Wednesday 1st March 2018

Buoyed by Non-oil Sector, GDP Sustains Growth at 1.92% in Q4 2017 Last year’s annual growth of 0.83% tallies with IMF forecast Ndubuisi Francis, Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos Buoyed by the non-oil sector, the Nigerian economy grew in real terms by 1.92 per cent in

the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017 (year-on-year), maintaining its positive growth trajectory since the emergence of the economy from recession in the second quarter (Q2) of 2017.

Latest data released by the

Nigeria on course for 3.5% growth, say FG, analysts

per cent recorded in 2016.

With this, Nigeria’s economic growth last year corresponded with the forecast of the Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Maurice Obstfeld, who

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also indicated that the economy recorded a real annual Gross Domestic Production (GDP) growth rate of 0.83 per cent in 2017, an improvement over the -1.58

had predicted last October that Nigeria’s economy would grow by 0.8 per cent in 2017.

“Nigeria is expected to emerge from the 2016 recession caused by low oil prices and the disruption of oil production.

Growth in 2017 is projected at 0.8 per cent owing to recovering oil production and ongoing strength in the agricultural sector,” Obstfeld had said.

Continued on page 10

China Development Bank, UBA Sign $100m Loan Deal to Support SMEs in Africa… Page 47 Wednesday 28 February, 2018 Vol 23. No 8350. Price: N250

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Confusion Trails APC Tenure Extension for Oyegun, Others Extension can only be achieved by constitutional amendment, says Yari Party may reverse self today Buhari blames legislative, executive face-off for poor performance Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Senator Iroegbu and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Yesterday’s meeting of the

National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ended on a confusing note after the party, in contravention of its

constitution, declared that it had extended the tenure of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, other members of its

National Working Committee (NWC), and that of the 36 state executive committees, including the FCT, by one year.

The party explained that

the tenure extension for the elected and appointed executive officials of the party was done in a bid to avert a pre-election crisis that might arise from

the multiple congresses and convention ahead of the 2019 elections.

Continued on page 8

FG Sets up Panel to Probe Kidnap of Dapchi Schoolgirls, Releases List of Students Chief of Air Staff relocates to Yobe Again, US designates Boko Haram terrorist group, imposes new sanctions on leaders Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Olawale Ajimotokan and Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government yesterday set up a 12-member committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the

abduction of the 110 schoolgirls who were abducted from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram terrorists.

Continued on page 8

COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MISSING STUDENTS SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NAME OF STUDENTS Aisha Abdullahi Fati Muhammed Fatima Modu Aisami Fatima Abdullahi Ali Salamatu Garba Adama Garba Hadiza Ali Aisha Adamu Alkali Hadiza Muhammed Musa Fatima Usman

AGE 12 years 11 years 12 years 12 years 13 years 12 years 11 years 11 years 14 years 14 years

CLASS JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS1 JSS2 JSS2

Continued on page 8

Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye (left), being welcomed by the Founder and Group CEO of Channel VAS, Mr. Bassim Haidar, to the Channel VAS stand at the ongoing Mobile World Congress 2018 holding in Barcelona, Spain

20 Killed in Adamawa in Herdsmen-Farmers’ Clash, 5,000 Sacked from Benue Community… Page 48

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PAGE EIGHT C O NFUS ION TR AILS APC T EN U R E EXTEN SI ON F OR OY EGU N , OT H E R S Citing Article 13 of the APC constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the functions of the convention, the party said NEC decided to extend the tenure of the current NWC members and other executive committees at various levels for another twelve months, starting from June 30, 2018.

But by last night, in realisation that it may have goofed at the NEC meeting by announcing the tenure extension in contravention of the constitution, APC leaders were scrambling to point out the anomaly in the 12 months extension, with one suggesting that the party was likely to issue a statement today to

reverse itself.

To buttress this position, a statement issued last night by the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari said the decision reached at the NEC meeting was a “mere expression of interest”, adding that it is only at the National Convention of the APC that a constitutional amendment can be carried out to extend the tenures of the executives.

The constitution of the party provides for a four-year tenure for its executives.

The current executives were elected in June 2014 for a four-year

mandate, which is expected to lapse on June 30, 2018.

According to Yari, “What has been done is a mere expression of interest. The power of the convention to extend tenure is exercised only by way of a constitution amendment.

“The power of the National Executive Committee of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment.

“Article 30 of the APC constitution states that the ‘constitution and the schedules hereto can be amended only by the National Convention of the party’.

“The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided

in Article 30 sub section 2.

“What was done today (yesterday) was only an expression of a desire to extend the tenure of the Chief Oyegun-led national executive.”

Also reinforcing Yari’s position, party sources who spoke to THISDAY yesterday, said the tenure extension granted to Oyegun and others had no legal backing, as a constitutional amendment was still required for the decision to be valid.

“As it stands, the decision can lead to a series of litigations and crises which is what the party is trying to avoid. The tenure extension can only be done with a constitutional amendment. And this amendment

can only be done by the National Convention of the party.

“Even if we have to consider Article 13 of the constitution which was cited today (yesterday), it is still debatable if NEC can assume the power of the National Convention or whether it can legally carry out an amendment of the constitution.

“So, as it is, what transpired was an anomaly and has to be rectified to prevent law suits challenging the legality of the tenure extension,” said one party source, who preferred to remain unnamed.

Another official of the party further pointed out that the decision of the NEC even contradicted the

position of President Muhammadu Buhari, who at the National Caucus meeting of the party held at the State House, Abuja on Monday, had spoken in support of the conduct of congresses and elections at all levels of the party.

Accordingly, the official wondered how 24 hours later, the NEC of the party departed from the president’s speech at the caucus meeting.

The president had directed the leadership of the ruling party to begin plans for various congresses of the party.

Buhari, who gave the directive Continued on page 10

FG SETS UP PAN EL TO PR OBE KIDN AP OF DAPC H I SC H OOLGI R L S, R EL EASE S L I ST O F STUD E N T It also released the names and other details of the girls. The list showed that the youngest student taken forcibly from the school is 11 years old, while the oldest is 19.

The list was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The minister has twice led a federal government delegation to Yobe since the tragic incident occurred.

The list, which was handed over to the minister by the Yobe State Government, contained the names, ages and classes of each of the 110 students.

According to the statement, of the 110 missing girls, eight were in JSS1 (Junior Secondary School 1), 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1 (Senior Secondary School 1), 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3.

The list, which also contained the contact addresses and phone numbers of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that included the Executive Secretary, Yobe State Teaching Service Board, Mr. Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Mr. Shuaibu Bulama; the Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two VicePrincipals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Mr. Bashir Ali Yerima; and the Form Masters for all the classes.

Also yesterday, the federal government set up a 12-member panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls.

Mohammed said the committee was convened by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd).

He said: “The committee, which will be chaired by a military officer of the rank of Major-General, comprises one senior provost each from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force; representatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), two representatives of the Yobe State Government, and a representative of the Office of the NSA. According to the minister,

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the terms of reference of the committee include ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls, confirming the presence, composition, scale and disposition of security emplaced in Dapchi as well as in GGSTC before the incident and suggesting measures that could lead to the location and rescue of the girls.

The panel, which is expected to submit its report by March 15, 2018, is also saddled with recommending measures to prevent future occurrence.

The committee will be inaugurated today, Mohammed added.

He also disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, yesterday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

The minister said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier deployed more platforms to the North-east for the search, even as the security agencies ramped up efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

“As at 6 p.m. on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search,” the minister said.

ISIS Affiliates Branded Terrorist Groups But even as the Nigerian government ramped up efforts to secure the release of the girls from their captors, the U.S. State Department yesterday designated Boko Haram and five other affiliate groups of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as terrorist organisations, a fact sheet obtained exclusively by THISDAY from the U.S. government has shown.

The U.S. government in November 2013 had designated Boko Haram and the Ansaru militant group as terrorist organisations, making yesterday’s designation the second time the State Department has branded the Boko Haram sect terrorists.

Highlighting ISIS’ growth outside Iraq and Syria, the U.S. State Department said yesterday that the move was aimed at the sustained targeting of the group and denying it access to its financial system.

The State Department added that it was part of a comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS and that its affiliates in Bangladesh, Egypt, the Philippines, Somalia, Tunisia and Nigeria where terrorists and would be affected.

In addition, the department designated leaders and operatives of the ISIS-affiliates as terrorists.

They include Abu Musab al-Barnawi who leads ISIS-West Africa, which changed from Boko Haram.

In March 2015, ISIS reportedly welcomed Boko Haram’s decision to join Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s global network, shortly after Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau swore his allegiance to Baghdadi, said the State Department.

Also then, ISIS spokesman, Abu Muhammad al Adnani, welcomed Shekau and his men into the fold, and Boko Haram shortly rebranded as the Islamic State’s West Africa (ISWA).

A leadership disagreement,

however, broke out in ISWA after ISIS publicly named Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new head of ISWA in 2016.

Al-Barnawi is reported to be the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and also Boko Haram’s former spokesman.

Apart from Al-Barnawi, the State Department also designated Mahad Moalim - ISIS-Somalia, and Mahad Moalim - ISIS-Somalia as terrorists.

The fact sheet said: “The Department of State has designated 40 ISIS leaders and operatives under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, and will continue to target the group to deny it access to the U.S. financial system.

“These designations are part of a larger comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS that, in coordination with the 75-member global coalition to defeat ISIS, has made significant progress toward that goal.

“This whole-of-government effort is destroying ISIS in its safe havens, denying its ability

to recruit foreign terrorist fighters, stifling its financial resources, negating the false propaganda it disseminates over the internet and social media, and helping to stabilise liberated areas in Iraq and Syria so the displaced can return to their homes and begin to rebuild their lives.”

The State Department said in the fact sheet that it was authorised to designate Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order 13224.

“While only organisations can be designated as FTOs, a wider range of persons can be designated by the Department of State as SDGTs – including terrorist groups, leaders, and members of terrorist groups, as well as other individuals and entities that have committed or pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism.

“Terrorism designations expose and isolate organisations and

individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments,” it added.

The U.S. government also imposed new sanctions on Boko Haram and its factional leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi.

A related report by Reuters said the new sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department targets the Islamic State and its affiliate networks around the world.

The U.S. Treasury Department

added Boko Haram to the sanction list for global terrorism.

Mr. al-Barnawi and Mahad Moalim from Somalia and seven organisations in Africa and Asia, linked to Islamic state (ISIS), were added to the list.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said the additions include ISIS-Philippines, ISIS-Bangladesh, ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Egypt, ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, also known as ISIS-Tunisia, and the Philippinesbased Maute Group, also known as Islamic State of Lanao.

SUMMARY OF COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MISSING STUDENTS S/NO 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

YEAR GROUP TOTAL NUMBER OF MISSING STUDENTS JSS 1 JSS2 JSS3 SS1 SS2 SS3 TOTAL

08 17 12 40 19 14 110

COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MISSING STUDENTS 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

Rabi Yahaya Tela Zainab Usman Fanna Muhammad Zainab Mohammed Bama Fatima Yahaya Amina Yahaya Maryam Aliyu Mabu Fatima Ishaku Aliyu Habiba Nuhu Dan-Inuwa Zainab Bukar Abba Fatsuma Ali Salamatu Isiyaku Hauwa Bulama Rabi A. Nasir Khadija Sule Aisha Muhammad Aminami Aisha A. Maina Fatima Bashir Fatima Muhammad Fatima Aji Hassan Hadiza Sale Khadija Suleiman Walida Adamu Maimuna A. Hassan Maryam Ibrahim Zainab Abubakar Yakubu Amina Haruna Falmata Wakil Maimuna Musa Sahura Jibrin Muhammad Fatima Bukar Hajara Yahaya Tela Hajara Ali Maryam Adamu Muhammad Fatsuma Muhammad Hauwa Salisu Amina Adamu Zara Musa Aisha Abba Aji Fatima Alhaji Ari Aisha Alhaji Deri Dokta Maryam Usman Sale Hassana Gambo Hauwa Usman Hajara Muhammad Gidado Zara Muhammed Lawan Khadija Grema Dabuwa Aisha M. Wakil Amina Abubakar Fatima Modu Abubakar Fatima Ibrahim

13 years 14 years 13 years 13 years 13 years 13 years 14 years 13 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 13 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 14 years 15 years 14 years 15 years 15 years 14 years 14 years 13 years 15 years 15 years 16 years 15 years 16 years 15 years 16 years 14 years 15 years 14 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 15 years 16 years 15 years 15 years 16 years 16 years 15 years 15 years 15 years 16 years 15 years 16 years

JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS2 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 JSS3 SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1A SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1B SS1C SS1C SS1C SS1D SS1D SS1D

62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109

Zara Grema Dabuwa Maryam Adam Kontoma Falmata Wakil Maimuna Umar Alhassan Hajara Adamu Abubakar Aisha Modu Bamba Bintu Yerima Zara Grema Fatima Adamu Fatsuma Abubakar Jambo Maryam Mustapha Fatsuma Abdullahi Aisha Usman Fatsuma Ibrahim Isa Fatima Hassan Mustapha Leah Sharibu Maryam Bashir Maryam Muhammed Maryam Ibrahim Adam Hauwa Manuga Lawan Hauwa Saidu Abubakar Falmata Alhaji Inuwa Zara Muhammed Fatima Muhammed Maryam Usman Aisha B. Danjuma Aisha Mamuda Zara Tijjani Aisha A. Adamu Fatsuma Sani Fatima Usman Amina Abdullahi Aisha Kachalla Maryam Kalwuri Bintu Usman Fatima A. Grah Habiba Musa Hajara Karumi Karima Inusa Falmata A. Audu Hafsat A. Grah Fatima Makinta Liman Aisha Muhammad Jakusko Hadiza Muhammed Hauwa Mohammed Idris Aisha M. Bukar Hadiza Abubakar Fanna Muhammed Modu

15 years 15 years 16 years 15 years 15 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 15 years 15 years 15 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 17 years 17 years 16 years 16 years 17 years 16 years 17 years 16 years 16 years 18 years 16 years 16 years 16 years 17 years 17 years 18 years 16 years 17 years 17 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 19 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 18 years 17 years

SS1D SS1D SS1D SS1E SS1E SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS1F SS2A SS2A SS2A SS2A SS2B SS2C SS2C SS2C SS2C SS2C SS2D SS2D SS2E SS2E SS2E SS2F SS2F SS2F SS2F SS3C SS3C SS3C SS3C SS3C SS3D SS3D SS3D SS3D SS3E SS3E SS3F SS3F

110

Maryam Muhammed

18 years

SS3F

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PAGE TEN B U OYED BY NON - OIL SECTOR, GDP SU STAI N S GR OWT H AT 1 .9 2% I N Q 4 20 1 7 According to the Q4 figures, Nigeria’s non-oil sector continued to reverse the contraction recorded in previous quarters, with a 1.45 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2017, the first since the economy slipped into recession in the second quarter of 2016.

The 1.92 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2017 contrasted with the contraction of –1.73 per cent recorded in Q4 2016 and a growth of 1.40 per cent recorded in Q3 2017.

Quarter-on-quarter, real GDP growth was 4.29 per cent.

The NBS also stated that the 2017 real annual growth rate of 0.83 per cent was higher by 2.42 per cent than –1.58 per cent recorded in 2016.

In the quarter (Q4) under review, aggregate GDP stood at N31.209 trillion in nominal terms higher when compared to N29.169 trillion in Q4 2016, resulting in a nominal GDP growth of 6.99 per cent.

This growth was lower relative to the growth recorded in Q4 2016 at 12.49 per cent. Nominally, 2017 recorded an annual growth rate of 12.05 per cent, higher by 4.25 per cent compared to 2016 annual growth of 7.80 per cent.

According to the NBS, GDP growth in the Q4 of 2017 was driven by growth in crop production, crude production and natural gas, metal ores, construction, transportation and storage, trade, electricity and gas production.

Crop production grew by 4.58 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 3.19 per cent in the third quarter 2017.

However, crude oil production grew by 8.38 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 25.89 per cent in the third quarter of 2017.

Similarly, metal ore grew by 31.86 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 10.70 per cent in the

third quarter and 7.03 per cent in Q4 2016.

Construction grew by 4.14 per cent in Q4 2017 compared to a contraction of -0.46 per cent in Q3 2017 and another contraction of -6.03 per cent in Q4 2016, representing the strongest growth in construction since Q2 2015.

Transportation and storage grew by 16.57 per cent in Q4 2017, compared to -6.25 per cent in Q3 2017 and -5.32 per cent in Q4 2016.

Similarly, trade, after six quarters of negative growth, grew by 2.07 per cent in Q4 2017, while electricity and gas production grew 16.03 per cent in Q4 2017, compared to 11.46 per cent in Q3 2017 and a contraction of -5.16 per cent in Q4 2016.

According to the NBS, the non-oil sector recorded an annual growth of 0.47 per cent compared to -0.22 in 2016, adding that the fourth quarter growth was 1.78 points higher than the rate recorded in the same quarter of 2016 but 2.21 per cent point higher than in the third quarter of 2017.

“This sector was driven this quarter mainly by agriculture (crop), trade, and transportation and storage. In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 92.83 per cent to the nation’s GDP, lower from the share recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016 (93.25 per cent), but higher than in the third quarter of 2017 (89.96 per cent). Annual contribution was 91.32 per cent in 2017 and 91.65 per cent in 2016,” the NBS said Oil production averaged at 1.91 million barrels per day (mbpd), indicating a -0.12million barrels decrease over the daily average production recorded in the third quarter of 2017.

Similarly, the NBS noted that oil production during the fourth quarter of 2017 was higher by 0.15 million barrels per day relative to the

corresponding quarter in 2016, which recorded an output of 1.76mbpd.

But real growth in the oil sector was 8.38 per cent (year-on-year) in Q4 2017, a 26.08 percent decline compared to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016.

The statistical agency’s figures showed that growth declined by -17.50 per cent when compared to Q3 2017 which was 25.89 per cent quarter-on-quarter, the oil sector dropped by -25.52 per cent in Q4 2017.

The annual growth of the oil sector stood at 4.79 per cent higher than the previous year’s growth of -14.45 per cent.

However, the oil sector contributed 7.17 per cent of total real GDP in Q4 2017, an increase over what was posted in the corresponding period of 2016, but down from the preceding quarter, when it contributed 10.04 per cent to total GDP. The sector’s annual contribution was put at 8.68 per cent in 2017 and 8.35 per cent in 2016.

FG, Analysts React Reacting to the fourth quarter GDP report NBS yesterday, the federal government said the expectations of the administration that the Nigerian economy will grow this year by 3.5 per cent was on course.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu said the optimism was anchored on the latest GDP figures announced by the statistical agency.

According to him, “The figures recently released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the fourth quarter of 2017 (Q4 2017) and the full year 2017 (FY 2017) showed a consolidation of post-recession growth in the national economy.

“The growth of 1.92 per cent in Q4 2017 was an improvement on both the previous quarter and the previous year. This quarterly growth contributed to an overall positive growth rate of 0.82 per cent in 2017 which translates to a 2.24 percentage points increase from -1.58% in 2016.

“There are two encouraging aspects of the figures. The first is that all major sectors of the economy, namely, agriculture, industry and services are now experiencing positive growth.

“Agriculture, which accounted for 25 per cent of GDP in 2017, grew by 4.23 per cent in Q4 2017, while industry grew by 3.92 per cent. The services sector, which is about 53 per cent of GDP, returned to positive growth in Q4 2017. Although the increase was marginal at 0.10, it represented a positive swing of 2.76 percentage points from the level in Q3 2017.

“The other notable element of the data was that the non-oil sector experienced a strong growth of 1.45 per cent in Q4 2017 compared to a contraction in the previous quarter and the whole of 2016.

This showing, the strongest since 2015, points to steady improvements across the economy.

“Also noteworthy in this regard were strong quarterly growth in crop production, crude oil production, metal ores, construction, transportation, trade, electricity and gas production.

“The positive trajectory for the economy should begin to gain momentum as the multiplier effects of investments in infrastructure, including power, roads, and rail, alongside improvements in the business environment begin to manifest.

“The agricultural sector is expected to continue its strong

showing, while manufacturing should also show sustained growth based on improved availability of foreign exchange and greater backward integration in several of its sub-sectors.

“Taking all these factors into consideration, the federal government estimate of a 3.5 per cent growth in 2018 is quite achievable”.

Also commenting on the latest GDP figures released by the NBS, the chief executive of the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, however, noted that although the 0.83 per cent growth recorded in 2017 wasn’t impressive, it was a movement in the right direction.

He stressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the cash reserve requirement (CRR) for banks as well as refund some of the CRR to the lenders.

This, he anticipated, would spur lending.

“So, we need to now begin to invest, bring down the interest rate and credit to the private sector needs to grow.

“We have to reduce CRR and we have to accept that inflation will increase marginally. So, in all, 0.83 per cent is actually not good enough, but it is positive.

“We need to do some things differently from what we have been doing them in the past,” he added.

Rewane explained that the CBN doesn’t have to hold a monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting before it can implement some of his suggestions, saying: “You can bring down the nominal rate without bringing down the policy rate. You can bring the treasury rates down and you can refund some CRR to the banks and then encourage the banks to lend more to the private sector.”

On his part, the Fixed Income Research Specialist at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Adewale Okunrinboye, pointed out that the non-oil GDP recorded stronger growth in the fourth quarter of 2017 because of the improvement in foreign exchange liquidity in the market. This, he also said, was very important for trade and manufacturing.

“The overall takeaway from the GDP report is that the forecast for GDP is expected to start moving more towards three per cent in 2018.

We now see a much stronger growth in 2018 if the non-oil sector continues to grow at the rate it is growing and importantly if forex liquidity continues to improve.

“Generally, looking at treasury bills, interest rates are now much lower than what they were last year, that suggests that there would be more lending to the private sector,” he added.

On their part, analysts at Lagosbased CSL Stockbrokers Limited anticipated that the Nigerian economy would continue to gather momentum over the course of 2018 owing to improving outlook for both the oil and non-oil sector.

With respect to oil production, they noted that a reduction in militant attacks had seen output rise over the course of 2017.

“We are also expecting the CBN to begin to gradually ease monetary policy in 2018, having pencilled in 200 basis points cuts to the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) during the year.

“Lower interest rates will stimulate lending as demand for credit increases in tandem with improving sentiment across the economy. We forecast that 2018 headline real GDP growth will come in at three per cent, albeit, well below the 6-7 per cent potential growth rate,” they added.

APC to “lead this process of restoring order, manage the differences and strengthen of the party”.

“Soon, primaries at the wards, local government, states and the centre will be due. I urge all members to take account of the fact that APC has a history of conducting free and fair primaries whenever consensus on any position is not reached.

“Regardless of the outcome of the primary processes which is imperative, we should all work together to ensure victory for our party,” he added.

Earlier, Oyegun had in his welcome address, informed the NEC that a voice was raised in favour of the NWC members at the caucus meeting held on Monday night at the State House.

“My colleagues from the NWC, we had a voice raised on our behalf during the caucus meeting and I want to assure you that as quickly as possible we will have a welfare package before the next NEC meeting so that our welfare can be better catered to.”

Yesterday’s meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Senators Magnus Abe, Francis Alimikhena, Abdullahi Adamu, Andy Uba, Sani Yarima; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Bauchi State governor, Muhammed Abubakar; Jigawa State governor, Badaru Abubakar; Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Kastina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari; Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Niger State governor, Sani Bello, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, among others.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, were absent at the meeting.

Saraki could not attend the meeting, as he had to appear at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)

yesterday in continuation of his trial for false assets declaration.

C O NFUSIO N TRAILS APC T EN U R E EXTEN SI ON F OR OY E GU N , OT H E R S against the backdrop of the 2019 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), added that it was about time the party prepared for its ward, local government, state and national congresses.

He also advised the APC leaders to uphold what he described as the party’s culture of internal democracy in the conduct of the elections and urged them to ensure that they work together, irrespective of the outcome of the elections.

The tenure extension for Oyegun and others was the outcome of yesterday’s NEC meeting, which had Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, virtually all the governors of the party, National Assembly members, and other leaders in attendance.

Pro-Buhari forces in the party, sources disclosed, had pushed for the extension, predicating their decision on the fact that the president’s reelection bid would be in jeopardy under a new executive team, especially if cracks were to appear after the conduct of congresses and a convention to elect new executives at the state and national levels.

THISDAY also gathered that a majority of governors were all for the tenure extension except for a few who appeared to be uncomfortable with the Oyegun-led executive.

Deciding on the tenure elongation with 104 votes for, and four votes against, an insider who spoke with THISDAY, said that the extension was a middle of the road compromise from four years to the two-year extension proposed by the Forum of State Chairmen of the party on Monday.

NEC also by a unanimous decision, passed a vote of confidence on Buhari and the party’s NWC led by Oyegun.

Announcing the extension at the end of the NEC meeting, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello said that the extension was to give the Tinubu-led reconciliation committee time to do its job appropriately.

Bello, who was in the company of other governors and party officials, said it relied on Article 13 of the party’s constitution in arriving at its decision.

Bello also stressed that the tenure

had to be extended in order to avoid a formal convention/congresses that could potentially plunge the party into crisis close to 2019 elections.

He cited the examples of Ekiti and Osun States where the congresses were postponed because of fear of internal party divisions that might derail the electoral fortunes of the APC in both states.

He said: “At the end of the National Executive Council meeting today, a major decision was taken in line with the constitution of our party.

“We are all aware that the tenure of the current NWC and the executive members of this party both elected and appointed comes to an end in June this year.

“Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and convention, and considering that our leader, Senator Tinubu has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we cannot afford to approach the general election with more disputes and crises.

“So, relying on Article 13 of our constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the function of the convention, the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of the current NWC and other executive committees at various levels for another twelve months, starting from June 30th.”

On the planned convention and other activities, Bello remarked: “Let me tell you that this will not stop the convention of the party but to go into elective congresses is what we are trying to avoid, relying on the constitution of our party.

“As a matter of fact, Mr. President believes in ensuring that there are congresses and conventions across the board. However, how would you manage the crises that may arise thereafter?

“Let me give you instances, in Ekiti and Osun States, their state congresses were postponed just like in 2014 ahead of the elections, to avoid crises in the states. So, that is why this decision was taken.”

On when the Tinubu panel would wrap up its work, the Kogi governor said: “I don’t have the terms of reference that were given to our leader and I want to believe that

there is no committee that is set up without a timeline.

“So, I’m not in a position to tell you the timeline given to that committee. Also, every member of this committee, whether a oneman committee or multiple-man committee, I want to assure you that every member of APC is co-operating 100 per cent with our leader, Sen. Bola Tinubu.”

In the same vein, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement issued immediately after the NEC meeting, confirmed the tenure elongation of the party officials.

Abdullahi also said that the party passed a vote of confidence on Buhari, Oyegun and the NWC members.

“At the end of the 5th meeting of the APC NEC, it was generally agreed by members to extend the tenure of all elected and appointed officers of the party in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and at the national level,” Abdullahi said in the statement.

He noted that the current tenure will end on June 30, adding that by this decision, all affected officers will continue in their acting capacity for another period of 12 months after the expiration of their current term.

“NEC also by a unanimous decision, passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Buhari who also spoke at the NEC meeting, blamed the face-off between the executive arm of government under his leadership and the legislative arm, for the slow progress in governance, but assured his audience that any differences will be resolved.

He also acknowledged that his administration had not met the expectations of many party members.

“I must acknowledge that the government has not met the expectations of many within our party. But few of us know or appreciated the depth of the rot when we took office and that we spent the last two years bringing the country out of the mess we met it.

“Furthermore, the stand-off between the executive and the National Assembly slowed down the process of government. We are working hard to resolve the differences so that the country can move forward,” he said.

According to the president, the current leadership of the country had successfully stabilised the nation, noting: “I am happy to report that slowly and steadily, we have managed to stabilise the country and redirected the ship of state.

“We have restored prudence to the management of resources and confidence in Nigeria has been restored. On February 23, Nigeria floated 12-year and 20-year Eurobonds in the international market, which were both oversubscribed. The 12-year bond was, within days oversubscribed by 332 per cent, while the 20-year bond was oversubscribed by 372 per cent.

“We have stabilised the naira and increased our foreign reserves from $20 billion to $40 billion.

The inflation rate is down. With considerably fewer resources available to the country, we have improved all the indices towards a stronger economy.

“Above all, we must pay tribute to the Nigerian people who massively support the government in spite of distractions from proponents of business as usual.

“Nevertheless, I am not asking us to relax and take things easy.

We all know that the elections are looming on the horizon. We must, therefore, get our acts together.

“Accordingly, I implore all members of the party to give the Asiwaju committee full co-operation to resolve existing differences among our members in the states affected.

“It is perhaps inevitable that there will be differences of opinion within the party. If we resolve them, then we can build a genuinely democratic party.

“But we must not lose sight of our common purpose as a party to break the mule of Nigerian politics and take the country to new heights.”

While commenting on the Tinubu reconciliation panel, Buhari said he had asked the national leader of the

After Mock Session, Senate Adjourns Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday adjourned its plenary for members of the APC in its fold to attend the NEC meeting of the party convened to resolve its “internal issues”.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, at yesterday’s opening of the session, urged the Senate to adjourn plenary for APC members to attend the NEC meeting.

“I want to plead with all our colleagues here across party lines to show understanding, just as we have shown understanding when the minority party, PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), had to go for congresses or whatever.

“Based on this, Mr. President, very distinguished colleagues, I move that we stand down all the items on the order paper to another legislative day, to enable our colleagues to attend the NEC of the ruling party,” he said.

Laughter, however, erupted in the chamber when some lawmakers mocked the APC and described it as the “All Progressives Crises”.

The laughter continued when the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha wished the APC lawmakers “safe landing”.

“Before I second the motion, I want to join my colleagues from the other side and wish them safe landing. That the number of policemen we have is short because of the crisis, I don’t know how many we’ll dispatch there to supervise the meeting.

“So, Mr. President, having advised as such, I pray that there will be a safe landing,” he said, eliciting more laughter from the lawmakers.

Presiding, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu joined in the jokes by implying that there was a fire in APC’s house.

“Very distinguished colleagues, I want to thank the minority leader and the minority members for their understanding. You know when your neighbour’s house is on fire, you must allow him to go and quench it,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2018

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COMMENT

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

LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN AHIARA

Sonnie Ekwowusi urges warring Ahiara priests to sheath their swords and accept Ugorji as their new apostolic administrator

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t is no longer news that Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke has voluntarily resigned as the Bishop of Ahiara Catholic Diocese.

Paradoxically, the humble, amiable and peace-loving bishop voluntarily tendered his resignation at a time the moral support of the Vatican and the public for him had reached its crescendo amid the bourgeoning protestations of some disgruntled Ahiara priests and lay faithful calling for his resignation on the ground that he is not a native of Ahiara. Many had thought that with the strong backing of Pope Francis, members of the Roman Curia and many Ahiara priests and faithful Bishop Okpaleke would have continued to exercise his Episcopal ministry as the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. But contrary to their expectation, Okpaleke has tendered his letter of resignation. The announcement was made by the embattled bishop himself in a public letter.

The bishop said he was voluntarily resigning for the good of the Church and by extension for the good of Ahiara. In his own words: “I leave for the good of the church, repentance and reconciliation are urgent‌ my remaining the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese is no longer beneficial to the churchâ€?. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Okpaleke’s resignation and appointed Bishop of Umuahia Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (Bishop Ugorji is not indigene of Ahiara) as the new Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Catholic Diocese.

First, Bishop Okpaleke’s calm recollection, self-assurance, forgiving heart, sanguine humility and unflinching commitment to peace in the face of tumultuous protests, are, for me, very remarkable. For six consecutive years, Bishop Okpaleke has been a victim of the most unsavoury clannish and ethnic protests orchestrated by some disgruntled Ahiara priests and lay faithful. It seems as if the Ahiara devil has taken possession of some Ahiara trouble makers to cause mayhem in Ahiara as well as rob Ahiara of its well-deserved spiritual flourishing. Armed with guns and other instruments of mass destruction, the protesting priests and lay faithful erected human barricades across major roads in Ahiara. On one occasion or so, they refused Cardinal John O. Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, appointed by Pope Francis to broker peace, entry into Ahiara. Throughout this reign of darkness, Bishop Okpaleke remained calm and serene.

Now that he has resigned, the protesting Ahiara priests and lay faithful should reciprocate his kind gesture. They should accept Bishop Ugorji as their new bishop so that peace may reign in Ahiara. The protesting Ahiara priests and lay faithful are guilty as charged under criminal law, in my view, because they constituted themselves into a public nuisance to engage in violent demonstrations and activities resulting in breach of public peace. They went as far as making a mock coffin of Bishop Okpaleke and placing it in front of the Catholic Cathedral just to demonstrate their resolve that Okpaleke must quit Ahiara dead or alive. At one time, the Imo State Commissioner of Police and Governor Okorocha had to intervene to call the rioting Ahiara priests to order.

Imagine Governor Okorocha addressing Catholic priests and admonishing them to be of good behaviour. Whereas it should have been the other way round. What a shame!

BISHOP OKPALEKE’S CALM RECOLLECTION, SELF-ASSURANCE, FORGIVING HEART, HUMILITY AND UNFLINCHING COMMITMENT TO PEACE IN THE FACE OF TUMULTUOUS PROTESTS, ARE, FOR ME, REMARKABLE

No matter the grievance, provocation or pent-up anger it is improper for a priest, and indeed anybody for that matter, to take to violence in order to register his grievance(s). In the Catholic Church the priesthood is a reenactment of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. A priest acting in persona Christi should forgive his enemies as Jesus did. “The office proper to a priest�, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, “is to be a mediator between God and the people, inasmuch as he bestows divine things on the people(he is called sacerdos (priest), which means ‘a giver of things’. Come to think of it, Jesus did not apply the “ethnic principle� or the “son-of-the-soil� principle or the “Federal Character principle� in the appointment of his 12 Apostles. The Bible says that Jesus appointed those whom he wanted as his 12Apostles. Among them were pairs of brothers including the relatives of Jesus. Two of the apostles came from Bethsaida. Matthew was a tax collector, comparable to the “419 profession� of today. Judas was a thief. Yet Jesus is not labelled as a sectionalist or ethnic jingoist. According to Bishop Ugorji, the college of Bishops, with the Pope the Bishop of Rome as its head, is the successor of the 12 apostles. As the Vicar of Christ on earth, the pope possesses supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the Catholic Church which he freely exercises. This implies that the pope is the one that appoints a bishop in the Catholic Church.

A person is not appointed bishop through popular participatory democratic vote or because of his ethnic or blood ties or leaning: the pope appoints the bishop. Hence the popular Latin aphorism attributed to St. Augustine in the 5th Century: “Roma locuta est, causa finita�

(Rome has spoken, case closed). Disobedience or disloyalty to the pope is disobedience and disloyalty to Christ. For about two millennia, the pope has wielded a paternal authority respected and obeyed by all as attested to by the early christians. In order to be united with the church, priests and lay faithful must preserve the bond uniting them to their diocesan bishops and the pope. According to the Fathers of the First Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, “Christ has come to restore the world to unity, a single human family in the image of the Trinitarian Family�. The church therefore is the family of God. There is no longer male, female, Jews, Greeks, Ahiara, Awka, Umuahia, Okpaleke, protesting priests and lay faithful. All are one in Jesus Christ.

As St. Paul graphically puts it in I Corinthians 1:10-12, do not say I belong to Peter, or Paul, or Apollos but say I belong to Christ.

Consequently, the warring Ahiara priests and lay faithful should sheath their swords and accept Bishop Ugorji as their new Apostolic administrator so that peace may reign in Ahiara once more. Already the Ahiara crisis has done incalculable damage to the image of the church in Nigeria especially in Ahiara Catholic Diocese. The name Ahiara has become synonymous with protest and mayhem. These days if you say you are from Ahiara at a public gathering everybody there will be looking at you with suspicion. Employers of labour may begin to reject job applicants from Ahiara for fear that they might organise a protest or riot in the work place. Therefore now is the time to pull down all the walls of darkness so that light may shine once more in Ahiara. Let the light shine in Ahiara.

WHO WILL SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER? (2) There is not much that a Coalition for Nigeria Movement can achieve under the flawed 1999 Constitution, argues Uma O. Eleazu

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he 1999 Constitution was really an outgrowth of the Abacha constitutional conference of 1987/88. If he had not dropped dead the way he did, he would have decreed it into being and become the President for life. When he died, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar had a problem on his hand. What to do with Chief MKO Abiola who was waiting on the wings to actualise his mandate. Suddenly he too died. With both men out of the way, the retired generals came together to map the way forward. Abdulsalami formed a Constitutional Debate Coordinating Committee, with Prof Niki Tobi as Chairman. This writer was a member of this CDCC. We were then given the draft Abacha constitution, to go round the country and gather the views of the public on the draft. It was a diversionary exercise because almost all the reports from various sub-committees within the CDCC did not see the light of day. Abdulsalami and his cohorts simply doctored the Abacha draft and decreed into being. The jihadist group based in Sokoto University started planning on how to install one of them in Aso Rock. Partisan political activities started again. To cut a long story short, while we were trying to form political parties, the ex-generals met and decided to back one of them to run as a civilian. The lot fell on Obasanjo in order to appease the Yoruba nation for the death of their Aare Ona Kakanfo. The Yoruba nation was not consulted on the matter hence the frosty relationship between them and OBJ. When therefore the Obasanjo administration came into being, his first problem was the confrontation with the jihadist group. Whatever amount of water passed under the bridge built by the ex-generals, we may never know, but all we know was that he allowed OR did not challenge the declaration of sharia in those 12 states of Northern Nigeria, as

unconstitutional. That act in itself was ipso facto a repudiation of the 1999 Constitution which now reopened some old arguments (true federalism; fiscal federalism, resource control; self determination; confederation; secession, etc).

Buhari’s persistence in trying to become president was in pursuance of his islamist agenda. When he failed to win in 2011, first he said he was not going to try again; and being persuaded by his fellow leaders in Niger and Chad, he changed his mind and decided to run once more and probably for the last time. That was when he made the ominous statement that: “If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon will all be soaked in blood�

(Vanguard ,May 15, 2012) Our neighbours to the north, particularly the Republic of Niger, helped to send their citizens to vote in Nigeria. Even underaged children were seen voting in Kano. The resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano who knew what happened, mysteriously died in a motor accident on his way to Abuja. Besides, the mercenaries who had been imported to help make dog and baboon blood flow, needed to be settled. With no job to return to, they simply were allowed to roam around in the country with or without cows. MYETI Allah was on hand to give them cover by employing them as herdsmen.

We have it on the authority of the words of Nasir elRufai, Governor of Kaduna State, that the so-called Fulani herdsmen are not citizens of Nigeria, and that he gave (bribed) them money to go home. In course of time they have been joined by other roving bands of Fulanis and Tuaregs from Kadafi’s failed state.

So what OBJ referred to as “herdsmen and crop farmers� is more than meets the eye. It is challenging the whole existence of the federation, and so the issue now is not just constitutional but restructuring the geopolitics of the area called Nigeria.

There are those Fulani herdsmen who are Nigerians by birth, who have been living side by side in the Middle Belt states of the North with their herds and for years have had little or occasional clashes with farmers. The damage caused on both sides is usually minimal. But the new type of Fulani herdsmen, carrying AK 47 and other dangerous weapons are not Nigerians (according to IGP Ibrahim Idris and some foreign intelligence); they invade at odd hours of the night, to kill, steal and to destroy without mercy. Theirs is not “clash�, it is invasion of parts of Nigeria. With all their bravado of python dance and crocodile smile, not one of these invaders has ever been caught and brought to book. No agency of government – DSS, Police CID, Military Intelligence, National Intelligence Agency, National Civil Defence, none of them knows how many non-Nigerians have invaded Nigeria, where they are, their mode of operation, not to talk of tracking them down. But let somebody mention “Biafra�! and all their fangs will protrude their jaws.

Looked at from his point of view, Buhari is achieving his goals for Nigeria and the Islamic world. To wit, his kitchen cabinet is made up of Muslims, mainly from Daura; the Armed Service Chiefs are all Muslims; Inspector General of Police, all DIGs in charge of zones are all Muslims from the North; all security agencies are headed by his kinsmen and muslims; if one goes to the South East Zone, from the DIG down to commissioners of police are 90% Hausa Fulani, most DPOs are from the North.

The governors are just chief security officers of their states in name and the list goes on. The police in the south eastern states are there to protect the Fulani herdsmen and not the people.

There was this sad case of Ndokwa Youths who apprehended two of the “herdsmen� and dispossessed them of their guns. They took the two herdsmen to the police and tendered the guns as

evidence; that the gunmen were the people who had been marauding the area. The police thanked them and took the herdsmen and their guns into custody.

The next day, the police went and arrested the president of the Ndokwa Youths and charged him of stealing and illegal possession of firearms. The herdsmen were left to go scot free. This is the kind of country Buhari has given us.

OBJ says PMB does not know how to play in foreign affairs? He has visited Morocco, and the Niger Republic. In fact, immediately he was declared winner of the 2015 election, he visited Niger Republic where he was given a triumphal welcome and was presented with a horse and a sword. Very symbolic!

Now he is asking the National Assembly for money from the excess crude account to extend the railway from Kano through Daura to Maradi in Niger, when the one from Port Harcourt to Enugu has not even left the drawing board. That is how much he loves Nigeria or may be it is a compensation for the 97% vote he claims he got. I will be surprised if Oga OBJ claims ignorance of these things. Now back to the fundamental issues: Coalition for Nigeria Movement; Nigerian Intervention Coalition; Third Force and 68 new political parties! Who will mid-wife emergence of a new Nigeria to achieve what? Is Nigeria moving to become a democratic state or a theocracy?

Are we setting up a country where citizens will be equal before the law or where some citizens will be considered above the law? Listen again to someone who is president of Nigeria. During the cacophony of a debate over the declaration of sharia states in 2003, Buhari asked, “Why should Christians be concerned when Muslims cut off their limbs? After all the limbs that are being cut off are Muslim ones and not Christians. So why should Christians bother about it� (Liberty Radio, 2003; Kaduna)

Dr Eleazu is ofďŹ cer of the Order of the Niger (OON)

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EDITORIAL CURBING CHILD DEATH IN NIGERIA The health authorities should invest more in the primary health care system

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or the umpteenth time, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has in a new report raised the alarm about Nigeria’s increasing child death. The report ranks Nigeria the 11th highest on new born deaths, with 29 infant deaths per 1,000 new born babies. Beyond the usual knee-jerk reaction and churning out of questionable statistics to counter UNICEF, which has been the pastime of ofďŹ cials whenever our country comes short in vital statistics, a time has come to muster the political will and tackle headlong the real causes of infant mortality in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s increasing infant deaths mainly stem from poor primary health care and emergency obstetrical services associated with child birth. Yet, infant mortality is preventable or at least reduced to the barest minimum if there were high quality medical care services to meet the needs of our pregnant women and children. That then suggests that many of the deaths in Nigeria are preventable.

We therefore call on OUR PREGNANT WOMEN the government at DESERVE UNIMPEDED all levels to urgently ACCESS TO BETTER invest in primary HEALTH CARE TO SAVE health care system THEIR LIVES AND THE which includes LIVES OF THEIR PRECIOUS access to sanitary BABIES delivery and clean birthing kit to prevent infection, access to skilled birth attendant, access to basic clean blood and emergency obstetric care and indeed, repair and treatment of obstetric ďŹ stula.

The primary health care and outpatient clinic services in Nigeria should be decentralised to reach the suffering and dying women and children in every state, local government and village. Our teaching hospitals need to be re-equipped. The health insurance schemes should be strengthened.

It is a scandal that most pregnant women in most Nigerian villages still give birth in the hut with no

Letters to the Editor

running water, no sterile suppliers and no skilled birth attendant capable of providing emergency obstetrical care. Other socio-cultural and economic problems arising from the low status of women, poverty, ignorance and traditional harmful practices need to be tackled too. It is a shame that while other nations are improving the health of their women and children in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Nigerian women and children are still dying from many preventable diseases despite the country’s abundant resources.

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herefore the government should muster the political will to put a stop to the increasing infant mortality in Nigeria. Our pregnant women deserve unimpeded access to better health care to save their lives and the lives of their precious babies. Children are our future. Any nation which toys with the destiny of its children is playing with its future.

It is indeed instructive that the National Health Act 2014 which provides a framework for the regulation, development and management of a National Health System established the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. It is saddled with the allocation of resources that cover the provision of free health services to mostly rural citizens through primary or secondary health care facilities in order to eliminate health care user fees for pregnant women and children under ďŹ ve years.

But there is nothing to suggest that the agency has been effective in the discharge of its onerous responsibility.

It is important for government at all levels to improve the poor primary health care and emergency obstetrical services associated with child birth in Nigeria. Our teaching hospitals need to be re-equipped. The health insurance scheme should be strengthened. It is a scandal that most pregnant women in most Nigerian villages still give birth in huts with no running water, no sterile suppliers and no skilled birth attendant capable of providing emergency obstetrical care.

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

THE DAPCHI SCHOOL GIRLS ABDUCTION AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI

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he kidnapping of over105 school girls in Dapchi, Yobe State, last week Monday has put to rest the much-acclaimed success in the war against Boko Haram in the country. The insurgents’ successfully gained entrance, forced the students into their lorry and conveyed them to an unknown destination.

The unlucky victims, like their Chibok counterparts, will be forcefully married out, sexually exploited, used to get ransom or used as suicide bombers by Boko Haram. The news of the abduction began with conflicting narrative from Yobe State government.

The state government admitted that Dapchi school girls were actually abducted by the Boko Haram, but rescued through the efforts of soldiers during operation and re-united with their families. It later refuted the story after it found out the students are nowhere to be found. For the federal government, the story seemed cooked up until it sent representatives on fact-finding mission. The delegation led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, was briefed on how the unfortunate abduction was carried out.

Governor Geidam expressed displeasure on security laxity and blamed the mass seizure on the withdrawal of troops one week before the raid.

The governor further stated how his administration spent N15 billion on war against terrorism in the state in

the last three years. What worried many Nigerians is the time and speed with which the deadly group struck and carried out their nefarious abduction. It will be recalled that the abduction came at a time the federal government is busy trying to free the Chibok school girls who are in Boko Haram captivity for the past four years. The Dapchi abduction will unarguably throw spanners in the genuine desire to free the remaining Chibok girls. The government is now faced with two interwoven scenarios that require similar solution. Firstly, it has to pursue the discovery of the remaining Chibok girls. Secondly, the government should as a matter of urgency intensify surveillance to free the over 105 students kidnapped

by Boko Haram. The politicisation of the Chibok girls abduction by the last administration should not be allowed to repeat itself. In the wake of disappearance of Chibok girls, the then administration felt the incident was stage- managed to ridicule the government of the day. The government blamed the opposition party. It took many days and efforts by the Bringbackourgirls conveners to convince the government on the seriousness of the matter. The human rights activists and similar organisations should put the government on its toes. The Bringbackour girls campaign organisation has assisted greatly towards mounting pressure on government. Now, with Dapchi, there is another call to do more.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua,Kaduna State

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t is with good mind that I resort to writing you this open letter. I am calling on you not to contest in the 2019 election.

I urge you to bow out honourably with your head high.

Sir, those clamouring for you to recontest are not doing any good as they are just trying to cling to your personality to stage a come back. It is important to stress the point that you have sacrificed much for this country, having fought in the 30 months civil war in order to save the country from breaking up.

Your brief stay as the military head of state saw a great change in the attitude of Nigerians especially the foremost war against indiscpline.

This greatly impacted on the lives of all Nigerians. In the last two years, you significantly increased the fortunes of the citizens of the country. It beholves on you to forget about the clamour by the governors elected under the platform of your great party to go for 2019.

This is because most if not all are just trying to cling to you to get a second tenure and not that they believe in your philosophy of honesty and commitment towards fighting corruption.

Sir, you have so far laid a solid foundation for growth of this country and the fight against corruption has got unprecedented acceptance

by well meaning Nigerians.

Those asking you to go beyond 2019 are mere sycophants. What you need to do is to ponder over the issue and alternatively annoint a successor, who is relatively young and full of energy.

Sir, you need to take a bow and allow a vibrant young man to steer the ship. You should play an advisory role in guiding the person, that you anointed to steer the ship as it would go a long way in propelling him to do what you have done to better the lot of the citizenry.

It is usual for those enjoying the crumbs and the perks of office to inundate you with calls to go beyond four years, because they would derive benefits. In fact, some of them now are dropping your name in committing grievious atrocities.

Sir, a lot of permutations has changed, unlike in 2015 where you had an easy ride especially in the northern states. You need to ponder a lot about your popularity rating and not to be carried away with how people are paid to line on the streets when you are on state visit to states. It is pure deceit conceived by the state governors to show you that the people are with you.

Usman Santuraki, Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Who’ll Unseat Ayade?

Although the 2019 governorship election is still over a year away, Joseph Ushigiale reports that governorship aspirants in Cross River State are already jostling to wrest power from the governor, Prof. Ben Ayade

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n Cross River State, apart from the incumbent governor, Prof Ben Ayade who although has not officially voiced his interest to recontest except for his ‘body language’; there is already a line-up of governorship aspirants jostling to upturn the status quo in the government house.

So far, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) list has only the incumbent governor for now; on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform there are Prof Eyo Etim Nyong (South), Mr. Venatius Ikem (North), Paul Adah (North), John Odey (North), Usani Uguru Usani (Central) and John Owan Enoh (Central).

However, at play in the state are two key factors: zoning and performance. Since 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule, PDP, the dominant ruling party adopted zoning of the governorship between the three senatorial zones.

It was based on this agreement that Donald Duke from the south led the state between 1999 and 2007. Senator Liyel Imoke from the central succeeded Duke from 2007 to 2015 before handing over to the incumbent governor from the north.

Regardless of the agreement to adopt a rotational/zoning formula for elective offices within the senatorial zones, federal constituencies and wards, there has emerged a new group of radical political theorists bent on redefining the term ‘rotation or zoning’ in the polity.

Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River State This group’s main argument is that zoning should adopt the old Calabar and old Ogoja hall meeting for the adoption of Ayade, Elder power sharing agreement which recognized just Ntufam Oqua Itu, said: “He is a rare gift to two power blocs in the old Cross River State. The our generation. His agro venture project, the group believes that both the central and northern dualisation of Calabar Odukpani junction, the senatorial zones are one and constitute what is garment factory, the virgin city which will offer popularly known within political circles as the opportunities to decongest the city centre are a Atam Congress – a formidable political pressure few of his several projects being executed in our group comprising heavy weights from the area. Calabar and Odukpani Federal Constituency.”

According to him, the people of Odukpani and But political analysts in the state have dismissed this argument describing it as archaic and dubbing Calabar Municipal can proudly give the governor those who think along this line as ‘living in the and his deputy a well-deserved pass mark.

While asking the governor to be given an past’ and a bunch retrogressive thinkers. Indeed nothing can be further from the truth given the overwhelming endorsement, he requested Ayade fact that, the so called Calabar/Ogoja accord to among other things, “create additional federal promoted by former senate president, Joseph constituency out of Calabar and Odukpani as Wayah representing the old Ogoja province well as an additional state constituency.

“We are grateful for the much you have done and the late Clement Isong representing old Calabar has been overtaken by events notably for us, but like Olivia Twist, may we plead, Your Excellency, that we need two more commissioners the creation of state.

Precisely this accord was repudiated as soon and help us address the perennial erosion menace as a new state, Akwa Ibom was created thereby in the city.

“No doubt, we are happy with you and surely, excising a huge chunk of old Calabar from the mix. Today, the federal authorities have put a nail at the end, you will be happy with us.”

Also speaking on behalf of the traditional to the coffin of that argument with the creation of three senatorial zones in each state to make council, representative of the paramount ruler power sharing within the state, a walk in the park. of Odukpani, Clan Head of Odukpani, HRM, Ekpeyong Effiok said: “There is no doubt that Pan Cross River Endorsements Widen Ayade has acquitted himself in so many areas of socio-economic spheres. He has been consistent in Ayade’s Support Base Interestingly, ahead of Ayade’s decision to run not only prompt but regular payment of salaries for second term or not, his support base is already of workers. It is on this note that he needs our widening with the recent gale of endorsements. collective endorsement for 2019 to complete his This is not surprising. The governor maintains many projects spread across the state. “ The town hall meeting was attended by a House the lead record of hiring the highest number of appointees in the country to whom he religiously of Representatives member, Ntufam Eta Mbora pays salaries every 25th day of the month and Edim, Ntufam Asuquo Ekpeyong jnr, Ntufam sometimes the first day of the month depending Ekpo Okon, among others. on the circumstance.

The gale of adoptions of Ayade for the 2019 governorship race does not appear to be slowing down with several groups from the three senatorial zones throwing their weights behind him.

The latest adoption of the governor came from the leaders and people of Odukpani and Calabar As the horse trading and Municipal Federal Constituency, barely two days following similar endorsement by Akpabuyo, political darts continue to Bakassi and Calabar South Federal Constituency fly in all directions, Ayade of the state and about 80 political groups.

Speaking on behalf of the Calabar and Odukpani as an incumbent holds the Federal Constituency, Chairman of the town aces

to an industrial state.”

Unveiling the secretariat, the governor thanked members of the team, describing them as a collection of young brains that will not only digitalize the people of Cross River but would serve as examples to other states in the country and indeed Africa.

Threat of Court Action Apparently sensing that Ayade may decide to opt out of the race at the last minute, a group, Team Ayade, has threatened Ayade with a lawsuit if he fails to seek a second term in office.

Addressing supporters, associations, women and youth groups bearing banners with different inscriptions at 137 Ndidem Usang Iso road, Calabar, venue for the unveiling of ‘Team Ayade’s office, Director-General of the group, Mr. Goddy Ettah, said although Ayade was not desperate for a second term, the team would view it as a disservice to the state should he fail to seek another term in office.

“Ayade is not desperate about coming back, so this platform is to remind him of so more things he has done,” he said.

He then turned to Ayade, who was present at the event and said: “We are here to beg you that you cannot stop, for it will be a disservice if you decide to change your mind considering that your dream in eight years would have succeeded in decoupling Cross River from federal allocation.

“The history you are making, we are happy and privileged to be part of it. We will encourage other support groups with our maturity and our experience since we are the mother support group. You cannot do Cross River a disservice by terminating in four years. We will go to court to get an order of mandamus restraining you from taking such decision.

“God has blessed our state with leaders who are focused, young, energetic and have the drive to change the terrain of Cross River. We started with the administration of Donald Duke. He did very well and left legacies. Liyel Imoke came and also did well and today, Ayade is here to crystallize all the achievements.”

He also lauded the governor for the sustenance of peace in the state, amidst other recorded achievements, pointing out that, “no one has lost a hand or leg because of politics in this state.

This, indeed is a testimony that our governor has displayed a rare policy that is anchored on politics with ethics.”

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the group, High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, expressed delight at Ayade’s approach to the development of the state maintaining that “the next five years will see the state transforming from a civil service

Unzoning the North?

Yet, even as the torrents of endorsements continue to pour in, arguments are continuing in the background as to which zone will produce the next government. It has become clear that some elements in the south are bent on breaking the sacred zoning formula deliberately put in place to carry all the zones along.

The thinking within political circles in the state is that if the current status quo is to be maintained, aspirants like Etim Nyong from the south, Usani Usani and John Owan Enoh from central although legitimately and eminently qualified, have no business running. The race therefore should be an all north affairs allowing Ayade to slug it out with Ikem and Adah who are also from the north.

In the south, the gale of endorsements championed

by Ntufam Asuquo Ekpenyong has in no small measure ruffled feathers and clearly shown the level of desperation by some elements within to scuttle the two-term zonal arrangement for which the north is currently benefiting.

Perhaps provoked by the groundswell of support swelling around Ayade from the seven local governments that make up the senatorial zone, a write-up titled: Caveat Emptor: Ayade’s Purported Endorsement by the CRS South Senatorial Zone purportedly signed by a former minister of culture, Edem Duke suddenly appeared online disparaging some leading lights in the zone for supporting Ayade.

However, the writer also succeeded in betraying the underlining reasons for wanting to cause a disruption to the current zoning arrangement: the suspicion that not only that Ayade will not hand over to the south in 2023, even if he decides to, he would only hand over to an anointed candidate – the son of Asuquo Ekpenyong a prospective inlaw to Duke.

Hear him: “While the Southern Senatorial Zone champions Ayade’s cause more aggressively than his homogenous brothers from the north and central senatorial zones who appear to better understand Ayade’s game plan and have decided on a unified path while waiting to execute, sadly, the southern senatorial zonne is disunited, wrongly motivated, cowardly and unmindful of the looming and guiding presence of the Atam Congress recently resurrected by the Ayades, who still privately insist that they haven’t promised to hand-over power to the South Senatorial Zone come 2023. Would you buy a second car from governor if he vouches for it?

“So what next for the South Senatorial Zone who need to unite and ask themselves certain hard questions, so that a charlatan like Chief Ekpeyong Asuquo doesn’t lead our people astray, in the hope that his disco-boy son eventually becomes governor in the unforeseeable future, particularly as the APC onslaught gathers momentum to oust the little despot from Government House Calabar and loosen the PDPs vice-like grip on Cross River politics as the general elections draw near?”

But less than 24 hours after the article went public, Edem Duke in a well couched rebuttal distanced himself from the press statement describing the authors as faceless persons intent on causing confusion in the polity. In his rebuttal personally CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

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PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Beyond Restructuring Restructuring will no doubt help in addressing structural imbalances in the country, but it will not bring about the transformation which Nigerians crave for, writes Chinedu George Nwawetanma

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he restructuring of Nigeria has been the staple of conversations across the country for quite some time now, in the light of the glaring inability of the extant political, economic and legal structures of the country to support the actualization of the Nigeria of our dreams. It has gotten a cross-section of Nigerians talking fervently – from bloggers to newspaper columnists, and from casual observers to political bigwigs like the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

However, the issue of restructuring has also continued to divide opinions. While many Nigerians are of the view that there is a pressing need for the restructuring of the country, others have distanced themselves from the idea, and an intermediate group has asked for clarification on what exactly restructuring entails. I want to unequivocally align myself with the school of thought that supports the political, economic and constitutional restructuring of Nigeria wherein power will be devolved from the centre back to the federating units.

Clearly, the country (as presently constituted) is incapable of accommodating the needs and aspirations of its citizens. Restructuring will – at least in theory – tackle some of the challenges embedded in the current configuration by addressing the structural imbalance in the polity, freeing the federating units from the stranglehold of the centre, promoting healthy economic competition among those federating units and quietening the cries of marginalisation.

Nonetheless, unlike many other advocates of the restructuring of Nigeria, I do not believe that it is the elixir to all of the country’s ills.

Simply revamping the political, economic and constitutional frameworks of the country will not bring about the transformation that we desire, because Nigeria’s problem goes beyond merely its defective administrative architecture. There is also the systemic defect.

When Nigeria is restructured, what is the guarantee that the newly minted structures of the country will not be abused by those in power and the masses alike the same way that the current structures are? For instance, Nigeria presently has laws proscribing virtually every offence imaginable, from bribery to examination malpractice and from traffic misdemeanour to domestic violence, yet we are one of the most lawless countries in the world. We flout laws at will and obey them only when it is convenient for us.

The incidents of motorists breaking basic traffic rules all in a bid to get to their various destinations in record time are commonplace on Nigerian roads. Demanding monetary inducement before performing official duties has become the norm. What is the guarantee that our disposition to these laws and responsibilities will suddenly change when administrative power is devolved in Nigeria?

Similarly, there are two anti-graft agencies set up to tackle the country’s culture of corruption: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC); yet the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) alleged that

When Nigeria is restructured, what is the guarantee that the newly minted structures of the country will not be abused by those in power and the masses alike the same way that the current structures are?

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, an advocate of restructuring

Nigeria lost $32 billion to corruption between 2010 and 2015 – an average of more than $5 billion per year! What is the guarantee that these bodies and agencies will suddenly be up and doing in a restructured Nigeria?

Then again, a certain Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and a certain Federal Character Commission was set up to enforce it, yet a President of Nigeria can make more than 70% of his political appointments from one section of the country and no one will even bat an eyelid.

What is the guarantee that the gatekeepers of the Nigerian democracy will be alive to their responsibilities when a regional premier or a state governor (depending on which variant of federalism we decide to adopt) blatantly contravenes provisions embedded in their regional or state constitution in a restructured Nigeria?

If Nigeria decentralises its police system, what is the guarantee that a state governor will not deploy it as his private army to bully the populace and harass his political opponents?

Restructuring will not solve these ingrained problems. It will only mitigate Nigeria’s superficial problems in the short-term, while the systemic ones linger and become more deleterious and intractable.

The fundamental factor that has scuttled and undermined Nigeria’s progress and viability over the years is the fragility of our institutions. The absence of strong institutions in Nigeria has made it almost impossible to enforce rules, whip people into line and ensure that actions and inactions have consequences. Like a vicious circle, this feeds

into and is, in turn, reinforced by a host of other defects that have bedeviled our polity, including bad leadership and misgovernment, disempowered and spectating followership and a morally bankrupt value system. The more advanced societies and democracies that we often look up to, like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea, have been able to function effectively because of the presence of strong institutions therein that enable their systems to self-regulate, check the excesses of the ruling class and empower the citizens to be alive to their civic rights and responsibilities.

Accordingly, it has left their leaders with no choice but to render selfless service to their communities, while the followers have been empowered to expect and demand good governance from their leaders at all times and enlightened to understand that the task of building a virile, functional and progressive nation is not the exclusive preserve of those in leadership.

Conversely, due to the absence of such institutional mechanisms and regulatory frameworks in Nigeria, we have been going round in circles, unable to find our bearing.

Predictably, the leaders have taken advantage of this lacuna to exploit the system and convert leadership into a vehicle for embezzlement, self-aggrandizement, nepotism, cronyism, influence peddling, political repression and other forms of malfeasance.

The hapless followers, failed by their leaders, have also been forced to exploit the system in order to make ends meet, thereby instituting a value system and political culture of rascality, materialism, subterfuge and corruption.

In his 2009 state visit to Ghana, the former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, advised African States to build strong institutions in order to escape from the maze of underdevelopment. But, the question is: how can these strong institutions be built?

Since leaders chart the course that everyone else has to follow, the onus lies on them to build these strong institutions. Hence, the natural first step in building strong institutions in Nigeria is sanitizing our leadership recruitment process so that individuals with the drive and motive to alter the status quo and institutionalise good governance and the rule of law will get in and those with vested interests and questionable character will be shut out. Nigeria, just like those advanced countries that we look up to and aim to emulate, is not lacking in individuals with the commitment to make positive changes.

The problem is that our political recruitment process does not allow them to get in. Our leadership positions are sold to the highest bidders at the expense of the candidates with the best ideas, while those who will maintain the status quo and toe the established line are preferred to those who could shake it up.

To achieve this first objective, our electoral process and justice system must be strengthened so that the votes of the electorate will really count and the outcome of elections will no longer be determined in the homes of party chieftains and political godfathers.

Secondly, since a country gets the government it deserves, it is pertinent that the electorate and the general public are empowered to make the right choices in the democratic process, demand accountability from their leaders and elect candidates with unimpeachable character and proven track records over those who make vague electioneering promises and dole out a few naira notes and bags of rice at polling stations.

They must also be enlightened on their civic responsibilities and be made to understand that the task of building a strong, progressive and sustainable society must not be left to the leaders alone; it requires the commitment and sacrifices of all and sundry.

Only when this systemic revolution is achieved will the restructuring of Nigeria have the effect that Nigerians envision. In the absence of that, then the entire process of restructuring becomes just another academic exercise and cosmetic change that deals with the superficial issues instead of tackling the root causes of the problem.

Nwobodo wrote in from Nike, Enugu

W H O ’ L L U N S E AT AYA D E ? signed by him and addressed to his people, Duke said the write up was a sick political gimmick.

Yet even within the southern fold, Team Ayade’s campaign theme of one last term is resonating and gathering support and momentum. Writing in an online forum Peoples and Politics, Michael Ekpang in his treaties titled – 2019: A Warning to Efik Politicians highlighted the dangers inherent in contesting against Ayade, warning that doing so would confine the south to a political wilderness of a sort.

According to him any politician from the Southern Senatorial District who dares to contest the 2019

governorship election in contravention of the zoning arrangement that maintains balance of power in the state, will inexorably condemn the Efik people to political wilderness as far as the office of governor is concerned.

He warned that “Donald Duke, an Efik minority became governor in 1999 because the Atam people made it happen. Northern Cross River, Central Cross River as well as Biase, Akamkpa and our Ejagham brothers and sisters in Odukpani and Calabar Municipality are one in many ways.

“With such a huge voting bloc, the ‘Atam people’ will ensure no Efik smells the governorship seat

again if they violate the zoning arrangement by running for governorship in 2019. Killing the zoning arrangement will simply mean that Efik, who are minority, have kissed good-bye to the governorship of the state. Chinua Achebe says a man who brings ant-infested faggot to his home should not complain when visited by lizards. A word is enough for the wise.”

As it stands, Ayade is pulling the strings in the state and selling his agenda of one last term only.

Ayade’s argument which is sinking in gradually is that he should be given another chance of four years to complete his two terms and consolidate

governance. His selling point is that there is no guarantee that whoever emerges from the north to succeed him if he loses in 2019 will execute a one term only agenda.

Given the desperation in the south which has been out of power since Donald Duke left in 2007, it is a matter of the devil we know is better than the angel that is to come. As the horse trading and political darts continue to fly in all directions, Ayade as an incumbent holds the aces but it remains to be seen how he converts the groundswell of support into political capital in his party to win re-election in 2019.

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FEATURES

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

Underage Prostitution Reigns in Abuja Mabushi village is one of the slums within the Federal Capital Territory that has become a den of underage prostitution while those in authority look the other way.

Adedayo Akinwale writes

The Gida drama entrance in Mabushi

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hen the idea of moving the Nigeria capital from Lagos to Abuja was conceived, majority of the teething problems experienced in Lagos, the then nation's capital was put into consideration. Chief among these included: indigenisation problem and land ownership.

The leaders want a nation's capital where no tribe or man will lay claim to the land.

In the long run, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was the preferred destination.

To avoid the same problems that were encountered in Lagos, a plan was put in place to resettle and compensate the original inhabitants of the new federal capital. While some were compensated and moved out of the Federal Capital City (FCC) to the satellite towns in the FCT, some original inhabitants who are yet to be compensated and resettled are still living within the city, with the hope that the FCT administration will do the needful, but the paucity of funds has ensured the existence of some slums within the city, thus beclouding the beauty of the Nigerian federal capital.

Some of these slums within the FCT where the indigenes are yet to be resettled include; Durumi Village, Utako Village, Gwarimpa Village, Dutse, Galadimawa, Mabushi, Kpaduma, Apo, Wasa, Idu, Garki Village, among others.

However, while the government planned areas within the city centre enjoy well laid out infrastructure and social amenities, the slums within the city are in inhumane condition, congested, invested with communicable diseases, den for criminals and other societal ills. Aside these, some unscrupulous elements are now leveraging on the condition of these slums to perpetrate their evil acts.

Robbery is a natural occurrence in such slums that practically house those that cannot afford to rent apartment in places like Wuse, Garki Wuse 2, Asokoro, Maitama and others.

Visit Mabushi, a village, which is directly at the back of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and Ministry of Environment. While Kabusa Village, a suburb of Abuja has been christened Soddom

FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello...should contain prostitution in Abuja

and Gomorah, due to moral decadence in the place; Mabushi Village is the den of

Gida drama parades dancers who are mostly girls and between the ages of 15 and 18 years who dance to entertain the audiences

underage sex workers.

Mabushi Village aside from the prostitutes den in the area, also houses a place called "Gida drama" which means "Drama House". The drama house is operated by a man named Dan Yellow. Gida drama is an open place fenced up by corrugated iron sheet. Inside the drama house, there is a wooden seat constructed round the drama stage in a stadium like manner, for the teeming audiences to sit on and feed their hands with the underage dancers cum prostitutes. Gida drama parades dancers who are mostly girls and between the ages

of 15 and 18 years who dance to entertain the audiences. A sum of N100 is charged each person who wants to gain access to the drama house as gate fee. Though, the drama house has male dancers too. While the female dancers are up to 12 in number, the male dancers as observed by THISDAY are six in number and are between the ages of 18 and 20 years.

The dancers sometimes dance in pairs, a male and a female, sometimes three females and two females. While some are dancing, other female dancers move towards the wooden seat where the audiences are seated to woo a potential suitor for the night.

Another thing of note is that while the sale of alcohol is not permitted within the Gida drama, being a pure Hausa setting dominated by Muslims, the young female dancers smoke shamelessly and they woo their suitors effortlessly. Inside the Gida drama, there are makeshift rooms about eight also. veryday, activities at Gida drama start from after 8p.m. immediately after the last Muslims prayer for the day and end at 12 midnight. Though, a little bit of what to expect from the drama house is first displayed by 6p.m. before the show proper starts by 8p.m.

An artisan, whose workshop is very close to Gida drama, Mr. Taofik Ademola who was initially afraid to talk because he does not want anything that will disrupt his business said; Dan Yellow is the owner of the place. He has been arrested a couple of times but later got released by the authority due to his influence. There was a time his matter was taken to Hembelenbe, a popular talk show radio programme in Abuja. He was arrested because he was accused of using the young girls as prostitutes, gives them away to men, collects money and gives them part of the money as their own share."Initially, he used sack to fence up the place. He was even banned before but he was later allowed to continue. The show usually starts from 8p.m., after the Ishai prayer till 12 midnight. Anybody is allowed to enter the place. Police and even men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squard (SARS) have raided the place several times.

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FEATURES

The last time the place was raided, the spectators had to run to different direction.

The following day, when we came to the workshop, we saw many slippers, sandals and even shoes because most of them had to jump the fence to evade arrest.

"Most times when the Hausa boys in the area steal, they use the place as hideout.

There was a day when one of them stole, his accomplice when arrested by the police told the police that the guy was at the bus stop doing 'Agbero work', that was where he was arrested."

Though, Ademola was unable to confirm if the owner uses underage girls as prostitutes, but THISDAY was able to confirm that while underage prostitutes operate there, criminals also use the place as hideout. He said while the police are making frantic effort to bring crime rates in Mabushi Village under control, there are still pockets of robbery cases going on in the area.

"There was a time I brought a tokumbo vehicle to Abuja and I parked it at the Mabushi Police Station to ensure its safety.

The vehicle was burgled even inside the police station, and my things stolen, including my driver's licence. The culprit was later arrested by the police before the police discovered that their own things were stolen too," he added.

Another resident of the place, Solomon John, believed that poverty and drug abuse are the two major causes of the young girls going into prostitution at that tender age.

His words: "Gida drama is not a good place to be but the reason why all these young girls are going to that place is because of the high rate of poverty in the country.

Though, they are very young to go to that place because it has a negative impact on the young girls. What they are doing there is prostitution, they give out their bodies to all those big men. I have been to that place, the actual ages I think that are supposed to be in that place is 17 and 18 years. I believe the girls have a poor background and that is why they are doing all this.

The Chief of Mabushi is aware of Gida drama, but I don't think he has taken any action against that place because this place is 'mind your own business'. What makes the girls to do what they do is because they are into drugs, and I'm very sure of that because I have seen them taking drugs."

Meanwhile, another resident of the area, Juliet Itohan, who is well over 20 years of age painted a different scenario of Gida drama. She said the place was operated by two men before, but one later left. She added that the place has been in operation even before she was born.

She said; "it has been long that Gida drama has been in operation, even before I was even born. This same man (Dan Yellow) has been operating the place. Though, they were two before but one has left. It is like they are settling the police because the police station is very close to the place.

The Alhajis come with cars to take the girls.

What the girls are doing is not good but that is where they get their income from, they are being paid there.

THISDAY in a chat with two of the dancers who identified themselves as Sadiat and Fatima said they have to register with a sum of N500 everyday before they would be allowed to dance at Gida drama but

It is like they are settling the police because the police station is very close to the place. The Alhajis come with cars to take the girls. What the girls are doing is not good but that is where they get their income from, they are being paid there

Houses in Mabushi village

Stalls in Mabushi

The chief palace, Mabushi

they refused to give further details on how they make their money.

Sadiat noted:"Dancing on the stage is not free because we will have to pay N500 for registration before we could be allowed

to dance. Don't worry about how I make my money."

When asked to give their contact, both claim their phones got missing and stressed that whoever wants to see them will have

to come to Gida drama.

Meanwhile, all efforts by THISDAY to speak with the Chief of Mabushi proved abortive as he was not around on two occasions when his palace was visited.

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IMAGES

R-L: Permanent Secretary/Accountant General, Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Umar; Director, Public Finance Management Unit, State Treasury OďŹƒce, Mrs. Moriliat Ganiyu and Interswitch OďŹƒer, Mr. Remi Odesola, during a meeting with Directors/Heads of Finance and Accountants on the abolition of cash payments in revenue collection in Lagos State, at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja‌recently kola olasupo

L-R, Loan OďŹƒcer, European Investment Bank (EIB), Inmaculada Soto Riba; MD/CEO Development Bank of Nigeria, Tony Okpanach and , Monitoring OďŹƒcer EIB, Sanja Blatt during a working visit of EIB to DBN in Abuja.... recently

Vice President, Marketing, Lumos Nigeria, Mr. Olufemi Ashipa; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, All On, Dr. Wiebe Boer and Investment Manager, All On, Mrs. Florence Okoli, during the oďŹƒcial signing ceremony of the ďŹ nancing partnership agreement between Lumos Nigeria and All On at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria...recently

Managing Director,NIPCO Plc ,Sanjay Teotia (L) Welcoming the minister of state for petroleum resources Emmanuel ibe Kachikwu to the joint exhibition booth of Nipco / 11Plc while the OPEC Secretary General , Mohammed Barkindo (3rd from right) watches at the j NIPS exhibition in Abuja...recently

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L-R: Katherine Kaetzer-Hodson of the Enviroment Science Tech and Health, of the U S Embassy; Chairman, Pace Setter Schools, Barr Ken Imansuangbon and Director of Schools, Mrs Kate Imansuangbon during the 2018 Pace Setters Academy Wuse Health Fair Day with ‘Theme; Understanding Your Enviroment’ held in Abuja...recently. julius atoi

L-R: General Manager, Air Solution division LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Cholyong Park; Head Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa operations Mr. Hari Elluru; Sales Manager, Air Solution LG Electronics, Mr. Saheed Adeyemi and Technical/Sales Manager, Air Solution LG Electronics Mr. Vijay Bakshi, during the unveiling of LG Multi V 5 Commercial Air Conditioner in Lagos‌ recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ogun state, Engr. Jonathan Onajobi, Special Adviser on One-Stop-Shop, Mrs Babi Subair, Commissioner for Commerce and industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and the chairman Manufacturers association of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, Mr. Wale Adegbite during the twelveth quarterly meeting of the association in Abeokuta...recently

Permanent Secretary, OďŹƒce of the Secretaryto the Government of the Federation, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and MD, LagaCE Power , Rhoda Afolabi at the ReUnion of Nigeria Law School class of 1980 and honouring their colleague Mustapha, in Abuja...recently julius atoi

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

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Quick Takes EmeďŹ ele Bags The SUN Award

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: A Director of FCMB Group Plc, Professor Oluwatoyin Ashiru; Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Adam Nuru, during a courtesy visit by the Management of the bank to the governor in his oďŹƒce at Abeokuta, Ogun State ... recently

Banking Sector Credit Predicted to Hit N16.7tn in 2018 Obinna Chima Analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited have projected that banking sector credit to the private sector will rise to N16.7 trillion this year.

This, according to their prediction would represent a growth of 6.34 per cent compared with the N15.7 trillion recorded in 2017.

The firm held the view that the manufacturing sector would attract the highest credit this year, further adding that the uncertainties surrounding the fuel subsidy in the petroleum marketing sector may lead to a contraction of credit to that sector.

FSDH Research made the prediction in a report obtained

by THISDAY. It noted that the improvement

ECONOMY in the macroeconomic and business environment; improved consumers’ confidence; and the drop in the yields on the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) would be the main drivers of the expected credit growth.

The provisional figure that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released for fourth quarter 2017 had shown that the banking sector credit to the private sector dropped from N16.1trillion in fourth quarter of 2016, to N15.7 trillion in fourth quarter of 2017.

Although the total credit as at the end of 2017 was higher than the figure of N13.1trilion in fourth quarter 2015, the impact of the devaluation of the local currency may be responsible for the growth in 2017 over 2015.

The sector with the highest credit allocation as at the fourth quarter of 2017 was mining and quarrying, and petroleum marketing, which accounted for 28 per cent of the total banking sector credit to the private sector.

This was followed by manufacturing 14 per cent; general services 18 per cent; and trade, seven per cent.

Also, agriculture which contributed about 29 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria in third quarter 2017, attracted three per cent of the total credit. “Our findings show that the agriculture sector in Nigeria is faced with many problems.

Thus, the sector is unable to attract the required credit. “Some of the problems are: inadequate storage

facilities; poor transport network; inadequate research to develop improved seedlings; and weak integration between the sector and the manufacturing sector in providing manufacturing inputs.�

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had assured Nigerians that the central bank would continue to explore measures that would see that interest rates are supportive of domestic production.

According to him, the Bank would continue to fine tune measures to ensure and guarantee a stable exchange rate regime.

Emefiele had pointed out that with on-going recovery in economic performance, he was optimistic that improved outcomes would be recorded in Continued on page 24

Dozie: Digitisation Makes Banking Simpler, Cheaper and Faster Diamond Y’ello Account generates 9m accounts

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Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Top retail bank, Diamond Bank Plc has said no few than nine million MTN subscribers have opened Diamond Y’ello accounts since the inception of the scheme a few years ago.

Diamond Y’ello Account, a mobile money product was developed by Diamond Bank in partnership with MTN Nigeria for the advancement of the cashless initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The product, unveiled in 2014, enables MTN subscribers to open and operate accounts from their mobiles phones.

The youth and mass market

ECONOMY segments of the MTN subscriberbase, as well as the unbanked and under-banked subscribers are taking advantage of the favourable account opening requirements and convenience features of the service.

Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, while providing an update on the initiative at a recent interactive session with journalists in Lagos, explained that the scheme was introduced for people who were not familiar with new technology.

According to him, the bank tapped into the nation’s mobile/

smart phone culture as Nigeria is said to have 81 per cent mobile penetration. “Our partnering with MTN made it easier to get the over nine million accounts and that is because we put the choice of opening an account into the customer’s hand by just dialing *710# on their mobile phones and with this code, subscribers can perform basic banking activities.

He explained further: “There is a big difference with Mobile Money wallet and opening an account. Mobile Money is just like a wallet in which you take money from your wallet and send to someone in another area and that is financial exclusion

but that is not what we wanted.

Rather, we want Nigerians to open a full-fledged bank account wherever they may be. “Our business model is not just inclined to when you keep or borrow money but creating platforms for people to have access to financial flows.�

He recalled: Twenty five years ago, if you want to open an account, you will walk into a branch and the bank might choose whether or not they will save it. If you want to do a single transaction 25 years ago, you have to go into a branch, but today, with an MTN mobile Continued on page 24

The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers hasconferred the ‘Public Service Award for 2017’on the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin EmeďŹ ele as part of its 15th Annual Awards ceremony. The award, according to the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of the Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, was in recognition of current policies championed by EmeďŹ ele,aimed at strengthening the country’s economy.

Osagie listed EmeďŹ ele’s policies to include various interventionist programmes geared towards poverty eradication and which have continued to engender sustainability and restoration in the Nigerian economy. He particularly noted that under EmeďŹ ele’s watch, the country had witnessed a massive drop in the volume of rice importation and an upscale in rice self-suďŹƒciency, leading to relaxed pressure on foreign exchange. Presenting the award to the CBN Governor at a ceremony held in Lagos, the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, lauded the eorts of the CBN Governor and his team at stabilising the economy and moving the economy forward. In his brief acceptance remarks, EmeďŹ ele thanked the Sun for ďŹ nding the CBN worthy of the award and dedicated the award to all sta of the Bank, stressing that the CBN had the best crop of personnel capable of competing with those at other Central Banks from any part of the world.

Standard Bank Organises Conference

The ninth edition of the Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference which commenced yesterday will come to an end on March 2. The event which holds in Abuja and Lagos was expected to bring together foreign and local institutional investors, fund managers, regulators and policy makers, bankers, businessmen and captains of industry, among others, to engage and explore growth potential and opportunities in Nigeria.

Thefour-dayeventthemed,‘ThePathwaytowardsinclusiveeconomic recovery,’will see Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank oďŹƒcials leading a delegation of investors on a visit to the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin EmeďŹ ele; and the World Bank.

Similar visits were made to theVice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Debt Management OďŹƒce, and other key stakeholders and policymakers in Abuja, during last year’s edition.

This year’s edition, according to a statement, would end with a factoryvisittothenewlycommissioned$17millionKelloggsTolaram plant, to showcase one of the most recent private sector led capital investments in the Nigerian economy.

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Yinka Sanni, said underlining the conferencewas the organisation’s conviction about Nigeria’s growth potential, which it would be steadfast in deploying its international connections to ensure an increased inow of foreign capital into Nigeria.

GE Partners NYSC

GE, the world’s premier digital industrial company has announced a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to empower Youth Corps members with valuable entrepreneurial skills in line with its commitment to skills development in Nigeria.

Known as the Start & Improve Your Business (SIYB) training programme, the initiative which is based on the curriculum of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), will see thousands of youth corps members receive critical entrepreneurial training.

The overall goal is to improve on and increase the capacity of the youth in building Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that can operate eectively and be sustainable long-term.

It has been recognised that even at the best of times, employers of labor in the economy will not have the capacity to absorb all the entrants. This has led to a need to promote the development of small and medium scale enterprises, to create self- employment opportunities and expand the scope for job creation, as research ďŹ ndings indicate clearly that 60-70% of new jobs are created by the SME sector.

“As Gross Domestic Product growth continues, then the opportunities to do more banking or transactions will improve�

CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Limited

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan

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BANKING SECTOR CREDIT PREDICTED TO HIT N16.7TN IN 2018 the central bank’s work towards taming inflation, bringing down interest rates and guaranteeing exchange rate stability.

He disclosed that the CBN has been consistently devising ingenious approaches to solve peculiar challenges and would continue to learn from the experiences of other countries, particularly developing nations.

According to Emefiele, interest rates are a major incentive (or disincentive) to carry on industrial production activities.

They are the key price for capital and largely determine the ability to engage in profitable domestic economic ventures.

DOZIE: DIGITISATION MAKES BANKING SIMPLER, CHEAPER AND FASTER phone, it takes a few seconds just by dialing *710# and that is it�

Dozie said that the bank’s digitisaion programme has made banking easier and faster, and has reduced the cost of services it provides to its numerous customers across the globe.

Besides, he said, going digital allows the bank generate information that helps it grow its customer base. “In fact, we are now a data company, not even a cash company. We move more data than we move cash�, he said.

He added: “We have grown customer base faster than some other banks and we have done that not by stealing market shares but growing new businesses and executing our strategies which was growing the retail business and to grow that retail business, you have to build infrastructure, you have to build businesses in areas where there is no retail. So it was taking banking to people and we are using technology to do that. So when we were saying that we were going to use a technology driven strategy to drive retail and why were using technology driven strategy, it is because of cost of deployment, access and customer experience as well.

Continued on page 29

Group Business Editor

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

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Comms/e-Business Editor

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

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Senior Correspondent

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

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

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (Maritime)

Shareholders Renew Calls for Constitution of SEC Board Goddy Egene Three months after the suspension of Mournir Gwarzo as the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), some shareholders have renewed calls on the federal government to constitute a board for the commission and resolve all issues surrounding Gwarzo’s suspension for the market to gain more confidence.

It is exactly three months today since Gwarzo was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun on allegations of financial impropriety. At a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Capital Markets on the 30th of January 2018 and chaired by Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf, Gwarzo had argued that the minister suspended him as a result of his refusal to stop the forensic audit of Oando Plc. Before the public hearing, the minister, at a press briefing on 8th December 2017, had denied Gwarzo’s claims and informed the public that the forensic audit would commence in earnest. Similarly, the acting Director General of SEC, Dr. Abdul Kemi Zubair, at a press conference on the 4th January 2018, also assured the public that the exercise would commence in a few days.

The minister had also at the public hearing on January 30, stated that the forensic exercise had commenced. However, checks showed that the exercise, it is yet to start.

Disturbed by these developments and lack of board, some shareholders are demanding the reconstitution of board for SEC, which is the apex regulator for the nation’s capital market.

“It is also very important for the federal government to urgently constitute the board of SEC. A very important institution being the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market with responsibilities of ensuring all capital market operators and regulated entities abide by the code of corporate governance makes it imperative for SEC to show good example and if the

SEC had had its board in place, the crisis between the Minister of Finance and Gwarzo would certainly have been avoided,� leading shareholder activist told THISDAY. Also, the Chairman of Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association of Nigeria (IZSAN), Mr. Eric Akinduro said the international community is watching and the more the delay the more it will

affect confidence in the market. “The apex regulatory authority should be able to show example to others. If such a thing is happening in SEC now, the best way to handle the situation is for the government to put its board in place so that there can be confidence. The market is very sensitive. Anything that is not positive can easily drag the market down.

PRODUCT LAUNCH

R-L:ManagingDirectorGrowingCircleInt.Ltd, Mr.OlalekanOgundare;ExecutiveDirector,SaleandMarketing,Mrs.MartinaChukwu;andtheExecutive Director Growing Circle, Mr. Abudullahi Olakunle, at the Product Launch of G-Herbal, G-Lemon and G-Reliever in Lagos... recently danukana

Fiscal Responsibility Commission, CSJ Launch Budget Inequality Index Ndubuisi Francis and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in collaboration with the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) Monday launched the Budget Inequality Index (BII), the benchmarking framework for analysing, assessment and scoring of ministries, departments and agencies’ (MDAs) annual budgets (2014-2016).

Speaking at the media launch in Abuja, the Convener of CSJ, Mr. Eze Onyekpere said that the budget BII idea came about two years ago to mainstream the discourse on inequality in the

formulation and implementation of fiscal policies.

Onyekpere stated that the idea was to focus on how issues of great concern to women, youth, vulnerable and marginalised groups were considered at the stage of plan and policy formulation, during budget preparation, approval and implementation as well as reporting on the implementation of policies and budgets. “This was at the onset of the economic meltdown in Nigeria when the price of crude oil plummeted and Nigeria had no meaningful reserves and savings to fall back on. However, this aforementioned group of

Nigerians did not participate in the jamboree and bazaar that was the name of economic (mal) administration of the time. And the government had a basic obligation to meet their existential needs under several international and national standards. “Nigeria was and is still at a fork in the road and needs to take effective decisions on its next fiscal and economic steps. Th e petrol dollar boom is over as commodity prices have collapsed, hard choices need to be made on how to expend the little available resources and new sources of generating revenue. “Headline inflation has breached the single digit rule; real

gross domestic product growth slowed to 2.79 per cent in 2015 and shrank to -1.51 per cent in 2016 whilst our population grows at a little less than 3 per cent a year,� he said.

He noted that CSJ therefore worked on a theory of change which states that women, men, youths and the vulnerable have the opportunity to be strategically positioned and have the capacity to demand for change and improvements in economic and fiscal governance.

Onyekpere highlighted that the MDAs benchmarked to collaborate with for implementation include Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of

Youth and Sports Development, Ministry for Education, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Agriculture.

Others are Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Transportation, he said, adding that they were selected on the basis of the impact of their programming on the rights of the target of group.

Also speaking at the launch, the acting FRC Chairman, Mr. Victor Muruako, who was represented by Mr. Charles Abana, stated that inequality, wherever it exists, cannot be good for a nation.

FG Restates Commitment to Enabling Business Environment The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses in the country to thrive.

Enelamah also described the annual Kaduna International Trade exhibition as a vital programme for the development of the Nigerian economy.

The minister said this in his keynote address delivered at the opening ceremony of the 39th edition of the fair organised by the Kaduna

Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), saying that the theme of the programme: ‘Promoting Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for International Competitiveness,’ was in line with the economic development plan of the current administration.

According to the minister, the trade fair was an important gathering of investors and policymakers and a remarkable annual event that demonstrates KADCCIMA’s commitment to the development of Nigerian economy in general and Kaduna

in particular. “Let me share with you some of the important priorities of the government that tie directly with the theme of this trade fair.

The interesting thing about this theme, which is so apt is that it ties directly into the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the country because that plan is anchored on three objectives: promoting inclusive growth, investing in our people, and promoting competitiveness,� he added. “Therefore, the Kaduna Trade Fair is headed in the right direction in choosing to

focus on commerce, industry, agriculture and international competitiveness. And as you know one of the important priorities of this government and indeed of Nigerians is agriculture, and this is one area where we’ve done very well as a country,� he said.

Enelamah stated that other cardinal priority objectives of the federal government were to make Nigeria one of the easiest places to do business in the world; to make Nigeria one of the most attractive countries for investors to invest in; and to make Nigeria

one of the safest countries for people to live in and do business in a competitive manner.

He said owing to the importance of trade to Nigeria the government last year set up the National Office for Trade Negotiation and had prioritised trade as a very important instrument for a reform.

He said government had gone further in prioritising trade by negotiating the Continental Africa Free Trade Area Agreement, revealing that the agreement would be signed next month in Kilgali, Rwanda.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Avoiding Traps That Kill Family Businesses Obinna Chima highlights tips that are essential for the survival of family businesses even beyond the demise of the founder Prior to his demise on July 7, 1998, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, was a very influential business mogul who had investments in critical sectors of the economy. His business interest ranged from aviation, agriculture, sports, bakery, real estate, publishing, communications, among others.

The acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election was no doubt a successful industrialist whose business chains created job opportunities for thousands of Nigerians.

Unfortunately, few years after his death, his business empire started crumbling, until theyfinally fizzled out, throwing its employees into the labour market, due to dispute among his children.

Beyond the case of the late M.K.O Abiola’s businesses that have since gone under, a lot of family businesses in Nigeria have died due to the demise of the founder. For some that are still alive and struggling, they are enmeshed in controversies as the children continue to fight over their share of the investments while the business nosedives.

Some of such businesses include the Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Company that was founded by the late Chief Augustine Ejikeme Ilodibe, who died on July 1, 2007; the founder of the Henry Stephens Group of companies, Henry Oloyede Fajemirokun, whose business grew rapidly and diversified into several spheres such as engineering, banking, insurance, shipping and oil, but went under after his death in 1978; the Odutola business empire, which was owned by two brothers – Late Alhaji Jimoh Odutola and Late Timothy Adeola Odutola; and Sir Joe Nwankwo whose beverage factory used to produce Gina soft drink, but perished alongside his other businesses soon after his death. All over the country, there are cases of businesses that went into extinction immediately the founder is no more.

But the Harvard Business Review (HBR) pointed out that in the United States, a familiar aphorism—“Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations�—is commonly used to describe the propensity of family-owned enterprises to fail by the time the founder’s grandchildren have taken charge.

Throwing more light on this adage, the Family Line report explained that it is used to describe the tendency of the third generation of a family to squander the wealth obtained by the first.

Furthermore, it pointed out that the the First Generation usually comes from a life of hardship and always determined to have a better future for themselves. Typically, they are willing to work hard and make sacrifices to achieve their goal. By their later years, their efforts have paid off. They enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle, often with assets to pass on.

Their children, the Second Generation, grow up a witness to their parent’s struggle and understand the importance of hard work, the report explained. Althoughmembers of this family in this generationnow live a more comfortable lifestyle, they may still remember a childhood filled with frugality. “Because of this awareness, they make sound educational and financial choices that help them build upon the foundation their parents worked so hard to create. By their later years, the second generation has acquired even greater wealth. “The Third Generation, however, has no memory of want or struggle. They only know a life of plenty and often lack an understanding of the effort that went into building the lifestyle they now enjoy. “Without this awareness, it is of little surprise then that the third generation has a tendency to squander what their parents and grandparents worked so hard to achieve,� the report stated.

According to the HBR, about 70 per cent of family-owned businesses fail or are sold before the second generation gets a chance to take over. It further revealed that only 10 per cent remain active, privately held companies for the third generation to lead.

In contrast to publicly owned firms, in which the average CEO tenure is six years, many family businesses have the same leaders for 20 or 25 years, and these extended tenures can

increase the difficulties of coping with shifts in technology, business models, and consumer behaviour. Today family firms in developing markets face new threats from globalisation. In many ways, leading a family-owned business has never been harder.

Nonetheless, a family business is unique, in that it needs to keep both the needs of the family in mind with every business decision, without deterring from what’s right for the business itself. Anyone running a family business will attest to the fact that with every decision the interests of the family must be held in one hand, and then interests of the business in the other.

When one is favoured over the other, things fall apart. If the owners set aside the interests of the family for those of the business too often, then they will soon find that the family starts to resent the business and pull away from it – making it difficult to pass it on to a committed next generation. On the other hand, placing the family’s needs above those of the business will lead to the quick deterioration of the company’s health, making it unlikely that it will sustain itself much further, let alone thrive.

Tips for Family Business Survival To the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, the principles every enterprise requires to survive and outlive their founders are the same. He stressed the need for entrepreneurs to adhere to corporate governance principles, proper book-keeping among other best practices for their businesses to survive.

According to him, most of the companies that employ thousands of persons in the country today started as SMEs. “You must know what to do with the finance.

You must know even simple booking-keeping practices,� he explained.

According to experts, another way to ensure that heirs are ready for the jobs they inherit is to make them prove themselves outside the family ďŹ rm. This can broaden their experience, boost their self-conďŹ dence and prove to doubters that they are more than just daddy’s pet

He urged entrepreneurs to embrace proper business planning, so that to survive in any sector they chose to operate in. “Another issue is poor corporate governance.

Have you asked yourself about all those big names we knew when we were growing up, where are they today? “So, the question is why do family businesses fail? Poor corporate governance, no succession planning and that is why such businesses don’t grow beyond the operators. “You need to bring equity investors and step aside to let that business thrive. Beyond this, the access to suitable finance is also important for SMEs,� he said.

Also, the founder of LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli, urged operators of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeriato always put in place the right structures for their business to outlive them. Nwuneli, also stressed the importance of governance for any organisation to survive.

According to her, every forward-looking firm must have a strong board of directors. “You can’t have a one-man business if you want your business to outlive you. The second is strong financial controls and management and the third one is innovation. “You also need to continue challenging yourself to new ideas. And the fourth is management. “You can’t do everything yourself. You need to find the right persons, empower them, equip them and sustain them,� she added.

According to her, once the right structures have been put in place, it would be easy to attract capital. “Are you separating your personal finance from your companies’ finances? Do you have budget? Do you carry out audit?� she asked.

On his part, the Managing Director, UPS Nigeria, Mr. Ralph Ozoude said: “Part of the challenges companies have is sustained growth and some of it has to do with corporate governance and compliance. “Every entrepreneur who is starting needs to have a long-term goal. If the goal and objective of that entrepreneur is to make profit in the short-term, then he may not be creating structures and systems that would be sustainable, replicable and that would enable his business to grow and outlive the owner.�

Also, in its latest survey titled:“Nigerian Family Business Barometer,� KPMG Nigeria, pointed out that respondents in Nigeria and across continents surveyed agreed that preparing and training the next generation prior to assuming leadership positions, and improving financial literacy among family members are critical success factors to building businesses that will outlast the founder’s generation.

It also noted the importance of succession planning, stating that a factor that affects the

quality of management in such businesses is that in certain cases, the heirs may genuinely not be right for the job -they may be more extensively and expensively educated than their parents, but lack the managerial skills to command a big organisation.

Joachim Schwass of IMD, a Swiss business school, argued that the most common characteristic of failed successions is that the family marks out the eldest son for the top job from an early age, and hands it to him regardless of ability. “The list of companies that have ended up being sold, or handed over to professional managers, for want of a suitable family member willing or able to take over, include two of the world’s biggest hotel chains, Hilton and Marriott; and one of its biggest toymakers, Lego. “To avoid this fate, and increase the chances of producing a strong successor, business families need to grasp two things. The first is that inheritance is a process, not an event. That process involves giving potential heirs a chance to prove their worth. The second thing that business founders must grasp is that behind a successful family firm lies a successful family,� the KPMG report added.

Bernard Arnault, the boss of LVMH, and Rupert Murdoch, the boss of News Corp, have both given their children bits of their empires to run.

Also, Samsung created the role of “chief customer officer� for Jay Lee, the son of its boss, Lee Kun-hee, to give him experience in handling all-important partnerships with other tech firms, such as Apple. Another Lee family, which owns Lee Kum Kee, a Hong Kong-based maker of sauces, has created a “family learning and development centre� to prepare the next generation to take over. According to experts, another way to ensure that heirs are ready for the jobs they inherit is to make them prove themselves outside the family firm. This can broaden their experience, boost their self-confidence and prove to doubters that they are more than just daddy’s pet.

The foregoing clearly shows that by keeping family stories and history alive, younger generations are able to understand and appreciate their parent’s and grandparent’s efforts as well as the work needed to build and maintain family wealth. Combining awareness of one’s past with thoughtful strategy for the future can help families overcome the Three Generation Cycle stated earlier.

Importantly, most of the preparation and training for the next generation will have to start earlier rather than later, to ensure a seamless transition in later years. Also, financial literacy amongst members of the family business cannot be over-emphasised as it is the key to making sound business decisions.Taking the company public by listing it on the stock exchange is also crucial for its survival in the long run.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2018

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Insurers Quest for More Patronage Amidst sundry challenges, insurance sector operators are now mapping out various strategies to increase market penetration across Nigeria, writes Ebere Nwoji One of the issues currently bothering insurance industry operators and the regulator in particular is how to expand the frontiers of insurance market by deepening its penetration and improve its contributions to the national economy.

Currently, insurance contributions to the GDP is 0.6 percent while the industry’s premium is below N400 billion.

Against this back drop, the regulator and the operators are in earnest search for solutions.

Their current effort is towards ensuring that every Nigerian at least has one insurance policy.

To achieve this, the operators have planned an industry rebranding project that will publicise the entire industry while the regulator aside contributing financially to the rebranding project, has targeted promotion of micro insurance institutions nationwide.

The regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recently released the guidelines for the micro insurance institutions just as it is currently preparing to start issuing licenses to would be operators.

But while these efforts are on going, members of the insuring public and even the regulator are pointing to the fact that the operators need to effect some major changes in their business modus operandi to achieve their desired success.

Indeed, they have challenged the operators to take certain steps especially in the new business year if they must win the level of public patronage they are yearning for.

At the 2018 media retreat recently organised by the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC),the insurance industry operators were challenged to set their agenda right and clear so that other external actors in the business can have a stand to help them.

Speaking on the role of the media in deepening insurance penetration in the country, The Editorial Page Editor, The Nation Newspapers, Sanya Oni, noted that amidst clamour to deepen insurance penetration in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria by insurance industry operators and the regulator, a lot of challenges currently besieging the industry.

He said the challenges have raised questions on the level of understanding of Nigerian insurance market environment and their peculiarities by the operators.

He also noted that in an environment like the Nigerian insurance market where risks are routinely prayed out and banished as ‘not my portion’, operators have got the task of convincing prospective consumer of insurance product to accept to dump the intangible of faith for an equally intangible product administered by human institutions.

He also urged the operators to examine themselves and address recurring questions in their business such as relevance of their product offering to consumers’ perception of utility.

He said they should also ask themselves ‘is the problem of non patronage of the industry that of communication or messaging what is their level of technological usage as well as response to other marketing challenges.

He also advised the operators to focus on keeping the rules of industry and codes of self-regulation which he observed have been set aside.

According to him, the most obvious one in this regard is rate cutting. The result is the unhealthy price competition which ensures that less than 50per cent of their expected earnings actually comes into the coffers despite the enormous risk borne by the insurance companies. “Before now, we knew of the roles of offices committee in setting industry wide premiums. Once upon a time, the offices committee which every insurance company as members of NIA belongs, and its self-regulatory mechanism, has been slowly and steadily eroded.

In other words, the rules and conventions

Insurance operators were reminded that providing a strong customer experience is not just about reducing the risk of customer service mishaps. It is increasingly a way for companies in competitive markets distinguish their brands, adding that delivering a superior customer experience takes more than developing a mobile application or adding a call centre staff

Chairman NIA, Eddy Efekoha

attenuating have long been jettisoned. Fire for instance which used to be charged at 0.2 percent minimum is currently 0.08per cent.

How does the industry survive given that the cost environment is actually spiraling upwards not going down�, he noted.

At the maiden insurance Consumers’ forum organised by NAICOM in Lagos, insurance operators were advised by the President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to add value to the business of their major clients through the acquisition of technical knowledge of their clients’ businesses in order to be in position to educate them on basic safety knowledge.

Dangote, who frowned on the current trend among Nigerian insurers in which he said they are only talking about their premium collection from the very beginning of every insurance policy contract, to the end without thinking about how to reduce their clients’ risk exposure, noted that there is a big gap between Nigerian insurers and technical knowledge of their clients’ businesses

Oni, said against this back drop, it was time to return to the old path.

Also at the maiden insurance Consumers’ forum organised by NAICOM in Lagos, insurance operators were advised by the President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to add value to the business of their major clients through the acquisition of technical knowledge of their clients’ businesses in order to be in position to educate them on basic safety knowledge.

Dangote, who frowned on the current trend among Nigerian insurers in which he said they are only talking about their premium collection from the very beginning of every insurance policy contract, to the end without thinking about how to reduce their clients’ risk exposure, noted that there is a big gap between Nigerian insurers and technical knowledge of their clients’ businesses.

He therefore challenged the insurers to aspire to get adequate knowledge of modern risks they underwrite such as cyber risks as well as the workings of credit insurance.

According to him, because of lack of adequate knowledge of the risk they underwrite, the insureds are often exposed to unnecessary risks while the insurers delay in the payment of the resulting claims.

The insurers were also advised by economy experts to adopt strategies such as placing customers at the centre of their business plans and strategies; review of products, policies and processes to ensure that they are relevant to customers’ needs; to build capacity in retail businesses; deliver on the promises through simplified claims processes that will leverage on the use of cutting edge technology amongst others.

At the recent business outlook organised by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN), the Deputy Commissioner, Technical, National Insurance Commission, Sunday Thomas, urged insurance operators to focus more on profitable growth rather than top-line or volume growth and that they should place great importance on professional

and disciplined underwriting.

According to him, a low and uneven development of insurance business increases the level of risk in the economic decisions taken by individuals and firms, in turn hampering economic activity.

He further added that a sound national insurance sector represents an essential feature of a proper economic system, contributing to economic growth and fostering high employment, even as he stressed that without Insurance, businesses are unable to expand, create jobs and the economy stagnates.

Similarly, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Training Centre, Dr. Lucy Newman, advised the insurers on market intelligence; embracing evolving technology; products innovation; re-orientation of underwriters and brokers, rethinking portfolio and reinsurance provisions, amongst others.

Similarly, at a recent insurance forum in Lagos, the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, advised insurance operators to use opportunities and challenges thrown up by factors such as competitive environment, changes in the world economy as a result of globalisation, deregulation, privatisation, financial meltdown, and the modern advancement in technology to transform their business operations and realign with customers by understanding their needs and ensuring an enhanced and efficient delivery of products and services.

He said NAICOM was aware that the satisfaction of consumers of product and services play a vital role in the sustenance of any business. “The difference between great and poor customer service has always been clear, and businesses on the wrong end of this spectrum usually pay a price. This is as true for insurance as it is for any other customer-facing business.

Today, the consequences of subpar service are amplified by the speed and reach of social media.

One poorly handled claim, one mistake captured on a smart phone could escalate quickly into a brand-damaging crisis. This is why we believe it has become imperative that insurance firms increased their focus on providing great customer experience,� he advised.

He reminded insurance operators that providing a strong customer experience is not just about reducing the risk of customer service mishaps. It is increasingly a way for companies in competitive markets distinguish their brands, adding that delivering a superior customer experience takes more than developing a mobile application or adding a call centre staff.

He said in addition, it requires significant investments, relentless improvements, and collaboration across customer channels and business functions, from distribution and underwriting to claims handling.

Furthermore, he said understanding what customers want is paramount in building a better customer experience, acknowledging that the commission in recent time has noticed certain behaviours and actions of consumers that are not in psych with this belief which is detrimental and dangerous to the insurance industry in Nigeria.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

China Development Bank, UBA Seal $100m Deal to Support SMEs in Africa The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and China Development Bank (CDB), the world’s largest development finance institution yesterday announced the signing of a $100 million seven-year loan agreement to finance the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

The $100 million loan will enhance UBA’s capacity to provide access to finance to small and medium enterprises

(SMEs) across the 19 African countries where UBA currently operates. “We are excited to partner with China Development Bank (CDB), the Development Financial Institution of the Chinese Government, on this historic transaction, as we strongly believe that the facility will serve as a catalyst to the sustainable development of commerce and industry in Africa through provision of critical financial

interventions to SMEs across our presence countries,� a statement from UBA quoted its Group Managing Director/ CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka to have said.

Uzoka noted that the line of credit was timely, as it should complement the recovery of economic activities. It will also further encourage African entrepreneurship particularly as the funds will be applied to SMEs, which are important

for inclusive growth on the continent, he added.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu said that the fund will boost small and medium scale enterprises across Africa, noting that CDB’s interest in supporting SMEs aligns with UBA’s vision in growing business across Africa.“In UBA, CDB would have an enduring partner in reaching out to Africans as UBA provides banking services

to over 14 million people across 20 African countries, and like CDB, UBA funds critical infrastructural projects on the continent “ Elumelu said.

He expressed his desire for a stronger relationship between the CDB and UBA as well as with China and Nigeria.

Also, the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie, said the agreement was the beginning of cooperation between UBA and CDB that would translate

into an enduring business relationship between China and Africa and Nigeria in particular. “UBA is a leading and dependable bank not only in Nigeria but Africa, and this partnership will help our Bank to accelerate its business objectives in Africa, more importantly as we deepen our investment in energy, road and rail constructions, infrastructure in Africa,�

Zhije said.

DOZIE: DIGITISATION MAKES BANKING SIMPLER, CHEAPER AND FASTER He said: “When we shifted our attention to retail, where the biggest retail market and where the opportunity was, we had 50 million individuals that are unbanked, and on the small business side we have 17 million unbanked businesses. When you look at where the Nigerian government is focusing their objectives and priorities on, it is definitely in that space, because that is where the future of the Nigerian economic development is. “Four years ago, we decided that retail is what we are going to pursue, and what that meant was that we were going to focus our resources on retail drive. Now the two resources that are the key to retail are capital and human resource.�

On the bank’s recent divestment from some West African countries, Dozie said the move was a deliberate capital management plan and not a sign of distress. According to him, the selloff of the bank’s francophone branches couldn’t have been distressful, considering that the made a handsome profit from the transaction.

Dozie said: “It’s not one of distress, it’s one of ‘putting your money where your mouth is,’ because our capital is stakehold-

ers’ capital and not ours. We took a long term view on it and we took that decision two years ago but of course, we have to find a willing person to make sure that we found someone that is going to add value, which is what we have successfully done.�

He further added: “We have sold to a partner that gives us opportunity to also have relationship in that area. So if it was a distress deal, it would have been an unprofitable one, but because we took our time, it was a very profitable venture for us from the balance sheet perspective, from the PR perspective, and also an ongoing relationship.�

Divesting from the five West African countries, he further stated, enabled Diamond Bank to refocus its strategies and resources back to taking advantage of the opportunities in the Nigerian market. “When you look at the opportunity, and for Diamond Bank then, our business was focused on corporate, and commercial, so it was easy to justify it, because we were actually following our customers’ businesses. That was the reason why we went into those countries, when a lot of Nigerian trade was going through them.�

Global Toy Company Enters Toy Distribution Deal in Nigeria Global toy brand, Little Tikes has entered a distribution deal with Nigeria’s toy distributor, Delightful Toyshop.

According to a statement jointly signed by the two partners, the deal grants Delightful Toyshop exclusive right to distribute Little Tikes’ products in Nigeria.

Delightful Toyshop is a reliable Nigerian toy store that focuses on bringing superior quality and value-adding children toys to the Nigerian market. For millions of Little Tikes’ toy lovers across Nigeria, this provides fantastic opportunity to access quality toys at very affordable cost.

Little Tikes’ popular products such as the cozy coupe - which is rated as the World’s best-selling drivable toy-car for children Swing Sets, Trampolines, Drone, Race cars, Slides, Cars, Infant toys and a range of indoor and outdoor toys are now available in Nigeria at Delightful Toyshop.

Speaking on the deal, Chief

Executive Officer of Delightful Toyshop, Omotola Lawson said: “Toys are major tools in ensuring that children acquire interpersonal, affective and psychomotor skills and all these skills are very important to having a well-rounded child.�

She described the official partnership with Little Tikes to distribute their products in Nigeria as a major landmark in the toy industry as well as the educational sector in the country; as Nigerians no longer have to settle for inferior products or overpriced quality products.

According to her, “This partnership guarantees the availability of Little Tikes exceptional quality toys at great price points to all businesses in Nigeria. No person or business in Nigeria can ever provide Little Tikes products at a price cheaper than Delightful Toyshop’s since the merchandise is shipped straight from the toy factory to us in Nigeria.�

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: National Welfare OďŹƒcer Motormechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Liadi Olaiya; MD/CEO Automedics, Mr. Kunle Sonaike; Best Graduating Student, Oleum Academy, Mr. Kazeem Opeyemi Agboola; Lubricant Technical Manager, OVH Energy Marketing, Mr. Dayo Ayandokun; National General Secretary, NATA, Mr. David Ajetunmobi, at the Oleum Academy graduation ceremony, South West Region held in Ibadan ... recently

FUG Pensions Organises Leadership Skill Lecture for University Students Future Glanvils Pension Managers, Ltd (FUG Pensions) recently extended its social responsibility initiatives to university students through a youth enlightenment and empowerment lecture organised for university students tagged Life Beyond Campus lecture.

The lecture, recently delivered to students of Convenant University with a focus on Life and Career Skills Development was centered on leadership effectiveness skills, communication skills, creativity & innovation and, financial literacy skills.

The lecture, which was described by the participants as a life-changing experience attracted some of Nigeria’s highly revered Thought Leaders and Mentors in various works of life who came together to share some of their business/life ideas and skills with the final year students of the institution.

FUG Pensions, shortly before this, also extended its CRS to the Down Syndrome Foundation students through the sponsorship of its Inter-House Sports Competition.

The sporting event which took place in the Sporting Ground of Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, is one of the four cardinal programs put

together by the Down Syndrome Foundation for social integration of children with special needs in the society.

FUG Pensions, a major sponsor of the event said it has been aligning itself with the Foundation for years in ensuring that the children are assisted in pursuit of their education, while at same time make them feel a sense of belonging among their peers in the society, thereby participating in all the activities of the foundation.

Speaking as the Father of the Day at the event, the Managing Director, FUG Pensions, Mr. Usman Suleiman, said his PFA partnered with the Foundation to see how his firm could assist the Down Syndrome Foundation children, not only in their education, but also in extra-curricular activities, such as the inter-sports competition.

While imploring the participants (children of the Down Syndrome Foundation), to see the event as expression of themselves, he urged them, in the spirit of competition, to be dedicated to this course, as it would make them mentally alert and put them in good physical shape, like other participants in sports.

He said: “Sport is about putting

the body in the right physical shape and these children, because of the genetic problem they have, which is physical, participating in sport, would not only assist them to be physically healthy, but psychologically, they become involved and feel accepted. They become optimistic about life and forget the health issues that they have.�

FUG Pensions sees this as a worth-while cause and we will continue to support similar initiatives aimed at assisting the less privileged, the disabled, the disadvantaged and the weak ones in the society�.

Speaking to our correspondent, the National President, Down Syndrome Foundation, Nigeria, Mrs. Rose Mordi, said the competition forms part of the social intervention programme put in place for children of the foundation, aimed at integrating them into the society.

According to her, the children have a medical condition in them called Down syndrome, which is an intellectual disability and because of that, are highly stigmatized and neglected. She said the foundation runs four segments of intervention programs aimed at integrating them into the society.

“We run four programs in the foundation. The first one is early medical intervention, where medical conditions they have are addressed, and the second one is early education programme, where we teach them how to read and write.

The third is social integration which is the sport competition is part of it. We get them integrated; we get them to socialize with their colleagues in other schools so that they can enjoy themselves and then exercise.

The forth one is an advocacy programme where we make them to stand up and demand for their rights,� she pointed out. FUG Pensions has consistently given support to the foundation through the social integration programs.

We appreciate their support and look forward to them extending their support to early medical intervention.

Licensed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in 2007, as pension funds administrator, FUG Pensions is one of the frontline PFAs with over N52billion pension fund Assets under its management subscribed by about 115,000 Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) holders and retirees.

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Firm Assures Customers of Quality Solutions from Dell EMC Emma Okonji Mitsumi, a Pan Africa Distribution Company of Information Technology (IT) solutions, has assured its Nigerian customers of quality and affordable technology solutions from Dell/EMC. County Manager of the distribution company, Mr. Mr. Rajiv Patel, who gave the assurance when the company hosted its customers and partners in Lagos recently, said Mitsumi would continue to help its partners configure their Dell EMC solutions. According to him, the company is also discussing opportunities with the endusers of the ethnology solutions from Dell/EMC, and at the same time, help them to get the quoted price as well as helping them to deploy most of the solutions.

Regional Product Manager, Mitsumi Distribution, Mr. Sujal Desai, explained that even though there are other competitors in the technology distribution chain market, Mitsumi would continue to support the market with unique solutions that would facilitate market growth and sustainability. “In addition to distributing quality and affordable technology solutions, we are bringing to the market, technical support for staff, which is the key to business growth and sustainability, and which other distributors do not have.

So many partners in Nigeria want to supply the Dell EMC. portfolio, but they do not have the right support from the sales

and service sides of the business.

But Mitsumi is powering the complete portfolio with pre-sales team support and the technical support in Nigeria and outside Nigeria,� Desai said.

He promised the company would continue to build lasting relationships with its target audience, which include the government and the private sector like oil companies and banks, in such a way that it would help them to understand their requirements better. “We are introducing the latest Dell/EMC technology to all our customers to help grow their business,� Desai said. Located in Lagos, Mitsumi will continue to service its customers in other parts of the country, since all our expatriate staff and local staff seat in Lagos and operate from Lagos to other parts of the country, even to the remotest areas., Desai added.

Addressing the perceived high cost of technology solutions, Desai advised customers to understand that technology is evolving for the good of business growth and sustainability. “This is the reason we advise, our customers to embrace technologies as they evolve but the customers have to start from small scale before upscaling to what they actually need. Dell EMC solution allows customers to start small and upscale after the company must have expanded its operations,� Desai added.

We always advise our partners to develop solutions that are tailored made for SMEs because

NAICOM to Expend N20m on Insurance Rebranding Project Ebere Nwoji with Agency Report The insurance rebranding project, targeted at redefining the fortunes and future of insurance industry through public awareness and publicity may kick off this first quarter as scheduled as the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has contributed N20 million towards the commencement of the much awaited project.

The project is estimated to cost the industry a whooping N250 million. Out of this, the operators were demanding 50 percent contribution from NAICOM. This had initially stalled commencement of the project as the commission had insisted that the project was operators’ project therefore they should not mandate it on the contributions to make. According to findings, on their part, the insurers were initially at loggerheads over who would bring the bulk of the money needed for the project.

Kari, was said to have insisted that the commission would decides what amount to contribute for the project.

It was also gathered that against this backdrop, the operators had turned to the market leaders like Leadway Assurance, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc among others to take advantage of their market leadership position and provide the bulk of the money;

but this has not helped the matter.

But just recently, NAICOM was said to have released N20million as its own part payment for the project.

An agency report noted that the commission will before the end of this quarter, pay the balance of N20 million to makeup N40 million it had pledged to contribute towards the project.

Investigations also reveal that many underwriters have made their contributions as agreed last year. Operators had agreed to raise 50 per cent of the funds for the rebranding project from companies gross premium income, and the balance 50 per cent, shared evenly amongst themselves. The initiative, according to the committee, will be driven via social media, print and electronics, adding that greater attention will be on the social media due to the youth population.

The Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, said the rebranding project would not be product based, but a general awareness campaign on benefits of insurance.

She noted that the campaign is geared towards encouraging Nigerians to rely on insurance even as they make adventures.

She said the industry hopes to use the campaign to encourage Nigerians to pursue their visions vigorously with the assurance that insurers are always ready to support their dreams.

Lawyers Demand Speedy Review of Insurance Legislation in Nigeria Ebere Nwoji The Nigerian Insurance Law Association has observed that laws regulating the insurance industry in Nigeria are no longer up to date and needed to be reviewed and updated to reflect current situation in the industry.

The association has therefore called on the National Assembly to expedite the review of the existing insurance legislation, which is currently before.

One of the founding fathers of the group, Professor Joe

Irukwu, who stated this in his goodwill message at the 2018 Insurance Lawyers Seminar held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said an attempt was made in the past to review insurance laws in Nigeria by setting up a law reform committee for the industry chaired by him.

He said though the committee did a painstaking and thorough job, the group is yet to see the expected outcome of the review exercise.

He however expressed the hope that the national Assembly will put in place a standard

legislation that will lead the insurance industry in Nigeria to greatness. “It is encouraging to note that the National Assembly is working on the subject at present and hopefully will soon produce the necessary legislation that will address the relevant issues�, he said.

He told the seminar participants that insurance law as a discipline has been his a major interest for more than 50 years, and that in those 50 years, he has encouraged young ones through lectures, seminars

and his books, to embrace the insurance law discipline as a means of achieving their career progress and success in life, thereby building a formidable human capital for the insurance industry not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

He noted that the Nigerian Insurance Law Association was established to cater for the legal needs of the Industry, further adding that the organisation offers advice to the industry on developments pertaining to insurance laws, regulatory and compliance issues.

TOUCHING LIVES

A beneďŹ ciary of the scheme, Alice Okereke (L) receiving N20,000 from Executive Secretary of OUKF, Mrs. Jemimah Kalu during the launch of the scheme at Lokpanta ... recently

Japan, Indonesia, Others to Participate in Enugu Trade Fair Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) said on Thursday that six countries - Japan and Indonesia, the United States of America, South Africa, Ghana and Turkey. have indicated interest to participate in its forthcoming 29th Enugu International Trade Fair.

The fair according, to the chamber will hold from Friday 16th March to Monday 26th March, 2018.

President of ECCIMA, Mr. Emeka Udeze, who briefed journalists at the Chamber’s Complex in Enugu said the fair with the theme, ‘Engendering the Competitiveness of Nigerian Products in the Global Market’, will be declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He noted that several other indigenous firms have also shown interest in participating in the fair. Udeze stressed the need for the diversification of the nation’s economy in order to fully revitalise the economy, insisting that the obvious dependence on oil had become a major challenge

to the country.

He said: “The Agricultural Sector will continue to receive attention in our specially designated area during the Fair aimed at boosting indulgence in Agricultural production and commercial farming, more so as it remains a critical sector towards our diversification efforts, so also for the mining/ solid mineral sector, with focus on the linkages and value chain benefits. “As part of our efforts to boost the success of the Fair, we shall as it is strategic, visit some selected institutions and organisations for sensitisation and consolidating our network and reach marketing programme�.

Udeze stressed that ECCIMA cutting edge remains her efforts towards enhancing the special designated area in the Fair complex for the exhibition of new products, prototypes, innovations and research findings for commercialisation.

The ECCIMA president announced that the chamber had taken measures to boost infrastructure inside the Fair ground, including reinforcement of the electricity distribution.

FG Relaxes Cargo Import Policy on Palletisation Eromosele Abiodun In a bid to assuage importers opposition to its new cargo import policy on palletisation, the federal government has relaxed the rules guiding the policy and urged all importers to comply with international standards and stacking prescription by the original manufacturers of products.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, in a statement, said the decision was sequel to a series of complaints and requests received from the trading public in respect of the palletisation policy contained in the 2017 revised import guidelines to further strengthen the ease of doing business drive.

The statement by the Director, Home Finance, Olubunmi Siyanbola, on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said: “All container cargoes coming into Nigeria should comply with international standards for packing/stuffing and loading into containers; and specific packing and stacking standards prescribed by the original manufacturer of the product. “Dead-pile loading, or loading without pallets of containerised cargoes, is acceptable provided it

conforms to the criteria outlined above. With the exception of used automobiles and heavy machinery, any loose packed new or used items without manufacturers’ loading and packing prescriptions should be packed in crates or cartons atop pallets accordingly.�

The reviewed guideline stated that all containerised cargoes should be loaded neatly in a manner that will promote safety in handling and facilitate speedy examination and clearance at the ports by the Nigerian Customs Service.

The minister warned that failure to comply with the provisions designed for seamless implementation of the palletisation policy, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), “shall invoke sanctions as prescribed in the Addendum to the 2017 revised import guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance.�

Adeosun, however, added that the grace period given up to March 31, 2018 for exemption from palletisation policy of goods for which Form “M� had already been established prior to the effective date of January 1,2018 for full implementation of the policy, remained in force.

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Interswitch Moves to Revive STEM Education with SPAK Initiative Emma Okonji In order to revive the declining interest of students, teachers and parents in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, otherwise known as STEM education across the country, Interswitch, an integrated digital payment and commerce company, has launched its SPAK Initiative, conceived and developed to promote STEM education in Nigeria.

The initiative, called Interswitch SPAK, is poised to support Nigerian students in

SS 11, who are interested in acquiring technology and science related skills.

Introducing the initiative to the media in Lagos recently, the Chief Marketing Officer at Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele, said the initiative would help to develop STEM education skills among Nigerian students and also help to position young Nigerian workforce in meeting the needs of global and local employers who are currently in search of people that have acquired skills around STEM. The Registrar and Chief Execu-

tive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Charles Uwakwe, who was at the launch of SPAK Initiative, commended Interswitch for the initiative, and encouraged Nigerian students to take full advantage of the opportunity, which he said would help Nigeria to meet the employment requirements needed by today’s employers in the technology space. He said the initiative would also prepare the students to acquire technology skills that would make them innovative and competitive with their colleagues globally.

Giving details of the Interswitch SPAK Initiative and how students could be part of it, the Marketing Manager, Interswitch, Mr. Olawale Akanbi said the initiative is a national science competition that would begin in April 2018. He said the competition, which is open to all SS 11 students in private and public schools across the county, is school-based, requesting schools to register six of their best STEM students online at www.interswitchspak.com, while considering gender equality during registration.

Registration, which opened February 21, will close April 21, and registered students are expected to sit for a qualifying examination on April 21 at designated centres across the country. Registration is free to all interested students.

According to Akanbi, the best three students would be selected at the final stage, and scholarship awarded to them.

The top two students in the competition will be awarded a five-year scholarship, a Mac laptop and gold trophy; and a three-year scholarship, a laptop

and a silver trophy respectively, while the third position will receive a two-year scholarship, a laptop, and a bronze trophy. “This is indeed a laudable initiative which should increase student interest and enrolment in STEM subjects, among other benefits. Owing to existing incompetence levels, a large number of jobs in Nigeria’s employment ecosystem have been outsourced to expatriates.

Initiatives like SPAK will on the long run increase competitiveness and improve employment levels for Nigerians,� Eromosele said.

NCC, NOTAP, Others Commend Airtel on 4G Launch Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and Senate Committee on Communications, have commended Airtel Nigeria for launching its 4G LTE in Ibadan recently, aimed at providing faster and reliable internet for all Nigerians.

The Chairman of NCC Board of Commissioners, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, in his remark at a consumer launch event held recently in Ibadan, said Airtel’s upgrade and expansion to a 4G network in Ibadan would definitely improve telecommunications services and drive economic growth. “NCC is happy to celebrate with Airtel on this milestone and on other efforts aimed at achieving robust and extensive network coverage in Nigeria.

NCC has taken note of Airtel’s numerous giant strides towards the provision of good communication service – accelerating economic growth in our dear country,� he said.

Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Saheed Fijabi, commended Airtel for the continuous innovation and commitment to improve telecommunication service in Nigeria. “Airtel has been one of the companies that have always been complying with local content. We believe Airtel has been doing well and we will continue to give them our support,� Fijabi said.

Director General of NOTAP,

Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, also applauded the telco for its customer-centric offering; describing the launch of its 4G LTE has a timely revolution.

The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, hailed Airtel for deploying 4G in Ibadan, saying that he is glad that Airtel Nigeria has chosen Ibadan to pioneer the launch of its revolutionary 4G service.

He asked the people of Oyo state “to use what has been given to us today to empower ourselves and patronize Airtel Nigeria.�

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, while speaking during the event, said with the 4G launch, Airtel would power people, businesses and cultural advancement through technology in Ibadan. “Airtel 4G will help drive growth, spread prosperity and empower the highly enterprising people of Ibadan to fulfill their potentials and realize their dreams. “Our commitment is to deliver 4G Service that works to Nigerians as we will dramatically improve mobile Internet experience for telecoms consumers across the country. “Indeed, Airtel is committed to strengthening its position as a true pioneer of innovation in the Nigerian telecommunications domain, as this is in line with our overall corporate vision of becoming the mobile Internet service provider of first choice for every Nigerian,� Ogunsanya said.

CELEBRATING COMMERZBANK

L-R: Dr. Ulrike Schmuser; her husband and Senior Representative, Commerzbank, Mr. Olaf Schmuser; Mr. Olujimi and Mrs. Biola Agbaje; Head of Financial Institution, Commerzbank, Mrs. Angela Kurrle; and Consular General, Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Ingo Herbert, at the bank’s 10th year anniversary celebration, which took place at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos...recently

MIPAN Unveils Media Academy to Train Advertising Practitioners Raheem Akingbolu Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) has launched Alphabet Media Academy (AMA), the first of its kind media academy in the country, with the aim of creating a pool of well-trained talent that will shape the future of Media & Marketing Communications Industry in Nigeria and Africa.

The media academy was unveiled on Tuesday to newsmen, media advertising practitioners and other stakeholders. AMA is a unique project borne out of the ingenuity of the promoters, MIPAN. A gap analysis initiated by association revealed the deficiencies in the skill sets of

the current middle management staff of Media Independents quite clearly.

According to the statement released by the management of the academy, the objective of setting up the school is “To provide a Post Graduate Media Advertising Training for new entrants approaching the media advertising profession and young executives already working in the industry. To train students who would like to improve their current employment while others would be trained to be ‘employable’ and the Academy shall assist them in job placement with prospective employers and to contribute to the Ecosystem by providing a constant flow

of trainees/students who are well-trained with hands-on practical experience.�

Chief Executive Officer, Alphabet Media Academy, Eki Adzufeh, disclosed that the academy will run Post Graduate Programme in Media Management, with two specialized courses: Post Graduate Certificate in Media Management (PGCMM) for 10 Weekends and Post Graduate Diploma in Media Management (PGDMM) for 23 Weekends. “Courses (Certificate and Diploma) commences from April 2018. Lectures will be held at Grange School, Ikeja (Lagos) during the weekends (Saturday, Full day from 10 am to 5 pm, with one hour of break

and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm),� he explained.

AMA is, therefore, a project ‘For the Industry, by the industry’ as both the Board of Directors led by a veteran in the industry, Mr. Vincent Oyo, as Chairman and the faculty members are all Advertising industry related people.

Emphasising the importance of the course for practitioners, Oyo stated, “Because of the world we are in today, we are living in the world of technology and things have gone digital and therefore, we require people whose set skills can develop to be able to meet the world-class standards and we think with Alphabet Media Academy we can help them achieve that goal.�

11 Fidelity Bank Directors Receive FACT CertiďŹ cates Eleven directors of Fidelity Bank Plc were among 437 directors of companies recently awarded with Fiduciary Awareness Certification Test (FACT), a key component of the corporate governance Rating System (CGRS).

The bank as an institution also received the CGRS certificate among 35 companies that made over the 70 per cent threshold for the CGRS process.

The certificates were presented to the directors and companies at the award ceremony in Lagos that was organised by the Convention

on Business Integrity (CBI) in conjunction with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recently.

The highpoint of the occasion was the launch of the Corporate Governance Index of the NSE which seeks to track the performance of the 35 CGRS rated companies using their market capitalisation, free float and corporate governance rating scores. Speaking after receiving the certificates on behalf of the bank, Fidelity Bank’s Chairman, Mr. Ernest C. Ebi, described the awards as a significant achievement for the bank in particular,

and for other companies that were awarded.

Ebi stressed that receiving the award would strengthen the bank’s corporate governance process and boost investor confidence in the bank. “We feel quite good. You can see it’s a very significant achievement for all the companies that have been so recognised and particularly for us because all our board members actually went through the process and that would strengthen the corporate governance process in the bank.

So, we’re very pleased about it,�

Ebi said. “You know the beauty about it is that it boosts investor confidence in your bank or in your business because when they know that you have been through this process there is a lot to gain from the company. And going through the process itself brings out a lot of issues you may have had like corporate governance, investor relation and so on. “So for 11 directors of one bank in one board to go through this process is highly commendable.

And it is going to be a great morale booster for us and it will

encourage a lot of investors to look in our direction,� he added.

He said the bank would brace up to the challenge thrown up by the new premium index by ensuring that it takes very seriously three key factors – capital, risk management and corporate governance, in the course of doing business. Earlier in his address, the CEO of the Nigerian Stock (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the launch of the CGRS Index was an important milestone to strengthening listed companies by tracking their corporate governance practices.

“This index will increase transparency in our market and provide investors additional data points upon which to make sound decisions,� Onyema said.

The NSE boss congratulated the companies that have successfully completed the certification process.

On his part, the President of the Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders and Shareholder in Fidelity Bank, Dr. Farouk Umari, commended the recipients of the certificates for their achievements and described corporate governance as very critical.

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EDUCATION Obuebite: Bayelsa State is no Longer Educationally Backward Following the state of emergency declared by the Bayelsa State government in the education sector, the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite shared with Emmanuel Addeh some of the successes recorded in the sector so far; the benefits of the Education Development Trust Fund, among other issues. Excerpts: Before the coming of this government, what was the state of education in Bayelsa State?

Well, Alamieyeseigha (Diepreye), our leader of blessed memory looked at the area of providing university education for our people and the Niger Delta University was established but we all forgot that it is not just having a tertiary institution. You have to look at the foundation where you grow them to the point of going into tertiary institutions.

You had schools that didn’t even have classrooms. That is, there were no enough classrooms for the number of students in the school. You had schools that students were sharing classrooms. You had schools that within one school environment, you have another school again that shares the same compound with them.

You had schools that didn’t have desks or chairs for students to sit and write on. It was that bad. That led to a lot of issues like in my area, you talk about teenage pregnancy. Most of our children succeeded in writing WAEC, and after that, that was the end. No one thought about going further or for those that had incomplete papers to go back to complete their papers and move forward.

So, education in Bayelsa was something that needed intervention. I am not condemning every other government that has been. And that is what I think informed the governor’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the sector.

Following the declaration of the state of emergency in the education sector, how is it now?

Well, we started with the building and renovation of primary schools in the state; more than 400 schools were renovated. Then building of headmasters’ quarters in every school; you need the headmasters to be there. Before now, if people are posted to our rural communities, they didn’t want to go. So that was done and also teachers’ quarters were built.

From the primary schools, we moved into secondary schools, renovated and built most and if not all the secondary schools that we have in this state, and built principal’s quarters and vice-principal’s quarters.

The governor then employed 300 science and ICT teachers in this state in order to have the right teachers to use the equipment that have been provided. And from there, the funding and of course, you are aware that within this period, the college of education in Oporoma, for about three years had a student population of not more than 30 or 50 students and a staff population of more than 100. Why? Location!

It was taken to a place that is accessible; to a place where it will attract students. And the college of education today as I speak is functioning very well. Students have been graduating from it.

You are aware of the school of health technology, we had so many problems, we had to intervene, get a governing council, make the right appointments and of course that place has started kicking.

We have the University of Africa, and also we have established the polytechnic in Bayelsa State.

A lot has changed. Yesterday, we were referred to as educationally backward but today we have a state where in NECO and WAEC, we have students emerging fifth, third and the Bayelsa child emerged as the second best graduating student in 2017; a feat we have never seen before.

Before now, it was 28th, 29th, etc.

In terms of numbers, how many of these schools have been built by the government so far and how much has been spent on the sector?

Obuebite

We have 25 modern constituency schools that were built by this government from scratch and we have them in all the 24 constituencies and Southern Ijaw has an additional one.

The Ijaw National Academy, from foundation, there was nothing like Ijaw National Academy.

There was nothing like sports Azuzuama before.

That is why when we say we have spent about N70 billion in education, it is on the ground.

It is not rocket science, you can see and feel it.

Our target is to have 15,000 boarding students in the state per session in secondary schools.

Our dream is 15/20 years after now, what they will become is the target of this government.

So that these children will not see those men (karowei) as their role models but will look at you that is doing something meaningful and long to be like you. So that is the target. We are actually begging parents to take their children to those schools. We had to do jingles and adverts pleading with parents to send their children to school.

How is the government coping with the huge expenses?

Well, that is the beauty of the whole thing.

Remember when we just started, the issue of sustainability came in. And that is why the bill for the Education Development Trust Fund was sent to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. And you saw what happened.

Civil servants were shouting, ‘oh, heavens will fall, in fact people will die, this will happen’, but today let me tell you the good news. Today even if every other sector suffers, every day, because of that law, whatever we get as our IGR in the state, five per cent goes to the trust fund, every civil servant pays according to the level that he is, a certain percentage of his salary.

As a political appointee, I also have a certain percentage that I pay; we political appointees pay more. In that fund, every month, we are getting about N80-100 million.

The students will never lack. So there is no day I will wake up as the commissioner of education and somebody will call me that we don’t have food or money for our children.

What is really the problem with the primary school teachers and will the take-over of payment of salaries solve the problem permanently?

In 2016, you all are aware that there was a time people were afraid that this country will collapse. Our naira suffered great depreciation we all know it, pump price was increased thinking it will help shore it up but it didn’t work. Today, we are still crying because they want to increase it again.

This country is still in recession and within that period, a state that has a wage bill of over four billion, the allocation that was coming to the state as at then after all the deductions, in some months, we had N1.5 billion. So, you end up using maybe one, two or three months to pay one month salary and from 2015. We negotiated it that no matter what, let us stop everything and pay salaries, but for 2017, from the first month to the last month, we never owed our workers.

But for local government, it was a different ball game. The state government could no longer meet up with augmentation which was 80 per cent for four years, we couldn’t even pay our workers. Before you help someone to solve his problem, first, you have to solve your own problem. That was the situation we found ourselves. And that is why we owed.

For local government, they have a salary bill of 1.3 billion and the allocation that was coming, sometimes there was 100 to 400 million and you have a total wage bill of 1.3 billion. Some of them owed up to about 10 months, some nine, some eight, but they too have tried, but that of Ogbia is a sorry situation.

People tend to always refer the issue of local government and teachers to the state government, no, it is local government responsibility, it is in the constitution.

What is this issue of competency test about considering that states that have done it are having problems?

There is no issue of competency test, I have said it before; we don’t have any issue like that. What we have is that we have sent to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly a bill to establish a board and the name is Teacher

Retraining, Registration and Certification Board.

We have a problem, the problem we have is that for years, the teachers have not been given training and education is something that you update yourself. There is need for training and the board is to ensure that every year all our teachers undergo training. When you train somebody, it is good to give the person a certificate showing that he participated.

Then registration, so that at every point in time, whenever you are trained, register as a teacher that has been trained, we know those who have not been trained and we are not going to do it for public schools alone because you know that when a state is rated, education is nationwide.

It is not just public schools because even private schools write WAEC, so the training will be for all teachers both public and private. We are doing this because we have discovered that there are people who are not fit to be teachers, mostly in the private sector.

Our people pay money for their children’s fees, but when you look at the crop of persons they have there, some are just secondary school dropouts that have not got the secondary school certificate.

So that is what the board does: to ensure that anybody who is in our education system as a teacher, even when you have your NCE, we will help train you again and make you better. So the issue of test, we are not doing that, we are not writing any exam for anybody just like they did in Kaduna. What we want to do is to encourage our teachers, encourage them to do well.

Has the Education Safety Corps Law minimized cultism in secondary schools and how would you react to the issue of corporal punishment in schools?

Well, the measure of punishment that you will refer to as corporal punishment depends on certain things, but one thing we must all realise is that we cannot take away discipline in our system.

The manner it is being done is what we can look into. We are supposed to have a good education system in our primary and secondary school which is a foundation. In the universities, nobody cares; discipline is something we will not throw away. But we must have a measure of what you can do to a child, the manner it is done. So, the person who is enforcing discipline must be disciplined enough to enforce discipline. I have had to suspend teachers for various reasons. I have suspended about three or four not because they are not disciplined but one or two issues.

As we speak, there is a particular school that I visited in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, they have about 13 teachers, I met only four of them and immediately issued a query to them.

What are you doing about mushroom private schools in the state?

More than half of the private schools in the state are not measuring up to standard. As a government, we have gone round the private schools, investigated them and compiled the list of all unqualified private schools in the state.

In no distant time, about 250 private primary and secondary schools in the state will be closed down for not measuring up to standard.

The affected private schools would be made public to enable the people of Bayelsa to take precautionary measures. Most of those schools would be denied accreditation/approval to take WAEC and other national examinations done in the state.

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EDUCATION

Experts Canvass Knowledge-based Curriculum Planning Ugo Aliogo Stakeholders in the education sector have called on the federal government to be committed in its drive to reposition the sector through proper planning of the curriculum from a knowledgebased model to critical thinking, problem solving and innovation.

They stressed the need to bring together key stakeholders in the planning process and that government must actively invest in ICT for the growth of the sector with a focus to strengthen the skills sets of students in public primary and secondary school levels in the use of computer, while helping to build their capacity to creatively think and innovate in a world driven by technology.

They argued that a situation where the planning and drafting of the curriculum is done without considering the demands of the teachers and

everything is done behind closed doors and passed down to them for teaching and learning is unhealthy and unprofessional for the growth of the sector.

Speaking at the 2018 Africa top schools conference and awards with the theme: ‘21st Century Learning: The Challenges of Curriculum and Environment’ the Principal of Olashore International School, Osun State, Mr. Derek Smith said government and stakeholders should leverage on the use of ICT to improve teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools. “In the 21st century, education has changed therefore if government wants the sector to keep pace with other sectors, there is need to improve the knowledge base of students through active involvement in ICT. “There is need to improve the teaching methods by incorporating technology gadgets such as IPads, mini-computers in the

learning process. If we continue teaching them to pass examination and not use technology, we are not preparing them for the future.�

He said creativity would be one of the top skills employers of labour would need in the near future, adding that if Africa wants to build a pipeline of future skills, educators should design future-ready curriculum that would encourage critical thinking and emotional intelligence, as well as accelerate acquisition of digital and STEM

(Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) skills to match the way people would work. “Technology is a big change in the classroom. It is the learning, not the technology; no matter how much money you put to introduce technology, if it is not backed up by effective learning, it will be in vain. The core skills set we require in the 21st century includes critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and communication, creativity and imagination, citizenship and digital literacy.

“The key thing is to focus on the learning and to know what you want the children to learn and think about how technology can help. Another crucial area is to think about the curriculum, what we are giving to them and the skills set that should be imparted on them. “What is important for me is that as school leaders, we should consider what we are trying to teach the children in line with what the country needs to be successful 10 years from now and be at the cutting edge

of the world. Training is vital if government is considering putting technology into learning. “I don’t think there is anything as a perfect curriculum, we should keep reviewing the curriculum. It is not the content of the curriculum that is vital; it is how it is taught to children so that they go forward. We need to teach students to learn and adapt as the world changes.

We need to be more focused on the skills we are giving the children,� Smith stressed.

Ambode Approves Monthly Stipends for RSW Interns Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the payment of N30,000 as monthly stipends to ReadySetWork (RSW) interns who have been placed in various organisations for a six-month paid internships, as well as N8 million in seed funding for the top five winners of the RSW business pitch competition, whose businesses will be placed in incubation.

The beneficiaries will commence their internships and incubation on March 1.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, who disclosed this in a statement, said the interns were part of the 2,000 final year students from six tertiary institutions in the state that took part in the 2017 edition of the 13-week intensive entrepreneurship and employability training programme.

He said the programme, which held its pilot in 2016 with 500 final year students from three tertiary institutions in the state, was scaled up in 2017 to 12,000 students from six institutions including Lagos State University (LASU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Lagos State College of Health Technology, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education. “In 2016, we placed 76 students on internships with partner organisations like PwC, SystemSpecs, Total, GTBank, FCMB and Access Bank, who provided six-month paid internship opportunities for RSW graduates,� he said, adding that the governor has further expanded the scheme by approving funds

to place an additional 100 RSW graduates on internship positions with SMEs in Lagos with monthly stipends provided by the government. “In 2017, we were able to scale up and secure internship slots in about 180 organisations across the state for 1,000 top performing RSW graduates.

The placement process involved a series of internship fairs where companies had the opportunity to interview and select their interns from a pool of qualified candidates.�

Bank-Olemoh added that preparation for the 2018 edition has commenced saying, “this year, we are further expanding the programme to train 25,000 students. 5,000 final year students will participate in the 13-week face-to-face classes, while 20,000 students in their penultimate year will take part in the RSW online academy.

The programme is also increasing the number of participating schools to accommodate more students.

The new institutions are Yaba College of Technology, Federal College of Education (Technical) and a private institution, Caleb University, as the special adviser noted that the inclusion of new schools is in line with the administration’s commitment to ensuring that every student that graduates from any tertiary institution in state is prepared for the world of work as an employer of labour or a value-adding employee.

He called on professionals from various sectors to join the RSW faculty, the largest volunteer faculty in Nigeria, as facilitators for the 2018 training programme. “The RSW faculty recruitment has already kicked-off officially on February 22 and the application portal will be accessible on the programme website - www.readysetwork. com.ng.�

L-R:The Business Development Manager, Design Genre Consultants, Mr. Dayo Oduleye; the winners- Odunrombi Bambi and Makinde Emmanuel; the Head, Department of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Mr. Adetokunbo Ilesanmi; Project Architect, Design Genre Consultants, Miss Karipre Beredugo; and the President, Ife Architecture Student Association (IFASA), Mr. OkeTemidayo, at the design competition held at OAU Architecture Department‌ recently

Benue Killings: Rochas Foundation Awards 1,000 Scholarships to Displaced Children The Rochas Foundation has awarded 1,000 scholarships to children in displaced camps in Benue State as a result of the recent clashes in the state.

The Director General of the foundation, Mrs. Uloma Rochas Nwosu announced this in an interview with journalists at the 20th anniversary celebration of the foundation at Heroes Square, Owerri, Imo State recently.

She said the scholarship was part of the agenda of the foundation which is to take off one million African children from the streets by 2030.

The Benue State government recently announced that over 10,000 children are unable to go to school as a result of killings and clashes between herdsmen and farmers forcing thousands to relocate to camps for displaced

persons.

As a foundation, we shall be offering free and qualitative education to 1,000 children at the IDP Camp in Benue State. This may not be enough considering that over 10,000 children are estimated to be out of school as a result of the recent clashes in that state,� she said.

The President of the foundation and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha called on well to do citizens in Africa to establish educational foundations that could help reduce illiteracy in the continent.

He said the call has become necessary in view of increasing illiteracy in Africa. “Those children that have poor background can become somebody if provided opportunity to attend schools.�

He therefore appealed to

well to do Africans to join in the campaign to take one million children off the streets by 2030, adding that he is convinced that children of the continent if properly educated are the future of the world. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rochas Foundation, I am using the opportunity to launch ‘Vision 2030’ which is aimed at taking one million African children off the streets by that date. I urge everyone to volunteer. Help train a child in school because I am convinced that these children, if properly trained, are the future of the world.�

Okorocha pointed out that the foundation has come to stay in tackling the problem of the less privileged, not only in Nigeria but in other African countries.

He revealed that since inception of the Rochas Foundation College in Owerri in 2001, admission has increased to more than 16,000 students with more than 4,000 having graduated from the university.

Also speaking, the Director General of the foundation, Mrs. Nwosu said: “From the modest first Rochas Foundation College, Owerri in 2001 we have grown into 10 different colleges across the country, we also have the Rochas Foundation College of Africa with five children from 55 African countries.�

The wife of the governor and Vice-President of the foundation, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, expressed joy that what started in Jos, Plateau State as a modest contribution to help humanity has grown into a phenomenon.

Kogi Warns 108 Principals against Exam Malpractice Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The principals of 108 secondary schools involved in exam malpractice in Kogi State have been warned to desist from the act or face the full wrath of the law.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya gave the warning at a meeting with principals of affected schools in Lokoja.

According to her, stiff penalties

as prescribed by law will be used to curb the menace of examination malpractice in the state, adding that the 108 schools which comprise 84 public and 24 private secondary schools were ‘seriously warned’ by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for engaging in one form of exam malpractice or the other.

Osikoya said 30 schools were perpetual offenders for three consecutive years which needed urgent attention, adding

that 47 schools were recently de-recognised by WAEC due to various exam malpractices. “We are sounding serious warning to all the affected schools to have a change of attitude. Let us be law abiding citizens, let us tell our people that it is no longer acceptable to engage in exam malpractice in Kogi. “Governor Yahaya Bello says no to corruption, let us together raise a generation that is free of corruption and

build a great nation. Parents also have a responsibility to ensure that their children do not engage in any form of exam malpractice; stop giving money to your children to bribe officials to aid exam malpractice,� the commissioner said.

Earlier, the Head of Exams, WAEC, Mr. Oyeniran Akanni, said the council had zero tolerance for exam malpractice and would not condone such act, stressing that everything would be done to curtail the menace.

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KIA Lakeside Academy Assures Parents of Quality Education, Facilities Uchechukwu Nnaike In the past, brand positioning was alien to the Nigerian education sector, but over the years, the emergence of private institutions spanning the crèche, nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary education has changed the landscape.

The relevance of any brand, even in the education sector is said to be judged by criteria like presence and voltage. A strong brand can also be described as one which has market leadership, viable brand perception, high top of mind recall and visible presence in the marketplace.

In today’s world-class education setting, one can visualise the distinctiveness of a brand from the most imaginative classroom experience. Imagine a chain of events and lessons that generate eclectic results; results of smart graduating students that incite smiles across classrooms, homes and bedrooms of satisfied parents. All these and more are what KIA Lakeside Academy, a crèche, nursery, primary and secondary school in Abuja is poised to generate.

Like all premium education institutions across the world, it is their branding that stands them out of the pack. This branding includes not just their uniqueness in architectural structures, but their distinctiveness in offering quality education to the students with ripple benefits to their parents, families, communities and the nation.

It is this offering of quality facilities and faculty that distinguishes KIA Lakeside Academy among its peers. Recently, the school was officially dedicated to God and formally unveiled to the public by the Primate, Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, who prayed that the school be used to raise God fearing children. The school made the formal unveiling with a clear and strong declaration- I am poised to the lead no matter the competition.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Governing Council of the school, Prof.

Oladapo Afolabi stated that the KIA Lakeside

Academy which was established in Jabi, Abuja with just seven pupils at inception, has grown to 200 students. He said the school was established in 2008 as Lakeside Academy, but was renamed in memory of the late Kunbi Irene Adebiyi (KIA), who lost her life in the unfortunate 2013 Dana air crash. “Kunbi was a prodigious child in whom the parents, friends, family members and well-wishers were well pleased. Kunbi was someone who cared for others, especially the less privileged. She graduated with BSc in Economics and obtained a master’s degree in Development Economics. She also had a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the Harvard University. “In pursuit of her love to care for others, she established, quite early in life, a nongovernmental organisation through which she sponsored and provided succour for the less privilege persons in Nigeria and Ghana. Her major goal was to give them a chance to survive and grow to become their best in life. “She spent most part of her time in the rural communities interacting with rural dwellers, in a bid to seek for avenues to uplift their lives and give them a chance to actualise their dreams, even in the face of their prevailing circumstances. She was like a shoulder for the poor to lean on.

She did not like to see people suffer. So, all through her life, she fought to lift less privileged out of their poverty.�

Afolabi added: “This school is established in her memory. She will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all those she sought to give a wing to fly their dreams. The goal of this school is to continue from where Kunbi stopped. KIA Lakeside Academy is designed to give all Nigerians and every other people the opportunity to access quality and affordable education. The school is not established for profit making. “The goal is to offer world class education to all who are opportune to apply and gain admission here. The facilities in this school

can compare with the best anywhere in the world. The teachers and administrators are carefully selected and recruited based on high standards.�

He encouraged parents and guardians to seize the opportunity offered by the school to access quality education for their children and wards.

In his remarks, the special guest, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Umar Gambo Jibrin commended the Proprietress, Mrs. Titilayo Adebiyi and her husband Prof.

Dan Adebiyi for establishing such a quality and impressive educational institution. “Education is key to development.

We encourage people and institutions to partner and collaborate with government in establishing great institutions like KIA Lakeside Academy that promotes development both for the individual and for the society�.

He said the government is willing at all times to support endeavours like this. “We will support KIA Lakeside Academy and any other private institution that seeks our support to enable our children receive the best educational training possible for the development of our country.� \The students demonstrated the strength of character on which the school was established as they recited poems, danced and dramatized the core values of the school. In one of the drama skits, they showcased their desire for a united Nigeria. While as in the dance which encapsulated the message ‘the future is here’ weaved in the same concept of the unity of Nigeria they performed different dance forms representing the six geo-political regions of Nigeria.

It was interesting and instructive to watch students from mostly the south-east and south-south regions perform excellently Fulani dance steps, just as students from the northern region performed the atilogwu or the Yoruba dance to the admiration of the audience.

Create a Conducive Learning Environment- Physical Safety Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă? ÞÙ ËŠĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?ËŞË› ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžËœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽË› Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™ ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÒËÚÚĂ?Ă˜Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‹ ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? ĂœĂ?ËÖÓÞã Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ÑÙÙÎ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂž ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂŁĂ?ÒÙÖÙÑÓĂ?Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă’Ă‹Ă— Ă‹Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂĄËœ åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă–Ă?Ę° ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă‹ ÚÓĂ?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă‹ ĂšĂŁĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă“ĂŽ Ă™Ă? 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Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?âÓÞ ĂŽĂ™Ă™ĂœĚ™Ă?Ěš Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ě‹ Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ë› Í°Ěš Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂšĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ù×ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ™ĘľĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ĂšĂ?Ă˜Ě‹Ă’Ă™Ă–ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂ™Ă˘Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› ͹̚ ÙÞĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă–Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă•Ă?ÚÞ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă– ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ë› Ͳ̚ Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ“ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ăœ ÚÖĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÚÙĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă¤Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ? ÞÙ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËʼ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă‹ĂšĂ? Ùʼ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ě‹ĂĄĂ“ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă‹Ă Ă?ĂœĂž Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? ÚÖĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂžĂ? ʨâĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁË› ͳ̚ Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă?ÙÙÎ Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ě‹ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĂŽĂ™ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă• ÞÙ Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËŞĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‘ĂŁ Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ëà ÙÓÎ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ËÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă Ă“Ă?ÞÓײ Í´Ěš ĂœĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ËŞ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ËŁ ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă™Ă–ĂŽËœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă•Ă?Þã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁËŁ Ă–Ă– Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ™Ă–ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ÚÖËĂ?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă— Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ ÚÖËĂ?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă”Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂšĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ‹Ă—Ăš ×ÙÖÎĂ? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă— Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă— ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă?ÚÞ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ë› ;̚ Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂŒĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ë› ÙÙÕ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘Ě‹ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă–Ă–ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ù×̋ Ă—Ă™ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă™Ă— Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŒĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞËĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĘŽĂ&#x;ÓÎÓÞã Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™ ÞÒËÞ Ă˜Ă™ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž ËŠĂ™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ËŞ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÙÙ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ë› ̚͜ Ă“Ă?ÚÖËã ÚÙĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ’Ă‹ĂšĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă’ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ”Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙÚÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ×ÙÎĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂŁĂ?ÒÙÖÙÑÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ë› ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă?Ë? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ ÞÙÖĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă“Ă Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ&#x;ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ̚͡ ĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂœĂ?ËÕ̋ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÙÓÖĂ?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ë› Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?ËÞÓĂ?Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Þã Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ë› ÍŻÍŽĚš Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÖÙÙÕ Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁË› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă—Ă“ĂŽĚ‹ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă–ĂŁËœ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă–ĂŁ Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ ÞÙÚÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?ÞÒĂ?ÞÓĂ? Ă?ËÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ÞÖã Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ë›

L-R: Prof. Dan Adebiyi and his wife, Mrs. Titilayo Adebiyi the Proprietress, KIA Lakeside Academy Nursery, Primary and Secondary School; the Primate, Church of Nigeria, Archbishop, Nicholas Okoh; and Chairman of the school’s Governing Council, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, during the official dedication of the school in Abuja‌ recently

C’River Primary School Teachers to Get Arrears of 2016 Salaries Bassey Inyang in Calabar There seems to be a ray of hope in the horizon for about one thousand teachers in the employ of the Cross River State Government who are being owed between one and seven months salaries since June 2016.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said in Calabar that the state government has agreed to pay the arrears of the salaries owed five per cent of the about 20,000 teachers, as well as settle other issues agitating members of the union.

The Chairman of the state chapter of NUT, Eyo Nsa Itam spoke to journalists shortly after he led a delegation from the

NUT to meet with the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu to address areas of conflict between the teachers and the state government.

He said the meeting was at the instance of Governor Ben Ayade, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued by the NUT to the state government to meet the union’s demands. “We are praying that what we have agreed should be actualised. If that is done, I surely believe that there would be no problems. The committee has been given one month, but the governor has appealed that the government should be given two months for all the issues raised by the union to be resolved.

“Teachers are owed between one and seven months from June 2016 to December 2016, some teachers where owed one month.�

He said both parties have agreed on a number of issues and that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed soon.

He said other issues for which the teachers were agitating include implementation of promotion of primary school teachers; the refund of funds deducted from teachers’ registration fees; payment of two months arrears of dues; refund of deduction for cooperative organised by the union; and the implementation of the directive of the state governor that the names of four teachers who were removed from the payroll be reinstated.

Ě‹ Omoru writes from the UK

Entry Opens for PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge The PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC) competition has commenced registration for its fifth edition. The competition, an initiative of the PZ Cussons Foundation and supported by some of its premium brands, Premier and Nunu Milk, is designed to promote the study of chemistry through open competition among public and private secondary schools in Lagos.

Since its inception in 2013 the competition has grown from barely over 800 participants to 3,000 in 2017 being its most successful edition.

In a statement, the Executive

Director for Brand Development and Activation, Christos Giouras said the continuous increase in the number of participants each year is a testament to the fact that the objectives of the competition are being achieved. “Our main objective with the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge is to stimulate and inspire the learning of chemistry among students and raise their IQ, while demonstrating the relevance of chemistry in our society. To see how the competition has grown over the years is very inspiring, and we are indeed pleased to be kicking off the fifth season.

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Dangote Cement Awards Multi-million Naira Scholarships to 115 in Host Communities Jonathan Eze To fulfil its corporate social responsibility profile, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant has announced a multi-million naira scholarship for 115 students from its 15 host communities for the 2017/2018 academic session.

The company said the scholarship has become an annual event meant to contribute to the educational development of the people and the area and position them in right place in the scheme of things in Ogun State and Nigeria in general.

The acting Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Ibese, Mr. Louis Raj, while speaking during the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries, at Ibese Plant, explained that the management decided to increase the number of beneficiaries to 115 from the previous 80 so that more children of

the area could benefit.

He said the decision was meant to encourage the young ones to go to school as a sure way of building them mentally and morally so that they can be good to themselves and the society.

According to him, the scholarship award is one of the many social services the company has committed itself to and continues to provide other social services as a way of giving back to the society within which it operates.

Raj stated that the scholarship and other CSR projects were being undertaken as a way of saying thank you to the people for maintaining and sustaining peace in the area, pointing out that it was the prevailing atmosphere of peace that makes the company to operate smoothly.

He expressed the manage-

ment’s gratitude to the royal fathers and other community leaders whose efforts have accounted for the peace and tranquillity, adding that the company would wish the spirit of peaceful coexistence continues.

The General Manager, Government and Community Relations, Joseph Alabi, while giving the breakdown of the scholarship, said the award covered 115 students of Yewa

origin studying various courses in several higher institutions across the country, as well as secondary schools scattered across Ogun State.

Alabi also announced a list of candidates from the host communities who have been selected to attend Dangote Academy for training in various arts and vocations, pointing out that the training would equip them with the wherewithal to work and do

their own business whenever they chose to. “In Dangote Group, CSR to our communities is our watchword and focus. Giving scholarships, construction of roads and drainages, provision of transformers and other projects to connect communities to national grid, among others are what we do every year. We award scholarships to communities in order to give the communities part

of the wealth being created. “I think everything is not about money but the main benefit is to provide them the opportunity to have better education and in the future, if they are good students, well-qualified, we will also offer them opportunities to work here at Ibese Cement Plant. This is part of CSR to ensure good relations, good partnership with our communities,� he added.

1,210 Indigent Kwara Students Get Saraki’s Free UTME Forms Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A total of 1,210 indigent students have benefited from the free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms for this year’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, distributed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Besides, over 500 students from Ilorin Emirate also got various amounts for the payment of West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees at the instance of Saraki’s scholarship scheme.

Saraki is representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, which comprises Asa, Ilorin West, Ilorin East and

Ilorin South Local Government Areas.

A statement issued by the Director, Media and Publicity of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Constituency Office, Alhaji Abdullahi Oganija, said the intervention became imperative in view of the people’s recurring demands. It said Saraki also increased the payment of WAEC fees of another 80 students of the emirate.

The statement said the gesture was borne out of Saraki’s desire to boost the level of education in the emirate, adding that the constituency office would remain committed to the well-being of the less privileged in the society so as to move the state forward.

LBS Dean Gets International Appointment The Dean of Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Enase Okonedo has been appointed Secretary-Treasurer for Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. She was elected to the board in 2015 and her new position became effective February 6, 2018.

Okonedo is an accomplished professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services and business education sector, and has held several leadership positions at LBS, including that of the EMBA director, academic director, and deputy dean of academics.

In recognition of her exemplary leadership and contributions to the Nigerian education sector she was conferred fellow of the Society of Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN). She is also a fellow of the Institute of

Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), and a fellow of the International Academy of Management (IAM).

Okonedo also served as a chairperson and member of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS) Board of Directors and is the president of AIFA Reading Society in Nigeria.

Other appointees are John Elliott, Dean of the School of Business at the University of Connecticut as Vice Chair/ Chair elect and Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, Dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, has assumed the role as Chair of the board of directors of AACSB International.

As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.

L-R: A member, Advisory Board, Supreme Education Foundation (SEF) Schools, Magodo, Lagos, Dr. Tunji Abimbola; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, SEF, Mrs. Olubukola Adewuyi; the founder, SEF, Mrs. Adenike Adamolekun; Chairman, Advisory Board, SEF, Mr. Peter

King’s College Principal Solicits Stakeholders’ Support for School’s Devt Funmi Ogundare The acting Principal of King’s College, Lagos, Mrs. Elizabeth Ibezim has appealed to corporate bodies and parents to continue to support the school towards its growth and physical development.

Ibezim, who made the call during the school’s 98th annual inter-house sports competition, also admonished parents to support their children in developing their talents so that they can be empowered in future.

She commended the Federal Ministry of Education for intervening in several areas of the college, saying, “part of the evidence of the current efforts by the ministry is seen in the immediate vicinity of the main arena, a new toilet for the use of students, while others are found at different locations of the college.�

She described sports as a viable economic tool rather than just entertainment, saying that talented sportsmen and women are among professionals who are well remunerated in the world today. “It is the practice of the college to provide quality education that will be the envy of her peers in all ramifications; we would discover talents that would become national heroes and heroines. I also have no doubt that the teachers have fulfilled all righteousness by training the children so that they can showcase their innate and acquired capacity to this gathering.�

The acting principal explained that the essence of the competition is to catch them young and encourage the natural potential in them and also inculcate in them the spirit of fairness, competitiveness and

the importance of exercise to healthy living at a young age.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Sunday Echono described sports all over the world as an integral part of formal education due to its invaluable contributions to the physical, mental and emotional development of the learner. “Sports promotes selfdiscipline, team spirit, healthy rivalry, national and international peace, understanding and cooperation,� he said, adding that the ministry has continued to encourage sporting activities among its institutions in line with its impact.

While commending all stakeholders of the college for their support and dedication to its development, he said,

“government is not oblivious of the fact that education of the citizens requires synergy of all and therefore encourages supports for its institutions which should be done within the constitutional provisions.

A former Principal of the college, Chief Oladele Olapeju, who commended the efforts of the acting principal, stressed the need to catch the students by ensuring that they participate in all categories of sports including cheering up participants in sports competition rather than getting carried away with foreign football competitions.

He expressed concern that, “we don’t have serious officials in our sports ministries; they should make it part of their routine duties to monitor what goes on in the school system and ensure that talents are doing well. This is why we are not doing well in world athletics.�

Kwara Assembly Warns State Institutions against Admitting Students for Unaccredited Courses Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The leadership of the Kwara State House of Assembly has warned state-owned tertiary institutions against admitting students for unaccredited courses, saying that it would be a worthless effort and would not impact their future career prospects.

The house gave the warning in its resolutions after adopting a motion on the need for accreditation and re-accreditation

of courses in state-owned tertiary institutions.

The Chairman, Education Committee of the House, Hon. Jimoh Akanni, who moved the motion, solicited the support of his colleagues to make sure it scales through.

The house therefore directed all state-owned tertiary institutions to stop admitting students for courses not accredited to guard against unemployment and other problems associated with

fake certificates.

The Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad said the state should set aside more funds for education, describing it as a critical area rather than earmarking huge sums to other sectors.

He urged the state government to release N450 million for all the state-owned tertiary institutions as requested from the funds approved in 2018 appropriation bill for accreditation.

The speaker commended the education committee for a job well done, saying that the house would not wait till there is a crisis in any institution before extending a helping hand.

He directed the House Committee on Education and Human Capital Development with the assistance of the deputy speaker to meet with the state government on issues bordering the legislature.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

36

CITYSTRINGS

Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă?Ă?˛ËÔĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Kwara’s Harvest of Criminals The desire of the Kwara State Police Command to bring a new lease of life to residents of the state recently got a boost with the mass arrest of criminals, writes Hammed Shittu

Some criminals paraded by the state police command in Ilorin

S

takeholders in the security management have identified community policing as a major strategy that can be used by state police formations in the country to address the high wave of crimes in the society. This is so as the people remain a major tool to get information about the day to day activities of their friends, well wishers among others and thereby providing necessary information to the police if otherwise the residents embarked on any crime activities within such community that they are policing.

In doing that, they would be able to assist the security agencies especially the police command in tackling the high rate of crimes in the society.

No wonder, this is the strategy that was recently used by the Kwara State Police Command under the leadership of Alhaji Lawan Ado at arresting the criminals that have been terrorising the residents of the state in the past few months.

The community policing strategy couple with the technical intelligence gathering among the rank and file of the state police command has manifested in the success recorded during the period under review.

This community policing policy of the state police command has afforded the state police command to get in touch with the residents on crime management and the development has brought a new lease of life to the residents of the state in the war against crime in the state.

However, the state Police Commissioner, Ado while speaking with journalists in Ilorin recently on the new breakthrough on crime management said that, the achievement recorded by the command was as a result of effective community policing in the state which has made the people to volunteer vital information that led to the arrest of the suspected criminals that cut across armed robbers and kidnappers in the state.

Parading the suspected criminals in the state, Ado said that, the state police command has arrested a gang of kidnapers and cattle rustlers

who went away from Kwara State with over 200 cows.

He said that, they were arrested in Niger State where they had escaped to.

Ado explained that the police from the Niger State Command were able to arrest the suspects after his command shared with the Mokwa Police Station in Niger State, an intelligence about the movement of the suspects.

The state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Lawan Ado while speaking with journalists in Ilorin recently on the new breakthrough on crime management said that, the achievement recorded by the command was as a result of effective community policing in the state which has made the people to volunteer vital information that led to the arrest of the suspected criminals that cut across armed robbers and kidnappers in the state

He said that in the process of arresting the suspects, a police corporal, Machi Yusuf who is an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), unfortunately lost his life.

Ado said that the policeman died in an exchange of gunfire with the kingpin of the kidnap gang, Adamu Abacha.

He said Abacha, after the clash, escaped to the bush and that while the SARS operatives were combing the bush for him, they found his dead body on the ground and also recovered from there, his AK 47 rifle he buried in the ground.

The police commissioner said 233 cows were recovered from the gang and that six live ammunitions were retrieved alongside the rifle recovered from their dead boss.

He said six of the gang members who were arrested would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

The police boss also disclosed that two people among four suspected to have kidnapped a man, Hassan Taiye, in his mosque in Chikanda in Baruten Local Government Area of the state had been arrested.

He said four men two of whom were in Army uniform kidnapped the victim and took him to an unknown destination after injuring his vigilante guard with a gunshot.

Ado further disclosed the recovery of 10 motorcycles from a gang of armed robbers specialising in theft of motorcycles in Ilorin.

The police boss who said his men arrested two members of the gang after a pastor in the town reported the theft of his Bajaj motorcycle disclosed that efforts were on to arrest the escaping members of the gang.

Ado stated further that, the men of the state criminal investigation bureau of the state police command also arrested three suspects out of five armed men that allegedly invaded the house of one Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim at Boburu compound in Lafiaji town in Edu local government council of the state.

Ado said that, during the operation, a sum of

N65,000, one Airtel phone worth N3,500 were carted away from the house while injuries were also inflicted on the family.

He said that, "after the arrest of the affected suspects through the technical intelligence gathering by men of the state CID, the suspects confessed of allegedly invading the house of Alhaji Ibrahim and exhibits recovered from the suspects include one Dell Laptop, one Techno phone and the affected suspects would soon be charged to court for prosecution."

The state police commissioner also disclosed that, two out of three suspected armed robbers that specialised in the car snatching in Ilorin, the state capital were arrested during the period.

He explained that, the suspected armed robbers invaded the house of one Mr. Tebi Alawiye at Coca-Cola area, Ilorin while coming from work and accosted the man in his house and asked him to come down with his wife and matched them into their house and took away the Toyota Corolla car with registration number Lagos MUS 537 DB valued at N3.5m.

He said that," When the report was made, the SARS swung into action and traced the car which had a car tracking device installed in it to Specialist Hospital, Sobi, Ilorin where the car was already being prepared for dismantling and investigation led to the arrest of the two suspected armed bandits."

Ado who said that, the state police command has commenced manhunts for the arrest of the remaining suspects in connection with the act added that, the two suspected armed bandits would be arraigned in court.

The state police boss also said that, seven out of 20 suspected armed bandits that had invaded Nuhu Village via Kaima in Kaima local government council of the state were arrested.

According to him, "On 22/1/2018 at about 0700hours, some hoodlums numbering about 20 armed with guns and other dangerous weapons invaded Nuhu Village via Kaima, they attacked and robbed one Ganiyu Orelope and Isiaka

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

37

CITYSTRINGS

Some of the suspected criminals terrorising the residents of the state

The weapons used by the suspected criminals

Orelope of the following items: six assorted telephones handset, some clothes, some pots, soup ingredients, cash of N152,000 and a bag containing three drivers' license, three vigilante identify cards and one national identify card.

"After the robbery operation, the hoodlums escaped into the forest linking Niger State and Benin Republic while in pursuit of the armed bandits, three vigilante members died through gun shots from the hoodlums. “Investigation by the SARS and local vigilante led to the arrest of seven out of the 20 suspected armed bandits and they would be arraigned in court."

The superlative success recorded by the state police command led to the harvest of arrests of over 45 suspected criminals that have been terrorising the people of the state in the past few months

Kwara State CP, Alhaji Lawan Ado...smoking criminals out from their hideouts

He also stated further that, five suspects that have invaded one soap making factory in Ilorin were arrested during the month under review.

He said that, "Based on the directive of my office through a petition assigned to SARS on the complaints of one Mr. Taiwo Yusuf Adebayo of

No 33 Sade compound behind New Market Oja Tuntun, Ilorin that at his soap making factory, five armed robbers invaded the company and robbed him and his workers of the following: N50,000 cash, nine assorted telephone, Plasma Tv valued at N75,000 and one Toyota Corolla with Registration number Lagos JJJ 621 AM valued at N1.6m.

"On the strength of the complaints, the SARS swung into action and an investigation led to the recovery of the stolen car through one Qudus Olakunle Alaya and effort is still on to arrest the other fleeing gang members."

However, the state police boss called on the residents of the state to be security conscious stating that, they should be up and doing at releasing information that would be leading to the hideout of the armed bandits or any suspected criminals in the state.

He said that, the residents should also try to install car tracking devices on their cars so as to guard against car stealing in the state.

Without mincing words, with the superlative success recorded by the state police command in the state that led to the ‘harvest’ of arrests of over 45 suspected criminals that have been terrorising the people of the state in the past few months, the war against crime prevention through community participation remains a great feat that should be maintained by the state police command so as to bring continued peace to the State of Harmony where residents would be living with their two eyes closed in the night without any fear of attack.

WEDNESDAY, ͰͶ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

40

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ^ŚĞĚƐ ϱϵďƉƐ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ ϱϵďƉƐ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϳϲϬ͘ϵϳƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϮ͘ϲй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ŚĂƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭϰ͘Ϯй zd ͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

ĞĂƌƐ ƚĂŬĞ ,ŽůĚ ŽĨ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ͙ E^ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϲϲďƉƐ dŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ůŽƐƐĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϳй ƚŽ ϰϮ͕Ϯϵϵ͘ϱϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘ϲй͘ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵĂũŽƌůLJ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ďLJ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ E' D ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;Ͳ ϰ͘ϴйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ EϭϬϬ͘ϱďŶ ŝŶ ǀĂůƵĞ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ Eϭϱ͘ϮƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ϭϰ͘Ϭй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŽ ϰϯϴ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĞƐ ŝŶ dZ E^ KZW ;ϰϱ͘ϭŵͿ͕ / DKE ;ϰϭ͘ϲŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;ϯϴ͘ϮŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϲϬ͘ϴй ƚŽ Eϴ͘ϴďŶ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞƐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;EϮ͘ϵďŶͿ͕ 'h Z Edz ;Eϭ͘ϵďŶͿ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;EϬ͘ϵďŶͿ͘

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Current Price

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

Price Change YTD

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1,760.97

-0.59%

14.2%

76.1%

25.1%

7.9%

8.2x

1.1x

3.3%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

49.00

-0.7%

22.6%

20.2%

20.8%

26.0%

4.3%

10.2x

2.5x

4.2%

9.8%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

31.35

-2.5%

14.0%

22.3%

20.9%

21.7%

3.2%

6.2x

1.3x

6.4%

16.1%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

10.2%

130.10

0.1%

7.6%

-3.6%

-3.7%

18.9%

8.6%

32.0x

5.8x

3.2%

3.1%

1,400.00

1.6%

6.4%

-10.0%

-10.0%

78.4%

19.0%

36.5x

24.1x

1.8%

2.7%

257.00

-0.8%

6.1%

11.7%

11.7%

30.4%

15.7%

17.7x

5.1x

3.3%

5.6%

0.4%

6.4%

31.3%

31.4%

2.6%

0.3%

18.8x

0.7x

1.7%

5.3%

0.0%

4.9%

24.4%

22.6%

15.1%

2.0%

5.3x

0.7x

5.0%

19.0%

5.5x

0.9x

6.0%

18.2%

3.1%

-17.6%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

11.55

7

Access Bank PLC

13.00

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

12.50

0.0%

4.7%

21.4%

20.1%

17.2%

2.2%

19.70

-0.3%

3.3%

15.9%

21.1%

-14.6%

-1.3%

0.7x

657.90

-2.0%

2.8%

5.1%

5.1%

-12.4%

-6.7%

0.8x

46.00

0.0%

2.8%

10.8%

12.5%

28.7%

3.4%

10.6x

2.8x

1.3%

104.90

0.0%

2.3%

11.6%

11.6%

14.6%

5.6%

19.7x

2.8x

0.6%

5.1%

50.00

-2.5%

1.6%

11.4%

11.4%

47.1%

9.8%

4.5x

7.6x

2.0%

22.4%

1.1%

2.6x

0.4x

4.7%

38.6%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

12

Guinness Nigeria PLC

13

Lafarge Africa PLC

14

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.97

-0.3%

1.3%

20.7%

15.1%

8.0%

5.99

0.0%

1.2%

0.0%

0.0%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

21.55

0.0%

1.1%

7.8%

5.8%

43.2%

19.8%

8.4x

3.2x

2.3%

11.9%

-15.9% 9.4%

^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ZĞŵĂŝŶƐ DŝdžĞĚ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ͕ 'h Z Edz ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ h E ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽůĚ Žī ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ E' D ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϴйͿ͕ t W K ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;Ͳ ϯ͘ϭйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϵй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ dKd > ;нϲ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ KEK/> ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E D ;нϰ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ >/E< ^^hZ ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž Ϭ͘ϯй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚĂLJƐ ^ŽŌ DĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϱdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϴdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ϭϴ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϯϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ hE/dz ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ KEK/> ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ D z < Z ;нϴ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ &Z/WZh ;Ͳϵ͘ϰйͿ͕ hE/ ;Ͳϳ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ Dh>d/s Z^ ;Ͳϲ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƐŽŌ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĞdžŝƟŶŐ ƉĞŶŶLJ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂůůLJ ƉĂŝĚ ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĚŽǁŶƚƌĞŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ͘

ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŝŶ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ WůĐ ;͞hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ͟Ϳ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ŝƐ Ă ƌŝƟƐŚͲ ƵƚĐŚ ŵƵůƟŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ŐŽŽĚƐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽŽĚƐ ƐŽůĚ ŝŶ ŽǀĞƌ ϭϵϬ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ϭϬϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ďĞĞŶ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϮϯ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƚŚĞ ĮŌŚ ŵŽƐƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĞĚ &D ' ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ E^ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ Ăƚ Eϭϳϭ͘ϱďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŚĂƐ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐŝƚĞƐ ŝŶ KƌĞŐƵŶ͕ >ĂŐŽƐ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ŐďĂƌĂ͕ KŐƵŶ ^ƚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ƉůĂŶƐ ŝŶ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϳ ƚŽ ŽƉĞŶ Ă ŶĞǁ ƉůĂŶƚ͘ /Ŷ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ƵŶĚĞƌǁĞŶƚ Ă ƌŝŐŚƚ ŝƐƐƵĞ ŽĨ ϭϰ ŶĞǁ ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJ Ϯϳ ŚĞůĚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ϮϬй ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŚĂƐ ƐĂŝĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚŽ ƉĂLJ Žī ĂďŽƵƚ ΨϭϮϬŵ ŝŶ ůŽĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ďƵīĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ŝŶƐƚĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ͘

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

0.0%

1.2%

19.0%

21.4%

50.3%

8.4%

30.1x

11.4x

0.2%

3.3%

19

International Brew eries PLC

57.00

-4.8%

0.7%

4.6%

3.7%

24.6%

7.4%

59.7x

13.6x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

33.00

0.5%

0.6%

13.8%

13.8%

13.1%

3.0%

6.9x

0.8x

2.8%

14.5%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

2.03

-2.9%

0.7%

39.0%

37.2%

19.6%

4.1%

8.1x

1.4x

-0.6%

0.5%

0.6%

0.6%

6.3%

2.2%

10.9x

0.7x

51.0%

2.5%

0.3%

9.6x

0.2x

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

17.00

23

Diamond Bank PLC

2.37

-2.5%

0.7%

58.0%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

232.00

6.9%

0.5%

0.9%

25

FCMB Group Plc

2.55

3.2%

0.7%

26

11 PLC

183.90

1.9%

0.4%

0.0%

37.0%

1.7%

12.3% 5.8%

0.9%

37.3%

7.4%

8.6x

3.0x

7.2%

11.6%

61.4%

3.8%

0.6%

7.4x

0.3x

3.9%

13.5%

-5.5%

32.6%

12.0%

9.8x

2.7x

4.4%

10.2%

-5.5%

27

Forte Oil PLC

44.80

0.4%

3.0%

6.7%

44.3%

3.7%

11.3x

5.0x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

24.15

0.0%

0.4%

17.2%

14.2%

10.7%

5.0%

22.9x

2.3x

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

15.85

0.0%

0.3%

1.1%

1.6%

4.5%

1.6%

45.2x

2.7x

30

Presco PLC

69.95

-0.1%

0.3%

2.1%

2.1%

42.9%

25.9%

3.4x

53.4%

18.1%

12.4x

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

22.00

1.9%

0.3%

18.9%

14.5%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.65

-5.0%

0.3%

-14.7%

-11.5%

5.6%

1.2%

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

24.85

-4.2%

0.2%

-11.3%

-11.3%

-12.2%

-1.2%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.80

-4.3%

0.4%

66.7%

59.3%

6.1%

0.6%

8.5x

8.8% 2.1%

4.4%

1.2x

2.1%

29.0%

5.7x

3.2%

8.1%

0.8x

7.2%

2.2%

0.4x

11.8%

1.3x

-9.2%

9.5x

0.5x

10.6%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

16.50

-0.3%

0.3%

35.8%

35.8%

61.6%

15.8%

5.3x

2.3x

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

20.15

0.0%

0.2%

-6.8%

-6.8%

61.2%

23.6%

4.2x

1.5x

1.5%

23.9%

0.0%

18.7%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

38.00

0.2%

11.8%

6.4%

84.3%

38.5%

16.6x

11.6x

5.8%

6.0%

39

Beta Glass PLC

72.10

0.0%

0.1%

40.5%

40.5%

18.4%

11.9%

10.2x

1.7x

1.4%

9.8%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.55

0.0%

0.1%

4.7%

4.7%

4.7%

2.8%

21.5x

1.1x

1.6%

4.7%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

1.79

9.8%

T R A N SC OR P

45.1

-2.9%

9.8%

D IA M ON D B N K

43.4

-2.5%

M A YB A KER

2.95

8.9%

FB NH

42.7

0.4%

/Ŷ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ZĞǀĞŶƵĞ ƌŽƐĞ ϯϴ͘ϲй zͲŽͲz ĨƌŽŵ Eϰϵ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ Eϲϵ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ũƵŵƉ ŝŶ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ Ϯϯ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϱϱ͘ϰй zͲŽͲz ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ &ŽŽĚ WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ,ŽŵĞ Θ WĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂƌĞ WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ EϯϮ͘ϯďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϯϲ͘ϵďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ 'ƌŽƐƐ DĂƌŐŝŶ ƐƵďƚůLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŵŽĚĞƐƚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ĐŽƐƚ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ͕ 'ƌŽƐƐ WƌŽĮƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϱ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ EϮϭ͘ϳďŶ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ KƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ WƌŽĮƚ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϭϵϰ͘ϴй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ Eϵ͘ϮďŶ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽǁ ďĂƐĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ KW y ƌĂƟŽ͕ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ W d ŽĨ Eϲ͘ϴďŶ Ͳ ϯϱϭ͘ϲй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Eϭ͘ϱďŶ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ϵD͗ϮϬϭϲ͘

J A P A ULOIL

0.50

8.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

40.0

-0.3%

18.20

8.0%

A C C ESS

27.4

0.0%

232.00

6.9%

GUA R A N T Y

23.5

-0.7%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

dŚĞ Yϯ͗ϮϬϭϳ ƐƚĂŶĚĂůŽŶĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁĂƐ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ dƵƌŶŽǀĞƌ ƌŽƐĞ ϰ͘ϴй YͲŽͲY ƚŽ EϮϰ͘ϬďŶ ǁŚŝůĞ W d ĂŶĚ W d ĨĞůů ϯϳ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϰϬ͘Ϯй YͲ ŽͲY ƚŽ Eϭ͘ϴďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϭ͘ϮďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ^ĂůĞƐ ĂŶĚ KW y ƌĂƟŽƐ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ &z͗ϮϬϭϳ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵƉǁĂƌĚ ĂĚũƵƐƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉ ŽĨ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂůƐ͘ KƵƌ ǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŝƐ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŶƵĂŶĐĞĚ ĂƐ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚĞƌŵ ŚĂƐ ƵƉƐŝĚĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĨƵůůLJ ĐĂƉƚƵƌĞĚ͖ LJĞƚ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĚĞŵŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐ ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ĐŽƵůĚ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͘

A F R IP R UD

4.70

-9.4%

N EST LE

UN IC

0.25

-7.4%

GUA R A N T Y

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

UN IT YB N K

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

35.25

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

9.2% 10.5%

C ON OIL

CCNN T OT A L F IR ST A LUM

0.42

5.0%

FCM B

22.4

3.2%

N EM

2.00

4.7%

UC A P

22.1

-5.9%

P R EST IGE

0.49

4.3%

UB N

19.7

-5.0%

A GLEVEN T

0.57

3.6%

CCNN

15.6

8.0%

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

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

2880.4

1.6%

1153.1

-0.7%

M ULT IVER SE

0.31

-6.1%

NB

861.8

0.1%

UC A P

3.85

-5.9%

SEP LA T

606.9

-2.0%

UB N

6.65

-5.0%

FB NH

490.9

0.4%

C A VER T ON

2.17

-4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

488.8

-2.5%

0.40

-4.8%

A C C ESS

355.3

0.0%

57.00

-4.8%

CCNN

274.1

8.0%

1.01

-4.7%

F LOUR M ILL

226.8

0.5%

0.42

-4.5%

D A N GSUGA R

188.7

0.0%

A F R IN SUR E IN T B R EW WEM A B A N K F T N C OC OA

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

41

˾ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

MARKET NEWS

African Prudential Grows Profit by 68%, to Pay 40 kobo Dividend Goddy Egene African Prudential Plc yesterday announced its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2017, showing improved performance. The results showed gross earnings of N3.3 billion, indicating a growth of 37.1 per cent, from N2.4 billion in 2016. Net income interest jumped by 67.1 per cent from N1.4 billion to N2.4 billion, while profit before tax improved by 42.9 per cent to N1.4 billion to N2.1 billion. Profit after tax rose by 68.3 per cent

from N1.0 billion to N1.7 billion.

The board of the company has recommended a dividend 40 kobo per share.

In line with its determination to dominate and redefine the landscape of registrar service delivery in the country, the company recently unveiled an USSD code *4018# that will enable shareholders to perform many tasks on their own.

Tagged “Personal Registrar,” the code enables shareholders to perform multitude of tasks including checking their outstanding dividend,

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

shareholding balance, confirming bank mandate right from their mobile phones from the comfort of their homes, work places or leisure. With the code, shareholders can also check postal and email addresses from their mobile phones.

Speaking about the product, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Peter Ashade, explained that the service, which is available round the clock, works on all kinds of mobile phones and networks, and does not require internet data, adding that shareholders only need to dial the code to

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 26-Feb-2018, unless otherwise stated.

access the service environment.

He noted that the “Personal Registrar” was developed by the company in its drive to persistently pursue exceptional service experience and is borne out of its culture of excellence and persistent drive to improving investors’ confidence in the market.

He said: “We continuously embark on product development and process improvement to deliver exceptional customer experience to our clients across sectors of the economy, while exciting the Nigerian capital

market as a whole.”

Ashade added at the announcement of the company’s change of name from Africa Prudential Plc to Africa Prudential Registrars Plc in 2017, it was emphasised that the name change does not imply its exit from registrar business but was rather to enable it extend service offerings to other sectors of the economy by leveraging technology, one of which is the just launched USSD code *4018#.

Also commenting, a non-Executive Director of the company, Mr. Emmanuel

Nnorom, stressed that the development of the product was not just about Africa Prudential, but remains a plus for the entire registrar business in Nigeria and encouraged other players in the market to follow suit in breaking new grounds. Similarly, Head, Business Development of the company, Mrs. Bridget BayoAjayi encouraged shareholders whose mobile numbers have not been duly registered on the company’s database to execute a shareholder data update form for their mobile numbers to enjoy the service.

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 194.66 195.18 9.45% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.30 245.83 5.95% 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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 16.00% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 14.00% Paramount Equity Fund 12.95 13.28 4.75% Women's Investment Fund 102.57 105.21 1.93% 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 15.54% 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 15.17% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.12 1.14 6.88% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.10 1.14 6.88% 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 1,179.73 1,180.90 2.78% FBN Heritage Fund 151.46 152.88 8.68% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $114.30 $114.90 1.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $114.29 $114.89 1.34% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 192.67 195.63 12.85% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.41 1.44 8.04% Legacy Debt Fund 2.94 2.94 2.12% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 14.57% 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 N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A

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 1.50% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,049.53 1,049.53 1.81% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 16.55 16.71 17.46% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.32% 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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 142.07 144.31 10.21% 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 2.42% 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 2,366.09 2,385.26 5.48% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 178.20 178.20 0.99% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.09 1.10 8.42% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 227.08 227.17 3.12% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 187.52 189.75 4.74% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.95% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,360.89 10,503.52 7.16% 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 1.35 1.36 5.85% United Capital Bond Fund 1.60 1.60 2.08% United Capital Equity Fund 1.01 1.04 10.82% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.87% United Capital Eurobond Fund 104.01 104.01 1.08% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.13 1.13 20.67% 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 13.44 13.72 7.22% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.87 14.04 5.26% Zenith Income Fund 19.49 19.49 3.04%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

10.00 133.65

-11.35% 0.90%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.31 162.42 121.56

12.41 165.93 123.85

1.56% 13.73% 11.28%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

5.77 9.77 19.56 22.74 153.43

5.81 9.85 19.66 22.94 155.43

21.55% 2.10% 10.10% 15.52% 3.25%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Fresh Violence Mars First Day of Syria Enclave ‘Truce’ A humanitarian “pause” announced by Russia in Syria’s deadly bombardment of Eastern Ghouta struggled to take hold Tuesday, with fresh violence erupting and no sign of aid deliveries or residents leaving the besieged enclave, AFP reported.

Nine days after Russianbacked regime forces intensified their campaign against the rebel-held enclave, the deal offered some respite to civilians who had been cowering in their basements.

But the first day of a fivehour daily “pause” that was announced by Russia and kicked off at 9 am (0700 GMT) was marred by fresh violence that saw at least six civilians killed.

Moscow’s plan falls short of a broader 30-day ceasefire

which was voted by the United Nations but has yet to take effect, and has inspired little trust from among the besieged enclave’s 400,000 residents.

The regime deployed buses at the Al-Wafideen checkpoint to transport residents wanting to use a humanitarian corridor to flee what UN chief Antonio Guterres last called “hell on earth”.

But no civilians were seen venturing towards the regime forces guarding the checkpoint, where large portraits of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be seen side-by-side.

State news agency SANA accused armed groups in Eastern Ghouta of firing

several rockets on the path of the corridor.

It singled out the former Al-Qaeda affiliate present in some parts of the enclave, accusing it of blocking civilians “to use them as human shields”.

Some residents left the basements they had been cowering in for days to check on their property and buy food.

But many in the enclave, which lies on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian capital, appeared distrustful of a“pause” announced by Damascus’s main ally.

“This Russian truce is a farce.

Russia is killing us and bombing us every day,” said Samer al-Buaidhani, a 25-year-old from Douma, Eastern Ghouta’s main hub.

German Ambassador Calls for New Approach in Tackling Irregular Migration Alex Enumah in Abuja The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck, has called for a new approach in tackling the worsening issue of irregular migration, particularly among African countries.

He said his government was particularly, concerned about the plight of young men who end up in slavery in places like Libya in an attempt to migrate to Europe.

He was speaking in Abuja, during a reception hosted by the German Embassy for the Humboldt Alumni in Nigeria.

“We want migration to be strengthened because irregular migration is horrendous, with most of the migrants ending up in Libya, in unbearable slavery.

We want to contribute to the mind change of the people,” he said.

The envoy disclosed that he was in Edo State and held discussions with the governor on how to tackle the malaise.

He said the problem of

irregular migration poses great problem both to Nigeria and Germany, adding that the Humboldt foundation is one of the various projects Germany is engaging to bringing societies, peoples and individuals close together.

“We are trying to work together with not only the federal government but also with the state governments of those states prone to irregular migration, particularly Edo and Delta States. We also try to engage vocational training centres in a number of states not just in the southern states, although the problem of irregular migration stems particularly from the south, which is remarkable because the southern part of Nigeria does not hold the poorest states, but it has the bulk of people who try to irregularly migrate.

“We are trying to fine-tune our approach with the Federal government, state government and the European Union, UN agencies and others, so it will be a common approach,” he said.

While stating that Nigeria tops the number of Humboldt Alumni from Africa, the ambassador noted that collaborations between the two countries in the area of science would facilitate economic prosperity of the two countries.

The Head of African Department at Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, Daniela Kneissi, disclosed that the Federal External Office of Germany makes available funding for the Humboldt Kolleg Programme which allows Alumni to organize conferences in their home countries.

“I and my colleague just spent two most inspiring days at a Humboldt Kolleg in Ibadan and I can confirm that this money was very well invested.

“At the moment, four Research Group Linkages are going on in Nigeria and I am convinced that there are plenty ideas for further promoting cooperative research projects within our Alumni network in Nigeria,” she said.

Saudi Arabia Reshuffles Military, Promotes Woman at Labour Ministry Saudi Arabia has replaced some of its top military officers in a shake-up that elevates a younger generation, brings a woman into a senior government job and tightens Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s grip on power, Reuters reported.

In a reshuffle announced late on Monday, the military chief of staff, air defence and land forces heads and senior defence and interior ministry officials were removed. Tamadur bint Youssef al-Ramah became deputy labour minister, a rare high-level job for a woman in

the deeply conservative kingdom.

The crown prince, who at 32 is also defense minister and heir apparent, has promised reforms to wean Saudi Arabia off oil exports, create jobs and open up Saudis’ cloistered lifestyles.

Since rising to prominence three years ago, he has also removed a number of apparent rivals to the throne.

His cousin Mohammed bin Nayef was ousted as crown prince and interior minister in a palace coup last June, after which Prince Mohammed restructured the ministry to establish tighter control over intelligence and

counter-terrorism.

Another cousin, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was sacked as head of the National Guard last November and detained for two months in an anti-corruption crackdown in which scores of the kingdom’s economic and political elite were held.

The latest personnel changes were decreed by King Salman and published in state media.

No reason was given but the changes appear to have enabled Prince Mohammed to put his personal stamp of authority on key levers of the military.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

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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

China Development Bank, UBA Sign $100m Loan Deal to Support SMEs in Africa Obinna Chima United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, a pan-African banking group, and China Development Bank (CDB), the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest development finance institution, yesterday announced the signing of a $100 million seven-year loan agreement to finance the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

The $100 million loan would enhance UBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to provide access to finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 19 African countries where UBA currently operates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to partner CDB, the Development Financial Institution of the Chinese Government, on this historic transaction, as we strongly believe that the facility will serve as a catalyst to the sustainable development of commerce and industry in Africa through provision of critical financial interventions to SMEs across our presence countries,â&#x20AC;? Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said.

Uzoka noted that this line of credit is timely, as it would complement the recovery of economic activities.

It will also further encourage African entrepreneurship particularly as the funds will be applied to SMEs, which are important for inclusive growth on the continent.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said the fund would boost small and medium scale enterprises across Africa, noting that CDBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in supporting SMEs aligns with UBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision in growing business across Africa.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In UBA, CDB would have an enduring partner in reaching out to Africans as UBA provides banking services to over 14 million people across 20 African countries, and like CDB, UBA funds critical infrastructural projects on the African continent,â&#x20AC;? Elumelu said. He expressed hope that he would like to see a stronger relationship grow with CDB and UBA as well as with China and Nigeria.

Also commenting, the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie, said the agreement was the beginning of cooperation between UBA and CDB that would translate into an enduring business relationship between China and Africa and Nigeria in particular. â&#x20AC;&#x153;UBA is a leading and dependable bank not only in Nigeria but Africa, and this partnership will help our Bank to accelerate its business objectives in Africa, more importantly as we deepen our investment in energy, road and rail constructions, infrastructure in Africa,â&#x20AC;? Zhije said.

UBA, Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global bank, is one of the largest commercial banks in Nigeria which operates in 19 African countries while providing a wide range of products and services.

It is the leading bank in infrastructure financing particularly in the power, telecoms and transport sectors.

UBA leads in social infrastructure such as hospital and education facilities to various countries in Africa.

In Nigeria, the bank operates in each of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36 states, helping to deepen financial inclusion through its brick and mortar network as well as through its cutting edge digital platforms. Globally, UBA

SGF Inaugurates FRSC, NACA, NAEC, Others Boards Olawale Ajimotokan Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has inaugurated eight governing boards of federal agencies.

The inauguration came a few weeks after the controversies that marred the exercise, after it emerged that some people on the expanded list were actually deceased individuals.

The governing boards inaugurated yesterday included the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), Galaxy Backbone, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons ( NCFRIMI) and Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

The inauguration was the third in the serie, on the heels of the composition of the agencies under the Ministries of Water Resources and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mustapha reminded the boards that their appointments were on part time basis, adding their allowances and entitlements as board members were guided by extant circulars.

He also enjoined them of the administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zero tolerance for any form of corruption, saying the government will punish corrupt practices perpetrated by any board member as well as management team of these agencies.

Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated board chairmen, Mrs. Pauline Tallen of NACA, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for finding them worthy to serve on the boards, adding that they pledged their loyalty to the government in its efforts to move the country forward.

has over 1,000 branches and customer touch points, serving over 14 million customers.

CDB, founded in 1994, is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest development finance institution and, the largest

Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation.

It provides medium-tolong-term financing facilities that serve Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major long-term economic and

social development strategies.

By the end of 2016, its assets grew to RMB 14.34 trillion, a balance of loans of RMB 10.32 trillion.

CDB currently has 37 primary branches and

three secondary branches on the Chinese mainland, one offshore branch in Hong Kong and five representative offices in Cairo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas and London

SIGNED AND SEALED

L-R: Director General, Global Cooperation Department, Americas and Africa, China Development Bank (CDB), Mr. Jin Tao; and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, signing a $100 million loan facility agreement to fund SMEs in Africa at the UBA House in Lagos...yesterday. Behind them are the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie (left), and Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu

Dapchi Girls: Dogara Wants Army, Police to End Buck-passing Go to Yobe, PDP tells Buhari James Emejo Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Senator Iroegbu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday demanded that security agencies take responsibility for failing to stop the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, describing as unacceptable, the ongoing buck passing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force.

He said rather than trading blame, the various security agencies should strengthen inter-agency collaboration and intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hassan Turaki, the Speaker further condemned statements credited to both security agencies.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The statements credited to the army and police in which they tried to exonerate themselves from any culpability in the unfortunate and embarrassing abduction of innocent girls from their school in Dapchi , Yobe State, is highly condemnable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed, Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible.

They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The traumatic experience of the

Chibok abduction which is still fresh in our minds should have serve as a warning signal to security agencies to provide adequate security protection to all schools in the North-east. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to use this medium to console the parents of the abducted girls and the entire Dapchi community over this unfortunate incident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over the world to pray for the safe return of the girls.â&#x20AC;?

His condemnation came on a day the House passed a motion urging the federal government to mobilise every security apparatus, including the army, air force, and the Directorate of State Security (DSS), to rescue the abducted â&#x20AC;&#x153;innocent school students and reunite them with their parents as soon as possible.â&#x20AC;?

It further asked the federal government to focus additional efforts on providing enhanced security to children schooling in Yobe, Borno and other states in the North-east to forestall further abductions.

The resolution of the lower chamber followed a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan (APC, Yobe) on the need to rescue the 110 abducted students of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi in Busari Local Government Area

of Yobe State.

The House further mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence and Air Force to as a matter of urgency visit Dapchi as well as approved the setting up of an adhoc committee to probe the incident and report back to the House.

The green chamber also observed one-minute silence to sympathise with grieving parents of abducted students as well as the governor of the state.

The motion further invited the service chiefs to brief the House on the security situation in the country.

However, Lawan, in his lead debate, expressed concern that the unfortunate incident had been going on not only in Yobe State but in various part of the North-East, especially Borno and Adamawa States, without any pro-active measure in place to forestall further occurrences.

He particularly expressed shock at the removal of a military checkpoint leading to the affected local government area only one week before the attacks.

Lawmakers generally agreed that the country had not learnt its lessons from the Chibok attack in which some the girls abducted are yet to be rescued.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has

urged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the feasting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Aso Villa and show leadership by visiting the troubled Dapchi, Yobe State, to get a first hand information on the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the 110 school girls under his watch.

PDP said if the noble advice is heeded by Mr. President, it will bridge the disconnect between him and Nigerians, who daily lament the aloofness of their leader.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, said it was disheartening that while the parents of our abducted daughters are wailing and the insurgents are fleeing deeper, the President and his APC leaders are busy feasting in the Presidential Villa and plotting their bound-to-fail 2019 re-election campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Buhari has completely reneged on his assurances, before his election, to be a father to all and to lead the fight against insurgency from the fronts,â&#x20AC;? the party added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerians are worried that he has now allowed himself to be holed in the safety and luxury of the presidential villa while citizens are being slaughtered and taken captives by marauders and insurgents.â&#x20AC;?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

20 Killed in Adamawa in Herdsmen, Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Clash, 5,000 Sacked from Benue Community Military arrests herders destroying farmlands in state Daji Sani Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x153; George Okoh Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Paul Obi Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; About 20 persons yesterday lost their lives in a clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Gwamba village in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Reports from the affected area indicated that the herdsmen stormed Gwamba village at about 6:30p.m. on a reprisal attack following a previous attack lunched on them by the Bachama youths.

The report further explained that based on attacks lunched on some Bachama villages, their youths felt pained that no arrest was made.

This, it was gathered, made them to mobilise against Fulani settlements in Damsa Local Government Area.

In retaliation, the Fulani community yesterday launched another deadly attack on the Bachama villages Another report said there was a truce between the herdsmen and the farmers which ended in a deadlock.

The development made the herdsmen to attack four villages and killed 20 persons.

The spokesman of the police command in Adamawa State, Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the attack, however, did not give the casualty figure, adding he was yet to be briefed on the attack Meanwhile, despite warnings

by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State of imminent attacks on communities in his state, 5,000 residents of Chille Island, Mbatoho in Makurdi

Local Government Area, were yesterday sacked by suspected herders of cattle.

Recounting the ordeal of the residents of the community who marched to the office of the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Benson Abouno, the leader of the community, Mr. John Terhemen alleged that the herdsmen stormed the area shooting sporadically into the air and ordered the residents to vacate their homes.

Terhemen said the herdsmen who were well armed with sophisticated weapons, ordered them to vacate their homes for them to occupy and graze their cattle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They did not harm anyone, nor did they burn down our homes. The herdsmen simply asked us to leave,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Responding, the deputy governor told the residents that the state government also got the report of the invasion of Chille Island by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Abounu who said the government was trying to determine the veracity of the story, added that he had directed the new Special Adviser on Security Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd.) to visit the area and determine the next line of action. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people said the Fulani herdsmen have sacked them, and it is just across the river in Makurdi town. But I have sent the Special Adviser on Security to go there and determine the authenticity of the story. Until that is done, then we will know the next action to take,â&#x20AC;? Abounu said.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police Taiwo

Awoseni said he was informed of the attack but was yet to verify it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have received a report on the attack,â&#x20AC;? Awoseni said to pressmen on the phone.

He added that the police swung into action to investigate the crisis.

In a related development, the Benue State Government has stated that an alleged member of the Benue Livestock Guards who was arrested in Ukum Local Government Area by the military for cattle rustling and gun running is not a member of the guards.

A statement issued yesterday by the Commander of the Benue Livestock Guards, Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku said the attention of the Benue State Livestock Guards had been drawn to a publication yesterday wherein the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Ayeni alleged that a member of the Benue State Livestock Guards had been arrested in

Ukum Local Government Area by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exercise Cat Raceâ&#x20AC;? for cattle rustling and gun running. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish to state categorically that the Benue State Government established the Livestock Guards but does not arm them. The arrested suspect is not a member of the State Livestock Guards.

It is therefore misleading to insinuate that a member of the organisation has been caught with arms.â&#x20AC;?

Tershaku said the guards of the state do not carry weapons and their role was to help conventional security agencies in the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, therefore, find the statement credited to Major Ayeni as a fabrication and deliberate attempt to find a reason to blame the Benue State Government for sponsoring militia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also wish to make it clear that members of the Benue State Livestock Guards

do not engage in any form of cattle rustling. Instead, the Livestock Guards, since the establishment of the organisation, have contributed greatly in preventing cases of cattle rustling in different parts of the state, in accordance with Section 20 of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

The commandant urged the public to disregard the allegation in its entirety, alleging that it was part of a conspiracy to â&#x20AC;&#x153;give a dog a bad name in order to hang itâ&#x20AC;?.

Despite the pushback from the state government over the arrest of the alleged imposter of the Livestock Guards, the Nigerian Army said yesterday that it arrested suspected herdsmen destroying farmlands in Benue State.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu stated that the efforts of the army to fish out criminals and protect farmlands in Benue

State and its environs under the ongoing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exercise Ayem Akpatumaâ&#x20AC;? was yielding results.

He noted that troops of Sector 1 Sub-Sector A, deployed at Yelwata while on routine patrol, arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmlands at TseTigir and Tse-Ndugh villages on Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While in the act of destroying the farmlands, the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush.

The determine troops pursued and arrested them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Items recovered included five motorcycles, two machetes, some assorted charms and the sum of N120,000. The suspects and items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further necessary action. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nigerian Army is determined to fish out criminals and recover weapons used in killing innocent citizens.

Therefore the public is please requested to cooperate and support the Army in the ongoing exercise,â&#x20AC;? Chukwu said.

Lagos APC Splits as Faction Forms Rival Group Segun James Barely a week the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinuba, started his assignment as head of the reconciliation committee of the party, the Lagos State chapter of the APC may have split as a new group called the Broom United Movement (BUM) yesterday emerged to challenge the leadership in the state.

The split in the Lagos APC might have made the work of the national leader difficult as those involved in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;rebellionâ&#x20AC;? are known followers of Tinubu.

The splinter group accused the party leadership of the party in the state of engaging in â&#x20AC;&#x153;illegalities, manipulation and marginalisationâ&#x20AC;? against members, warning that unless genuine reconciliation is allowed to take place, the party may be heading for a crisis and a disaster in an election year.

According to Mr. Found Oki, a former Director General of Governors Bola Tinubu, Tunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign organisations and convener of BUM, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our party suffers from low organisational

capacity and lack of internal democracy. The resultant effect of this has been its incapacity to support our democracy as expected.â&#x20AC;?

At the inaugural meeting of the group which took place at the Absolute Lagos Lounge of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Oki, lamented that there are no templates established to promote inclusiveness and equity in the party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, our party in Lagos State is fading into insignificance.

Massive membership exclusion is becoming the order of the day with members withdrawing from the political space and constituting themselves into internal opposition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is in the light of all these, that the BUM will involve committed party members who will bring moral authority, character and wisdom in handling the delicate issue of reconciliation, unity and accord Oki saud.â&#x20AC;?

He assured party members that from now on, their â&#x20AC;&#x153;votes will count and will be allowed to freely choose their leaders in a healthy competitive atmosphere.â&#x20AC;?

APC NEC MEETING

R â&#x20AC;&#x201C; L : National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) , Chief John Odigie -Oyegun; President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State at the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Executive Council meeting held at the APC secretariat in Abuja ....yesterday.

Ë&#x203A;

Citing Security, Funding Constraints, Buhari Declines Assent to Peace Corps Bill James Emejo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declined presidential assent to the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) (Establishment) Bill 2017, which was recently passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

In a letter to the National Assembly explaining his refusal to sign the legislation into law, the president cited security and financial concerns for his decision.

Buhari, in a copy of the correspondence, dated January 25 and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, which was read at plenary, offered specific reasons why he declined his assent.

One of his concerns bothered on security, regarding the proposed Corps being authorised to undertake activities currently being performed by extant security and law enforcement agencies.

Buhari also cited the financial implications of funding the establishment and operations of the proposed Corps, given the current fiscal challenges confronting his administration as another reason he withdrew his assent to the bill, which had become a subject of controversies and speculation in recent times.

However, until now, the bill looked set to sail when considered against the backdrop of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s avowed agenda to create jobs for the

teeming jobless youths, but increasing antagonism against its proponent, Dickson Akoh, who had been indicted by security reports, dimmed the billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chances to see daylight.

Earlier this month, THISDAY had exclusively reported of palpable fear among members of the Nigerian Peace Corps following the continued delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the establishment bill for the corps into law, months after both chambers of the National Assembly passed the legislation into law.

THISDAY gathered that the worry among anxious members of the Corps who had since been mobilised and attending period parades in the hope of the passage of the

bill by the president followed suspicion that the bill may have been politicised to be used as bargaining chip towards the 2019 general election.

THISDAY also reliably gathered from insider sources that the newly mobilised recruits were tasked to pay a minimum of N10, 000 which is expected to be used to lobby the quick passage of the bill at least in the life of the current administration.

But despite Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refusal to sign the bill into law, the National Assembly still has constitutional provisions to veto the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision and pass the bill into law by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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UK Experts Scramble to Fight Nigeria Lassa Fever Outbreak A team of experts from United Kingdom is being sent to Nigeria to help the country contain the biggest outbreak of Lassa fever in recent years.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, 90 people are suspected to have died from the virus in the last eight weeks alone, with a further 1,081 suspected cases.

The disease, which is spread by rats, causes a high fever and in severe cases, bleeding from the mouth and nose.

Local doctors estimate a mortality rate of over 20per cent, significantly higher than normal.

The UK public health rapid support team, a joint initiative between Public Health England and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) was scrambled into action yesterday.

The team, according UKbased Telegraph, includes two epidemiologists, an expert in

patient management and a logistician. It deployed at the request of the Nigerian government and will also provide research assistance.

Daniel Bausch, director of the rapid support team, said: “The Lassa fever situation in Nigeria has been worsening and now requires an escalated level of response in order to help the Nigerian government slow transmission and save lives.”

Public health minister Steve Brine added: “Viruses like Lassa Fever do not respect borders – and it is only right that we share our expertise with countries facing serious outbreaks around the world.”

Wondimagegnehu Alemu, WHO representative to Nigeria, described the high number of cases as “concerning.”

The outbreak began at the end of last year and the Nigerian government has so far been able to solidly confirm 317 cases and 64 deaths. Among

confirmed and probable cases the fatality rate is 22 per cent, the centre said.

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and usually occurs between October and March but this year it has been much more virulent than in previous years.

It has now spread to 18 out of the country’s 36 states but is most prevalent in the southern states of Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi.

Among those infected in the current outbreak are 11 health workers, four of whom have died and WHO has been working with the Nigerian government to ensure that workers are adequately protected.

Ian Jones, professor of virology at Reading University, said he did not know why the outbreak, which is transmitted to humans via rats, was

particularly virulent this year.

“There are classic cases where there’s been a particularly good grain harvest so you get an increase in the rodent population. Then the rodent population transmits whatever it happens to carry. Nigeria is a busy place and there’s been a general urbanisation in the country. Where people go into areas that they did not previously enter is another

classic example of risk,” he said.

He added that the disease was not as easily transmittable as other viral diseases such as Ebola but he added, “If someone is very ill with the disease, like any other haemorrhagic fever it can be the case you will get transmission to people who you are in very close contact with such as family members or health care workers.”

Social Media Abuzz over British Accent for Nigerian Children Nigerians took to the twitter reacting to reports that parents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) pay extra fees for their children to learn British accent.

The story by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which broke out on Monday, sparked a conversation on twitter around the social implications of the trend.

It was tweeted first by @ DoubleEph who quoted it and wrote: “Nigeria, as I keep saying, is a social scientist’s wet dream.”

His tweet generated hundreds of re-tweets and responses berating the idea of using an accent to judge the intellect and quality of education that a person possesses. @reigncoker wrote: “A colonialism relic. One can totally be eloquently speaking in a Nigerian accent. But discrimination/elevation due to accents is real.” @nucleartesla tweeted: “This happens in the US – I have known people whose parents didn’t teach them Spanish, so that they have a greater chance of having an American accent.”

@Omoba wrote: “The funniest line from this article is the mother no longer understanding her children.

“In the name of ‘phonee’ and they will end up sounding like the ‘peng ting bruv’ accent on the radio. A scam.” @theJafmiester tweeted: “the best part is that they’re probably teaching them ‘fake’ accents.” @Emmanuel_brills wrote: “What nonsense!!! The things people do because they have extra cash to spare are appalling.” @msshuaibu tweeted: “An overdose of Western imperialism take to a fever pitch level.”

Critically acclaimed journalist and civil rights activist, Kayode Ogundamisi, also shared the post on his twitter handle @ ogundamisi tagging it “Locally Acquired Foreign Accents (LAFA)”, which received reactions from his followers.

Investigations in schools around Garki, Gwarimpa, Wuse, Asokoro and Maitama in FCT revealed that the teaching of British accent had been included in the curriculum.

FG Issues Directive on How Buhari Should be Addressed The federal government has released a new directive on how President Muhammadu Buhari should be addressed at formal functions.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, gave the directive in a circular sent to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

“Government has observed with concern the inconsistent manner in which the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria is addressed during official and private functions. It has therefore become necessary to have a standard format for addressing him at such formal occasions,” Mustapha wrote in

the circular dated January 26.

“To this end, Mr. President shall henceforth be addressed as ‘‘Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’ except in purely armed forces programmes, where “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria” will be added.

“All concerned persons should accordingly be guided and ensure strict compliance with the contents of this circular.”

This new directive, according to Premium Times, indicated that the president, though a retired army major general, should not be addressed by the military rank at formal functions.

PROJECT INAUGURATION

General Overseer, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi (left), and Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Wale Oluwo, at the co inauguration of the Oduwaiye Street Bridge and Deeper Life Bible Church Multi -Level Car Park in Lagos...yesterday

Osinbajo: Why Nigeria’s Anti-corruption Rating by TI Dropped Sharply Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria’s rating in the latest corruption perception index released by Transparency International (TI) fell drastically because the country was rated very low in only one of the nine indices examined.

The vice-president made this remark while speaking on the theme: ‘The Imperative of Cooperation of Arms of Government in a Democratic Dispensation,’ at the Dialogue of Organs of Government on Reform of Justice Sector and Campaign Against Corruption, jointly organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption and Federal Ministry of Justice in the Presidential Villa.

According to him, Nigeria’s rating on the economic intelligence unit of the country’s risk service witnessed a decline from the 37 points it scored in the previous rating to 20 this year.

Osinbajo who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye, described the ninth index which brought Nigeria down as one which analyses the risks of countries’ financial exposure.

Emphasising that the corruption perception index of TI

is meant to ascertain perceived levels of public sector corruption from the perspective of experts and business people, Osinbajo said the development should not be viewed as a setback but as a platform to sustain the successes recorded by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He insisted that TI bombshell, notwithstanding, the administration had made progress in the fight against corruption but perception appeared to have crippled reality.

The vice-president then proceeded to reel out the achievements of the federal government in various sectors of the economy “This dialogue couldn’t have come at a better time because only recently, Transparency International released a report suggesting that Nigeria declined in the perception index for reasons which I will discuss shortly.

“We are firmly of the view that real progress is being achieved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, and perception may indeed lag behind reality. But as the saying goes, perception is sometimes stronger than reality, so, we have to keep up the good fight until the full effect of our efforts can be clearly seen and perceived.

“In that regard, the ranking of Nigeria by the 2017 Transparency

International Corruption Perception Index, released on February 21, 2018, should not in anyway be seen as a set back but as an opportunity to continue building on the many successes that have already been recorded by this government in all the key sectors.

“It is also important to note that the main reason for Nigeria’s decline in the Transparency International 2017 Corruption Perception Index, is that Nigeria recorded a major drop in score on just one out of the nine internationally recognised indices used by Transparency International, to ascertain perceived levels of public sector corruption from the perspective of experts and business people.

“So, the the drop recorded was in just one out of the nine recognised indices. The index in question scored Nigeria low on the economy intelligence unit of country’s risk service with the decline from 37 points to 20.

This is an index that analyses the risks of financial exposure in countries.

“The question to be asked then is what changed so dramatically between 2016 and 2017? As we speak, the budget for 2018 is under public scrutiny at the National Assembly, the allocation and use of public funds is guided by the

budget and represents one of the key areas of consultations and interaction between the two arms of government, the executive and legislature.

“The endless number of probes and the use of public funds going on both within the executive and the legislative arms, underscore the transparency of this government and its intention to ensure that funds are used for public purposes.

“What sets Buhari’s leadership apart from others, is the prudent and transparent management of national resources. Thus, despite up to 60 percent drop in revenue, we have by stopping grand corruption, made highest capital spend in the history of Nigeria, in the sum of N1.3 trillion in 2017.

“We have for the first time taken on the game changing infrastructure projects. So, we are today building the LagosKano standard gauge rail line beginning with the Lagos Ibadan segment. We are also building after 40 years, the Mambila Hydro Project; construction of the second Niger Bridge is ongoing daily.

We have signed up for the Lagos-Calabar rail project. We are daily increasing power supply and once we conclude some strategic transmission projects, we will see a truly significant and appreciable improvement in domestic and industrial power supply in Nigeria.”

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Nigerian, Cameroonian Troops Kill 35 Boko Haram Terrorists in Joint Operation Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË In a combined operation to confront Boko Haram insurgency, Nigerian and Cameroonian troops yesterday killed about 35 Boko Haram terrorists around the northern fringes of Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest.

According to Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, “troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have continued to maintain the momentum in the ongoing Operation Deep Punch II to seek out and clear Boko Haram insurgents from enclaves in the northern fringes of the Lake Chad Islands and the Sambisa region.

“The combined troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Cameroonian Defence Forces, in a clearance operation, took the battle to the terrorists in their enclaves at Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen villages, all situated at the Nigerian - Cameroonian border.

“In the fierce offensives, the gallant troops killed 33 Boko Haram insurgents and destroyed 15 locally fabricated rifles captured from them.”

Nwachukwu explained that “the troops also destroyed four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several motorcycles and bicycles belonging to the insurgents.

“603 civilians held hostage by the insurgents were also rescued and conveyed to Bäma and Pulka towns, where they are currently

being profiled before subsequent handover to IDP camp officials.

“As the clearance operations progressed, the combined troops tracked the insurgents to Bokko, Daushe and Gava villages, where they unleashed another attack on the fleeing insurgents, killing two of them in the fire fight and recovering one AK 47 rifle, a magazine, a trolley and unspecified quantity of petrol in jerry cans.

“The troops also extricated 194 civilians held captive by the insurgents and destroyed makeshift accommodations erected by the insurgents.”

He added: “The combined troops successfully cleared Miyanti and Wudila villages, where they rescued three men, 121 women and 209 children. The rescued persons are undergoing profiling, preparatory to their handover to appropriate IDP camps.

“Meanwhile, troops carrying out clearance operations from the Sabil Huda axis of the Sambisa forest have recovered a cache of arms and tools from Boko Haram insurgents’ enclave in the Sabil Huda area of the Sambisa.

“The munition recovered include three Browny Machine Guns, two 81mm mortar tubes, one 81mm mortar tripod, one 60 mm Commando mortar tube, 12 40mm AGL cartridge , five AK 47 rifles ,1 sniper rifle, 3 Pistols with one magazine loaded with four 9mm rounds, one damaged pump action rifle, two damaged G3 rifles, one Tear gas riflel, two

Senate Condemns Fresh Outbreak of Violence in Kaduna Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË The Senate yesterday condemned the recent religious attacks in Kaduna State where at least seven persons were reportedly killed. It expressed worry at the continuous killings in different parts of the country.

Christians and Muslim youths in Kasuwan Magani village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State had on Monday unleashed violence on each other, burning houses and other belongings.

Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna APC), speaking at the plenary, described the incident as unfortunate and lamented that Nigerians continue to experience violence in different forms.

“This country is accepting the reality that violence is becoming a way of life. It is so unfortunate that every day we wake up to killings, kidnappings and series of violence that shakes the stability and unity of this country in every aspect,” he said.

Sani said Nigeria cannot achieve any meaningful progress without peace and unity, adding that national cohesion can only be possible if Nigerians are determined to live in harmony.

“I enjoin this Senate to sympathise with us in Kaduna State and identify with us in this trying moment and in any possible way, commend the security agencies for the prompt response in bringing

an end to the mayhem. We must live together as Muslims and Christians, as people from different ethno-religious background,” Sani added.

Presiding, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed condolences to those affected by the attack, adding that the religious slant to the attack makes it more worrisome.

“It is one incident too many.

It is something we need to avoid, any conflict that would have religious bias because that would be the fastest way to liquidate this country. As leaders, we understand that leadership comes with its responsibility. It is our job to keep preaching to those who are leading through our actions and our words that we belong to one government, one destiny and ultimately we are answerable to our creator,” Ekweremadu added.

“The fact that someone is a Muslim or Christian does not mean that they hate each other. I am not aware of any religion that preaches hate or killing. It is the way we do our things here that promotes that. We are talking about hate speeches. I think the worst is even hate actions. If we treat ourselves as brothers and sisters, I am sure those who are following us we do exactly the same thing,” Ekweremadu added.

submachine guns, five xG3 Magazines, four locally made rockets, 28 working parts of various weapons, 28 barrels of various weapons, three Browny Machine Gun bipods , two antiaircraft gun barrels, 12 anti-aircraft gun tripods, eight tool boxes, one welding machine, one Hayab crane, Assorted ammunition links, one packet of electrode and one power generator.

“Troops remain highly motivated in continuing with the operations to locate and clear Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts.”

In another development, the Nigerian army has also arrested herdsmen destroying farmlands in Benue State.

The Director of Army Public

Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu, stated: “The effort of the Nigerian army to fish out criminals and protect farmlands in Benue State and it environ on the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma is yielding tremendous result as troops of Sector 1 SubSector A, deployed in Yelwata while on routine patrol arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages on February 26, 2018.

“While in the act of destroying the farmland the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush. The determine troops pursued and arrest them.

“Items recovered from them were: five motorcycle, two machetes, some assorted charms

and the sum of N120,000 only.

Suspect and items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further necessary action.

“The Nigerian army is determine to fish out criminals and recover weapons use in killing innocent citizens. Therefore the public is please requested to cooperate and support the army on the ongoing exercise.”

Also, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expressed concern over recent outbreak of Lassa Fever in the country.

To this effect, the military authorities began campaign against the virus yesterday at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Ministry

of Defence, Consultant and Public Health Physician, Dr Uzo Chima, tasked residents of military barracks to ensure their surroundings are clean at all times in order not to attract rats.

Chima maintained that given the critical role the military play in society, it will be risky for Nigeria to witness Lassa fever in military barracks.

“Laser fever is endemic in the whole of West Africa. It occurs all year round, and when the occurrence become beyond what is expected at a particular period or season, everybody becomes alert. And that is consciousness they are giving us here,” she said.

The Deputy Director of Dental, Defence Headquarters, Colonel Nicholas Ngu, said: “The essence

KEEP THE HONOURS COMING

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde; Director-General, National Council for Art & Culture, Olusegun Runsewe; Registrar, OOU, Mrs. Omolara Osunsanya; and Prof. Michael Olufisayo Ologunde, during the presentation of Distinguished Service Award in Administration to Runsewe by the Nigerian University Professional Administrators, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.... weekend.

OPEC Chief Expects Oil Market to Balance in 2018 US to overtake Russia as world’s biggest producer Ejiofor Alike áÓÞÒ ËÑÏØÍã ÜÏÚÙÜÞÝ The Energy Minister of the United Arab Emirates and key figure in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Suhail Al-Mazrouei, yesterday revealed that he expects the global oil market to be balanced this year, as producers continue to trim production following a 2014 market crash.

This is coming as the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that the United States would overtake Russia as the world’s biggest oil producer by 2019 at the latest, as the country’s shale oil boom continues to upend global markets.

Mazrouei told the Global Financial Markets Forum in Abu Dhabi that “I am optimistic that this year, we will achieve a market balance” between supply and demand.

Oil producers from OPEC and non-OPEC countries struck a historic deal in late 2016 to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day, following a surplus in crude supply that sent prices crashing in 2014.

Compliance to the cuts hit 133 per cent in January, which Mazrouei said exceeded the percentage required in the deal.

The compliance rate was 129 per cent in December and 122 per cent in November.

Oil prices have rebounded to around $70 a barrel as a result of the policy.

Arab News quoted Mazrouei as saying that cooperation between oil producers including Russia had reached levels that were “more than expected.”

The minister said earlier this month that OPEC aimed to forge longer-term partnership with nonOPEC producers to stabilize the market.

Mazrouei warned, however, that with the balance returning to the oil market and demand picking up, the energy sector would require hefty investment in the near future — not only by the oil-rich Gulf states, but also international oil companies.

“We need to add 15 million barrels daily by 2040 to meet demand,” he added, putting the needed investment at $10.5 trillion.

Oil dipped yesterday with Brent trading at $67.44 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude at

$63.79 before weekly data that is forecast to show rising US crude inventories, although investor confidence in OPEC’s ability to curb output helped stem the price slide.

But soaring US production is upending global oil markets at a time when other major producers - including the Middle East-dominated OPEC and Russia - have been withholding output to prop up prices.

In a related development, the United States will overtake Russia as the world’s biggest oil producer by 2019, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has said.

“US shale growth is very strong, the pace is very strong ... The US will become the No.1 oil producer sometime very soon,” Reuters quoted Birol as saying.

Birol said at an event in Tokyo the US would overtake Russia as the biggest crude oil producer “definitely next year,” if not this year.

“US shale growth is very strong, the pace is very strong ... The United States will become the No.1 oil producer sometime very soon,” he reportedly said.

US crude oil output rose above 10 million barrels per day (bpd) late last year for the first time since the 1970s, overtaking top oil exporter Saudi Arabia.

The US Energy Information Administration said early this month that US output would exceed 11 million bpd by late 2018.

That would take it past top producer Russia, which pumps just below that mark.

Birol said he did not see US oil production peaking before 2020, and that he did not expect a decline in the next four to five years.

US oil is also increasingly being exported, including to the world’s biggest and fastest growing markets in Asia, eating away at OPEC and Russian market share.

Birol said production growth was not just strong in the United States.

“Canada, especially the oil sands, and Brazilian offshore projects -these are the two major (non-US) drivers,” he said.

On the demand side, Birol said the IEA expected growth of around 1.4 million bpd in 2018.

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NCC Suspends Telcoms Firms’ Licences, Bars 750,000 Lines over Call Masking, Refilling Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday descended heavily on telecoms operators which were found to be involved in call masking and refilling by suspending their operational licences, and barring 750,000 phone numbers that were registered with some telecoms operators and used in carrying out the illegal practice of call masking and refilling.

NCC had earlier identified six telecoms operators involved in call masking and refilling to include Medallion Communications Limited; Interconnect Cleaning House Nigeria Limited; Niconnx Communication Limited, Breeze Micro Limited; Solid Interconnectivity and Exchange Telecommunications Limited and had threatened outright revocation or suspension of their licences after wide consultation.

Call masking and refilling is

an attempt by operators to hide the actual telephone numbers of callers when routing calls, especially international calls, which are not charged, because the caller’s identity is completely hidden on the network.

Announcing the various sanctions on different telecoms operators, in relation to the weight of their offenses, the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the commission had been inundated with complaints from service providers and consumers regarding the high incidence of call masking, call refiling and SIM-Boxing. “Generally, the practice complained of involves disguising international calls as local calls in order to profit from price differentials between international and local calls. Apart from the resultant loss of revenue by service providers, the practice has also created some negative security implications,” Ojobo said in a

Obi Gives Conditions to Be Met for Nigeria and Africa to Develop Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Obi, on Monday in London, gave two conditions that must be met for Nigeria to overcome its economic difficulties and for Africa to develop.

The conditions, he said while speaking with journalists after the high-level discussions at the British House of Commons, include huge investment in education and skill acquisition as well as meaningful support for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).

According to him, “Nigeria must focus on investing in education and skill acquisition in order to turn round its economy, and drastically reduce the levels of youth unemployment,” Obi,

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who revolutionised the education sector in his during his days as governor, said.

The former governor maintained that Nigeria must see education and skills acquisition as an investment, as this would help to diversify and grow the country’s economy.

Obi noted that from the discussions it was evident that there are large opportunities in Africa, “but to achieve these, Africa requires huge investment in education and skill acquisition as well as supporting SMEs which will help build a prosperous future for herself.”

Obi, who since leaving office in 2014, has devoted enormous resources towards the promotion of education on the continent, added that “for Africa to transit from exporter of raw commodities to a manufacturer of finished goods, and become a significant member of the global technological world, her people must be educated.”

At the event chaired by the head of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa, Chi Onwurah MP, the discussions were attended by captains of industry and other British MPs and peers.

statement.

Part of the statement read: Following a painstaking investigation process which included collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services, (DSS) the commission has imposed a range of sanctions on licensees involved in the fraudulent practice. These include the following sanctions: Suspension of the Interconnect Clearinghouse License issued to Medallion Communications Limited for a period of 90 days, in the first instance; Issuance of a strong warning to Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria Limited.

Disconnection of Information Connectivity Solutions Limited (ICSL) and Solid Interconnectivity Services Limited from all networks, until they regularise their operations; Issuance of letters to Exchange Telecoms Limited, NiconnX Limited and Breeze Micro Limited, cautioning them against

engaging in the fraudulent practice; and Barring of over 750,000 numbers assigned to several Private Network Links (PNL) and Local Exchange Operator (LEO) licensees, which number ranges were found to have been utilised for the practice.

But in a quick reaction, the Managing Director of Medallion Communications Limited, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, said he was shocked that NCC went ahead to sanction his company, which he insisted is innocent of the charge against it. He said the company would review the position of NCC, before responding properly at the right time.

Ojobo however said the sanctioned entities were found to be directly and indirectly complicit in several infractions, including, covertly allowing organisations with expired licences to transit calls, failure to undertake due diligence on parties seeking to interconnect,

deliberately turning a blind eye to masking infractions by interconnect partners, and using a licence issued to another organisation, to bring in and terminate international calls, which were masked as local calls to other operators.

Regarding the barring of over 750,000 individual numbers across the country, made up of about 31 number ranges, Ojobo listed the licensees whose numbers have been barred to include Vezeti Communications Services Limited, Voix Networks Limited, Mobitel Limited, Peace Global Satellite Communications Limited, ABG Communications Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Swift Telephone Networks Limited, QVODA Telecoms Limited, Wireless Telecoms Limited and Emcatel Networks Limited.

He said the commission found that some of these were terminating millions of minutes, whereas they only have very few active customers.

The commission is pleased to note that the incidence of call masking has significantly reduced since it commenced a multi-faceted approach to address the menace. NCC hereby informs all stakeholders that the actions so far taken are just the first stage of the exercise.

The second stage which has now commenced, will focus on the Mobile Network Operators and other persons involved in SIMBoxing, Ojobo said.

The aim of the commission is to completely stamp out the fraudulent practice in the overall interest of all Nigerians. Accordingly, every service provider that has been sanctioned still has the opportunity to correct the identified anomalies and satisfy the commission that it should be allowed to continue to operate in Nigeria. It reserves the right to revoke the licence of such service providers where they fail to take the necessary corrective measures, Ojobo added.

COURTESY CALL ON THE CHIEF JUDGE

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke (middle), flanked by the Secretary of Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Mr. Seyi Sowemimo, SAN (right), and his assistant, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) during their courtesy visit to the CJ in her office in Ikeja....Monday

FG Launches Annual Trade Policy Report, Bans Free Market Access Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has launched the Nigeria Annual Trade Policy Report (NATPOR) drawn by the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), which is to be published annually.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, presented the document to the public yesterday.

The report aims to rely on statistics to monitor, assess and re-negotiate Nigeria’s trading relationship with counterparts.

According to NAPTOR statistics, over 14 per cent of the Nigerian workforce (import and export) equivalent of 10.8 million people, are employed in trade activities.

It also noted that trade accounts for 18 per cent of GDP, second only to agriculture (which accounts for 29.1 per cent of the GDP).

However, the overall value of Nigerian trade between 2014 and 2015 decreased by approximately 7.4 billion (from about 23.7 billion in 2014, to 16.3 billion in 2015).

The report stated that in terms of percentage, this was a decrease of about 18.5 per cent in trade value between 2014 and 2015. The decrease in 2015 reflected the recession in economic activities due to the sharp decline in oil receipts.

There was a slight increase in 2016. Stronger more positive performance is expected with Q4 figure in 2017.

NAPTOR also showed that trade statistics for the

three quarters of 2017, both in export and import, South Africa remained Nigeria’s major trading partner in Africa. Within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Côte d’Ivoire assumed the top position in terms of Nigeria’s imports from ECOWAS, while Togo maintained top position in terms of Nigeria’s exports to ECOWAS, in the reported three quarters of 2017.

Outside Africa, Europe remains Nigeria’s major regional trading partner (both in export and import) through the three reported quarters of 2017, followed by Asia.

Globally, India and the United States are Nigeria’s two top major trading partners in export through the three quarters of 2017, while China and Belgium

are Nigeria’s two top trading partners in import through the three quarters of 2017.

The report identifies the priorities in Nigeria’s trade policy, and our use of trade policy as an instrument for structural transformation for diversification, modernization, construction of regional and global value chains, welfare enhancement, job creation.

Gradually, working in close coordination with the Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, the government hopes to phase out export of primary products to which value has not been added.

Enelamah similarly said access to Nigeria’s market would no longer be free to investors.

He said those seeking market access must link their investments to industrial activities to enhance

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NEWSXTRA

ARG Canvasses Legislation Proscribing Open Grazing in South-west GboyegaAkinsanmi The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday made radical recommendations against the nefarious activities of Fulani herdsmen in all South-west states, asking all their Houses of Assembly to concurrently enact laws proscribing open grazing in each state of the region.

While it welcomed various troop deployments to trouble spots across the country to end the farmers-herdsmen conflicts, the ARG canvassed for more stringent steps “to completely forestall the needless terror.”

These positions which were contained in a statement the ARG’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, issued yesterday, suggested practical steps that the federal and state governments might adopt to contain the farmersherdsmen violence.

Some suspected Fulani herdsmen had a fortnight ago chased out staff members of the Akure South Local Government Area from the secretariat.

The incident happened due to disagreement between the suspected herdsmen and some staff members of the local government.

Just before the Akure South incident, the Osun State Government had issued a statement, lamenting the unacceptable activities of the Fulani herdsmen that forced farmers in the state to abandon their farms,

which it said, posed threats to food security and security of lives in the state, especially those living in the rural areas.

Also, at different times in January, suspected Fulani herdsmen had set ablaze a farm belonging to former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, and another farm belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan.

While Falae’s 40-hectare farm is located at Ilado inAkure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Afolayan’s 500-farm comprising 20 hectaresoforangeplantation,20hectares ofcassavafarmandfivehectaresofpalm plantation, among others, is located at Ibbo-Ile, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State In Ekiti, Kwara, Ogun and Oyo States, the activities of Fulani herdsmen hadatdifferenttimescostlives;wreaked havoc on farmers’ settlements and inflicted injuries on farmers in each of these states.

Ontheseaccounts,theARGjustified its call for an outright proscription of open grazing, noting that the time “has come to end open grazing in Nigeria,andrespectivelegislativehouses, particularly in the South-west should act accordingly.”

Even though it endorsed the decision of the federal government to deploy troops to various flashpoints, the group said the deployment “is just the beginning of more steps needed to completely forestall needless terror, the enormity of

Tribunal Adjourns Saraki’s Asset Declaration Trial to March 8 Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday adjourned the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki over allegations of false declaration of his assets as Governor of Kwara State till March 8, 2018.

At yesterday’s proceedings, parties in the suits were supposed to adopt their final address in the trial.

However, the Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, adjourned to March 8, following claims by the defence lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), that he was served with the final brief of argument by the prosecution on February 26 after work.

Agabi, who led a team of other senior lawyers for the Senate president, pleaded with the tribunal to adjourn the matter to a new date to enable him study and respond to the brief of argument served on him late by the prosecution.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), admitted that his brief was served late, but blamed the defence for the lateness on the grounds that their own brief of argument was served on him after seven days ordered by the tribunal.

Jacobs told the tribunal that because the defence filed their brief of argument out of time, the settlement of his own brief was affected.

Having listened to both sides, the tribunal chairman subsequently adjourned the

matter to March 8 for adoption of final written address.

Umar also said after the formal adoption of the written address, the tribunal would take a date for final judgment in the trial which commenced since 2015 when Saraki emerged as Senate president.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the federal government over allegations of false asset declaration when he was a governor.

The senate president had on February 6 closed his defence after calling one witness, Dr. Ademola Adebo, from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) who testified in his favour.

Although Saraki, through his counsel, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), had at the commencement of proceedings on that day, told the tribunal that he has lined up four witnesses to testify in his favour, he however made a U-turn when the legal team decided to limit themselves to the first witness.

Shortly after the lone defence witness was cross examined by the prosecution lawyer, Jacobs, the tribunal Chairman, Umar, had asked parties for direction in the further proceedings.

Agabi, lead counsel to Saraki, conferred with his client in the box, and at the end of the conversation, announced that the defence would no longer call the remaining three witnesses.

He consequently applied for a date for adjournment to enable parties adopt their final addresses

which was captured by the Global Terrorism Index (2017).”

In reference to the terrorism index that reviewed terror attacks between 2010 and 2016, the ARG said the report revealed that deaths from Fulani extremists “resulted in more than 3,000 deaths across four African countries, with 92 per cent of fatalities taking place in Nigeria.

“Both the Boko Haram and herdsmen militia are two terrors casting shadows of death over Nigeria and governments at all levels must respond adequately, through approaches that simultaneously deal effectively with the terrorists and address the underlying triggers of conflict.”

Aside outright proscription of

open grazing, the ARG asked both federal and states governments most affected “to issues an executive order declaring an amnesty window for all arms-bearing herders, farmers and other terrorists wherever they may be found in our country.”

After the deadline, the group noted that any herdsman caught anywhere with arms “should be arrested and prosecuted under the Terrorism Act. Without an initiative like this, no positive or sustainable peace can be fostered.”

The ARG proposed the need to take advantage of the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) technology to address farmers-herdsmen conflict and cattle rustling, asking all Houses

of Assembly in the South-west “to make digital animal identification statutory. There is no part of the country today that is strange to the use of GSM technology.”

Specifically, the group argued that if all herds of cattle “are digitally identifiable, clashes between farmers and herders and rustling might be largely controlled, if not eliminated.

Such identification technology will also encourage Nigerian livestock farmers for meat export business.”

It, equally, observed that the federal government had exclusive legislative responsibility for immigration and border control matters, thereby urging the apex government to consider “effective border control measures, with the

claim that the criminal herdsmen are from other lands determined to subvert Nigeria’s sovereignty and dominate indigenous Nigerians.”

It, also, explained the significance of restructuring Nigeria’s governance architecture, re-emphasising the need for the federal government “to urgently restructure Nigeria by unbundling the Exclusive Legislative List.

“Who would have thought we would have ‘Dapchi’ to contend with less than five years after Chibok incident? The folly of kicking against true federalism matters like state police is the needless loss of young Nigerian lives. We cannot like the ostrich continue to bury our heads in the sand.”

ENDORSEMENT Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade (third right), being presented with a cheque of N20million for the purchase of reelection nomination form by the people of Cross River Central in Ikom...recently

Onnoghen, Malami, Others Shower Encomiums on Retired S’Court Justice, Clara Ogunbiyi NBA urges FG to ensure safe return of abducted Dapchi school girls Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Samuel Walter Onnoghen; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), and other legal luminary yesterday paid glowing tribute to the third female Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, who bowed out of service yesterday after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges.

Meanwhile, the President of the NBA, Mahmoud, has charged the federal government to facilitate the safe return of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State.

Onnoghen and others spoke at a special valedictory court session in honour of Justice Ogunbiyi held at the Headquarters of the Supreme Court in Abuja.

The CJN commended Ogunbiyi for her forthrightness, honesty and dedication to the business of the court, adding

that Ogunbiyi never shirked her task nor wavered from the course of justice.

“I find that her lordship’s use of clear legal reasoning is complimented by the impeccable courtroom courtesy and decorum, with which she addressed both the Bar and her colleagues.

“Her temperament endeared her to the court and her selflessness often speaks volumes. I dare say that these twin virtues represent the best of the legal profession and are indeed worthy of acceptance and emulation by all members of the Bar and the Bench,” Onnoghen said.

The CJN, however, noted that the judiciary would miss her with her measured and erudite contributions and her active advocacy of women’s right, adding that her legacy will endure in the annals of the jurisprudence of Nigeria.

“Justice Ogunbiyi is a champion of gender rights and an advocate of the greater inclusion of women in the affairs of our country.

“She has been an inspiration to female legal practitioners, being

active in the NBA Women’s Forum as well as other genderrelated organisations,” he added.

Similarly, the AGF while eulogising Ogunbiyi for her track records in the judiciary, stated that the retired jurist would be remembered for her immense contributions in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. “I must however place on record her contributions to the evolution of our vision of a fast and efficient criminal justice system which abhors undue delays, through her lead ruling in the Olisa Metuh matter where the applicant had sought to enforce a stay of proceedings in his trial before the Federal High Court.

“Her Lordship, in her ruling, which was unanimously adopted by her brother Justices on the panel, clearly clarified that section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution, section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and other relevant authorities all ‘mandate and enjoin the trial court not to delay criminal cases’. In

this way, she firmly set the imprimatur of the Supreme Court on our collective effort to develop a criminal justice system which we can be proud of,” he said.

In the meantime, the NBA, speaking through its president at the occasion, condemned the abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls by yet-to-be identified group.

Mahmoud advised both the state and federal governments to suspend boarding school system for girls in the Northeast region until the safety of all schools can be fully guaranteed.

He lamented that the region presently is one of the most unsafe part of the world for the education of female children.

Mahmoud also eulogised Ogunbiyi for her brilliant judicial pronouncements, which according to him, had loosened womanhood from cultural bandage, particular her decision in Ukeje vs Ukeje which gave female children right of inheritance to their deceased father or husband property in Igbo land.

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Don’t Allow Your Aides Set You Up on $500bn Claim, PDP, Jonathan’s Aide Tell Buhari Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari that it squandered the sum of $500billion oil proceeds within 16 years as baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated.

The party urged the president not to allow his aides railroad him into peddling such groundless allegations and bandying of unverified figures, as doing that could detract from his personality.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement, said the figures alluded to by the president does not even tally or reflect the actual oil related profile of the nation during the said period and urged

the president not to allow his handlers set him up for public ridicule.

According to him, “The entire country is aware that the presidency is on a feverish mode over their bound-to-fail 2019 re-election bid for which they have resorted to making spurious claims against the PDP even when it is clear to Nigerians that the PDP has since rebranded while preponderance of those who mismanaged the nation’s resources have now found a safe haven in the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The party however challenged President Buhari to name one corrupt person in the repositioned and rebranded PDP and it will hand him a list of an army of corrupt persons who are hiding in his APC

Afenifere: Tinubu, Oyegun Must Settle Rift in APC’s Interest Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State chapter of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has appealed to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to settle their differences in the interest of the party.

The group praised President Muhammadu Buhari for deeming it fit to appoint Tinubu as the Chairman of Reconciliation Committee to settle all the crises within the party towards making the party stronger in preparation for 2019 and beyond.

The organisation also commended Tinubu for taking up the assignment which every discerning mind knows how herculean it is.

Also, Ekiti Afenifere praised the Oyegun-led party executive for being realistic about the state of the party and exhibited readiness to cooperate with

the committee to bring peace to APC. In a statement by the Chairman, Elder Yemi Alade, the group urged Oyegun not to regard the Tinubu committee as an indictment of the party leadership as lacking the capacity to deliver but as part of measures to build confidence in the rank and file of its membership.

Ekiti Afenifere described as timely the presidential warning that no one should attempt to impose any candidate on the party at any level. This the Afenifere is in complete agreement.

On the issue of security, the organization is of the opinion that all security agents should not relax at any time as the insurgents are never asleep.

Accordingly, the army should brace up and never to allow such mindless account of students kidnap to rear its ugly head again.

What we need is peace across the nation and we know government can make it happen.

including those who funded his 2015 presidential campaigns with stolen money in addition to his many cronies who are now frittering away billion of naira under his watch.”

The PDP added, “We know that President Buhari did not source his figures, otherwise we would have directly taken him to task on the veracity of his claims and detestable image of his party “We however ask: Is the President and his handlers not aware of the humongous corruption going on under the Buhari presidency? What have they to say to the recent Transparency International (TI) report which shows that corruption has worsened under the Buhari administration?

“What have they to say about the official memo detailing shady oil deals to the tune of N9 trillion ($25 billion) at the NNPC which is directly under the purview of the president as Minister of Petroleum Resources?”

The major opposition party said that the Presidency is yet to address its complicity in the

heavy sleazes in the National Health Insurance Scheme where billions of naira have allegedly been siphoned by their agents, in spite of the Treasury Single Account (TSA); the alleged diversion of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil and the frittering of billions of naira meant for rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast, all to service APC interests.

“Nigerians are alarmed by the president’s claim that his administration inherited a collapsing economy when it is common knowledge that he was actually handed a thriving economy, ranked the third largest in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world,” the party further stated.

“Has Mr. President forgotten that when he assumed office in 2015, the value of our naira was N185 to 1USD? Nigerians are aware that the naira went as low as N510 to US$1 and in case Mr. President is not aware, Nigerians are also ridiculing his much touted strengthening of the naira.”

PDP therefore urged President Buhari and his “dysfunctional

APC” to come to terms with the fact that Nigerians now know the truth and can no longer be swayed by propaganda and false claims with which the APC hoodwinked the nation in 2015.

Also, a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri, described as false, the allegation by President Buhari that the Jonathan’s administration squandered over N500 billion and massively depleted the country’s savings during the tenure of the erstwhile president.

Omokri, said this in reaction to Buhari’s speech to the All Progressives Congress (APC) members who visited him at the Presidential Villa on Monday that the Jonathan’s administration encouraged “fuel subsidy fraud, arms fund diversion, depleted excess crude account savings, depleted foreign reserves, massive unpaid debts to contractors and suppliers amidst failure to invest or even maintain our infrastructure namely railways, roads, electricity, in spite of having earned over US$500 billion from oil and gas alone, during the 16 years of PDP rule.”

Omokri argued that it was unfortunate that Buhari who once deceived the country with the mantra of integrity, could add lies to it.

According to him, if nothing else justifies the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index rating which revealed that corruption in Nigeria had worsened under President Buhari, “this latest presidential lies does.”

He pointed out that “it is true that there is “unprecedented theft and systematic mismanagement”, but such activities are taking place under President Buhari, rather than the preceding administration.”

He added: “The PDP government of President Jonathan dismissed Abdulrasheed Maina, the biggest alleged thief in Nigeria’s civil service history, and declared him wanted.

“The incumbent APC government of President Buhari b r o u g h t h i m back, reinstated him and gave him double promotion.”

WELCOME TO OUR FOLD Verification Exercise, Fraud, L-R: Member, Lagos State Executive, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Mr. Olumide Favour; State Coordinator, Mr. Onome Ojigbo; and ABIODUN AJALA Responsible for Payroll Changes, renowned Leadership Coach, Mr. Fela Durotoye, when Durotoye formally joined ANN in Lagos...recently Says Benue Govt FG, Stakeholders Mull $10bn Development Initiative The Benue State Government has confirmed that changes to its payroll for January 2018 are the result of a verification exercise which exposed a fraud of N3.7billion in its remuneration system.

The exercise was conducted by a screening committee set up by the state Governor Samuel Ortom-led administration to examine the bloated wage bill of the state and the problem of ghost workers.

In addition to earlier discoveries, the Salary Verification Committee in January 2018 uncovered N3.5billion fraud in the salaries of seven of the state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with staff strength of 8,913.

Now in its second phase, the committee was given a mandate to examine the state payroll from June 2015 to April 2017.

According to Chairman of the committee and retired Permanent Secretary, Tertsegha Ikyaabo, the sum of N1.4 billion was also discovered to have been wrongly paid to some workers in 60 MDAs from June 2015 to October 2016. This discovery was after the verification of 10,300 staff in the MDAs. These milestones were made possible through the technology provided by Remita and the support of its consultants in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.

This revelation comes ahead of the invitation extended by the state House of Assembly to key officers of the state Ministry of Finance, including the Commissioner for Finance, Head of Service and the Remita consultants, as part of their oversight responsibilities.

for N’Delta Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government yesterday unveiled a $10 billion private sector-led investment designed to develop infrastructure and ensure the overall social well-being of the Niger Delta region.

The proposed investment initiative packaged as Niger Delta Investment Fund (NDIF), was presented to stakeholders in Abuja at a meeting attended by ministers, governors of the Niger Delta region and chief executive of international oil and gas companies (IOCs).

The essence of the proposed $10 billion investment initiative is to shift emphasis from public sector-led mechanism to private sector driven funding option.

The development initiative was presented by the Founder and CEO of Henshaw Capital Partners, Barbara James.

James, who handed the proposal to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, regretted that public funding of projects in the region had not yielded the required impact largely due to improper monitoring and evaluation.

The new development blueprint will see funds pooled together, in partnership with the federal government, from development partners, IOCs, sovereign wealth funds (both national and international), commercial banks, cooperative banks and insurance companies, under NDIF for investors to

access and executive meaningful development projects in the region.

James regretted that over $40 billion public funds had been reportedly spent on the execution of projects in the region in the last sixteen years without commiserate infrastructure, adding that this led to the search for a new approach towards private sector partnership mechanism.

“I came here to talk about NDIF. It is $10 billion investments. The purpose of the fund is to channel private sector investors into Niger Delta region.

“All around the world, infrastructure budget and business enterprises use private finances, funds from

sovereign wealth fund to invest in infrastructure.

“So, we want to bring that trend to Nigeria and the Niger Delta region to fast track development,” adding, the fund will be managed by independent managers, so that the investors will have confidence in investing in the funds,” James said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, said there was the need for a new source of funding because the development need of Niger Delta region was enormous.

He added that the proposal would be forwarded to the technical committee to take urgent and appropriate action on it.

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

WORLD CUP 2018 BUILDUP

Rohr Recalls Joel Obi, Ideye for Next Month International Friendlies Femi Solaja with agency report The duo of Joel Obi and Brown Ideye may have gradually warmed themselves back into Super Eagles’ setup following the invitation coach Gernot Rohr extended to them ahead of the international friendlies the team will play next month in the build up to the World Cup finals in June.

Although the technical crew is yet to release the team list of players invited for the build up matches against Poland and Serbia, Owngoalnigeria. com scooped on the official letter sent to Joel Obi’s Serie A side, Torino FC last week requesting for the release of the former Flying Eagles midfielder.

According to the website, the Italian Serie A side Torino confirmed the invitation of Obi who has been one of their top players this season by the coach of the Nigerian team.

“Torino confirmed his invitation via a statement on their official website. So far the Nigerian has

made 15 Serie A appearances with four goals to his name despite playing as a defensive midfielder,” the report said.

The 26 year-old Obi is staging a return to the national team set up after a four-year absence. No thanks to injuries and fitness issues. He last represented Nigeria in a pre World Cup friendly game against Scotland on the 28th of May 2014.

Ideye who recently moved to Spanish LaLiga side Malaga has also earned his recall to the team on the strength of his impressive showings for the struggling side since his move to the team in January.

The former West Brom striker has played in all of the four games of the team since his arrival with a goal to his name despite the team struggling to remain in the top division in Spain.

The match against Poland is scheduled for Wroclaw on Friday, 23rd March while the game with Serbia is for The Hive, London on Tuesday, 27th March 2018.

Joel Obi

T R AC KS TO T H E T U R F

Abbah Calls for Inter-house Sports Revival Bolt to Play in Star-studded UNICEF Match Ugo Aliogo The Flag Officer Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sag Abbah, has called on government to focus on reviving Inter-house sports competitions as a way of promoting grassroots and producing young talents for the country.

Abbah who disclosed this last week in Lagos at the 2018 Inter-House Sports Competition of Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Navy Town, Ojo, said the organisation of more sports competitions in Secondary Schools would help to promote the spirit of healthy competition and sportsmanship amongst students.

He urged those that excelled during the competition to use it as a platform to go higher, noting that those of them that would not perform as they expect themselves to should it as a platform for learning and see how they can improve, “this particular occasion is a breeding

ground for the country.”

Abbah who was represented at the event by the Commodore, Dickson Olisemenoghor, said there were a lot of innovations and creativity shown by the students, stating that this would not have been possible without the efforts of the Commandant of the School.

“I am not surprised that they have attained this feat and the Chief of Navy Staff has provided us with the necessary infrastructure that we need to get to this level,” he noted.

In her remarks, the Commandant of the School, Jobi Stevens, said the competition has provided the platform for four houses to compete blue (Wey), green (Sorch), red (Aduwo) and the purple (Adelanwa) for medals.

She explained that there is a lot of improvement and energy invested in training and preparing the students for the competition, adding that they are committed in maintaining the standard of competition.

Ekiti FederalVarsity Loses Head of Sports’ Dept, Ogundele Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Head of Sports’ Unit of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti(FUOYE), Mr Ogunayo Johnson Ogundele, is dead.

Ogundele, 45, died on Friday of undisclosed ailment after returning from a coaching course outside the state.

The late coach, who had been buried in his Oye Ekiti countryhome according to Christian rites, was survived by a wife, Abosede and three children.

A family source revealed to

journalists in Oye Ekiti yesterday that the family were still stunned by the sudden death of the late coach, because he didn’t complain of any sickness before the attack.

“He woke up that morning and prayed the way he always did.

Suddenly he started coughing and he held his neck as if he was suffocated and he developed complications and died”, the source said.

However, the Vice Chancellor of the university , Prof. Kayode Soremekun has described Ogundele’s death as devastating and saddening.

Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has confirmed his participation in the 2018 Soccer Aid Charity match.

The Jamaican sprint King will captain the ‘Rest of the World’ XI against the ‘England’ team lead by pop star Robbie Williams. The match kicks off at Old Trafford on June 10.

Bolt, who announced his participation in the charity match on social media, teased that he signed for South African football

club Sundowns on Monday.

“It is my dream to make it as a professional footballer, so to be able to step out onto the pitch at Old Trafford in June, and play against some of football’s biggest legends is going to be remarkable,” Bolt told Manchester United’s official website.

“I enjoy the thrill of competition in front of a crowd, so Robbie and his England team better watch out as I won’t be going easy on them!

“I’ve got a pretty special celebration planned for when I score, by the way. My team is going to be unbeatable – and Soccer Aid for Unicef is counting on your support to make a difference to thousands of children around the world. Come and join in the fun!”

The Olympian appeared in a photo holding a Sundowns shirt with his name on the back and wrote “I’ve signed for a football team!” on Twitter ahead of the

announcement.

The Unicef supported initiative - which has raised over $30million in the last decade - raises money for underprivileged children across the world, providing them with food, vaccines and clean water.

Previous editions of the charity match have featured the likes of Hollywood stars Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson, as well as former greats Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona.

NFF Inaugurates Audit Committee, Technical Study Group President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick yesterday inaugurated the Federation’s newly –composed Audit Committee and the Technical Study Group at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja, declaring them “critical panels that have much to contribute to Nigerian Football’s development.”

The NFF supremo poured encomiums on Executive Committee member, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi, who heads the Audit Committee and will celebrate his 60thbirthday next week, saying “Otunba is a fit and proper person for the role given his huge experience in the financial sector and his

calm, collected and matured disposition.

“The Audit Committee will complement the efforts of our external auditors, PriceWaterHouse Coopers and much is expected of them.”

Pinnick also declared that the Technical Study Group would function as a committee, collating, analysing and putting at the disposal of the Federation, data and new thinking that can enhance the rapid development of the Nigeria game.

“The Chairman, Alhaji Abba Yola needs no introduction.

He is someone who has seen it all in sports administration and we thank him immensely for accepting to serve Nigerian

Football in this capacity. In due course, members of the Technical Study Group will be attached to the various National Teams to impact on those teams.”

Otunba Dele-Ajayi promised that his committee would work in tandem with the external auditors to enhance even further the reliability of NFF’s financial records, for the good of the game. He thanked the NFF for the opportunity given to the members to serve.

On his part, Yola said: “I commend the NFF for coming up with a panel like the Technical Study Group. We will work as a group and with the Technical Committee, and in the interest of all the National

Teams, including the U13.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi urged the committees to route their reports through the proper channels without making public their recommendations, while also thanking them for accepting to serve the nation.

Also at the occasion were NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Mr. Taribo West (Vice Chairman, TSG); Mr. James Peters (Member, TSG); Coach Bitrus Bewarang (Technical Director); Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications); Suleiman Tegina (Deputy Director, Audit) and; Tunde Aderibigbe (Head of Protocol).

Shell Nigeria Emerges NOGIG 2018 Champions After days of tough competition, Shell Nigeria proved they are the best team as they emerged the overall winners of the 17th Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games which ended on Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Shell won 11 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals to go

away with the 2018 trophy.

NNPC placed second with nine gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze medals, while the third place went to Chevron that amassed eight gold, three silver and five bronze medals. NLNG beat , ExxonMobil to fourth place position after winning five gold, five silver and five

bronze medal with ExxonMobil amassing three gold, five silver and six bronze medals, while Total took the sixth position haven won three gold, four silver and seven bronze medals.

The climax of competition was in the relay events where Shell beat Total to the gold medal in the women relay with NNPC winning

the bronze medal. The men’s relay was won by NNPC, while Total and Shell Nigeria took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Thirteen oil and gas companies in the country participated in the weeklong games which featured, swimming, 8-ball pool, chess, scrabble, basketball, athletics, squash, tennis and table tennis.

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Wednesday February 28, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Fowler to Tax Evaders

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What follows after the deadline is that we shall follow the laws that deal with tax administration and for those that are not complaint, we shall investigate them and if need be we prosecute them.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Babatunde Fowler reading the riot act to tax evaders and urging them to take advantage of the current VAIDS window to pay up the backlog of their taxes or face prosecution.

BENMURRAYBRUCE MAKING COMMON SENSE

ben.murraybruce@thisdaylive.com

The Limits of Propaganda

T

ransparency International (TI) revealed last Wednesday that corruption in Nigeria is now worse under President Muhammadu Buhari than it was before he took over. That was sad, but it was not as sad as the presidencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to TIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verdict.

Surprisingly, but not uncharacteristically, the presidency released a statement with a thinly veiled accusation that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili, both conspired to use their influence as founding members of TI to prod the anti corruption watch dog to give the negative rating it gave on Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-corruption war.

Is it that the government cannot take responsibility for anything?

Must the president always look for someone to blame? This is the opposite of the promise President Buhari made to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;always lead from the frontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

President Buhari must move away from seeing leadership as something tied to an office or a position or a designation. Leadership is about influence and impact. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have both, you are not a leader, no matter how many titles come before or after your name.

If I was the president, instead of looking for scapegoats, I would be more concerned about the reasons why Nigeria moved 12 places backward from 136 to 148 in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CPI? And the thing is that going by the revelations that have been unearthed this year, Nigeria is looking like it may have an even worse CPI

President Muhammadu Buhari

rating next year. For instance, I have heard of man-eating snakes but I have never heard of naira eating snakes before in my life! I have also heard of monkeys stealing food, but this new tale of a monkey stealing money is certainly strange.

In fact, it seems like providence just wanted to show President Buhari the limitations of propaganda. On a week after President Buhari boasted that he had fulfilled his two biggest campaign promises of security and anti-corruption, The #DapchiGirls incident and TIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest CPI showed him the limits of propaganda.

After the 2014 abduction of the Chibok Girls, how could we leave any school unguarded in the Northeast? Boko Haram precisely means that Western education is sin.

These people were not cagey. They announced their intentions clearly and unambiguously. That 110 girls were kidnapped in Dapchi, Yobe State, is just unimaginable. It shows that we did not learn anything from the Chibok Girls saga.

If it happened to Chibok in 2014 then the shame was on Boko Haram, but when it happens again in Dapchi, the shame is on us this

time around. This incident will be aired all over the world. It will affect investor confidence in Nigeria and portray us as an unsafe country.

If we did not learn a lesson from Chibok, let us at least learn it from Dapchi.

I urge all Nigerians not to politicise this tragedy. We must unite to rescue the girls and defeat the ideology that is against education. The federal government must provide armed military guards at all schools in the Northeast. If this is not possible, then the students in such schools should be moved to safer locations nearer the state capitals.

Nigeria has spent literally hundreds of millions and perhaps billions trying to promote girl child education especially in Northern Nigeria. Incidences like Chibok and Dapchi have negated all that work and will set girl child school enrollment back several years. We must give citizens the assurance that when they send their children to school, the end result will be positive for both the students and their parents.

Having said this, I sympathise with the parents of all the missing girls. My thoughts are with you and I will do what I can to mobilise the world to look for and help return your daughters.

The truth is that if we are asking our youths not to make the perilous journey to Europe through the Libyan desert, we must give them hope in Nigeria. What hope is there when you can be kidnapped from school in Nigeria? What hope is there if you work and your salary is kidnapped by corrupt government officials?

And talking about salary, let me say that in the last three years, life in parts of Nigeria has become like in the Stone Age â&#x20AC;&#x201C; short and brutish.

With a minimum wage of N18,000 it will continue to be so. We must increase the minimum wage. If we can afford N1.1 billion to clean the National Security Adviserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, we can definitely afford to increase the minimum wage.

And we do not have to increase recurrent expenditure to increase the minimum wage. We only need to cut out wasteful expenditure that does not impact on the life of the common man like the afford N1.1 billion to clean the National Security Adviserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, and the N4.8 billion for electrical maintenance in the presidency.

For too long, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders have been thinking about the next election instead of the next generation. That is why our recurrent expenditure is huge and our capital expenditure is minute. If Nigeria is not growing or going backwards we must look at ourselves and make changes instead of looking at our predecessors and make blames.

Too many Nigerians climb the ladder of success and burn it. We need to have a paradigm change such that we help others climb the success ladder. Singapore was like us. Lee Kuan Yew took her from the third world to the first in a generation. We need our own Lee Kuan Yew and it should not be a PDP or APC affair. We want the best Nigeria has to offer, not the best a party has to offer. r #FO .VSSBZ #SVDF JT UIF GPVOEFS PG UIF 4JMWFSCJSE (SPVQ BOE UIF TFOBUPS SFQSFTFOUJOH

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