BPE’s monitoring purview�.

He said out of the privatised enterprises, 63per cent of them are doing well while the remaining 37per cent are not performing.

The Director General attributed their poor performances

to the operating business environment in the country in which many private or privatised public enterprises have either closed down or relocated to neighbouring countries. Out of the 142 privatised enterprises, the Director General said, 63 were through core investor sale, nine through guided liquidation, one through sale to existing shareholders, five through public offer and two, through liquidation.

He added that eight were privatised through private placement, 41 through concession, two through debt/equity swap and 11 through sale of assets.

Breaking down the enterprises by sectors, the Okoh said, five were in the agric machanisation,eight in automobiles, seven in banking and insurance, six in brick making and six in the cement sector.

The others, he listed are 10 in energy construction & services,12 in hotels &tourism,

eight in oil & gas, four in paper & packaging, 19 in solid minerals & mining, 7 in steel & aluminum, four in the sugar sector, 26 in marine transport sector, 19 in power and one in telecoms.

The BPE helmsman informed the lawmakers that the Bureau has commenced a thorough review of the non-performing enterprises to ascertain the issues affecting their non- performance.

He listed the new initiatives embarked upon by the Bureau to include; the Afam Power & Yola Distribution Company privatisation, concessioning of the Terminal B of the Warri old Port, restructuring and commercialization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), partial commercialisation of NIPOST, restructuring and commercilaisation of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), reform and commercialisation of three of the nation’s national parks and other initiatives in the power sector.

ICAN Harps on Entrepreneurship Chiemelie Ezeobi The recent graduands of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) have been charged to embrace entrepreneurship to curb the high unemployment rate in the country.

The guest speaker at the event, Mr. Blessing Obehi Ayemhere, who is also the General Manager/Head Commercial and Finance of Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited, said this at the recent 47th induction ceremony of ICAN AATWA (Accounting Technicians, West Africa).

Chaired by ICAN President, Isma’ila Zakari, the two-day event which was heldin Lagos, kicked off with the lecture series that dovetailed into the induction ceremony proper.

Addressing the 650 young graduates of accounting technicians, some of whom

were prize winners, the guest speaker emphasised the importance of having dreams as young accountants.

He cited such dreams as those of transiting to and qualifying as chartered accountants, dream of being value driven employees who will not only work for salary but help to build successful businesses, therefore earning a place of pride in the organisation where they work.

He also emphasised the need for the inductees to understand clearly what they really want to with their lives.

He added: “What are your dreams? Though the nation may be plaqued with numerous challenges, there is hope if only we can dream of a preferred future and commit to do what will make actualisation of such dreams possible. “The rate of unemployment in Nigeria and indeed the Africa continent is alarmingly

high and the only way we can combat it is to take to entrepreneurship. “This can be achieved if the inductees will free their potentials and think beyond doing accounting jobs to creating opportunities especially in this era of technological innovations. “Your potential is the you that can achieve uncommon heights. We must be creative and innovative, that is the only way we can be relevant in the scheme of things. “We must set clear goals about success, as without goals, we only drift and flow in the current of life. “Goals raises confidence, improves capability and activate your drive. The size of your goal is what is naturally activated for achievement.�

On creativity he said, “While five plus five equals to 10, there are many number combinations that makes up 10.

Pinkberry Opens Two Stores in Nigeria Raheem Akingbolu Promoters of the Eat N Go brand in Nigeria have announced the launch of Pinkberry, a leading global frozen yogurt brand to the Nigeria market. The brand, which originated in Los Angeles, California, was said to be known for its fresh, pure and supremely tasty frozen yogurt and variety of toppings. At the opening of its outlet on Admiralty way Lekki Phase 1 recently, it was announced that another store will be on Aromire Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

While promising on behalf of the global brand, to bring light and refreshing frozen yogurt experience to Nigeria, President and CEO of Pinkberry International, Aaron Serruya, said the company is excited to finally serve a distinctly light and refreshing taste of frozen yogurt in Nigeria.

“We are happy to serve and become a local favorite of the sophisticated community in Lagos in partnership with Eat N’GO Limited, who shares our values and commitment on exceeding customer expectations day in and day out�

Corroborating the promise, the Chairman, Eat N’GO Limited, Charbel Antoun, stated that the addition of Pinkberry will introduce Nigeria to the fresh flavors like no other, outstanding service and sophisticated style for which the brand is known.

Also speaking, at the event, Managng Director, Eat N Go Nigeria, Antoine Zammarieh, said, Pinkberry yoghurt is synonymous with freshness, with products made fresh daily in store and fruits freshly hand-cut in store each day. ‘’The combinations are endless with our wide range of toppings to be paired with

flavours available in a batch of six per time.� ‘’A lot of work has been put into ensuring that the taste and quality of Pinkberry Nigeria mirrors that of her international counterparts. ‘’We have spent several months creating our flavours with the help of our international franchise. ‘’Pinkberry is committed to uncompromising quality with the frozen yogurt made fresh daily with only the highest quality ingredients including nonfat milk and nonfat yogurt to deliver the perfect balance of tart and sweet, resulting in a refreshing, light and craveable taste with a clean finish. Each flavor is expertly crafted to complement fresh seasonal fruit that is cut in-store every single day — never frozen, in syrup or canned, and our 30+ toppings are each thoughtfully selected as perfect pairings to our Yogurt,’’ he added

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OLODU KEONYEDI

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Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ËÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?ÓÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÚÖËĂ?Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă”Ă™ĂŒËž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă“Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă– ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž ĂšĂ&#x;ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÚÖËĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ÙʰĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă&#x;×ËÞÓĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë›

Þ˪Ă? Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă– ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– Ă–Ă™Ă?ĂžËœ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă–Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂžĂœĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŽĂ™ Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ë› Þ˪Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹ ÚÙĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ‘Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă”Ă™ĂŒ Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŽĂ™ Ă‹Ę°Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă”Ă™ĂŒË› THINGS YOU DO WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB Emergency protection fund: Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă? ʎÙå Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ě™Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– ÞÙ Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă–ĂŁ Ă?âÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?̚˛

ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‘Ă?ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ë› Ă&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă”Ă™ĂŒËœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?ÞÓÖÖ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂ–ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ë› Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ÞÖã Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ă–ĂžĂ’ĂŁËœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– Ùà Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÓÞ˪Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÚËã Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜ ÞÙ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă—Ă? Ě™ Ěš ÙʊĂ?Ă? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ÓÞ˛ Increase your circle of network: Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ʨà Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ÞÙ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă?ÒÙåĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ͙͑ϯ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă Ă“Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Ă?ÙÖÖĂ?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă˜Ă™ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă–Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂœĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă™Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄË› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂŁ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă¤Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Looking for a job is now your job: Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ÞËÕĂ? Ă‹ ÖÙÞ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ ÞÙ Ę¨Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• Ă“Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă–Ë› Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ÞËÕĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ę¨Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă”Ă™ĂŒË› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă?ʾÖĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?ËŞĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ÞÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă— Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă?Ă?ĂĄ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ù×Ă? Ă”Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă•Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ ĂœĂ?ËÖÓÞã˛ Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă‘Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽË› Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœËœ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÑÙÙÎ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ?Ë›

Losing a job often is a traumatic experience. It’s normal to feel lost, hurt and overwhelmed as you try to get a handle on what you should do after this major change. It’s important to act from a position of strength and knowledge, rather than reacting emotionally to the loss Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă“Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Í’Í‘ĎŻ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă– ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă“Ăž Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ Ă?Óâ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ě™Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă– Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁËšĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ěš ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽË›

Ă?Ă?Ăš ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ăž Ă?˛Ñ Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžËœ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹Ă Ă? Í’Í‘ĎŻ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă– Ă“Ăž Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă–ĂŁ Ă?âÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄ Ă“Ăž ÞÙ Í—Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžË› Build your own house: Ă’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂ Ă? ÑÙÞ Ă‹ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂžĂ‘Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÚËã ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÒÙ×Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ‹ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?âÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ě‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂœĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?ÞÓÖÖ Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă”Ă™ĂŒËž ĂžĂœĂŁ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă—Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ë› Figure out Health Insurance: Ă Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ăž ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÞËÕĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëž Ă“Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?ÞÓÖÖ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ÑÙÙÎ ÞÙ ÖÙÙÕ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ?

Don’t: Panic: Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă”Ă™ĂŒ Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ăž ÙʰĂ?Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă? Ă&#x;Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂšĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˘Ă“Ă?Þã Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ‹Ă–Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă•Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă? ÞÙ Ă–Ă?Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÞÓ×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ËŞĂž ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ ×Ùà Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‹ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ ÙÚĂ?Ă˜ Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽË› Develop your talent/skill: ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ËŤĂ?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?ËŹ ̙ÚÖËĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ĚšËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Í’Í‘ Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?Ăœ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÚËã Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?˚ÞËÖĂ?Ă˜ĂžËš Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ë› ËŤ Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă’ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ë› Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ËŞĂžËœ ×Ùà Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœË›ËŹ Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă”Ă™ĂŒ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă•Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă&#x;Ăž ĚŽ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ åÓÞÒ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă™ĂžË› Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‘Ă“Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ×ÓÞÓÑËÞĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă?ÑËÞÓà Ă? Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙÙÎ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă‹ ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœË? ĂŒĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ë› ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã˛

Olodu keonyedi – is a trained engineer and by passion and personal development a public/motivational speaker, a business coach and human capacity developer, he has a B.Eng degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, he is a member of Nigeria Society of Engineer and a COREN registered Engineer.

Email: olodukeonyedi@gmail.com Tel: 08037489704, www.instagram.com/sir_keon. www.facebook.com/olodu keonyedi_mentorship

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QSR Begins Operation, Harps on Importance of Social Research Raheem Akingbolu The management of Questers Research Services (QRS) has called on business owners to take social research seriously as they move up the ladder. The QRS management also noted that businesses, especially small and medium enterprise, need qualitative social research to lean on. Speaking at the official launch of the independent marketing and social research agency in Lagos, QRS Chairman, Lanre Fasakin, said that the firm is equipped to deliver cutting-edge marketing and social research services across the spectrum of the industry.

Speaking on one of the company’s cutting edge research services that attracted comments at the event - the QRS National Quarterly Omnibus Survey, Fasakin described it as a multi-client syndication study with capacity to cater for the needs of several sponsors simultaneously.

According to him, “Mostly targeted are the FMCGs and clients special areas of interest, the Omnibus is planned to cover 18 urban and 36 rural areas, as a continuous quarterly market monitor amongst 4000 households across Nigeria while it also has a flexible quota allocation that allows additional 50 special incidence sample at each urban location,�

The Questers team was led by Oludare Odetunde, a Statistician, whose strength lies in strong analytical and mathematical skills. “Team members are well established in the market research industry in Nigeria and other African countries with experience cutting across FMCGs, Reproductive Health, Telecoms, Beverages, Banking,

Oil and Gas amongst other sectors�. Fasakin further stated that the Questers Qualitative department is driven by a seasoned product and marketing strategist with about 12 years’ experience spanning advertising and marketing research while the team displays rare talent for moderation, reporting and generating insights that capture consumer disposition in a way that moves brands forward As one of its ways to deepen professionalism, objectivity and quality outputs in the research industry, Questers deploys electronic devices such as the SurveyToGo (STG) platform for data collection to ensure quick turnaround timing/ prompt delivery.

The platform is a Mobile Data Collection Software used to create, conduct and manage electronic mobile surveys almost at real time.

With access to a steady pool of over 500 interviewers and supervisors across the country, the company is positioned to deliver quality research services across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria. According to the Group Chairman, the company’s unique selling propositions include fast turnaround timing, proficiency in use of scientific tools such as Dooblo for data collection and analysis; and individual staff and corporate membership of leading national and globally acclaimed professional research bodies such as the Nigeria Marketing Research Association (NiMRA), The Market Research Society (MRS) UK, ESOMAR and so on.

While dwelling on the company’s mission statement, the managing Director explains that the company does not

wait for its clients’ briefs but it’s always proactive on ideas that will move the client’s

business to the next level. “Personal touch enhanced by our relationship manager, we

nurture and extol “relationship� and not “transaction� based engagements. Our goal is

for the client to describe us as partner and not agency�, said Odetunde

CELEBRATING AIRTEL’S 4G LAUNCH

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Saheed Fijabi; MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Senator Ademola Adeleke, representing Osun West in Osun State and Board Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, at the launch of Airtel’s 4G in Ibadan...recently

Report On Leading Dry Cleaning Service Companies Out Nabioet Eagle Limited, a Lagos-based business consultancy firm, has released the report of its survey on the topnotch companies in the business of dry cleaning services in Lagos State, the commercial hub of Nigeria.

The result of the exercise, which was said to have been conducted in the fourth quarter of 2017 showcased the best professional dry cleaners on a league table from thousands of other flight-by-night operators whose ill-structured services only cause pain to customers.

According to the report, leading dry cleaning companies include; Garment Care Limited,

Clean Ace and Snow Flakes and Laundry by Time Signature Limited.

The other companies that made it to top 11 on the table include, West Man Quest Limited, Nathan’s Superior Dry Cleaners, The Laundry Box Limited, Laundry House Co., Discount Dry Cleaners, Safi.ng and Laundry King Limited.

With this latest report, which is believed in some quarters as the first of its kind in the dry-cleaning sub-sector of Lagos State economy, Lagosians and millions of visitors that throng into the mega city now have a guide while looking for standard dry-cleaning outfits.

According to the report, the dry cleaning industry in Lagos State like every other unregulated industries, has hundreds, if not thousands of service providers playing both in the professional and non-professional category. In line with the fundamental goal of the assessment, the report, according to the agency would help foster healthy competition in the industry and encourage better service quality delivery to customers.

The firm that carried out the research indicated in a statement circulated to journalists that it deplored a keen methodology, which

enabled them to arrive at the leading dry cleaning firms in Lagos State.

Meanwhile, a closer look at the report showed that key attributes considered critical to customers were directly derived through the use of direct experience, customer survey, review of critical impressions points, mystery shopping, assessment through online professional tools and assessment of platforms. These include customer satisfaction, service range, product quality, operational structure, accessibility, online app, brand quality, web assessment, and pricing amongst many other attributes.

ODESILE: ADULTERATION IS KILLING DISTILLERIES IN NIGERIA

one brand.

will appreciate those who sat on such seat earlier. I came in at a very turbulent period.

Turbulence in both macro and micro; macro we all knew about the global recession and then the recession in Nigeria.

In 2016 when I took over, practically everything was changing in the country; the finance guy would come and say oga, forex is now this and that. Then we could not pass on the increase to the consumers; meanwhile the shareholders were pressing for their returns. Also, the labour union had a 20% salary for junior and 16% for senior and all of that. We had to pay them.

Internally, we also had some issues.

So, both internal and external issues all combined to present a tough situation. Sincerely, the fact that I have been in the system for years and have deep knowledge of the business helped me to sail through. The fact that we are also very consumer focused and know our ways in Nigeria helped in navigating through the turbulence. But the most important thing is that the staff believed in the leadership. There was a lot of energy that I was able to galvanise from the staff because they believed in the leadership and they said ok, with you in the saddle, we will give you all the support; also the distributors believed in the leadership. We have been working together for years and they had no cause to doubt our capability. That, too, helped a lot.

How has it been these two years since you assumed the headship of Grand Oak as Chief Executive Officer?

It has been very interesting. You see it there is a world of difference between a passenger and the driver of a bus. These are two different things; you know some of those things that you will say; how I wish that you could have done it this way, when you sit on that seat and then you have whole the information then you

Can you please assess the marketing communications industry?

In few words, let me say that global modern trends and sophistication of our society have impacted the marketing communications industry very positively. As a practitioner and a player in this industry, I don’t think you can divorce Marketing Communications from the advance in technology which has helped to sharpen the marketing practice, greatly.

If you look at all the creative materials that we produce here to push our numerous brands, you will notice Drink responsibly and Not for anybody below 18 footnote. It is a mandatory campaign that we are also running. In as much as we want to sell, we also want people to be safe.

How many brands do you have today in your products portfolio?

Today, we have about 12 brands, mostly household names. These include, Seaman’s Schnapps which has been there for decades, Lord’s Gin is also a premium brand that is today playing along the global brands. We have Regal Dry Gin, 9ja CafÊ Rhum, a fantastic coffee Rhumwhich gives you the true taste of coffee extract.

We also have Apperito, Swagga, which are in various ranges. We have Dark Sailor Rum; Calypso Coconut Liquor that appeals to the youths, Super Crown Schnapps and Bacchus Tonic Wine. Then, we have a non alcoholic drink called St Lauren.

The launch of Swagga in Akure a few years ago came with a manufacturing plant but in less than three years, the plant is not functioning.

Could this be as a result of the recession or the brand is not doing well in the market?

Let me start by stating that the Akure plant was not just meant for Swagga; it was a multipurpose plant. Having said that, there is an economic of scale which is part of looking inwards through which we were able to establish that rather than have that plant in Akure, producing what Nigerian Distillery could actually take on, why do we need to fragment resources. So, we discovered that Lagos facilities can take care of what is being done in Akure. The whole idea of the Akure plant was to actually grow into some other brands that are going to be in partnership with others. So, Swagga is still a

Odesile

growing brand including the Bitters category.

For drinks business, there are very distinct segments, you have the super premium, the premium, mainstream, and low end within the main stream; you have the upper main stream, the lower mainstream, so each of these brands play in the appropriate segment.

Which brand is the flagship of the group?

Seaman’s Schnapps is the flagship of the business. If you look at the entire spirits in Nigeria, Seaman’s Schnapps remain the number

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Fayemi Attributes Nigeria’s ‘IntegratedSettlement,TrackingWillEndFarmers,HerdsmenConflicts’ Improved Ease-of-Doingof BUK, tracking and registra- very possible, “Aminu, an plough the field, fetch water Business Ranking to Reform among others. This is one of tion of livestock moving from agro-economist, remarked.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has disclosed that the remarkable improvement in Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rating was the fallout of the various reforms by the present administration, including reforms in the mineral and mining sector.

Fayemi, noted that the reforms in the mining sector has helped to reposition the sector as a major revenue earner and has improved the country’s rating as a mining destination of choice.

The minister disclosed this while speaking at the opening session of a policy and capacity building workshop for senior officials of the ministry, professionals and stakeholders in the mining industry, organised in partnership with the Australian government in Abuja According to him, “The mining sector was being positioned to contribute optimally to diversifying the Nigeria economy’s revenue base and creating jobs and economic opportunity for the nation as captured in the Roadmap for the growth and development of the mining industry.�

He said the workshop would provide officials of the ministry, and other stakeholders essential knowledge as well a great opportunity to share experiences on both technical and regulatory issues.

Fayemi said that the ministry’s aspirations was to build a world class mineral and mining ecosystem designed to serve a targeted domestic and export market for the mineral sector, further adding that the federal government has demonstrated

Abuja

commitment by collaborating with different stakeholders including government of advanced mining jurisdiction.

The minister noted that the workshop with the theme: ‘Policy and Capacity Building Workshop for a Successful and Sustainable Mining Sector 2018’, was a follow up to the first edition that took place in 2016, which focused on the significance of transparency, legislation, and regulatory framework as well as geoscience and resource information.

Represented at the workshop by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Muazu Abdulkadir, the minister disclosed that mining’s contribution to the country’s economic growth grew by 0.55% as at 2017.

He said: “The mining sector also grew by 2.24% and achieved a 300% increase in revenue (royalty and fees) between 2015 and 2016, and a steady progress and as at November 2017, the sector had already surpassed the entire revenue of about N2billion generated for the whole of 2016, with over N3.5billion contributed to the federation account. “ “We also excitedly welcomed the news that Nigeria moved up an unprecedented 24 steps in the World Bank’s Ease-ofDoing-Business ranking, and was adjudged one of the 10 top reforming economies.

Reforms in the sector and efforts to make the Nigerian jurisdiction more attractive to investors impacted on Nigeria’s ranking in perception indices in the ‘World Risk Report’, published by the Mining Journal, which indicates that Nigeria has made remarkable improvements in both hard risk and perceived risk factors.

A global non-profit organisation, Synergos has proposed integrated settlement and implementation of the ECOWAS protocols on cattle tracking and registration among the solutions to the perennial clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

The recommendations were contained in a report conducted in Abuja by agricultural experts at a validation workshop on policy study on controlled grazing.

The study was carried out by consultants from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUAA) after a research in Kogi, Kaduna and Benue States.

According to Prof Abba Aminu

across the borders is one the ways to address the recurring conflicts between pastoralists and farmers.

Aminu said they proposed that the federal government should implement the ECOWAS Protocol that mandates member nations to register and track all animals by putting microchips to enable their easy identifications wherever they are going. “The consultants constituted

by Synergos, recommended to government to implement the ECOWAS trans-human protocol by putting microchips on these animals, so that they can be tracked wherever they are going. We want government to control and coordinate the movement of livestock. And we have to take advantage of technology; to do that is

The panel similarly recommended for establishment of integrated crops and livestock settlements across the country.

Aminu said the model has been accepted by pastoralists and farmers as one of the ways to end conflict as the settling up settlements will create a symbiotic relationship between the two groups.

He said the crop, livestock settling model already in place Kaduna, Benue, Kogi and Oyo States allows the herdsmen and farmers to come together and do business. “We need to settle them together because farmers are getting manure from livestock, while the pastoralists in turn get residues from farmers. On the other hand, cattle would be used as animal power to

the best models accepted by stakeholders and it means farmers and herdsmen are coming together in one community and benefitting from one another, similar to what government is proposing with the cattle colonies,� Aminu said.

The third recommendations also sought the involvement of local leaders and traditional leaders at the community level by working with pastoral associations to discuss key issues.

The Country Manager Synergos, Adewale Ajadi, stressed the need to map out the grazing reserves, organise the herdsmen, control and organise how cattle is reared and educate people in line with modern trends.

BUSINESS COLLABORATION

L-R: Team Member, Brand Management and Sustainability, Heritage Bank, Mrs. Ozena Utulu; Director of Studies, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies, Prof. Anthony Kila; Managing Director/Visionary, Generation Next, Mrs. Olufunke Fajusigbe and Experience Centre Manager, Heritage Bank, Mr. Oluwale Osundele, during a Seminar on Brace Yourself by Heritage Bank/Generation Next in Lagos‌recently

Ericsson to Provide NBC Olympics Video Encoder Dell EMC Infrastructure Set to Ahmed Counsels Local Councils Technology Demystify Data Centre Operations against Reliance on FG Funds Emma Okonji NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, has selected Ericsson to provide video contribution solutions for its production of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, which take place in PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 8 - February 25.

The announcement was made jointly by Senior Director of Transmission Engineering and Operations, Christopher Connolly, and Head of Media Solutions, Ericsson, Angel Ruiz.

Ericsson will provide a range of its leading encoding and satellite receiver technologies to support NBC Olympics video distribution to millions of viewers. Ericsson’s specialist engineers will assist with the equipment and system set up, and will also be on site 24/7 to provide multi-site support throughout the event.

Ericsson’s award-winning encoding solutions provide the highest video processing and broadcast performance in the industry, and offer the ultimate in decode efficiency for all video

formats. The Ericsson media processing platform will deliver the valuable, high quality HD content over a combination of both fiber and satellite. “Ericsson’s reliability and expertise within the compression industry, made them an easy choice to once again support NBC Olympics production of the 2018 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Games,� said Connolly. “With Ericsson’s partnership, we know that we have a reliable and proven solution.� “We are honoured to once again partner and support the coverage and production of the Olympic Winter Games,� said Ruiz. “By providing our leading video compression solutions and services, including our market leading encoder and receiver technologies, we are ensuring the highest levels of performance, efficiency and reliability for the broadcast of this prestigious event.�

The Ericsson solution includes its AVP 2000 contribution encoders and its RX8200 Advanced Modular Receivers.

Emma Okonji Dell EMC has announced the expansion of its converged infrastructure (CI) system with the addition of the next generation Dell EMC VxBlock System 1000. The new system breaks the physical boundaries of traditional CI and offers enterprises even greater simplicity and flexibility to help accelerate their Information Technology (IT) and digital transformation efforts. The latest addition of the next generation Dell EMC VxBlock System 1000 designed to further simplifies data center operations and offers new options of storage and data protection from Dell EMC and compute and networking from Cisco–in one pre-integrated, turnkey system. The cuttingedge VxBlock 1000 is designed to support workloads of all types and includes a substantially broader choice of world class storage arrays, data protection and compute than previous-generation VxBlock Systems. This new system’s

all-in-one, multiple-technology design expands upon CI’s promise by further simplifying IT infrastructure lifecycle management through extensive pre-validation.

This enables IT staff to be freed from time-consuming administrative tasks, so they can focus on higher-value, business innovation projects.

President, Dell EMC Storage Division, Jeff Boudreau, said: “Our role is to deliver CI innovation that has the right mix and capacity of IT resources and data services that evolving applications require, but with pooled resources, so the data center is more efficient even as workload requirements change.

We offer this with a focus on reducing administrative burden for IT teams under constant pressure to deliver more with less.� He stated further that “When customers deploy CI, what they are really looking to do is invest in technology that removes data center cost while, ultimately, improving outcomes.�

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged the local government administrators to implement an optimal revenue arrangement that will augment the federation allocation.

This, he said, would enable them to pay monthly salaries and wages of their staff as well as embark on other basic commitment for the benefit of the people.

Gov Ahmed made the advice in Ilorin during a courtesy call on him by Council of Chairmen from Kwara South led by the ALGON Chairman, who is also the Chairman of Oyun Local Government Area, Hon. Joshua Omokanye.

He said that the days of reliance on federally allocated funds are gone. He said: “My administration will continue to strengthen all the local government areas of the state in the areas of revenue growth to enable them carry out their responsibility both in capital

and recurrent expenditure.�

Ahmed said it was necessary for the local government areas to improve their collectible internally generated revenue by partnering the established Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) which, he said, will take cognizance of local governments’ strength to help them build a strong revenue base.

According to him, “I will continue to work with you to ensure that all the areas of capital expenditures are synergised with state government expenditure so that you can take advantage of what we are doing in critical areas like Human Capital Development, Infrastructure and of course, driving the economy�.

Earlier, the ALGON Chairman, Omokanye commended the efforts of the governor for creating a sustainable model in the finances of the state and requested for the presentation of Staff of Office to the already graded traditional rulers in their areas of domain.

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NDEBUMOG: Fostering Shadow Budgeting, Community Needs Assessment In a bid to promote fiscal transparency and accountability in governance which reflect the needs of the citizenry, the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG), with support from Oxfam in Nigeria, recently organised a series of town-hall meetings in some states in the SouthSouth and South-East regions of the country. Abimbola Akosile presents some outcomes from the interactive sessions The need to open up the process of governance to citizens’ scrutiny in Nigeria has assumed a larger dimension. Likewise, the quest for transparency and accountability in budgeting process is fast becoming a sine qua non for any positive development process.

For those states in the Niger Delta region, which have been beneficiaries of billions of naira from the 13 per cent derivation principle from the federal revenue allocations, many analysts feel there has not been any corresponding development to match the revenue inflows; hence the need for greater focus on the governance process.

These issues, among other development challenges formed part of the thrust of activities undertaken by a non-governmental, non-political and non-religious (national) organisation with wide regional network across the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG), with support from Oxfam in Nigeria, to bring governance closer to the people at the community level and grassroots.

The meetings were part of the activities of Oxfam’s Financing for Development - Strategic Partnership Program (SPP-II) being implemented

by NDEBUMOG and other strategic partners.

Promoting Transparency As part of the SP-II activities, NDEBUMOG, headed by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. George-Hill Anthony recently undertook an inclusive budget advocacy visit to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

According to Anthony, “NDEBUMOG envisions a Niger Delta where all public resources are maximally utilised for the benefit of all citizens and a mission to promote transparency and accountability for sustainable development in Niger Delta and democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

“The aforesaid vision and mission, along with our aims and objectives has deepened our work largely to a national and international (strategic) interlocking with relevant stakeholders, groups and institutions.

According to him, “We have collaborative synergies and partnership with some agencies, locally and internationally including the African Development Bank, United Nations, DfID, World Bank, USAID, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, National Assembly Budget & Research Office, OSSAP-SDGs, SMBEPs, National Assembly Committees, National Planning Commission, NGO Unit in the Office of the Senate President, States’ Legislature within the region, except,

Chukwu Nwe Eze 1 of Nkpunano Kingdom, Igwe (Dr.) Patrick Okolo, and other members of the high table during the opening ceremony of a Fiscal Governance Town Hall meeting held at Nsukka, Anambra State...recently Delta State, among others.

“However, the communities remain our critical partners. Importantly, our organisation holds a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

“As part of the Strategic Partnership Programme’s five pathways for change and realising that the legislature is an important partner in the campaign towards fiscal influencing at the grassroots, we are here to seek broader partnership with the Delta State Legislature under your able leadership for a mutual partnership that shall be beneficial to both parties.

“We are gearing for more of these collaborations with other parliaments across the country, including yours; for the sake of interlocking the grassroots on participatory (inclusive) budget with your assembly, among others”, he added.

Asaba Intervention As follow-up to the advocacy visit to the Speaker, a one-day Town Hall meeting on community needs assessment and shadow budget was organised on January 30 by the NDEBUMOG with support from Oxfam in Nigeria recently

in Asaba, Delta State. Participants were drawn from communities and development clusters around Asaba in Delta State.

The meeting is a communally-centred platform used for the mobilisation of community stakeholders, particularly, women, opinion molders, chiefs, youth leaders, aged-group leaders, leaders of community associations and development committees/clusters, faith-based groups, development officers and planners within the Local Government Areas around the (THM) cluster to the gathering, among others.

Presentations and interaction during the meeting were focused on: Strategic influencing through Oxfam’s pathways of change: perspectives on strategic partnership and financing for development; Community needs assessment and action plans: the connectors with the budget cycle for effective development at the grassroots; Community development action plans through shadow budget: approaches and methods; and Taxation and budget within the context of development dynamics.

Key points focused on: goals and motivation; actors and power analysis; Strategy design; projects planning and implementation; learning about fiscal architecture; Needs assessment

and why needs assessment; the connection between needs assessment and budget; and how needs assessment affects women at the grassroots.

Other key points include: relationship between livelihoods, human needs, and empowerment of women through basic economic literacy; and Strategic partnership programme (SPP) and connection with sustainable development at the grassroots.

Following deliberations, the participants adopted action points and committed to implement and embark on actions below at community level as budget monitors: These include: to engage Local Government Chairmen, especially Chairman of Ethiope East LGA on Eku/Abraka Road, which was described as a death trap. The road was contracted about two years ago but not done till date; the premises of Ethiope East LGA are in a state of disrepair and dilapidated and should be given the necessary intervention through repair.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

RANDOM THOTS Precious Mandate The times are changing. As far back as this reporter can remember, those who move about at 5a.m. in cities like Lagos are mainly those living on the Mainland and working on the far-flung Island axis; those storming petrol stations in search of scarce fuel (from personal experience), and those returning home from night duties or religious vigils.

Now imagine some citizens queuing up at 5am in front of designated registration centres just to do registration or collect their Permanent Voters Cards

(PVCs) in readiness for the general elections coming up in 2019. At 5am in the dark and there are already queues waiting for registration officials to come around 8a.m.!!!

Some reasons may have triggered this remarkable sense of civic commitment, among them recent instances of religious leaders doing their INEC registrations and picking up their voters’ cards; thus setting examples for their followers. Several churches and mosques have repeatedly directed their

members to go and collect their PVCs in readiness to vote in good leaders.

But the most likely reason is that Nigerians are now realising that their votes may really matter when it comes to electing committed representatives during electoral processes. The days of open rigging and disdain for the common man’s vote by arrogant politicians who hand-pick and rubber-stamp selfish leaders are gradually coming to an end.

This patriotic fervour can only bode

well for the governance process in this country, where the average citizens can equally have a say in whoever is going to represent them in public office. From all indications, 2019 general elections will be a litmus test on the efficacy of this precious mandate, which belongs to all citizens. Then, true and positive change may yet occur in this nation for overall development...at last!

-Abimbola Akosile

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Ëš

Mounting calls for return to six regions

Where Should Restructuring Start From?

Although the Federal Government is yet to fully adopt the various strident calls for restructuring of Nigeria to allow overall development, there is a general feeling that the process will eventually occur. Many suggestions have been proffered on areas of restructuring, but there are some priority areas and issues due for restructuring. In your own view, in/on which area, sector or issue should restructuring begin, to boost development in this country?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

* Security, illegal small arms in circulation, heartless Fulani herdsmen, dehumanising poverty, infrastructural decay, etc, in this order are my candid priority sequences especially with 2019 elections fast approaching. We must beware of small arms in the hands of jobless youths, for posterity sake. A stitch in time saves nine.

God bless our Nigeria.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State

Top tip:

Start from Federal Govt

Second:

Go back to 6 regions

Third:

Make the States stronger

Radical tip:

Reduce States to 24!

* Restructuring should start from reducing federal functions to only seven: defence, home affairs, foreign affairs, foreign trade, currency, customs, and immigration. The rest functions should go to the states and LGAS which are nearest to the Nigerian people. There should be community, council, state and federal police. Police should change to Nigeria police service not Nigeria police force. There should be 2 more states, 1 each from the South South and South east to balance the 19 states structure in the north or reduce to 24 state structure: 4 from each geopolitical zone + FCT. There should be fiscal federalism to allow for healthy competition as in the 60s etc. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Odey Ochicha, Leadership Specialist, Abuja

Total no of respondents:

16

Male:

14

Female:

2

Highest location:

Lagos & Abuja (5 each)

* Restructuring should begin by returning Nigeria to her former structure, the regions or the modern six zones. Government should set up machinery for establishing capital cities for these zones. That is the only way for now.

- Mr. Shaul Menachem, Director, Community of Judaism Nigeria, Awo-Omamma, Oru East, Imo State * In this system of government we have a big powerful central government which controls virtually all the affairs of the states. There is need for the restructuring of the states to boost their revenue generation. Each state should generate power, with change in policy to allow each state use their natural resources effectively.

The principles of powering sharing should be restructured to stimulate good governance and development.

- Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder, Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja * Restructuring should be systemic and comprehensive even if as a process we want it to be gradual. What is important is the comprehensive

document and framework and not necessarily where it starts.

- Dr. Kole Shettima, Africa Country Director, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja * We must first of all restructure our minds on looting of the national treasury meant for development. We are due for restructuring but every group must be carried along to avoid marginalisation in the future. I am against the issue of State Police because some states cannot pay their workers’ salaries.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Economic and educational restructuring and strengthening of all levels of leadership can be a good start; beyond the clamour for political/ regional restructuring only.

- Ms Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * I think restructuring should start with making government at the Centre a lot less attractive; so that only those with true love for the country can serve. Additionally, I think we should get fresh vibrant minds to serve the country; the recent news that at least 24 states have passed the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill is truly gratifying.

Nigeria needs restructuring!!

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja * Restructuring should definitely start from the federal government that has failed to practise Federalism. What we have now is a mess we

plunged into since 1966. The power of the Federal Government is just too much. If we have to go back to having regions...then so be it.

- Mr. Adewunmi Temitope, Agroshowroom, Osun State * Our elders, leaders, parents, various caregivers, clerics or religious leaders, social media, relevant academic authorities and others must all step up to save Nigeria from irreversible moral collapse that is currently ravaging our system. Electricity, agricultural processing and storage, kidnappings, need urgent policing.

Security operatives must be adequately deployed to prevent any type of violence.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * Restructuring should start from the Federal Government, which has taken everything for itself. Fifty per cent of the national income taken by the federal government should go to the States; the Local Government should get 30 per cent, while the federal government should take 20 per cent. Restructuring should give more power to the States.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * Restructuring should start with new revenue sharing formula i.e. Federal Government 47 per cen; States 28.5 per cent, and Local Governments 24.5 per cent. This will go a long way in making state police work. Solid minerals and prisons should be in concurrent list. There should be clear devolution of power to the states before 2019 elections. Nigeria can be great again.

- Mr. Aliyu Saminaka, Abuja * Restructuring should start from the minds of Nigerians. Our problem is that we do not obey our laws, are not patriotic and are highly ethnocentric. So even with restructuring it would be difficult for us to correct lapses. All the restructuring in the world without restructuring the way we think and do things will only make us end up like the nation of South Sudan; free but yet in bondage.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Restructuring is a must but has to be gradual; the idea is to return to practice of true federalism in order to empower federating units to be productive and competitive. Let the constitutional responsibilities of the tiers of governments be reversed to that of 1963, so that more revenue

will go to states to invest in roads, agric, mining and all the exclusive responsibilities the federal government has fraudulently cornered. With this, states can be weaned of their over-dependence on federal allocation.

- Mr. Anonymous, Lagos State * Restructuring should start from Abuja such that the city ceases to be the haven of run-away politicians who see it as unsafe hideout. If Abuja is less enticing, the people will always benefit at the state and local government level because the politicians can rarely hide from their electors at such levels of government. Thus, power can be brought closer to the people.

- Mr. Oluwapelumi Oyeniyi, Osogbo, Osun State * Let Nigeria go back to the six strong regions and let each region harness and leverage on their resources and comparative advantages.

Also, make the centre unattractive to attract only those committed to sincere service.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State

Next Week: What’s the Current Biggest Threat to Nigeria’s Devt? ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? ÚÙĂ?Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?ĂœĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ ÙÕÙ Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă— Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÚÙà Ă?ĂœĂžĂŁËœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?×ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă˜Ă“Ă?ËšĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĘŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? ÚÙĂ?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ăž ĂŒĂ? ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă–ĂŁËŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ëœ ÞÓÞÖĂ?Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã Ě™ Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Í“Í“ Ęś Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Í“Í—Ěš ÞÙ abimbolayi@ yahoo.comËœ greatbimbo@gmail.comËœ abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive. comË› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ?âÞ Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ 08023117639 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08188361766 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08114495306Ë› ÙÖÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ Í’

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DEVELOPMENT

Fruit business in Lagos, as part of a booming agribusiness sector

ETOP UKUTT

UN: Efficient National Tax Systems Critical for Sustainable Devt, Inclusive Growth Abimbola Akosile The United Nations and key international economic and financial organisations have urged countries including Nigeria, on the need to strengthen the effectiveness of their tax regimes to unleash muchneeded domestic resources to ensure the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the promotion of inclusive economic growth.

The UN, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also urged support for developing countries to address tax transparency and base erosion and profit shifting, including on treaties,

at a recent three-day conference held at UN Headquarters, in New York, USA, under the theme of ‘Taxation and SDGs’.

At the opening of the forum, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said, “I call upon the international community to establish effective mechanisms to combat tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows, so that developing countries could better mobilise their own resources.”

In the same vein, IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde underscored that funding the global development goals is an economic and ethical imperative and that it has major implications for taxation, according to a UN release.

“Countries themselves need

to raise more revenue in an equitable way. And the entire international community needs to eradicate tax evasion and tax avoidance,” she noted.

Domestic resource mobilisation presents a challenge for developing countries, who need to raise tax revenue of at least 15 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to be able to provide basic services, such as infrastructure, health care and public safety.

Presently, in almost 30 of the 75 poorest countries, tax revenues are below this threshold. At the same time, more advanced economies need to pay greater attention to spillovers from their tax policies and step up their support for stronger tax systems in developing countries.

All countries and stakeholders need to continue working together on establishing a fair and efficient system of international taxation, including efforts to fight tax avoidance and tax evasion, the organisations urged. At the same time, good governance is also critical.

According to the President of the World Bank Group, Jim Kim, fair and efficient tax systems, “combined with good service delivery and public accountability, build citizens’ trust in government and help societies prosper.”

“Effective taxation is essential to promote a more inclusive and sustainable growth. It is fundamental to making globalisation work for all,” added Secretary-General of the

OECD, Ángel Gurría, noting that this is crucial for achieving the global development goals.

The conference, organised by the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT), also provided a unique opportunity to address topics related to eradication of poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all.

It also provided an avenue to discuss the social dimensions of taxation, such as income and gender inequality and human development, as well as capacity development and international tax cooperation.

In a statement issued at the end of the conference, the four organisations announced the establishment of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax. Subject to resource avail-

ability, the Platform intends to undertake or continue work in a range of areas, including strengthening international tax cooperation, building Institutions through medium term revenue strategies, and promoting partnerships and stakeholder engagement.

They also announced a list of immediate and concrete actions in these three areas, including the launch of a multi-year tax and SDGs programme that will include components on taxation and health, education, gender, inequality, environment, and infrastructure; as well as establish a regular dialogue between the Platform and stakeholders – including, most importantly, the developing country.

placed them in positions where they act as first responders in providing humanitarian assistance, care and support to their families and members of the community.

“In Plateau state for example, through daily purchases, market women can often tell when there is likely to be crisis. In some situations, women act as ‘peace-builders’ and play a reconciliatory role within the community. However, it should be noted that women

can also be perpetuators of violence - as seen recently in media reports and in some cases in the North-east where besides being used as human battle shields, women and girls have played the role of suicide bombers”, she said.

The Consultant also spoke on pillars and operational arrangements to allow stakeholders respond more accurately to Nigeria’s current realities and WPS concerns as outlined in the 2nd NAP.

FG Urged to Implement UN Resolution on Women Security Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Federal Government has been urged to prioritise Women Peace and Security (WPS) issues as outlined in Nigeria’s 2nd National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementations of United Nations Resolution 1325, simply called UNSCR 1325.

The implementation of WPS issues will assist the nation in reducing all forms of violence against women and girls and

help to deliver on globally agreed development plans and targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.

The call was made in a recent statement by the Technical Consultant to UN Women- Women Peace and Security project, Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia, while outlining issues beyond 16 days of activism to end violence against women.

Eghobamien-Mshelia said gaps and weaknesses in the 1st NAP were insufficient.

She said: “Notwithstanding, the NAP overall proved to be a useful tool for galvanising action and making the global - local. It has helped to awaken many stakeholders and promote system wide approaches for mainstreaming gender into Human Security concerns including within the peace architecture of States and local communities. It has

further helped to measure four key indices necessary for attaining WPS objectives namely: political will; accountability, responsiveness and inclusivity.”

She pointed out that in Nigeria, there is a growing recognition that women in conflict situations must be viewed not only as victims, but also as powerful agents for peace and security in their communities, adding that women’s gender roles have

35

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“FormostordinaryNigerians,ifyougivethemgoodroads,railwayandstableelectricpower theywillbehappytocarryonwiththeirlives.Thisgovernmentwillconsolidateonitsgains andachievementsinthedevelopmentofinfrastructureacrossthecountry.Wearedoingso muchforourcountryandwewillcontinuetodomoreoutofthefearofGod” - PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SPEAKING IN DAURA, HIS HOMETOWN, WHEN HE RECEIVED REPRESENTATIVES OF SOCIAL GROUPS IN DAURA EMIRATE, KATSINA STATE...RECENTLY Hubmart Unveils New Outlet, Pledges to Fight Poverty Gboyega Akinsanmi

Betsy Obaseki Tasks SMEDAN, NEPC on Export of Rural Agric Products As Edo govt accelerates work on road construction Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki has expressed her readiness to partner, train and provide soft loans to over 500 members of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Women in the New Nigeria, on their Farmer’s Mart initiative towards ensuring that their farm produce meet the quality that is fit for export.

The Governor’s wife also tasked the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to ensure they facilitate the export of farm produce once the WINN Farmer’s Mart products are ready for export.

Giving this assurance at Spirit and Life Bible Church, Ekenwhuan Road Benin City, Edo State, during the inauguration ceremony of Farmer’s Mart Edo State, the wife of the Governor commended the facilitator of the programme, Mrs. Deb’rah Eunice Osagiede, for the initiative, as it would go a long way in empowering women and youths in the state that are into agriculture.

Mrs. Obaseki intimated them of her Edo Women for Agriculture and Enterprise project which seeks to empower women all over Edo State through agriculture and small scale businesses, while promising that she would ensure that the members of WINN benefit from loan facilities given by the Bank of Industry to help small scale businesses.

“On my own part, I cannot wait to confirm that you are fully organised in cooperatives, you are producing well, and we will support you in the bank of industry with soft loans.

“I find a lot of value in this initiative. Value first and foremost to us as women, value second to the state and government, as you all know that a major focus of the government currently is on agriculture. I want Edo women to key into the government’s agenda to grow the agric sector in our state. I want the women

Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and facilitator of Women in the New Nigeria, Apostle Eunice Osagiede, visiting farm produce stands of the female farmers of the WINN Farmer’s Mart Initiative in Benin City...recently in Edo State to be active in everything that is happening in government,” she added.

Addressing representatives of SMEDAN and the NEPC who were present at the event, Mrs. Obaseki said “SMEDAN and NEPC, from today you are partners of this initiative, and everything you promised here, you must fulfill. When our women begin to produce for exports, you must facilitate it and make sure we export goods out of Edo State, abroad so that our women can earn dollars”.

On her part the facilitator of the Farmer’s Mart, Mrs. Osagiede, stated that the WINN is a Non- Governmental Organisation that has spread across the world to correct the ills in the society and train women and youths in over twenty-five skills in order to ensure self-reliance.

She stated that the Farmer’s Mart would showcase products that were personally and naturally cultivated by the women in the rural areas unlike products cultivated by farmers

who used chemicals in enhancing the quality and looks of their products.

The high-point of the ceremony was the unveiling of the Farmer’s Mart by Mrs. Obaseki.

Meanwhile, reconstruction and rehabilitation work on over 90 kilometres of roads across the three Senatorial districts of Edo State are nearing completion in the state’s resolve to deliver the projects before the raining season sets in.

Commissioner for Infrastructure in the state, Engr. Osahon Abraham Amiolemen, who disclosed this after a recent inspection tour of some of the roads in Benin City, assured listeners that the roads would be ready for use as promised by the government.

Amiolemen assured that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration was committed to completing all ongoing road projects within the stipulated time as the contractors handling the projects have been duly mobilised.

An indigenous retail shopping giant, Hubmart Stores Limited has reeled out its strategic vision, which emphasises education, public health, poverty eradication and community service above profit-making.

The retail company, which unveiled its third outlet in Lagos State recently, disclosed that it has employed over 200 young Nigerians in the last three years it started business operations in the country.

The firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Murat Bekhtaslar explained Hubmart’s strategic vision at the inauguration of Lekki outlet, noting that least 54 persons were employed in its Lekki outlet alone.

However, the managing director noted that the retail firm employed more than 150 persons when it opened its Ikeja retail outlet and over 54 Nigerians when it opened the Lekki outlet for public patronage.

Beyond profit-making, the managing director said Hubmart “believes in giving back to our local communities. To this aim, we will be engaging in corporate social responsibility activities across education, health, poverty eradication and community empowerment spaces.

“For our consumers and customers, we will ensure that all Hubmart products are handled in accordance with the highest quality and safety standards. We will also ensure that all our products are ethically sourced.”

At Hubmart, Bekhtaslar said: “We believe we are the ultimate service provider to our customers. Our customers are utmost in our minds in whatever we do. Our brand intends to open other outlets within the Lekki axis and three more malls before the years runs out.”

Murat explained the economic importance of Hubmart’s activities and its contribution to economic growth, saying each outlet “increased the number of people gainfully employed and the number of vendors within our system and the number of people who offer support services.

“The multiplication effect of this definitely impacts positively on the earnings of our people and in turn economic growth,” the managing director explained.

He added that in the new outlet, Hubmart “has placed emphasis on equipment, products, and its principal goal of delivering fresh products to its consumers. We are convinced that we are the leaders in fresh products as we leave no stone unturned technologically and otherwise to ensure our products get to our customers fresh.

“We acknowledge that every brand has a choice and every choice has an attraction point. At Hubmart, we try to incorporate everyone into what we do and consistently evolve with the yearnings of our customers and consumers in our bid to be the leading retail shop in Nigeria.”

Also at the inauguration, Hubmart’s Vice president, Mr. Cheng Fuller said all the customers had to do was to walk into any of the Hubmart stores in Victoria Island, Ikeja and Lekki and get basic household items.

“Customers can select items according to their budget from the available items and get them packaged and delivered to whoever they wanted within Lagos. We have come up with this initiative to serve our customers better.”

The vice president noted that this initiative “is born with Hubmart’s desire spread the message of love in line with its commitment to serve.”

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Educating Young Nigerians on Infertility Fertility experts are of the opinion that the high prevalence of infertility can be tackled if young Nigerians are presented with information needed for its prevention in the future and attaining general reproductive healthy lifestyles. Charles Ajunwa and Martins Ifijeh write

Awareness can prevent infertility

I

ndications from a 2010 study on infertility by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that at least 50 million couples across the globe are experiencing one form of infertility or the other, with majority of cases arising from developing or underdeveloped countries.

The estimate shows that while 12.5 per cent of women around the world are experiencing one form of infertility or the other (2.5 per cent of primary infertility and 10 per cent of secondary infertility), the percentage for men is generally unknown even though it may be as high as that of women.

The study also showed that infertility is a major health concern that should lead to several innovative approaches to tackling it.

Fortunately, countries like the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom have taken the lead in addressing the growing number of infertility in their various countries through awareness on general reproductive healthy lifestyle and the forms of assisted conception approaches available.

But for developing countries like Nigeria, the prevalence has continued to rise. Already one in four couples, (that is 25 per cent of Nigerian couples) are suffering from one form of infertility or the other, leading to unhappy marriages and inability to complete homes.

It is in tackling this growing public health issue in Nigeria that the Chief Medical Director, Lifelink Fertility Clinic, Lagos, Dr. Kemi Ailoje, is advocating for preventive approaches, such that all the causes of infertility would have been eliminated even before reproductive life starts.

She believed when young Nigerians have access to vital information regarding their fertility status, issues of poorly done abortion processes, pelvic inflammatory infections, damages due to intake of concoctions and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, would have been dealt with even before reproductive life starts.

“If in Nigeria, young girls especially, are encouraged to seek information on ways to prevent infertility, we won’t be having the high prevalence we are presently noticing in the country. Simple things our young girls and boys do can matter in their reproductive life later in life.

“For instance, many girls wash their vaginal area with soap. They douche, believing that’s

Ailoje

the way to keep their vagina clean and fresh.

But, what they are actually doing is aiding infection because as they wash, they are losing their vaginal PH and acidity. It is the acid content around the vaginal surface that fights diseases. Such women need to know the natural way to keep the flora of the female organ.

As little as this information, it can prevent infertility in the future.”

Ailoje, who is a Reproductive Endocrinologist, Fertility and Invitro Fertilisation Specialist said another reason why fertility education is key for youths, especially girls, is that most young girls take all types of concoctions or antibiotics in the treatment of infection and vaginal odour, adding that self medication and certain substances have been proven to affect the reproductive life of a woman.

“Such women should be told what type of drugs they must take for infection, fibroids, and other types of health issues. Self medication is never advisable. Also, the fact that a friend

When young Nigerians have access to vital information regarding their fertility status, issues of poorly done abortion processes, pelvic inflammatory infections, damages due to intake of concoctions and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, would have been dealt with even before reproductive life starts

took certain substance for infection or discharge and it ‘worked’ doesn’t mean you should take the same thing. Infections could be uniquely different for different people. Abuse of treatment may lead to infertility later in future.

“Another thing is that some young girls go to quacks for abortion. They take all kinds of herbal concoctions to eliminate pregnancies.

At the long run, by the time they are ready to start having babies, they may end up not able to conceive because of the manner in which the abortions they did years ago were done,” she added.

She said there are also cases in which some girls have unprotected sex for years without signs of pregnancy, adding that such persons should be able to walk into a fertility clinic to find out if something is wrong with their reproductive organs.

“It is because of issues like this that we established the Fertilink Profile, as part of efforts to bridge that gap between young boys or girls and the society. These categories of people are ignorant of a lot of things when it comes to reproductive life, and that ignorance on the long run contributes to the high infertility rate we are experiencing.

“We are bridging the gap between parents and their children. Parents just want their kids to be doctors, lawyers, but they are not thinking about their reproductive life. If this gap is there, the girls might end up doing abortions for their boyfriends in places that may be the cause of their infertility.”

She said when most girls finish their university on or before 21, what happens between their next seven years could be vital to whether or not they can be fertile or not. Between 21 and 28 years is when many pursue their career.

“By 28 or so, they now tend to be ready to start having babies. Maybe at this point, they will complain of irregular periods or other issues that have happened to them over the course of these years. If someone does not have regular periods, how then can the girl know her ovulation time, or when to have timed intercourse? So fertility education is very important,” she explained.

While noting that Lifelink Fertility clinic is open to such counseling for girls and boys between ages 18 and 25, she advised couples to also take advantage of the fact that there

were now fertility experts in the country who can provide them with up to date information on how to tackle their infertility.

“As part of our own little way, we have made sure we equip our centre with up to date technology so that couples with fertility issues can walk up to us and have their issues sorted out either through counselling or through treatment.

Enlightening couples, Ailoje said in Nigeria, women contribute 40 per cent of infertility burden, men contribute 40 per cent, while unexplained factors contribute 20 per cent.

“Example is, there are situations when a male with 100 million sperms meets a female with 15 follicles yet no pregnancy, that is an unexplained infertility, and it is 20 per cent common.

“For the men, their infertility could be exospermia or oligospermia, which means no sperm or low sperm, and that can be tied to genetic factors, lifestyle modification, heavy smoking, alcohol, age, occupation (a long distant driver sits on his testis and if that persists for years could lead to low or no sperm count.)

For the female, pelvic inflammatory disease, advancement in age can be a factor and many other factors can be the cause.

On whether IVF is affordable at Lifelink Fertility Centre, Kemi said even though the facilities needed for the treatment are expensive, the procedure is affordable. “We have all our state-of-the-art machines and facilities. That is because we want to be able to provide quality care for Nigerian couples.

“So, for those who truly are unable to afford it, we have also set up a foundation to vet them and select those that should be assisted.

We have done IVF for a vulcanizer who is married to a tailor. Even if the vulcanizer repairs 180m tires, he may not be able to raise the money, so that is the reality on ground. Our foundation vets those who want free IVF and give it to those who are more likely not to be able to afford it themselves.”

She also cautioned Nigerians not to patronise quacks in the industry, adding that poor regulation has caused many organisations to claim they are fertility centres.

“When you go for treatment, make sure you see the equipments. Make sure you find out about the centres before committing to them,” she added.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

NEWS

Health Insurance Scheme: Kwara Prepares Residents for Take Off Martins Ifijeh The Kwara State Government has kickstarted a series of advocacy activities preparatory to the take off the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme (KWHIS); a state-wide mandatory health insurance programme that will improve access to quality, equitable and affordable healthcare services in the state.

The state plans, by the advocacy, to engage and prepare stakeholders for the successful take off of the scheme.

The inaugural event was kicked off on February 5th with a media chat with the Interim Chairman, Kwara Health Insurance Scheme Committee, Dr. Bunmi JetawoWinter who explained that the scheme was a scale-up of the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) that was started in 2007 with the support of PharmAccess Foundation and the Dutch Health Insurance Fund.

She added that the CBHIS commenced in the Edu local

government area and expanded to 11 local government areas by 2009 across all the three senatorial districts and provided coverage at the time to over 200,000 residents of the state.

Jewato-Winter said the “CBHIS proved a major success and generated significant impact in healthcare delivery and access within the state. It garnered momentous attention locally and internationally and received the Financial Times/ IFC Transformational Business Award for Achievement in Sustainable Development: Maternal and Infant Health,” she said.

The gains of the CBHIS, she said paved the way for the adoption of a state-wide mandatory health insurance scheme (KWHIS) that will now extend financial coverage for healthcare services to all residents of Kwara State.

“The mandatory health insurance scheme which is being launched will be anchored and financed by the state government, but will continue

to receive technical support during implementation from PharmAccess Foundation until the structures are established,” she said.

The Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation, Mrs. Njide

Ndili, expressed pleasure with the progress made so far and commended the state governor, Dr. Abdul Fatah Ahmed, for his unwavering commitment to providing health cover for all residents of Kwara State.

“Kwara State remains a front runner to achieve universal Health Coverage and as an organisation, we will continue to lend our support to achieve this goal,” Ndili assured.

PharmAccess Foundation

is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to connecting more people in sub-Saharan Africa to affordable and quality healthcare while leveraging on digital technology to promote efficiency and transparency.

MDCN Inducts 249 Foreign Trained Medical, Dental Graduates Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has inducted 249 foreign trained medical and dental graduates.

A total of 686 Medical and 10 Dental candidates registered for the MDCN assessment examination, out of which 243 medical and six dental surgeons passed. This represents 35 per cent success for the medical and 60 per cent success for the dental, making the overall success rate 35.7 per cent.

Thus, 437 foreign medical students who sat for the examination at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH were deemed to have failed the exam following the release of the result and have since challenged the outcome of the result, and have approached the Senate and the law court for resolution.

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed concern over the number of students that failed the assessment examination and blamed the high rate of failure on the institutions attended by some of the students.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Mr. Osarenoma Clement Uwaifo therefore advised parents who are planning to send their children and wards abroad for training to ensure that they are trained in accredited institutions.

He said: “This is a very poor performance and suggests that we should be mindful of where we send our children and wards to for medical and dental training.

“My advice to parents who are planning to send their children and wards abroad for training is to ensure that they are trained in accredited institutions. They should contact the various health regulatory agencies to obtain this information. It is

very disheartening for me to hear that certain candidates are not able to sit for the Assessment Examination of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria because their training institutions are not listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).”

In his welcome address, the Registrar of MDCN, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, admitted the furor that trailed the last examination, saying candidates who were not successful still have the opportunity to repeat the examination.

He said: “The outcome of the last examination had made the journey from the period of remedial course till the present time very turbulent, as Council was and it is still faced with the challenges of having to explain and defend the poor performance of some of the candidates that were unsuccessful at the examination.

He explained that MDCN does not play any direct or major role in the conduct of assessment examination.

“Let it be known to the public that MDCN does not play any direct or major role in the conduct of the assessment examination. The council only chooses a fully accredited teaching hospital as the examination centre and appoints external examiners to supervise the examination to ensure quality control.

“Furthermore, the major concern of the MDCN is the overall health and well-being of Nigerians and other people living in Nigeria. As such, if quality control is ignored at the point of admitting practitioners into the profession, it then means that we could be toying with the lives of people and everyone here knows that once a mistake is made either during diagnosis or management of a patient, the goat may be unimaginable.

R-L: Governor, Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson; Former Deputy President, Nigerian Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu; and World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr. Fiona Braka; during the commissioning of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) Research Complex in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State recently

NACA Thumbs up Bayelsa for Establishing AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria Research Centre Martins Ifijeh The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has commended the Bayelsa State Government for establishing an AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Research Centre. The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Sani Aliyu, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the facility last week.

“The prevalent rate for Bayelsa is 3.8 per cent based on the survey we have conducted in 2014; the health facility provided by the governor is a life saving edifice. We will continue to partner with them in ensuring that the people in Bayelsa are completely HIV free,’’ Aliyu said As part of strategies to boost HIV intervention in the state, the NACA DG solicited Governor Dickson’s cooperation to include HIV/ AIDS treatment as part of the state health insurance scheme package and provision of free antenatal care for pregnant women in the state.

He also urged the state to facilitate the payment of 45 million naira World Bank counterpart funds to facilitate HIV intervention.

Dickson acceded to all the three prayers made by NACA and promised to release the counterpart funds to the World Bank immediately, and also work out modalities to implement other requests in order to eradicate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the state.

The Bayelsa governor expressed gratitude to Aliyu for honouring the invitation even at short notice.

He disclosed that the state would soon sign a Primary Health Care Act to accelerate healthcare services. “We have finished plans to sign the Bill for the establishment of the State Primary Healthcare Agency into law,’’ Dickson said.

Meanwhile the Director General, Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of AIDS emphasised that continuous provision of antiretroviral drugs is very important if people who have tested positive of HIV are to be treated immediately .He also stressed the vicissitude of ownership and sustainability of the HIV programme in-country.

He also insisted that advocacy is a prerequisite in the success of the programme in Bayelsa State and the country.

NIBUCAA Turns 15, Calls for Healthier Workplace The Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NIBUCAA) has called on corporate Nigeria to rededicate itself to fighting HIV-AIDS and other workplace health challenges.

In a media release to mark its 15th anniversary, it said though the fight against ill health in the workplace had not been totally won, NIBUCAA and its partners had made great strides against HIV/AIDS in its first 15 years, adding that it was time to consolidate on that good record.

The coalition also lauded its founding fathers, its present managers, and its 32-member partners, scattered all over the country, saying the achievements of the last 15 years could not have been possible without them.

But it added that it was time to give the cause a further boost.

Founded on 15 February 2003, after a breakfast meeting between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and high-level corporate leaders, NIBUCAA was then established as a company limited by guarantee with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2008.

Its first co-Chairmen, Dr. Pascal Dozie, then of Diamond Bank and Jay Pryor of Chevron Nigeria, emerged from that meeting, with President

Obasanjo urging them to be the drivers of the private sector, in a collaborative effort, with the federal government, to tackle the HIV/AIDS challenge in the workplace.

They were succeeded by the second co-chairmen, Dr. Hebert Wigwe, MD/CEO of Access Bank and Nicholas Terraz, MD/ CEO of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd, who took over in 2017.

NIBUCAA recalled that the coalition came into existence when there was a high level of HIV-AIDS stigma and victimisation of workers; but added that with its constant seminars, pieces of training and other programmes, such negative tendencies were coming down, with a better impact on the bottom-line.

Due to its enlightenment efforts too, it has been able to generate greater awareness among the general public, so much so that the incidence of HIV had been better managed.

Announcing NIBUCAA’s latest strategic plan, Advocacy, Innovations, Partnerships and Impact Investment, the coalition calls for a greater drive and better cooperation among its present partnermembers while calling on new members to join to make the workplace more health-friendly for workers.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

38

HEALTH

Ethiopian Ex-minister: Nigeria Faces Largest Financial Gap to Tackle Malaria Nigeria constitutes about 27 per cent of the global malaria burden, hence eliminating it is key to defeating the public health issue globally. In an exclusive interview with Martins Ifijeh, former Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Dr. Kesete Admasu, who is presently the Chief Executive Officer, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said Nigeria faces the largest financial gap required to fully implement its national malaria strategic plan between 2018 and 2020, and that the country needs continued political will to address the burden Nigeria contributes hugely to the global malaria burden, where is the country now in terms of eradication?

Nigeria has made good progress in fighting malaria, reducing the disease burden from 62 million cases in 2008 to 57 million in 2016. It has also invested in providing long lasting insecticide treated nets, accurate diagnostics and effective medicines to its citizens. For example, household ownership of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) was just two per cent in 2003. Today, 69 per cent of households have access to at least one ITN. The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s World Malaria Report 2017 shows that progress – both globally and in Nigeria – has stalled and that malaria cases are increasing. As the most populous country in Africa and one with the highest malaria burden in the world, Nigeria must raise the profile of this threat to even greater heights in order to reverse these worrying trends and get back on track towards ending malaria.

The Nigerian Government late last year said they were making progress in eradication, but conflicting reports show Nigeria’s progress indices have come down. What does your own indices show for Nigeria?

The Nigerian Government is implementing a national malaria elimination programme with the ultimate goal of ending the disease for good — this is an important political commitment in its own right. However, given its population size, tremendous disease burden and health system weaknesses, Nigeria has a lot to do in order to meet this ambitious goal.

According to the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2017, there were an estimated 57.3 million cases of malaria in Nigeria in 2016, a one million increase from the previous year’s estimate of 56.2 million cases. Such an upsurge is not unique to Nigeria — but is an urgent reminder that, without continued political commitment and sustained funding, the gains of the past decade can be easily lost.

Some countries have made progress over the past decades. Are there case studies Nigeria can emulate?

At the turn of last century, almost all countries in the world were malaria endemic. Today, the number of malaria endemic countries stands at 91, of which 44 have less than 10,000 cases per year – meaning that malaria elimination is within reach. All this shows that ending malaria is possible for any country, even one with a high burden of the disease.

For Nigeria, there will be lessons to learn from but no exact model to copy. Perhaps the first place to start will be in scaling up the malaria surveillance system, which currently only detects 16 per cent of cases. Without adequate surveillance malaria control efforts are blind.

Finally, a strong political commitment is a prerequisite for any successful action against malaria, and needs to translate into additional resources to strengthen the health sector overall and malaria efforts in particular. Today, less than five per cent of national budget in Nigeria spent on health, of which only 0.8 per cent supports malaria, according to the estimates from the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Nigeria still has high death rate from malaria, partly because cost of treatment lies on the citizens, even though about 75 per cent still live below poverty line. What do you recommend?

Tragically, malaria is still a leading cause of mortality for children under five in Nigeria, although the government’s efforts that have been credited with reducing mortality rates

Admasu

among children under five by 18 per cent since 2011. In Borno State, for example, malaria is currently claiming more lives than all other diseases combined.

The private healthcare system provides care for a substantial proportion of the Nigerian population. Through the Global Fund, the international community is working to increase Nigerian citizens’ access to all the needed WHO-recommended antimalarial treatments.

Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT), the current recommended drug treatment for malaria, is officially provided free of charge in the public sector. In addition, the Global Fund’s Private Sector Co-payment Mechanism has procured 217 million lifesaving antimalarial treatments at subsidised prices in 2016.

The additional costs associated with battling malaria will pay off in terms of improvements to the economy. Fighting malaria is one of the most potent investments a government can make to the national economy.

Where is Africa in the global elimination of malaria. Are our collective efforts adding up?

Africa accounts for 91 per cent of the global malaria cases and 93 per cent of malaria-related deaths. In 2016, progress across the continent has been uneven and African leaders need to recommit and re-engage in the malaria elimination agenda.

Some successful examples were highlighted just two weeks ago at the annual African Leaders’ Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Excellence Awards, which this year went to the Gambia, Madagascar, Senegal and Zimbabwe for reducing malaria cases by more than 20 per cent between 2015 and 2016, as well as Algeria and Comoros for being on track to achieve more than 40 per

cent reduction in cases by 2020.

Other encouraging examples from across the continent are regional initiatives such as Elimination 8 in Southern Africa, where Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have formed a cross-border partnership to reach the bold goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.

In West Africa, eight nations — Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, the Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal — have agreed to accelerate malaria elimination in the Sahel region, and we are working with partners including WHO to roll out the programme this year. Cross-border cooperation will indeed be key to stepping up efforts against malaria in Africa.

Going by progress rate, what is the projection in the next 10 years for Africa, in terms of malaria elimination?

My hope that, in the next 10 years, we will have shrunk Africa’s malaria map. WHO has identified six African nations as having the potential to eliminate malaria transmission by 2020: Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, South Africa and Swaziland. Having recorded no indigenous malaria cases in 2016, Algeria could well become the first country in the WHO-Afro region to be certified as malaria-free

by WHO later this year. As part of Agenda 2063, African Union leaders have also expressed their collective political aspiration to achieve a malaria-free Africa. These targets are now at great risk but there is still hope to get on track to meeting them.

Considering that Nigeria constitutes 27 per cent of the global burden, how should the

country step up commitment for its eradication?

Nigeria has a great opportunity to be a leader in the fight against malaria, for Africa and for the global community. The world cannot defeat malaria without Nigeria. I believe that, with leadership at all levels – from federal down to the local level – Nigeria can do what it takes to end one of the oldest and deadliest diseases in human history and, in doing so, unlock opportunities for its economy and its people.

Nigerian Government recently clamoured for more funding in order to tackle malaria. Is it a request you will lend your voice to?

Absolutely! Our recent analysis shows that Nigeria faces the largest financial gap required to deliver life-saving interventions to its population and fully implement its national malaria strategic plan between now and 2020. It needs US $1.4 billion over the next three years, which will need to come from a variety of sources, both international and domestic.

Many Nigerians still find it difficult using LLITNs despite wide spread campaigns. Are there alternatives to mosquito nets?

Bed nets remain the cheapest and most effective form of malaria prevention. It is noteworthy that in Nigeria alone, 128,000,000 insecticide treated nets have been distributed since 2006.

Other forms of vector control recommended

by WHO include indoor residual spraying and larvaecide, depending on the countries’ individual circumstances. For instance, indoor residual spraying on a six-monthly basis is a more expensive but viable option. However, there is a risk that insecticide resistant mosquitoes will continue to evolve and spread the disease.

Even with resistance to the insecticide, bed nets can still be effective.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ FEBRUARY 22, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Agbaje: e-Tax System Will Reduce Fraud in Tax Payment Obinna Chima The Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), Mr. Segun Agbaje has said the introduction of electronic tax payment system will help reduce corruption in tax payment system, just as he urged other states to embrace the initiative.

Agbaje made this remark during the inauguration of the e-tax payment campaign by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at GTBank Opebi branch, Lagos recently.

The GTBank explained in a statement: “The e-tax payment campaign has shown the premium placed on electronic payment by the Lagos State Government and this would equally aid the financial inclu-

sion programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria.�

The GTBANK MD noted that the elimination of middlemen in the tax payment structure would enable the government derive immediate value for all tax remittances. “GTBank is willing to support the government in the collection of all the different taxes payable to the Lagos state government. “The various forms of taxes and revenues that can be paid at all GTBank branches across the state include Pay as You Earn; Witholding Tax; Land use Charges; Direct Assessment; Development Levy & Business Premise. “Others are Tax Audit; Stamp duties; Land Charges; Consent fees; Capital Gains Tax; Survey fees; Registration & Conveyancing fees,� a statement quoted

Agbaje to have said.

On his part, Ambode said the initiative would allow residents and citizens of Lagos state to pay their taxes directly to the coffers of the state government.

The governor noted that the noble effort was implemented so as to help tax payers make direct deposits to government coffers seamlessly.

According to him, “The process in the payment of taxes have been simplified for the residents and citizens of Lagos State who are the direct beneficiaries of the productive utilisation of taxes in the state. “All the projects that have either been completed since the commencement of my administration or those that are underway have been done through taxes,� he added.

FCMB Introduces Mobile Banking Solution First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has introduced a mobile banking solution through the use of a dedicated code- *329#.

The offering anchored on the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technology platform, is expected to enhance the banking experience of customers of the bank.

The self-service, stress-free and secured solution, which is available on all the Global System for Mobile (GSM) networks in Nigeria enables existing and potential customers of FCMB carry-out various financial transactions, using their mobile phones. These include enrolment, funds transfer, account opening, micro loans and top-up, account balance enquiry, airtime and data purchase, bills payment, wallet deposit and withdrawal, sending of cash, withdrawal from agent’s outlet, limit increase ,among other value-added services, on the go and without any hurdles.

In a statement, FCMB explained that the *329# mobile banking solution forms part of its core strategy to expand its service channels by promoting and deepening the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless and financial inclusion policies.

According to the bank, the development would also go a long way to eliminate possible delays periodically experienced by physically visiting a branch of the bank or outlet to carry-out transactions. In addition, the initiative is expected to reinforce the lender’s commitment to environmental sustainability, geared towards reducing the quantity of paper and other materials usage in the society of which printing of various banking documents forms a substantial part of the process.

Commenting on the introduction of the offering, the Executive Director, Retail Banking of FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said the service was designed to meet the needs

of its ever-increasing customer base that is technology savvy.

He added that it was in line with the commitment of the bank to inclusive banking through products and services aligned with the lifestyles of its teeming customers. “FCMB provides one of the best alternate channels banking services cutting across ATMs, mobile banking and internet banking. The bank is among the first in Nigeria to deliver Instant Debit card issuance on Mastercard, Verve and Visa card brands in Naira, Dollar and Pound currencies. “FCMB’s mobile banking penetration has been on the increase since its emergence as a leading retail Bank in the country. The number of active customers using its mobile or internet banking platforms grew by 136.9% from 255,626 in December 2016 to 350,106 by the end of December 2017,� it added.

UBA Foundation Takes CSR Initiative to Sokoto The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced its completion of the construction of a pedestrian bridge primarily for students of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State (ODUS), thus bringing comfort to students of the institution.

The construction of the bridge valued at about N13 million was inaugurated recently by the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, For over four decades, the students of UDUS, especially those living off-campus used to find it tedious to connect the campus as the area was

impassable, especially during rainy season. They couldn’t get in and out of their dormitories and to the mosque easily and were going through an uncomfortably long route to get to lectures.

In August 2017, at the National Dialogue Series organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the school , the Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu acceded to the request of the students who had informed him of their plight and promised to assist them. UBA Foundation came to their aid.

At the unveiling ceremony of the newly constructed bridge, the UBA GMD, Kennedy Uzoka

expressed delight at the prompt completion of the project and reminded the students that UBA remained committed to easing the day-to-day challenges of the citizens, and especially students living within and beyond its areas of operations.

He added that the core values of the bank - excellence, enterprise and execution – was aimed at putting the customers and society first.

This, he noted prompted the bank’s intervention, adding that ensuring customers’ satisfaction and giving back to the people were a focal point for the bank and the UBA Foundation.

FirstBank LaunchesVirtual Community for Women Barely two months after First Bank of Nigeria Limited celebrated the one year anniversary of FirstGem, its life style offering for women, the bank has announced the launch of a website specifically designed to build a virtual community of like-minded women.

The bank explained that the initiative was taken to encourage interactions among women, whilst focusing on key areas of interest, thus allowing women to engage with one another over

shared passions, goals and life aspirations.

In line with this, a Google Hangout webinar was hosted by the MD/CEO, FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan and Chairman of the bank, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika yesterday.

Special guest panellists at the event included JJ Omojuwa, Founder, The Omojuwa Foundation and Arese Ugwu, who is an author.

The discussions were centre on financial empowerment, advice

on How to Grow Finances and Career Development, as well as staying ahead with a FirstGem account. Among the numerous benefits of the FirstGem website include; it is designed to provide a community through which women, irrespective of where they are in Nigeria and abroad, are able to glean information on finances, wealth acquisition and management, receive business support, health, general lifestyle and exchange ideas with other women.

Ambode

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2017 Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,523,239.91

---- Demand Deposits

8,367,573.19

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,118,463.42

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,821,446.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,824,226.22

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,834,536.74

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

--3,010,310.52

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

--14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

--Currency in Circulation

1,868,735.07

--Banks Reserves

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

August 2017

Inter-Bank Call Rate

22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.35

Savings Deposit Rate

4.08

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.86

3 Months Deposit Rate

10.14

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY FEBRUAR 20, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $62.81 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $62.89 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

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

MARKET NEWS

Banking Stocks Rebound as Investors Trade N5.3bn Shares Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Banking stocks rebounded at the stock market yesterday as apprehension among investors over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s directive to banks on payment of dividends continues to reduce.

The CBN had, at the weekend, issued a new policy, which among others, stipulates that banks or discount houses that do

not meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio shall not be allowed to pay dividend.

According to the CBN, banks that have a Composite Risk Rating (CRR) of “high” or a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of above 10 per cent shall not be allowed to pay dividend; and those that meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) but have a CRR of “Above Average” or an NPL ratio of more than five per cent but

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

less than 10 per cent shall have dividend payout ratio of not more than 30 per cent.

The central bank, however, pointed out that there shall be no regulatory restriction on dividend pay-out for banks that meet the minimum capital adequacy ratio, have a CRR of “low” or “moderate” and an NPL ratio of not more than five per cent.

When the news of the policy hit the market some investors

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

dumped their banking shares on Monday and Tuesday.

However, fewer investors appear to be selling off their banking shares, while more are buying. A development that saw more banking stocks appreciate yesterday.

Eight banks appreciated in value, making the NSE Banking Index to record the highest gain of 1.1 per cent.

The banks that appreciated were: Sterling Bank Plc (3.8 per cent);

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

United Bank for Africa Plc (3.2 per cent); FBN Holdings Plc (2.7 per cent); Access Bank Plc (1.6 per cent); GTBank Plc (1.5 per cent); Diamond Bank Plc (0.81 per cent) and ETI Plc (0.2 per cent).

An investment banking firm, Cordros Capital Limited (CCL) has said the CBN’s policy would not affect dividend payouts in the medium term.

In report yesterday, the investment banking firm, said based

O F

on the directive by CBN and contrary to earlier jitters that trailed the release of the circular, they think the directive more appropriately reveals the apex bank’s commitment to financial stability.

“That said, it is our view that the CBN’s latest directive is unlikely to, in the medium term at least, affect the dividend payouts we expect from the banks covered in this report.

1 7 / 0 2 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˜ ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

42

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ /ŶĚĞdž 'ĂŝŶƐ Ϭ͘ϲй

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϳϰϯ͘ϰϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďƵLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϮ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϮ͘ϳй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ŝŶĚĞdž ŚĂƐ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ϭϯ͘Ϭй zd ͘ DĂƌŬĞƚ ůŽƐĞƐ &ůĂƫƐŚ ĂƐ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ^ƚŽĐŬƐ ZĞďŽƵŶĚ͘​͘​͘ E^ ^/ ƵƉ ϮďƉƐ dŚĞ >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ƌŽƐĞ ϮďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϰϮ͕ϭϱϴ͘ϯϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐƚĂLJĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ϭϬ͘Ϯй͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Eϯ͘ϲďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ Eϭϱ͘ϭƚŶ͘ dŽĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐͲ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϲ йͿ͕ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ h ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϭ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϭϱ͘Ϭй ƚŽ ϱϳϬ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ Eϱ͘ϯďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ Ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϲ йͿ͕ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ KEd/E^hZ ;нϬ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ WZ ^d/' ;нϬ͘ϬϮйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ƐŚĞĚĚŝŶŐ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽůĚ Žī ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ KEK/> ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ DK /> ;Ͳ ϰ͘ϱйͿ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϵй ĂƉŝĞĐĞ͕ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ EE ;Ͳϰ͘ϯйͿ͘

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Current Price

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

13.0%

74.3%

25.1%

7.9%

8.2x

1.1x

3.4%

22.3%

17.8%

18.4%

26.0%

4.3%

10.0x

2.5x

4.3%

10.0%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

31.50

1.4%

14.2%

22.9%

21.5%

21.7%

3.2%

6.2x

1.3x

6.4%

16.1%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

10.2%

3.3%

124.50

-2.7%

7.4%

-7.7%

-7.8%

18.9%

8.6%

30.7x

5.6x

3.3%

1,370.00

-0.7%

6.3%

-12.0%

-12.0%

78.4%

19.0%

35.7x

23.6x

1.8%

2.8%

260.00

0.0%

6.2%

13.0%

13.0%

30.4%

15.7%

17.9x

5.1x

3.3%

5.6%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

6

FBN Holdings Plc

11.15

2.8%

6.2%

26.7%

26.8%

2.6%

0.3%

18.2x

0.6x

1.8%

5.5%

7

Access Bank PLC

12.70

1.6%

4.8%

21.5%

19.8%

15.1%

2.0%

5.1x

0.7x

5.1%

19.4%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

12.60

3.3%

4.8%

22.3%

21.0%

17.2%

2.2%

5.5x

0.9x

6.0%

18.1%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

19.65

0.3%

3.4%

15.6%

20.8%

-14.6%

-1.3%

0.7x

3.1%

-17.6%

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

685.10

0.0%

3.0%

9.4%

9.4%

-12.4%

-6.7%

0.9x

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

46.00

0.0%

2.8%

10.8%

12.5%

28.7%

3.4%

10.6x

2.8x

1.3%

12

Guinness Nigeria PLC

104.90

0.0%

2.3%

11.6%

11.6%

14.6%

5.6%

19.7x

2.8x

0.6%

5.1%

13

Lafarge Africa PLC

51.05

-1.8%

1.7%

13.7%

13.7%

47.1%

9.8%

4.6x

7.7x

1.9%

21.9%

14

Fidelity Bank PLC

3.00

-5.7%

1.4%

22.0%

16.3%

8.0%

1.1%

2.6x

0.4x

4.7%

38.2%

5.99

0.0%

1.2%

0.0%

0.0%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

21.95

0.2%

1.1%

9.8%

7.8%

43.2%

19.8%

8.6x

3.3x

2.3%

11.7%

-15.2% 9.4%

15

Oando PLC

16

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

72.00

0.0%

1.0%

6.4%

6.4%

37.4%

25.9%

9.6x

3.1x

2.1%

10.4%

18

Unilever Nigeria PLC

48.80

0.2%

1.2%

19.0%

21.4%

50.3%

8.4%

30.1x

11.4x

0.2%

3.3%

19

International Brew eries PLC

56.05

0.0%

0.7%

2.8%

1.9%

24.6%

7.4%

58.7x

13.4x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

32.55

1.7%

0.6%

12.2%

12.2%

13.1%

3.0%

6.8x

0.8x

2.8%

14.7%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

41.8%

39.9%

19.6%

4.1%

8.3x

1.4x

1.7%

3.5%

0.7%

0.0%

0.5%

-0.3%

-0.3%

6.3%

2.2%

10.8x

0.7x

0.8%

0.8%

66.0%

58.6%

2.5%

0.3%

10.0x

0.2x

-5.4%

-5.4%

37.3%

7.4%

8.1x

2.8x

2.8%

12.3%

44.9%

3.8%

0.6%

6.6x

0.2x

4.4%

15.1%

4.2%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϳdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϱdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ Ϯϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϯϬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ : W h> K/> ;нϱ͘ϳйͿ͕ , DW/KE ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ KEd/E^hZ ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ KEK/> ;Ͳϵ͘ϲйͿ͕ hE/ ;Ͳϲ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ &/ >/dz ;Ͳϱ͘ϳйͿ͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ŐĂŝŶ ƚŽĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƐŚŽǁƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝƐ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ƐƚĂďŝůŝnjŝŶŐ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘

24

Total Nigeria PLC

217.60

0.0%

0.4%

2.29

-5.0%

0.7%

25

FCMB Group Plc

26

11 PLC

190.00

-4.5%

0.4%

-2.4%

-2.4%

32.6%

12.0%

10.1x

2.8x

27

Forte Oil PLC

45.00

0.0%

0.4%

3.5%

7.1%

44.3%

3.7%

11.4x

5.0x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

23.00

-4.8%

0.4%

11.7%

8.7%

10.7%

5.0%

21.8x

2.2x

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

15.85

0.0%

0.4%

1.1%

1.6%

4.5%

1.6%

45.2x

2.7x

30

Presco PLC

70.00

0.0%

0.3%

2.2%

2.2%

42.9%

25.9%

3.4x

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

20.55

2.8%

0.3%

11.1%

6.9%

53.4%

18.1%

11.6x

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.80

-4.9%

0.3%

-12.8%

-9.5%

5.6%

1.2%

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

25.95

-4.9%

0.3%

-7.3%

-7.3%

-12.2%

-1.2%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.88

3.9%

0.4%

74.1%

66.4%

6.1%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

16.30

1.9%

0.3%

34.2%

34.2%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

20.15

0.0%

0.2%

-6.8%

-6.8%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.25

0.0%

0.2%

3.7%

39

Beta Glass PLC

72.10

0.0%

0.1%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.55

0.0%

0.1%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

37.0%

2.07

2.49

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

P/BV

1.6%

Diamond Bank PLC

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

P/E

0.57%

UAC of Nigeria PLC

tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͛Ɛ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝnjĞĂďůĞ ůŽĐĂů ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŝŶ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ͘ Ɛ ƐƵĐŚ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚĞƌŵ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĞŶũŽLJ ĨĂǀŽƌĂďůĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŽďƵƐƚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͘

ROA

48.00

23

/Ŷ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϭϳ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ŝƚƐ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĂƐ 'ƌŽƐƐ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ŐƌĞǁ ĨƌŽŵ EϭϬ͘ϵďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϲ ƚŽ Eϭϲ͘ϲďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ϱϮ͘Ϭй ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ zŽͲz͘ dŚŝƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ůŽĐĂů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƐƚĞĚ ƐĂůĞƐ ďLJ ϱϭ͘ϲй zͲŽͲz ;ĨƌŽŵ Eϵ͘ϰϱďŶ ƚŽ Eϭϰ͘ϰďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚƵƌŶ͕ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƐĂůĞƐ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϵϳ͘Ϭй zͲŽͲz ;ĨƌŽŵ Eϭ͘ϯďŶ ƚŽ EϮ͘ϱďŶ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳͿ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ǁĂƐ ŽīƐĞƚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ƚŽƉůŝŶĞ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ Ă Ϯϳ͘Ϯй zͲŽͲz ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ ŶĞƚ ĮŶĂŶĐĞ ĐŽƐƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƉƌŽĮƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ W d ĐĂŵĞ ŝŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ Ăƚ Eϲ͘ϰďŶ͕ ƵƉ ϱϯ͘ϭй zͲŽͲz͘

ROE

1,743.45

22

KŬŽŵƵ Kŝů WĂůŵ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ;͞KŬŽŵƵ͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͟Ϳ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϳϲ ĂƐ Ă &ĞĚĞƌĂů 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƉŝůŽƚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƚĞ Žŝů ƉĂůŵ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͘ LJ ϭϵϵϬ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ƉƌŝǀĂƟnjĞĚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ ŽŶ WƌŝǀĂƟƐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ;d W Ϳ ĂĐƟŶŐ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚĞƌĂů ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ͘ ^ŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞŶ͕ KŬŽŵƵ ŚĂƐ ŐƌŽǁŶ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂŐƌŝͲďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĮƌŵƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘

Price Change Index to Date

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ /ŵƉƌŽǀĞƐ

ŽŵƉĂŶLJ /Ŷ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ KŬŽŵƵ Kŝů WĂŵ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ WůĐ ;͞K<KDh͟Ϳ

Price Change YTD

1

16.85

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

12.1% 5.8%

9.3% 10.0%

9.9% 8.8%

2.2%

4.6%

1.2x

2.1%

29.0%

5.3x

3.4%

8.6%

0.8x

7.2%

2.2%

8.7x

0.4x

11.5%

1.4x

-8.8%

0.6%

9.9x

0.6x

10.1%

61.6%

15.8%

5.3x

2.3x

61.2%

23.6%

4.2x

1.5x

1.5%

-1.3%

84.3%

38.5%

15.4x

10.8x

6.2%

6.5%

40.5%

40.5%

18.4%

11.9%

10.2x

1.7x

1.4%

9.8%

4.7%

4.7%

4.7%

2.8%

22.4x

1.1x

5.3%

4.5%

19.0% 23.9%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

J A P A ULOIL

0.37

5.7%

FB NH

115.5

-7.3%

C H A M P ION

2.83

4.8%

J A P A ULOIL

97.3

0.0%

C ON T IN SUR E

1.58

4.6%

D IA M ON D B N K

41.4

-8.5% -3.4%

P R EST IGE

0.47

4.4%

T R A N SC OR P

30.5

LA WUN ION

0.72

4.3%

FCM B

28.5

-4.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.88

3.9%

SKYEB A N K

19.4

-4.6%

T R A N SC OR P

2.07

3.5%

ST A N B IC

15.1

0.0%

UB A

12.60

3.3%

D UN LOP

12.0

-4.0%

LA SA C O

0.33

3.1%

UB A

12.0

1.7%

FB NH

11.15

2.8%

C A VER T ON

10.6

2.3%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

C ON OIL

32.10

-9.6%

GUA R A N T Y

997.4

1.6%

UN IC

0.30

-6.2%

FB NH

683.3

2.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

3.00

-5.7%

NB

517.0

-2.7%

-5.3%

C UST OD IA N

377.8

0.0%

373.6

-4.3% 3.3%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

C OUR T VILLE

0.36

P ric e C hg %

UA C -P R OP

2.85

-5.0%

CCNN

FCM B

2.29

-5.0%

UB A

370.3

25.95

-4.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

366.5

1.4%

UB N

6.80

-4.9%

A C C ESS

269.1

1.6%

VIT A F OA M

2.98

-4.8%

N EST LE

234.9

-0.7%

LEA R N A F R C A

1.00

-4.8%

F LOUR M ILL

209.4

1.7%

J B ER GER

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

43

˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Flour Mills of Nigeria Closes N40 Billion Rights Issue Goddy Egene Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc yesterday closed its Rights Issue 1,476,142, 418 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N27 per share.

The offer,

was made to existing shareholders at the ratio of nine new ordinary shares for every 16 ordinary shares to raise about N40 billion additional capital to boost its operations.

The company has asked all receiving agents to remit all

returns , saying all returns not receive by Wednesday February 28, 2018, may not be accepted.

The Chairman of FMN, John Coumantaros, had said the Rights Issue was undertaken primarily to pay down some of the company’s outstanding short-term debt in order to reduce its finance costs which have increased significantly in recent times, and reshape its balance sheet.

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of the

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

company, Mr. Paul Gbededo said: “The Rights Issue is part of our strategy to grow and build long-term value for all stakeholders. The proceeds from the Rights Issue will be used to strengthen the company’s capital base by deleveraging our balance sheet, supporting our working capital needs and positioning the company to exploit valueaccretive opportunities, whilst giving greater operational and financial flexibility to ensure business growth and continuity.”

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20-Feb-2018, unless otherwise stated.

According to him, the vision and forward looking strategy of the company is to have sustainably secure supply chain; increase local content in the FMN business portfolio; cater to the needs and aspirations of Nigerian demographics and improving performance in a challenging operating environment.

Speaking on why the investing in FMN is profitable, Gbededo said: “The company has an integrated business model, proven management team, extensive distribution

network, strategic initiatives along the value chain, exciting new product development, import substitution, balance sheet optimisation, market leadership and strong brands.”

It is believed that the proceeds from the Rights Issue would further enhance the performance of the company in the years ahead.

FMN has already recorded an improved performance for the half year ended December 31, 2017.

FMN recorded a

revenue N427.5 billion in 2017, up by 10 per cent from N389.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016. Finance cost remained high, standing at N25.157 billion, up by 43.1 per cent from N17.756 billion in 2016. FMN ended the year with Profit before tax (PBT) of N19.50 billion, showing a growth of 89 per cent from N10.3 billion in 2016. Profit after tax (PAT) grew slower by 79 per cent to N13.27 billion, compared with N7.39 billion.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 193.93 192.40 8.46% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.83 246.32 6.16% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.86 0.87 4.49% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 3.84% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.05% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.96 20.56 9.22% ARM Discovery Fund 420.10 432.76 7.98% ARM Ethical Fund 30.33 31.24 11.00% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.86% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 163.56 164.71 7.82% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.87% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.44% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.12 1.14 6.75% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.10 1.13 6.00% FBN QUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,177.67 1,178.83 2.60% FBN Heritage Fund 149.71 151.10 7.42% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $114.12 $114.77 1.12% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $114.07 $114.73 1.18% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 189.77 192.60 11.12% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.39 1.42 6.64% Legacy Debt Fund 2.94 2.94 1.89% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,133.79 3,175.26 5.12% Coral Income Fund 2,520.17 2,520.17 3.02% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.61% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.00% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.19 2.22 3.84% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.75% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 116.60 116.94 1.37%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.17 1.19 1.53% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,047.23 1,047.23 1.59% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.29 1.31 8.35% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.30 11.39 2.56% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.70% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 142.44 144.64 10.48% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.52 1.52 2.11% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,346.43 2,365.25 4.59% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 178.01 178.01 0.88% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.08 1.09 7.43% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 226.42 226.52 2.82% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 187.40 189.66 4.68% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.81% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,244.15 10,384.69 5.95% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.07 1.07 0.94% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.37 1.38 15.60% United Capital Bond Fund 1.59 1.59 2.80% United Capital Equity Fund 1.01 1.03 13.90% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.71% United Capital Eurobond Fund 103.90 103.90 1.00% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.13 16.30% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 13.48 13.69 7.43% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.88 14.04 4.95% Zenith Income Fund 19.45 19.45 2.81%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

10.00 133.55

-11.35% 0.82%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.41 160.10 119.73

12.51 163.62 122.00

2.38% 12.13% 9.61%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2018

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Billy Graham, Influential US Evangelist, Dies at 99 Okechukwu Uwaezuoke with agency reports One of America’s most influential preachers of the 20th Century Billy Graham has died Wednesday aged 99 at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, BBC reported a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as saying.

Reverend Graham became one of the most-renowned staunch promoters of Christianity in his 60-year career, which saw him preaching to an estimated hundreds of millions of people.

The one-time backwoods minister began his worldwide mission in large arenas in London during a sermon before 12,000 worshippers in Haringay Arena, London in 1954. Besides reaching millions of Americans through their television sets, he also became a spiritual advisor to several US presidents. He was a friend of US presidents from Truman to Nixon and Obama. Over the course of his career, he was consulted by presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, according to AFP, which also added that he was, for a time, Richard Nixon’s chaplain and golf partner. President George H.W. Bush was also reported by the news agency to have invited him to pray at the White House in 1991 for guidance through the first long day of the Gulf War. Also, President George W. Bush once said that a private meeting with Graham in 1985 helped him quit drinking.

But of all the US leaders -- almost all of whom have described themselves as practicing Christians -- Graham found only Jimmy Carter to match him in dedication to his faith.

“Carter alone among the presidents... taught the Bible throughout his life, wrote books of religious meditations, and needed no help with Scripture or its challenges,” AFP quoted authors Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy as writing in a Graham biography, “The Preacher and the Presidents” published in August 2007.

Graham’s renown in the US first got a terrific shot in the arm when he held a two-month ministry in a giant tent in Los Angeles in 1949,a decade after he was ordained a minister at 21.

In 1950, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota and launched a weekly“Hour of Decision”radio programme.

Born on November 7, 1918 and raised as one of four children on his family’s dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, Graham became a committed Christian at the age of 16 after hearing a travelling evangelist.

He attended the Florida Bible Institute, now Trinity College of Florida, where he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1939.

As the first to TV as a medium to convey his Christian message on a large scale, Graham’s global mission took him to all corners of the world including North

Fears and Outrage over Bloodshed in Syria Enclave Syrian jets carried out more deadly raids on Eastern Ghouta Wednesday, as Western powers and aid agencies voiced alarm over the mounting death toll and spiralling humanitarian catastrophe, AFP reported.

The regime of President Bashar al-Assad intensified its strikes this month on the rebel enclave east of Damascus, where close to 300 civilians have been killed since Sunday.

Warplanes continued to pound Eastern Ghouta towns on Wednesday, killing 24 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Most of them were killed when barrel bombs -- crude, improvised munitions that usually cause indiscriminate damage -- were dropped on the town of Kfar Batna, AFP reported the Britain-based war monitor as saying.

More than 1,400 people were wounded in three days that saw the bloodiest wave of strikes on the enclave since the start of the civil war in 2011.

Medics have been overwhelmed throughout February.

The five-year siege of the enclave has restricted access to medical supplies, while three clinics were hit and put out of service this week.

Florida Shooting Survivors Rally for Stricter Gun Controls Survivors of a Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead are marching in the state capital to press lawmakers to take more action on gun control, BBC reported.

Dozens of students packed into a room at the statehouse to meet legislators.

It is the first organised protest of the youth-led anti-gun movement that has swept the US since the attack.

Thousands of Florida students walked out of their classrooms in solidarity with

survivors on Wednesday morning, according to local media reports.

There were also reports that hundreds of students from Maryland travelled to the US Capitol in Washington during the school day to call for gun reform.

“We’re here to ask for change and we’re confident change will happen,” said Noah Kaufman, 16, “We know the issues, and we know who is with us and who isn’t.”

Korea.

Graham also has been credited with helping hasten the end of segregation in his native south by refusing to preach to segregated audiences after 1953.

Married to Ruth Bell Graham , the daughter of a missionary surgeon who grew up in China, they had five children, who include Anne Graham Lotz, a Christian author and speaker, and two sons, who like their famous father became ministers.

His ambivalence about the civil rights movement in the US,

soon waned after he became a supporter of the cause in the 1950s with racially integrated congregations.

The man, who was deemed “the closest thing to a national pope that we shall ever see,” by journalist Garry Wills who once wrote in The Washington Post, avoided the scandals which dogged some contemporary televangelists through the decades.

Graham gradually receded from the limelight, preaching at his final revival meeting in

New York in 2005 at the age of 86.

The man, who more recently was portrayed in the Netflix drama series “The Crown” as giving counsel to the young Queen Elizabeth II as she confronted the burdens of rule, was known to have paticipated in a record number of presidential inaugurations.

President Donald Trump, in a tweet, called him a special man.

“The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by

Graham died at his home in North Carolina

Christians and all religions.

A very special man,” Trump tweeted.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted that he was an example to generations of modern Christians while civil rights campaigner Rev Jesse Jackson tweeted: “Blessed with length of years and service, Rev. Graham helped a lot of people against a backdrop of Southern culture.

He’s on the plus side of history. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

GETTY IMAGES.

South Africa Police Station Raid: Six Killed in Mthatha Five police officers and a soldier have been shot dead during a raid on their station in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, BBC reported.

In a statement, the South African Government News Agency said three officers were killed instantly.

The off-duty soldier was shot as the assailants fled, taking two other officers hostage. Their bodies were found 6km (4 miles) down the road.

A government statement said both men had been shot “execution style”.

The unknown group of armed robbers burst into the police station near Mthatha, and opened fire early on Wednesday morning.

Police do not yet know the motive for the attack.

The suspects are believed to have robbed a cash machine shortly before. They took 10 firearms and a police van from the station.

Gen Khehla John Sitole, National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, has vowed to find the killers, saying he was “appalled and deeply saddened by the cold and callous attack”.

People on social media have been sharing their dismay at the attack.

One Facebook user, who was a family friend of the soldier killed, said: “An attack to the law enforcement institutions

is an attack to the safety and security of our communities.

“This is a shock for the community. We now live in fear. If they can attack the people meant to protect the community‚ who are we? Who will we turn to?”

The BBC’s South Africa correspondent Milton Nkosi says that before this attack, research found the killings of police officers had dropped by 52% since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Islamic State ‘Beatles’: US and UK Talk about Fate of Duo The US and UK are in talks about what to do with two men from west London who were detained in Syria last month on suspicion of terrorist activity, BBC reported the home secretary as saying.

Amber Rudd said the captured men, Allexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, should go on trial.

They are suspected of being members of an Islamic State cell that killed Western hostages.

The BBC understands the pair have been stripped of their UK citizenship.

Ms Rudd said: “We’re absolutely committed to making sure that they are tried.

“These people should face

the full force of the law. I can’t be drawn at the moment into…where that will take place. But I am certain, because we’ll be working with the Americans to ensure this, that they will face justice.”

Earlier this month a defence minister said the men should be tried in an international criminal court.

Tobias Ellwood told two newspapers it was important that “terrorists from any origin are transparently and fairly held account for their actions”.

The men are accused of being the last two of four UK IS members known as “the Beatles”, so called because of their British accents.

South Africa to Raise VAT for First Time in 25 years South Africa will increase value added tax (VAT) for the first time in over two decades, the Treasury said on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba, said while presenting the budget plan before parliament that VAT would increase to 15 per cent

from 14 per cent effective April 1.

VAT had remained unchanged since 1993.

“This is a tough, but hopeful budget,” Gigaba said.

“We decided that increasing VAT was unavoidable if we are to maintain the integrity of our public finances.”

A VAT hike ran the risk of adding a heavy financial burden on the poor, but Gigaba said poor households would be cushioned through a zero-rating of basic food items such as maize meal and beans.

The Treasury said the budget deficit was seen

narrowing to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020 from 4.3 per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year.

Expert said the increase was President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government aim to cut the budget deficit and stabilise debt after years of slow economic growth.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

48

NEWS

Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Davidson Iriekpen Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

Corruption Getting Worse in Nigeria, New Corruption Perception Index Reveals

Obinna Chima The latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released yesterday by Transparency International has revealed that corruption is getting worse in Nigeria.

While the country scored 27/100 and was ranked 136th in 2016, the new CPI scores Nigeria 28/100 but with a rank 148 out of 180 countries surveyed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a significant 12 places below where it was the previous year.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CPI highlighted that the majority of countries, including Nigeria, were making little or no progress in ending corruption, while further analysis showed that journalists and activists in corrupt countries were risking their lives every day in an effort to speak out.

It is believed that the new CPI will disappoint President Muhammadu Buhari who came into office on the strength of his anti-corruption credential.

Although his administration has put many suspects on trial and seized assets of politicians and government officials, it has also been accused of condoning corrupt practices by top government officials.

The index, which ranks 180

countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

This year, the index found that more than two-thirds of countries scored below 50, with an average score of 43. Unfortunately, compared to recent years, this poor performance is nothing new.

This year, New Zealand and Denmark ranked highest with scores of 89 and 88 respectively. Syria, South Sudan and Somalia ranked lowest with scores of 14, 12 and nine respectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best performing region is Western Europe with an average score of 66. The worst performing regions are Sub-Saharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (average score 34),â&#x20AC;?

Transparency International stated.

Since 2012, several countries significantly improved their index score, including CĂ´te dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire, Senegal and the United Kingdom, while several countries declined, including Syria, Yemen and Australia, it added.

Further analysis of the

results indicated that countries with the least protection for press and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also tend to have the worst rates of corruption. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every week at least one journalist is killed in a country that is highly corrupt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The analysis, which incorporates data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, showed that in the last six years, more than nine out of 10 journalists were killed in countries that score 45 or less on the index. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No activist or journalist should have to fear for their lives when speaking out

against corruption. Given current crackdowns on both civil society and the media worldwide, we need to do more to protect those who speak up,â&#x20AC;? it added It stressed the need for governments and businesses to do more to encourage free speech, independent media, political dissent and an open and engaged civil society. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Governments should minimise regulations on media, including traditional and new media, and ensure that journalists can work without fear of repression or violence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, international

donors should consider press freedom relevant to development aid or access to international organisations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Civil society and governments should promote laws that focus on access to information. This access helps enhance transparency and accountability while reducing opportunities for corruption.

It is important, however, for governments to not only invest in an appropriate legal framework for such laws, but also commit to their implementation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Activists and governments should take advantage of the momentum generated by the

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to advocate and push for reforms at the national and global level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Specifically, governments must ensure access to information and the protection of fundamental freedoms and align these to international agreements and best practices,â&#x20AC;? it stated further.

In addition, Transparency International stated that the newly released Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) should provide a good baseline for the African Union (AU) anti-corruption efforts in 2018.

Low Patronage Hits Dana Air as PH Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Airport Reopens for Operations Ernest Chinwo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Normal flight operations resumed yesterday morning at the Port Harcourt International Airport following a shutdown of operations last Tuesday evening when Dana Air suffered a near mishap when its flight from Abuja overshot the runway and ended up in the bush. Although the 44 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated from the plane, passengers shunned the Dana Air platform when the runway of the airport was reopened by 9a.m. yesterday for operations.

The airportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runway was shut down by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from the period of the accident at about 6:50p.m. last Tuesday until 9a.m. yesterday morning when normal flight operations resumed. Â When THISDAY visited the airport yesterday morning, there were frantic efforts by passengers to reschedule flights as the FAAN Port Harcourt reportedly shut down operations after the incident. Â Also the check-in and ticketing area of Dana airline was almost empty, with the few persons there either asking for refund or rescheduling their flights.

THISDAY gathered from a staff of FAAN who wished not to be named that the accident quick response team of DANA

Airline had earlier visited the accident site for necessary assessment and luggage clearance.

The staff stated that the assessment teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verification came before the runway was re-opened for flight operations.

Although efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of DANA Air was not successful, some passengers expressed dissatisfaction over poor handling of information as regards the crash.

A passenger, Mr. Eru Omana, said the airline should have been temporarily suspended until proper investigations were concluded and the safety of the airline ascertained. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is so unfortunate that the issue that concerns human life is treated, and without appropriate information on this crash, Dana is already flying this morning. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand there are no casualties but proactive steps should be taken to check reoccurrence and this can only be reached when investigations are carried out,â&#x20AC;? he said. Â The Dana aircraft flight 9J0363 from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport was still in the bush where it stopped after overshooting the runway as at the time of filing this report. Â Meanwhile, the Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was still being expected at the accident site.

RUBBING MINDS

L â&#x20AC;&#x201C;R; Minister of Foreign Affairs , Mr. Goeffery Onyeama; Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah; and Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Dan Ali (rtd), at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja â&#x20AC;Ś yesterday

Nigeria Cautions ECOWAS against Currency Integration Obinna Chima President Muhammadu Buhari has cautioned member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against forcing through the planned currency integration in the sub-region by 2020.  Buhari, who was represented by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, issued the warning during the 5th meeting of the Presidential Task Force on ECOWAS Currency Programme in Accra, Ghana.

According to a statement yesterday, the president noted that Heads of Government had not properly articulated and analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration by 2020.

He reiterated that the non-preparedness of some

member countries, the attempt to water down criteria and the continuing disparities between macro-economic conditions in ECOWAS countries are major issues of concern that members must examine in order to make progress.

Buhari further observed that ECOWAS Heads of Government had not been adequately briefed on the full implications of forcing through the integration by 2020, particularly where some countries were not individually ready domestically.  While pointing out that there were still outstanding issues in the roadmap to an integrated currency union, he stressed that the macroeconomic fundamentals of many countries in ECOWAS were diverse and uncertain. He also noted that the inflation targeting regime recommended as framework was not feasible as it was based on adoption of a flexible

exchange rate regime. The president equally stated that real convergence was nowhere near achievable despite efforts made so far.

Buhari therefore called for a push towards ratification and domestication of legal instruments and related protocols, and the harmonisation of all fiscal, trade and monetary policies and statistical systems, with a view to limiting the extent of current policy divergences. Â He also advised that the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) countries should make a presentation on a clear roadmap towards delinking from the French Treasury. Â Furthermore, the president called for a review of the fast-track approach to monetary integration and the harmonisation of plans

by ECOWAS members with that of the African Union programme of monetary

convergence that had recommended a convergence deadline of 2034 for the for the establishment of Regional Central Banks in all subregions of the continent.

He also used the occasion of the meeting to call for the establishment of an Ombudsman with powers to invoke sanctions when member countries are in breach of agreed standards, protocols and convergence criteria. Â The president also called for the transformation of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) into a West African Monetary Zone Commission, equivalent to the UEMOA Commission, stressing that his proposal of merging WAMI and WAMA, by the ECOWAS Commission into the ECOWAS Monetary Institute would be very critical in achieving monetary union in the West African sub-region.Â

49

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Senate Northern Caucus Removes Pro-Buhari Lawmaker as Chairman

Omo-Agege apologises for attacking Senate Shehu Sani: Monkeys carted away N70m belonging to northern senators

Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË As a fallout of his opposition to the Electoral Act amendment which provides for a change in order of elections, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nassarawa APC) was yesterday removed as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF).

His removal, according to an announcement by the forum, was due to financial mismanagement and misadministration.

Abdullahi was replaced by Senator Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto APC).

This is as Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta APC) was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics.

Adamu was one of the senators who opposed amendments to the election timetable on the grounds that President Muhammadu Buhari might be the target.

For claiming that the amendment was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari, Omo-Agege made a u-turn, and apologised to the Senate.

Nine lawmakers, including Adamu and Omo-Agege, had staged a walkout from proceedings last Wednesday when the Senate adopted the amendment which would cause the presidential elections to be conducted that.

Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2010 was amended by both chambers to provide for the National Assembly elections to be conducted first, followed by the governorship and state assemblies, and the presidential polls be conducted last, all on separate days.

The amendment, when signed into law, is expected to reduce the bandwagon effect of elections, and reduce the influence of state governors in picking state legislators.

The dissenting senators had alleged that the amendment was hurriedly passed’ with

a pre-determined motive, and that it’s targeted at the president.

Two of the senators have however felt the heat, as Adamu, who was one of the ring leaders of the opposition to the amendment, was unceremoniously removed as the Chairman of the influential NSF, while Omo-Agege recanted and withdrew his comments.

Presiding, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, announced Adamu’s removal, while reading from a notice signed by the Public Relations Officer of the forum, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi APC).

It was addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki.

“This is to inform the Senate that the majority of members of NSF have removed Senator Adamu as Chairman of the NSF for financial mismanagement and mis-administration. We announce his replacement with Senator Aliyu Wamakko immediately.

Find the attached names and signatories of members,” it read.

Earlier at the plenary, Omo-Agege citing an order of personal explanation, and tendered an apology to the Senate.

He referred to a point of order of Tuesday whose prayer mandated the ethics eommittee to grill him over his comments.

“Yesterday, I was not here (plenary). My colleague and my brother, Melaye brought a motion under Privileges which is in Order 15 of the Senate Standing Rules. Mr. President, I rose as a consequent on the debate on the sequence of elections in the Electoral Act amendment which was passed last week Wednesday.

“In the course of that debate and subsequent upon that, I addressed the media at the press centre. I made certain remarks during that interview which my attention has been drawn to.

The comments are offensive, not just to Melaye, but to the

Dasukigate: EFCC Grills Ihejirika over $2.1bn Arms Deal To return today Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), was yesterday grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the arms procured by the Office of the National Security Adviser during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ihejirika was COAS between 2010 and 2014 during the Jonathan’s administration and was part of the military top brass that oversaw the use of $2.1 billion arms funds under the supervision of Col. Sambo Dasuki, the then National Security Adviser (NSA).

Ihejirika was said to have arrived the EFCC in the morning yesterday where he was interrogated for his

role in the diversion of the arms funds.

The former COAS was alleged to have used his family members in the award of contracts for arms and other military hardware and ammunition.

Speaking with THISDAY, an EFCC source explained that “Ihejireka arrived in the morning and was ushered in for interrogation.

“He was later released after the interrogation and will return tomorrow (today) for further interrogation.”

Ihejirika joined other senior military officers and service chiefs under the Jonathan government under investigation by the EFCC over their role in the illicit arms deal.

entire Senate.

“I rise to apologise to the leadership and the entire Senate for those remarks. I take back whatever I said,” Omo-Agege said.

Ekweremadu lauded his courage to tender an apology.

“It takes a lot of courage for a man to apologise. The matter has already been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. I urge the committee to quickly look into it so that we can have the report as quickly as possible. Then we will take a decision,” he said.

Briefing journalists after the plenary, Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, attempted to extricate the Senate from the fate of the oust Chairman of the NSF, particularly as the allegations of financial

mismanagement have not been proven.

He added that it was a decision taken by the majority of the NSF. “It was a simple action, as northern senators, we are not guided by any constitution,” he said and emphasised that he is not the spokesperson for the NSF. On Omo-Agege’s apology, Abdullahi explained that the process to face the Ethics Committee has already begun, and must be concluded.

“One of our colleagues has come up to say he spoke some falsehoods. We must be careful not to do anything that would reflect on the credibility of the institution.

“This issue (amendment) emanated from the House of Representatives, not our

chamber. It is a process, if anyone feels worried about it, there are steps, that’s what politics is about,” he added.

Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna APC) also speaking to journalists alluded to a missing N70 million as the financial mismanagement issue, which led to Adamu’s removal.

The money, he said, was inherited from the NSF in the seventh assembly.

“They don’t want this to be said, but I think we should be clear.

“The rumours going round whether it is true, but I believe most of the senators know, is the fact there were allegations that some monkeys raided the farm house of some of the executives in northern senators forum and carted away some

of these monies,” Sani said.

He however said it is necessary for Adamu to be able to defend himself.

Also shedding more light on Adamu’s removal, Melaye who was accosted by journalists, said the forum decided to change its leadership for several reasons, asides those listed on the notice.

One of the reasons, Melaye said, was that the forum was inactive and was becoming moribund, and positions were being taken without consultation with members of the forum.

Adamu, however, refused to speak to journalists who besieged his office seeking his side of the story.

NETWORKING

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (right), and Speaker United States House of Representatives, Mr. Paul Ryan, in a chat when the former governor visited the US...recently

INEC Appoints Eight-man Panel to Probe Underage Voting Says Kano council not under probe Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally set up an eight-man investigative panel to look into complaints of preponderance of underage voters in its registers in Kano and Katsina States.

The issue of underage minors forming a large chunk of the voting population in Kano State especially during the just concluded local council elections in the state has attracted public outcry with the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming the commission for failing to take decisive steps to sanitise the voter register.

However, speaking while receiving a delegation of the Forum of State Independent

Electoral Commission (SIEC) in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission had constituted an eigh-member committee headed by a National Commissioner, Abubakar Nahuche, to investigate the allegations in Kano and Katsina States.

He said the terms of references of the committee would be to ascertain if the voter register requested by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission was actually used in the local council elections; to investigate wide spread report that persons below the statutory age of 18 years voted using INEC register.

He also said the committee is expected to engage with stakeholders on issues relating on the use of the voter register

to the election and to make any other recommendations that the committee might deem relevant to the assignment.

The INEC boss, however, said the terms of reference do not include the probing of the Kano State local government elections which sparked off the public outcry.

Members of committee are National Commissioner, Mrs. May-Agbamuche Mbu, Mike Igini (Resident Commissioner Akwa .Ibom), Kassim Giedam (REC- Adamawa), Yakubu Duku, Mrs. Rukayat Buni Bello, Paul Omokere and Jude Chikezie Okwuonwu.

Earlier, the INEC boss had regretted the non implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between it and the state election commission

signed in 2012 which allowed for collaboration in areas such as capacity building, voter education, sensitisation and violence mitigation.

Yakubu blamed the situation on lack of funds and the frequent change in the leadership of state election commissions.

He expressed the belief that by collaborating with SIEC, the processes and outcomes of the local council elections which had become subject of heated discussions would be enhanced.

The Chairman of the forum, Justice I. M. Akomas, while congratulating the commission for the reforms introduced in the electoral process, requested that SIEC be carried along in the application of electronic voting being packaged by INEC.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

FG Saves N4.5tn from Court Cases in Two Years Buhari approves N7bn to offset embassies debts

Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ Abuja The federal government yesterday said it had saved N4.5 trillion from its defence of cases filed against it in various courts.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who made this disclosure after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also said about 15 politically exposed persons had entered into plea bargain with the government.

Malami who said he presented the scorecard of his ministry to FEC, added that the account of the prosecution of Boko Haram suspects in various courts was presented to the council.

“In respect of federal Ministry of Justice, what was presented to the council today (yesterday) is the score card from 2015 to 2017. The federal government has put in place a committee saddled with the responsibilities of coming up with policies and strategies that will ease off congestion of prisons.

“Over 70 per cent of the inmates are awaiting trials.

There are sizeable number that couldn’t afford to pay limited fine that have been imposed by them arriving from their convictions.

“There are those awaiting trials that have never seen the court room for over five years and above and indeed, there are multiple legislations that are before the National Assembly that are intended to support the decongestion of prison formation process.

“We equally presented a score card of as both civil and criminal cases that were prosecuted by the Federal Ministry of Justice and their implications as to savings that were done for the

government commencing from 2015 to the present time.

“Fundamentally, arising from the cases that were conducted by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the ministry has succeeded in saving the government around N4.5 trillion relating to the claims that were presented in respect of these cases which were indeed conducted and concluded.

“Added area over which we presented our scorecard has equally to do with the prosecution of Boko Haram cases which are ongoing. We presented a position as to the number of cases that were prosecuted, number of convictions that were procured and the number of discharges that were made relating to the cases and then made a presentation as to the roadmaps for the continuation of the process.

“There were other presentations that were made particularly as it relates to plea bargain. There are lots of pending criminal cases in respect of which of the accused persons standing trials made offers for plea bargain.

“Again there are high profile cases that we made our score card and gave an insight as to their respective positions. A presentation was made relating to national prosecution team as it relates to the cases they are expected to prosecute.”

Also briefing, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said President Muhammadu Buhari gave a directive for the release of N7 billion to Nigerian embassies that are in serious financial distress.

He said: “Special intervention fund to rescue many embassies destroyed in several countries of the world. First was in 2016 when the naira was

Court Adjourns Dasuki ‘s Case Till March 22 An FCT High Court yesterday adjourned until March 22, continuation of hearing in the case involving former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), pending outcome of judgment of the Supreme Court on his appeal.

The judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, adjourned the case after Dasuki’s counsel Mr Adeola Adedipe, holding the brief of Mr. Joesph Daudu (SAN) applied for adjournment.

Adedipe according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), informed the court that Dasuki’s matter is pending at the apex court and the outcome of the judgment on March 2, may affect the case pending in the trial court.

He also expressed surprise

that Dasuki was not in court.

Responding, Mr. Henry Ajiga, holding the brief of Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who did not oppose the application, prayed the court to adjourn it to the same day with a sister case.

He also expressed surprise on Dasuki ‘s absence, adding that the date for hearing was transmitted to the agency holding him.

Dasuki is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion.

On trial along with Dasuki are Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director, and two others.

fluctuating terribly and of course, the dollars our embassies were receiving were too low to sustain them.

“We received initially N16.3 billion, and it was successfully distributed to all embassies. The second one was N933 million for renovations and other debts released in October, 2017.

“The third was $32 million that was released for critically distressed 65 missions that were in serious debts and crisis. This was approved in November 2017 and we are

in the process of distributing to the embassies around the world.

“Another one, $28 million and is in the process of also being distributed and finally for ministry headquarters, the sum of N7 billion was made.

“A lot of the debts and the crisis in our embassies and missions around the world have been building over the last 10 years and Mr. President decided that he will no longer accept the situation where we are

sending Nigerians out to represent this country and not given them the resources to be able to carry out their tasks. Hence he made provisions and directed that these funds should be released to them.

“So, the situation is still not perfect but this has come in very handily and of course in the interest of transparency, we wanted to show how these funds had been disbursed.”

In his briefing, the Minister of Transportation,

Chibuike Amaechi, said FEC approved the construction of Ibadan-Kaduna rail line at the cost of $6.7billion.

He also said the council approved the reconstruction of the 20 year-old Bill Clinton Drive on Abuja Airport Road at the cost N1.9 billion.

Disclosing that the contract was awarded to CCECC, Amaechi said a contract of N273 million was also approved for supply of water treatment chemicals to the FCT Water Board.

MINISTERIAL BRIEFING

L-R: Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; President/CEO PEMANDU Associates, Malaysia, Dr. Idris Jala; and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, during a briefing session on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) by the minister at the National Assembly in Abuja.....yesterday

State of the Nation: PDP’s Allegations Misleading, Says APC Backs INEC on tracking of campaign funds Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Parry (PDP) of engaging in wild propaganda, cooked up tales and deliberate falsehoods in the name of opposing the government.

APC said it welcomes any measures taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency in electoral financing.

While reacting to allegations contained in a press statement delivered by a spokesperson of the PDP, the ruling party alerted Nigerians to what it described as “many wild and unsubstantiated allegations against the party, government and critical institutions such as the INEC.” In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said though it recognises the right of the PDP and indeed any other political party to criticise our party, and the policies and programmes of our government, it should be done based on facts and reason.

“In the name of playing opposition, the PDP has typically chosen to launch itself back into reckoning by engaging in destructive propaganda, deliberately spreading false, misleading and fabricated tales with intent to cause resentments, distrust and panic in the country.

“While APC recognises the right of the PDP and indeed any other political party to criticise and our party, and the policies and programmes of our government, however, we believe this should be done based on facts and reason.

“Indeed, democracy thrives on a strong opposition that put the government on its toes. But engaging in wild propaganda, cooked up tales and deliberate falsehoods in the name of opposing the government, is ultimately destructive.

“While we do not speak for the INEC, we wish to state however that it borders on cheap blackmail for PDP to launch wholesale attack on the integrity of this institution in the way it has done. INEC is certainly not yet the perfect institution that we

all aspire to have. However, it appears that to PDP, INEC can only be good enough if PDP wins election. Hence, this pre-emptive and presumptuous attack on INEC. We call on the PDP to address itself to new realities where every registered voter is entitled to one vote.

“Never again will the country return to the primitive and undemocratic ways of ballot snatching and dubious announcement of election results which were perfected and regularly perpetuated by the PDP when it was in power.

Nevertheless, our position remains that anyone found to have violated any aspect of the Electoral Act should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“Strangely, the PDP has also faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) offer of assistance to INEC to monitor campaigns funds. What is the PDP afraid of? It is clear that the party is still living in the past when public funds were criminally diverted to sponsor its political activities.

“It is obvious that PDP is

still terrified by transparency, preferring instead that Nigeria continue to wallow in the culture of corruption and impunity that it has entrenched in the country because that is the only way the party knows how to operate.

Corruption is their oxygen. APC welcomes any measures taken to ensure transparency in electoral financing.

“Most shockingly, PDP alleges that the federal government is making plans to “manipulate performance Indices” and even claims that government has hired agents for this assignment. How low can they get? The country’s slide and subsequent exit from recession was announced by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) under this same government.

We therefore wonder what they are talking about.

“It’s either that PDP do not realise that allegations such as this is capable of eroding confidence in the economy or they just don’t care as long as their desperate bid to return to power is served,” APC said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

2019 Polls: Police to Set up Task Force against Illegal Arms, Ammunition IG: Why police can’t carry out frequent recruitment To compile number of officers attached to VIPs Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË

to look into the issue of curbing illegal arms and ammunition Ahead of the 2019 general in this country. election, the Nigerian Police “I believe it is very necessary yesterday said it would set especially now that we are up task force to combat illegal going into a political period firearms and ammunition in and for the experiences we circulation across the country. have, in Benue State and some The Inspector General of parts of this country where Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, stated the establishment of illegal this yesterday at a meeting militias and arming of these with Deputy Inspectors General militias which I believe is not of Police (DIGs), Assistant in the interest of this country.

Inspectors General of Police “Therefore I decided to (AIGs) and Commissioners of call the state commissioners Police (CPs) across the country. of police of the commands, we He said: “We are here now place it on them the to dialogue on the issue of responsibilities to conduct curbing of illegal arms and campaign in their various ammunition in various parts commands to establish and police commands in this structures to tackle this issue of country. threats and curbing of illegal “I call for this meeting so that arms and ammunition in this we can have a comprehensive country. and intensive program for our “So the essence of assembling 36, states command and Abuja, the commissioners of police

this morning is to insist on them on the formation of these structures to enable us to check the abuse of illegal arms and ammunition in various parts of this country.”

He tasked the commissioners of police to begin campaign in their various states for citizens to submit their illegally acquired firearms to the police authorities, and advocated the construction of what he called ‘public amories’ in all states of federation where they seized arms would be kept.

“Of course, if you look at the firearms acts, one of the provisions of the firearm act is the provision of what is called public armory in each command where these illegal

weapons that are gathered will be stored.

“I don’t think there is any command in this country where these public armoury has been constructed. These are the issues I believe we can discuss with our commissioners of police the construction of these public armouries meant to store illegal arms and ammunition from various citizens of this country,” he said.

Giving reasons why the police cannot carry out frequent recruitment, Idris explained that cases of deaths, retirement and dismissal of some police personnel standing above 900 yearly, was responsible for frequent and mass recruitment

into the force.

He added that 308,000 police workforce was grossly inadequate for the effective policing of the more than 180 million people in the country.

Idris further noted that the police suffered manpower shortage due largely to loss of 9,028 officers and men yearly, stating that, the development was necessitating the police to embark on frequent mass recruitment so as to cover up the number.

The police chief regretted that the police workforce was far below expectation to police a country of over 180 million population, adding: “the workforce was inadequate for the United Nations standard

of 400 persons.”

He stressed that the federal government had given the Force the go-ahead to recruit 6,000 policemen into the rank and file for 2018.

He also highlighted the issue of deployment of policemen to private citizens, adding: “The issue of manpower is one problem the Nigeria Police Force is facing. There is a need for us to have a police that will work for the generality of Nigerians.”

The IG also directed police commissioners and zonal AIGs, to compile the number of policemen attached to VIPs and individuals in the country, so as to strategise for effective policing.

Independence Day Bombing: Okah, Nwabueze Know Fate March 7 Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË A Federal High Court in Abuja will on March 7 decide the fate of Charles Okah and his alleged accomplices in the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, yesterday announced that he would deliver his judgment on that day in the suit brought against Okah and two others over their alleged involvement in the crime.

Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa FrancisOsvwo (aka General Gbokos) were initially arraigned before the court on December 7, 2010 over their alleged involvement in the bomb blast which left about 12 people dead and several others injured.

However, Francis-Osvwo was said to have died in prison custody, while Ebiware, who had his trial conducted separately, is serving a life sentence upon his conviction in 2013, leaving Okah and Nwabueze to face trial.

The federal government’s amended eight-count charge is marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/186/2010.

In the cause of trial, the prosecuting counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN called 17 witnesses to prove that the defendants actually committed the offence.

But the defendants however filed a no-case-submission which was dismissed by Justice Kolawole on June 1, 2017.

In dismissing the no-casesubmission, the court held: “The prosecution has made out prima facie case through testimonies of witnesses which linked the defendants with the charges, that requires them to offer explanation.”

Consequently, the court ordered the defendants to open their defence on July 5, 2017.

On December 15, the defence team closed their case after calling seven witnesses.

Meanwhile, at yesterday’s proceeding, the 1st defendant (Okah) urged the court to discharge and acquit him following the failure of the prosecuting counsel to prove the case against him.

Similarly, Nwabueze (2nd defendant) adopted his final address by pleading with the court to hold that the federal government had failed to prove its case against him due to contradictory extra judicial statements made by the 2nd defendant.

“My Lord, the PW2 in ‘Trial-within-trial’ gave evidence that the 2nd defendant made voluntary statement on 18th, August 2010, at the headquarters of the SSS. “This was corroborated by the prosecution witness; my lord, up till now, that statement is not before this court and the prosecution tactically left it out.

“This amounts to concealment of evidence,” his lawyer submitted.

He therefore, urged the court to hold that the concealed evidence was favourable to the 2nd defendant.

On his part, the federal government’s lawyer, Izinyon while adopting his address, urged the court to convict the defendants as charged and sentenced accordingly.

Izinyon described Okah as “a schemer, and the facilitator of the terrorism act on October 1, 2010.

“The 1st defendant is likened to fox in a folk play. He is neck, head and toe deep in terrorism act.”

After taking submissions of counsel, Justice Kolawole adjourned till March 7 for judgment.

SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS

NAICOM Deputy Commissioner Technical, Mr. S. O. Thomas; President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Funmi Babington-Ashaye; Managing Director, FITC, Dr. Lucy Newman; and Managing Director, B. Adedipe and Associates, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, during a business outlook seminar of CIIN in Lagos....yesterday

FG Mandates All MDAs to Set up Budgetary Allocation for Counter-terrorism Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË Following the spate of acts of terrorism in the country, the federal government yesterday mandated all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to set up budgetary allocations for counter terrorism activities.

The mandate for all MDAs to set up budget line for counter terrorism activities was given by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at a three-day quarterly meeting and training workshop of National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) in conjunction with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd), represented by Brig Gen Emmanuel Ndagi, explained that “the federal government, through the ONSA, through the Counter Terrorism Centre, reviewed NACTEST as part of efforts required to tackle

the menace of terrorism.

“NACTEST is a call for action to all MDAs including NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) and all well-meaning Nigerians, to consciously take up their roles as outlined in the strategy.

“Towards actualising this MDAs are encouraged to make budgetary provisions for carrying out NACTEST activities.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser stands ready to collaborate with any MDAs including through facilitating contacts with resource persons both local and foreign.

“We must all work together towards achieving the desired objectives of securing our country against terrorist groups and other criminalities.

“I therefore wish to call on all other MDAs to follow the example of NIMASA in not only setting up NACTEST desks and designating Desk Focal Point Offficers, but should take practical steps towards implementation of the strategy

consistent with their mandates.

“The fight against terrorism and other criminalities call for the need for inter-agency collaboration and cross-border relationships to stem the current tide because terrorism recognises no borders.

“It is also in the light of this that ONSA in collaboration with NIMASA seeks to build capacity for focal point MDAs to better carry out their mandates in the implementation process through the five pillars of NACTEST. Namely: Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare, Imp lement.

“The ONSA is poised to implement the strategy with of course, the participation and buy-in of the relevant stakeholders as represented here by MDAs.” Also speaking, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Peterside Dakuku, represented by Ali Ndabawa, explained that, “every effort in the fight against terrorism no matter how insignificant it may appear, goes a long way in the overall success of our counter terrorism strategy.

“Besides our economic challenges, the next hard challenge for our country is the issue of security and terrorism.

“Therefore, all hands must be on deck and all stakeholders must be on the same page and be ready to contribute their fair share in ongoing efforts to ensure a safe, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

“While the federal government is expected to provide leadership, other levels of government and non-governmental and community, based organisations must be carried along to play a collaborative role in identified areas of responsibility.

This is very crucial given the unconventional nature of terrorism.

“All of our security apparatuses must be united and determined in the knowledge that government is committed to providing all the supports needed to guarantee victory.

“This is imperative and compelling in order to sustain the current successes that have been achieved in the fight against terrorism,” he stated.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

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Sultan: Herdsmen Crisis is Economic, Not Ethno-Religious Induced Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has disclosed that the lingering clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the county are more about economic survival than ethno-religious struggle.

Abubakar stated this yesterday during the presentation of the book titled: ‘Dynamics of Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences’, written in honour of the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede.

He warned that if the people in government and Nigerians continue to look at the crisis as a religious or ethnic issues, it would continue to persist.

The Sultan also stated that ascribing the word criminal to a tribe or ethnic group was wrong, and urged the government to fish out and deal with criminals who had continued to kill the citizens.

He said: “Nowadays, the worst word you can hear is

Fulani. There are millions of Fulani who doesn’t even know how to train cows. I am Fulani. I was never a herder.

Now when everybody sees a Fulani man, he is a killer. To ascribe a particular ethnic group as criminal is wrong. All over the world, there are criminals. Let us give criminals their due name, not Christian criminals, Muslim criminal or Yoruba criminals.

Call them criminals and deal with them. That’s what we are telling the government. If the government has failed, they should tell us where to come in and help.

“We don’t have statesmen any longer. We only have men of state as people just align with their states and religion more. A governor only see his immediate surrounding as their constituency.

We must be allowed freedom to go where ever we want and live wherever we want. We don’t accept criminality. If a criminal is in our midst, we must fish them out and deal with them.”

Sultan also spoke concerning the missing money in JAMB vault, expressing sadness over

the high level of corruption in the country adding that Nigerians ought to come together to chat ways and means on getting out of the corruption that had continue to threaten the country.

“The snake issue has been a humorous thing but it is just a sad reality of our country.

Where is out moral value?

Somebody will just come up and take government money and go away scot free and nobody challenged him.

“The earlier we wake up the better for us. Corruption is at a high level and it is left for us to fight it to the end. We cannot just sit down and be thinking that things are ok.

Things are not ok. It is left for us to sit down and find out ways and means to getting things back on track,” he said.

He urged Nigerian leaders to emulate the JAMB registrar who was honest and incorruptible, adding that he has become a symbol in the fight against corruption in the country.

Publish Assets Recovered from Looters, Fayose Tells EFCC Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has told the federal government to publish all the properties it claimed to have recovered and their owners as well as buyers of the properties when they are eventually sold.

The governor, who said Nigerians were no longer interested in being governed with propaganda, said: “Nigerians want to know how many properties were recovered and who bought the properties. Who authorised the sale? Nigerians want details, not propaganda because most of these properties have been sold and resold.”

A statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “The federal government should create a website where all the properties recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and to whom they were sold will be listed so that by one click, Nigerians will have information.”

The governor said it would be difficult to trust the EFCC reports on recovered looted funds and properties, asking; “How

can Nigerians continue to trust the position of the same EFCC that said in April 2016 that the allegation of corruption against Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar, was mere suspicion and would be difficult to proof in court, but now charged that the same CCT chairman to court on the allegation it described as mere suspicion?

He said: “On November 23, 2017, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, the Chairman of the Senate committee investigating the botched reinstatement and promotion of the former Chairman the Presidential Task Force on Pensions, under the leadership of Ibrahim Maina, told Nigerians on the floor of the Senate that almost all the exotic properties recovered from alleged looters of pension funds had already been re-looted by officials of the EFCC. “Last year November also, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), while testifying before the National Assembly alleged that one of the properties recovered from alleged looters of pension funds was already sold to a Lagos lawyer.

“How are we now sure that the same people who re-looted the recovered pension loots have not also looted the recovered properties the resident said will be sold?’

Speaking further, Governor Fayose said: “The federal government cannot continue to tell Nigerians stories without background. The era of ‘baba has said’ is gone in Nigeria. The era of the president acting like a lord of manor is gone, we are in a democracy. Many people were blackmailed and coerced to surrender their properties.

A typical case is the one on Malabu Oil where people have been scandalised, harassed and their names destroyed via media trial and the AGF now come out to say that there is no enough evidence to try them. What will now happen to the lies told against those people?

“The federal government should therefore publish and state clearly what has happened in the EFCC between 2006 and now. Nigerians need to know the recovered properties sold by Ibrahim Magu’s predecessor, Ibrahim Lamorde, and other previous EFCC chairmen. Those who bought them should be made public too.”

Abia Coalition Endorses Nwokonneya for Federal Constituency Seat in 2019 Sunday Okobi A coalition of over 20 women societies and groups under the aegis of National Association of Isiala Ngwa Progressive Women (NAINPW) has urged Mrs. Blessing Uwaoma Nwokonneya to run for the Isiala Ngwa federal constituency seat in the 2019 general election.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a town hall meeting in Abia State.

According to the communiqué

which was jointly signed by its National President, Chief Anastesia Ukomadu, and National Secretary, Lady Adaku Erondu, the call was made in consideration of Nwokonneya’s track records, commitment to the welfare of the people, “wealth of experience and confidence in her capacity to offer a best-in-class representation for our people.”

The coalition further added in the communique that “given her background, exposure, quality

experience, rich network and commitment to the good of our people, Nwokonneya will no doubt offer the good people of Isiala Ngwa North and South federal constituency a quality and purposeful representation that has never been seen before.

“We urged all women stakeholders to support the candidacy of Lady Nwokonneya to lift the socio economic lives of our people.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Again, CAN Asks Buhari to Reorganise Security Agencies Condemns underage voters registration

Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned

in strong terms the menace of insecurity challenges occasioned by the incessant killings in the country, and reiterated its earlier

Anambra Central: Appeal Court’s Special Panel Fixes Feb 26 for Definite Hearing on Okonkwo’s Appeal AlexEnumah ÓØ ÌßÔË Afive-man special panel constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, yesterday fixed February 26 for definite hearing of the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, seeking to restore the consent judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on December 13, 2017, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return as senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district.

The panel, headed by Justice M. L. Garba, announced the date yesterday shortly after it commenced sitting on the matter.

Members of the special panel who are drawn from the various divisions of the court to hear the pre-election matter also include Justices Mohammed Danjuma; Tunde Awotoye; Mohammed Shuaibu and Eziakpono Oho. When the appeal came up for mention Tuesday, Sabastine Hon (SAN), counsel to the appellant informed the court about the processes already filed before it.

Hon said though he has filed the appellant’s brief of argument, he however, needed time to respond to the processes filed by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Awomolo Adegboyega (SAN), including a notice of preliminary objections.

He consequently asked the court for a short adjournment for the purpose of filling his response.

His application was not opposed to by counsel to the respondents

including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Umeji and Ernest Nwoye for Mrs. Ekwunife.

The court consequently granted the application and adjourned the matter to February 26.

In the notice of appeal predicated on 13 grounds Okonkwo through his lawyer, prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the January 12, 2018, ruling of Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court which vacated the said consent judgment of December 13, 2017.

He also asked the appellate court for an order directing INEC to immediately comply with the consent judgment of Justice Tsoho delivered on December 13, 2017, by issuing him with a Certificate of Return as the winner of the disputed senatorial seat.

In addition, the appellant is seeking an order of the Court of Appeal to the effect that the consent judgment entered into by Justice Tsoho on December 13, 2017 in suit No; FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2014, ranks superior to any post-election decision, notwithstanding the hierarchy of court established by section 287 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended) He further prayed for an order that in spite of the hierarchy of the courts established by section 287 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, a preelection suit and decisions ranks/ superior to a post-election decision notwithstanding that the court delivering the preelection decision is inferior to the court delivering or which has delivered the post-election decision.

call on President Muhammadu Buhari to reorganise the security agencies.

The Christian umbrella body, at its last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, commiserated with the victims and the bereaved of all the killings going on in the country especially in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Zamfara States by the “terrorists herdsmen and the bandits.”

In a statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the organisation listed the resolutions made at the NEC meeting to include: “That CAN identifies with the victims of the on-going killings by the herdsmen terrorists in the North Central; the Boko Haram terrorists in some states in the Northeast and bandits in Zamfara State.”

The resolutions also stated that CAN frowned at the failure of

the security agencies to prevent those criminals before they strike as expected of them, and “that CAN reiterates its opposition to the composition of the National Security Council which skewed in favour of one religion and a part of the country; and that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi- religious state. We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the Federal Character Commission Act in all his appointments and policies.”

The Christian body also called “on President Buhari to reorganise the entire security agencies with a view to injecting new officers with new visions and ideas that can restore sanity to all the trouble spots in the country/ “That every Christian that is of voting age should register for the forthcoming general elections, and that the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) should stop the under-age registration that characterises the

ongoing registration of voters in some parts of the country.

“That CAN frowns at the deliberate attempts being made to discourage people from participating in the registration exercise by the INEC officials in some states; CAN appeals to its members not to be intimidated or discouraged by the frustration associated with the registration exercise but to ensure that they all secure their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC).

“We urge our members to participate in the political process in the country as the need arises with a view to having the right people at the right places of governance. The NEC calls on all the blocs to put aside their differences and support the leadership of Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to move the Church forward.”

Oladeji listed those in attendance to include CAN President, Ayokunle; the Vice President,

Prof Joseph Otubu; the General Secretary, Rev Dr Musa Asake; Assistant General Secretary, Joseph Daramola; Treasurer, Bishop Anthony Anyiador; the Legal Director, Samuel Kwankur; the Youth Director, Elder Biodun Sayanolu, and the Director, National Issues, Bishop S.T.V. Adegbite.

Others were the bloc leadersRev Fubara Fubara-Manuel (Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN); Pastor A. O. Akinosun (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/ Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN/CPFN); Elder Napo Emuchay (the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Rev Caleb Ahima Tarayar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi a Nigeria or The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN)/ Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA), and Rev Fr. Prof Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua (Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, (CSN).

CONGRATULATIONS

Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba (left), presenting the Independent Newspaper Most Outstanding Aviation Terminal Operator of the Year 2017 Award, won by the Chairman of Resort Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), to his representative and Head, Corporate Communications, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Chief Steve Omolale, at the awards ceremony in Lagos.... recently.

Olugbenga Akintola Foundation Offers Free Medical Services to Fowler to Expose Tax Evaders, Urges IoD Members to Oshogbo Residents Embrace VAIDS Nigerians have been urged to Babatunde Samuel, who is one stop self-medication and consult medical experts whenever they feel any symptoms of ill health.

This advice was given yesterday by Mr. Olugbenga Akintola at a free health programme organised by a nongovernmental organisation, the Olugbenga Akintola Foundation (OAF), held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

While speaking at the event, Akintola, the convener of OAF, said the programme was organised for the benefit of the masses, adding that government alone cannot do everything.

He also mentioned that the foundation has a Micro-Finance Initiative which has been going round the state to put an end to poverty and help small businesses and artisans develop their trade.

A medical expert, Dr

of the team of experts treating patients, said the programme is a good idea, especially at this time of economic crunch when people do not bother to check up on their state of health because of cost implications.

Mr. Ajirowo Akeem and Mrs Folashade, two beneficiaries of the programme, commended the Foundation for their kind gesture and prayed God to give the foundation more strength to further impact on the lives of the masses. Other participants also spoke of their gratitude to the foundation for the free clinic.

Drugs were dispensed for various ailments ranging from hypertension to diabetes to hundreds of patients who benefitted from the programme which is expected to be replicated in Iwoye-Ijesa on February 23, 2018.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Tunde Fowler, has warned that tax evaders risk being exposed if they fail to pay up and urged members of the Institute of Directors (IoD) to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

Fowler gave the advice in Lagos during the week while making a presentation on the tax amnesty scheme to IoD members.

During the presentation titled: ‘Achieving Voluntary Tax Compliance: The VAIDS Option’, the FIRS chairman explained that the key motivation for introducing the scheme is that the country’s tax remittance rate remains low despite having some of Africa’s most profitable and

well capitalised companies.

“Nigeria’s low tax revenues are inconsistent with the lifestyles and spending habits of a large number of citizens. Many are engaged in transfer of assets overseas, use of offshore companies in tax havens and registration of assets in nominee names,” said Fowler.

He noted that tax evasion constitutes a significant challenge to the government and listed a number of ways through which taxes are evaded. Among these, he said, are manipulation of accounting records, use of complex structures for transanctions, non-registration for Value Added Tax (VAT), non-payment of Capital Gains Tax ( CGT) on asset disposal and escaping detection of income due to

lack of machinery for tracing such.

The FIRS boss, however, warned that under VAIDS, tax evaders will not escape. He explained that the Federal Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with relevant tax authorities, is building a revenue assurance platform through extensive gathering of data from sources that include Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), land allocation and land ownership records, foreign exchange allocation returns and bureaux de change records.

Others are Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), information from foreign governments as well as whistleblower tips and leaks.

The FIRS Chairman

instantiated information from foreign governments with the recently passed Unexplained Wealth Order in the UK, Wikileaks, Panama Papers and Automatic Exchange of Information (AEoI), to which Nigeria is signatory.

He stated that IoD members have, as obligations, leading the charge for truthful and voluntary declaration of all income by corporate bodies, voluntary tax compliance as individuals and corporate bodies, being tax ambassadors by raising tax awareness among peers and being exemplary citizens in words and deeds.

VAIDS offers tax defaulters a window to declare their indebtedness and escape tax interests and penalties as well as prosecution. The scheme closes on 31 March.

˜ ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ T H I S D AY

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CAF CLUB COMPETITIONS

Rampant MFM, Plateau Utd, Akwa Utd Zoom into Next Round Femi Solaja For the first time in recent participation, all the three Nigerian representatives in all the continental club competitions scaled through to the next stage of the both CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup respectively.

Although the two Nigerian representatives in the Champions League, MFC and Plateau United already had one leg in the next round each before their respective fixtures yesterday, it was Akwa United of Uyo that proved pundits wrong with a massive 2-0 away win over Real de Banjul of Gambia.

Cyril Olisema scored a brace for Akwa United to avenge the home loss in Uyo last week and qualified the Promise Keepers 3-2 on aggregate for the CAF Confederation Cup first round.

The 2017 AITEO FA Cup champions will now face Al-Ittihad of Libya who also qualified to the next stage of the competition last night after securing 3-0 defeat of Sahel FC. The bright day for Nigerian club participation kicked off at the Temple of Football in Agege, Lagos where Chijioke Akuneto was on target and became the first scorer of an international goal at the refurbished arena as the church team pipped Real Bamako of Mali to progressing to the next stage of CAF Champions League 2-1 on aggregate.

The Nigerians drew 1-1 in the first leg played in Mali, and after a goalless first half, Akuneto scored the winner for MFM 10 minutes before full time.

He connected a well delivered cross by Abayomi Lawal with a firm header which left the

goalkeeper of the visitors stranded between the post. They hanged on to that goal to seal a well deserved victory.

Campaigning in the tournament for the first time after their stunning second place finish last season in the Nigeria Professional Football League, MFM FC have surprised many with the result over the Malians.

MFM FC will now take on high scoring Mouloudia Club de Algeria who eliminated A.S Otoho of Congo Brazzaville 9-2 on aggregate. The Congolese side won 2-0 at home last week but lost the return leg in a scandalous 9-0 defeat in Algiers last night.

In the other match yesterday, Raphael Ayagwa lifted 10-man Nigerian league champions Plateau United to victory with a lone goal away at Eding Sport of Cameroon yesterday.

The midfielder scored the only goal of the game that gave the Jos team a 4-1 aggregate victory after winning the first leg 3-0 in Nigeria.

It wasn’t all smooth for the Nigerians as they were reduced to 10 men following a red card handed out six minutes to the end of the game. They however hanged on to claim a memorable win which secures their passage to the next round.

The representatives will now take on Tunisian giants Etoile Du Sahel in the final round of qualifiers for a place in the money spinning group stage of Africa’s most prestigious club competition.

The performance of all the Nigerian teams yesterday was the opposite of their last outing in the continental club competition as they all crashed out in the early stage last season.

Two S’finalists Emerge in Zenith/Delta Principal’s Cup Two semi-finalists have emerged in the ongoing Delta State Principal’s Cup sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc for all secondary schools in the state.

The competition was only revived last year courtesy of the partnership between the Delta State Government and Zenith Bank.

Marvel Secondary School and St. Paul College Ozoro are the two school that have booked tickets to play in the semifinals billed to take place on February 26 and 27 at venues yet to be determined by the organisers.

At the Sapele Stadium, Marvel Secondary School defeated Iwere College Koko 2-0 in a highly entertaining encounter on Tuesday.

Only yesterday, Obule Integrated Schools and St. Paul’s College Ozoro played 1-1 after full time in the quarterfinal tie decided at the Ughelli Stadium but St Paul won the ensuing penalty shootout 5-4 to progress.

Today, Comprehensive Secondary School and Boys’ Secondary school will lock horns at Agbor Stadium.

While on Friday, Otokutu Secondary School and Ogume

Grammar School will clash at the Oleh Stadium.

Head of the Organising team, Tony Pemu, said the standard displayed so far has been very high.

“We are in for a great run-in from now till the final match on March 2. Schools involved in the competition have raised their games and we are enjoying the entertainment,” Pemu concluded with excitement last night.

Meanwhile, Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo, have sent words to the organisers of the ongoing Delta State Principal’s Cup to ensure fair play prevails as the competition enters crucial stage.

Gov. Okowa through the Commissioner for Basic Secondary School, Chiedu Ebie, charged all the participants to embrace fair play.

“They should be friendly with one another and not see the tournament as a do-or-die affair. We want the students to learn about fair play from this level so that the winners will be good ambassadors of the state at the national competition,” Okowa said.

Akwa United yesterday secured 2-0 away victory against Real Banjul of the Gambia to qualify 3-2 on aggregate for the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup

Nigeria Ready to Host Any FIFA Event, Says Pinnick President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has assured world football-governing body, FIFA, that Nigeria is ready, able and willing to host any major football programme, on or off the field.

The NFF supremo made this known on Tuesday shortly after the FIFA Executive Football Summit that held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“We have the capacity and we have demonstrated this on several occasions, and we have a government that is doing

everything possible to encourage and enable the blossoming of sport as a key industry. Just as the FIFA President himself said at the AITEO-NFF Awards, football is life in Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Nigerian football fraternity, I want to commend FIFA for their strong support for our football and for African football at large. Mr. Gianni Infantino visited Nigeria for the first time in his tenure in July 2016, and after he left, we witnessed a turn-around in the fortunes of our football. I believe that after he leaves this time, our football will soar even

higher, with great possibilities of dazzling the world at the FIFA World Cup in Russia,” observed the NFF chief.

The Summit, which was one of 12 FIFA Executive Football Summits planned for November 2017 and March 2018 and one of the cardinal programmes of President Infantino, was attended as well by CAF President Ahmad, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, FIFA Council members Kwesi Nyantakyi of Ghana and Sonia Bien Aime from Turks and Caicos Islands, alongside presidents of 17 member associations

of FIFA: Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Somalia, South Sudan, Swaziland, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Turks and Caicos Islands, Denmark, FYR Macedonia, Lithuania, San Marino, Sweden and host country Nigeria.

Only two other cities in Africa – Nouakchott in Mauritania and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania – are in the mix of the 12 cities worldwide hosting the FIFA Executive Football Summits.

Dar es Salaam will take its turn today while the curtain will be drawn on the meetings in Lima, Peru next week.

Sunshine Stars Accept Sanctions, Pleads for Leniency President of Sunshine Stars FC, Otunba Tajudeen Akinyemi has communicated in writing the club’s decision to accept the recent disciplinary measures imposed on the club by the League Management Company (LMC) including three points deduction for repeated offence of fans’ unruly conduct and hostility towards match officials.

In their response to the Summary Jurisdiction notice issued by the LMC last Friday, Tunde Ogunja, who signed on behalf of the club acknowledged that all the infractions listed by the LMC were valid but pleaded

that the points deduction be revisited.

Sunshine Stars Management also apologised for the incident noting that it ‘regretted the action of an isolated miscreant occasioning harm perpetrated (sic) against the Referee and one of the Assistants on their way to the dressing room after the conclusion of the match…”.

“Sir, it must be stated that the Management of Sunshine Stars FC condemn in strong terms this type of barbaric attitude and will never associate itself with such group of isolated individuals who are out to

destroy our prestigious league with conducts that are capable of bringing the league into disrepute”, Ogunja wrote in the letter to LMC. The Club also assured the LMC that it had already acted in collaboration with the State Football Association and security agencies to identify and apprehend the culprit, pledging to ensure that he is prosecuted.

In appealing for mitigation of the disciplinary measures, Sunshine Stars management acknowledged that all the charges and previous sanctions cited by the LMC were valid but

however, pointed to the fact that it happened in previous administrations of the club.

“Therefore, with all due respect, we plead with the league body to give the current President a chance to redeem its image”, they further requested.

While undertaking to pay in full the compensation of N.5m to the injured match official, the club entered a plea for the LMC to waive the three point deduction.

Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar said the response is being studied and thus, I cannot make any comments at this point”.

Carabao Cup Final Live on Kwesé Tv Pay TV Kwesé TV has promised its subscribers that the final of the EFL Carabao Cup will be aired live and exclusively on its channels on Sunday 25 February.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 5.30pm local time on Kwesé Sports 1, channel 300.

With reigning champions Manchester United knocked out

of the competition by Bristol City in the fifth round, the face-off will be between Manchester City and Arsenal.

Manchester City had proven unstoppable in the race for four major titles this season until suffering a defeat by Wigan in the FA Cup on Monday.

As all roads lead to Wembley

for the Carabao Cup final, football fans will be looking to see if it will be Pep Guardiola’s dream team or Arsenal, who have yet to win the League Cup under the management of Arsene Wenger, that will lift the trophy.

Kwesé Sports, Econet Media’s exclusive sports

content platform available on the Kwesé TV network holds exclusive rights for the Carabao Cup and some of the most popular sporting leagues including; the Copa del Rey, NBA and NFL. Kwesé Sports is also an official broadcaster of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

THURSDAYSPORTS U E FA C H A M P I O N S L E A G U E

De Gea Secures Valuable Away Point for Man Utd against Sevilla David de Gea’s stunning first-half save helped Manchester United claim a creditable draw at Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Spain keeper had kept out efforts from Joaquin Correa and Steven N’Zonzi before showing quick reflexes to produce a onehanded save on the stroke of half-time and deny Luis Muriel’s header.

United, who were playing their first Champions League knockout game in four years, offered little offensively, with Romelu Lukaku spurning their best chance when he volleyed well over early on before substitute Marcus Rashford dragged a shot wide in the closing stages.

Paul Pogba started on the bench for the visitors, but came on after just 17 minutes following an injury to Ander Herrera.

Sevilla finished the game with 25 attempts on goal but a mixture of De Gea’s saves and poor finishing from the hosts left them frustrated at the final whistle.

Manchester United will be the happier of the two teams heading into the return leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday, 13 March with Jose Mourinho’s side winning 15 of their 18 games on home soil this season.

Elsewhere on the night, Shakhtar Donetsk came from behind to win their Champions League last-16 first leg clash with Roma thanks to a stunning free-kick by Brazil midfielder Fred.

Argentinean striker Facundo Ferreyra, who didn’t play a minute for Newcastle during a season-long loan in 2014-15, struck to cancel out the opener by Roma’s exciting Turkish winger Cengiz Under.

Then Fred, 24, who has been linked with a move to Premier League leaders Manchester City, curled his free-kick over the wall and into the top corner.

Shakhtar, who had defender Serhiy Kryvtsov stretchered off before half-time, travel to Rome for the second leg on Tuesday, 13 March (19:45 GMT).

Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma, who are third in Serie A, impressed in the first half with ex-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko linking up well with Under.

But Shakhtar, who have now won 12 of 15 games in Kharkiv where they play due to conflict in their eastern Ukraine home, were only denied a bigger lead by Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who denied Marlos, Taison and Ferreyra in added time.

Emeka Ogbugh Excited to Open 2018 NPFL Account

Manchester United’s Romelu Lokaku (right) and Sevilla’s Clement Lenglet battling for ball during their UEFA Champions League Last 16 first leg clash in Seviille, Spain last night. The game ended goalless.

Europa: Ramsey, Ozil to Miss Gunners’ Clash with Ostersunds Arsenal midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil will miss this evening’s Europa League last-32 second-leg against Ostersunds FK. Manager Arsene Wenger took a near full-strength squad to Sweden for the first leg, which his side won 3-0, but will use some of his younger players at the Emirates.

Wenger said Germany international Ozil, 29, has been ill while Ramsey is recovering from a groin injury.

“There’s still lots at stake,” he said.

“Ozil was in bed Monday and Tuesday. I would certainly have played him, but because he was sick

he will have to work hard to be back to fitness and won’t be involved.”

Although Wales international Ramsey will also miss the Ostersunds game, Wenger said he will not rule the 27-year-old out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

The Gunners boss confirmed that January signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is cup-tied for Sunday, and striker Danny Welbeck will start today.

Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, who has been picked for the majority of Arsenal’s cup matches this season, will keep his place ahead of Petr Cech.

Arsenal are sixth in the Premier League, eight points adrift of fourthplaced Chelsea, and need to finish the season in top four or win the Europa League to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

“We have to focus on the Premier League,” added Wenger.

“The Europa League is one of the priorities we have.

“But ideally we want to come back to the Champions League through the Premier League.”

Wenger said he was impressed

by Ostersunds’ Iran international forward Saman Ghoddos during the first leg.

“He is a fantastic player, technically

and tactically. I was very impressed with him,” he said. “The whole team is playing good football.”

Meanwhile, Ostersunds midfielder Tesfaldet Tekie says the Swedish club still believe they can upset the odds and beat Arsenal in north London.

The 20-year-old, who played the second half of last week’s defeat by the Gunners, is on loan from Belgian side Gent.

“You can never say,” he said of his side’s prospects. “It was great to play in the first match. Really big.

I was pleased with the effort we made towards a really good team.

“I played my game. I tried to do what I’m good at. Now we’ll see.”

Emirates, Arsenal Extend Shirt Deal till 2024

Rivers United forward, Emeka Ogbugh has said he is delighted to open his new season campaign for Rivers United with a goal and he instantly dedicated it to God during Sunday’s NPFL Match day 9 clash against Niger Tornadoes in Port Harcourt.

Ogbugh made his season debut for Rivers United Sunday against Niger Tornadoes after helping the home-based Super Eagles reach in final of the recently concluded CHAN in Morocco.

He scored on the dot of 28 minutes, firing home a free kick from outside the area.

The goal doubled the hone side’s advantage after Euro returnee, Osita Chikere had opened scoring on 16 minutes.

“I’m delighted to score. I rejoined the team few days ago

and scoring in this game makes me feel happy, more so when it helped us win the game”, Ogbugh told Scorenigeria.com.ng “I dedicate the goal to God. “I must say, it is one of the tricks I took from the CHAN which I gained from coach Salisu Yusuf.

“I hope to keep working hard and see where we go from there”.

Rivers United were immaculately impressive in the game, bossing their visitors all through the first half during which goals from Osita Chikere and Ogbugh separated the two sides.

Ochewechi Salefu’s strike of extraordinary force and speed hit the head of a Niger Tornadoes defender with the incident highlighting the second period in which Tornadoes came back into life.

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, and Arsenal Football Club, yesterday announced a new sponsorship deal. The sponsorship, the largest ever signed by the club and one of the biggest ever agreed in football, grants the airline a five-year extension to their shirt partnership with the club until the end of the 2023-2024 season.

Nigeria is one of Arsenal’s biggest fan base.

The new sponsorship agreement, strengthens one of the most recognisable and respected partnerships in sport.

The agreement was finalised yesterday by Arsenal Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis, and Emirates President, Sir Tim Clark.

Mr Gazidis said: “Our shirt

partnership is the longest running in the Premier League and one of the longest relationships in world sport. This mutual commitment is testimony to the strength and depth of our unique relationship.

Emirates are again demonstrating their great belief in our approach and ambition and their significantly increased investment will help us continue to compete for trophies and bring more success to the club and our fans around the world.

“Emirates is a great partner for Arsenal – a world-class brand with a truly global reach. The airline plays a significant role in our ambitions to extend our influence and following around the world.

The new deal, extending our shirt partnership until 2024, underlines

how much both organisations value and benefit from the relationship,” he stressed.

In addition to being shirt sponsors, with the Emirates brand continuing to appear on Arsenal’s playing and training kits, Emirates will provide access to their awardwinning planes for Arsenal to use on pre-season tours.

Emirates will retain marketing rights to develop campaigns and initiatives around the world.

Arsenal’s home will continue to be known as Emirates Stadium up to 2028, as part of the extension agreed in 2012.

According to Emirates President, Clark: “Arsenal’s strong appeal and influence around the globe, combined with their ambitions as a

club makes them an ideal partner for Emirates, with values that reflect ours as a brand.

“As a long-standing supporter of football, we are passionate about the game and are a proud partner to the team.”

“As a business, we are hugely committed to supporting sports all over the world and our relationship with Arsenal is no different. Our partnership with Arsenal Football Club is a great combination of two truly global brands and we’re very pleased to have extended this relationship for five more years – connecting fans from around the world with one of the greatest teams in the world,” concludes the airline’s chief executive.

NNL: Insurance Coach Laments Slow Shape of Club Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Ahead of the commencement of the Nigeria National League (NNL), season scheduled to kick off on March 3, Bendel Insurance FC Head Coach, Monday Odigie, has revealed that his team does not have the capacity to challenge for top honours yet.

The coach, gave this hint when

he spoke with journalists after Insurance’s 3-1 victory over Delta Stars of Ughelli in a friendly last weekend in Benin City.

Odigie said he was still in the process of trying to come up with a team that would prosecute the 2017/2018 NNL season from the 40 players at his disposal.

According to him, “We are just staggering, the team has

not taken a solid foot yet, we are still staggering to where we think will be good enough before the season starts.

“Our mode of preparation is still in process, we are not ready yet. It is always an ideal thing with sport, you don’t have a perfect team until the competition begins.

“We are still not what we want to be, we are still preparing

towards where we want to be, we are however making progress but we are not set yet.”

Odigie who was unveiled as Insurance handler in January, said the friendly games being played were meant to ensure he builds a holistic team that will compete favourably with other teams for the promotion to the elite league.

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“These people defected immediately after the 2015 elections and were presented at a well-publicized rally. It is surprising that more than two years after that rally, the same people are being received in another ceremony. You cannot present the same set of people three to four times for the same purpose” Inside Fulani Settlements in Kebbi Niger State chapter of the PDP accusing the ruling APC in the state of ‘recycling’ defectors to deceive the public.

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OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Inside Fulani Settlements in Kebbi F rom the Gayawa Fulani settlement in Birnin Kebbi local government where I encountered more than 200 children of school age whose parents are desirous that they be educated but seem helpless; to Ruggar-Era, another Fulani town in Argungu local government—where more than a hundred women gathered to receive me along with their young children who also have no school to attend—I came face to face with the contradictions of the Nigerian condition on Monday in Kebbi State. The visit also opened my eyes to the danger that confronts our nation if we continue to ignore what has become the class dimension to the ‘Fulani crisis’ as well as the endless possibilities of what can be gained if we do the right thing.

The Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Alhaji Usman Umar Dakingari, who served as my tour guide and interpreter, had with him a few other government officials as well as the Financial Secretary of the Kebbi State Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Demgiya. It helped that in every of the Fulani settlement, I was introduced not only as a journalist from Abuja but also as the spokesman to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Fulani man whose name still evokes good memory.

But then what was I doing in Kebbi State?

In July 2015 when Governor Atiku Bagudu was just in his third month in office, I had visited Kebbi at a period the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) team was inspecting the rice paddies and Fadama planes for their Anchor Borrowing in support of the governor’s efforts to use agriculture for empowerment. Following that visit, I wrote a column titled, “Kebbi Rice and a Nation’s Tragedy”. At that period, I could see the prospects of the state in agriculture and the conversation I had with Bagudu suggested that he might be serious.

In that piece, I argued that agriculture presents the most viable alternative to an oil dependent economy in our country and that Kebbi was on the right path.

Agriculture, I wrote, would “feed our multitude, employ most of our young people and thus quicken the end of Boko Haram and other death-wish militia. It will also feed processing industries and salvage many of our mismanaged and cash strapped states”. I added that “the Kebbi State Governor is right in his bid to seek the support of his Lagos State counterpart in the rice project. Purchasing power and investable capital reside mostly in the south while the land and natural resources which agriculture needs to thrive is more abundant in the north.”

Meanwhile, what was no more than a wish by the Kebbi Governor to strike a partnership with Lagos State, when we spoke almost three years ago, has resulted in LAKE Rice; additional rice processing mills with bigger capacities have also come on stream in the state where thousands

Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu

of young men are now fully engaged in farming not only rice but other crops, including wheat, cocoyam and sugarcane.

But efforts to make me come back to Kebbi had failed until Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah ‘moderated’ the agreement between me and the governor last Thursday at the Kukah Centre Symposium in Abuja where the President of Ghana delivered a moving lecture. So, on Sunday, I was back to Kebbi.

Blessed with Fadama land of about 400,000 hectares and huge water reservoir from its many tributaries, farming in Kebbi is an all-year round activity and Bagudu’s intervention programmes have empowered several people in the state.

Despite the setback in January, when a sugarcane field of about 30 hectares was destroyed by fire in Mai-Ramu village, Koko/Besse Local Government Area, the next project on Bagudu’s mind is the production of ethanol. The state is already partnering with the NNPC and some private investors to produce from its vast sugarcane resources the organic compound used as automobile fuel. Farmers in Kola, Raha, Zuru, Bagudo and other communities within the sugarcane belt are already expecting a new lease of life once the project takes off. But the highlight of my visit was the interactions with Fulani people live in Kebbi State, for obvious reasons.

On Monday, my first port of call was the 60,000 hectares Moccyho Grazing reserve where we met the Lagos State Auditor of MACBAN, Alhaji Mohammed Ladda who hails from the Gayawa community located within the reserve and was just visiting home. But for the Fulani of Gayawa, there is a bigger problem, a microcosm of what has become a national challenge. “Here, we have herds of more than 10,000 but we have a problem with farmers. Although we have arrangement with them on when they would leave the Fadama for us to graze, with dry season farming, we are sometimes left without any route to graze”, said Demgiya who painted a picture of helplessness by the herders not only within

Kebbi but all over Nigeria.

When I asked him whether he was aware of the notorious reputation of Fulani people as trouble makers who are going about the country, killing people, he replied in the affirmative. In a tone that was emotional, he said, “I am quite aware that Fulani people are now being killed in several places in Nigeria. If a criminal who happens to be a Fulani man kills one person, it will be big news and all Fulani would be held responsible but in a situation where one hundred Fulani men are killed, it doesn’t matter again in Nigeria. It is as if we are no longer human beings.”

Demgiya believes that Fulani people are being profiled across the country because of their way of life yet when I asked him what he would like government to do for the community, he did not hesitate to say school for their children. He took me to the community school whose roof had been blown off. It has only four small classrooms, each of which cannot take more than about 15 persons. But Demgiya said the children would like the school to be fixed and for teachers to be available. They also need water since the borehole in the community has since stopped functioning as well as health facilities.

The challenge became rather vivid at Ruggar-era, another Fulani community in Argungu local government that has been hemmed in by farm settlements.

Leader of the community, Buda Gomna, not only spoke of their challenges, he said he would get the women to speak to me and true to his word, more than a hundred women in the community were gathered to interact with me. Many of them came with children of school age who only have access to some form of Islamic education.

Even though Gomna said Governor Bagudu has promised them a school, I asked for how long they have been in the community. “I was born here and so were my parents and it is the same with all the people in this community so we are talking of more than 100 years”, said Gomna. Yet, the big settlement has neither a school nor a health centre and I wonder why none of the civilian administrations since 1999 has bothered about this. But what seemed to concern him the most is that they now have no route for their cows with their community practically hemmed in by farm settlements. “There is no stock route anymore as we are now surrounded by farms. There is no exit from here. Everywhere is blocked. Every day, we worry about our future. To be honest, I am no longer sure of what the future holds for us in this place but where do we go? It is crisis upon crisis every day”, said Gomna in a note of resignation, before he directed me to go and speak to their wives.

With more than a hundred women surrounding her, the women leader, Hajia Hawau Neabi, also spoke passionately about

their greatest concern: the education of their children who have no school. “They just attend Islamic school here. We want them to go to a proper school to have real education” said Neabi who added that “security has become a big problem.

We trek for several hours to hawk dairy products. We want help”.

The take-away from my interactions with the Fulani men and women at the settlement is not only that pastoralist societies face more demands on their way of life than at any previous time in history, but also that in our country, the real Fulani people, as opposed to some political opportunists who use them as canon fodders, are also victims of the way we have mismanaged our affairs. While it may suit some reckless individuals to propound nonsensical theories of how Fulani people are ‘born to rule’, majority of their people are living in deprivation and want.

Those fat-cat Fulani politicians who send their own children abroad to school yet argue that it is the tradition of Fulani men to roam the bush must be called out for what they are. They are not speaking for the ordinary Fulani people nor do they care for them. As Dr Chidi Amuta always argue, it is one of the tragedies of modern Nigeria “that we have come to accept the category ‘nomadic’ as a permanent description of a vital segment of our populace” which, according to him, explains why “we have effectively denied these citizens the benefits of settled human civilization which include the right to a place to call home, the right to own land and other property and above all the full citizenship rights enjoyed by other Nigerians.”

The greater danger is that in the process of allowing these hapless Fulani men to roam, we unwittingly encourage the violation of the rights, as well as lives and livelihoods, of other Nigerians, especially settled landowners and farmers. The consequences are what we now witness in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and other theatres of violence.

It is unfortunate that despite the economic importance of livestock to the nation’s economy and its huge contribution to the GDP, there is as yet no federal government programme for pastoralists the way we have for farmers. That exposes the lingering deceit of the ruling class in Nigeria who uses ethnicity and religion primarily as tools for the promotion of private interest.

Whether in the North, East or West, the rural majority is neglected because they have no voice. Yet, it is that neglect and deprivation that serve as catalyst for the violence that has become a transnational language of protest across the country today.

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the column. Interested readers can access complete text on www.thisdaylive.com

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