Wednesday 28th March 2018

Whistle-blower Names Israeli Firm That Hacked Buhari’s Emails Eromosele Abiodun with agency reports The whistle-blower at the heart of the Facebook data scandal engineered by embattled data analysis firm, Cambridge Analytica, Christopher Wylie, has named

the Israeli firm that hacked into President Muhammadu Buhari’s private medical and financial records via his emails, in a bid to scare voters and sway the 2015 election in favour of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Wylie, while giving

evidence yesterday before the British Commons Culture Select Committee, which is investigating fake news, revealed that Cambridge Analytica used the services of an Israeli private intelligence firm, Black Cube, to undermine

the Nigerian elections in 2015 by spreading propaganda to demoralise voters.

He claimed that SCL Elections, Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, had been involved in a project in Nigeria in 2015, which involved hacking the private

information of Buhari, who was running for president.

He also claimed Aggregate I.Q (AIQ), a digital advertising, web and software development company based in Canada, had distributed compromising material – known as kompromat – and

videos designed to intimidate Buhari’s supporters.

According to him, “The company utilised the services of an Israeli private intelligence firm, that firm is Black Cube. That has not been Continued on page 11

Senate Initiates Process to Override Veto on Electoral Amendment Bill… Page 52 Wednesday 28 March, 2018 Vol 23. No 8379. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Atiku Meets Wike, Declares Presidential Bid Promises to build a new Nigeria, Rivers gov urges collective effort to oust APC

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was in

Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday, where he met with Governor Nyesom Wike, who is widely believed to be one of the major financiers and

calls the shots at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During his visit to the state, Atiku, who has contested for the Nigerian presidency

for a record four times, also kicked off consultations with stakeholders in the state and once again declared his intention to contest the

2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP. This came as Wike called on Nigerians to team up to oust the ruling

All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 because of bad leadership.

Continued on page 10

Citing Constitutional Breach, Buhari Rejects Tenure Extension for Oyegun, Others APC sets up c’ttee to review position Tinubu hails president, says party stands for internal democracy PDP: Ruling party suffering from imposition, impunity Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Citing the Nigerian Constitution and the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday shocked his party members when he raised objections to the plan to extend the tenure of elected and appointed executives of the ruling party at all

levels, including its National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, by one year, possibly saving the party from the series of lawsuits that would have arisen from the extra year handed the executives.

Rising from its meeting last month, the National Executive Committee of the APC said Continued on page 10

FAAC Meeting Ends in Stalemate as C'ttee Rejects NNPC Remittance… Page 53

Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; and former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, when Atiku led an entourage to meet with Wike and other stakeholders of PDP in River State to hold consultations and declare his presidential bid, in Port Harcourt… yesterday

2

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

3

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

5

4

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

6

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

7

+ , - & $ #

! "

* $ # $ % & ' ( ) ( *

# * * # * '

! "#$ + # * ) ( * & (

*

+ 1 (

# * 0

#

%

& '

% ( &'%) '

$ .

)

' !/ * *'

, -

' & * " , 1 '

$ * * # * 2'

$ *

+ * 3

''

8

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

9

WEDNESDAY, Í°ÍśËœ ͺ͸͚͜ Ëž T H I S D AY

10

PAGE TEN

Private Equity Firm to Invest $18m in Nigeria’s Pharmacy Chain, HealthPlus Nume Ekeghe Alta Semper Capital LLP, a private equity manager based in London with a specialisation in investing flexible and strategic capital across select African growth markets, yesterday announced a partnership with Nigeria’s leading retail pharmacy chain HealthPlus.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alta Semper will be investing $18 million in HealthPlus, which will enable the company to expand its retail footprint and enhance its competitive position, according to BusinessWire.

Alta Semper focuses on investing in market-leading businesses in defensive subsectors within the consumer and healthcare verticals.

The healthcare and retail markets in Nigeria are characterised by growing demand, driven by favourable demographics, increased consumer awareness and evolving consumption patterns.

Furthermore, Nigeria is home to one of the least penetrated

formal retail markets in the world, despite its large and growing population.

The retail pharmacy sector is highly fragmented, with many independent drug stores and several patent medicine outlets.

Given structural challenges in the industry supply chain, counterfeit pharmaceuticals find their way into over 40 per cent of the retail market, while most wholesale and retail sales across the country are still made through informal markets.

Much of the healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is also confined to major cities, with people living in urban areas having approximately four times as much access to healthcare as those living in rural areas.

The investment into HealthPlus will enable the company to capture the pentup demand for high-quality yet affordable healthcare and professional beauty supplies by developing regional distribution centres in commercial hubs across Nigeria, rapidly expanding the company’s footprint across the country as

well as developing a wholesale channel and investing in private label and e-commerce.

This transaction marks Alta Semper’s first investment in Nigeria.

HealthPlus was founded in 1999 by Mrs. Olubukunola (Bukky) Adewunmi George, a Nigerian and UK-trained pharmacist with over 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, who has organically grown the business into the leading pharmacy chain and retailer of beauty supplies in West Africa.

The company’s quest is to provide the Nigerian consumer with high-quality, life-saving and affordable products and services.

It also aims to make a meaningful and lasting impact by contributing its quota to the achievement of universal healthcare coverage and to increasing life expectancy for all Nigerians.

The company targets a broad base of consumers through the provision of healthcare products such as prescription

and over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, natural remedies, home medical equipment, mobility aids and pharmacy services.

HealthPlus employs over 700 people, including 150 pharmacists, with at least two pharmacists dispensing prescription medicines and providing counselling, free health screenings and valueadding pharmacy services at each pharmacy.

It operates about 80 branches in strategically located residential areas, shopping centres and airports across 11 of the 36 states in Nigeria.

HealthPlus has one of the highest brand recognition and ratings of any consumer company in Nigeria.

Its dedication and professionalism have been recognised with several excellence awards.

Commenting on the investment, Bukky George said: “We believe Alta Semper is the right partner for our next stage of growth. “Alta Semper’s focus on

the healthcare sector, as well as its ability to invest patient and flexible capital, will allow us to grow strategically across Nigeria and further our mission to provide high quality and affordable healthcare products and services to a market that is large and growing. “Our vision is to be Africa’s #1 for pharmacy, wellness and beauty. We believe we have found a partner who can help us achieve this goal over the coming years.�

Managing Partner & CEO of Alta Semper, Afsane Jetha, said: “We are very excited about our partnership with HealthPlus, a remarkable example of a homegrown company that has become one of the largest specialty retailers in West Africa. “We believe HealthPlus is well-positioned to take advantage of the grossly underpenetrated Nigerian pharmacy retail market and meet the growing demands of Nigerian consumers, as well as to expand regionally into neighbouring countries. “We believe that this is an opportune time to enter the

Nigerian retail market and invest into a market-leading player such as HealthPlus, which presents a unique risk-adjusted entry strategy, given its existing size and geographic scope. “We are looking forward to working closely with Bukky George and her team to further unlock the company’s growth potential.�

Alta Semper Capital LLP is an FCA authorised and regulated investment manager based in London.

The private equity firm was founded in 2015 by Afsane Jetha (former Managing Director of the Africa Private Equity platform at the Duet Group), Ronald Lauder (former U.S. Ambassador to Austria and current Chairman of Clinique Laboratories), and Richard Parsons (former CEO of Time Warner Group and current Chairman of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation).

The investment in HealthPlus marks the firm’s second investment in the healthcare sector in Africa, after its investment into Macro Pharmaceuticals in Egypt in 2017.

C I T I NG C ONSTI T U T ION AL BREACH, BU H AR I R E J ECT S T E N U R E E X T EN SI ON F OR OY E G UN , OTH E RS that it had extended the tenure of its national leadership and that of its state executive committees in breach of the party’s constitution.

The constitution of the party makes no provision for the extension of its executives’ tenure. The Nigerian Constitution also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals not exceeding four years.

The decision would have required an amendment to the APC constitution, which can only be carried out by the National Convention of the party.

However, Buhari, who addressed the NEC meeting of the APC held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja yesterday, said extending the tenure of the officials would contravene the country’s constitution and that of the party.

Instead, he recommended that a convention should be organised at the expiration of the tenure of the current party leadership to elect new officials.

He said while Article 17(1) and 13.2 (b) of the APC constitution limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, Section 223 of the Nigerian Constitution also proscribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years.

On the adoption of a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party, Buhari also said a caretaker committee cannot

remedy the situation and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. “I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues and consolidate on our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interest of our people. “In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issues of the tenure of our national and state executive officers. “As we all know a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27 to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expires in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year. “On my own part, I have taken time to review and seek advice on the resolution and what I found is that it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,� he said.

He also pointed out that Article 31 of the party’s constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to recontest, or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the election.

According to the president, what was expected of the APC is to conduct fresh elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end.

Buhari, whose position evidently jolted top leaders of the party present at the meeting,

including 20 governors and several lawmakers, cautioned the party not to commit actions that would further divide the party and “give the opposition the opportunity to truncate APC’s victory in the 2019 elections�.

While drawing the attention of the party to the dangers in allowing the disagreement over the tenure extension to fester, the president said it might lead to an endless legal tussle and would most likely divide the party ahead of the next year’s elections. “I think if we deviate from the constitution and provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. “If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means any nomination and a primary election that they will conduct can also be faulted. “That is not to talk of the defeats that will arise and is already arising within the party with some of our members feeling that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or internal democracy is not at play within the party. “I am therefore of the firm belief that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions rather than put the APC and its activities at grave risk. “Fortunately, we have approved a timetable for the order of congresses and the elections. I think this should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.

“I have to digress from the speech here to tell you, the NEC, that it does not preclude us from discussing this matter.

The reason is this, we have so many instances including the one sitting by my right, people have quoted the constitution of our party including that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it has facilitated the decisions we have taken. “All well and good, I don’t feel too strongly, the only thing I feel too strongly about is that we should not allow our party to be vulnerable to the opposition. “They can delay or divide us further within the party when they quote appropriate portions of the party’s constitution and of the country. Take note of this my statement, there are knowledgeable people sitting among you the governors and the party chairmen, and among us here on the high table. “Please, feel free to discuss this and let us quickly, with the help of the legal adviser, whom I think has the constitution of the party in his head, quickly clear issues that are raised,� he said.

The president, however, noted that he had taken time to listen to his legal advisers, constitutionally given to him through the Ministry of Justice, adding: “Our decision, therefore, is contrary to both the party and the constitutional provisions.�

He then charged those present to bring to him facts to the contrary, saying: “I don’t want narratives and so on.� “Please, bring facts and we will reflect and discuss them

here and now, and proceed to accept whatever we feel should be done. Let us be prepared to face the opposition either in the court or on the pages of newspapers to make sure that our programmes are not disrupted by court actions,� he stressed.

Speaking to reporters after the NEC meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the meeting resolved to set up a committee to review the position of the party on the tenure extension, adding that until the committee concludes its work, the party would maintain status quo. “Members of NEC thanked the president for his graciousness.

Of course, we had a situation, because we recall that after the last NEC and this decision was taken, some members felt aggrieved and they went to court. “Of course you know that any issue that goes to court is sub-judicial. Then that also presented its own complications, so the NEC decided to set up a small team that will advise the party on the way forward. “At the moment there is no decision taken. So, the position of NEC still stands from the last meeting. There is a technical committee at the moment that is looking at it. That position may change tomorrow but as it is today that is the position of NEC,� he said.

On the party’s report on federalism, Abdullahi said a committee between the executive,

ensure that the march to the Presidential Villa is not truncated by disunity.

He also urged all PDP presidential aspirants to contest within acceptable limits, as the race is not “a do-or-die affair� but “a movement to oust a failed APC federal government�. “Every presidential aspirant must see himself as a member of the larger PDP family. We must do everything to ensure that PDP returns to the Presidential Villa in 2019. “Only one aspirant will become a candidate. We will do everything to ensure that the party comes out with a candidate that has a track record to upstage the APC,� he charged.

The governor said he had received former Jigawa State governor, Mr. Sule Lamido and

now Atiku, noting that other aspirants would be offered the platform to consult with Rivers PDP members. “God will make sure that the right candidate emerges. When the right candidate emerges, we will team up and remove this bad government. “There is no benefit that Rivers State has derived from this APC federal government. All it is doing is plotting to rig the 2019 elections,� Wike said.

He said the former vicepresident has the right qualifications to fly the PDP flag, counselling that he should extend his consultations.

Atiku met with state and federal lawmakers, caretaker committee chairmen of local government areas in Rivers State and party leaders.

National Assembly and the party would be set up to look at the report of the Nasir el-Rufai-led committee set up by the party.

The earlier committee, headed

by Kaduna State governor, el-Rufai, had recommended, among others, the establishment of state police.

Abdullahi said the new committee to be established would review the report as quickly as possible and make recommendations that could enable the president to send fresh bills on the matter to the legislature. “The second issue is the issue of true federalism. Various opinions were canvassed and then yesterday at the National Caucus meeting and NEC meeting today, it was agreed that a technical committee between the National Assembly, the executive and the party should be set up to look at the proposals point by point as quickly as possible to enable the president to transmit to the National Assembly bills for action,� he said.

The committee submitted its report last year to the party’s National Chairman, John OdigieOyegun, with 85 proposals for amendment. “Having made the observation that those observations that were made should be incorporated into the draft constitution; therefore there was no motion taken to adopt the amended constitution. “We believe that those Continued on page 11

ATI KU MEETS WIKE, DECLA R ES PR ESI D E N T I AL B I D The duo spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

In his remarks, Atiku reiterated his commitment to the creation of a new Nigeria devoid of favouritism, segregation and ethnicity, and one built on a foundation of industrialisation and economic revolution.

He said the problem of Nigeria was not the lack of resources or skilled manpower but the absence of leadership and the willpower that is needed to make conscious decisions and give adequate direction.

He said he was offering himself to set the country on the path of growth after the serial failure of the APC, which he left late last year.

He said since 2015, the APCled federal government has destroyed the education, health and infrastructure sectors through

poor budgetary allocations and releases. “Since 2015, we have not seen a 100-kilometre road constructed by the APC-led federal government anywhere in the country,� he said.

The former vice-president also blamed the current administration for destroying the foundation of unity and cohesion of the country.

He said: “I have never seen Nigeria so divided along religious, ethnic and regional lines. This division is as a result of the mismanagement by the APC.�

The presidential hopeful called for unity in the country, saying that no component part of the country would be able to progress alone.

He called on Rivers PDP stakeholders to support his ambition to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.

Also speaking, former Enugu

State governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, described Atiku as a detribalised Nigerian, with the capacity to rescue the country.

Former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, also said Atiku was a true Nigerian, with business and political links across the country, adding that Nigeria needs the former vice-president to revive the country.

Atiku was accompanied on the visit by Daniel, Nwodo, former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, and the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi.

Addressing the group, Wike declared that all Nigerians must take up “the solemn responsibility of sacking the non-performing APC federal government in 2019�.

He urged all PDP members, irrespective of their status, to

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN GSK 2.85 30.90 WEMABANK 0.07 0.85 MRSOIL 1.35 28.35 CCNN 0.90 19.65 FORTEOIL 1.90 41.90 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN DIAMONDBANK 0.15 1.90 ETI 0.90 17.10 INTERBREW 2.85 54.15 SEPLAT 35.00 665.10 CADBURY 0.75 14.50 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś 1,339.00 Volume: 352.889 million shares Value: N 4.1425 billion Deals: 4,807 As at 20/3/18 See details on Page 39

% 10.1 8.9 5.0 4.8 4.7 % 7.3 5.0 5.0 5.0 4.9

11

˾ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

PAGE ELEVEN

FG, APC Take Digs at PDP After Apology Opposition party justifies apology Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday took separate digs at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed admonishing the PDP to go the whole hog with its apology to Nigerians by returning all the funds looted from the public treasury under its watch during its 16 years in power.

Mohammed who was reacting to the apology the main opposition party tendered to Nigerians on Monday for its past mistakes while in government, also challenged the party to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude.

In a statement, the minister said: “The PDP presided over the unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.

“Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologise, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit.

“Even with the paucity of funds, this administration has spent an

unprecedented amount of money on infrastructure development and the social investment programme, among others.

“Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that.”

Mohammed also reminded the PDP of the famous quote: “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging,” saying it applies to the PDP at this time.

“PDP, press the reset button.

Stop sabotaging the work of this administration, which is packing the mess you left behind, through your reckless statements and unfounded allegations. Play responsible opposition politics.

“Put Nigeria’s interest over and above partisan interest. Temper your desperation to return to power.

Spend quality time in the purgatory and you will be forgiven,” he said.

Toeing the same line, the ruling APC, of which Mohammed is a member, said while it acknowledges the apologies by the PDP for the damage the party wrought on the country’s democratic fabric during its 16-year rule, it needed to confess to its sins and fully atone for them.

In a statement yesterday by APC spokesman, Mr. Bolaji Abdulahi, the

ruling party said Nigerians were still suffering from the misrule the PDP had plunged the nation into and may not forget in a hurry.

“However, despite this belated grovelling apology, PDP will need to come clean, confess their sins and fully atone for them, before restitution is considered.

“As they say, to err is human but forgiveness is divine. We join the PDP in praying to God to forgive them, but Nigerians are humans who are still suffering from the years of PDP’s misrule.

“Therefore, even if Nigerians are gracious enough to forgive, they will not forget in a hurry,” APC said.

But as reactions came in hard and fast to its show of contrition, the PDP yesterday justified its apology to Nigerians on the need to chart a pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and re-mobilization of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from the pains inflicted on them by the APC. It, however, reminded the information minister that looted funds were used for the campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, insisting that there was no evidence of alleged looting by the PDP. The PDP said as a responsible

party with the interest of Nigerians at heart, “It is deeply saddened that our people are suffering because the nation allowed the APC, a movement that has neither structure nor plan, to scheme itself into governance, devastate the country, wreck our once robust economy and plunge our citizens into a situation of hunger, starvation and daily bloodletting”.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said while the PDP had made certain mistakes in its internal administration prior to the 2015 general election, its new leadership has already smoothened the rough edges to ensure strict adherence to internal democracy and good governance in all processes.

“It is imperative to state that our apology has more to do with the fact that we made certain mistakes that allowed an anti-people movement to take over governance in our country.

“Our situation under the APC has become so pathetic that the world is now contemplating how to help us. Under the APC misrule, the average lifespan of Nigerians has become abysmally low, purchasing power is eroded, the middle class has been wiped out, security is almost non-existent, all the economic

gains of the PDP years have been destroyed, and our nation is now placed on auto-pilot.

“It is painful to note that under the nightmarish rule of APC, Nigerians have become so frustrated that they now consider suicide missions and slavery as options.

“Our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the rebranded PDP, particularly as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation,” he said.

Ologbodiyan also addressed Mohammed statement, saying those who “stole hundreds of billions of naira” are being protected by the Buhari administration.

“The APC and its federal government cannot continue to play the saints when state governors who stole hundreds of billions of naira meant for the development of their states to fund President Buhari in 2015, are still enjoying cover as members of the Buhari kitchen cabinet, despite outrage from Nigerians.

“There is no evidence that the PDP, as a party, looted any public funds. The APC and President Buhari campaigned for the 2015 presidential election with looted

billions of naira meant for the provision of essential amenities for ordinary Nigerians.

“The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, misfired in his outburst that the PDP should return alleged looted funds when the only party known to have used looted funds has always been the APC. “Nigerians are aware that prior to the 2015 election, President Buhari had informed that he was insolvent.

He, however, took Nigerians by surprise, as he enjoyed one of the most expensive presidential campaigns in the history of our nation, while turning a blind eye to reports of massive looting of funds from APC-controlled states.

“Even presently, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, has been accused of owing his aides N13 million and that he has no fewer than 12 houses across the nation; bought a N93 million printing press; and bought 25 luxury cars for his personal use, among others.

“Yet, nothing has been heard from either the dysfunctional APC or its incompetent federal government.”

Ologbondiyan asked Mohammed to direct his demand to the presidency and the APC.

dead in 2012 amid reports that a deal he was working on went “sour”.

Giving evidence to members of parliament (MPs) on the Commons committee, Wylie told how rumours that Muresan had been killed circulated around the controversial data firm.

Wylie alleged that he heard talk that the Kenyan police had been bribed not to enter the hotel room for 24 hours in a bid to cover up the possible murder.

According to the Daily Mail, rumours that the death could have been murder will fuel concerns about Cambridge Analytica and the shady world it operated in.

He said: “Cambridge Analytica was working with Kenyan politicians, but because in a lot of African countries if a deal goes wrong you pay for it.

“Dan was my predecessor... what I heard was that he was working on some kind of deal of some sort – I’m not sure what.

“The deal went sour. People suspected he was poisoned in his hotel room. I also heard that the police had got bribed not to enter the hotel room for 24 hours.”

He added: “That is what I

was told – I was not there, so I (cannot) speak to the veracity of it.”

Wylie said that when he joined Cambridge Analytica in 2012, he did not know the name of his predecessor or what happened to him.

But he asked his colleagues after he could not find a file he was hunting for. It was then that he heard the rumours about the death, the British MPs were told.

Muresan was the son of former Romanian agriculture minister, Ioan Avram Muresan, who is now in prison on corruption charges.

His mysterious death made the news in his home country.

According to a report of his death, which ran in 2012 in the Bucharest Herald, the 32-yearold had studied at the LSE in London and had coordinated election campaigns in Europe, Africa and the U.S. Romania’s foreign ministry told the Bucharest Herald at the time: “The Romanian citizen was working with a British telecommunications company, based in Kenya for a while.

“He had not yet registered his presence on Kenyan territory with the Romanian diplomatic mission.”

W H ISTLE-B LO WER NAMES ISRAELI FI R M T H AT H AC K ED B U H AR I ’S E M AI L S reported, although Channel 4 has undercover footage that they haven’t been able to put in the public domain of Alexander Nicks talking about the relationship with Black Cube.

“Black Cube, on the Nigerian, project was engaged to hack the now president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to get access to his private medical records and his private emails.

“Aggregate I.Q (AIQ) worked on that project. AIQ was handed material in Nigeria from Cambridge Analytica to distribute online. That’s distribution of kompromat and of incredibly threatening and violent video content, which I’ve passed on to the committee.

“The video that AIQ distributed in Nigeria with the sole intent of intimidating voters included content where people were being dismembered, where people were having their throats cut and bled to death in a ditch.

“They were being burned alive, there was incredibly antiIslamic and threatening message portraying Muslims as violent.

This is again…(interjects self). So

you’ve got Aggregate I.Q which received 40 per cent of the vote leave funding (referring to the UK referendum on Brexit) also working on projects that involved hacked material, compromised and distributing violent videos of people being bled to death to intimidate voters and this is the company that played an incredibly pivotal role in politics here (UK).

“And so, something that I will strongly recommend to the committee is that they actually not only push the authority here but give them the support that they need in order to actually investigate this company and what they were doing in Brexit.”

But in a statement issued after the hearing, Black Cube said it has always operated within the law, reported UK’s Daily Mail newspaper.

Black Cube said: “Whilst we are flattered that we are seemingly being connected with every international incident that occurs, we will state that Chris Wylie’s testimony is a flagrant lie.

“We categorically declare that neither Black Cube, nor any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, have ever worked for, or engaged with, SCL, Cambridge Analytica, or any of their affiliates and

subsidiaries.

“Black Cube has never operated in Nigeria nor has it worked on any project connected to Nigeria, and none of its employees has ever set foot in Nigeria.

“Black Cube will investigate this claim on a pro bono basis, and will reveal the truth and the motive behind Wylie's defamatory lie.”

They also threatened to sue Wylie.

The British press had reported last week that Cambridge Analytica was hired by an unnamed Nigerian oil billionaire to work on the re-election campaign of then president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and was paid an estimated £2 million ($2.8 million) to orchestrate a “ferocious campaign” against Buhari, then leading opposition candidate at the time.

Buhari went on to secure a historic election win in 2015.

Before that, however, Cambridge Analytica reportedly attempted to furtively use hacked personal emails of Buhari, which were provided by Israeli hackers.

Cambridge Analytica staff working on the Nigerian elections reportedly met the Israeli hackers at the firm’s

London offices after which Alexander Nicks, the recently suspended Cambridge Analytica CEO, allegedly asked staff to search the hacked emails for damaging information to be used against Buhari.

But “alarmed” staff members refused to do so believing that the data was possibly obtained illegally.

For its part, SCL Elections confirmed that it was hired “to provide advertising and marketing services” for the Jonathan campaign but denied receiving or using hacked information during the campaign.

In the build-up to the elections, the Jonathan campaign notably focused on social media and public messaging questioning Buhari’s educational qualifications and also, contentiously, his health status, setting off intense rumors and speculation.

Wylie, at the hearing yesterday, also disclosed that his predecessor died in a Kenyan hotel room and may have been poisoned while working for President Uhuru Kenyatta in his 2013 election campaign.

He said Dan Muresan was working for Kenyatta’s election campaign when he was found

C I TING C O NSTIT UT IONAL BREACH, BU H AR I R E J ECT S T EN U R E EX T EN SI ON F OR OY E G UN , OTH E RS amendments and proposals should first of all be updated in the amended constitution before a motion is taken for its adoption,” he explained.

But in giving context to the decision of the February NEC meeting, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, said the move by the party did not contravene any section of its constitution or that of the country, noting that the decision was taken to ensure that there is no vacuum when the tenure of the current leadership expires in June.

“NEC had resolved that when the tenure of the current NWC expires, they should continue to act for the next one year and that does not negate any aspect of our constitution or laws of the country, moreso, in view of the crises that may arise as a result of the primaries that will have to be held ahead of the next general election.

“So, the party felt it was better to retain the executives for the next one year to oversee the general election,” he said.

However, Abia State chairmen of APC, Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, said Buhari’s rejection of the tenure extension for the current executives at all levels, was for the best, adding that such a step will strengthen the party.

Ndukwe urged all stakeholders to support the president’s decision so as to avert a crisis in the party.

Also speaking on the president’s objection to the tenure elongation, the National Leader of the APC, Chief Bola Tinubu, who was absent from the NEC meeting yesterday because he had to attend engagements in Lagos linked to his birthday celebrations, said Buhari’s stance had saved the party from serious legal turmoil.

Commending the president, Tinubu said Buhari had in the “clear, straightforward manner that is his mode of expression and that befits the moment, affirmed that our party remains faithful to the principles of internal democracy and the rule of law”.

In a statement yesterday,

Tinubu said: President Buhari’s action will save the party from serious legal turmoil. If the elongations were deemed illegal then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality.

“Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.

“Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.

“While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.

“The president has spoken.

Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also serve to strengthen the party

by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit.”

Tinubu noted that the president’s stance would go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway, adding: “It is a time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organise the needed congresses according to the existing timetables.

“After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold.

“Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. We shun the politics of old to move towards a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation.”

However, in its reaction to the outcome of yesterday’s NEC meeting of the APC,

the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that the confusion in the ruling party’s NEC over the tenure of its leadership was a clear reflection of the chaos and disorderliness that is the hallmark of its government.

The party said the executive flip-flops by Buhari and his interference in the internal running of the APC, had further exposed the raging impunity, primitive impositions and other undemocratic tendencies in the ruling party.

In a statement issued by PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was clear that the APC went into chaotic mode following the renewed interest of Nigerians in the rebranded PDP. “The confusion in the APC also directly explains why our country has been in shambles in the last three years. There is no way a party which cannot conduct its affairs in accordance with democratic norms will be able to function in government.

“We are therefore not surprised

that President Buhari went back to his party’s NEC and ordered members to reverse earlier decisions, which they had claimed conformed with the provisions of their constitution.

“It is amazing that a party, which boasts of belonging to the progressive bent, does not even understand its own rules or the applications thereof. In one breath, the party sought the elongation of tenure for its officials and then in another breath it reversed itself.

“Nigerians are no longer at a loss as to the reasons for the failure of governance, policy somersaults and gross incompetence that have brought our nation to its knees in the last three years.

“Our takeaway in all this is that the APC is a complete disaster and we urge all democrats still trapped in this sinking ship to immediately exit and join other good-spirited Nigerians in the rebranded and repositioned PDP to make life better for our people,” it said.

12

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

COMMENT

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

ANTI-CORRUPTION GONE AWRY The anti-graft war must be fought within the law, argues Sonnie Ekwowusi

L

ast week the Federal High Court presided over by Justice John Tsoho discharged Justice Sylvester Ngwuta from corruption charges preferred against him by the federal government. In discharging Justice Ngwuta, Justice Tsoho stated that the prosecution did not fulfil the condition precedent to filling the charges against Justice Ngwuta, which is, by first showing that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had found the Justice culpable of judicial misconduct and thus recommending him for trial. The discharge of Justice Ngwuta, coming on the heels of the discharge and acquittal and other judges facing similar charges, reinforces the argument that the anti-corruption war of the Buhari government has gone awry if not a total failure. You will recall that last year the Federal High Court had freed Justice Adeniyi Ademola, and his wife, Olabowale, Joe Agi SAN from the various corruption charges preferred against them owing to the failure of the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt the various charges preferred against the accused. Other judges have not only been discharged and acquitted but in fact have been reinstated by the NJC. They include Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal; Justice Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court; Justice Musa H. Kurya of the Federal High Court; and Justice Agbadu James Fishim of National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

As I said earlier, the discharge of the aforesaid judges from corruption charges attests to the twisting or the outright failure of President Buhari’s anti-corruption war. The anti-corruption war has failed because it has been wobbly prosecuted. Why has it been wobbly prosecuted? Because it was converted from the onset into a personal vendetta instrument for harassing, haranguing, blackmailing and intimidating perceived enemies into submission. In their eagerness to punish perceived enemies, the prosecutors of the anti-corruption have developed contempt for propriety and due process thus making the prosecutor to flounder in trying to nail the suspects. You will recall again that on October 8, 2016 the Department of State Services (DSS) was dispatched to invade the residences of some serving Nigerian judges and suspended judicial officers including justices of the Supreme Court, Justices Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta and John Inyang Okoro and Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court.

The raid was code-named “sting operation� even though anyone with commonsense knew at that time that the so-called “sting operation� was the height of executive lawlessness because the DSS is in fact an arm of the executive as well as an appendage of the Presidency. After illegally raiding the residences of the aforesaid judges at night, the DSS told the gullible public that they got evidence convincing them that the judges were mere rogues and criminals. In Nigeria, we have grown accustomed, to calling criminal suspects “thieves� even when they have not tried and convicted by any court of law. This happens even among the so-called educated Nigerians. For instance, after the DSS unlawfully raided the residences of the suspected judges at night some gullible members of the public started calling the judges “thieves� and “rogues�. It did not occur to them at that time that every citizen is presumed innocent until proved guilty by a court of law of competent jurisdiction.

Having been condemned unheard without recourse to rules of natural justice, the judges had no option but to defend themselves through their respective letters to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). In his letter to the CJN, Justice Ademola seriously alleged that the DSS which, I said earlier, is actually an appendage of the Presidency, was witch-hunting him for granting former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and the coordinator of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu bail. In their similar defences through their respective letters to the CJN, Supreme

THE DISCHARGE OF JUSTICE NGWUTA AND OTHER JUDGES TESTIFIES TO THE TRIUMPH OF THE RULE OF LAW AS AGAINST THE RULE OF BRUTE FORCE

Court Justices John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta marshalled out weighty and compelling allegations which included that the Transport Minister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had ingeniously tried to influence them to ensure that the court verdicts in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Abia and Ekiti States governorship election appeals should tilt in favour of the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC). Specifically, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta’s letter to the CJN was quite lengthy and revealing. He alleged that shortly after the Court of Appeal verdict on Rivers State Governorship election, the DSS called him on phone and said to him: “Oga is not happy with the judgment�. When he (Sylvester Ngwuta) inquired from the DSS who was the “unhappy Oga�, the DSS unequivocally replied that the “Oga� was President Buhari. Surprisingly as weighty and compelling as the aforesaid allegations were the Buhari did not deem it fit to call for their investigations.

Instead of doing that the government continues calling the suspected judges “thieves�.

President Buhari and some continue to harbour the false notion that the judiciary and some senior lawyers are impeding the sweeping measures to combat official graft in Nigeria. At the last bar conference in Abuja, the president told lawyers to desist from covering up what he termed the “misdeeds� of their clients. It is obvious that President Buhari does not understand the difference between a criminal suspect and a criminal convict. He also does not understand that under our democracy the judiciary is a separate arm of government and not an appendage to the Presidency. As far as he is concerned all criminal suspects must be sent to jail whether tried by a court of law or not.

Granted, some senior lawyers involved in anti-graft cases, who are supposed to be senior officers in the temple of justice, throw decorum and professional ethics overboard to bribe judge as well as file frivolous court applications to undermine the effectiveness of the courts in the speedy disposal of the cases. But the greatest sabotage of the anti-corruption war, for me, is the political interference in the judicial process and the incompetence of State prosecution. Not infrequently, political party stalwarts standing trial in high profile anti-graft cases bribe their way out of prosecution in court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made itself a laughing stock.

For instance, at the hearing of Justice Ngwuta’s case, the EFCC failed to understand that by virtue of the combined effects of sections 153, 158(1), 160, 161 and 292(1) of the 1999 Constitution, only the NJC is constitutionally empowered to discipline and to remove corrupt judges in Nigeria. And that until the NJC finishes discharging that function and recommending the erring judges for trial, the EFCC cannot drag the judges to court for prosecution. More importantly, uncountable charges preferred against some suspects by the EFCC are later dramatically dropped by the same EFCC without genuine reasons. Criminal suspects are seen handcuffed, docked, paraded on TV or on the pages of the newspaper today and let off the hook tomorrow. Oftentimes the delay in the prosecution of criminal suspects results from poor preparation and presentation of cases by the EFCC. Till date, the EFCC has not successfully prosecuted any criminal suspect of substance. All that the EFCC produce are inconsequential colours, noises, fantasies and imaginations. The discharge of Justice Ngwuta and other judges testifies to the triumph of the rule of law as against the rule of brute force. To ambush a criminal suspect in the middle of the night is the height of barbarism. We should shed tears for getting used to this kind of barbarism. No matter the suspicion, we should have recourse to the rule of law. That is the only way we can lay claim to civilisation.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS AND AGRIC DEVELOPMENT Ofem Uket writes that the reforms in the service are in order

P

ublic service reforms in Nigeria can be classified as a regulatory framework intended to press home performance, competence, productivity and incorruptible workforce aimed at ensuring increase in economic activities, good governance and openness in carrying out administrative processes.

Reforms in the civil service translate to a turnaround operation that will guarantee optimal production, capacity utilisation, speedy passage of files to process contracts, partnership through MOUs, staff welfare and employment. It is also not in dispute that continuous dialogue and effective collaboration between the public and private sectors under the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) initiative of the federal government is a fundamental reform module.

When the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) under the leadership of Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita inaugurated a central committee with members drawn from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan approved by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, it became very clear that performance indicators are to be monitored closely to ensure delivery.

The current administration places premium on the growth and development of agriculture and to further strengthen its resolve, Oyo-Ita had told

civil servants across the country to see farming as a veritable source of income to supplement their monthly salaries and as well contribute to the overall development of the sector.

Indeed, the advice to civil servants to engage in farming was given at the 40th National Council on Establishment meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital held recently to explore more formidable ways of reforming the public sector. She explained that civil servants were not allowed to have other jobs outside their regular work but could engage in farming business to sustain their families due to their low salaries. “Civil servants can identify areas in agriculture that they are interested in and start farming to augment their salary, looking at the low salary level and all that,� said Oyo-Ita I remember the good days of Arithmetic in primary education, where questions are set in examinations and in finding solutions, and towards the very end of the question there is indication that you show workings, which implies that the examiner was not only looking for an answer from the students but how they arrived at the given answer to the question.

The head of service reforms needed not only an answer but a systematic process of competence and integrity to get through the reforms. A retreat was held in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital for all members of the implementation committee of the reform programme and in the same week all

federal permanent secretaries retreat was also held to educate them on the need to work assiduously to eliminate the abysmal performance of staff in carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

All of these took place in the direction of capacity building and utilisation to change the story of indolence, ineptitude, incompetence and negligence on the part of civil servants who see the public service as an avenue to get rich quick rather than deploy the needed expertise to increase production in economic activities.

Oyo-Ita has no plan to talk tough nor is she prepared to deploy tougher measures as sanctions against civil servants, but her activities and body language showed very clearly that if you are incapacitated and bereft of innovations to add value to the ongoing reforms of the federal government, then such workers are likely to be shown the way out.

The reform programme has succeeded in ensuring the prompt payment of arrears of allowances owed to civil servants, arrears of promotion for workers who were successful at the examinations conducted in the past.

Even so, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the presidential committee on minimum wage.“So, we expect that the committee will come up with positive recommendation that will enhance the salary of civil servants,� said Oyo-Ita. According to her, civil service is the engine room of all government policies and programmes as it

brings about unity in the country. She noted that no matter the crisis a country was facing, the civil servants keep on working, citing an example of the civil war era where all institutions collapsed except the civil service. “Our political leaders can come up with noble policies but it is the civil service that will bring those policies and programmes into realisation for the masses to assess the government of the day.�

Commenting on the issues of secretaries in the civil service not exceeding level 14 in their career, Oyo-Ita said that was in accordance with the civil service rules and guidelines to control promotions and wages.

She explained that secretaries who were employed on the cadre of confidential secretaries would not be automatically upgraded even if they acquired more qualifications except they applied. “As a confidential secretary, you acquire more degrees and qualifications in the course of your job; you are expected to apply for a change of cadre. “If you are desirous to improve your exit point from the service, you should apply for change of cadre to the administrative after improving yourself. “But don’t expect that because you have a PhD and you are still a confidential secretary you will automatically be upgraded.� The head of service, however, urged civil servants to be resilient in carrying out their duties for the growth of the nation. Indeed, nothing less is expected.

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

EDITORIAL THE RISING DEBT BURDEN Borrowing could help, but better management of resources is needed

D

isturbed by the reckless accumulation of debts, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has consistently warned Nigeria of the consequences, particularly of the servicing costs which could consume substantial amount of government revenues.

The federal government has, however, continued to sneer at the concerns as the amount of borrowing keeps piling up, raising the spectre of another debt trap in future.

Last week, data released by the Debt Management OfďŹ ce (DMO) painted a pathetic picture. It said the country’s external debt has risen to $18.9b (N5.8trn) while domestic debt has climbed to N15.9b, bringing the total debt stock to N21.7 trillion ($70.92b) as at the end of December 2017. Meanwhile, the nation’s total indebtedness stood at N12.06tn in March 2015 and N17.4b at the end of December 2016.

To compound the situation, many of the states have crossed the red line against debt accumulation.

In 18 states, their debt IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE proďŹ les exceed their AUTHORITIES IN ABUJA statutory revenue by AND THE 36 STATES more than 200 per TO REFLECT ON THE cent. In Lagos, Osun IMPLICATIONS OF THE and Cross River DEBT BURDEN ON THE States, debts exceed FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY revenues by almost 500 per cent. Lagos, Kaduna and Edo chalked up the most external debts running into billions of dollars. Expectedly, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission is most uncomfortable with the trend, as the development is contrary to dictates of the DMO on debt sustainability. According to the guidelines, the debt status of each state should not exceed 50 per cent of the statutory revenue in the previous 12 months.

However, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is less worried, arguing that the country has the capacity to repay its debt obligations. The federal

Letters to the Editor

government is currently in the forefront of the extensive external borrowings in a bid to achieve 40 to 60 per cent foreign to local borrowing ratio. Adeosun has said repeatedly that Nigeria’s debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio is one of the lowest in the world. “I am not worried at all. Our borrowing is sustainable and well managed,â€? she said. “We took a decision to reate the economy. When your income has gone down, the only place you can go is to borrow. We borrowed and invested heavily in infrastructure and then increased our revenue so that we could pay back the debt.â€?

T T H I S DAY

EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITORS

˜

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜ ˜

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS ˜ DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

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

o be sure, we have nothing against the federal government or indeed the states borrowing externally or from the capital market as this is the standard practice world over. The aim of borrowing is to help the government to attain their developmental needs in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, power and transportation. But it is one thing to raise these funds and it is another thing to ensure accountability and judicious use. Over the years the federal and states governments have accumulated huge debts at public expense which were largely frittered away.

Indeed, many of the current governors on assumption of ofďŹ ce complained of inheriting heavily indebted states on account of funds taken from the capital market by their predecessors. Incidentally, many of those governors have gone to secure their own loans which they also expect future governments in their states to repay. Yet, at $19 billion, the external debt is less than 50 per cent of the crisis point we attained in 2005 when the country, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, paid $12b to the Paris Club of creditors for a debt relief of $18b.

Aside the fact that many of the states can hardly meet their routine obligations after servicing their monthly debts, most of the loans were not deployed to tangible projects. It is therefore incumbent on the authorities in Abuja and the 36 states to reect on the implications of the debt burden on the future of our country.

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.

CHARRED REMAINS OF LITERACY IN NIGERIA

S

ixty five million Nigerians are illiterates, according to UNESCO. Nevertheless, the year has been moderately fine for Nigeria, having fared favourably in enviable awards, such as ranking big as the world’s 148th least corrupt country, and topping the list of African countries which live and bath in alcohol. Indeed, a giant of Africa! Nigeria has also recorded outstanding performances in harbouring unschooled killer-herdsmen who invade the farms of communities, and destroy lives when resisted, just so their beloved cattle can eat. The most remarkable, is Nigeria’s consistent history of electing fairly educated presidents.

As election year fast approaches, one can hastily predict the outcome. Traditionally, two out of five elected presidents in Nigeria are satisfactorily schooled and literate. With an adult literacy rate of 59.6 per cent, close to half of Nigeria’s population is grossly illiterate. Interestingly, the illiterate population make the greater part of the country’s voting strength, and would rather be swayed by popular candidates who lobby and purchase their votes with gallons of palm oil, customised bags of rice, N2000 ($5) or less. The educated population is split into two categories. One half prioritises political party affiliation far above the prospects of tangible development, while the others are heavily partisan on social media and public hangouts, but record a low voter turnout.

The Nigerian economy under democratic regimes has not been known to be a flourishing one. This is understandably so, as non-professionals seem to be the overwhelming choice of the people for president. The few seasoned technocrats are

either overlooked for their perceived incompetence in amassing grassroots support, or branded ‘too elitist’ for the rigours of “Nigerian politics.� The favored political slots available to the Nigerian intellectual class at the federal level are ministerial/ ambassadorial positions or the vice-presidency at best. As the Nigerian ruling party (APC) seeks reelection at the forthcoming polls, Nigerians are once again presented with the option of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose completion of his secondary education is at present the subject of controversy, while of course, his running mate—a professor of law and current Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, is overlooked for the presidency.

A cross-section of Nigerian voters, find more interest in the ethnic and tribal routes of candidates, than their academic qualifications or corporate track records. The Nigerian electorate is also keen on religious preferences. The prospects of a Muslim candidate running for office alongside a competent Muslim running mate are often dead on arrival. One needs no rocket science to ascend to the presidency in Nigeria. A popular individual of considerable advancement in age—who’s an ‘anointed’ indigene of the ethnic or geo-political zone to be favoured based on zoning calculations, equipped with propaganda to demonise the current government, massive funds to throw around, as well as good dance steps to showcase at campaign venues is ripe for the job!

The worrisome rate of illiteracy in Northern Nigeria is alleged to be the root cause of terrorism, religious hostility and widespread extremism witnessed in the region. One in every

two Christians in the northern part of Nigeria is likely to be physically assaulted over a religious altercation. In some other parts of the country, fashionable women with a loud sense of style are fast becoming endangered species. A lady thought to be indecently dressed is at risk of being shamed, or publicly stripped by mobs. Pickpockets and other roadside thieves aren’t finding their career path easy. One caught in robbery would be lucky not to be lynched to death or publicly burnt alive.

The Nigeria Police has grown quite a fancy reputation for itself as an internationally recognised violator of human rights.

The recruitment of schooled officers into the force hasn’t done much good either. Nigerians were recently taken aback by a viral footage of some suspected kidnappers, having their testicles shot and brutally blown up by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police, without legal trial or prosecution.

An enlightened population is synonymous to a developed nation. And quality leadership is the product of an informed electorate. To achieve progress in social development, adult literacy must be given as much attention as building the economy, fighting insurgency and creating employment. If the excessive cost of governance in Nigeria is reduced to a minimum, free adult literacy centres should be established in every local council to aid the reduction of illiteracy through intensive public enlightenment. The fight against illiteracy shouldn’t be won only on the pages of newspapers. It should reflect on the streets of Nigeria, where what’s left of literacy is its charred remains.

Nimi Princewill, nimi@yahoo.com

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

16

RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE IN REPLY TO THE LETTER PUBLISHED BY THE FREE RIVERS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (THE MILITANT ARM OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS [APC] – AMAECHI FACTION - IN RIVERS STATE) PUBLISHED IN THE THISDAY NEWSPAPER ON TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018.

The Inspector-General of Police Nigeria Police Force Force Headquarters Louis Edet House Shehu Shagari Way Central Business District Abuja Sir,

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS LAW N0. 8 0F 2018 INTRODUCTION 1.

Like most Nigerians, we read with utter astonishment and disgust, the letter addressed to you by a shadowy organization called “FREE RIVERS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE� and published in the THISDAY NEWSPAPER on Tuesday March 20, 2018. The letter, characteristic of the crass irresponsibility of its authors, is misleadingly titled “RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS LAW N0. 8 (2018): AN AFFRONT ON THE I999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, LEGISLATIVE RASCALITY DESIGNED TO CURTAIL THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTY OF RIVERS STATE CITIZEN�.

2.

We are not surprised at the intemperate and vacuous content of the letter given that the antecedents of the two signatories are well known. The first of them, a legislative rascal per excellence is the one who signed as “DR. CHIDI LLOYD�. “Dr. Chidi Lloyd ably and with great notoriety displayed his rascality as a legislator on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly when he attempted to use the mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly to murder his colleague at the time, Honourable M. O. Chinda. He has been charged to court for the crime and is evading arrest for the heinous crime.

3.

The second person is “HON. OJUKAYE FLAG-AMACHREE�. This man has jumped bail and is refusing to appear in Court to answer his charges.

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command has made no effort to arrest him despite several court orders to that effect. Rather than arrest him, the Nigeria Police guards him with a retinue of over 10 police men, of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad. It is only in a country where impunity reigns supreme that such a character would be shielded by the police from trial in a case investigated and charged to Court by the very same police and also have the audacity to author a letter to the Inspector-General of Police.

5.

In the course of the elections and the several re-run elections orchestrated

by Rotimi Amaechi and his fifth column accomplices within the security services lives were lost. At least clear evidence led to the circumstances of the loss of one life, that of an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Omoku, Rivers State. A close Amaechi acolyte was fingered as complicit in that death. Has he been charged to Court by the Police who lost one of their own? The answer is NO. People were caught red-handed printing Independent National Electoral Commission highly sensitive documents, including result sheets, at Isiokpo Street, D/Line Port Harcourt.

They were arrested by the Police. The main culprit and owner of the printing press has sanguinity with a gubernatorial candidate of the APC. The Police let these dangerous suspects of the hook. No action was taken.

6.

Later, the Police tendered senatorial election result sheets that bore the same serial numbers as those tendered by INEC at the Election Tribunal. The Election Tribunal preferred the results of the Police to those of INEC and declared Andrew Uchendu the winner of a Senatorial Election he clearly lost! This is the democratic terrorism that Amaechi and his APC perpetrates and perpetuates in Rivers State and which they intend to replicate throughout the Country in 2019. That is why they are afraid of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corp.

7.

The truth is under the watch of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS sanity has been restored in Rivers State. The security agencies are adequately funded and logistically supported by the Government of Rivers State. There is probably no other State Government that has provided more funding and logistical support to the security agencies than the Government of Rivers State. Simple things like street lights that reduce the functionality of criminals are now in place. More over, the massive infrastructural renewal schemes that have seen the reconstruction of old roads and the construction of new roads have removed bad spots from the roads where vehicles are forced to slow down and criminals emerge to pounce on hapless travellers. We are certain that your security reports prove these points.

8.

The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corp merely seeks to add fillip to the Security Architecture of Rivers State. It is instructive to note that the neutralization of Don Wanny and his group which the authors of the letter to you hap on would not have been possible without the vigorous activity of the Neighbourhood Safety group in Omoku that was actively encouraged by the Rivers State Government in conjunction with the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council. What is being done through the auspices of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corp Agency is to rationalise, organise and control with the assistance of the Nigeria Police Force all the various Neighbourhood Safety groups also called vigilante groups in Rivers State to assist the Police and all other Security Agency deliver better on their deliverables. It is only criminals and criminally minded persons that would be afraid and antagonistic of such a noble idea.

THE BACKGROUND FACTS 4.

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON GSSRS inherited a lawless and completely dysfunctional Rivers State from Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his APC. The anarchic philosophy that characterizes the political modus operandi of Amaechi and his political elements were in full view when he left office. The Courts were closed, there was no Chief Judge while the State Assembly was abandoned as legislative activity took place within the precincts of Government House. This did not stop Amaechi and his group from trying to truncate the democratic process in the June 12 mode by forum shopping for a Court that would grant them a leprous order stopping the swearing-in of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State. All this was done amidst their puerile and narcissistic threat to set up a parallel Government. All these failed.

But the social anomie still manifested in the fact that the Governor-Elect Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON was sworn-in by the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State – not the Chief Judge of Rivers State, as Amaechi shamelessly made sure he left the State without a Chief Judge.

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

17

THE RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS AGENCY (THE AGENCY) CREATED BY THE RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS LAW NO 8 OF 2018 9.

The primary objective of the Agency is the “gathering of information about crime, crime in progress, every suspicious activity and crime suspect” and “making available any relevant information on crime, crime in progress, every suspicious activity and crime suspect to the Police or any other security agency that requires it”.

10.

In furtherance of these objectives, the Agency is enjoined to:

t t

5JNFMZ SFQPSU BOZ TVTQJDJPVT BDUJWJUZ PS DSJNF JO QSPHSFTT UP UIF QPMJDF 1SPWJEF UIF QPMJDF XJUI SFMFWBOU JOGPSNBUJPO UIBU XJMM FOIBODF UIFJS understanding of how to effectively police the disparate communities in Rivers State *NQSPWJOH UIF SFMBUJPOTIJQ CFUXFFO UIF QPMJDF BOE UIF EJTQBSBUF communities in Rivers State as it concerns law enforcement $POUSJCVUJOH UP NBJOUBJOJOH DPNNVOJUZ QFBDF

t t 11.

The Agency is totally and completely subservient to the Police Force in that no person can be employed by the agency without security clearance of that person by the police. This ensures that no hoodlum or criminal can be a member of the Agency.

12.

The Law establishing the Agency enjoins it to assist, compliment and collaborate with the Nigerian Police Force and every other Security Agency to ensure peace, law and order.

13.

Furthermore, the Agency regulates all Vigilante Groups to ensure that they are not cult groups or criminal gangs in disguise.

14.

The Corp members cannot bear arms without the permit of the police while its power of arrest is limited, like those of citizens, to persons actually committing or in the process of committing a crime.

THE RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS AGENCY (THE AGENCY) CREATED BY THE RIVERS STATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY CORPS LAW NO 8 OF 2018 IS NOT A STATE POLICE 15.

16.

The authors of the letter we are responding to LIED when they claimed that the Agency is a State Police created in contravention of sections 212 – 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended (the 1999 Constitution).

The lie is apparent by the singular fact that it is the Nigeria Police Force that clothes the Agency with legitimacy in that:

(a)

Its personnel must be screened and cleared by the Police before their employment;

(b)

Its personnel can only bear arms with the permission of the Police like any other law abiding citizen needs a Police permit to bear arms; and

(c)

They cannot bear arms outside the gambit of arms that the Police can licence citizens to bear.

17.

The Agency’s powers of arrest and search are limited to persons who are committing or are in the process of committing an offence or suspected to have committed an offence. They do not extend to searching any premises. Moreover, such arrested person must be handed over to the police or any other security agency immediately. The Agency cannot detain any person.

18.

The authors of the said letter therefore LIED MOST IRRESPONSIBLY when they alleged that the Agency Corps can:

t t

#FBS BSNT XJUIPVU TUBUJOH UIBU UIJT NVTU CF XJUI QPMJDF QFSNJU %FUBJO DJUJ[FOT BT UIFSF JT OPU B TJOHMF QSPWJTJPO PG UIF FOBCMJOH -BX UIBU permits the Agency Corps to detain any person for whatever reason; 4FBSDI UIF QSFNJTFT PS QSPQFSUZ PG DJUJ[FOT BT UIFSF JT OP TVDI QSPWJTJPO in the Law; 1SPTFDVUF PòFOEFST XIFO UIF -BX DPOGFST OP TVDI QPXFST PO UIF Agency Corps; "SSFTU PòFOEFST XJUIPVU RVBMJGZJOH UIF GBDU UIBU POMZ QFSTPOT BDUVBMMZ engaged in the commission an offence or in the process of committing an offence can be arrested by the Agency Corps just like any citizen can effect such an arrest; and *OWFTUJHBUF DSJNF XIFO UIF -BX POMZ QSPWJEFT UIBU UIFZ TIPVME BTTJTU the Police and other Security Agencies by gathering information and passing over such information in aid of their investigations.

t t t

t

Department of State Security are by Law represented on its board.

Moreover, the Rivers State Police Command fully participated in the Public Hearing conducted by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Bill 2018 was passed into Law as the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018. The Hansard (records of proceedings) of the Rivers State House of Assembly is there to prove the point. What then is the complaint of these disgruntled complainants who would rather dismember Rivers State than contribute meaningfully to its growth?

21.

CONCLUSION 22.

Inspector-General of Police Sir, it is clear that the authors of the letter to you under reference are either ignorant of the contents of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018 or are being deliberately mischievous or both. They only seek to nurture violence in Rivers State that they sowed the seeds of, and which to the Glory of God Almighty Governor Wike CON GSSRS has mightily nipped with the cooperation of security agencies. No wonder the only Federal Government investment Amaechi and his ilk propose in Rivers State is a 3000 inmates Maximum Security Prison with a commensurate cemetery in Ogoni Land! The clean-up of Ogoni Land means nothing to them.

23.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has the Constitutional power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Rivers State. This is exactly what it has done with regards to Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018, which aims at assisting the Police and other Security Agencies secure Rivers State better.

24.

Those opposed to the Law, like the authors of the letter to you and their principal, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, are the true purveyors of crime and criminal activities and the sponsors of criminals in Rivers State.

25.

The Neighbourhood Watch Law exists in Lagos State where these disordered characters all run to every weekend to enjoy and spend their ill gotten loot from Rivers State. Why are they not complaining of that Law in Lagos State? In Nassarawa State, the Federal Government, we understand, is helping to train members of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps! Why must Rivers State be different? Must Amaechi and his group always unleash insecurity and mayhem in Rivers State?

26.

It does not matter to Amaechi and his sadistic cohorts that right thinking people in Rivers State identify with and commend the said Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018.

27.

Anyway, psychologists claim that some of the most severely disturbed and disordered characters might even count it as a badge of honour that they are not affected by the opinions of others, particularly right thinking people, and hold unto their grandiose and unrealistic selfimages despite a track record of wreaking havoc in the lives of those within their environment or people they want to control and lord it over at all costs.

28.

The authors of the letter to you may feel exactly like the severely disturbed and disordered characters described above. But none of them is greater than Rivers State.

29.

We therefore urge you, our dear Inspector-General of Police, to critically examine the contents of the said Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018 before being goaded into a tenuous and wrong course of action by a group of persons determined to destroy Rivers State since they cannot “conquer” Rivers State. In doing so, confirm from the Rivers State Police Command what their contributions to the passage of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Bill 2018 into Law as the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law No. 8 of 2018 were.

30.

Finally Sir, we respectfully remind you to please arrest and deliver Messrs Chidi Lloyd and Ojukaye Flag-Amachree for trial at the High Court of Rivers State for the heinous crimes. This singular act shall eloquently testify to the fact that you, Sir, are an unbiased and conscientious officer of the law who obeys Court orders.

31.

God bless you Sir, God bless Rivers State, the Treasure Base of the Nation and God bless Nigeria.

THE REAL FEARS OF THE AUTHORS AND THEIR PRINCIPAL CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI 19.

20.

Mr. Inspector-General Sir, the real reason Amaechi and his militant foot soldiers represented by the authors of the letter to you are afraid of the Agency Corp is their erroneous belief that the Agency Corp is being formed to counter their plans for a militarized 2019 general election in Rivers State. They misconceive this body as a line of defence to their plan to massively rig the election using armed security personnel as they unsuccessfully tried to do in 2015.

The Agency Corp is not such a body because both the Police and the

The bulwark of resistance against any attempt by Amaechi and co to rig the 2019 general election using armed security personnel are the people and residents of Rivers State who are clear beneficiaries of the dividends of democracy delivered to them on less than ten percent of the sums of money Amaechi spent in his two terms as Governor of Rivers State. All the infrastructure he could not put in place with trillions of Naira over a time span of eight years are in place in under three years with far less money. Any decent person would be ashamed of and remorseful over, such monumental failure by the Amaechi locust years of governance. But Amaechi and his co-travellers are not. They are impervious to shame. They are not ashamed or remorseful because they have a deficient sense of shame peculiar to disordered characters.

Sir, you are assured of our highest esteem.

Dated this 25th day of March 2018.

Emma Okah

Hon. Commissioner for Information & Communications, Rivers State.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

18

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Emmanuel: The Silent Worker

Segun James scrutinises the three years of Udom Emmanuel as governor of Akwa Ibom State

W

hen the Peoples Democratic Party, {PDP} in Akwa Ibom state decided on Udom Emmanuel as its gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 election, it was not a leap in the dark decision.

The party was backing a career chartered accountant, who had been to the zenith of his career, spanning decades. In a very politically adept state, where every man sees himself as auditor of affairs of Government House, the emergence of the sedate former secretary to the state government Emmanuel, must have unsettled a few.

Many wondered then if he would be able to conceive the right vision and make it his mission to take the state to a higher level.

But the Akwa Ibom PDP certainly knew the next level it wanted the state to move into by the governorship candidate it backed.

Governors, historically, were given the exercise of sovereign powers. They had huge responsibilities. The Romans gave the legal and administrative handling of provinces to governors. In later days, a governor is largely one who governs a constituent state of a federation. He is the leader of such a people. In choosing a highly successful chartered accountant to lead the state, the Akwa Ibom PDP knew the intrinsic worth of having such a professional as head of government.

Most modern chartered accountants are more of strategic business advisers/managers. They also deal with the regulatory and administrative side of businesses. They function as a counterbalance and fill in the gaps in major entrepreneurial endeavours of renown. Entrepreneurs are successful not just because they have ideas but also that they have quality accountants working behind the scenes. Ask Donald Trump. The exciting ideas of accountants do lead to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom great business success. Therefore to have a state government run by a business-minded reward political allies, he choose to lead the professional accountant for wealth generation implementation of this project, the pioneer director-general of the Nigerian Maritime is not a bad idea.

On becoming executive governor, Emmanuel Administrative and Safety Agency. This deep introduced transparent accounting rules. Of seaport with an industrial city, is designed particular note is the collection of internally to be a transshipment hub in the West Africa generated revenue of the state. His hard-line sub-region. There are thousands of jobs to implementation of the single account policy be created just in the construction phase of eliminated the practice of using multiple this gigantic project. This is the thinking accounts to collect same revenue. This policy of a chartered accountant governor. This effectively closed the door on unregulated thinking has attracted the attention of the activities that encouraged various malpractices. federal government. When he was the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo told the Accounting ideas. Business success.

Emmanuel took over the reins of governance people of Akwa Ibom in March 2017 that just as the nation entered a recession. A the federal government had allocated N1 recession is not a tea party. There is an billion to assist the state in the development impact on revenue. Economic activities of the deep seaport.

He is as passionate in industrialization decline significantly as revenue and corresponding spending are low. Basically, cash as in firing up small and medium scale is scarce. Such a time takes someone with enterprises. He has initiated and continued the financial training to navigate a state to support the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and through to awakening economic stimulus Employment Scheme, AKEES, which provides activities and also meeting governmental employment opportunities for unemployed obligations in a cash squeeze. On how the youths through empowering local businesses. state was able to make progress during the This creates more jobs for the youths who recession, the governor said: ‘’It has to do otherwise could have taken to crimes. By with attitude. In every situation, there is helping youths to gain entrepreneurial skills, always an opportunity. Even in the period of recession, there are lots of opportunities.

You must deliberately look at what are the game changers and then pursue those ones.’’

He has been very active in forward-thinking Under his watch, Akwa policies to meet the challenge of these times. Ibom state in the heart of Emmanuel is the personification of what a democratic leader of a people should the Niger Delta, has been be. Not so much in playing to the gallery kept largely free from and demagoguery, he is the fresh calm face invigorating government as a business and youth restiveness and employing ideas to generate wealth for his consequent destruction people. One of the key projects dear to of the nation’s economic his heart for his people, is the Ibom Deep Seaport. To drive this dream, rather than assets

Emmanuel is laying a solid foundation for the development of Akwa Ibom State.

Very developmental minded, Emmanuel has continued with several projects inherited from his predecessor. One of such is the construction of a 3.6 kilometres x 60 metres wide taxi way at the Ibom International Airport. He is expecting the big planes.

A governor, apart from providing necessary infrastructure, being a good manager of resources and providing great ideas, has to be a democrat in heart. He must not only take the constitutional oath to uphold the rule of law, but his actions must be seen to be democratic, not of an autocrat.

One touchy area since the return to constitutional rule in Nigeria, has been the relationship between state governors and their houses of assembly. The exception seems to be the rule in some states as the constitutional division of powers between the executive and the legislature, is not there. Many governors relish dictating to their houses of assembly. In such cases, acrimony and conflict can not be ruled out.

Examples abound where chief executives of states have orchestrated the removal of speakers of houses of assembly. Recall it was conflict over budgets and taxation that contributed to tensions between assemblies and governors in the pre-American revolution United States. Those conflicts not well managed, led to the revolution.

A democrat in government house will cultivate the legislature and ensure the independence of both arms of government while yet ensuring that the vision of the executive is not scuttled. No need to send hired thugs to invade the hallowed chambers of the house of assembly. One of Emmanuel’s 12-point agenda is, ‘’to uphold the tenets of democratic governance.’’

One area of evaluating a governor is in crisis management. How calm and capable he is during crisis. Navigating the ship of the state through the economic recession while still ensuring constant payment of salaries with other huge governmental obligations, is noteworthy. The state is not among those where workers commit suicide for lack of salaries.

Akwa Ibom state was in the news early in the life of his administration when federal security agents breached the sanctity of the state’s government house. How he reacted from a position of higher morality to that crisis boosted his standing in the eyes of the public. Under his watch, Akwa Ibom state in the heart of the Niger Delta, has been kept largely free from youth restiveness and consequent destruction of the nation’s economic assets.

Another area to evaluate a governor is his personal attributes. A governor needs be a gentleman, free from thuggery and overtly promoting corruption. Integrity counts.

During his inauguration in May 2015, quoting Jesse Jackson, the governor said, ‘’We are tired of sailing our little boat inside the harbour. We want to go out where the big ships float, out on the deep where the great ones are. And should our frail craft prove too light for waves that sweep those billows over, we would rather go down in the stirring fight than drown to death at the sheltered shore.’’

On that day, he told all Akwa Ibom people, at home and abroad, to come with hoes and shovels to bury the twin evils of ethnicity and tribalism, which can slow down the pace of development.

Three years down the road, the pace of development is getting faster in Akwa Ibom state.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

19

PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Ekweremadu: Demonizing a Dog to Hang It The recent travails of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, may not be unconnected with his position as the Senate’s second highest ranking officer under the All Progressives Congress-led government, writes Malachy Chuma Ochie

“T

he long-established and noble rule of law, one of the greatest products of the character and tradition of British history, has suffered a deadly blow. Blackmail has become respectable”- Robert Menzies Nothing is more common in the affairs of men than the despicable act of smearing and blackmailing another in order to destroy him/ her. History is replete with examples of innocent men, who have been subjected to such harrowing experiences by constituted authorities simply to get them out of the way. Among my people, this infamy is regarded as giving a dog a bad name merely to hang it. The story of Martin Luther King Jr. is both illustrative and instructive here.

When in August 1963, the revered Martin Luther King Jr. mounted the Lincoln Memorial Steps on the National Mall to deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech before a mammoth crowd; the FBI took notice of him and his activities. In truth, the FBI had never been comfortable with Martin Luther King Jr. He was critical of the government and never pulled a punch in delivering his message. Watching King deliver his earth-moving speech, William Sullivan, the chief of FBI Domestic Intelligence felt this was the height of it. Martin Luther King Jr. must be destroyed!

Two days after Luther King’s speech, Sullivan wrote in a memo, “We must mark him now, if we have not done so before, as the most dangerous Negro of the future in this nation from the standpoint of communism, the Negro and national security”. Following Sullivan’s memo, a massive surveillance operation on Martin Luther King was quickly approved, and the then FBI Director, Edgar Hoover, became increasingly fixated on proving that King had communist ties and discrediting him generally.

The surveillance failed to show that Martin Luther King was a communist, but it did result in many cloned tapes of extra-marital sexual liaisons allegedly committed by King. So in 1964, Sullivan sent an unsigned letter to King’s home.

An un-edited version of the letter was only recently unearthed by Yale historian, Beverly Gage, and published in the New York Times in November 2014. According to Tim Weiner’s history of the FBI, Sullivan “had a package of the cloned King sex tapes prepared by the FBI’s lab technicians,” and sent it along with this letter to King’s home.

King’s wife opened the package.

The unsigned letter purportedly written by a fellow Negro reads: “You have been on the record - all your adulterous acts, your sexual orgies extending far into the past. This one is but a tiny sample. The public will know you for what you are - an evil, abnormal beast. Your ‘honorary’ degrees, your Nobel Prize (what a grim farce) and other awards will not save you. King, I repeat you are done. You know you are a complete fraud and a great liability to all of us Negroes. There is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is. You have just 34 days to commit suicide”.

Unfortunately for the blackmailers, Martin Luther King Jr. did not back down and he paid the ultimate price. And his experience is a terrifying reminder of what government surveillance agencies are capable of, especially about a person the government sees as a threat.

There is no doubt that Ike Ekweremadu has been a marked man since the beginning of the present administration. His ordeal began when, against all odds, he ‘breached’ the Fourth Protocol by emerging as the Deputy President of the 8th Senate. How could Ekweremadu be so brazen?

Was he not afraid to thread where angels dreaded?

The southeast voted massively for the PDP and why should the Deputy Senate President go to them? Basically, this is Ekweremadu’s sin.

The first salvo was a frivolous allegation that he, alongside others, doctored the rules of the Senate to ensure that he emerged as the Deputy Senate President. He was subsequently dragged to court, along with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. The government had no case against them and had to withdraw it.

Unknown assailants also attacked his convoy in broad daylight in Abuja. We are yet to hear the police report on the incident. Not even a word was heard from the security agencies.

Sometime in 2017, Ekweremadu raised an alarm that he was tipped-off on government’s

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

(specifically EFCC) to plant huge sums of money in various currencies in his house in Enugu. The EFCC denied. But, not long, the police raided his Abuja guesthouse in a Gestapo style, but found nothing.

At the floor of the Senate, recently, Ekweremadu again stirred the hornet’s nest when he spoke fearlessly against the high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies of the executive, the angst, despair and nadir that have become the signposts of our existence and warned that we were creating fertile grounds for another military adventure into politics. Rather than address issues raised, he was promptly accused of suggesting a military coup, but Nigerians were not fooled. The government felt threatened. However, Ekweremadu’s fiery contribution at the floor of the Senate was the height of it. He must be destroyed at all cost.

At the floor of the Senate, recently, Ekweremadu again stirred the hornet’s nest when he spoke fearlessly against the high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies of the executive, the angst, despair and nadir that have become the signposts of our existence

Ekweremadu had raised alarm on this latest plot when he went public to accuse a former Chief Judge in Enugu State and some other persons of stealing his will and doctoring it by adding fictitious properties. They started churning out baseless petitions to government agencies and officials. He accused the Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla of a grand smear campaign.

Acting true to their script, the federal government ignored the alarm raised by Ekweremadu and moved swiftly to apply to the Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of temporary forfeiture of about 22 imaginary properties allegedly owned

by Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja, London, the United States, Dubai and United Arab Emirates. And this they did without digging into the root of the matter. The panel’s lawyers, Festus Keyamo Chambers personally mailed the Motion Ex-parte and appendixes to the press to unjustly subject Ekweremadu to biased media trial- which was its aim in the first place. This is typical of this government.

I am not bothered about such premeditated action on the part of the Buhari administration or the media trial; rather I am ashamed, but not surprised at the low level Umuzulike, Barrister Tagbo Ike, and cohorts descended. It is instructive that Ekweremadu’s maligner in chief, Umezulike has been sacked by the National Judicial Council and is standing trial in several courts. He can now be likened to a drowned, disgraced man looking for whom to sink with.

In contrast to the demonizing narrative, which the government and its journeymen are striving so hard to create, Ekweremadu has blazed the trail in repositioning his constituents and beyond. He has

turned Enugu-west Senatorial district and beyond into one huge construction site. He has provided succour to the needy through his foundation, which he established long before he became a senator. He is the pride of Nigerian youths; a man of integrity, whose towering standing cannot be tarnished by the smears of hatred and political diatribes. Ekweremadu has brought energy, verve and intellectual depth to lawmaking in Nigeria. He is indeed the beacon of the Senate. He is a global statesman, respected for his robust commitment to and application of the dictates of democracy.

We cannot destroy our very best in the name of politics. People like Ekweremadu are generational thinkers. They do not come very often. If for any reason you destroy such people, you destroy the destiny of a nation, essentially because in such men God has writ large the destiny of millions. This blundering government should focus on addressing issues of insecurity, collapsing economy, hunger, etc. rather than wasting precious time chasing shadows in the bid to bring down an innocent man simply because 2019 is near. Ekweremadu is bigger than that; and that is why this latest onslaught on him will fail like others.

By the way, What has become of Abdulrasheed Maina and those who recalled him back into civil service with double promotion? What has become of the MTN fine saga? What has become of the $25 billion NNPC contract? What has become of the Ikoyi dollars, and infamous multi-million grasscutter himself? See how lucky some people can be. Yet we wonder why Transparency International survey scored us so low or why the world don’t take us seriously when we make all the noise about fighting corruption?

t0DIJF XSPUF JO GSPN &OVHV

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

20

FEATURES

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

The Kogi Massacre The recent attacks on some communities in Kogi State by suspected herdsmen left over 35 people dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed, writes Yekini Jimoh

Some of the houses razed down by suspected Fulani herdsmen

W

hen the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello held meetings with traditional rulers and the Fulani on his intention to allow Fulani herdsmen to come to the state and grace their cows, most people kicked against his action.

All the three Senatorial districts said the invitation of the Fulani herdsmen will only bring anarchy to the people.

Before now, the Fulani have been on a logger-head with the people of Kogi East and Kogi West.

According to the Special Adviser to Omala Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Stephen Shaibu, “the killing is regrettable because of the chairman’s commitment to peace between herdsmen and farmers.�

Herdsmen appeared to have gone on a killing binge in the Middle Belt of the country erasing hundreds of lives in Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, and Plateau States.

In Kogi Central little crisis have been recorded due to the topography of the area.

The recent invasion of Kogi East by the Fulani herdsmen, is a warning signal to the governor that his intention should be revised if he wants peace to reign in the state.

The recent Fulani herdsmen attack on the people of Oganenigu community in Dekina and Abejukolo in Omala local government councils of Kogi State left about 35 people dead will be difficult for the people to forget so quickly.

The attack in Kogi East was coming two years after a similar onslaught when sectarian violence led to the death of four Fulani men and unspecified number of their animals. The herdsmen were said to be fleeing from Benue State where they were being overwhelmed.

An indigene said the latest attack may be to avenge the events of 2016.

It was gathered that the herdsmen came in boats with firearms, such as AK 47, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons shooting, killing, and razing houses in that community.

An eye witness disclosed to THISDAY that the suspected Fulani herdsmen in army uniform were heavily armed with AK47 invaded Oganenigu community unexpected on that faithful day.

It was gathered that the herdsmen numbering hundreds burned down over 50 houses in the community as they allegedly slaughtered people and shot those who tried to escape into the nearby bush.

It was also gathered that four family of a serving police officer were also slaughtered by the herdsmen.

Another community, in Dekina Local

We want the world to come to our assistance before these Fulanis exterminate and inherit our land. We have lost conďŹ dence in the security agencies posted to us, from their action, we believe they have been instructed to adopt sit down look while we are being massacred

Joshua Angulu was killed in his farm at Abejukolo by some suspected Fulani herdsmen

Government Area, Iyale community was also attacked by the herdsmen.

It was also gathered that two persons were killed during the invasion by the Fulani herdsmen in Iyale.

In Omala local government council, the Fulani herdsmen invaded Abejukolo community killing three persons.

According to a source, in Abejukolo, one Joshua Angulu was slaughtered by the suspected Fulani herdsmen during the attack.

Meanwhile, there are reports that a new set of Fulani herdsmen/terrorists have also crossed into Omala Local Government Area through the River Benue from Nasarawa State.

They are said to be camped in the Obakume Forest, preparing for attacks on Abejukolo, the local government headquarters and adjoining villages.

According to Oganenigwu Community Development Association, over 200 people have been displayed.

The association added that over 50 houses were burnt down by the suspected Fulani herdsmen while people living in villages

surrounding Oganenigwu have deserted the community as they moved in droves to places like Anyigba, Ologba, Etulutekpe, Iyale and others.

"As at present nobody can say the excite number of dead people at both sides, because many families are yet to locate their relatives," the source said.

The source also disclosed that the presence of the security agents drafted to the trouble areas was yet to checkmate the situation.

Another eye witness, Mr. Ojodale Philip, who is the Principal of Community Secondary School, Oganenigwu, Kogi State, said "my school was under attack by Fulani terrorists at about 8:30a.m. but to God be the glory no life was lost in my school, but many people were massacred in the village.

"I personally was shot at several times but nothing happened to me. In my hands are some of the bullets that were meant to kill me.�

Mallam Smaila Maji who spoke with THISDAY at Oganenigwu during the visit of the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on a Saturday, said the attack took them by surprise

around 8a.m. on a Wednesday.

"As they entered the city they started shooting at the natives sporadically. Our people tried to repel the attackers but were overwhelmed as they were over 500 in number.�

He said the people had no option but to run for their lives as the herders continued to fire gun shots at them with sophisticated weapons like AK47.

"They killed about 25 of our people. Apart from that they also killed about six of our people at Ogbakaka some are still in the hospital.�

He added that the Fulani herdsmen overwhelmed them as they made away with food stuffs and all valuables, physical cash and about 45 motorcycles belonging to the natives.

"There is virtually no young man who is not having a motorcycle. Our people have moved out in droves to neighbouring villages.

However, the village has no police station and no health facility,� he said.

Another victim, Mallam Usman Hassan who also spoke with THISDAY appealed to government to come to the aid of the people as they have lost almost everything, adding that about 30 people died from the attack.

Hassan said the matter was beyond their contemplation adding that they were not happy with the Fulani herdsmen even as he pleaded that they should leave their domain for them so that they can go to farm and produce what they will eat.

According another victim, Mr. Aaron Baba, the Fulani herdsmen killed his father. He said they were more than 500 and that they killed 12 people whom they buried while many other bodies have not been recovered.

"They came in and took us by surprise.

They came in wearing military camouflage with AK47, you can see the empty bullet shells scattered all over. I am appealing to government for assistance.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

21

FEATURES

Burnt down houses

"We have been friendly with Fulanis to the extent of engaging in trade by batter until recently when they started acting like Boko Haram.�

However barely five days after the killings in Dekina and Omala local government councils by some suspected herdsmen, a traditional ruler, his wife and 10 persons have been killed while several houses were burnt down by suspected herdsmen in separate attacks on Agbenema, Aj'Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages, in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Those killed include a traditional ruler, the Onu Okenwu Agbenema of Ife, Chief Musa Edigbo and his wife and 10 others by the suspected herdsmen.

THISDAY reliably gathered on Monday that the attack started on Sunday night which lasted till the following day and the residence of the former vice chairman of Omala local government council and that of his father were razed down by the suspected herdsmen.

It was gathered that the attackers who were allegedly armed with sophisticated weapons hid in the bushes around these villages from where they launched deadly attacks on their targets.

According to the natives, the herdsmen set the houses ablaze and opened fire on the fleeing inhabitants, slit their throats, and matchet and cut off vital parts of their victims.

The natives who would not want their names in print told journalists that the Administrator of Omala Local Government Area, Hon. Ibrahim Aboh escaped the attackers guns by the whiskers.

The natives said that the soldiers who were drafted to curtail the herdsmen killings allegedly refused to assist the locals to repel the Fulani herdsmen.

"We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed at the Guest House at Abejukolo for assistance, they refused to act professionally as they used their vehicle to block us from advancing to the troubled spot to help our people.

"It is clear that the aim of the Fulani herdsmen is to kill us and take over our ancestral homes.

"They have razed down Ojuwo Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages so that they could use our land for their cattle colonies.

"We want the world to come to our assistance before these Fulanis exterminate and inherit our land. We have lost confidence in the security agencies posted to us, from their action, we believe they have been instructed to adopt sit down look while we are being massacred.

"Our people are being killed and houses

Palace of Chief Musa Edibo, the Onu of Agbenema, who was killed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen

burnt down, even as our women are being raped while many children who ran from the theatre of war were still missing.

"Since the attacks begun, we cannot go to the farms even markets have closed. Hunger has come to stay on our soil.

"If drastic measures are not taken to quell this mad killings by these herdsmen, food insecurity will take over our land," they lamented.

Meanwhile, one of the royal fathers, the Eje Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje has applauded the Kogi State governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello for taking a proactive measure to end the Fulani herdsmen killings at Ogane-Enigu and Ojuwo-Ajomaigbi in Dekina and Bassa local government areas of Kogi State.

Obaje who gave the commendation at Aloko-Oganeigu said since the creation of the state in 1991 no governor have ever deemed it fit to visit the village whenever there were crises between farmers and the herdsmen.

He said the visit of governor to the troubled villages has shown his level of humility towards the people of the state, noting that many people who fled from the villages to other neighbouring towns for safety have returned home as a result of the presence of heavy security agents drafted to the areas.

According to him, "In the recent past there has been crises between our farmers and the herdsmen where lives and property running into millions of naira were lost, but no governor has ever come here for first hand information instead the governors delegated their subordinates to visit the villages.

"Honestly, when the news of Governor Bello

We shall unravel everything that is behind these attacks.

By the grace of God, this attack is going to be the ďŹ rst and the last in this place. As a government, we will, as much as possible, comfort the families affected and ensure that those injured received prompt medical attention

reached me that he is visiting the village ravaged by the armed bandits I was surprised and started moving to Oganeigu ahead of him, despite the fact that the villages in this part of the local government does not have good roads, the governor bear the stress to reach these places. This is a commitment expected of every leader to enable him address issues without fear or favour."

The royal father who expressed appreciation to the governor, reported the dearth of basic social amenities such as water, electricity and roads in Adumu, Aloko, Oganeinugu, Ojuole and Omayege communities, appealing to the governor for assistance in that direction.

Bello who visited the affected community was shocked from what he saw during the visit.

Addressing troops of 913 Battalion of the Nigeria Army stationed at Aloko-Oganenigu, Dekina Local Government Area, he said his on-the-spot assessment visit was aimed at ending the hostilities and restore peace to the affected communities.

The governor promised to set up a judicial commission of enquiry to unravel the circumstances that led to the attacks on Oganaenugu, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the armed bandits were poised to sack the communities but were contained by security agencies that included the Army, Police and the Department of State Security Services, promising to institute judicial panel of inquiry to unravel the causes of the crises.

According to him, “The primary responsibility of any government is to secure lives and property. We shall not play politics with the lives of our people. “We shall unravel everything that is behind these attacks. By the grace of God, this attack is going to be the first and the last in this place. As a government, we will, as much as possible, comfort the families affected and ensure that those injured received prompt medical attention,� he said.

The governor who lamented the dearth of basic social amenities in the area, said the previous administrations neglected the people, assuring that government in no distance time will provide potable water, electricity and roads for the communities.

He urged the community to cooperate with the security agents by providing useful information to enable them tackle the cause of the crises.

Also, the Kogi State Government has confirmed the killing of Chief Musa Edibo, the Onu of Agbenema and three others by suspected Fulani herdsmen during an attack

at Agbenema in Omala Local Government Area of the state.

The Kogi State Police Command in a press statement had earlier denied any death of a traditional ruler at Agbenema community during an attack by some suspected Fulani herdsmen.

However, Kogi State Government also confirmed the killing of the traditional ruler and promised to offer N5 million as reward to anybody who can volunteer information leading to the arrest of those who terrorised and killed people in Ojuwo AjamĂ gbe and Agbenema in Dekina and Omala local government areas of the state.

In a statement issued by the Director General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said the government was saddened by the attack on Agbenema, a peaceful community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State by mercenaries reportedly working for herdsmen in the area.

The statement confirmed that a total of three persons were killed including Chief Musa Edibo, the Onu of Agbenema.

Fanwo further stated that other persons were also injured and are currently hospitalised and are responding to treatment.

He said intelligence reports showed that the attackers at Agbenema on the afternoon on the 19th March, 2018 appear to be the same group which attacked Ojuwo AjamĂ gbe, near Oganenigu in Dekina Local Government Area five days earlier.

"Kogi State Government and the security services are sparing neither expense nor effort to track down these murderers and ensure justice is served.

"We once again reiterate our total commitment as a government to the security of lives and property in the state protection extends to all peaceful and law-abiding citizens and residents, irrespective of religion or tribe," he said.

The state government also offered a reward of N2 million for information which it said would help preempt and prevent future attacks on any of the communities.

He noted that the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was committed for quick and full recovery to persons injured in these attacks as he also sends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

"His Excellency assures them that government shares in their pain and will stand by them through this difficult time. Furthermore, the administration will continue working to find sustainable and lasting solutions to the long-standing clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Kogi State," he said..

22

IMAGES

L-R: Senator Representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan; Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alimosho, Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo and Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, during a media brieďŹ ng on party activities, in Lagos..recently kola olasupo

L-R; Head, Coverage and Corporate Banking, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Bimbola Wright; Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairperson, WIMBIZ Executive Council, Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, at the 2018 WIMBIZ Annual Lecture in Lagos... recently.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

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

L-R: Supreme Head, Cherubim & Seraphim UniďŹ cation Church Worlwide,Dr. Solomon Alao;Guest Speaker/ Former Director General, Nigerian Institute for International Aairs (NIIA0, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa; Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Joseph Otubu; and General Leader/District Chairman,Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District Headquarters, Dr. Sunday Korode, at the 3rd memorial lecture for Late Dr. Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye in Lagos...recently etop ukutt

L-R: Category Marketing Manager, PZ Wilmar Limited, Chioma Mbanugo; Sales Director, Ipsit Chakrabarti and Finance Director, Nitin Agarwal, during a media launch of Mamador Kitchen makeover promo, in Lagos...reently kola olasupo

L-R: Senior Assistant Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations,Kayode Yeku; Guest Speaker, Prof. Lai Oso; President, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya,and Chairman Education & Advisory Board,NIPR, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura during the NIPR 5th Convocation in Lagos...recently.

Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajumobi(left) and MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya during a visit to the Governor by Ogunsanya in lbadan...recently.

L-R; Chairman of the Occasion, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; and the newly installed Aare Musulumi of Epe Kingdom, Rt Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji during the 1st Epe Central Mosque Turbaning Ceremony held at the Marina, Epe, Lagos‌.recently

23

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 14 % 15.08 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

17.92% 18.38 % 18.83%

M A R C H S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku

Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

2 3 , 2 0 1 8 347.44 % -0.06 % 1.41%

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

5.45 % 5.45 %

EXCHANGE RATE N305.70/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Firm Partners PenOp on Training

IDENTIFYING WITH WIMBIZ

L-R: Head, Coverage and Corporate Banking, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Bimbola Wright; Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief, Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairperson, WIMBIZ Executive Council, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, at the 2018 WIMBIZ Annual Lecture which took place in Lagos ‌recently

38 Firms Raked in N54.1bn from Oil and Gas Insurance Businesses in 2016 Pay N4.642 billion claims

r

Ebere Nwoji Thirty eight underwriting firms generated N54.130 billion as gross premium from oil and gas insurance businesses in 2016; but expended only a paltry N4.642 billion as claims to companies.

Data obtained from the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), the umbrella body of insurance underwriters in the country, showed that a total of N38.8 billion was ceded as reinsurance to both local and foreign reinsurers while N15.9 billion was retained as net premium.

According to the data, of the insurance firms that participated in oil and gas underwriting businesses between 2012 and 2016, Leadway Insurance Ltd maintained the lead for the five year period as the company in 2016, raked in N11.625 billion to beat 37 other underwriters.

INSURANCE An analysis of the data showed that Leadway generated N6.55billion in 2015; N7.719billion in 2014; N16.969billion in 2013 and N17.614 billion in 2012.

Leadway was followed by Custodian and Allied Insurance plc, which in 2016 recorded N8.049 billion in 2015. Mutual Benefit Assurance ranked second in gross premium from oil and gas business with gross premium of N6.344 billion. The company was also ranked second in 2014 with gross premium of N7.045billion.

Custodian and Allied Insurance again in 2013 came second with N13.212billion, and ranked second in 2012 with N6.986billion premium.

AXA Mansard Insurance Plc came third in 2016, with N3.813billion while Custodian

and Allied Insurance came third in 2015 with N6.149billion. The company was ranked third in 2014 with N5.914billion premium.

Sovereign Trust Insurance took the third position in 2013 with N4.420billion while Industrial and General Insurance occupied the third position in 2012 in terms of gross premium generation from oil and gas businesses with N3.985billion.

Royal Exchange General Insurance took fourth position in 2016 with N3.415 billion while AXA Mansard Insurance took fourth position in 2015 with N3.066billion. The company also retained the fourth position in 2014 with N4.338 billion premium.

Further analysis showed that Mansard insurance in 2013 came fourth with N3.392billion, while Sovereign Trust took fourth position in 2012 with N2.863billion premium. KBL Insurance ranked

overall last occupying the 38th position with N6,594gross premium in 2016.The company failed to underwrite any oil and gas business in 2015,2014, 2013 and 2012 financial years.

According to NIA, between 2007 and 2016 oil and gas insurance businesses in Nigeria achieved 15.4 percent growth.

Within the period, the sector maintained steady growth except in 2010 when there was a decline in the oil and gas business growth from N31.577billion in 2009 to a decline of N26.095 billion in2010.

There was also a decline in 2014 when premium generated from the class of business declined from N66.813 billion in 2013 to N52.871billion in 2014.It also went further down in 2015 to stand at N51.120 billion, before it rose again in 2016 to hit N54.130 billion.

Continued on page 24

Global Body Tightens Noose against Tax Evaders Obinna Chima The multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related measures and Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) will enter into force on July 1, 2018, marking a significant step in international efforts to update the existing network of bilateral tax treaties and reduce opportunities for tax avoidance by multinational enterprises.

The entry into force of the Convention, just one year after the first signature, underlines the strong political commitment to a multilateral approach to fighting BEPS by multinational enterprises.

According to a report obtained

ECONOMY on Monday, the entry into force followed from the deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification

by Slovenia on 22 March 2018.

Earlier, the Republic of Austria, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Poland, had deposited their instruments with the OECD. “The entry into force of this Multilateral Convention marks a turning point in the implementation of OECD/G20 efforts to adapt international tax rules to the 21stCentury,â€? the OECD Secretary-General Angel GurrĂ­a said. “We are translating commitments into concrete legal

provisions in more than 1,200 tax treaties worldwide. “Thanks to this drive by the international community, we are ensuring that multinational companies pay their fair share when it comes to fulfilling tax obligations, like citizens do.�

It pointed out that the entry into force of the Convention on July 1, 2018, would bring it into legal existence in these five jurisdictions.

In accordance with the rules of the Convention, its contents will start to have effect for existing tax treaties as from 2019.

The Convention is the first multilateral treaty of its kind, allowing jurisdictions to transpose results from the

OECD/G20 BEPS Project into their existing bilateral tax treaties, transforming the way tax treaties are modified.

The Convention was designed to strengthen existing tax treaties concluded among its parties without the need for burdensome and time-consuming bilateral renegotiations.

The OECD/G20 BEPS Project delivers solutions for governments to close the gaps in existing international rules that allow corporate profits to disappear or be artificially shifted to low or no tax environments, where companies have little or Continued on page 24

213 Capital, an Investment and Risk Advisory ďŹ rm recently collaborated with the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) to provide targeted training to investment and risk managers across the pension landscape. According to the Executive Secretary of the association, Ms. Susan Oranye, the training was timely considering the emerging changes in the Nigerian ďŹ nancial market. She further highlighted the fact that the programme provided participants with an in-depth understanding of the evolving investment risk landscape, with a view to optimising the performance of the various fund managers, as well as ensuring international best practice standards continue to be the norm within the industry. According to her, as an association, PenOp is very keen on continuous improvement and with initiatives where they collaborate with subject matter experts such as 213 Capital in this instance, the industry will continue to boast of dynamic fund managers, positioned to support Nigeria’s economic growth with long-term capital, while enhancing value for the contributory pension scheme (CPS) participants. According to the Managing Partnerof213,Mr.AyodeleOnawunmi,thepensionindustryremains a critical player in the transformation of the Nigerian ďŹ nancial market, and partnerships such as these reect positively on the readiness of the industry.

Moody’s to Hold Summit in Lagos

Senior analysts at Moody’s, one of the leading rating agencies in the world, would share insight into the credit implications of Nigeria’s gradual economic recovery and the rebound in oil prices at the rating agency’s fourth Annual West Africa Summit in Lagos on 9 May. Analysts from Moody’s sovereign, banking and corporate teams will look at the key trends shaping credit conditions in Nigeria, as well as West Africa and the broader emerging markets.

The event - part of Moody’s 2018 series of emerging markets conferences across Europe, the Middle East and Africa - will be attended by a range of market participants, including issuers, investors, treasury and ďŹ nance managers, credit analysts, and leaders from government, industry, business and ďŹ nance. “WithoilpricesreboundingandNigeria’seconomyslowlyrecovering, this is a crucial period for Africa’s largest economy,â€? Moody’s General Manager in Africa, Sylvia Chahonyo said. “Our analysts will explore all the key issues in West Africa, from economic growth prospects and ďŹ scal challenges to the outlook for regional banks and the impact of the naira’s uctuations on companies.â€?In opening the event, Moody’s Associate Managing Director Jean-Francois Tremblay, would be expected to assess the challenges and opportunities facing emerging markets.

Also, its Vice President - Senior Credit OďŹƒcer, AurĂŠlien Mali, is expected to look at Nigeria’s ďŹ scal challenges in the context of its slow economic recovery and structural improvements in the country’s oil sector. He will also give an update on the status of African Multilateral Development Banks.

AfDB Holds Annual Meetings

The 53rd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and 44th Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Fund, the concessional arm of the Bank Group, are scheduled to take place from May 21st to 25th 2018 in Busan, Korea.

Africa’s rapid industrialisation holds the potential for a win-win scenario - for the world, and certainly for the continent. It would also help raise productivity by spurring technological progress and innovation while creating higher-skilled jobs in the formal sector; promote linkages between services and agricultural sectors; between rural and urban economies; and among consumers, intermediates and capital goods industries. Industrialization will also make the prices of manufactured exports less volatile or susceptible to long-term deterioration than those of primary goods, as well as help African countries escape dependence on primary commodity exports.

“At AMCON, we believe that the Act establishing the corporation can be amended as many times as possible by the National Assembly as long as they think it is appropriate to do so�

CEO, AMCON

Ahmed Kuru

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

24

38 FIRMS RAKED IN N54.1BN FROM OIL AND GAS INSURANCE BUSINESSES IN 2016 The industry witnessed the highest growth in oil and gas insurance premium generation in 2013 when it grew to N66.813 billion. The least growth was recorded in 2007 when the premium stood at N12.941billion.

The NIA data revealed that the federal government’s local content policy and the formation of the energy pool to a reasonable extent enhanced the premium generated by the companies.

Before the above policies came on board, oil and gas insurance was the preserve of foreign insurers but with the introduction of oil and gas pool formation, more oil and gas insurance businesses were given to indigenous insurers.

Insurance sector operators have expressed optimism that the result of the oil and gas pool formed by the industry will reflect more on the premium generated by indigenous insurers in the years to come.

GLOBAL BODY TIGHTENS NOOSE AGAINST TAX EVADERS no economic activity.

Revenue losses from BEPS are conservatively estimated at USD 100-240 billion annually, or the equivalent of 4-10per cent of global corporate income tax revenues. Over 110 countries and jurisdictions are currently working in the Inclusive Framework on BEPS to implement BEPS measures in their domestic legislation and bilateral tax treaties. The Convention, negotiated by more than 100 countries and jurisdictions under a mandate from G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, will modify existing bilateral tax treaties to swiftly implement the tax treaty measures developed in the course of the OECD/ G20 BEPS Project. Treaty measures that are included in the Convention include those on hybrid mismatch arrangements, treaty abuse and permanent establishment.

The Convention also strengthens provisions to resolve treaty disputes, including through mandatory binding arbitration, which has been taken up by 28 signatories.

Group Business Editor

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

Egbin Power Station Targets 5,000MW in Five Years Ejiofor Alike The Chairman of Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina has restated the commitment of the board of the company to expand the plant’s generating capacity from 1,320 megawatts to 5, 000MW in the next five years.

Adesina said in a statement that better regulation should drive African power sector transformation According to him, power sector regulatory authorities across Africa should provide the guidance and expertise that is so crucial to enhancing economic growth and development across the continent.

Adesina said the regulatory environment in the sector in Africa needs to be tweaked to integrate cross border collaboration, forward looking policies and cooperation between the public and private sectors to meet the huge power demand on the continent. “We need our regulators to seek avenues for collaboration across the regions to drive regional and global financial support, policy integration, infrastructure upgrades and human capital development.

We need that synergy between policy and regulation to

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)

stimulate investments and expansion that will ultimately lead to sustainable power supply,� he said. “The government through its agencies and regulation bodies should be committed to face the critical parameters involving monetary policies on interest rates on loans, exchange rate and inflation rate. These could

be pegged at a certain levels to allow the power sector bring in the required infrastructure,�

Adesina added.

According to him, an important part of the regulators’ role would be to ensure that customers receive the best possible service.

He added that regulators will eventually need to allow

the market find it’s equilibrium in terms of costs and pricing, adding however that a free market may not be entirely “practicable� given the various socio-economic dynamics across the continent.

He concluded by reiterating the importance of public-private partnerships to the advancement of the sector.

“The government alone cannot provide these services neither could it have overhauled an entire sector on its own. But it is crucial that the government begins to address all the structural deficits that impede the sector if the privatisation road map is to bring immense benefits to the continent,� he said.

2018 BULLION LECTURE

L-R: Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Hogan Bassey; President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka; Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ernest Ebi; at the Bullion Lecture 2018 themed‘TheWealthofNationsandtheImperativeofEconomicTransformation’andorganisedbytheCentreForFinancialJournalismandco-sponsored

by Fidelity Bank, in Lagos ‌recently

W’Bank: Nigeria Needs to Supply Electricity to 800,000 New Households Yearly Chineme Okafor in Abuja The World Bank has said that Nigeria would need to connect between 500,000 to 800,000 new households to electricity sources every year between now and 2030 to be able to achieve her targets of universal access to electricity for its citizens.

The Bank said this in a draft report of its environment and social systems assessment (ESSA) of the Power Sector Recovery Program (PSRP) it is working on with the federal government which THISDAY obtained in Abuja.

It also said figures thrown around by the country on the number of its citizens that have electricity meters connected

to their consumption points were unclear, being that the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) have figures that are different from what the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has.

According to the Bank, Nigeria’s inability to provide electricity to about 80 million of its people meant that it is the second country after India in the world with more of her population without electricity and the first in Sub-Saharan Africa. “With about 80 million people lacking access to grid electricity, Nigeria has the largest access deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa and the second largest in the world, after India.

“Up to 83.6 per cent of the urban population had access while only 39.1 per cent of the rural population did. Similarly, the connection rate ranges from 26.7 per cent in the north east to 82.4 per cent in the south-south zone. “Levels of access to electricity also vary between the states, from close to universal access in Lagos to about 11 per cent in Taraba. Thirteen states have levels of access below 40 per cent. This can be compared with the incidence of absolute poverty in each state,� said the report.

It further explained: “The government’s target is to achieve 75 per cent electrification by 2025, which would

require doubling the number of households with connections by that date. To achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, Nigeria would need to connect between 500,000 to 800,000 households per year. “Both grid extension and offgrid solutions will be needed to provide quality services to the unserved and underserved households and businesses in a timely manner,� the bank added.

On the disparity in the metering figures, the report noted that: “Nigeria had 9.5 million electricity customers in 2016 (NERC projection). The number of customers per Disco varies widely, from 345,000 (Yola) to 1,750,000 (Ibadan).

“The true number of customers is not accurately known, however, Discos’ own figures for their tariff revision submissions totaled 6.49 million customers, while the latest household survey in 2015/16 estimates that around 19 million households have some access to electricity,� the bank said.

It stated that electricity customers in Nigeria’s power market fall into four categories of residential; commercial; industrial; and public, adding that residential customers accounted for about 59 per cent of electricity consumed, while commercial consumers accounted for about 19 per cent and industrial customers accounted for about seven per cent.

‘Benue Has Lost N8bn Worth of Rice to Herdsmen Attacks in 2018’ George Okoh In Makurdi

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

The Benue state Commissioner for Agriculture, James Anbua has stated that the state has lost over N8billion to herdsmen attack this year.

The commissioner told journalists on the aftermath of herdsmen attack on food security, noted that Benue is ranked among the fifth largest producer of rice in the country with the expectation of bumper harvest this year.

Anbua expressed regret that the herdsmen attack on the state was coming at the

time farmers were harvesting there rice, further adding that the local government areas with comparative advantage in rice production because of their terrain were Guma and Logo that were greatly affected by herdsmen attacks.

He said “already, there is a threat to food security in Benue State. Agriculture on food, start from land preparation, by now farmers in those areas are supposed to start clearing lands for the next cropping season but most of these people are in camps and they have not gone back to start the process.

“Guma and Logo are the highly crops processing areas and since they are not in their ancestral home, they can’t talk of clearing lands. Therefore the food security is threatened because these people cannot go back to farm and there would be no much farm activities in those areas and there would be shortage of food towards the end of 2018.� “Even the 2017 cropping season, we expected bumper harvest because Benue State is one of the highest mass producers of rice in 2017 but because most of those rice farms

were not harvest, all of these is lost and even the little that were harvested were destroyed. “As l speak with you, the worst hit two LGA of Guma and Logo produces 25, 000 metric tones of rice and that is the one that were ceased and the one that is not harvested, we approximated it to be more than what has not be harvested. “Just approximate one hundred and ten Naira per kilo, you will discover that an average of minimum of 3-4 billion Naira is the value of rice that is being harvest in each of the local government

that are been affected by this crisis.

Anbua further said that most of farmers affected in the herdsmen attack took the CBN-Anchor Borrower loan, pointing out that you cannot ask somebody to pay what he did not have. “ Actually we went round and discovered that these people’ the rice they farmed, they did not harvest them, so if somebody took a loan and for the fact that he took a loan to farm, even as he farm, he could not harvest it, can you ask him to pay or kill the person.�

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

25

Heritage Bank Empowers 5, 544 Pupils on Financial Literacy As part of efforts to support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Financial Literacy Day, which marks the Global Money Week, Heritage Bank Plc empowered 5, 544 (pupils and teachers) in 11 secondary schools across the country.

The CBN’s Financial Literacy Day is a globally celebrated event to promote savings, drive Financial Inclusion, invariably gain a higher standard of life and secure the economy, which is the crux of the Bank’s financial literacy programs.

For the fifth year running, Heritage Bank has successfully commemorated the CBN Financial Literacy Day. This year, CBN directed Heritage Bank to adopt schools in Benue, Adamawa, Jigawa, Plateau, Imo, Bayelsa and Ogun States for Financial Literacy workshop. The day afforded 5, 544 participants (teachers and students) with financial education.

The workshop was premised on the Global Money Week theme: #MoneyMattersMatter. Students and teachers were taught several concepts including; the role and management of money, needs and wants, benefit of budgeting, spending and savings. Whilst, others include savings with a financial institution, the

basics of financial education and Heritage Bank savings product for young persons (Bud Account).

Addressing some of the participants, the CEO/MD of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo reiterated the importance for young Nigerians to financially and economically equipped for the development of the nation.

According to him, Nigerian youths and those around the world need to be fortified economically via financial literacy knowledge acquisition, which will foster the importance of understanding savings culture and entrepreneurship.

In line with its mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations, Sekibo said Heritage Bank developed the HB Bud Savings Account to help its customers to create wealth for the children and provide them a future of financial independence. “As a bank committed to creating, preserving and transferring wealth from one generation to the next, we have consistently maintained our position as the leading brand in financial inclusion initiatives by leveraging on CBN’s mandate to impact schools across the geopolitical zones and improve financial inclusion,� the MD reiterated.

According to him, opening a savings account for a child is one of the best ways to introduce him/her to that concept of saving at an early age.

He explained that one of the ways the bank has continued to promote savings amongst children is the introduction of “My day as a banker� which is also the Heritage Bank’s unique way of promoting financial literacy among children, which is the core of the HB Bud Savings Account, specially designed to promote savings habit among children and youths.

Meanwhile, other senior employees of the bank visited other select schools in the country as directed by the apex bank to promote financial literacy.

According to Heritage Bank, today’s children and youth should become empowered economic citizens, capable of understanding the importance of saving, and equipped with the skills to be employed and create their own livelihoods.

The bank wants young people to learn to manage their money wisely. By empowering children and youth, Heritage Bank can help them create a positive wave that will expand from themselves, to their families, to entire communities and the economy at large.

Local Tomato Farmers Lose over N10bn to Importation Jonathan Eze Disturbed by the significant losses incurred annually, Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), has lamented the lack of implementation of the policy on tomato approved by the federal government.

With its members numbering over 47 million, the association said it has lost about N10 billion during this tomato season.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised in collaboration with Nigeria Agribusiness Group in Lagos.

The Secretary-General, Sani Danladi Yadakwari, said that due to the lack of the much needed infrastructures which include packing houses, storage warehousing, functional dams and others, in rural farming communities, farmers are faced with a loss of over 40per cent of their expected production.

Yadakwari added that data from the Ministry of Agriculture has shown that out of 1.5million metric tonnes (MT) of tomato produced every year, 700,000 MT were lost.

The Secretary-General said: “Yearly, during the dry season, the tomato sector experience glut resulting from bumper harvest in all the tomato producing regions. The lack of guaranteed off-takers for this produce results in even more loses to the farmers. Our farmers have continued to remain in perpetual poverty and the poverty level will continue to rise if the necessary steps

are not taken�.

Yadakwari, commended the efforts of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Pyxera Global, GAIN PLAN and many others for their continuous effort in ensuring farmers are linked with major off takers such as Dangote Farms, Savannah Farm, Ikara Processing Plants, as these Off-takers have several Memorandum of Understanding (MoU’s) with tomatoes farmers to feed their processing plants.

He noted that in 2016, NABG, approached the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof.

Yemi Osinbanjo, to help address the challenges facing farmers in Nigeria.

And the VP said: “Federal government cannot fully enforce an outright ban on importation of tomato paste or concentrates as Nigeria is a member of the World Trade Organisation. There must be adequate proof of “dumping�. “In 2017, the federal government announced a New Tomato Policy with primary aim that include; increasing the local production of fresh tomatoes; increasing local production of tomato concentrates and reducing post-harvest losses�, he said.

The Secretary-General said: “The policy seeks full implementation of the zero per cent import duty policy for greenhouse equipment aimed at boosting production and attracting investment into the tomato sector, enforcement of the ban on importation of tomatoes prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or

acetic acid, the restriction on the importation of tomato concentrate to seaports only and not through land borders and the inclusion of tomato production and processing in the list of industries eligible for investment incentives by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). “The policy also seeks to increase the tariff on tomato paste or concentrates, not put up for retail sale: Triple concentrate and other (H.S Cod 2002.90.11.00 and 2002.90.19.00) from 5 per cent duty rate in the National List to 10 per cent duty rate with an additional Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) of 40 per cent bringing the total to 50 per cent as well as a levy of $1,500 per MT. “The association expressed regret that “since the pronouncement by the federal government, this policy has been ignored by officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance in connivance with the cabal and Nigerian custom service for interest best known to them that outweighs the survival of Millions of Farmers and Nigeria as a whole.�

It added: “Unfortunately when we approached the Nigerian Custom Service regarding the motive behind the non-implementation of the policy, we were told that between the date the policy was approved and the date they were given the gazette of the policy for the implementation, it had exceeded the stipulated time of ninety days, hence, they cannot work on it as it has expired.�

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Killing Yourself Softly WithTardiness!

Many of us live pretty hectic lives these days. Take mine today as an example. I woke up at 5:00 am, had my exercise coach come in at 6:00 am and still tried to get to the office on time. I then had client meetings outside the office, conference calls and I’m now seating down to finally write this article. This is how we spend 99% of our time; in addition to also having to catch up with mails and other family and social matters.

In view of the above, many of us struggle to be punctual. The question is, how come some people manage to arrive at meetings on time and some people never do? The short answer is, they make punctuality a priority.

Have you ever wondered how come these punctuality deficient people never seem to miss the plane? Despite the fact that they are chronically late for meetings.

I had a boss, who was very fund of overbooking appointments, which invariably meant he was late for most meetings.

Going for meetings with him was always a frazzled experience and clients were not always please nor felt respected that their time was held up because we did not arrive on time for meetings.

Many of us have various excuses for why we are late. I had two people interviewing with me this past week and they were both grossly late. In both instances, I refused to proceed with the interviews because to me punctuality is the starting point of professionalism. If you cannot be punctual especially to an interview, why would I want to give you work, my take on this is that when you start work, get into the system and relax, your lack of punctuality will be off the charts. There was no way I was going to start my journey with them on that premise.

We all need to realise that tardiness can be construed to be rude and unprofessional.

Irrespective of how much work we think we have or how terrible the traffic was, none of these excuses are good enough if we are regularly late.

Ask yourself the question, are you always late? If you are, you MUST change. Your professional reputation is at stake. Here’s why that’s so, and how you can change.

According to John Boitnoit, in his write up on, “Cultivate Punctuality To Help You Stand Out Among Your Co-Workers�, he explains the following:

Punctuality is professional Pretend for a moment that you are attending a pre-op appointment for brain surgery. After 45 minutes of waiting, your surgeon bursts into the room sweaty and frazzled. How would that make you feel? Still want him or her to operate on your brain? I didn’t think so.

The same is true when you come into a business meeting frazzled and obviously stressed.

Whether true or not, this gives the impression that you are disorderly or irresponsible. No professional wants to be viewed this way.

Tardiness is ill-mannered Many people believe being on time reflects good manners because it shows respect and consideration for the other person’s time. After all, there are many productive things they could be doing instead of waiting for you to arrive.

Take this week to practice being punctual.

Just take action with the right intentions, and you’ll be more likely to have success.

How You Do These: Remind yourself and stick to time limits Place reminders around your home and office to remind you of your punctuality goal. Set a timer for different tasks and stick to any time limit you create.

Spread out appointments Do not set your appointments so close together that you only have travel time between them. If one small thing goes awry, such as bad traffic or a prior meeting running late, you will have no breathing room, and won’t be not be on time. Keep a buffer between appointments to account for unforeseen events, as well as to decrease your overall stress.

Use technology Professionals are constantly on their computers or other gadgets, so use this to your advantage.

Set timers on calendars or phones as reminders to leave. Do not set the alarm for the time the meeting begins; set it for 15 to 30 minutes early.

Traffic apps can help if you must travel for a meeting. Be sure to give yourself adequate time to allow for traffic.

Be empathetic.

In addition to active methods of helping yourself be on time, be empathetic to others.

Understand that your actions have consequences for them, too. It takes time away from other people and disrupts their schedules to sit and wait on you. This alone should give you motivation to change.

Punctuality matters If you are consistently late for business meetings, stop. Being late shows coworkers, supervisors and potential business clients that you are undependable, not well organised or perhaps don’t even care.

Tardiness does not help your professional reputation, yet it’s an easy issue to fix when you put your mind to it. Also, it can be so common that if you are consistently punctual in your business affairs, you will stand out from your chronically late coworkers.

Tardiness does not help your professional reputation, yet it’s an easy issue to ďŹ x when you put your mind to it. Also, it can be so common that if you are consistently punctual in your business affairs, you will stand out from your chronically late coworkers

Cut items from your to-do list.

Not everything you’d like to get done can or should get done today. Stop trying to do so much. Some items will just have to wait until later. Be honest when deciding what needs to be accomplished, and what is just taking up time that could be better spent getting to the next, important appointment.

So, begin with just one week of trying these steps and truly concentrating on being punctual.

Hopefully, this will turn into a habit and become your normal way for accomplishing tasks and meeting people. Colleagues and friends will appreciate the change, and you will also come across as more professional and caring. Beat the tardiness epidemic, and gain one leg up on the competition.

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

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

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

26

Dangote Cement Reaps Benefits of Expansion Goddy Egene writes that while its production output dropped in Nigeria, Dangote Cement still performed remarkable in 2017 due to the contributions from its subsidiaries in other African countries

Dangote Cemen Complex

The audited results for the year ended December 31, 2017 released last week by Dangote Cement Plc showed that its decision to expand to other African countries have started to yield more fruits. The company, which is the most capitalised on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has continued to invest beyond the shores of Nigeria in its bid to remain a leading cement producer on the continent.

In 2016 when foreign exchange (forex) was a challenge for many manufacturing companies, Dangote Cement Plc succeeded due to its subsidiaries in other countries.

The Chairman of Dangote Cement, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said last year that its Pan-African diversification programme has provided the essential foreign currency and streams of cash to operate the company despite the challenges that characterised 2016. “Our Pan-African diversification has provided cash streams from countries such as Senegal, Cameroon and Zambia, which have provided us with essential foreign currency as foreign exchange controls made it difficult for us to obtain dollars for operations. Furthermore, we were able to borrow money in these countries’ local currencies, thus reducing our exposure to foreign currency shortages in Nigeria. In addition, we began to generate foreign currency sales from exports of cement from Nigeria to Ghana,� Dangote had said.

Again, the cement firm enjoyed another benefit of the expansion last year going by the financial results for 2017. While volume of sales declined in Nigeria, growth in other African countries grew and made the company to close 2017 with better performance.

The Full Financial Results Dangote Cement reported revenue of N805.6 billion in 2017, up from N615.1 billion in 2016. A breakdown of the performance indicated that while sales from the three plants in Nigeria contributed N552.36 billion to the group’s revenue, the balance of N258.44 billion was accounted for by plants in other African countries. Revenue attributable to Nigeria grew by 29.6 percent while that from Pan-African operations rose by 32.5percent.

Gross profit rose from N291.3 billion in 2016 to N454.3 billion in 2017. Operations expenses rose from N119.3 billion to N155.3 billion, while finance cost soared from N1.6 billion to N16 billion in 2017.

However, profit before tax rose by 60.1 per

cent from N180.9 billion to N298.6 billion, while profit after tax grew by43 per cent to N204.2 billion, from N142.9 billion in 2016. The board has recommended a dividend of N10.50 per share, which translate to N178.9 billion as against a dividend of N8.70 kobo per share that was paid the previous year.

Though group sales volumes were lower by seven percent due to depressed Nigerian market, Pan-African sales volumes went up by 8.4 percent to 9.4Mt with strong volume increases in Senegal, Ethiopia and Cameroon and new capacities of 1.5Mta in Congo, 0.5Mta in Sierra Leone.

Company Explains Performance Speaking on the results, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Joseph Makoju, said: “Dangote Cement turned in a record year with revenues up 31.0 percent to N805.6 billion and EBITDA up by 50.9 percent to N388.1 billion. Although Nigerian volumes were lower in 2017, our Pan-African operations increased volumes by 8.4 per cent and now make up 42 per cent of the Group’s total cement sales, demonstrating the robust diversification of our business. “We expanded our footprint from eight countries to ten with the opening of new facilities in the Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, while our operations in Cameroon, Senegal and Ethiopia achieved strong sales growth during the year. With total sales volumes of nearly 22 million tonnes, we are by far the leading manufacturer of cement in Sub-Saharan Africa.�

Analysts Assessments Commenting on the results, analysts at FBN Quest said the dividend is in line with their forecast of N10.10. “Management has proposed a dividend of N10.35 per share, which is up 24 per cent and broadly in line with our and consensus dividend per share (DPS) forecasts of N10.10 and N10.70 respectively. The DPS imply a yield and pay-out ratio of 3.9 per cent and 90.4 per cent respectively,� they said.

According to them, although unit volumes for Nigeria are still under some pressure, it appears that demand is starting to pick up slowly.

Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa attributed the lower sales volume in Nigeria to weak economic growth and feedback effect of price hikes, while the traction in Pan-African volume growth reflects stronger sales in Cameroon,

Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia as well as new volumes from recently commissioned operations in Congo and Sierra Leone in fourth quarter(Q4) of 2017. “The Group, however, continues to face challenges in Ghana and South Africa. The impact of lower Group volume on revenue was muted due to a series of price actions taken in Nigeria (price per tonne up 54.1per cent ) as well as key Pan-African markets such as Ghana and South Africa. Management guided in the conference call held last week that sales are gradually strengthening in Nigeria after a slow January and expect a single digit volume growth in FY:2018 supported by an improving economy and anticipated cautious cement price increase. Furthermore, two export terminals are being constructed in Nigeria (Apapa and Onne) to export clinker and cement to regional markets. We also expect Pan-Africa sales to increase due to ramp up in capacity utilisation of newly commissioned plants (Congo and Sierra Leone) as well as reopening of production lines in Tanzania which was temporarily mothballed due to high energy cost,� they said.

EfďŹ cient Fuel Mix in Nigeria Drives Margin Group cost of sales ratio improved from 52.6 per cent in 2016 to 43.6 per cent, driven by increased utilisation of less expensive kiln fuel mix in Nigeria comprising mainly of Gas (60 per cent in 2017 vs. 43 per cent in 2016) and Coal (38 per cent in 2017 vs. 34.5 per cent in 2016) instead of the more expensive LPFO (1.5 per cent in 2017 vs. 22.5 per cent in 2016). “This drove the recovery in Nigerian EBITDA margin in the period (up 8.5ppt to 65.3 per cent) from the relatively low base of 2016 when margin was pressured by gas supply constraint and increased LPFO usage. Pan-Africa EBITDA margin also improved marginally by 1.2points to 14.8 per cent due to return to profitability of South African operation while Cameroon, Ethiopia, Senegal and Zambia also broke-even at EBITDA level. Consequently, Group EBITDA margin printed at 48.2 per cent from 41.8 per cent,â€? they said.

Afrinvest said Dangote Cement’s tax treatment has come under increased focus recently, often overshadowing otherwise solid operating performance.

According to them, pioneer applications

made to the Nigerian Investment Promotion (NIPC) Council for a tw-year tax-relief extension on Obajana Line 2 (2016 – 2017) and Ibese Lines 1 & 2 (2016 – 2017) as well as original three-year application for Obajana Line 4 and Ibese 3 & 4 (2015 – 2017) are yet to granted by the agency. “Whilst management stated it is confident of getting necessary approvals, the group nonetheless prudently took a tax provision (N28.1billion in 2015, N3.8 billion in 2016 and N62.2billion in 2017) on the production lines on the three production lines it is seeking original 3-year tax relief for (Obajana Line 4 and Ibese 3 & 4). Consequently, 2015 and 2016 accounts were restated while effective tax rate rose to 29.5 per cent in 2017. The group, however, took tax credit associated with pioneer tax relief for the two-year extension on Ibese Lines 1 &2 and Obajana Line 2. Management, however, stated it is confident of getting approval for all the pending applications having complied with all requirements; implying the provisions taken will be reversed subsequent to getting approvals,� they said.

Outlook and Valuation Afrinvest forecast group sales volume to rise by 7.9 per cent from a low base on the back of recovering output in Nigeria and capacity ramp up in key Pan-Africa markets (Congo, Sierra Leone and Tanzania).

According to them, against flattish near term price outlook for Nigeria, they expect revenue to grow by a modest 11.8 per cent in 2018 and a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4 per cent to 2022. “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) outlook remains broadly positive due to increased usage of locally produced coal in Nigeria (coal import stopped in H1:2017 according to management) and investment in gas/coal fired plant in Tanzania set to on-stream in Q2:2018; hence, we forecast Group EBITDA to rise 12.7 per cent to N437.6 billion. We are inclined to give management benefit on doubt on tax guidance in 2018 given advanced stage of fruitful negotiations with government. Thus, we estimate 2018 PAT at N300.7 billion, translating into a normalised PAT growth (adjusted for reversal of tax provisions) of 12.9 per cent. We value Dangote Cement using a blend of Discounted Cash Flow and Relative Valuation models; having revised estimates, we raise our 12-month target price from N264.00 to N269.90. Due to the limited upside potential, we maintain a “Hold� rating on the stock.

27

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Fixing Nigeria’s Traumatised Economy The pathway to fixing the Nigerian economy is to invest in human capital and create a conducive environment for the private sector to grow and create jobs, writes Obinna Chima With crude oil production capacity of about 2.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria ranks as Africa’s largest producer of oil and the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. The country is also the largest economy in Africa.

However, regardless of its abundant resources, the country continues to face a myriad of problems.

Nigeria has also found it difficult to convert its unique advantages into economic and social benefits for majority of her citizens.

In fact, the country has been described as a prime example of resource curse, a situation where wealth from naturalresources leads to poor economic growth and development and an increased likelihood for civil and ethnic tension.

Even though almost 90 per cent of Nigeria’s earnings are tied to oil, a recent report by the World Poverty Clock had revealed that Nigeria has overtaken India as the poverty capital of the world. That is, the country has the greatest number of persons who live in extreme poverty, which is to say those that live on less than the equivalent $1.90 (N600) per day.

According to the African Development Bank, 152million Nigerians, in an overall population of about 190 million, meet the criteria of absolute poverty.

In addition, youth unemployment in the country is close to 80 percent, which has manifested in the increased level of ethnic and religious unrest in the country.

More worrisome is the fact that shortage of power supply in the country continues to make efficient business operations in the country extremely difficult, thereby stiffling economic growth. Although power generation capacity from the grid has peaked at about 7,000 megawatts (MW), distribution capacity is still at about 5,000MW. The federal governmentcurrently estimates national energy demand at 22,230 MW. Just like the power sector, the situation in other sectors such as education, health, sports are not different.

This plethora of challenges have been identified as factors that have over the years hindered the country from achieving inclusive growth and experts have stressed that Nigeria can only achieve prosperity when government fashion out appropriate policies to address them.

Knock for ERGP As part of efforts to address the issues highlighted, the federal government had last year developed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). It is a Medium-Term Plan for 2017 – 2020 that was expected to help restore economic growth and put the economy on the path of sustainable growth. The ERGP builds on existing sectoral strategies and plans such as the National Industrial Revolution Plan, and the Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan. It is also consistent with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as, according to the government, it addresses SDGs three dimensions of economic, social and environmental sustainability issues.

In fact, the main priority of the economic recovery plan is to stabilise the macroeconomic environment with low inflation, stable exchange rates and sustainable fiscal and external balances.

This it expects to achieve by aligning monetary, trade and fiscal policies in a coherent manner and effective coordination.

But reviewing the ERGP, the Chairman, Bill and Melinda Foundation, Bill Gates, recently criticised the government’s economic blueprint, describing it as a document which identifies investment in the people but fails to reflect it in its implementation. Gates described Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places in the world for child birth.

He also identified Nigeria as the fourth worst country in maternal mortality rate in the world, saying the largest black population was only better than Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad. Gates described Nigeria’s fiscal system as one that was built on low equilibrium and hence, produces low levels of service, moreso

Buhari

as people pay low levels of tax, adding that his foundation has its biggest office in Africa in Nigeria with over $1.6 billion invested in the country so far.

Noting that Nigeria has a veritable economic potential, Gates said it was up to the country to maximise such potential by investing in its people whom he described as its greatest resource.

He also admonished the government to invest in healthcare, education and human capital, emphasing that investment in infrastructure on a long-term basis must go hand in hand with investment in people, promising to assist Nigeria in attaining higher equilibrium anchored on transparency through investment in the people. “The most important choice you can make is to maximise your greatest resource, the Nigerian people. Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive. “If you invest in their health, education and opportunities-the ‘human capital’ we are talking about today-then they will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity. If you don’t, however, then it is very important to recognise that there will be a sharp limit on how much the country can grow. “Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad.

One in three Nigerian children is chronically malnourished. “I urge you to apply this thinking to all your investments in your people. The Nigerian Government Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies ‘investing in our people’ as one of three ‘strategic objectives.’ But the ‘execution priorities’ don’t fully reflect people’s needs, prioritising physical capital over human capital. “To anchor the economy over the long term, investments in infrastructure and competitiveness must go hand in hand with investments in people. People without roads, ports, and factories can’t flourish. And roads, ports and factories without skilled workers to build and manage them can’t sustain an economy. “Right now, Nigeria’s fiscal situation is at what you might call a low equilibrium. In return for low levels of service, people pay low levels of tax. We hope to help you reach a higher equilibrium rooted in effective and transparent investments in people. This equilibrium would trigger a virtuous cycle,� Gates said.

On his part, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote challenged the federal government to take the lead in investment in health, education, infrastructure and human capital

Osinbajo

development, pointing out that it is only when this is done that the country will be able to raise a crop of committed Nigerians. “For Nigeria to truly compete globally, we must prioritise investments in the health, education and opportunity of our people alongside other critical areas like infrastructure. Together, these are the inputs that will make Nigeria richer. “You my friends in government must lead.

When you do, you will have committed Nigerians like myself joining in the effort. In Nigeria, we have largely achieved growth by extracting natural resources and are now building on that through our physical infrastructure. But we must also remember that it is our young people that will drive our future success. “By 2050, Nigeria is projected to have the world’s third largest population. For this next generation to thrive as adults and drive economic progress, we need to invest in their health and wellbeing, and in their ability to learn and apply new skills in an ever-changing global economy. “That, at its core, is what we mean by ‘human capital’ – healthy and productive and well educated young people – who are then enabled to succeed, lift up themselves and their families and contribute to society through their own ingenuity,â€? he said. But Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the federal government was expanding the frontiers of its investment in health, education, adding that for government effort to yield desired results, it must be driven by healthy and educated people. “And because this is the 21st century, we know that it is also important to ensure that our young people are being prepared for the economies of the future, not the past. This means that STEM education is critical, and that technology must lie at the heart of every one of our educational offerings‌,â€? he said.

Path to Progress To a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Nigeria needs a worldview that can help it realise its potential.

According to Moghalu, “As in individuals, so it is for countries. Those that have well developed worldview, with global strategic intent in a competitive world, tend to perform better than those that don’t.�

He attributed Nigeria’s economic poor performance to lack of this essential worldview, especially lack of economic philosophy. “Nigeria has failed to achieve high-quality economic growth because the country’s economy is managed mostly on an ad-hoc, reactive basis.

It is a “survival� economy in which most governments that held political power have had no real economic vision or a strategy to execute such a vision successfully,� Moghalu submitted.

He added that though Nigeria has a national policy on science, technology and innovation, this has practically no impact on Nigeria’s economy, arguing that this is because there is no policy support for moving the products of innovation into the marketplace through mass production and marketing distribution, and because the incentives for innovation are not yet strong enough in intellectual property law and regulation.

He disclosed that patents and other kinds of intellectual property are the engine drivers of knowledge economy. “The absence of a link between science, commercialised indigenous innovation, and economic and business activity is a fundamental obstacle between Nigeria and a quantum leap to prosperity. This gap is all the more tragic because science and technology is one area in which African countries such as Nigeria can quickly develop global competitive advantage over the Western world and even Asia.�

He further revealed that Nigeria’s economy lacks complexity in the extreme, which is why the country remains the greatest importer of petrol, while it exports crude oil.

Furthermore, Moghalu advocated that Nigeria should have an established worldview; establishment and consistent application of clear economic philosophy of entrepreneurial capitalism in the context of a developmental state, as the guiding framework for the Nigerian economy; constitutional repeal of the Land Use Act that traps wealth of Nigerian citizens in the hands of government choking grip of state bureaucracy; reforming the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation into a partially privatised company; deregulating the downstream petroleum sector; and avoid further foreign loans which has put us back into a debt trap that will mortgage the future generations of Nigeria.

Clearly, the country needs good governance, increased investments in human capital as well as policies that would incentivise the private sector so as to enhance job creation.

In addition, Nigeria will not be able to sustain her current levels of population, which has been estimated at about three per cent, and economic growth without enhancing its infrastructure.

Investing in infrastructure will drive economic growth, provide jobs, and deliver vital services to the country and majority of its citizens.

28

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Intels Remakes Nigerian Women Comfort Oseghale highlights how Intels Nigeria Limited is empowering Nigerian women through its empowerment programme

A trainee at the INTELS’ women empowerment training centre

The third of seven children, 19-year-old Glory Aberepikima has just been accepted into the Women Empowerment Programme Scheme Synergy at Onne, Rivers State. A native of Okirika, Glory has been unable to further her education since the completion of her West African Senior School Certificate Examination. Since her father’s death, the family has barely sustained itself with the meagre earnings from her mother’s petty trading. However, things began to change for the family when WEPSS was introduced into their lives. This is because Glory’s two older sisters are also beneficiaries of WEPSS. An initiative of INTELS Nigeria Limited, WEPSS began in 2013, with the vision of empowering 5,000 community women over a 20-year period through training in fashion design and tailoring.

Aberepikima said: “My eldest sister first enrolled for the programme in 2016. She is the only university graduate in the family but she was unable to get a job after graduation. Luckily for her, she did so well after the completion of the training programme, that she was given a sewing machine. With that, she has rented a shop and is now taking care of herself. “The following year, my second eldest sister also enrolled for the programme and was shortlisted.

She too completed it successfully but did not win a sewing machine. With the skill she has acquired though, she is working for another tailor and hopes to further her education with her earnings. I am the third person in my family to undergo this training and it means a lot to me that I scaled through the selection process.�

Aberepikima is one of the 125 young women out of 700 applicants who were chosen for this training. Many like Aberepikima come from similar backgrounds; financially handicapped, yet with big dreams hoping for a stroke of luck that would change their fortunes.

One can imagine Aberepikima’s happiness when she got the call that she had been shortlisted for the written test. She said, “When I saw the number of persons who came to write the test, I was worried. My confidence grew though when I was called back for the interview. My mothers and sisters really encouraged me to put in my best. My mother in particular was really excited for me. I not only want to acquire the tailoring skill; I also want to win a sewing machine. It is very important to me that I do; if I can be self-employed, then perhaps I can make enough money with the skill I have learned

and return to school.�

Imenifa Pepple is another young lady who found herself at home unable to proceed further than her secondary school education. With a retiree father and petty trader mother, Pepple had to start fending for herself to support her family. In the one year she spent at home, she tried teaching and poultry farming. Unfortunately for her, most of the savings she invested into poultry farming was lost after the chicken were hit with a disease. So when she got the news about WEPSS training, Pepple jumped at the chance. After all she was at home, doing nothing.

She said, “I completed my secondary school education over a year ago. I could not go any further because the funds were simply not there. Instead of sitting idly at home, I worked at some jobs and tried several businesses. When I discovered teaching wasn’t for me, I went into poultry farming. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out well. Last month, a friend suggested I go for WEPSS training and I jumped at the opportunity. “I got a call from a WEPSS staff and later received a text invitation for the test. On the day of the test, we all gathered at the gate, before being called into the canteen batch by batch for the test.

We were then told we would get feedback for the next stage. I went back home that day. The following day I was informed that I had passed the test. I felt lucky to be called for the second test because some ladies were unsuccessful. After scaling through that, we were told we would be called upon for a one on one interview. For the interview we met with two Directors of the centre. One director would interview one girl.

After a few weeks of waiting, I was finally called to come for the training. That I was among the selected candidates felt like an honour. “Right now, I just want to go through the training before I make up my mind about my career path. Although I would still like to further my education, I might switch over to tailoring and fashion design if the training goes well.

What is uppermost in my mind is acquiring a skill that would be useful to me in the long run.�

It was Pepple’s and Aberepikima’s first day at the WEPSS Centre and like the other successful applicants, they were excited. Being the first day, the girls would go through an orientation process which would entail filling personal data and bank information, taking blood pressure tests, getting their WEPSS identity card done, selection

of lockers, introduction to the trainers and sewing machines, getting their sewing aprons and name tags. Being that an arduous process, the blood pressure test ensures that trainees are healthy and fit for the training. Trainees found to be afflicted with high blood pressure are informed and then monitored by WEPSS staff just to make sure they take good care of their health.

Held once every six months, the selection process begins with a written test, after which an oral interview is conducted. Applicants who successfully scale through the oral interview are then penciled down for the training. It is a competitive process because so many applicants vie for a few slots. The possibility of winning an electric industrial sewing machine also makes the training more attractive and sought after.

However, Head of the Centre, Abhina Ajamni, is quick to caution the girls not to direct their focus on the sewing machine prize. She stresses that acquiring the skill is much more important. “It is so competitive that you have women who are skilled tailors actually applying for this training because they want to win a sewing machine. That is why there is a declaration form where you must state if you have had prior tailoring experience because an experienced tailor can certainly not be assessed with the same standard used for a learner. Anyone who declares false information in the form is in danger of losing her spot. “We always make it clear to them at the start of the training that not everyone can win a sewing machine. It is only for the top 10 or 15 best girls and they must score over 80 per cent to qualify for the prize. To also make learning more conducive, bank accounts are opened for reach trainee and a stipend paid into it monthly. This stipend takes care of their feeding during the training. The filling of the bank details is the most problematic session of the first day; most have WASCCE as their highest qualification,�

Ajamni said.

Other information required to be declared by the trainees include, enrollment into another academic or training programmes and if they are pregnant or not. Ajamni explains that declaring your enrolment in other academic pursuits will enable the center determine if trainees are able to commit themselves to the classes for the fourmonth duration of the training. To ensure trainees were not motivated by the monthly stipend to apply for the programme, they were informed

that missing five classes would disqualify them from going any further.

Ajamni added that there had been cases in the past where some pregnant women enrolled for the training and failed to disclose their condition.

She said, “In the event that there is a complication with the pregnancy, some of these women have blamed it on the WEPSS. To avoid all that, we always encourage them to disclose pregnancy.

Once we are aware of pregnant trainees, they are moved from the production to the support department. It is better to be safe than sorry because the sewing machine produces vibrations when in use. We cannot intentionally endanger a baby’s life.�

Luckily for these girls some of whom come from as far as Port Harcourt to undergo this training, the WEPSS Centre provided two 66-seater buses to assist with the daily commute to Onne. This also ensures that they are seated and ready for classes which begin by 8.30am.

WEPSS Head of Human Resources and Administration, Dorcas Ekong, said, “Two buses leave every day from the WEPSS centre to pick the girls. One is stationed at Onne junction for those who live at Port Harcourt while another is stationed at Ogubolo. The Port Harcourt bus usually takes off at 6.30am, while the Ogubolo bus takes off at 6.45am for the WEPSS centre. “By the time the girls get here, it is usually between 7.30am and 7.50am Classes start at 8.30am so they use the extra time to settle down and get their aprons on.�

The classes continue uninterrupted till 12pm when they break for one hour and then resume at 1pm. In between lectures, the trainees are allowed a five-minute stretching exercise and this usually at 10am and 3pm. Classes close for the day at 4pm after which the trainees are allowed a feedback session with the project manager. “The areas of concern are not limited to their lectures alone. The trainees are encouraged to talk about problems they may have even with their classmates, their trainers and the administration staff. The length of the feedback session is dependent on the trainees; there is no fixed time for the feedback session but it has to be concluded by 5pm. This is because the bus would leave the Centre at time to take the girls back to the agreed destinations from which they were picked,� Ekong added.

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

29

$3 %XV 6WRS 0XVKLQ

$FPH 5RDG 2JED ,NHMD

$JHJH 0RWRU :D\ 0XVKLQ

&RVWDLQ 5RDG

*RYHUQRUÅ‘V 5RDG $ODXVD ,NHMD

,OXSHMX %\SDVV 0XVKLQ

.RIR $ED\RPL 5RXQGDERXW $SDSD

/87+ -XQFWLRQ 0XVKLQ 0DVKD 5RDG 6XUXOHUH

/87+ %XV 6WRS 0XVKLQ

0XVKLQ %XV 6WRS

0XVKLQ 5RDG

5DQGOH 5RDG $SDSD

:(03&2 5RDG $JLGLQJEL ,NHMD

:KDOI 5RDG $SDSD

7R\LQ 5RXQGDERXW

:H ZLOO &RQWLQXH WR :RUN 7RZDUGV D &OHDQHU /DJRV IRU $OO 9LVLW ZZZ FOHDQHUODJRV FRP IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ _ )ROORZ XV RQ #FOHDQHUODJRV _ 3OHDVH UHSRUW LOOHJDO GXPSLQJ WR WKH &OHDQHU /DJRV KHOSOLQH &/($1(5

30

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Protecting Banking Consumers Arize Nwobu The financial system is the axle on which the wheel of economy revolves, of which the banking industry is a key component, and of prime importance especially in developing countries, for funds channelisation for entrepreneurship and job creation, thus the need to ensure a sound and high ethical standard in the industry. Accordingly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not sparring effort to protect banking consumers and ensure best practices towards improving the value perception and fortifying public confidence in the banking industry to enhance financial inclusion for the overall benefit of the economy.

Consumer protection and enlightenment is a major aspect of CBN’s mandate to promote a sound financial system and advocate good banking habits that promote efficiency, sincerity and transparency between banks and consumers in the delivery of financial services. The apex bank uphold that, ‘’It is only when the welfare of consumers is given proper attention that we can restore investor confidence and also promote a strong and stable economy’’.

Globally, consumer protection is a main-stream topic on the front burner of many prominent organizations. The World Bank has been consistent on the topical issue and had in the past collaborated with the Organization for Economic Cooperation(OECD) and supported a conference on ‘’Empowering Consumers of Financial Services through Improved Financial Literacy and Effective Consumer Protection Systems’’, organized under Russia’s G-20 Presidency.

The parley focused on financial education and protection strategies, measuring financial literacy/ capability and evaluating financial education programme, promoting young people’s financial competencies and developing innovative communication channels; and global initiatives and trends in financial consumer protection policy and regulation.

Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors had also met in Moscow in 2013 to deliberate on effective approaches and priority principles of promoting financial consumer protection, and identified responsible business conduct as an arrowhead principle as it ensures that banks act honestly and professionally with due skill, care and diligence, incorporating best interest, assessing consumer needs, staff training, remuneration, remuneration structure, complaints handling and redress.

Experts believe that consumer protection works best when it is supported by financial inclusion and finance education. And, in her capacity as UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), Her Majesty, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands who visited CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele late last year, had emphasised at a different forum that financial education must go hand in hand

CBN Governor, Godwin EmeďŹ ele

with the growth of inclusive financial system.

In line with global best practices, CBN released a Consumer Protection Framework (CPF) in 2016.

The Framework was guided by the G-20 High Level Principles, the World Bank Good Practices and the Four Pillars of Consumer Protection. It also took cognizance of the peculiarities of the Nigerian financial services industry. According to CBN, ‘’the G-20 principles were developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and other international organisations in response to the request by the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, to develop principles to guide consumer protection in the field of financial service.’’ The objectives of the CPF are , ‘’to guarantee high standards for efficient customer service delivery, market discipline and ensure that consumers are treated fairly by financial institutions regulated by the CBN’’. And, ‘’it shall form the bedrock for the establishment of a virile consumer protection regime in the industry, thereby enhancing financial inclusion and ultimately a stable financial system’’.

The CPF encompasses legal, regulatory and supervisory structures, responsible business conduct, disclosure and transparency and consumer financial education. Other components include fair treatment,

protection of consumer assets and privacy, complaints handling and redress, competition, enforcements and consumer rights and responsibilities.

With the CPF, the era of corporate rascality or inappropriate banking practices perpetuated by some banks may have come to an end going by the provisions to sanction banks and other financial institutions that violates the framework.

Some of the stipulated sanctions include, refund to customers in line with relevant regulations issued by CBN, letter of apology, suspension/ withdrawal of Foreign exchange dealership licence, publication of infractions and sanctions and supervision/removal of Board/ Management Staff/ Employee. Others are; revocation of banking licence, monetary penalties and others deemed appropriate.

The Consumer Protection Department of CBN has embarked on several consumer enlightenment campaigns using different communication platforms including seminars, workshops TV appearances and radio phone in programmes to create awareness among consumers, who in turn, have been responsive. Reportedly, within 21 months of its establishment, the Department received not less than 3,000 complaints against banks and other financial institutions in the process of settling disputes.

Also, no less than 5,000 mails, telephone calls and email correspondences were exchanged between CBN, complainants and financial institutions. In resolving problems, CBN mandated banks to act as the first point of complaint for aggrieved customers and also resolve such complaints within 14 days of receipt. Complaints not resolved within the time frame were to be forwarded to the apex bank. About N9billion was refunded as excess charges deducted from customers’ accounts in August 2013.

In 2016, 2,656 complaints were lodged by the public which bordered on Automated Electronic Payment related issues, excess charges, dishonoured cheques, fraudulent withdrawals and deposit irregularities. A total of N21.27 billion was recovered, being excess charges illegally deducted from customers accounts. Also, ÂŁ19,263.62 and $3.35million were recovered and refunded.

The leakages have been attributed to the lack of customer sophistication due to a prevalence of financial illiteracy and customers’ ignorance of their rights and obligations in their relationship with banks.

- Arize Nwobu, Chartered Stockbroker and Business Journalist, wrote via arizenwobu@ yahoo.com Tel: 08033021230

ntel to Launch National Roaming Plan Next Month Emma Okonji In order to expand its ongoing drive for subscriber acquisition and brand visibility, ntel, the fifth entrant into the Nigerian GSM space, which acquired NITEL and MTel, has said it will launch its national roaming plan across the country by April this year.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ntel, Mr. Ernest Debo Akinlola who made the disclosure at the weekend in Lagos, during a breakfast meeting organised by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’s Association (NITRA), said

ntel has successfully concluded the proof of concept, which is the trial testing of its national roaming plan with the 9mobile network, and witnessed by the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Having successfully carried out the trial testing of our national roaming plan, the NCC has given approval for ntel to carry out trial launch with MTN and as soon as that is done, we hope to extend it to other GSM networks in the country, Akinlola said.

In technical parlance, national

roaming is the ability for a network operator to provide a platform where its customers could automatically make and receive telephone calls, send and receive data, or access other services while travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a network of another operator. “We are looking at launching our national roaming plan in April this year, which will give us the opportunity to have services everywhere and our customers could access our services from any part of the country where there is telecoms

presence,� Akinlola told journalists at the breakfast meeting.

Explaining the level of development it has reached with its national roaming plan, Akinlola said: “We have reached advanced stage with 9mobile in our national roaming plan, we have carried out a proof of concept, which is a trial test, and which the NCC witnessed and it was very successful. Mobile terminating calls and SMS were successfully delivered in the trial test that we carried out.

We are just finalising the pricing in terms of national terminating call rates.�

Speaking on the expected value that the roaming plan will bring to the ntel brand, he said it would give the ntel brand, the opportunity to rollout and acquire more customers across the country. We just got approval from NCC to do a trial launch with MTN, and we will do same with other networks as soon as NCC gives us the approval to do so, he added.

Head of Marketing at ntel, Mr. Jide Mafolabomi said the telecoms company currently has presence in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with 72 per cent coverage of the entire Lagos and

60 per cent coverage in Port Harcourt, and that ntel has plans to be in 18 states of the federation in the next one year.

He also said ntel would be launching its recharge card denominations by next week across all its coverage areas.

We have plans to go beyond virtual airtime, to recharge cards, through which everybody will have access to ntel. “We are introducing recharge cards next week and we are beginning with N500 recharge card and above, but with time, our dealers can print smaller denominations through ePIN,� Mafolabomi said.

FG to Boost Fish, Aquaculture Production Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government is poised to change the narrative of under development in aquaculture in the country by increasing the level of fish production to meet public need for protein and nutrients lacking from its non-consumption.

Minister of State for Agricul-

ture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri expressed stated this when he received in audience a four-man delegation of World Fish officials, led by the Country Representative Director Dr. Harrison Chris Karisa.

Lokpobiri stated that there is an urgent need for Nigeria to maximise the limited time

in order to realise and achieve World Fish initiative of security in fish production.

The minister said Nigeria’s investment in Agriculture increased to N100 billion in 2017 from N15 billion in 2015 and expressed optimism that sustainable fish production will also boost national revenue as well as serve as remedy

for malnutrition and protein deficiency intake in Nigeria.

He assured the delegation that the country will partner the World Fish which is a highly reputable and respected organisation as expert in the production of Tilapia which is more affordable for the poor masses. Earlier, one of the delegates, Professor Yusuf

Abubakar expressed the desire of his organisation to establish a Nigerian country office with more emphasis on the boosting of Tilapia fish industry in Nigeria, saying the country has a lesson to learn from Egypt, which today is the world third largest producer of Tilapia fish.

Similarly, Abubakar said the Fish Research Organisation

would also build capacities of the Research Institutes which would in turn enhance the capacity of small holder farmers for a new programme in Tilapia fish production.

He stated that the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation is ready to fund the proposed World Fish Centre Nigeria fishing programme.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

31

Scaling-Up Solar Energy Deployment: Nigerian Govt Must Lead Chiagozie Udeh and Oseloka H. Obaze National development, economic growth, infrastructure, industrialisation and manufacturing, share a common denominator; adequate and constant power supply. Such regularity in power supply guarantees that industries that create employment and wealth, run on a twenty-four hour cycle. Despite years of lip service to building up power supply in Nigeria, the capacity and adequacy of electricity remains largely unchanged. Presently, Nigeria with a population of over 180 million people has a total installed capacity for electricity of 12,522MW with her peak generation output at 5,074MW. Comparatively, South Africa with a population of 52.4 million has a total installed capacity of 45,000MW and peak generation of 35,819MW. When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in May 2015, he prioritised solving the electricity conundrum in Nigeria. Recently, the federal government tweeted, ‘’Generated power has gone up to 7,000MW in 2017 from 3,000MW in May 2015; transmission capacity at 6,900MW in 2017 from about 5,000MW in May 2015; peak distribution now averaging 5,000MW in 2017 from 2,690MW in 2015�. Encouraging as these figures are, they can hardly be confirmed by the realities experienced in Nigerian industries, homes and streets.

To Nigerians, there have been no drastic changes in electricity generation and distribution in the past three years.

Nonetheless, Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has been trumpeting at every opportunity that Nigeria now generates more than its distributive capacity; seemingly oblivious of the dissonance in policy and implementation which he seeks to highlights.

As Fashola opined recently, “If we can produce 7,000 megawatts and we can only distribute about 5,000 megawatts; the problem has changed from lack of power to locating where the need is.� Generating power absent distributive capacity is equal to inability to generate.

Ironically, most Nigerians don’t understand or care about the dialectics of power supply; all they need is power twenty-four-seven. Nigerians want affordable electricity on demand. Just like their mobile phones - which they recharge when they want- Nigerians want an electricity solution where they will be in control.

Currently, the electricity sector operates on a “rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul� basis, where consumers lucky to have the prepaid meters enjoy the indirect subsidy by consumers who are unlucky not to have their meters installed. Some consumers who paid for meters have been waitlisted for over five years and are in the interim paying almost 100 percent more than those boasting of the prepaid meters. What is perhaps more frustrating, is that the assessed bills are inversely proportional to actual electricity consumed. This mode of electricity demand and supply is no longer sustainable in Nigeria. At a time the rest of the world is exploring alternative sustainable energy, Nigeria can’t afford to look away. Enter solar energy.

Nigeria retains great potentialities to switch to 100 percent clean energy with solar power. Recent scientific analysis and recorded weather readings indicate that the scorching intensity of the sun in parts of Northern Nigeria result in solar irradiation at 7.0Kw.m2/day; while readings in the coastal areas, hovers around an average of 3.5 kw.m2/day. Accordingly, as reported by Financial Nigeria International, “analysts have projected that Nigeria could generate 600,000MW by deploying Solar PV panels from just 1% of Nigeria’s land mass.�

Such generative capacity for a country that requires only about 50,000 MW to be adequately electrified is simply astonishing. What is far much astounding is why Nigerian policymakers seem averse to

Fashola

exploring the nation’s solar power potentials. Two causative factors bedeviling solar energy deployment are readily identifiable; government’s lack of willingness to invest in solar power and Nigeria’s officialdom treating the funding of solar power exploration as though it is the exclusive preserve of international development partners.

Acceptably, Nigeria’s federal government cannot fund diversification to solar energy alone. However, it must exhibit the willingness and be seen as effectively proactive in deploying its limited resources in this area.

There is also dissonance in related policy debate, as evidenced by the Nigerian Senate’s attitude and its consequent rejection of the N10bn solar proposal for rural electrification of nine federal Universities and 37 Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria. The

Ironically, most Nigerians don’t understand or care about the dialectics of power supply; all they need is power twentyfour-seven. Nigerians want affordable electricity on demand.

Just like their mobile phones - which they recharge when they want- Nigerians want an electricity solution where they will be in control

query by Senator Buka Mustapher, the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, during the Ministry of Power’s 2018 defense of its budget as to “Who is paying for the installations when the power sector had been privatized?� is indicative of the prevailing lack of requisite knowledge and proper briefing on the matter. The notion also exist that the lawmakers are simply protecting vested interests in the power sector.

Policy Incentives It can be readily concluded that besides a dearth of favourable policies on solar deployment in Nigeria, the prevailing inertia derives also from the lack of implementation of extant policies. The National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy 2015 (NREEEP), beyond setting the target of achieving 16% renewable energy consumption for Nigeria by year 2030, provides some decent incentives for the sector, including; Free Custom Duties for two (2) years on the importation of renewable energy equipment; allows project developers to obtain soft loans from the Renewable Electricity Fund (REF); tax incentives/holidays to manufacturers of renewable energy products; and assist in allocation of land to manufacturers. These are great policies meant to incentivize solar energy deployment in Nigeria. The NREEEP If effectively deployed, would also assist Nigeria to achieve Goal 7 (Clean Energy) of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Government Responsibility What must the government do?

Government must change its attitude and approach to the solar energy sector. It must

take the lead and see solar energy as a long-term strategic bankable option. Government should rethink Nigeria’s engagement with its international development partners, especially International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the African Development Bank (AFDB). Both organizations stand ready to not only support and fund solar projects, but also help member States develop such bankable projects. It should be realized also that lack of bankable projects remains the biggest reason why most international funders won’t commit their money to some projects. Government must also delineate clearly, her experts and representatives in this critical sector. Oddly, at the 7th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi in 2017, it was Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, who represented Nigeria, a fact that left many struggling to understand the absence of the oversight Minister of Power.

The consolidation of Ministries of Works, Housing and Power under one Minister is indubitably playing a negative role in this regard.

In the meantime, Nigeria is ripe for massive solar deployment and most individuals/ businesses are already opting for home solar systems in the off-grid (stand-alone) space.

It is now for the federal government to embrace its responsibility to scale up the deployment of solar energy starting with public buildings, parks and streets, then expanding to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMES) across the country. It’s time to act.

-Udeh is a Climate Policy Research Associate at Selonnes Consult Ltd.; Obaze is MD/CEO, Selonnes Consult Ltd

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

34

EDUCATION Preventing Exam Malpractices with Effective Monitoring, Communication Gadgets The decision of the West African Examinations Council to ban private school teachers from supervising the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, which commences this week, has generated mixed feelings among experts most of who have suggested that the council should ensure that live monitoring telecommunications gadgets are installed in schools to guard against examination malpractices. Funmi Ogundare reports

Some students in an examination hall

In preparation for the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the council banned private school teachers from supervising the examinations. This is just as the council discovered that supervisors of private schools have been aiding examination malpractice.

As a result, the council had directed state governments to sanction erring private school proprietors and institutions to serve as a deterrent.

The ban on private school teachers however did not go down well with some sections of the society as they said they are being targeted.

The President, Association of Christian Schools in Nigeria, Ekaete Ettang, who briefed journalists in Jos, Plateau State, said the decision of the examination body must be reversed, saying that if WAEC fails to do so, its members will boycott the national examinations.

While reading out a one-page communiquĂŠ of a meeting attended by 82 proprietors affected by the decision of WAEC banning their staff from supervising examinations, Ettang said: “In view of the above, the Association of Christian Schools demands that WAEC cancels the order and revert to status quo where credible teachers from Christian schools in Nigeria were involved in the supervision of WAEC examination. Failure to do so, all Christian schools nationwide will withdraw from future WAEC examinations.

“If WAEC does not reverse this decision and planned implementation, all Christian schools will boycott future WAEC examinations.�

She said the action of WAEC was an indictment on its staff and therefore demanded explanations from the national examination body and the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to her, “WAEC and ministries of education must provide statistics to show the trend in the examination malpractices across the schools, which forms the basis of their decision.�

The president also demanded to know the law which banned its members from participating in the supervision of WAEC examination, pointing out that it was an indictment on the association. “The Christian schools demand that the laws and legislations that prohibit teachers from Christian schools from supervising WAEC examinations be made available, as they have been participating in this process over the years based on written communication that are on record,� she stressed.

Ettang said her members have been of proven character while supervising past examinations and have been up and doing in ensuring that all forms of examination malpractices are curtailed.

In its reaction, WAEC said the ban was on all private schools. The Head of Public Affairs of WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu, said the council banned all private school teachers from supervising its examinations in the country, irrespective of their religion.

“We have recently uncovered that the said supervisors from private schools do aid exams malpractice because they have nothing to lose. They have no pension or gratuity from their employers, so most of them mainly look for money during national examinations.�

He affirmed that private schools WAEC supervisors have been found indulging in examination malpractices and directed aggrieved persons to contact the ministry of education for the reason for the ban. “Any WAEC supervisor caught involving in malpractice will be punished, irrespective of the school the person in question is from,� he said.

Ojijeogu told THISDAY that the council has put in place the machinery that will ensure the conduct of a credible examination, adding, “the safety of our staff and other ad-hoc personnel and the prevention of examination malpractices is important. There will be continuous monitoring of examination centres throughout the period; we are also working on a timely release of the results.�

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government and proprietors of private schools have also reached an accord to shut down any school indicted by WAEC for examination malpractice in three consecutive years.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule had expressed her concern about the indictment of schools by WAEC and revealed that some schools are serial offenders whose names appeared on the list of 66, 61 and 56 schools

indicted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Such schools, she vowed will not be allowed to register students for this year’s WASSCE. Some teachers and private school teachers lauded the move by WAEC to ban private school teachers from supervising its examination, saying that the council could go the extra mile by ensuring that live monitoring telecommunications gadgets are installed in schools to curb examination malpractices.

A teacher, who prefers not to be named, but had witnessed examination malpractice being done in his school in the past, said the move by WAEC will reduce the level of organised malpractices from the private school owners and the parents and also ensure that students sit up because the teachers who aid them to cheat would not be allowed in the exam hall. He however argued that corrupt WAEC officials will now be happy that money collected from students to aid examination malpractices hitherto being shared between the private school teachers and them will no longer be shared.

He said if the examination body wants to get it right, it should have installed live monitoring telecommunications gadgets in the schools to prevent examination malpractices.

The Director of De Beautiful Beginning (DBB) Private School, Magodo, Lagos, Mrs. Olubukola Ogunleye said: “The government should have measures guiding all schools. If measures are in place and people are being monitored, I am sure our education system will be better.�

32

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

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

33

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

32

EDUCATION Preventing Exam Malpractices with Effective Monitoring, Communication Gadgets The decision of the West African Examinations Council to ban private school teachers from supervising the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, which commences this week, has generated mixed feelings among experts most of who have suggested that the council should ensure that live monitoring telecommunications gadgets are installed in schools to guard against examination malpractices. Funmi Ogundare reports

Some students in an examination hall

In preparation for the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the council banned private school teachers from supervising the examinations. This is just as the council discovered that supervisors of private schools have been aiding examination malpractice.

As a result, the council had directed state governments to sanction erring private school proprietors and institutions to serve as a deterrent.

The ban on private school teachers however did not go down well with some sections of the society as they said they are being targeted.

The President, Association of Christian Schools in Nigeria, Ekaete Ettang, who briefed journalists in Jos, Plateau State, said the decision of the examination body must be reversed, saying that if WAEC fails to do so, its members will boycott the national examinations.

While reading out a one-page communiquĂŠ of a meeting attended by 82 proprietors affected by the decision of WAEC banning their staff from supervising examinations, Ettang said: “In view of the above, the Association of Christian Schools demands that WAEC cancels the order and revert to status quo where credible teachers from Christian schools in Nigeria were involved in the supervision of WAEC examination. Failure to do so, all Christian schools nationwide will withdraw from future WAEC examinations.

“If WAEC does not reverse this decision and planned implementation, all Christian schools will boycott future WAEC examinations.�

She said the action of WAEC was an indictment on its staff and therefore demanded explanations from the national examination body and the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to her, “WAEC and ministries of education must provide statistics to show the trend in the examination malpractices across the schools, which forms the basis of their decision.�

The president also demanded to know the law which banned its members from participating in the supervision of WAEC examination, pointing out that it was an indictment on the association. “The Christian schools demand that the laws and legislations that prohibit teachers from Christian schools from supervising WAEC examinations be made available, as they have been participating in this process over the years based on written communication that are on record,� she stressed.

Ettang said her members have been of proven character while supervising past examinations and have been up and doing in ensuring that all forms of examination malpractices are curtailed.

In its reaction, WAEC said the ban was on all private schools. The Head of Public Affairs of WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu, said the council banned all private school teachers from supervising its examinations in the country, irrespective of their religion.

“We have recently uncovered that the said supervisors from private schools do aid exams malpractice because they have nothing to lose. They have no pension or gratuity from their employers, so most of them mainly look for money during national examinations.�

He affirmed that private schools WAEC supervisors have been found indulging in examination malpractices and directed aggrieved persons to contact the ministry of education for the reason for the ban. “Any WAEC supervisor caught involving in malpractice will be punished, irrespective of the school the person in question is from,� he said.

Ojijeogu told THISDAY that the council has put in place the machinery that will ensure the conduct of a credible examination, adding, “the safety of our staff and other ad-hoc personnel and the prevention of examination malpractices is important. There will be continuous monitoring of examination centres throughout the period; we are also working on a timely release of the results.�

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government and proprietors of private schools have also reached an accord to shut down any school indicted by WAEC for examination malpractice in three consecutive years.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule had expressed her concern about the indictment of schools by WAEC and revealed that some schools are serial offenders whose names appeared on the list of 66, 61 and 56 schools

indicted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Such schools, she vowed will not be allowed to register students for this year’s WASSCE. Some teachers and private school teachers lauded the move by WAEC to ban private school teachers from supervising its examination, saying that the council could go the extra mile by ensuring that live monitoring telecommunications gadgets are installed in schools to curb examination malpractices.

A teacher, who prefers not to be named, but had witnessed examination malpractice being done in his school in the past, said the move by WAEC will reduce the level of organised malpractices from the private school owners and the parents and also ensure that students sit up because the teachers who aid them to cheat would not be allowed in the exam hall. He however argued that corrupt WAEC officials will now be happy that money collected from students to aid examination malpractices hitherto being shared between the private school teachers and them will no longer be shared.

He said if the examination body wants to get it right, it should have installed live monitoring telecommunications gadgets in the schools to prevent examination malpractices.

The Director of De Beautiful Beginning (DBB) Private School, Magodo, Lagos, Mrs. Olubukola Ogunleye said: “The government should have measures guiding all schools. If measures are in place and people are being monitored, I am sure our education system will be better.�

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

33

EDUCATION

PCNI Trains 1,100 Teachers on Security Measures, Basic Counselling in Schools Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi As part of a broader mandate of developing the north-east economy through quality education, the Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI), in collaboration with University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and Yobe State University, Damaturu organised a five-day capacity building workshop for 1,100 primary schools teachers in the region.

The workshop simultaneously held in Maiduguri, Borno State and Yola, Adamawa State from March 19, 2018 to March 23, 2018. Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chairman, PCNI, Alhaji Tijani Tumsa said the workshop was carefully selected to include intensive teaching techniques, conflict, risk and

disaster reduction and psychosocial support training, among others.

He said the workshop was conducted in line with the Buhari Plan and PCNI core mandate and was aimed at improving the content delivery and skills of primary school teachers from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States which were grossly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency as post-conflict education initiative.

According to him, PCNI through the collaborating institutions has engaged versatile consultants and educationists bearing in mind the importance of the profession to nation building that will sharpen the skills and knowledge of the teachers.

Represented by the Chairman, Sub-committee on Education, PCNI, Professor Hauwa Audu

Biu, the vice-chairman said the workshop was aimed at achieving capacity to support parents and pupils affected by the insurgency; provide guidance to participants on how to develop assessment instruments; making scheme scoring techniques in consonance with the learning objectives. He added that the workshop was also targeted at exposing the participants to contemporary teaching techniques among others while stressing that the insurgency has grossly traumatised the parents, teachers and students which

require psycho-social support training to guide the teachers and counsel the parents and children with the pre-requisite skills and techniques of teaching and controlling the children in school environment with a view to develop the capacity of the children and teachers too at the fundamental level.

Tumsa added that PCNI carefully selected 300 participants from Adamawa State; 300 from Yobe State and 500 from Borno State for the workshop, while that of Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi will hold next

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi commended the organisers of the workshop and observed that the title was stimulating and challenging and very demanding for five days. Njodi who was represented by Professor Buba Mshelia said the resource persons were vibrant and competent to deliver.

The Executive Chairman/ Commissioner, Borno SUBEB, Dr. Shettima Bukar Kullima said the board is making frantic effort to make teachers more comfort-

able and productive in schools as part of the post-insurgency education activities in the state.

He said the series of training and retraining programmes on psycho-social support have been conducted in collaboration with the Save the Children and UNICEF. Represented by the Director Personnel Services, SUBEB, Alhaji Abba Kuma, he added that the workshop was timely as it was organized when the traumatised teachers need some training to refresh their brains, make them more committed to their profession.

Again, IBB Varsity Shut Down as NASU Begins Warning Strike Laleye Dipo in Minna The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State has again been shut following a seven-day warning strike declared on Monday by members of the Non-academic Staff Union (NASU).

It is the second time within a month that the institution would be closed as a result of strike by its unions, the first was by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unpaid earned allowances put at about N500 million.

The state government had last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASUU on how to settle the debt before NASU began its strike. The grouse of NASU is the non-payment of allowances to its members put at about N1.5 billion.

As a result, the academic office, bursary, library and porter’s

room were put under lock and key by the union members who were also on patrol around the campus to ensure compliance with the strike.

The strike may also disrupt the convocation activities of the university, expected to commence immediately after the Easter holidays.

The Joint Action Committee Chairman, Malam Mustapha Abdulkhadir said the union was constrained to embark on the strike because “government has turned deaf ears to all our requests “This is the appropriate time to embark on the warning strike as the university’s second convocation ceremony preparation is at its peak, our plan is to disrupt the convocation that is why we have chosen this time so that they will know that every staff of the university is important irrespective of his or her status.�

Chinese Govt Awards Scholarship to 47 UNIJOS Students Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pinjian has disclosed China’s dream to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020 and achieve modernisation in 2035.

Pinjian made this known at the University of Jos, where the Chinese government awarded scholarship worth N4.7 million to 47 undergraduate students of the university. “In 2020, China will eradicate poverty by 100 per cent, 2035 it will achieve its modernization and the middle of the century build China to became a greater country, and we hope to realise the Chinese dream.�

He said in 1978, China had

1.8 per cent of the world’s GDP, while its population was more than 20 per cent of the world, now it has 15 per cent of the world’s GDP with about the same population ratio.

The ambassador added that he was overwhelmed by the hospitality accorded him and his entourage during the visit, stressing that there exist a bond as well as similarity between Nigeria and China as the two countries set up diplomatic relationship on February 10, 1971.

He pointed out that the country believes that it is on the right path in the pursuit of its dream of rejuvenation as it values international relation, adding that a nation will prosper when its younger generation thrives.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adedayo Adeneye, with some pupils of the School for Children with Special Needs, Ijebu-Ode, one of the 13 schools in the three senatorial districts of the state, where he distributed educational materials, bags, shoes and beverages to pupils, as part of activities to mark his birthday ‌ recently

Three DELSU Faculties Get Full Accreditation Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba There was excitement at the Delta State Executive Council recently following the announcement that three faculties of the State University (DELSU), the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law and the College Health Sciences have been granted full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah

told journalists in Asaba that the Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Jude Sinebe disclosed this during the EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. “With the accreditation which is full and for a period of five years, students in the affected faculties have nothing to fear anymore since all processes relating to the exercise have been completed with the NUC giving its nod,�

Ukah said.

The commissioner for higher education on behalf of the ministry, council and management of the institution, thanked the governor for his support towards the successful completion of the accreditation exercise. Okowa has promised that the state government will continue to scale up in its efforts to bridge the infrastructural deficit especially in about 1,600 schools in the primary and post-primary education sector, within the

financial resources available.

Meanwhile, Okowa has approved the reconstitution of the State Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Festus Ovie Agas.

The statement listed members of the new board, which takes immediate effect, to include Mrs. Christiana Ataluku, who is the Chairman, while Mrs. Ifeoma Agbomah and Dr. Henry Offa are members.

UBA Unveils Campus Ambassadors Uchechukwu Nnaike A total of 30 students from 10 universities across the country with proven leadership and creative skills have been appointed as UBA Campus Ambassadors for 2018.

According to the United Bank for Africa (UBA), the campus ambassadors are expected to exhibit the core values of the bank: “They need to show the spirit of excellence in whatever they do; they need to show the spirit of execution and enterprise. Life is tough, we need people in the country who will be able to execute these qualities to make the country a better place.�

Speaking during the unveiling of the newly selected campus ambassadors in Lagos recently, the Executive Director and Group Chief Operation Officer, Mr. Chuks Nweke restated the bank’s commitment to youth development and youth engagement. “We believe that the youths are the future of every country so we selected the best from the universities to collaborate with them to build their leadership skills and creative skills so that they can be better citizens if they decide to go to the public sector or the private sector to work for the land.� He said the students were selected after an assessment to ensure that

they possess the qualities that UBA prides itself. “You need to show that you have the spirit of enterprise, excellence and that you do what you say you will do, which is execution. These qualities are dear to us. “The important thing is to make sure that those we select are the people that have these qualities, the passion to be able to project the brand and what UBA stands for, our core values which are enterprise, excellence and execution.�

Nweke said beyond being ambassadors for UBA, the bank would work with them to develop the leadership skills that they have. “One of the issues that companies have both in

the public and private sectors is the issue of leadership, so once we see potential in our students as young as they are, the leadership qualities that they have, the creative skills to make a difference in the society; these are the things that excite us to make sure that we continue to groom these qualities and skills for the good of every one.�

Also speaking, the Student Banking Manager, Ezekiel Adisa said as part of the six-month training, each ambassador would execute a specific project meant to add value to the society. They would also undergo a one-month internship programme at any UBA branch after which they would be paid.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

35

EDUCATION

PCNI Trains 1,100 Teachers on Security Measures, Basic Counselling in Schools Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi As part of a broader mandate of developing the north-east economy through quality education, the Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI), in collaboration with University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and Yobe State University, Damaturu organised a five-day capacity building workshop for 1,100 primary schools teachers in the region.

The workshop simultaneously held in Maiduguri, Borno State and Yola, Adamawa State from March 19, 2018 to March 23, 2018. Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chairman, PCNI, Alhaji Tijani Tumsa said the workshop was carefully selected to include intensive teaching techniques, conflict, risk and

disaster reduction and psychosocial support training, among others.

He said the workshop was conducted in line with the Buhari Plan and PCNI core mandate and was aimed at improving the content delivery and skills of primary school teachers from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States which were grossly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency as post-conflict education initiative.

According to him, PCNI through the collaborating institutions has engaged versatile consultants and educationists bearing in mind the importance of the profession to nation building that will sharpen the skills and knowledge of the teachers.

Represented by the Chairman, Sub-committee on Education, PCNI, Professor Hauwa Audu

Biu, the vice-chairman said the workshop was aimed at achieving capacity to support parents and pupils affected by the insurgency; provide guidance to participants on how to develop assessment instruments; making scheme scoring techniques in consonance with the learning objectives. He added that the workshop was also targeted at exposing the participants to contemporary teaching techniques among others while stressing that the insurgency has grossly traumatised the parents, teachers and students which

require psycho-social support training to guide the teachers and counsel the parents and children with the pre-requisite skills and techniques of teaching and controlling the children in school environment with a view to develop the capacity of the children and teachers too at the fundamental level.

Tumsa added that PCNI carefully selected 300 participants from Adamawa State; 300 from Yobe State and 500 from Borno State for the workshop, while that of Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi will hold next

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi commended the organisers of the workshop and observed that the title was stimulating and challenging and very demanding for five days. Njodi who was represented by Professor Buba Mshelia said the resource persons were vibrant and competent to deliver.

The Executive Chairman/ Commissioner, Borno SUBEB, Dr. Shettima Bukar Kullima said the board is making frantic effort to make teachers more comfort-

able and productive in schools as part of the post-insurgency education activities in the state.

He said the series of training and retraining programmes on psycho-social support have been conducted in collaboration with the Save the Children and UNICEF. Represented by the Director Personnel Services, SUBEB, Alhaji Abba Kuma, he added that the workshop was timely as it was organized when the traumatised teachers need some training to refresh their brains, make them more committed to their profession.

Again, IBB Varsity Shut Down as NASU Begins Warning Strike Laleye Dipo in Minna The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State has again been shut following a seven-day warning strike declared on Monday by members of the Non-academic Staff Union (NASU).

It is the second time within a month that the institution would be closed as a result of strike by its unions, the first was by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unpaid earned allowances put at about N500 million.

The state government had last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASUU on how to settle the debt before NASU began its strike. The grouse of NASU is the non-payment of allowances to its members put at about N1.5 billion.

As a result, the academic office, bursary, library and porter’s

room were put under lock and key by the union members who were also on patrol around the campus to ensure compliance with the strike.

The strike may also disrupt the convocation activities of the university, expected to commence immediately after the Easter holidays.

The Joint Action Committee Chairman, Malam Mustapha Abdulkhadir said the union was constrained to embark on the strike because “government has turned deaf ears to all our requests “This is the appropriate time to embark on the warning strike as the university’s second convocation ceremony preparation is at its peak, our plan is to disrupt the convocation that is why we have chosen this time so that they will know that every staff of the university is important irrespective of his or her status.�

Chinese Govt Awards Scholarship to 47 UNIJOS Students Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pinjian has disclosed China’s dream to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020 and achieve modernisation in 2035.

Pinjian made this known at the University of Jos, where the Chinese government awarded scholarship worth N4.7 million to 47 undergraduate students of the university. “In 2020, China will eradicate poverty by 100 per cent, 2035 it will achieve its modernization and the middle of the century build China to became a greater country, and we hope to realise the Chinese dream.�

He said in 1978, China had

1.8 per cent of the world’s GDP, while its population was more than 20 per cent of the world, now it has 15 per cent of the world’s GDP with about the same population ratio.

The ambassador added that he was overwhelmed by the hospitality accorded him and his entourage during the visit, stressing that there exist a bond as well as similarity between Nigeria and China as the two countries set up diplomatic relationship on February 10, 1971.

He pointed out that the country believes that it is on the right path in the pursuit of its dream of rejuvenation as it values international relation, adding that a nation will prosper when its younger generation thrives.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adedayo Adeneye, with some pupils of the School for Children with Special Needs, Ijebu-Ode, one of the 13 schools in the three senatorial districts of the state, where he distributed educational materials, bags, shoes and beverages to pupils, as part of activities to mark his birthday ‌ recently

Three DELSU Faculties Get Full Accreditation Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba There was excitement at the Delta State Executive Council recently following the announcement that three faculties of the State University (DELSU), the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law and the College Health Sciences have been granted full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah

told journalists in Asaba that the Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Jude Sinebe disclosed this during the EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. “With the accreditation which is full and for a period of five years, students in the affected faculties have nothing to fear anymore since all processes relating to the exercise have been completed with the NUC giving its nod,�

Ukah said.

The commissioner for higher education on behalf of the ministry, council and management of the institution, thanked the governor for his support towards the successful completion of the accreditation exercise. Okowa has promised that the state government will continue to scale up in its efforts to bridge the infrastructural deficit especially in about 1,600 schools in the primary and post-primary education sector, within the

financial resources available.

Meanwhile, Okowa has approved the reconstitution of the State Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Festus Ovie Agas.

The statement listed members of the new board, which takes immediate effect, to include Mrs. Christiana Ataluku, who is the Chairman, while Mrs. Ifeoma Agbomah and Dr. Henry Offa are members.

UBA Unveils Campus Ambassadors Uchechukwu Nnaike A total of 30 students from 10 universities across the country with proven leadership and creative skills have been appointed as UBA Campus Ambassadors for 2018.

According to the United Bank for Africa (UBA), the campus ambassadors are expected to exhibit the core values of the bank: “They need to show the spirit of excellence in whatever they do; they need to show the spirit of execution and enterprise. Life is tough, we need people in the country who will be able to execute these qualities to make the country a better place.�

Speaking during the unveiling of the newly selected campus ambassadors in Lagos recently, the Executive Director and Group Chief Operation Officer, Mr. Chuks Nweke restated the bank’s commitment to youth development and youth engagement. “We believe that the youths are the future of every country so we selected the best from the universities to collaborate with them to build their leadership skills and creative skills so that they can be better citizens if they decide to go to the public sector or the private sector to work for the land.� He said the students were selected after an assessment to ensure that

they possess the qualities that UBA prides itself. “You need to show that you have the spirit of enterprise, excellence and that you do what you say you will do, which is execution. These qualities are dear to us. “The important thing is to make sure that those we select are the people that have these qualities, the passion to be able to project the brand and what UBA stands for, our core values which are enterprise, excellence and execution.�

Nweke said beyond being ambassadors for UBA, the bank would work with them to develop the leadership skills that they have. “One of the issues that companies have both in

the public and private sectors is the issue of leadership, so once we see potential in our students as young as they are, the leadership qualities that they have, the creative skills to make a difference in the society; these are the things that excite us to make sure that we continue to groom these qualities and skills for the good of every one.�

Also speaking, the Student Banking Manager, Ezekiel Adisa said as part of the six-month training, each ambassador would execute a specific project meant to add value to the society. They would also undergo a one-month internship programme at any UBA branch after which they would be paid.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

36

Tanzanian Teacher Wins Sahara Group’s Photo Contest The winner and first runner-up of Sahara Group’s #TheGreenestLoveofAll Instagram based mobile photo contest have emerged amid fresh commitment by the energy and infrastructure conglomerate to sustain conversations around environmental protection.

The winner, Irene Ishengoma, a teacher at St. Anne Marie Academy, Dar-Es-.

Salaam, Tanzania submitted a compelling piece about community-led re-forestation aptly titled ‘Together We Can Overcome Environmental Destruction.’ Temitope Otubusin a resident of Lagos, Nigeria came in second with an emotive submission titled ‘The Butterfly and the Eco-System’.

During a telephone interview, Ishengoma said: “I am so excited. I really want to thank the Sahara Group for giving me this creative experience. I feel more connected to matters concerning my natural environment than I ever have before. I am also looking forward to using my brand new phone to keep the conversation on climate action alive.�

On her part, Otubusin said the competition inspired her to seek ways of championing the climate action cause

through photography and advocacy. “I would like to commend Sahara Group for this initiative and believe that more private sector players, the government and civil society should also be part of this campaign. That is the only way we can deliver a sustainable and healthy environment to generations unborn.�

Sahara Group harvested over 330 photos which were eventually shortlisted by top photographers to 10 of what were considered to be the most creative and thematically compelling entries.

The top two pictures were selected after they garnered the most number of likes on @iamsaharagroup - Sahara Group’s Instagram platform - following a vote by liking contest which was open to members of the public. The top 10 entries accumulated a combination of over 8,500 in likes and comments on the Sahara’s Instagram handle The Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma said: “We could never have anticipated the level of enthusiasm that greeted the competition. We received entries from different countries and the independent assessors commended the quality of the entries and the depth of the

messages in the captions. Sahara Group is already exploring various initiatives to sustain global awareness and action.�

He expressed delight at the unprecedented level of reach and engagement, which included a solidarity message from the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDGF). “Our partner Sahara Group is bringing attention to #SDG13 on climate action across Africa with a photo contest. You can put your creativity at the service of the #2030Agenda. You are invited to join the campaign,� the organisation tweeted from its handle @SDGFund. “We intend to continue pulling all available levers which can help us broaden the climate change conversation and widen the audience of the people we engage. There is an urgent need for global sustainable collaboration towards saving the planet. The time to act is now,� Obioma added.

The finale of #TheGreenestLoveofAll project will be held at the African Artists Foundation in Lagos this April where enlarged and framed versions of the winning photographs will be exhibited.

The winning photograph of the Sahara Group’s #TheGreenestLoveofAll Instagram based mobile photo contest

Texaco, NNPC Donate Hybrid Library to 80-year-old WAPI Bassey Inyang in Calabar One of the major oil exploration in the country, Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Ltd (a Chevron company), and the NNPC have, jointly donated a hybrid library to 80-year-old West African Peoples Institute (WAPI), Calabar, Cross River State.

Addressing dignitaries, guest and students at the occasion recently, the Director, Star Deep Waters Petroleum Limited, Mr. Richard Kennedy, who was represented by the Manager in charge of Government and Public Affairs at Chevron, Mr. Mike Kabi, said the donation of the library was part of their social intervention programmes. “The hybrid library we are commission-

ing today has been implemented with the support of the Cross River government.

It is a partnership which is one of the core values in Chevron companies, and we are happy to have partnered with the management of this school through the state ministry of education to execute the project.�

In his remarks, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, represented by the Paramount Ruler-elect of Odukpani Local Government Area, Chief Otu Asuquo Otu, commended the donors for their kind gesture. The monarch request that such donation should be replicated in many more schools across the state.

Governor Ben Ayade, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education,

Mr. Godwin Etta, commended the donors for locating the library in the school. He said education is taken very seriously by the state government, which was the reason the current statistics by WAEC shows that the state is appreciating in ranking compared with previous years before he became governor. “We are very particular about education. This is the reason our ranking has tremendously improved.

WAEC has therefore decided to hold their meeting in our state after many decades.�

He said the library would be made accessible to members of the public for research purposes and urged the donors to assist in maintaining it for two years.

OGITECH Rusticates Two Students, Suspends Others Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta As part of efforts to sanitise the campus of criminal elements among its students, the management of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa has wielded the big stick with the rustication of two students and suspending some others for various anti-social vices that might breach the peace of the institution.

The Rector, Dr. Olufunke Akinkurolere, who disclosed this recently while addressing new students during the 12th matriculation ceremony of over 2,000 fresh students in full and part-time academic programmes,

reiterated its zero tolerance for cultism, gangsterism, examination malpractices, rape, indecent dressing and other anti-social behaviours. She warned the new students not to engage in any activity capable of truncating their academic pursuits.

Akinkurolere vowed that the management would not hesitate to wield the big stick to foster discipline, adding that the violation of any rule and regulation of the institute attracts punitive measures ranging from suspension to rustication and to outright expulsion. “You should take advantage of the school’s entrepreneurship programmes

that have been designed to assist students in acquiring necessary skills needed to be employers or self-employed.�

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, charged the new students to face their studies squarely with a view to becoming productive citizens in the society. “With the influx of industries into the state, technological skills of students would be in high demand. Work hard and get equipped with adequate technical know-how in order to provide the needed manpower required by these industries,� she said.

Faced with Child Rejection Ă’Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă‹ Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒåËÞĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÔÙÖÖÙĂ?Ě‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ę°Ă?ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă“ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă‹Ă Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒã×Ă?Ëœ Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂœËœ ĂšĂ?ÚÚĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?ÚÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă˜Ă&#x;Þ×Ă?Ă‘Ëœ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ×ÓâĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ÚÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› Ă‹ĂŽ ÑÙÞ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ?ĂŽĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ— Ă‹Ăž Í´Ă‹Ă— Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă’Ă?ËŞĂŽ åÙÕĂ?Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ͳ˛͹͎Ë× ĂŒĂŁ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă?ËŞĂ? ÚÙʾĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă™Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ͯͲ̋ãĂ?Ă‹ĂœĚ‹Ă™Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÍŻ ĂžĂ™ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂ™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă&#x;Ă— ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă–Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă™ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ Ă‹Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;×ÚÞÓÙĂ&#x;Ă? Ă–Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’ ÞÒËÞ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă— Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ ÑÙÞ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă•Ě‹Ă?ĂœĂ™ĂĄ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ?ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ă— Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ě‹Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“ĘľĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂŽĂ?ÞËĂ?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă– Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂŁ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă?ÚÙÕĂ? Ă‹ ĂŒĂ“Ăž Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ&#x;ĘŻĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă•Ă?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜ Ă?ĂĄĂ‹Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÚÙĂ?Ă•Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÖÓÑÒÞÖã ĘŽĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂœË› ËŤ Ă&#x;Ă—Ëœ

ËŞĂ–Ă– ĂŽĂ™ Ă“ĂžËœ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă— ËŞĂ— ÙÕËã Ă˜Ă™ĂĄËœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂĄĂ‹Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă—Ëœ ËŞĂ— Ę¨Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă? ÞÒËÞˏ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă’Ă“Ă? ×ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ăž Ă’Ă“Ăž ÒÙ×Ă? ĂœĂ‹ĂĄ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙÙÕ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ ÞÙ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂŁ Ă‘Ă™Ă™ĂŽĂŒĂŁĂ? ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ă— Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă˜ ĂœĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;ĘĽËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă?ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽËŞĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ— Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËãĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă?ĂœË› ËŤ Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂž ÑÙˏ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ę¨ĂœĂ—Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ó×ÚÖã˛ Ă&#x;Ă— ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă&#x;ÑÒÞ˛ ÙÞ ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ʎÙÙÎĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ë› ËŤ ËŞĂ Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă—ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ ×Ù×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă™Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă?Ă˜ËŞĂž ĂœĂ?ÚÖÓĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă?ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽË› ËŤ Ă™Ă&#x; Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă?Ă˜ËŞĂž Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ë› Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă™ĂĄËœ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• Ùʼ Ă‹ ÖÓʾÖĂ?˛ˏ Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ăž ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ëœ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ě‹Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;ÖÞÒÙÙÎ Ă™Ăœ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ÞËÑĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽËŞĂ? ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;ÖÞ˪Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? ÞËÕĂ? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÍŻÍŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍŻÍ´Ë› ÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÚÒËĂ?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ę¨Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ—Ă™ĂœĂ?Ë› Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă’Ă?ËšĂ?Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ?ĂŁĂ?ÒÙÖÙÑÓĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁË› Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‹Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚĂ? Ă?Ă?âĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă?Ă? ÚÒãĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂĄĂ•ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×ÚÖÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÓ×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĘĽĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽËŞĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÒÙ×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ʨĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă‘Ă™ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?ÞËÑĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? ÚÒãĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ËÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë? Ëž Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ?Ë› Ëž ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ëž ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› Ëž Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› The physical changes in boys include: Ëž Ă˜Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ë› Ëž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ăœ à ÙÓĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹Ă—ËŞĂ? ËÚÚÖĂ?Ë› Ëž ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœËœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› Ëž Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă?ÓÑÒÞ˛ Howdoesyourchildfeelwhenhe/sheisgoingthroughadolescence? Ëž Ă™ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă–Ë› Ëž Ă˜Ă˘Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ăž Ă‹ ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă?˛Ñ Ă‹ Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ– Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂœĂŁ ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă? ÞÙÙ Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?˚ÞÙÙ Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ë› Ëž Ă™ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁËŞĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž Ă‹ ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ë› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜ Ă‘Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ë› Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ë› Ëž ÎÙÖĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?ÓÞÓà Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÚÒãĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– ËÚ̋ ĂšĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă“ĂœĂœĂ“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă–ĂŁËœ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă—ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– Ă“ĂœĂœĂ“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽË› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ×ÙÙÎ Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ę¨ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹ĂšĂšĂŁËœ ÞÙ Ă“ĂœĂœĂ“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă?ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÓ×Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;ĘŻĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?ĂŁËŞĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞËÕĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁË› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹ Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ÚÒËĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽ Ă“Ă? ĂžĂœĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ʨÑĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĘĽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ë› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–ĂŁË› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–ĂŁË› Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ăš åÓÞÒ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽË› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂšĂ?Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ăœ ÞÙ Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ÞÓ×Ă? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ëœ ĂšĂ?Ă?Ăœ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;ĂšĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĘŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ë› Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? åÒËÞ˪Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ åÒËÞ˪Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ Ă‹Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ÖÞÓà ËÞĂ? Ă‹ Ă–Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÚÓ×ÚÖĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ĂĄĂ?Ă‹Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ě‹Ă&#x;Ú˛ Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ĂĄĂ?Ă‹Ăœ ËŠĂ•Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂœĚ‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ËŞ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă– ÞÒĂ?ĂŁËŞĂœĂ? ÞÙÙ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ‹ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĚ‹ĂĄĂ?Ă‹ĂœË

Ě‹ Omoru writes from the UK

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

37

Don Bemoans ‘Bastardization’ ofVarsity Culture Uchechukwu Nnaike A renowned Professor of International Relations, Alade Fawole has described the wearing of academic robes as “one of the most bastardized university culture today.�

Fawole, a former member of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, said this while delivering the first pre-matriculation lecture of the Technical University, Ibadan recently.

In the lecture titled ‘Symbols, Symbolisms and the University Culture’, Fawole observed that “nursery and primary schools, even artisans and fashion designers have adopted the same mode of dressing for their so-called graduation ceremonies.�

While stressing that academic

robes should be worn with respect for the ceremony, the lecturer pointed out that “it is not uncommon today to see graduands showing up at convocation ceremonies poorly or improperly robed or not even robed at all; ie not showing the proper respect for the integrity and solemnity of the ceremony. “It is the lack of proper understanding and appreciation of the critical essence of the sacred practices and solemn ceremonies by current generation of young scholars that are responsible for their fading significance.�

He noted that nowadays, some of such ceremonies are merely being enacted mechanically without due reverence.

Teachers and students merely go through the rites more to fulfill all righteousness than

for the understanding of their symbolic importance.

As standard bearers, Fawole charged the administration, lecturers and students of the Technical University to be mindful of what they want the university to be known for and how they want it to be perceived in the future.

The lecture, the first of its kind in the university was meant to acquaint the students with an understanding of the “university culture� and also remind and refresh the memories of the lecturers of the university as they teach, instruct, guide and supervise their students.

The lecturer posited that “academic freedom is a major irreducible requirement for a university to function properly and unhindered in order to

fulfill its stated mission. He however made it clear to students that academic freedom neither connotes irresponsibility nor is it a license for misbehavior. “Many of today’s younger scholars lack a full understanding of its meaning and import for academic pursuits and thus use it as a license for misbehavior. “No sooner do students take the matriculation oath than they forget it and violate every word of it, engaging in conduct unbecoming of members of a university and likely to bring the institution into disrepute.�

He explained that academic freedom is the freedom of teachers and scholars to conduct enquiry and communicate ideas without let or hindrance, without censorship or becoming targets of attack, repression,

intimidation or even loss of jobs. “The time-honoured tradition of conferring degrees is being gradually bastardized through the award of honorary degrees to the highest bidders in the society, mostly for pecuniary advantages to institutions whose vice-chancellors have turned into executive beggars.�

He also observed that government officials, traditional rulers, chiefs and security personnel are increasingly taking prominent positions and almost displacing university professors, members of the university senate and other scholars at convocation ceremonies which are purely academic ceremonies. “Unfortunately, it is the high officials of the universities themselves, either out of poor knowledge of university traditions or inordinate pressures from

outside political sources that should be held responsible for this ignoble denigration of the university culture�.

Fawole said it is regrettable that “the university as a factory of knowledge production and dissemination is fast losing its very essence; as they are being turned into mere factories for the narrow purpose of churning out manpower to satisfy the market place only.�

He urged the professoriate not to allow the university culture to die “otherwise the present generation of scholars will bequeath a dangerous inheritance to coming generations. Failure to keep and observe these traditions and practices may render the university as we know it in our country to be no more than glorified secondary schools with no unique culture or tradition.�

72 Students Bag First Class in BUK Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello on Monday said the university senate and governing council have decided not to award honorary degree to personalities during the 34th convocation ceremony which will hold next week, as such award is not for sale.

Bello, who made this known during the pre-convocation press briefing at the University Senate Chamber, said “going by the rule of the university, anybody who asks for honorary degree from BUK is automatically disqualified. It is not for sale. A number of people have approached us directly or indirectly, but we turned down their requests. “The university senate and governing council have decided not to award any honorary degree this year. This is not because there are no persons deserving of the honour, indeed, there are so many. “In order to maintain the very high value and honour associated with such degrees, Bayero University Senate and Council have been limiting the

number of honourees, and the years when such awards are made.�

He however said the university will award various degrees and postgraduate diplomas to 8,634 graduands, with 72 first class graduates, including 5,401 first degrees; 70 PhDs; 1,833 master’s degrees; and 656 postgraduate diploma certificates.

According to him, in line with best practices, the convocation ceremony is spread from April 3 to April 7, adding that on April 6, the convocation lecture with the theme ‘Leadership, Security, Democracy and Development Challenges in Africa: Reflections by a Scholar-Diplomat’, would be delivered by the ProChancellor of the university and former Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, under the chairmanship of Ambassador Alhaji Shehu Malami. “In the last one year, all the programmes presented by the university for accreditation by regulatory and professional bodies have secured full accreditation.

AISEC Alumni to Empower Students with Computers Ugo Aliogo The President, AISEC Alumni Nigeria, Brenda Nwagwu has expressed the organisation’s desire to give out computers, coding softwares and computer devices with digital libraries, stressing that the computer devices would help improve the reading culture in the country.

She disclosed this in Lagos at the 2018 AISEC Alumni Africa Middle East Regional Congress with the theme ‘Positioning for Global Impact - Leadership and Economic Synergy in a Transforming World’, organised by the AISEC Alumni Nigeria.

This she said would help them to do things innovatively, while learning how to carry out coding in the computer and building a strong reading

culture. “This will help them to create wealth that is our desire. “We will empower 250 youths within the first two years. We want to create an impact in our society where we either train people or develop people. We want to start a project with our student body where we tell stories to young people about those individuals who have succeeded in the Nigerian society despite great odds.� Nwagwu added that the stories of those individuals would encourage the children that whatever their situations are, they can rise above them.

She explained that AISEC is a leadership organisation focused on developing youths from school, adding that it is a university based organisation; therefore she maintained that the concern is getting its objectives and focus right.

The Vice-Chancellor ofTheTechnical University, Ibadan, Professor Ayobami Salami (middle) with the Registrar, Mr. Alex Oladeji (right) and the guest lecturer, Professor Alade Fawole, at the first pre-matriculation lecture of the university‌ recently

Foundation Celebrates First Class Graduates, Awards Postgraduate Scholarship Funmi Ogundare The Stephen Oluwole Awokoya Foundation for Science Education (SOAFSE) recently awarded postgraduate scholarship to seven students selected from some institutions across the country. It also honoured some eminent Nigerians that had contributed to the growth of science education in the country.

The scholarship, instituted 22 years ago to immortalise the first Minister of Education in the Western Region, Professor Stephen Oluwole Awokoya, is designed to promote science and science education in higher institutions in the country.

The awardees are Miss Ayomide Moyib, who graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.83 from the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State. Moyib, the best graduating student in the 2016/2017 session, studied Biology Education and intends to pursue a master’s course in Biological Science.

Miss Patience Abafor was also the best graduating student in

2017 with a CGPA of 4.78 from the Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State. She intends to pursue a master’s course in Organic Chemistry.

Miss Abiola Oyelere graduated with a CGPA of 4.73, was the best graduating student in 2017 from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in the same programme.

Mr. Chima-Oge Chukwudi studied Biomedical Engineering and graduated with a CGPA of 4.77 from the College of Engineering, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State. He wants to pursue a postgraduate degree in the same programme.

Miss Inioluwa Adedapo had a CGPA of 4.92; she was the best graduating student in the Department of Architecture in 2017, Covenant University, Ota and would also be pursuing a master’s degree in the same programme.

Miss Abigail Makolo gradu-

ated with a CGPA of 3.91 on a scale of 4.0 from the Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences, Baze University, Abuja and wants to pursue a master’s degree in Information Technology.

Miss Mmesoma Mgboko graduated with the best result in 2017 in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos with a CGPA of 4.94. She will be pursuing a master’s degree in the same programme.

Speaking at the foundation’s 23rd annual lecture, award of honours and postgraduate scholarships in Lagos, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr. Folarin Awokoya gave the criteria for their selection to include nominations of candidates by the deans of the various faculties or heads of departments related to science or science education at the tertiary institutions in the county.

He said they are also expected to be the best graduating students from the various tertiary institutions.

He said the foundation this year received 151 entries from

44 universities, out of which seven were selected, adding that the scholarship is renewable every three years, provided the beneficiaries maintain a good record of academic performance.

The Chairman of the foundation, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, who solicited stakeholders’ support to award more scholarships and equip more laboratories and libraries in higher institutions in the country, said the funding of education should not be left to governments alone.

In her lecture, ‘Consequences of Climate Change in Nigeria: Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation’, a Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Kehinde Olayinka stressed the need for a massive climate change education to help the country adapt and mitigate the future trends of emission. “Climate change is here, it is global and its effects are localised. Even if we do not emit greenhouse gases, the level in the atmosphere will affect us. The extent of its effects on regions depends on ability to mitigate or adapt to change.�

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

38

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×

Child Conductors Sunday Ehigiator writes that many children are engaging in menial jobs to fend for themselves and their families

Child conductor in Ring Road, Edo State

I

n a country where lack of education and economical impoverishment have occasioned a low life expectancy and living killer of the people, it’s no longer decrying children labouring to support themselves and their families’ expenses via pre-mature labour.

The thoughts of how life has been so unfair to the children encountered during the course of researching on this situation hasn’t stop to give worries and sleepless night. Most especially, that of 14 years old Rashidi Owolabi, who lost his father to the cold hands of death in a ghastly motor accident while he was just seven years old.

According to Omoba as he was nicknamed and popularly called among his peers on the street of Lagos, he narrated in Yoruba Language that he is from Osun State, and was about seven years old when his father died.

His mother who later went into prostitution couldn’t take care of him and his younger sisters but instead always sent him to do menial jobs for people, from one household to the other, while she makes money off him, not minding how they maltreated him.

When he was 11 years old, the son of the woman he was sent to work for at that time in Ibadan, was consistently Sodomising him.

When he couldn’t take it any longer, he decided to run away from the home, and began to survive on the street since then.

He hustled to get money to leave Ibadan for Lagos within a short time so as not to be discovered by his masters. On getting to Lagos, he connected with other displaced kids in Oshodi and got accustomed with how they survived. He said he was first taught to smoke and drink, afterwards started out as a load-pusher; by helping people to carry loads to their destinations as it is noticeably done by a lot of kids in Oshodi. Thereafter, when that wasn’t too profitable, as bigger boys on the street were more preferred to those looking skinny as him, he learnt other wrong means to making money such as, phone snatching and picking pockets and bags of unsuspecting

jegede Joseph

commuters. But unfortunately for him, he ran out of luck on a fateful morning while attempting to pick a woman’s hand bag without knowing a soldier man was right behind him observing his gimmicks. Just as soon as he was done removing the item, the soldier got hold of him, and bundled him to the barracks around Oshodi and was mercilessly dealt with and punished for the rest of the day. Thereafter, he was released to go at about 11p.m.

He said, after this incident, he withdrew from the business and had no other option left than helping drivers as bus conductors on a daily basis; even though he is paid less.

According to him, on each completed trip he was paid a token of N100 or at most N200.

He said, every morning once he is up, his first responsibility is to smoke few sticks of cigarette, and then dilute it with some locally made alcohol content, so as to make

According to Destiny, he had been working with a driver since the previous day as a bus conductor, but when it was time for the driver to pay him; the driver absconded pretending to have an emergency. So he went to sleep in a regular store front he normally sleeps with empty stomach

him sharp and active. And without that, he stands the risk of not being employed by any driver for that day as they would assume he is not capable if he can’t sound rugged. And on the average, he said he smokes one packet of cigarette on a daily basis due to addiction.

Asked if he has reconnected with his mother? He said no, due to the fact that he cannot afford a telephone yet. Asked how much he makes daily in the business.

He said there is no certain figure. That it depends on how nice the driver he works with for that day is, but most times, he returns home with about N2,000 in his pocket, which he spends on smoking, drinking and sometimes sleeping with prostitutes.

He concluded by admitting he is not happy with the way he is living his life; especially seeing other children on a daily basis going to school, while he can’t speak English Language not to even talk about making enough money to go to school. And, pleaded for government to help them off the street in any way it can, so as to have a better life expectancy, as he hopes to become a soldier someday.

While Rashidi’s case isn’t the only one in such a situation, as there are others especially in the northern states of Nigeria, it is pertinent we begin to look into this as a very social vice.

The Nigerian Child Right Act of 2003, recognises the rights of children, restores confidence, self-esteem and improves their status. It also enables children with disabilities, to enjoy their full rights, as it provides special measures for their care and protection. All sectors of the society, including government and the people, will no doubt benefit from the production of well-rounded and selfconfident future leaders.

Also, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, Nigeria has 10.5 million out-of-school children, the highest rate (47 per cent) anywhere on earth. Almost one out of every three primary age children is

out of school, and roughly one out of four junior secondary age children is out of school.

In 1988, the Nigeria chapter of the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect organised three conferences with the Ministry of Justice, Health, and Social welfare respectively, in conjunction with UNICEF to produce new draft laws on protecting children in Nigeria.

This draft stimulated the government to develop the current Child Right Act of 2003.

The Act defines a new child rights and welfare; rights which were not present in CYPA. It created a discretionary guardian who is a legal practitioner ad litem position for representation of the child; “the court may, for the purpose of any specified proceedings, appoint a guardian ad litem for the child concerned to safeguard the interest of the child, unless it is satisfied that it is not necessary to do so.� Additionally, the court has the power “to consult the wishes of the child in considering what order ought to be made in protective proceedings�, and the child has the right to “exercise on his (or her) free choice.�

The questions to ask at this juncture are, since we have all these laws in motion, why do we still have cases of child abuses and child labour unattended? Does the judiciary processes in Nigeria really consult the wishes of a child during proceedings?

Another of such situation that never knocks off minds was on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in the ancient city of Benin; precisely under a food seller’s shelter around Lucky Way, Oba-Market, in Ring Road. Haven made a paltry N200 since 6a.m. he has been hanging on a bus for a driver, 12 years old Destiny Osarieme was seen voraciously gobbling punches of Santana (a strong and big Fufu); as it is usually called in Benin, without paying attention to onlookers.

The fear of him not shocking himself warranted the admonishment; “Oh boy!

Take it easy�, with little knowledge that it was going to lead to a very heart touching

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

39

CITYSTRINGS

conversation with THISDAY. According to Destiny, he explained that, he had been working with a driver since the previous day as a bus conductor, but when it was time for the driver to pay him; the driver absconded pretending to have an emergency. So he went to sleep in a regular store front he normally sleeps with empty stomach. The next day, he woke up around 6a.m. and started work with a new driver and at about 10a.m. he insisted on the driver paying him for the turns he has done. The driver agreed and paid him N200. And that was what he came to buy One-man One-vote (as Santana is nicknamed in Benin) with, even without meat.

Further narrating how he became a conductor, he said his parents were separated when he was much younger. His father whom he used to stay with remarried a woman who maltreated him and his other two brothers.

On a faithful day, he was sent to wash the dishes, while washing it, one of it mistakenly broke. Immediately, the step-mother rushed out, and dealt with him mercilessly, and even marked his back with pieces from the broken bottle. After being starved for about two days without food, he devised a means to run away from home to beg for food in a party. And that happened to be the last time he ever stepped his foot into his father’s compound, and instead devised means for himself to survive from working as bus conductor.

The Child Right Act of 2003 is supposed to be fully adopted and implemented by all 36 states in Nigeria. However, research shows that this is not the case. Only few states in Nigeria have noticeably adopted the full implementation of the Act, but are the system favourable?

Child abuse seems to have taken a different dimension in Nigeria. It is no longer the conventionally known cases, that is molestation, hawking, house help, sales person, but has further degenerated into children working as commercial bus conductors. This is dire to the future of Nigeria, if children are still considered as the future leaders of tomorrow. The risk it poses is immeasurable, if not curtailed with all urgency.

In September 2015, at an historical UN Summit, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; with an aim of going further to end all forms of poverty, were adopted by world leaders. Among these goals are; no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, decent work and economic growth. Unfortunately, this issue of children conductors has revealed that a lot still needs to be done by Nigeria if the UN goals must be met by 2030. These children found themselves where they are today not entirely because of the choices they made but the options the society they

In September 2015, at an historical UN Summit, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; with an aim of going further to end all forms of poverty, were adopted by world leaders.

Among these goals are; no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, decent work and economic growth. Unfortunately, this issue of children conductors has revealed that a lot still needs to be done by Nigeria if the UN goals must be met by 2030

Child conductor in New Benin, Edo State

A child conductor

Child conductor in Lagos State

found themselves had provided them with.

Aside not standing a chance of gaining quality education, they are prone to several societal vices such as; hunger, threat to life,

unicef.org

alcohol and drug addiction, child abuse, bullying by drivers or commuters, sicknesses and diseases, epidemic outbreak, truancy, ritualism, cultism, and a host of others. They

likewise pose as a major threat to life, security and development of this country Nigeria.

And except things are done rapidly, the society awaits another Evans.

T H I S D AY Ëž , MARCH 28, 2018

40

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Banks to Accelerate Financial Inclusion with 500,000 Agent Networks Obinna Chima Commercial banks in Nigeria in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the licenced mobile money operators and the super agents, yesterday disclosed plan to aggressively roll-out 500,000 agent networks to offer basic financial services across the country.

The financial services to be offered under this arrangement include cash-in, cash-out, fund transfer, bill payments, airline purchase, government disbursements as well as remote BVN enrolment to an estimated 50 million Nigerians that are currently under-banked or unbanked.

According to the plan, the CBN and banks would over the next few months roll out new initiatives, products and services to accelerate financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The approved CBN-Bankers Committees roll-out ratio

include: North-East -30 per cent; North-West -30 per cent; North Central – 20 per cent; South-south -7.5 per cent; South-east – 7.5 per cent; and South-west -five per cent.

Speaking with journalists at a media conference together with his colleagues, the chief executive of Access Bank Plc/ Chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs, Mr. Herbert Wigwe explained that the 10 licenced mobile money operators and super agents are expected to immediately deploy financial services agents’ outlets in underserved urban and rural areas in the country. He said higher priority would be given to the northern geo-political zones of the country where financial exclusion is most prominent.

According to Wigwe, over the next three years, Nigerian banks aim to on-board and formally bank 60 million additional Nigerians, an average of 20

million yearly, as well as enrol 40 million Nigerians for BVN. He added: “To this end, renewed focus will be given to driving low cost digital access, broadening financial literacy campaign, creating micro loans, micro insurance and micro investment products for the benefit of the excluded, the underserved and lowincome Nigerians. “This agreement reflects our commitment to aggressively pursue the CBN 2020 financial inclusion target in an integrated way with minimal systemic risk to the financial system�

Also speaking at the event, the chief executive of the United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, stressed that the initiative would help take banking services to those that had been excluded from the financial system. “Be rest assured that people who will come to the network based on the extended infra-

Broad street

UBA Expands London Presence, Secures Wholesale Banking Licence

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday announced that its London subsidiary has obtained regulatory permission to carry out wholesale banking activities in the United Kingdom.

Following the authorisation, a statement from the bank stated that UBA is now the only African bank to conduct banking activities in New York and London, as well as in 20 other countries across Africa.

As part of the transformation process, resulting from the authorisation, the current name of UBA Capital (Europe) Limited will change to United Bank for Africa (UK) Limited, the bank explained.

In addition to a full suite of

treasury services, cash management, corporate lending and wholesale deposit offerings to professional and eligible counterparties, the operations of United Bank for Africa (UK) Limited now extends to all aspects of trade finance; issuance, acceptance, confirmation and refinancing of Letters of Credit of different variations, including SBLCs. Commenting on the achievement, the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA PLC, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka said the authorisation would strengthen the bank’s capabilities in meeting the growing cross-border financing needs of our customers. “It enhances our customer coverage and product offerings

whilst positioning our Group as an optimal conduit for trade and foreign investments into and across Africa as well as export flows to the United Kingdom.

Importantly, the licence will enable us to fulfill our aspiration of deepening financial intermediation in Sub-Saharan Africa and providing the muchneeded financial support to the broader real sector of the African economy,� he added.

On his part, the CEO of UBA UK Limited, Mr. Andrew Martin said: “This enhanced positioning of our business is timely, as it comes at a time when the UK is seeking to expand trade and broaden economic ties with Nigeria and Africa in general.�

CBN Intervenes in Forex Market with $210m The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday intervened in the interbank sector of the foreign exchange market to the tune of $210 million.

Figures obtained from the Bank indicated that the wholesale sector of the market got a boost of $100 million, while the SMEs and invisibles sectors were each offered $55 million.

According to the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department at the Bank, Isaac Okorafor, Tuesday’s interventions were in continuation of the

Bank’s commitment to maintain stability in the market as well as enhance production and trade.

Okorafor said the monetary regulator was pleased with the cooperation by players in the inter-bank market, which he noted had enjoyed a great deal of stability and seamless access of customers to foreign exchange following regular interventions by the CBN. Continuing, Okorafor expressed optimism that the first Monetary Policy meeting (MPC) of the CBN billed for

early next month will add fillip to the monetary policy activities of the Bank. He therefore urged Nigerians to remain optimistic about the economic outlook for 2018, stressing that the CBN remained people-centred.

The CBN had last Friday intervened once more by injecting the sum of $339.89 million in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS).

Meanwhile, the naira exchanged at N360/$1 in the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market yesterday.

Broad Money (M2)

21,851,454.31

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,890,813.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,523,239.91

---- Demand Deposits

8,367,573.19

-- Quasi Money

11,960,641.22

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,732,990.89

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,118,463.42

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,821,446.81

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,824,226.22

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,834,536.74

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-3,010,310.52

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,997,220.59

--Other Assets Net

-14,702,983.39

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,486,804.65

--Currency in Circulation

1,868,735.07

--Banks Reserves

3,268,266.17 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

AUGUST 2017 22.63

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.35

Savings Deposit Rate

4.08

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.86

3 Months Deposit Rate

10.14

Aso Savings Denies Milost Global’s $250m Investment Deal

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.51

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.40

Prime Lending rate

17.69

Plc has not entered into any agreement with Milost Global Inc. Members of the public are implored to disregard the false news that has pervaded the media. “Any change to ASO’s business structure or operations will be duly communicated by the Bank through the appropriate channels. ASO will continue to strive to be the Mortgage Bank of choice and explore innovative ways to meet the housing needs in Nigeria.�

Maximum Lending Rate

31.20

Aso Savings and Loans Plc has denied refuted media reports that an American private equity firm, Milost Global incorporated had concluded plan to invest $250 million into the institution.

Aso Savings, according to a report by Business Post, said in a statement that it had not entered into any agreement with Milost Global.

It therefore appealed to members of the public to disregard the information,

describing it as “false.�

It stated: “The management of ASO Savings & Loans Plc is aware of the recent news in the print and electronic media suggesting that Milost Global Inc is set to inject $250million equity capital into ASO Savings & Loans Plc. “We dismiss this claim and wish to state that ASO had at no time issued any notice to Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as purported in the media. ASO Savings & Loans

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2017

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MON, MARCH 26, 2018 Vienna, Austria, 27 March 2018--The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $66.80 a barrel on Monday, compared with $66.39 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. . The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY Ëž , MARCH 28, 2018

41

MARKET NEWS

African Prudential Shareholders Approve N800 Million Dividend Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

AGM, the National Coordinator Emeritus, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir. Sunny Nwosu, hailed the company for declaring the dividend, which translates to 40 Kobo in spite of the various projects the company undertook in the year under review. “I really want to appreciate the management of this company for its doggedness

Shareholders of Africa Prudential Plc yesterday approved the N800million dividend recommended by the board of directors for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The shareholders gave the approval at the 5th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. Speaking at the

and hard work in its activities in the past year, which has translated to the payment of 40 kobo dividend, a significant increase from the 30 kobo which we received last year,� he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Bisi Bakare of Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, was full of praises for the management of the company. According to her,

year - and a profit before tax of N2.06 billion which represent an increase of 43 per cent over the previous year�.

According to him, in 2017, they emphasised the need for diversification of their business portfolio to achieve long term sustainability and viability of their business which necessitated the change of name that was approved at the last AGM.

results for the year under review, the Managing Director/CEO of Africa Prudential Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade said: “Despite the challenging operating environment in 2017, the company ended the year with an impressive performance.

The company recorded a turnover of N3.36 billion - a growth of 38 per cent over the previous fiscal financial

shareholders are proud of the achievements of the company especially with the introduction of key products into its bouquets such as Easycoop, E-records, USSD *4018# and VAR. She urged the company to do more to make the shareholders continue to smile in the coming financial dispensation.

Commenting on the financial

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

A S AT 2 7 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 8

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES 1

COMPANY

PCLOSE

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

%

CLOSE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

VALUE

110,955.50

38

FTNCOCOA

0.21

0.20

0.20

0.20

-

0.20

-0.01

-4.76

8

489,320

39

GLAXOS-

28.05

29.45

30.90

29.45

4.69

30.90

2.85

10.16

53

3,892,519

97,864.00

SPREAD

2

ABCTRANS

0.48

0.50

0.50

0.50

-

0.50

0.02

4.17

4

221,911

3

ACCESS

11.35

11.30

11.40

11.25

1.32

11.35

-

0.44

273

16,691,099

4

AFRINSURE

0.22

0.22

0.22

0.22

-

0.22

-

-

2

5

4.07

4.08

4.08

4.08

-

4.08

0.01

0.25

6

AGLEVENT

0.67

0.64

-

-

-

0.67

-

7

AIICO

0.69

0.70

0.68

0.67

1.47

0.67

8

BERGER

9.85

-

-

-

-

9.85

120,096,717.10

MITH

189,704,759.60

40

GSPECPLC

6.35

-

-

-

-

6.35

-

-

7

67

1,508,935

331,965.70

41

45.30

46.00

46.55

46.00

1.18

46.00

0.70

1.55

248

4,550,777

51

1,102,547

4,486,240.85

42

GUINEAINS

0.40

-

-

-

-

0.40

-

-

1

1,596

-

16

922,402

592,641.90

43

GUINNESS

105.00

103.00

103.00

103.00

-

103.00

-2.00

-1.90

82

976,524

-0.02

-2.90

34

6,390,443

4,285,153.97

44

HMARKINS

0.32

0.33

0.33

0.33

-

0.33

0.01

3.13

5

1,640,991

-

-

12

32,865

309,775.50

45

-

2.51

-

-

-

-

2.51

-

-

40

684,799

445.55

210,673,620.55

606.48

100,312,937.00

541,427.03

1,696,112.96

FLOUR 9

BETAGLAS

75.70

-

-

-

-

75.70

-

-

2

1,066

76,698.70

10

BOCGAS

4.60

-

-

-

-

4.60

-

-

2

850

11

15.25

14.50

14.50

14.50

-

14.50

-0.75

-4.92

72

391,538

5,750,033.50

12

CAP

38.75

-

-

-

-

38.75

-

-

46

304,075

11,755,969.45

13

CAVERTON

2.61

2.50

2.50

2.50

-

2.50

-0.11

-4.21

27

555,850

1,403,915.75

14

CCNN

18.75

19.65

19.65

19.65

-

19.65

0.90

4.80

44

640,512

12,517,958.30

15

CHAMPION

2.71

-

-

-

-

2.71

-

-

6

28,084

73,854.79

16

CILEASING

1.90

-

-

-

-

1.90

-

-

9

94,987

171,926.47

17

CONOIL

33.45

-

-

-

-

33.45

-

-

22

67,165

2,135,847.00

18

CONTIN-

1.79

-

-

-

-

1.79

-

-

12

246,991

CORNERST

0.38

0.37

0.37

0.37

-

0.37

-0.01

-2.63

4

153,220

INITSPLC

0.86

-

-

-

-

0.86

-

-

1

10

8.20

47

INTBREW

57.00

54.15

54.15

54.15

-

54.15

-2.85

-5.00

5

104,302

5,648,039.10

48

INTENEGINS

0.50

0.48

0.48

0.48

-

0.48

-0.02

-4.00

1

157,000

75,360.00

49

JAIZBANK

0.91

0.88

0.88

0.88

-

0.88

-0.03

-3.30

22

823,450

727,827.21

50

JAPAULOIL

0.69

0.72

0.75

0.69

8.00

0.71

0.02

2.90

405

80,287,150

58,083,004.35

51

JBERGER

25.90

25.90

25.90

25.90

-

25.90

-

-

15

509,775

13,193,977.50

52

JOHNHOLT

0.54

-

-

-

-

0.54

-

-

4

53,000

53

JULI

1.67

-

-

-

-

1.67

-

-

1

10

54

LASACO

0.36

0.35

0.35

0.35

-

0.35

-0.01

-2.78

13

459,482

161,003.70

55

LAWUNION

0.71

-

-

-

-

0.71

-

-

6

31,420

22,959.67

LEAR-

0.97

-

-

-

-

0.97

-

-

5

350

0.84

0.81

0.83

0.81

2.41

0.83

-0.01

-1.19

6

1,300,000

29,295.04

15.90

432,904.61

SURE

19

46 3,910.00

56,691.40

56

353.50

NAFRCA 20

COURT-

0.26

0.26

0.26

0.26

-

0.26

-

-

7

224,100

58,175.00

VILLE

57

LINKAS-

1,054,145.54

SURE 21

4.51

4.73

-

-

-

4.51

-

-

31

426,065

22

CUTIX

2.81

-

-

-

-

2.81

-

-

5

20,035

23

255.00

-

-

-

-

255.00

-

-

14

4,143

24

-

15.95

15.95

15.95

15.95

-

15.95

-

-

97

1,664,012

2,102,923.74

-

LIVESTOCK

0.95

0.98

0.98

0.98

-

0.98

0.03

3.16

19

684,303

59

2.55

2.55

2.55

2.55

-

2.55

-

-

4

1,188,500

60

2.73

-

-

-

-

2.73

-

-

18

236,649

61

MBENEFIT

0.37

-

-

-

-

0.37

-

-

1

1,000

62

MOBIL

184.50

176.10

183.00

176.00

3.83

177.00

-7.50

-4.07

18

1,150,636

63

MORISON

0.55

-

-

-

-

0.55

-

-

2

10,468

64

MRS

27.00

28.35

28.35

28.35

-

28.35

1.35

5.00

9

328,232

MULTI-

0.23

0.24

0.23

0.23

-

0.23

-

-

7

1,136,150

673,128.85

3,030,675.00

1,066,645.00 665,383.24

26,438,765.25

FLOUR

25

58 54,622.80

21.15

21.15

21.80

21.15

2.98

21.80

0.65

3.07

61

786,597

16,887,600.60

2.05

2.00

2.04

1.90

6.86

1.90

-0.15

-7.32

125

9,233,087

18,059,225.78

360.00

203,976,396.50

SUGAR

26

BNK

27

0.35

-

-

-

-

0.35

-

-

1

5,000

1,700.00

65

5,757.40

9,305,377.20

262,366.00

VERSE 28

-

0.35

0.34

0.34

0.34

-

0.34

-0.01

-2.86

1

200,000

68,000.00

SUR

66

NAHCO

3.90

3.83

3.85

3.85

-

3.85

-0.05

-1.28

37

828,695

3,232,604.43

29

ETERNA

6.14

6.20

6.30

6.15

2.38

6.30

0.16

2.61

49

1,557,383

9,737,560.34

67

NASCON

20.90

-

-

-

-

20.90

-

-

46

406,019

8,266,563.70

30

ETI

18.00

18.05

18.05

17.10

5.26

17.10

-0.90

-5.00

57

2,305,254

40,430,517.40

68

NB

129.00

127.20

128.10

127.20

0.70

128.10

-0.90

-0.70

46

404,913

51,815,962.50

31

FBNH

12.60

12.50

12.55

12.25

2.39

12.35

-0.25

-1.98

429

24,328,302

301,219,346.20

69

NEIMETH

0.82

-

-

-

-

0.82

-

-

2

2,000

32

FCMB

2.43

2.32

2.46

2.32

5.69

2.40

-0.03

-1.23

77

4,009,268

9,502,145.50

70

NEM

2.76

2.72

2.72

2.69

1.10

2.69

-0.07

-2.54

14

476,800

1,287,832.00

33

2.71

2.69

2.69

2.58

4.09

2.58

-0.13

-4.80

168

11,041,385

28,775,039.60

71

NESTLE

1,320.00

19.00

1.44

33

35,215

47,069,065.10

34

6.00

-

-

-

-

6.00

-

-

5

14,307

81,549.90

72

NNFM

6.25

-

-

-

-

6.25

-

-

1

5,000

31,000.00

35

FIRSTALUM

0.53

0.55

0.55

0.55

-

0.55

0.02

3.77

2

500,000

275,000.00

73

NPFM-

2.12

-

-

-

-

2.12

-

-

5

22,450

45,349.00

5.99

5.99

5.99

5.99

-

5.99

-

-

42

10,329,885

-

1,560.00

CRFBK 36

FLOURMILL

38.00

38.00

38.00

37.80

0.53

38.00

-

-0.13

80

3,061,406

116,211,901.80

37

FO

40.00

41.80

42.00

41.80

0.48

41.90

1.90

4.75

84

1,312,145

54,917,396.85

74

61,876,011.15

WEDNESDAY, ͰͶ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

42

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž >ŽƐĞƐ ϲϯďƉƐ

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ ϲϯďƉƐ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϵϳ͘Ϭϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ zd ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘Ϭй͘ dŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ & E, ;ͲϮ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ Ϯϴ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Current Price

WƌŽĮƚ dĂŬŝŶŐ ƌĂŐƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ZĞĚ͘​͘​͘ E^ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϱϭďƉƐ ^ƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ďLJ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͕ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝƌĚ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϱϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϰϭ͕Ϯϰϯ͘Ϯϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϳ͘ϴй͘ >ŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ ^ W> d ;Ͳ ϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚƌĂŐƐ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌĞĚƵĐĞĚ ƚŽ Eϭϱ͘ϬƚŶ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϳϲ͘ϯďŶ ŝŶ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ϳ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϯϱϮ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ Eϰ͘ϭďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ : W h> K/> ;ϴϬ͘ϯŵͿ͕ E/d, ;ϱϵ͘ϵŵͿ ĂŶĚ & E, ;Ϯϰ͘ϯŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ E/d, ;Eϭ͘ϴďŶͿ͕ & E, ;EϯϬϭ͘ϮŵͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;EϮϭϬ͘ϳŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ŵĞƌŐĞƐ >ŽŶĞ 'ĂŝŶĞƌ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ůŽƐŝŶŐ Ϯ͘ϳй ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ϭ͘Ϭй ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ E/d, ;Ͳ Ϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ d/ ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐůŝĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ E D ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ͕ > ^ K ;ͲϮ͘ϴйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϵй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ t W K ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ EE ;нϰ͘ϴйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĂŶĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϳdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘Ϭdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ ĂƐ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͛ ĐŚĂƌƚ ǁĂƐ ƚŽƉƉĞĚ ďLJ '> yK^D/d, ;нϭϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ t D ;нϵ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ DZ^ K/> ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ / DKE ;Ͳϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ d/ ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͛ ĐŚĂƌƚ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ĐůŽƐĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ͘ KƵƌ ǀŝĞǁ ŝƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ďƵƩƌĞƐƐĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ZĞůĂƟǀĞ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ /ŶĚĞdž ;Z^/Ϳ͕ Ă ƚĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ͕ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ Ăƚ ϯϯ͘ϴ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌƐŽůĚ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŝŶ &ŽĐƵƐ͗ ĂŶŐŽƚĞ ĞŵĞŶƚ WůĐ ; E' DͿ ĂŶŐŽƚĞ ĞŵĞŶƚ WůĐ ;͞ E' D͟ Žƌ ͞ƚŚĞ 'ƌŽƵƉ͟Ϳ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ Yϰͬ &z͗ϮϬϭϳ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůůLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂĐƟŽŶ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ͕ ĂƐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĚƌŽƉƉĞĚ ϳ͘Ϭй zͲŽͲz ƚŽ Ϯϭ͘ϵDDd ĨƌŽŵ Ϯϯ͘ϲDDd ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϲ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ;Ͳ ϭϱ͘ϵй ƚŽ ϭϮ͘ϳDDdͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŽīƐĞƚ ƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶ WĂŶͲ ĨƌŝĐĂ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ;нϴ͘ϰй ƚŽ ϵ͘ϰDDdͿ͘ tĞ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞ ůŽǁĞƌ ƐĂůĞƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ƚŽ ǁĞĂŬ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĨĞĞĚďĂĐŬ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŚŝŬĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ WĂŶͲ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƌĞŇĞĐƚƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƌ ƐĂůĞƐ ŝŶ ĂŵĞƌŽŽŶ ;нϭϳ͘ϰйͿ͕ ƚŚŝŽƉŝĂ ;нϭϰ͘ϵйͿ͕ ^ĞŶĞŐĂů ;нϮϴ͘ϮйͿ͕ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ;нϯϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŵďŝĂ ;нϱ͘ϯйͿ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŶĞǁ ǀŽůƵŵĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĞĚ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ŽŶŐŽ ĂŶĚ ^ŝĞƌƌĂ >ĞŽŶĞ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϭϳ͘ dŚĞ 'ƌŽƵƉ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĨĂĐĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ŝŶ 'ŚĂŶĂ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ dŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ůŽǁĞƌ 'ƌŽƵƉ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŽŶ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ǁĂƐ ŵƵƚĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ Ă ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂĐƟŽŶƐ ƚĂŬĞŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ;ƉƌŝĐĞ ƉĞƌ ƚŽŶŶĞ ƵƉ ϱϰ͘ϭй zͲŽͲzͿ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŬĞLJ WĂŶͲ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ 'ŚĂŶĂ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ŐƵŝĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĐĂůů ŚĞůĚ ŽŶ ϮϬͬϬϯͬϮϬϭϴ ƚŚĂƚ ƐĂůĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶŝŶŐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŌĞƌ Ă ƐůŽǁ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ Ă ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϴ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ĂŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĂŶĚ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞĚ ĐĂƵƟŽƵƐ ĐĞŵĞŶƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ƚǁŽ ĞdžƉŽƌƚ ƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐ ĂƌĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚĞĚ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ; ƉĂƉĂ ĂŶĚ KŶŶĞͿ ƚŽ ĞdžƉŽƌƚ ĐůŝŶŬĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĐĞŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ WĂŶͲ ĨƌŝĐĂ ƐĂůĞƐ ƚŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƌĂŵƉ ƵƉ ŝŶ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ ƵƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŶĞǁůLJ ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĞĚ ƉůĂŶƚƐ ; ŽŶŐŽ ĂŶĚ ^ŝĞƌƌĂ >ĞŽŶĞͿ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƌĞŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ůŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌŝůLJ ŵŽƚŚďĂůůĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŚŝŐŚ ĞŶĞƌŐLJ ĐŽƐƚ͘ DŽƌĞƐŽ͕ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ ^ĂůĞƐ ƌĂƟŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ϱϮ͘ϲй ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϲ ƚŽ ϰϯ͘ϲй͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƵƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ůĞƐƐ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŬŝůŶ ĨƵĞů ŵŝdž ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĐŽŵƉƌŝƐŝŶŐ ŵĂŝŶůLJ ŽĨ 'ĂƐ ;ϲϬй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ǀƐ͘ ϰϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲͿ ĂŶĚ ŽĂů ;ϯϴй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ǀƐ͘ ϯϰ͘ϱй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲͿ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ >W&K ;ϭ͘ϱй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ ǀƐ͘ ϮϮ͘ϱй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲͿ͘ dŚŝƐ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ /d ŵĂƌŐŝŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ;ƵƉ ϴ͘ϱƉƉƚ ƚŽ ϲϱ͘ϯйͿ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ůŽǁ ďĂƐĞ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϲ ǁŚĞŶ ŵĂƌŐŝŶ ǁĂƐ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŐĂƐ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĐŽŶƐƚƌĂŝŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ >W&K ƵƐĂŐĞ͘

'ŽŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ǁĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŽŶ E' D ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƐĂůĞƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚŽ ƌŝƐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌŝŶŐ ŽƵƚƉƵƚ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ ƌĂŵƉ ƵƉ ŝŶ ŬĞLJ WĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Previous Current Price Weighting Change

Price Change YTD

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,697.09

-0.63%

10.0%

69.7%

27.0%

8.3%

7.7x

1.0x

4.5%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

46.00

1.5%

22.0%

12.9%

13.4%

30.6%

5.2%

7.6x

2.2x

5.9%

12.9% 13.1%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

29.85

-2.1%

13.8%

16.4%

15.1%

23.3%

3.4%

5.3x

1.1x

9.9%

19.0%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

128.10

-0.7%

7.8%

-5.0%

-5.1%

19.2%

8.8%

30.9x

5.7x

3.2%

3.2%

1,339.00

1.4%

6.3%

-13.9%

-13.9%

89.0%

21.3%

31.5x

23.6x

3.2%

3.2%

255.00

0.0%

6.3%

10.9%

10.9%

26.3%

12.4%

21.9x

5.7x

4.1%

4.6%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

6

FBN Holdings Plc

12.35

-2.0%

7.0%

40.3%

40.5%

2.6%

0.3%

20.1x

0.7x

1.6%

5.0%

7

Access Bank PLC

11.35

0.0%

4.4%

8.6%

7.1%

15.1%

2.0%

4.6x

0.6x

7.0%

21.7%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

11.80

-1.3%

4.6%

14.6%

13.4%

16.1%

2.0%

5.3x

0.8x

7.2%

18.8%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

17.10

-5.0%

3.0%

0.6%

5.1%

10.3%

0.8%

6.4x

0.6x

3.6%

15.5%

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

665.10

-5.0%

3.0%

6.2%

6.2%

19.4%

11.1%

3.9x

0.7x

46.30

0.0%

2.9%

11.6%

13.2%

28.7%

3.4%

10.7x

2.8x

1.1%

103.00

-1.9%

2.3%

9.6%

9.6%

14.6%

5.6%

19.3x

2.7x

0.6%

5.2%

48.70

1.5%

1.6%

8.5%

8.5%

47.1%

9.8%

4.4x

7.4x

2.0%

23.0%

5.4%

44.4%

2.3%

11.8%

26.0%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

12

Guinness Nigeria PLC

9.4%

13

Lafarge Africa PLC

14

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.58

-4.8%

1.2%

4.9%

0.0%

8.0%

1.1%

2.3x

0.4x

15

Oando PLC

5.99

0.0%

1.2%

0.0%

0.0%

40.7%

4.2%

2.7x

0.6x

16

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

21.80

3.1%

1.1%

9.0%

7.1%

43.2%

19.8%

8.5x

3.3x

17

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

72.00

0.0%

1.1%

6.4%

6.4%

37.4%

25.9%

9.6x

3.1x

2.1%

10.4%

18

Unilever Nigeria PLC

52.45

0.0%

1.3%

27.9%

30.4%

50.3%

8.4%

32.3x

12.3x

0.2%

3.1%

19

International Brew eries PLC

54.15

-5.0%

0.7%

-0.6%

-1.5%

24.6%

7.4%

56.7x

12.9x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

38.00

0.0%

0.8%

31.0%

31.0%

13.1%

3.0%

7.9x

0.9x

2.4%

12.6%

37.0%

1.8%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.86

-4.6%

0.7%

27.4%

25.7%

19.6%

4.1%

7.4x

1.3x

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

18.50

1.6%

0.6%

9.5%

9.5%

6.3%

2.2%

11.9x

0.8x

1.90

-7.3%

0.6%

26.7%

21.0%

2.5%

0.3%

7.7x

0.2x

240.00

-1.5%

0.5%

4.4%

4.4%

31.0%

6.5%

10.2x

2.9x

7.1%

9.8%

2.40

-1.2%

0.7%

51.9%

3.8%

0.6%

7.0x

0.3x

4.2%

14.4%

177.00

-4.1%

4.5%

10.6%

2.3%

4.8%

13.5% 5.3%

8.4%

23

Diamond Bank PLC

24

Total Nigeria PLC

25

FCMB Group Plc

26

11 PLC

0.4%

-9.0%

-9.0%

32.6%

12.0%

9.4x

2.6x

27

Forte Oil PLC

41.90

4.8%

0.4%

-3.6%

-0.2%

44.3%

3.7%

10.6x

4.7x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

22.00

-0.2%

0.4%

6.8%

4.0%

10.7%

5.0%

20.8x

2.1x

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

14.50

-4.9%

0.3%

-7.5%

-7.1%

2.6%

1.1%

57.1x

2.3x

1.1%

1.8%

30

Presco PLC

72.00

0.0%

0.4%

5.1%

5.1%

42.9%

25.9%

3.5x

1.3x

2.1%

28.2%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

20.90

0.0%

0.3%

13.0%

8.7%

54.6%

19.5%

10.4x

4.8x

7.2%

9.7%

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

32

13.0%

9.5%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.40

-4.5%

0.3%

-17.9%

-14.8%

5.6%

1.2%

8.2x

0.4x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

25.90

0.0%

0.3%

-7.5%

-7.5%

17.3%

1.8%

7.2x

1.1x

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.75

-2.8%

0.4%

62.0%

54.9%

6.1%

0.6%

9.2x

0.5x

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

15.95

0.0%

0.3%

31.3%

31.3%

61.6%

15.8%

5.2x

2.2x

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

30.90

10.2%

0.3%

43.0%

43.0%

61.2%

23.6%

6.4x

2.3x

24.3%

15.6%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

38.75

0.0%

0.2%

14.0%

8.5%

66.2%

30.2%

18.1x

12.1x

5.2%

5.5%

39

Beta Glass PLC

75.70

0.0%

0.1%

47.5%

47.5%

18.4%

11.9%

10.7x

1.8x

1.4%

9.4%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

4.7%

2.8%

21.2x

1.0x

1.8%

4.7%

T o p 10 G a ine r s

12.2% 3.9%

19.4%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

GLA XOSM IT H

30.90

10.2%

J A P A ULOIL

80.3

2.9%

0.85

9.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

59.9

-2.1%

WEM A B A N K

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

M RS

28.35

5.0%

FB NH

24.3

-2.0%

CCNN

19.65

4.8%

T R A N SC OR P

22.2

-4.6%

FO

41.90

4.8%

A C C ESS

16.7

0.0%

UA C -P R OP

3.15

4.3%

UB N

11.4

-4.5%

A B CTRA NS

0.50

4.2%

F ID ELIT YB K

11.0

-4.8%

UN IT YKA P

0.25

4.2%

OA N D O

10.3

0.0%

F IR ST A LUM

0.55

3.8%

D IA M ON D B N K

9.2

-7.3%

R EGA LIN S

0.29

3.6%

WA P IC

8.6

3.5%

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 P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

D IA M ON D B N K

1.90

-7.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1799.2

-2.1%

ET I

17.10

-5.0%

FB NH

301.2

-2.0%

T ic k er

IN T B R EW SEP LA T

13.9% 10.9%

P ric e C hg %

54.15

-5.0%

GUA R A N T Y

210.7

1.5%

665.10

-5.0%

M OB IL

204.0

-4.1% 0.0%

C A D B UR Y

14.50

-4.9%

A C C ESS

189.7

F ID ELIT YB K

2.58

-4.8%

UA C N

145.8

1.6%

F T N C OC OA

0.20

-4.8%

GLA XOSM IT H

120.1

10.2%

T R A N SC OR P

1.86

-4.6%

F LOUR M ILL

116.2

0.0%

UB N

6.40

-4.5%

GUIN N ESS

100.3

-1.9%

UN IT YB N K

1.29

-4.4%

ST A N B IC

74.9

0.0%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

43

˾ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ OTC Admits N3.15bn LAPO Microfinance Bank SPV Plc Bond Goddy Egene

FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange yesterday admitted the LAPO MFB SPV Plc Series 1 N3.15 billion 17.75 per cent 5-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bond under a N20 billion Bond Issuance Programme, the first ever microfinance bank bond in Nigeria to be listed on the platform.

Speaking at the listing ceremony, Associate Vice President, Market Architecture Division, FMDQ, Ms. Jumoke Olaniyan, applauded the issuer

for having successfully raised N3.15 billion from the domestic capital markets and for setting the pace for other microfinance banks planning to raise capital in the Nigerian DCM. She further commended the issuer for joining the league of corporate entities whose debt profiles have been raised via the value-packed listings and quotations service offered by FMDQ. Olaniyan reiterated the OTC Exchange’s commitment to continually align its strategies and innovation to serve and provide the muchneeded support to the players

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

in the DCM. In his address, Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said the demand for capital from micro, small and medium businesses is high.

“And as a pro-poor financial institution, LAPO Microfinance is committed to the social and economic empowerment of low-income households through provision of access to responsive financial services on a sustainable basis. With excellent corporate governance, experienced management, committed staff and extensive

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-Mar-2018, unless otherwise stated.

footprints across Nigeria, LAPO Microfinance is poised to deliver its core mandate of enhancing financial inclusion by continuously tapping the Nigerian DCM to raise capital to improve lives of the underprivileged,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Jude Chiemeka of United Capital Plc said: “We are delighted to have acted as financial adviser and issuing house in the successful execution of the LAPO MFB SPV Series 1 bond issue, which is the first of its kind in the microfinance industry. Coming from a

successful 2017, United Capital remains committed to making significant contributions to the OTC Exchange and to the success of our esteemed clients through our expertise in capital raising. We believe listing this instrument on the exchange will pave the way for other microfinance banks and allow them explore other funding sources available thereby establishing a robust domestic capital markets.”

Similarly, Mr. Tolu Osinibi of FCMB Capital Markets Limited, said: “We appreciate having been given the opportunity by the

issuer to play a leading role on this landmark transaction, where FCMB Capital Markets Limited acted as lead issuing house on the first ever bond issuance by a microfinance institution in Nigeria’s capital markets.

The success of this transaction speaks to LAPO’s institutional strength and an affirmation of this strength by investors in the bond. Following this success, we expect to see LAPO become a repeat issuer, and anticipate that this landmark transaction will open-up the capital markets to other microfinance institutions that meet the criteria.

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 188.75 189.51 6.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 242.48 244.26 4.46% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.86 0.87 5.13% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 4.85% 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 15.53% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.83 20.42 8.50% ARM Discovery Fund 418.38 430.99 7.53% ARM Ethical Fund 28.59 29.46 4.66% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.14% 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 14.95% Paramount Equity Fund 12.75 13.07 3.12% Women's Investment Fund 103.58 106.23 2.93% 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 15.21% 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 15.76% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.12 1.13 6.07% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.13 5.65% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,196.12 1,197.32 4.21% FBN Heritage Fund 147.95 149.31 6.15% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.10% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $114.74 $115.24 1.60% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $114.76 $115.27 1.72% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 181.65 184.48 12.80% 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 1.40 1.43 7.34% Legacy Debt Fund 2.98 2.98 3.22% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,142.41 3,175.80 5.27% Coral Income Fund 2,553.67 2,553.67 4.38% 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 14.45% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.07% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.20 2.22 4.25% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 16.42% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 119.33 119.70 3.76%

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 1.37% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,061.46 1,061.46 2.93% 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 16.66 16.81 18.19% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.09% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.31 1.33 9.96% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.46 11.50 3.72% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.23% 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 142.46 145.05 10.65% 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 1.54 1.54 3.68% 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 2,368.28 2,387.98 5.58% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 180.19 180.19 2.12% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.08 1.09 7.43% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 229.70 229.79 4.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 191.53 193.67 6.94% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.82% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,290.72 10,431.57 6.43% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.08 1.08 1.89% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.34 -0.63% United Capital Bond Fund 1.62 1.62 3.21% United Capital Equity Fund 1.01 1.03 9.80% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.41% United Capital Eurobond Fund 104.96 104.96 2.00% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.13 3.21% 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 13.38 13.58 6.80% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.04 14.20 5.97% Zenith Income Fund 19.70 19.70 4.12% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.50%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

10.00 134.23

-11.35% 1.34%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.31 160.81 118.45

12.41 164.27 120.67

1.56% 12.60% 8.42%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

5.33 9.60 19.03 22.27 156.43

5.37 9.68 19.13 22.47 158.43

12.34% 0.32% 7.13% 13.15% 5.25%

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.

44

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

45

Vol. 1 Issue 38 Mar. 28, 2018

Nextier Power is a consulting firm that provides policy advisory, investment advisory, and support services to the electricity supply industry. The firm aims to use this weekly publication to educate Nigerians on the intricacies of the Nigeria electricity supply industry on the assumption that a more informed public would advocate for the right policies and programmes which, in turn, would lead to a robust market that delivers the electricity needs of Nigerians. This column will cover everything from the basics of the industry to the more intricate, sometimes, complex policies and programmes.

Should Utilities be Flexible to Change their Business Model?

Introduction The current Business Model in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is such that energy is generated by the Generating companies (GenCos) and transmitted to the Distribution companies (DisCos) by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The DisCos (identified as utilities in this article) then transfer the energy to the end consumers who pays for what is received.

This is a one-way communication system where all end consumers are connected to a centralized grid.

However, there is an existing prediction of a vicious cycle of decline in the utility industry due to decreasing sales from an increasing number of customers adopting Distributed Generation (DG). Industry experts dubbed the phenomenon a “Death Spiral”. Major advancements in electricity generation have aggressively improved efficiency and driven down the cost of these technologies. These bring to mind the fast approaching inception of the Death Spiral.

This article focuses on the necessities and possible ways of adopting a flexible business model at the downstream side of the NESI value chain, taking into consideration the predicted Death Spiral.

Need for Flexibility in the Business Model The current business model in the NESI has been in place since the time of the old Nigeria Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

However, with fast changing global technology trends (which is reflected in the increasing numbers of “prosumers”— i.e. customers who consume as well as produce energy) and fast growing disruptive innovations (solar distributed generation, lower cost and mass-scale storage solutions, vibrant and secure micro-grids), it is obvious that the once-clear boundaries of the natural monopoly of electric utilities are becoming blurred and more competitive markets are emerging. Hence, the need for a flexible, resilient and sustainable business model.

The recommended flexibility to the existing business model adaptable in the NESI include; i.

Partner of Partners Model A ‘partner of partners’ utility is a company that offers not only standard power and gas products, but also a range of other energyrelated services. The current service provided to the consumers by utilities is energy provision, however, this service can be enhanced by providing improved energy-related services. These services include energy audit, real time monitoring of energy usage and energy supply monitor. These services will help sustain consumers’ engagement, improve consumers’ insight into consumption patterns and enable consumers to gain more control over energy consumption with respect to energy supply. The

additions create a sense of responsibility and ownership for consumers, which in turn, could reduce the frictions experienced between utilities and consumers on their network. ii.

Solutions Provision On Privatisation, utility providers got assurance of geographical monopolies to ensure investors of business sustainability.

However, keeping some of the consumers within the utility providers’ network on the main grid is unprofitable for many considerations such as: their proximity to the main feeder, the service cost to keep them on the grid and their energy demand/usage.

Therefore, providing alternative solutions like low energy solar pack with flexible repayment option can prove to be a win-win for these consumers and the utility provider. Additional solutions which the utility providers can consider for their consumers includes behind the meter (BTM) devices and electric charging stations for future consumers. BTM devices are systems uniquely designed for a single building to reduce the amount of electricity bought by the building, to protect the building from the effects of power outage, etc. iii.

Big Data Adoption The daily operations of utility providers leave a huge chunk of data which has the potential to either be transformed into additional source of income or a massive liability consuming space and time. The data acquired by the utility providers has a huge potential of becoming the most reliable information for behavioural scoring, geospatial analysis and consumers’ segmentation in the country.

Therefore, the utilities not only serve as providers of electricity, but also providers of business insights. iv.

Crowd Funding Approach The biggest and fundamental issues facing the existing business model of the utility providers is the absence of investment funds to revamp the utilities’ networks.

This sad reality has translated into poor service delivery which continues to increase consumers’ dissatisfaction. The

utility provider can create a mutual benefit approach for their major consumers (especially the clustered ones) where the consumers can fund its utility provider to refurbish the segment of the network, which will improve their energy supply and quality in exchange for special service and billing.

This approach will allow a utility to take advantage of healthier profit margins, and also serve as a strategy to retain its consumer base.

Challenges to the flexible Business Model and Way forward Utilities Bankability and Existing Tariff With the existing debt profile of the utilities and the current level of financial exposure incurred by financial institutions from privatisation, it is almost impossible to get any institution (local and international) to invest in the utilities business. This problem is further worsened by the absence of a cost reflective tariff, without which investors will never be assured of a return on their investment.

NEPA ideology Prior to privatisation, electricity was treated more as a social commodity with an average consumer having a sense of entitlement to energy supply regardless of whether the consumer pay for the energy supplied or not; this is a NEPA ideology.

With the inception of a privatised electricity market in the NESI, electricity has completely become an economic commodity. However, the NEPA ideology still holds for a lot of utility consumers, thereby creating a huge revenue shortfall in the NESI. Collection Efficiency The current collection efficiency of the utilities is below average of their billing due to energy theft (consumers connected to the grid but do not pay for their energy consumption) and revenue theft (illegal fund collectors operating in utilities franchise – commonly known as NEPA 2 staffs). The existing collection efficiency has so far been a huge setback for the industry’s development.

However, with the huge lack of investment in the NESI, the utilities can benefit from discussing and developing a variety of frameworks with core investors and the regulator which will enable consumers investment in their network.

Lean Operations Lean operations management focuses on a company’s capability to concentrate solely on those activities that create value for customers, while maximising economic returns subject to mandated restrictions (for the regulated activities) or based on accepted risk levels (unregulated activities). This can be done by process improvements, optimisation of capital expenditure and changes in organisational structure.

Increased customer engagement and enlightenment It is essential for the utility to identify its customer base (consumers who pay for the energy consumed) and necessary or additional services to ensure they are kept on the grid. The burden falls on the utility to engage with the customers on: what services will be provided? By whom? At what cost? How will providers be compensated and incentivized? How will customers be engaged and incentivized?

This will help the utilities build and sustain a healthy relationship with their customers.

Conclusion Different flexibility approaches have been recommended above, however, it is acknowledged that one size does not fit all and every utility in the NESI has its operational uniqueness. This article serves as a call to utilities to start thinking and acting Innovatively. Utilities need to determine the future direction of their own markets, how these markets are affected by technological advancement and what this means for their business strategies. With fast changing global technology trends and growing disruptive innovations, there is an urgent need for utilities to develop a flexible, resilient, innovative and improved business model – a model for the utility of the future.

Author Oladiran Adesua is a Business Analyst focused on NESI Performance M&E and regulatory consulting.

Editor Chinazo Ifeanyi-Nwaoha is a power sector analyst focused on the interplay of policy-practice and regulation Next Topics

Way Forward Crowd funding framework The existing regulatory frameworks and performance agreements between government and utilities affirms a sole investment responsibility to the utilities.

Apr 04

Metering in the Nigeria Electricity Mix

Apr 11

Financing Nigeria’s Clean Energy Revolution

Apr 11

Electricity Customers' – Distribution Companies’ Relationship

www.nextierpower.com empower@nextierpower.com

46

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

47

48

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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

49

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

50

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Putin Blames ‘Criminal Negligence’ for Fire that Killed 41 Children President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday “criminal negligence” was to blame for a

Siberian mall fire that killed at least 64 people, including 41 children, after they found

NATO Joins Two Dozen Nations in Russian Expulsions over Spy Attack NATO joined two dozen governments around the world Tuesday in expelling Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in Britain, marking what London called a “turning point” in the West’s relations with Moscow, AFP reported.

The US-led military alliance expelled seven Russian staff and denied accreditation to three more, bringing the total number of suspected Russian spies expelled to almost 150, including the 23 initially dispatched by Britain.

“This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels.

In an unprecedented act of coordination, at least 24 countries have echoed Britain’s action in response to the March 4 attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter

in the English city of Salisbury.

London and its allies have blamed Moscow, citing the use of a Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok, Russia’s record of targeting dissidents and its history of aggression in recent years, from Crimea to cyberattacks.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the mass expulsions were “a blow from which Russian intelligence will need many years to recover”.

It “could become a turning point”, he wrote in The Times newspaper, adding:“The Western alliance took decisive action and Britain’s partners came together against the Kremlin’s reckless ambitions.”

Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer imprisoned

by Moscow for passing on information about Russian agents in various European countries, came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap.

themselves trapped in the inferno because of locked doors, according to AFP. Two days after the tragedy and after facing criticism on social media for the delay, the Kremlin announced a nationwide day of mourning for Wednesday as questions swirled about Putin’s response to one of the deadliest fires recorded in Russia over the past century.

A criminal probe has been opened and five people

have been arrested over the blaze, which raged through the busy shopping centre in the industrial city of Kemerovo in western Siberia on Sunday afternoon.

Investigators said the victims and dozens of animals were burned alive or suffocated because emergency exits were locked, notably at one of the cinema halls where children were watching cartoons.

Forty-one children were among the dead, Russian

state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing a source in the regional emergencies services.

Putin visited a makeshift memorial of stuffed toys, flowers and balloons near the gutted mall’s facade on Tuesday, telling officials he felt “like wailing” over the number of victims.

“What is happening here?

These are not armed hostilities. This is not an unexpected release of methane in a mine. People, children

came to relax,” Putin said after laying flowers at the memorial.

“We are talking about demographics but are losing so many people.

Because of what? Because of some criminal negligence, slovenliness,” Putin said.

“The first feelings when they speak about the number of victims and the number of dead children... one feels like wailing -- not crying,” he said.

Catalan Separatists Block Roads in Protest at Puigdemont Detention Spanish riot police broke up a blockade by Catalan separatists on major motorways in Catalonia Tuesday, part of a wave of protests over the arrest and detention of ex-regional president Carles Puigdemont, according to AFP. Television images showed riot police surrounding protesters who had sat down in the middle of motorway AP-7, which links Spain to neighbouring France. Police removed the protesters one by one facing a chorus of

boos from the pro-Catalan independence activists.

Motorists on Tuesday morning were forced to take alternate routes to avoid the roads briefly blocked around the northeast Spanish region, including the two main access roads into Barcelona.

The demonstration was called by the radical Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), which were set up just before Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1 that was banned

by the courts.

“With the latest incarcerations and the arrest of president Carles Puigdemont, it clearly seems that we have crossed the point of no return,” the CDR announced in a statement on Monday following mass demonstrations the day before.

The group is now planning another action at 1600 GMT to surround the main Sants train station in Barcelona.

After his arrest in Germany on Sunday, a court there has ordered Puigdemont to

remain in custody pending possible extradition to Spain to face “rebellion” charges.

His arrest comes five months after he went on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of Catalonia’s failed independence bid in October last year.

Aside from Puigdemont, nine other Catalan separatist leaders are in jail in Spain over the wealthy northeastern region’s failed breakaway attempt.

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

51

Shopper’s Paradise: South Africa’s Top Shopping Experiences. ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ŚĂƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ǀŝƐŝƚĞĚ ĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶ͛Ɛ ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ůŽǀĞ ďŝƌĚƐ͘dŚĞ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ ƌĞƚĂŝů ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŝƐ ϭϯϭ ϬϬϬ ƐƋƵĂƌĞ ŵĞƚĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ŐƌŽƐƐ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ ƉĞƌ LJĞĂƌ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƐŝŵƉůLJ ŶŽ ǁĂLJ ƚŽ ƚŽƵƌ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĂŶĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĂǁĞƐƚƌƵĐŬ ďLJ ϱϱϬ ϬϬϬ ƐƋƵĂƌĞ ŵĞƚĞƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǀĂƐƚ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĐĂŶ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƚĞ ϲϱ͕ϬϬϬ ĐĂƌƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƚĞ͕ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ͕ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ƐĐĞŶĞƌLJ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ƐĐĞŶŝĐ ďĞĂƵƚLJ͕ ĞƉŝĐ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĐƵůŝŶĂƌLJ ĂƐƐŽƌƚĞĚ ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ͘ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ͘ DĂůůƐ ŝŶ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĂƌĞ ƵƐƵĂůůLJ ĞdžƚƌĞŵĞůLJ ůĂƌŐĞ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ƐƚŽƌĞƐ͕ ƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ sĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŝĐĞ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ Ͳ DĞŶLJůŶ ƉĂƌŬ ʹ WƌĞƚŽƌŝĂ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐƐ͕ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŵŽƟŽŶƐ͘ &ƌŽŵ ĐŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĐŝƚLJ͕ LJŽƵ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ďĞ ůĞŌ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĂǁĞƐŽŵĞ dŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ůĂƌŐĞƐƚ ŵĂůů ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ dƐŚǁĂŶĞ ĂƉŝƚĂů ŽĨ ^ ;ĨŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŬŶŽǁŶ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůůƐ ƚŽ ĐŚŝůů͕ ƌĞůĂdž ĂŶĚ ŚĂŶŐ ŽƵƚ ǁŝƚŚ LJŽƵƌ ƐƉŽƵƐĞ͕ ĞĂƚ͕ ƐŚŽƉ͗ ƚŚĞ ƐŬLJ ŝƐ ĂƐ WƌĞƚŽƌŝĂͿ͘dŚĞ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ƚŚŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ DĞŶůLJŶ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ĐĂƚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ŶĞǁůLJǁĞĚƐ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵůůLJ͘ ƚŚĞ ůŝŵŝƚ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ Ă ǁŚŽůĞ ŶĞǁ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽĨ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ͊ ^ƵƌƌŽƵŶĚ LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĂďƵŶĚĂŶƚ ŽĨ ǁĞĚĚŝŶŐ ǀĞŶƵĞƐ ŝŶ DĞŶůLJŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ǁŚĂƚ ŐŽĞƐ ǁĞůů ǁŝƚŚ ŽĨ ďĞĂƵƚLJ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ĂƐ LJŽƵ ĞdžƉůŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ŵĂůůƐ ŝŶ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ǁŝƚŚ ƵƐ͘ ƌŽŵĂŶĐĞ͕ ǁĞĚĚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ƚŚĂƚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƐƚƵī͍ ^ŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ͊​͊ dŚĞ ĂŵƵƐĞŵĞŶƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ƐƚŽƉ ƚŚĞƌĞ͕ LJŽƵ ĂůƐŽ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ŽĨ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ďLJ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ŝƚƐ ĮƌƐƚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ďŽƵƟƋƵĞ ĐĂůůĞĚ͕ 'ŝŌ ^ŚĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĂůůLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ůŽǀĞ ŽĨ tŽƵůĚ LJŽƵ ůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ Ă ǁĂůŬ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ƉĂƚŚƐ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ͕ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ĨŽƌŐĞƚ ƚŽ ƐƚŽƉ ďLJ ƚŚĞ >ŝŶĚƚ ŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ ŽƵƟƋƵĞ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŚĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞ͊ ĐŚĞƌŝƐŚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ƌĞŶŽǁŶĞĚ ƐƚƌŝƉ ŵĂůůƐ͖ ^ĂŶĚƚŽŶ ĐŝƚLJ͍ ƐƉĂƌŬůLJ ǁĂůŬ ǁŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ŚƵƌƚ͕ /Ĩ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ͕ ďƌŝŶŐ ƚƌĞĂƚƐ ďĂĐŬ ŚŽŵĞ ĨŽƌ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ͘ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ͞ǁĞůůͲŚĞĞůĞĚ͟ ĐŽƵƉůĞ ƉĂƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁůLJ ƟůĞĚ ĐŽƌƌŝĚŽƌ ŽĨ ^ĂŶĚƚŽŶ ŝƚLJ ĂƐ LJŽƵ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĞdžĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ĨĂƐŚŝŽŶ ďƌĂŶĚƐ͘ WŽĐŬĞƚ ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ Ͳ 'ĂƚĞǁĂLJ DĂůů Ͳ ƵƌďĂŶ

Take a Diamond walk - Sandton City Mall Johannesburg.

:ƵƐƚ Ă ƐƚŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ƚŚƌŽǁ ĂǁĂLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůů ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ >ŝďĞƌƚLJ >ŝĨĞ dŚĞĂƚƌĞ ŽŶ EĞůƐŽŶ DĂŶĚĞůĂ ^ƋƵĂƌĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ϮϬϬͲƐĞĂƚĞƌ ƚŚĞĂƚƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽǁƐ ĂŶ ĂƌƌĂLJ ŽĨ ŽƵƚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶƐ͕ ůŝďƌĂƌLJ͕ ƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚƐ͕ ďĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŝŶĞŵĂƐ͘ tŝƚŚŽƵƚ Ă ƐŚĂĚŽǁ ŽĨ Ă ĚŽƵďƚ͕ ĐŽƵƉůĞƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ƵƉ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ĂƐ ƚŚŝƐ͘

See Madiba - Nelson Mandela Square Sandton, Johannesburg ƌĞĂƚĞ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ŵĞŵŽƌŝĞƐ Ăƚ ĞůĞŐĂŶƚ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ njŽŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ĨƵŶ ǁŚŝůĞ LJŽƵ ƐŚŽƉ Ăƚ EĞůƐŽŶ DĂŶĚĞůĂ ^ƋƵĂƌĞ͕ ŶĂŵĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ ůĞŐĞŶĚ͛Ɛ EĞůƐŽŶ DĂŶĚĞůĂ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐƉŽƚ ŝƐ Ă ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ƚŽƵƌŝƐƚ ĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ Ă ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ŚĂǀĞŶ͘ dŚĞ ^ƋƵĂƌĞ ŚĂƐ ƐƚŽŽĚ ŽƵƚ ĂƐ ƚƌƵůLJ ŶĞǁƐǁŽƌƚŚLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĨŽƌ ƉŚŽƚŽƐ͘ /ƚ ŚĂƐ ǁĂůŬǁĂLJ ďŝƐƚƌŽƐ͕ ĮŶĞ ĨĞĂƐƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌ ϵϯ ƐĞůĞĐƟǀĞ ƐŚŽƉƐ͘

'ĂƚĞǁĂLJ ĂůƐŽ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ dŚĞĂƚĞƌ ŽĨ ^ŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ŝƐ ǀŝĞǁĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ŵĂůůŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ ,ĞŵŝƐƉŚĞƌĞ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ hŵŚůĂŶŐĂ ZŝĚŐĞ ŝŶ hŵŚůĂŶŐĂ͕ ŶŽƌƚŚ ŽĨ ƵƌďĂŶ͕ <ǁĂ ƵůƵͲEĂƚĂů͕ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ ŝƌĞĐƚ ŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĨƌŽŵ 'ĂƚĞǁĂLJ ƚŽ :ŽŚĂŶŶĞƐďƵƌŐ͕ 'ĂƵƚĞŶŐ ŝƐ Ɛŝdž ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚ ŬŝůŽŵĞƚĞƌƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁŝůů ƚĂŬĞ LJŽƵ ŽŶ Ă ƐĐĞŶŝĐ ƐŝdžͲŚŽƵƌ ĚƌŝǀĞ Žƌ ϭ ŚŽƵƌ ďLJ ŇŝŐŚƚ͘ dŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĐĞŶƚĞƌ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ĞdžŝƐƚĞŶĐĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϬϭ͘

ZĞĚĞĮŶĞ LJŽƵƌ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ůŝĨĞƐƚLJůĞ Ͳ ĂŶĂů tĂůŬ ʹ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ͘ ŝĚ LJŽƵ ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂůŬŝŶŐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŝĐĞƐƚ ǁĂLJƐ ƚŽ ĞdžƉůŽƌĞ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ĐĂŶĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŝǀĞƌƐ͍ dŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĐŽŵƉůĞdž ŵĞƌŐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ŵŽƐƚ ĚĞƐŝƌĂďůĞ ďƌĂŶĚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ͕ Ăůů ŝŶ Ă ŵĂũĞƐƟĐ ƐĞƫŶŐ͘ ĂŶĂů ǁĂůŬ ŚĂƐ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ĂŶ ŽƉĞŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ ǁĂůŬ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ƐƚƌĞƐƐ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ƐĂLJ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĚĞůŝŐŚƞƵů ƐŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƚĂŬĞ ŽƵƌ ǁŽƌĚ͘ &ŝŶĚ ŽƵƚ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨ͊

džƉůŽƌĞ Ă ŶĂƚƵƌŝƐƟĐ ƐƚLJůŝƐŚ ƚŚĞŵĞ Ͳ dŚĞ DĂůů ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂ Ͳ 'ĂƵƚĞŶŐ &ĞĞů ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌĞ Ͳ sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ůĨƌĞĚ tĂƚĞƌĨƌŽŶƚ Ͳ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ Johannesburg Ɛ LJŽƵ ƚĂŬĞ ĂŶ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂŶƚ ǁĂůŬ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ DĂůů ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ LJŽƵ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĞ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ƌĂLJƐ ŽĨ ůŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƐŬLJ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůů ĂƐ LJŽƵ ƐŚŽƉ ŝŶĚŽŽƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŵĂůů ŝƐ ƚĂŝůŽƌĞĚ ƚŽ Įƚ LJŽƵƌ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐƚLJůŝƐƟĐ ƚŚĞŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ DĂůů ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ 'ĂƵƚĞŶŐ͕ :ŽŚĂŶŶĞƐďƵƌŐ͕ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝĚĞĂů ƐŚŽƉƉŝŶŐ ĐĞŶƚĞƌ ĨŽƌ

^Ğƚ Žī ŽŶ Ă ŽŶĞ ŽĨ Ă ŬŝŶĚ ƚƌŝƉ ǀŝƐŝƚ ďLJ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ƚŽƵƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ůĨƌĞĚ tĂƚĞƌĨƌŽŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌĞ ŽĨ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ͘ ^ŝƚƵĂƚĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽŽƚ ŽĨ dĂďůĞ DŽƵŶƚĂŝŶ͕ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƐƚŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ƚŚƌŽǁ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ ^ƚĂĚŝƵŵ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚ ŽĨ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ͛Ɛ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŚĂƌďŽƵƌ͕ ƚŚĞ sΘ tĂƚĞƌĨƌŽŶƚ ŽīĞƌƐ ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌ ĂŶ ĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƵŶĨŽƌŐĞƩĂďůĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

52

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

Senate Initiates Process to Override Veto on Electoral Amendment Bill To investigate allegations of bribe-for-votes against bill Senator sues legislature to stop probe on anti-senate commentsÂ

Damilola Oyedele Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The Senate yesterday formally put into motion the process of overriding President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment bill 2018, by re-introducing the bill at plenary.

The bill was passed through first reading without any incidence as bills are not debated at this stage.

This is as the Senate directed its Committee on Ethics to investigate allegations that lawmakers are being offered bribes to vote against the amendment.

The first version of the Electoral Amendment bill was vetoed by the president on the grounds that the amendment to Section 25 of the Principal Act, which provides for the reorder of general election, might infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to organise and supervise elections.

The lawmakers had changed the sequencing of elections in the country for the National Assembly elections to be held first before elections into the state Houses of Assembly, and governorship polls on a separate day, while the presidential election would be conducted last, to complete the general election cycle.

Section 25 of the Principal Act was specifically amended and substituted with a new Section 25(1), which provides that the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly elections (b) state Houses of Assembly and governorship elections (c) presidential election.

The amendment is expected to whittle down the bandwagon effects of presidential elections on other elections.

The National Assembly however indicated readiness to override the president following legal advise from its Legal Department, that reasons given for the veto, were not justifiable.

The decision has however split the legislature as lawmakers lobby for and against the override.

Re-introducing the bill is the first step in the planned override process. It would be subjected to second reading, but would not be referred to the committee as the step has already been undertaken.

At the process for second reading, lawmakers would get the opportunity to speak for and against the amendment, which may indicate which way any override vote, would fall. When the bill is introduced for third reading, after which it ought to be transmitted to the president for assent, lawmakers

UBA Expands Presence in London as the Regulatory Authorities Grants Wholesale Banking Licence to Its UK Subsidiary The United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc) has announced yesterday that its London subsidiary had obtained regulatory permission to carry out wholesale banking activities in the United Kingdom.

Following the authorizsation, UBA is now the only subSaharan African bank to conduct banking activities in New York and London, as well as in 20 other countries across Africa.

Commenting on the landmark achievement, the Group Managing Director/ CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This authorisation strengthens our capabilities in meeting the growing crossborder financing needs of our customers. It enhances our customer coverage and product offerings while positioning our group as an optimal conduit for trade and foreign investments into and across Africa as well as export flows to the UK. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Importantly, the licence will enable us to fulfill our aspiration of deepening financial intermediation in Sub-Saharan Africa and providing the muchneeded financial support to the broader real sector of the African economy,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The CEO of UBA UK, Mr. Andrew Martin, noted further, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this enhanced positioning of our business is timely, as it comes at a time when the UK is seeking to expand trade and broaden economic ties with Nigeria and Africa in general.â&#x20AC;?

As part of the transformation process, resulting from the authorisation, the current name of UBA Capital (Europe) Ltd will change to United Bank for Africa (UK) Ltd. In addition to a full suite of treasury services, cash management, corporate lending and wholesale deposit offerings to professional and eligible counterparties, the operations of UBA (UK) Limited now extends to all aspects of trade finance; issuance, acceptance, confirmation and refinancing of Letters of Credit of different variations, including SBLCs. UBA Plc, is a leading PanAfrican financial institution, offering banking services to more than fourteen million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 19 African countries.

UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa with presence in the United States of America, the UK and France.

would then vote to pass it into law, or defeat the amendment. The lawmakers yesterday also voted to institute investigations into allegations that senators are being offered $50,000 each as bribe to defeat the planned override, while members  of the House of Representatives are being offered $30,000 each. This followed a point of order raised by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta PDP) who said the allegations, as published in some media, impugns on his credibility as a lawmaker.

He said this in reaction to reports that a minister and some

serving governors who are working assiduously to ensure that the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s veto is not defeated by the legislators, are trying to financially induce the lawmakers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My constituents have been calling me, some are asking me to bring their share. I know I did not collect anything, and I know many of you did not collect,â&#x20AC;? Nwaoboshi said.

In his ruling, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the matter borders on the integrity of the National Assembly as an institution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This Senate in the last two

and half years (since) we started, has never had this kind of report where our integrity is called to question,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He directed the Ethics Committee to conclude its investigations within a week, and submit a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;concreteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; report.

Meanwhile, in a surprising twist to the controversy over the amendment, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta APC) has dragged the Senate, and Senate President, Saraki, to court over the bid to investigate him for his comments on the amendment.

Also joined in the suit is the Attorney General of the

Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami. The Senate had directed its Committee on Ethics to investigate Omo-Agege for his comments that the Electoral Act amendment was targeted at weakening President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2019 polls. Omo-Agege was one of nine senators who had staged a walk out when the amendment was passed on February 14, 2018. Addressing the media, he had accused both legislative

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on Pg 57

APC AFFAIRS

L-R: National Women Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Haijya Halima; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammmadu Buhari; National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and others, during the National Executives Committee meeting of the party at the APC Headquarters....yesterday

Lekoil Commences Legal Proceedings Against FG over OML 310 Ejiofor Alike West Africa-focused oil exploration and production company, Lekoil Limited, has commenced legal proceedings against the Ministry of Petroleum Resources over federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure to grant consent for the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investment in Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 310 offshore Nigeria following its acquisition of previous stakeholding by Afren Plc. OPL 310 is an offshore license, which includes the potentially large Ogo oil discovery, which is located in shallow water offshore Lagos.

The company said in a statement yesterday that despite progressing exploration and appraisal activities on OPL 310 as previously announced, it has, to date, not received ministerial consent for its acquisition of the additional 22.86 per cent interest in the company.

Lekoil also stated that the federal government has

not provided a satisfactory explanation on why such consent has not been forthcoming.

As a result, the company stated that it has taken the decision to apply to the Federal High Court for a declaration that is expected to expedite the consent process, and preserve the unexpired tenure in the licence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On February 1, 2013, Mayfair Assets and Trust Limited, a subsidiary of LEKOIL, farmed into Afren Investments Oil and Gas (Nigeria) Limitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (AIOGNL) interest in OPL 310 for a 17.14 per cent participating interest and 30 per cent economic interest, subject to Ministerial Consent from Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister for Petroleum Resources. Ministerial Consent was granted for the interest on 9 June 2017,â&#x20AC;? said the statement.

The company noted that Afren plc, the parent company of Afren Oil & Gas that held interests in the OPL 310 licence, was put into administration on

July 31, 2015 and its assets put up for sale.

Lekoil had on December 1, 2015 announced an agreement with the administrator of Afren and Afren Nigeria Holding Limited to acquire the shares of AIOGNL, which held a 22.86 per cent participating interest in OPL 310. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This interest was also subject to Ministerial Consent from the Minister for Petroleum Resources. The acquisition meant that LEKOIL would hold a consolidated participating interest of 40 per cent and an economic interest of 70 per cent in OPL310 and would become the technical and financial partner of Optimum Petroleum Development Company (Optimum), the operator and local partner in OPL310 which retains a 60 per cent participating interest,â&#x20AC;? the company said.

Lekoil also disclosed that an application for the transfer of the 22.86 per cent interest was duly made by Afren Nigeria in

January 2016.

The company pointed out that as the transaction was not undertaken on the basis of an assigned interest in the oil block, approval by Optimum was not required under the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between Optimum and Afren. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In March 2016, LEKOIL was notified by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources that the necessary due diligence exercise would be conducted that month. The due diligence exercise did not take place and has not been rescheduled by the Department of Petroleum Resources since then. The delay in regulatory consent for LEKOIL on the block stands in the way of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans for the development of a work programme for the Ogo field (the only discovery on the block) for which it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Oil & Gas, now Baker Hughes, a GE Company,â&#x20AC;? the company added.

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

53

NEWSXTRA

FAAC Meeting Ends in Stalemate as C’ttee Rejects NNPC Remittance N647.390bn billed for distribution Adeosun reconvenes FAAC meeting today, calls for emergency meeting with NNPC GMD Ndubuisi Francis ÓØ ÌßÔË The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting where representatives of the three tiers of government gathered to distribute accruals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for the month of February yesterday ended in a stalemate as members of the committee rejected the revenue figure remitted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

At the heart of the matter was that although the technical session of committee had sat for about a week, the NNPC only remitted its revenue figures for the month of February on Monday.

This put the committee under pressure as it was left with no time to reconcile the figures before plenary yesterday, and actual distribution.

The figure remitted by the NNPC was considered low by most committee members vis-à-vis what was generated by the corporation.

Commissioners for Finance from various states at a point walked out of the plenary for consultation.

Some of them were heard calling their various state governors to brief them on the development.

Shortly after they went back for plenary, the meeting was declared inconclusive.

However, THISDAY obtained a summary of the Federation Account Revenue in accordance with the existing laws/statues and relevant revenue allocation formulae for the month of February, 2018 billed for distribution before the stalemate.

The total revenue available

for distribution to the three tiers of government for the current month is N647.390 billion.

This contrasts with the N635.554 billion shared by the various tiers of government for the month of January.

Gross statutory revenue of N557.943 billion received for the month was higher than the N538.908 billion received in the previous month by N19.035 billion.

An increase in crude oil export by 2.8 million barrels was recorded just as there was an increase in average crude oil price from $57.71 to $63.08 per barrel.

This culminated in an increased revenue from export sales for the federation by $194.39 million.

However, production still suffered shut-ins and shut-downs at various terminals for repairs and maintenance.

There was a significant increase in Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) but oil royalty, import duty, companies income tax (CIT) and value added tax (VAT) dropped considerably.

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji Ahmed Idris, who briefed journalists at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, said the meeting became inconclusive because of issues around reconciliation, adding that the committee resolved that revenue distribution should be on hold until satisfactory distribution is concluded.

Idris stated that FAAC was sensitive to the fact that workers needed to be paid as Easter festivities are around the corner, but also mindful of the provisions of the nation’s constitution.

He said: “We have just retired out of the FAAC held today for the month of March in which we considered the revenue figures for distribution for the previous month of February.

‘The meeting was inconclusive because of some issues around reconciliation on the table.

Obviously, you are aware that everything that has to do with the federation revenue is constitutional and therefore, we must verify our figures to the last kobo, failing which

document as presented by the Minister of Finance are sensitive issues but we have to follow the constitution and laws in the distribution of the revenue.

“It is on this note I want to inform you that this meeting has not been concluded and we will look at the revenue figure as submitted by NNPC and reconcile such figures, and immediately upon concluding that meeting and address the matter and share the revenue.

“We sincerely apologise for

the inconvenience this might cause. We have to explain this to Nigerians, bearing in mind that civil servants, worker at states and local governments deserve to have their salaries and all other commitments from government,” he said.

Fielding questions from journalists, Idris said he was certain the amount to be distributed for February would be higher than that of March.

Cont’d on Pg 58

ASIWAJU @66

Wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oluremi, and others cutting a special birthday cake in honour of the APC chieftain at 66 in Lagos .....Monday night

INEC: 80 Political Parties May Contest in 2019 Elections

House Member’s Son Shot Dead in UK

Onyebuchi EzigbÙ ÓØ ÌßÔË

Abraham Badru, son of Hon. Enitan Badru, a member of the House of Representatives, has been shot dead in the UK. Some of his neighbours who spoke with Evening Standard said Badru who had been to church earlier that Sunday was shot around 11p.m. when he was getting out of his car, near his family’s residence in Hackney.

“As soon as I heard the bang, I knew it was a gunshot. I went to my balcony and saw a man slumped over on the ground at the back of a car,” one of the neighbours recounted.

He added that there was just one shot and a cry of pain, and he did not see a speeding scooter or speeding car.

Badru’s mother, according to another neighbour, came out and saw her son on the floor.

“It was terrible listening to her collapse crying on the floor. She was just screaming.

Everyone was very upset and I had to go away, I couldn’t take it. It happened on our doorstep and I had to say a little prayer for the family,” the neighbour

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it may end up having up to 80 political parties for the 2019 general election.

The commission also said as part of the in-house cleansing, it has suspended 205 staff over various unwholesome roles in the 2015 general election.

INEC’s Chairman, Prof.

Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this in his keynote address at national colloquium organised by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) yesterday in Abuja.

He said presently, INEC has received over 100 additional applications for new political parties, while nine had met the criteria.

“We may end up having up to 80 political parties for the 2019 general election,’’ he said.

He added the introduction of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) has increased voter registration.

The INEC boss listed the top states in CVR as Rivers, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Lagos,

explained.

Badru, who had a master’s degree in sports coaching and had worked as a football coach, was once honoured with a police bravery award when he saved a woman from being sexually attacked.

“You were always a top lad to everyone in the team and we had such a good laugh together on and off the pitch,” Ian Semple, one of his friends, wrote on his Facebook wall.

His father— who represents Lagos Island I constituency in the House wasn’t reachable at the time he was contacted by online new site, TheCable.

However, he had earlier described his son as ‘quiet and hard-working.’

No arrest has been made, but Larry Smith, detective chief Inspector from Scotland Yard’s murder squad is appealing for information so they can establish the circumstances which led to Badru’s death.

Badru, 26, comes as the 10th person to be killed in London in the last 12 days in London.

we will be committing illegality, unconstitutionality.

“It is on that note that we observed some issues by one of the major revenue generating agencies, the NNPC and the meeting was of the opinion that until and unless these figures are reconciled, corrected, verified and they are factual, we cannot distribute the revenue as we should.

“We are sensitive to the issue, to the fact that we are approaching festivity. The said

Commission suspends 205 staff over roles in 2015 polls Cross-River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Plateau.

Mahmud said the commission had conducted elections in 179 constituencies so far, adding that only five had been challenged in court which attested to the credibility of the elections.

The INEC chairman gave an assurance that the 2019 elections would be better than that of 2015.

Earlier in his speech, the Executive Director, ISDMG, Dr Chima Amadi, said INEC had been the most responsive of all government agencies involved in the election value chain.

He added that the commission had been taking advice and constructive criticisms and adjusting its activities to reflect same while such could not be said about others within the chain.

“The security agencies continue to behave true to type and are even getting worse, while political gladiators horn their manipulative stock-in-trade.

“However, we are resolved to take them to task with the same resilience that we used in getting INEC to act properly.

“For the 2019 elections, the ISDMG will be deploying cutting edge technology to the field to ensure that history is properly documented,’’ he said.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a book/ report titled: “INEC Beyond 2015, Overview, Challenges and Prospects.’’

Meanwhile, Yakubu has suspended 205 staff for various unwholesome roles in the 2015 general election.

He said the interdiction, recommended by INEC’s Appointments, Promotion and Discipline Committee (APDC), was the highest so far.

Yakubu added that constructive criticisms from the public had helped the commission to get better in delivering its mandate vis-a-vis conducting credible elections.

He said the commission’s electoral officers were already in the field working towards the success of the 2019 elections.

“We have to put the right people in place as electoral officers and assistant electoral officers for the 2019 general

elections.

“The credibility of an election depends on the credibility of the election manager; the credulity of the election manger depends on the credibility of the staff.

“The APDC recommended the interdiction of 205 staff found culpable in various roles they played arising from the 2015 general election—this is the highest number of interdictions since the history of the commission.

“We have within the some of the most patriotic staff in the country; but anybody found wanting will be dealt with accordingly.’’

He said the introduction of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) had increased voter registration.

The INEC boss listed the top states in CVR as Rivers, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Lagos, Cross-River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Plateau.

The INEC boss said the commission had conducted elections in 179 constituencies so far, adding that of only five had been challenged in

54

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

NEWSXTRA

N’Assembly Extends 2017 Budget to May 31 Sets new performance index for public enterprises Saraki pushes for more funding in health, education We won’t abandon constituency projects, Dogara vows Damilola Oyedele ËØÎ James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË Following the continued delay in the passage of the 2018 budget and its attendant consequences on the economy, the National Assembly yesterday said it has written the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to extend the implementation of the 2017 budget to May 31.

Ideally, the 2017 budget implementation ought to close

by March 31, 2018.

But the Chairman of the House of Representatives

Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki, said the attention of the AGF had on Monday been drawn “to the fact that the budget should be extended to May 31,” adding that if the passage of the budget as at April 24 is done and gets the president’s assent, whichever comes earlier, then the accountant general should also strictly adhere to the contents of the letter.”

The lower chamber has set April 24 for passage of the Appropriation Act which was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly in December

last year.

Speaking at the opening of the second National Budget Hearing on the 2018 Appropriation, Dawaki therefore, urged contractors to “continue working as budget account would not be closed until budget is passed and accepted by the president or until May 31, 2018.”

This came as the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, further insisted that the executive arm must accompany the 2018 budget proposal with a Finance Bill in order to show clarity and enhance policy

inconsistencies.

He said: “It is also observable that non-oil revenue performances have been impacted by policy inconsistencies and leakages.

Thus, in addition to our call for improved systems and processes to plug revenue leakages, we had required that the 2018 budget proposal be accompanied by a 2018 Finance Bill (which has so far not been received by the National Assembly).

“Let me therefore use this opportunity to, once again, emphasise the need for

the Finance Bill. We want government to show clarity and consistency in its policies and to see how these will square up to its financial projections for 2018.”

He also said the parliament would prioritise human capital development and give attention to critical health, education and soft infrastructure in the 2018 spending.

Saraki further stressed the need to make patronage of locally manufactured goods a key concern for government going forward.

He said: “Furthermore, we

must ensure an adherence to the one per cent resolution to health. This requires the Basic Health Fund to be funded by one per cent of the Consolidated National Fund. This funding, which amounts to N86 billion, has yet to be committed.

When the Speaker and I met with Bill Gates last week, the emphasis was on health, and it is something we should take very seriously indeed, especially as the one per cent resolution would go a long way in boosting basic maternal and

Cont’d on Pg 60

Sagay: Judgments in Corruption Cases against Judges Show There’s Espirit de Corps Akinwale Akntunde The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof.

Itself Sagay (SAN), has said the outcome of corruption trials against some judges clearly showed that there is es spirit de corps among the judges.

He disclosed this yesterday at a symposium organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Human Rights Committee in collaboration with The Jury Justice and Rectitude Advocacy Initiative.

The theme of the event was: ‘Salvaging Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System: The Jury Option’ In his opening remarks as chairman of the event, Sagay said he came to this conclusion after coming out of the shock that enveloped him following judgments of the courts on corruption charges against some judges.

“After my recovery from the shock, it dawned on me that legal knowledge could make judges prone to legal technicalities, creating a barrier between technical law and justice,” he noted.

The Professor of Law however suggested the reintroduction of the jury trial system as a better way to fight corruption in the country.

He noted that in recent years, a lot of evidence has established that some judges cannot be relied upon to uphold the integrity of the judicial system.

According to him, the usual excuses for huge deposits in judges’ account are marriage of judges daughters, death of judges relations like father, mother, auntie, uncle among others.

Sagay said he supported the abolition of the jury system in 1976 by the military because he believed that laymen could easily be influenced or subjected to other people’s interest and instructions and that a judge, more likely would uphold the integrity of the judicial system among other reasons.

Citing the judgment in case

of a judicial officer charged with corruption, he said judgment in the matter showed that there is es spirit de corps among the judges.

The keynote speaker, Prof.

Taiwo Osipitan, gave a detailed explanation of the jury trial system and how it operates in some countries around the world, suggested that it should first be introduced in relation to capital offences in selected economically viable states.

Osipitan also suggested introduction of special bar and special bench for the system to work in the country.

According to him, the jury trial system can only be effective in a country with a mostly efficient and up to date data of its citizens.

“Foremost, Nigeria must first update its database system. The National Identity Card database and INEC database might be very helpful if the decision is to introduce jury trial in criminal cases,” he stressed.

Magu who was represented

by Seidu Atteh, said the commission would accept any trial system that would assist it in fighting corruption cases successfully.

Earlier in her welcome address, the chairman of human rights committee of NBA Ikeja, Mrs. Carol Ibharuneafe, said the theme of the symposium was necessitated by the fact that society has not been aware of the inadequacy of the criminal justice system.

Ibharuneafe pointed out that with high profile cases amongst public officers, the lapses in the law has been exposed and necessitated review to make it work for our society.

Although there have been suggestions from various stakeholders, she said the facts remain that whether special or more courts, they will still be presided by only one person, the judge.

“Given the high propensity of some of our judicial officers to be compromised, those suggestion may achieve little or nothing, hence jury option,” she said.

JOINT BUDGET HEARING

L R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; and Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, during the National Assembly’s second joint 2018 budget hearing in Abuja....yesterday

Senate Probes Threat to Melaye’s Life Senator insists he is yet to be served papers for arraignment Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË The Senate yesterday mandated its Committees on Police Affairs and Judiciary to investigate the allegation on threat to life by Senator Dino Melaye in his ongoing battle with the Kogi State Government.

It directed the committee to submit its report within 48 hours.

This is as Melaye who is due for arraignment by the Nigeria Police today on allegations of gunrunning, has maintained that he is yet to receive any notice to that effect.

The Senate’s intervention was prompted by a point of order raised by Senator Isah Hamman Misau, who lamented that the police has refused to stay neutral in Melaye’s battle with Kogi state Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The police, he said, already announced it would declare Melaye wanted, if he does not appear in court on Wednesday, indicating that the security outfit has already taken sides.

“If the matter is already in

court, it is left for the judge to decide what to do. Once the matter is in court, the police have removed their hands,” he added.

“From the intelligence that we have gathered from Kogi State, if police is allowed to be used to take Melaye to Kogi, there will be possible breakdown of law and order because there are supporters of Melaye and supporters of the governor,” Misau said.

There has been so much tension in Kogi in the last one year over the disagreement between Bello and Melaye, which has caused the security situation to degenerate, Misau said.

He stated that to therefore allow the police to take Melaye to an already tensed state, would amount to risking his life.

Misau also queried why jurisdiction is not being considered in the allegations against Melaye, as since the crime he is being accused of was alleged to have been committed in Abuja, the matter should be

handled in Abuja.

“The issue should be separated, the people that committed atrocities in Kogi can be tried in Kogi. We are calling for fairness and justice. This matter (of Melaye) should be treated in Abuja where everyone will be seen,” he urged.

“The international community is watching to see what we are going to do. For us to create breakdown of law and order intentionally; that is not good for our country, for the government and it is not going to be good for our democracy (which) we are trying to nurture,” Misau warned. also speaking at the plenary, Melaye maintained that he was yet to be served any notice of court process.

“The media is awash (with reports) that I have fled this country, that I will not return until there is a change of government. As I speak, I have not received any criminal summon from any court in Nigeria, nor have I received any arraignment notice in Nigeria.

There has been no attempt to serve me any notice, no statement has been taken from me,” he said.

Melaye said it was surprising that one of the suspects, who the police paraded in the 2017 assassination attempt on his life, is also being used to frame him for allegations of gunrunning.

Senator Phillip Aduda (FCT PDP) said the actions of Bello are capable of derailing Nigeria’s democracy.

“It looks like this governor has been allowed to do whatever he wants, without anybody cautioning him. This governor is trying to derail this democracy,” he said.

Presiding, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, called on politicians to be tolerant of their critics.

“Whatever affects anyone of us here, affects all of us and infringes on this institution.

Today, it is Senator Dino Melaye, tomorrow, it could be another one of us,” he said.

55

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Senate to Discuss Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Allegations against Military Benue groups backs former minister Damilola Oyedele Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; George Okoh Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C; The Senate yesterday resolved to debate the allegations of complicity in ethnic cleansing levelled against the Nigeria Army by a former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

The weighty allegations would be debated at the plenary today. Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba APC) raising a point of order at the plenary, said the allegations need to be discussed, as they were made by a respected Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A respected Nigerian, and a former Minister of Defence, Danjuma, last Saturday at a convocation ceremony in Taraba State, raised some weighty allegations against the Nigerian Army. Danjuma, while speaking at the event, said the Nigerian Army was aiding armed bandits in carrying out ethnic cleansing in Taraba State and in other parts of the country.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These allegations are coming from a respected Nigerian. I need the permission of the Senate to bring a proper motion tomorrow (today) so that we can debate the allegations raised,â&#x20AC;? Â Yusuf said.

Presiding, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, put the request to a voice vote.

More lawmakers shouted â&#x20AC;&#x153;nayâ&#x20AC;? to the request but Saraki ruled against them due to what he said is the seriousness of the matter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The issues raised by General Danjuma are very serious. As a parliament, we cannot allow this to pass. So when the motion is brought here, lawmakers will have the opportunity to contribute and we will know the next line of action to take on the important issue,â&#x20AC;? he ruled.

Danjuma had called on Nigerians to rise and defend themselves against killers herdsmen on rampage in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is an attempt at ethnic cleansing in Taraba State and

of course, some rural states in Nigeria. We must resist it. We must stop it. Everyone of us must rise up. You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die,â&#x20AC;? Danjuma had said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba and it must stop in Nigeria. These killers have been protected by the military.

They cover them and you must be watchful to guide and protect yourselves because you have no other place to go. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ethnic cleansing must stop now, otherwise Somalia will be a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play. I ask all of you to be on your alert and defend your country. Defend your state,â&#x20AC;? Danjuma added.

Meanwhile, a socio-cultural group in Benue State yesterday chided the federal government and its security agencies for

failing to provide security for people in the state even as it backed a recent declaration by Danjuma calling on Nigerians to defend themselves against attacks by herdsmen.

At a press briefing by the leadership of the group, the President General of the Tiv socio-cultural organisation, the Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege, said the statement by Danjuma was a patriotic one coming from someone who ought to know and is telling the truth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The call by Danjuma that the armed forces is not neutral and Nigerians should defend themselves is a statement of fact and the truth of the happenings in Benue State.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We the three socio-cultural organisations in Benue State, unequivocally support the statement urging us to be

defensive.â&#x20AC;?

He said Danjuma narration was exactly a statement of the happenings in Benue State According to Ujege, from the year 2010 to 2016, Benue State experienced excessive bloodshed from Fulani herdsmen attacked. Over 2,000 people were murdered and properties worth 95 billion naira were destroyed in 2014 alone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Based on this, the Benue State Government through the instrumentation specified by the Nigerian Constitution came up with the law to prohibit open grazing and establishment of ranches which was a winwin case for both the farmers and the herdsmen. Instead of the federal government and the herdsmen militia accepting and implementing the law, the herdsmen went on rampage

killing 73 people on the 1st and 2nd day of January, 2018 who were given mass burialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; He also recalled that before the senseless murder of these innocent Benue citizens the army and security agents were fully informed and they took no action to prevent the act. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Benue State Government and her people called on the federal government, the army and other security agencies for protection, the army instead decided to institute Exercise Ayem Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kpatuma (Ex-Cat Race) which was a failure.â&#x20AC;?

He said instead of restoration of peace and security, the presence of the military in Benue has facilitated more attacks on the people of the state, adding that Internally Displaced People (lDPs) have increased to over 175,000.Â

FG Reintroduces History in School Curriculum The federal government has ordered the reintroduction of history as an independent subject into the basic and junior secondary schools in the country.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who gave the directive, at the launch of history curriculum and teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide in Abuja, said it would allow students know the history of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that history was buried under social studies curriculum, which had generated controversies among education stakeholders in the country.

Adamu said the importance of history to nation building, national identity, patriotism and overall human development could not be overemphasised.

According to him, one of the cardinal principles of the present administration is social and behavioural change, and history is key to its realisation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The desire to realise this and national clamour for it to be back informed our decision to reintroduce the teaching of history in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary and junior secondary schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153; The Federal Ministry of Education developed its strategic plan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Education for Change: A ministerial strategic plan (2016-2019) which contained several initiatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This initiative was approved by the National Council on Education during its 61st ministerial session in September 2016.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The minister added that following this development, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) was directed to carry out the disarticulation of history from social studies curriculum.

He said the new history

curriculum was designed to expose students to a body of knowledge that would enable them appreciate history as an instrument of national integration and nation building in the 21st century and beyond.

He, however, was optimistic that the curriculum would equip the younger generations of Nigerians with the knowledge of the past and how the past relate to the present.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof.

Anthony Anwukah, said a nation without history was a nation without a better future as it could not understand nor address the present situations.

He said in order to move the nation forward and make it play its catalyst role as instrument for human and national development; there was need for the reintroduction of history in schools.

Also, Prof. Ismail Junaidu, Executive Secretary, NERDC, said the drive for the reintroduction of history as a stand-alone subject at the basic education level was necessitated by the demand expressed by various stakeholders.

Junaidu said the reintroduction would deepen positive understanding of our traditional values and identities as well as the similarities and differences between the various Nigerian people.

He added that it would also promote Nigerian and African history as a requisite for better understanding and appreciation of the challenges of globalisation.

In a similar view, Prof.

Josiah Ajiboye, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) boss called for the full implementation of the content of the curriculum.

MAKING LAGOS WORK

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya; Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Mayor Dele Oshinowo; state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; and state APC chieftain in Kosofe, Chief Adeola Oyedele, during the cinauguration of the newly dualised Alapere Road and Junction improvement works at Ketu...yesterday

Buhari, APC Mean Well for South-east, Says Araraume Says he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave party for Okorocha Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; A strong contender in the 2019 Imo State governorship election, Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume, has urged his supporters to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the president means well for Nigeria, especially the South-east geopolitical zone Reaffirming his total loyalty to the party and President Buhari, Araraume, who is a national commissioner in the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement in Abuja yesterday, also advised leaders of the APC and supporters to ignore the speculations about his plan to leave the party, saying he was rather working seriously with his â&#x20AC;&#x153;brothers and sistersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

to deliver the South-east geopolitical zone to his party and President Buhari.

Araraume said he would not quit the APC for Governor Rochas Okorocha, saying those spreading the â&#x20AC;&#x153;falsehoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; were afraid and worried that they had lost control of the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structures and now resorting to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;falsehood and dirty propagandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to discredit him.

He added that his current assignment in Imo State is to reorganise APC, rekindle the hope of members that the party and President Buhari means well for the country, saying that in spite of the anti-people policy and programmes of the present Imo State government, the party would win future elections at all levels of government.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am one of the founders of APC; it is

my party and I am very much rooted in it, both at the national, zonal and state levels. They are afraid that I am very strong in the party at the grassroots, state and national levels. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We currently have a state government that does not respect the manifesto of the party and the rule of law; that does not believe that the party matters, and that those who worked for the success for the party should be carried along. So this government must go. The proper APC government must come on board in Imo State in 2019.

As a matter of fact, our people are already looking beyond the current government in the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to fight this bad and ineffectual Imo State government to a standstill. That is why some of them are worried and have already started talking to Social

Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and other parties, while some are trying to revive the Action Alliance (AA). But, we will defeat them wherever they go.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Senator Araraume asked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where am I leaving the party to? We have come to stay, and we will rather drive these people who are working against our party out because they are the impostors in the party. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t also forget that I was the pioneer state chairman of APP in Imo in 1998. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore, I am part of the legacy party that became the APC. Some of them, such as Governor Rochas Okorocha came into the APC alone from APGA, because APGA is still a party. They are already worried and jittery.â&#x20AC;?

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

56

NEWSXTRA

Youths Form Political Party Nigerian youths have formed a political party, Modern Democratic Party (MDP), to

enable them play active role in the upcoming elections in 2019 and beyond.

Malami Berates Anti-graft Agencies, Petroleum Ministry over Non-compliance with Transparency Initiatives Buhari to assess MDAs on progress James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË˿

government agencies and parastatals must be accessible The Attorney General of the to the public.

Other areas of interest Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar in the partnership include citizen Malami, yesterday expressed accountability, disappointment over the participation as well as reluctance and sheer tardiness technology and innovation.

By default, all government by the anti-corruption sector as well as Ministry of Petroleum institutions must comply Resources to quicken the with commitments under implementation of the Open the partnership.

Giving further updates Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan. on the partnership, Malami Specifically, he said while said: “As we get ready for the response from the Ministry the international review of Petroleum Resources on process, it has become critical commitments in the extractive for Ministries, Departments sector had not been “very and Agencies (MDAs) and encouraging,” there had Non-State Actors who work in been same lack of progress the identified areas to invest in the implementation of extra resources and time to the anti-corruption sector ensure that Nigeria is not rated below average. commitments.

“In the coming weeks, every Speaking at the third National Steering Committee MDA would be individually and Working Group Meeting assessed to determine how of OGP, the minister, who they have contributed to the is the Co-Chair of the success of the OGP initiatives partnership bemoaned the lack in Nigeria. Consequently, it of compliance by the National has now become imperative Information Technology that the outcome of our Development Agency (NITDA) assessments be submitted as well as the Federal Ministry to the President for further of Communication which directives.”

The minister further said: ought to lead and support the development of various “Against this background, the technology and innovation OGP Secretariat has prepared platforms as identified in the a comprehensive progress OGP National Action Plan. report that shows the extent He said: “We are yet to see of the implementation of each much progress in this regard.” commitment area.

“While we have observed He added: “In addition to the challenges mentioned considerable progress by some above, the Secretariat has also MDAs, we still have some complained about lack of MDAs that have not taken timely response to requests for on their responsibilities as set updates on key commitment out in the National Action issues, as well as constant Plan.

“I am using this medium replacement of officers who are designated to coordinate to call on ministers and heads of departments and agencies OGP in the MDAs.” Essentially, the OGP is an to step up their engagement international multi-stakeholder with the OGP in Nigeria global coalition of reformers and to assist President from government and civil Muhammadu Buhari in society, working to make achieving the goals set out government transparent, in the National Action Plan.”

Nigeria has been admitted participatory and accountable to truly serve and empower into the OGP International Steering Committee- and citizens.

It is a platform for was the only African country government, civil society that applied for the position, actors and other stakeholders according to the minister.

He added the OGP interested in working together to make government Steering Committee had also more open and accountable. informed that the nomination Nigeria joined the OGP would be announced soon as the 70th member in July and that Nigeria would join the International Steering 2016.

The cardinal principles Committee formally in October of the partnership centers 2018 but can participate as an on transparency- which observer from July, 2018.

The fifth OGP Global Summit requires that information on government activities will take place from July 17 and decisions be made open, to 19, 2018 in Tbilisi, comprehensive, timely and Georgia.

Malami added freely available to the public and meets basic open data that Buhari had also approved that he leads standards.

By implication, all activities the Nigeria delegation and operations of the to the Summit.

The formation of the party came at a time when ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill is still pending assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The registration of the political party, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is a strategy to enable the youths in Nigeria to position themselves for political leadership.

The new party, led by 27-year-old activist and entrepreneur, Prince Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, represents the new face of active youth involvement in politics.

The party which was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on January 10, 2018, intends to galvanise youths into engaging in policy formulation, government accountability and running for political office.

According to OlateruOlagbegi, the party belongs solely to Nigerians who yearn

to see a difference in politics and governance.

He explained that the mission of the party is to be home for those who are weary of the status quo and want to be part of something fresh, new, untainted and different.

“We are focused on harnessing the mental and physical resources of this unique generation of youth brimming with fresh ideas and innovations which will finally put Nigeria in its rightful place on the world stage.

“We know that the journey ahead of us will be long.

“This is not a party registered for the 2019 presidential elections. We are here for the long haul and wish to call on all true patriots of our fatherland to get involved as we embark on this journey towards building Nigeria’s first and truly Modern Democratic Party,’’ Olateru-Olagbegi said.

Last year, the Nigerian

Senate passed the Not Too Young To Run Bill which seeks age reduction for elective officers in the country and allows the youths an opportunity to contest for the office of the president at the age of 35, and governor or senator at the age of 30.

As young people across the country are calling on Buhari to assent to the bill, the Modern Democratic Party has gone ahead to unveil its manifesto and planned activities in preparation for next year’s general elections.

The party is a youthdriven political organisation committed to producing and sustaining efficient, transparent and accountable leadership in all spheres of governance for the benefit of Nigerian citizens.

The party meant for an emerging generation of young people with an unwavering love and belief in Nigeria and her potential to take its rightful place

as one of the greatest countries on earth.

“Nigeria’s youth have finally come of age, they have become mature, and they fully understand the shifting power dynamics of Nigerian and global politics.

“Never in the history of Nigeria has there been such a technologically-savvy generation with access to information and knowledge that can transform this country profoundly.

“MDP hereby offers to Nigeria’s emerging and immensely talented generation a credible and powerful platform to realise their dreams for this great country,’’ he said.

The vision of the party is to build a nation where the aspirations of citizens can be realised irrespective of their social, political, ethnic or religious convictions.

It values includes fairness, inclusiveness, transparency and accountability.

APPROPRIATION MATTERS

L-R: Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze; Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and Minister of State , Health, Osagie Ehanire, at the 2018 national budget hearing held in Abuja...yesterday

Suspected Financier, Armourer of Kidnap Gang in DSS Net Yekini Jimoh ÓØ ÙÕÙÔË A suspected major financier and armourer of the dreaded Basalube kidnapping gang in Kogi State, Lawal Mohammed, has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The suspect was arrested at Japama in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The spokesperson of the DSS, Mr. Toni Opuiyo, in a statement yesterday, said the suspect was apprehended with two other members of the gang, Mohammed Tukur and Abubakar Ibrahim, by the joint team of the service and the military during the operation.

Tukur was identified as the chief surveillance officer of the gang who coordinated the gang’s movement across Rivers, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, preparatory to the execution of their operations.

The operative said items recovered from the suspects

included three cell phones and 25 bottles of psychotropic inducers.

In a related development, the DSS said it had also arrested five suspected members of the Basulube kidnap gang in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.

The suspects are: Ali Abubakar, a top ranking member of the gang, Abubakareem Idrisa, Bashir Tsoho, Sanusi Abubakar, Nuhu Muhammadu and Abubakar Abdulhammeed.

“This arrest was effected while Abubakar was perfecting plans to carry out kidnap operations in Obajana, Kogi,” he said.

He added that in its determination to decimate the gang, the service on March 26 arrested Abubakar Danlansu, driver and weapon courier of the group at Dikko area of Niger.

“The suspect was arrested enroute Edo from where he was to convey weapons to Obajana in Kogi for the gang’s planned kidnap operations.

He said the service had arrested Matthew Ekam, 39, in

connection with the kidnap of Obianuju Onyema in Yenagoa on March 12 and later released by the kidnappers on March 18.

Opuiyo said the suspect is a native of Ogoja, Cross River State and a driver of a heavy duty truck operating between Bayelsa and Rivers.

He said that on March 24, the service arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Bello, on the outskirt of Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State.

He said Bello was believed to be carrying out surveillance activities for the extremist group in the area.

“At the point of his arrest, several handsets, multiple identity cards including those of a Police Constable and neighbourhood vigilante member and N37,857.00 were recovered from him,“ he said.

“The arrest of these suspects hold major significance for law and order and safety of persons.

“It is instructive to note that the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers on the LokojaOkene and Abuja-Kaduna

corridors have relatively reduced as a result of sustained counter operations of the service and sister security agencies,” he said.

Opuiyo said the recent arrest of Abubakar and other members of the dreaded Basalube kidnap gang would apparently result in the complete elimination of violent and other allied crimes in those regions.

“The successes so far recorded by the service are geared toward providing a safe and peaceful environment for law abiding citizens to pursue their legitimate endeavours.

“We wish to reassure the public that the tempo of these operations will be continually reviewed, strengthened and sustained.

“The service, therefore, wishes to reiterate its stance that all perpetrators of violence and criminality against the Nigerian state and its law-abiding citizens will be made to face the full course of law no matter how long it takes,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

57

NEWSXTRA

Killings: Afenifere Calls for UN Investigation, FGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sanction James Sowole Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?

The pan-Yoruba socio- political group, Afenifere, yesterday called on the United Nations rapporteurs on genocide to investigate the spate of killings in Nigeria.

The call was contained in a communiquĂŠ adopted at the end of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly meeting held at the Ijapo, Akure residence of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

The meeting was attended by leaders and members of the group from the six South-west states, Kwara, and Kogi States.

Presenting the communiquĂŠ to journalists, Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the call became important to prevent the happenings from blowing into full scale war Afenifere said if the disaster unfolds into full scale war, the international community would have a deep problem on its hands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The UN must investigate the genocide and bring the appropriate international sanctions against Nigerian government for promoting, aiding and abetting genocidal conduct by armed Fulani herdsmen across the country,â&#x20AC;? Afenifere said.

The group said it was disturbing that government that declared IPOB that has not killed one soul as a terrorist group is now making excuses for the Fulani herdsmen, they are driving this country on the road to Kigali.

Afenifere said it noted the recent comments on ethnic

cleansing across the country and the complicity of the Armed Forces as alleged by the former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister, Lt General  T Y Danjuma. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Danjuma was taken seriously because as former Chief of Army Staff and Defense Minister, knows and has a deep knowledge of the military and could not have open his vein. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Afenifere further observed that those even without that kind of knowledge have enough circumstantial evidence to come with that conclusions,â&#x20AC;? the group said.

According to Afenifere, there are clear circumstantial evidences to convince people about the allegations levelled against the military and the Nigerian government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thousand of people have been killed in the last three years across the country by the Fulani armed herdsmen without one person prosecuted or brought to book by this government â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President and Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari after the January killings in Benue, advised the governor of Benue State to go and find accommodation for their neighbours who everybody knows are their killers The Inspector General of Police, who ordinarily is the chief law enforcer of the country openly declared that the killings in Benue were communual misunderstanding and that the killers were Nigerians afterall â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Minister of Defence also

blamed the killings by herdsmen on the fact that their cattle routes had been blocked by farmers At the Senate security sitting early this year, the Director General of DSS declared openly at the summit that most of the sophisticated weapons being used by terror gangs are from the armouries of the Nigerian security forces and we are putting it in public space for over three weeks they have not done anything on it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The military in responding to Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allegations claimed they are neutral in the one sided killing that is going on in Nigeria when those who should enforce the law and ensure that the killing is stopped and killers are arrested claimed neutrality and all they are saying is that they have gone

referees when Nigerians are being slaughtered in droves,â&#x20AC;? Afenifere stated.

The group said the statements credited to both the presidency, the police and the military are the greatest admission of the fact that there is state aided genocide going on in Nigeria.

It noted that the primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property and any government that cannot do that is not a government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With these and the claim from Danjuma, it is clear that there is a state aided genocide going on in Nigeria at the moment and with all these above statement from those who should stop it, making Pro killers comments , it is clear that there is no remedies

in Nigerian state as presently constituted â&#x20AC;&#x153;We demand from Nigerian authorities the immediate disarmament of the exclusive terror machine in the hands of Fulani herdsmen and the reorganisation of the architectural of security of Nigeria to reflect federal character,â&#x20AC;? Afenifere said.

The group expressed joy with the parent of the recently abducted Dapchi girls that their daughters had been returned to them expressing however distressed that Leah Sharibu is still in the custody of the captors because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.

Afenifere therefore called on Nigerian government to do the kind of arrangement that they

did that brought back the 101 girls, for Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls who have been forgotten. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government cannot be claiming her response is better than Jonathan when all these other girls are still in the captivity of Boko Haram, that they are negotiating with, because Nigerians are not impressed that these girls are still in captivity and the government is feeling unconcerned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot than meet the eyes over the drama on this Dapchi, how security men disappered and these Boko Haram came in trucks and police are looking at them, people are hailing them there is much drama around this abduction and release of these girls,â&#x20AC;? Afenifere said.

N22.8bn Fraud: How We Recovered Stolen Funds from RENDERING ACCOUNTS L-R: Chairman, Neimenth International Pharmaceuticals Plc. Mr. ABC Orjiako; Company Secretary, Mrs. Florence Onyenekwe; and a Director, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, at the 59th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos....yesterday

Amosu, Others, Says EFCC An Investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tosin Owobo, yesterday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, his employer, the EFCC recovered N2.4 billion and $115,000 from former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu.

Owobo made the revelation before Justice Mohammed Idris, adding that Amosu returned the N2.4 billion through bank drafts at his agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lagos and Abuja offices.

He also told the court that his team recovered $115,000 in one of Amosuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residences.

Amosu is standing trial alongside former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

They were accused of diverting about N22. 8 billion NAFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funds. They had all pleaded not guilty.

An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after the defendants reportedly refunded some money running to billions to the federal government.

At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, led Owobo in evidence.

When Oyedepo enquired whether the EFCC had recovered anything from the N22 billion allegedly stolen by the accused persons, the investigator answered in the affirmative.

He told the court that money, cars and landed property were recovered from the accused persons.

Owobo said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;About N100m was recovered from the third defendant (Air Commodore Gbadebo). Funds were also left over in St Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UBA account, recovered through the first defendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife (Mrs. Amosu). â&#x20AC;&#x153;About N383 million was recovered through the first defendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife. The first defendant (Amosu) also refunded two bank drafts of N2.4 billion in our Lagos and Abuja offices.

We recovered $115,000 in one of the first defendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residences.â&#x20AC;?

Owobo listed the recovered vehicles to include a bulletproof Lexus LX 570, a bulletproof Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Avalon.

He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Various landed property and buildings were recovered from the second defendant.â&#x20AC;?

The matter has been adjourned till April 18, for continuation of trial.

SENATE INITIATES PROCESS TO OVERRIDE VETO ON ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL chambers of failing to adhere to laid down procedure to pass the amendment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When this bill was passed in the House of Representatives, only 36 members were present.

This cannot stand in a House of 360 members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This amendment needs to be debated before it is passed. There is a section in our standing rules that if a bill is sent to the House of Representatives and it makes any inputs, the Senate shall dissolve into a committee of the whole,â&#x20AC;? he had said. Speaking further, Omo-Agege had added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are supposed to determine if the decision of the House is in tandem with what the Senate passed.

That was not done. We are 59 senators who are opposed to Section 25 of the Electoral Act. We cannot stand and allow a law passed against Mr. President to stand.â&#x20AC;?

But the senator had made a U-turn when on February 21, 2018, he had apologised for his comments.

In a twist however, his lawyers at Summit Law Chambers, Â instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja with number FHC/ ABJ/CS/314/2018, seeking

an injunction to stop the  Ethics Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation.

The embattled senator informed the committee at the sitting yesterday that he would not respond to any questions, as the matter was already in court. Members of the committee expressed surprise at the development, particularly as Omo-Agege already apologised on the floor of the Senate. Nwaoboshi argued that the move was a wrong one, as the court has no jurisdiction on a legislative matter, particularly an internal matter in the Senate or House of Representatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This document does not stop us based on the legislative privileges act, and others. If a matter from outside comes in, the court can stop us, because that is not an internal matter,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi PDP) said the matter is a straightforward one as OmoAgege has indicated that he would not respond to questions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should adjourn this matter based on what he has said in this document and make our recommendations. As far as I am concerned, he (OmoAgege), has decided this matter himself. After apologising, the

next thing, he went to court,â&#x20AC;?

Ogba said.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa also weighed into the discussion, and asked Omo-Agege, who is a lawyer, to consider whether the court has jurisdiction over the matter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a senator, can the court stop us from carrying out our duties as a senate? What is happening here is like almost inviting anarchy.

Coming from a senator, I feel bad, we are colleagues,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The committee Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, ruled that Omo-Agege cannot be forced to speak at the hearing.

The sitting was adjourned till â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;further noticeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The letter informing the Senate of the court process was dated March 26, 2018, and signed by Ifeoluwa Ojediran for Summit Law Chambers It read in part:Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please be informed that the aforesaid matter has been filed before the Federal High Court, wherein Senator Omo-Agege (plaintiff) is seeking injunctive reliefs restraining his referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, as a breach of his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights, among others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find attached with this

letter is the advance copy of the originating summons and motion on notice.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is significant to note that Rule 53 (5) of the Nigerian Senate Standing Orders 2015 states to the effect that once a matter has been filed before the court, the Senate must not take any action on the matter until same is heard and determined by the court,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Distinguished senator, it is also a well settled law that where an action is pending in court, no party must take any-action calculated to render the judgment of the court nugatory. The law is also trite where a plaintiff is seeking injunctive reliefs before the court, no party is allowed to take steps calculated to render a fait accompli on the court. See Ojukwu v Governor of Lagos State (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt 26) 39. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In view of the above, we submit that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, cannot invite the plaintiff to appear before it, until the matter he has filed before the Federal High Court is determined one way or another. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that the distinguished senators will comply with the Rule of law on this matter,â&#x20AC;? it readÂ

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

58

NEWSXTRA

Lagos Declares Tomorrow Work-Free Day over Buhari’s Visit Announces traffic diversion, alternative routes during Buhari’s visit Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Government has declared tomorrow a work-free day ahead the two-day visit of President Muhammadu Buhari, who will chair the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium scheduled to hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

The state government has announced traffic diversions ahead of Buhari’s visit, noting

that adequate preparation has been made “to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access will be given to any emergency situation.”

The traffic advice was issued yesterday shortly after the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, inaugurated the Alapere Road and junction improvement works in Agboyi Ketu area of the state, with an

FG Declares Friday, Monday Public Holidays Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has declared Friday, March 30 and Monday, April 2, 2018 public holidays in order to mark the Good Friday and Easter Monday respectively.

In a statement signed by an official in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Nkiru Ejiofor, the federal government enjoined Christian faithful and all well meaning Nigerians to celebrate the period and live in peaceful coexistence.

It said: “The Minister of

Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, enjoined Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to employ the spiritual ethos of Easter, which include love, peace, and sacrifice, in contributing to the unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

“Dambazau also urged Nigerians to remain supportive of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.”

assurance that his administration “will continue to judiciously put the monies paid by tax payers to good use.”

At the inauguration yesterday, Ambode the road was a fulfillment of one of the recommendations of the traffic summit his administration convened in November 2015.

Among others, Ambode said the summit recommended that critical road junctions should be redesigned, improved and or upgraded “to meet present and future needs of road users to reduce travel times and support economic activities.

“Undoubtedly, this infrastructure, with the improvement it has conferred on this axis, and the signalization of the traffic here, will not only serve the purpose of reducing travel time and resolving traffic gridlock,” the governor explained.

The governor acknowledged that the road infrastructure would also increase the value of properties in this area and become a source of prosperity to the owners. That is the Lagos of our dream, a Lagos where we all succeed, together.”

Ambode also approved the construction of the Phase III of the traffic intervention plan in the Ketu – Alapere Area, including the dualisation of Demuren Road (Alapere Roundabout to Ketu Junction) and Davies Streets (Mr. Biggs Junction to Mile 12).

He said the Phase III “is a strategic linkage between the Third Mainland Bridge-OguduAlapere Corridor via Alapere and Ikorodu Road-Ketu- OjotaMile 12 Corridor. The project will definitely provide an alternative route for Lagosians, thereby taking pressure off the Ojota Interchange.”

In a statement he issued yesterday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, justified the work-free day, noting that it was declared “to enable Lagos resident come out in good number to welcome Buhari.”

He specifically, urged residents to adhere to security guidance earlier announced to make Buhari’s visit peaceful and orderly, noting that the president would inaugurate the new Ikeja Bus Terminal during the two-day working visit.

According to the commissioner, the president will also attend a colloquium in honour of national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and embark on tour of the Eko Atlantic City, among others.

At a session with journalists yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, stated that some certain roads “will be closed at certain times.”

He assured that some diversions “will be made. But I want to use this opportunity to appeal for the support and understanding of Lagosians that this temporary road closures and diversions might cause a little inconvenience.

He listed the areas to be affected “to include Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, a section of Eko Hotel Road in Victoria Island and Old Marina in Ikoyi axis.

We have done the necessary threat assessments.

“We have reached out to all stakeholders in areas. We are using this opportunity to advise all transport unions to abide with the terms of agreement we reached during meetings

with them regarding the visit.

“We will not want to see commercial motorcycles plying the prohibited routes of Agege Motor Road, Bank Anthony Way and anywhere on the Island. Should that order be disobeyed, we would be constrained to ensure that you are arrested with your motorcycles impounded.

“Whoever is also found as a passenger will also be arrested and prosecuted so do not patronise these Okadas on these prohibited routes not only for the purpose of the visit but also to ensure that Lagos State Laws on the regulation of commercial motorbikes are obeyed at all times,” Edgal said.

He said three locations have been designated for all first emergency responders to station their equipment and officials including the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), LASAMBUS, Civil Defence, Fire Brigade, among others at Ikeja, Victoria Island and Free Trade Zone at Lekki-Akodo axis.

PENGASSAN, Oil Companies’ Dispute Deepens Ejiofor Alike The labour dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the oil service firms has worsened despite efforts by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) to find solutions to the picketing of oil firms over their alleged refusal to allow workers to unionise.

THISDAY gathered that PETAN, which met in Lagos over a spate of widespread picketing on the group’s members are exploring other options to resolve the dispute.

Chairman of PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor said with the worsening economic situation in the industry, picketing could be fatal on these indigenous companies “It is difficult times for the oil firms, not just the service firms but also oil firms that are facing the headwinds in the oil market. Some of them are finding it difficult to pay for jobs delivered by service firms. So, they owe us. We don’t go to war with them because we know what the industry is passing through. Most of the contracting firms are owed. So, they are justifiably in debt, and the banks are chasing them. And you go and shut them down because you want to unionize. That is insensitivity!

Now, if these fledgling firms go down completely where will your members work? The biggest losers would be the workers PENGASSAN pretends to be fighting for,” Okoroafor said in a statement.

Okoroafor urged the oil firms to create internal communications channels that would enable workers at all levels understand

the business dynamics and state of affairs in the industry at all times.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who had earlier decried the labour crisis in the industry, said the current crisis could hamper the Nigerian Content policy, which targets to generate employment for Nigerians.

According to him, picketing would also hinder ease of doing business driven by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Kachikwu had also added that the service sector of the petroleum industry forms part of the key segments that underpin government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Programme (ERGP).

It would be recalled that leaders of PENGASSAN have since last year embarked on relentless picketing of oil service companies in Port Harcourt, causing some of them to shut down, relocate from the country or suspend operations.

Most of the oil companies under attack have lost several contracts, missed delivery times or defaulted in commitments to financial services providers as labour induced downtimes lingered.

PENGASSAN had decried what it described as “anti-union posture by indigenous companies and marginal field operators, and therefore resolved to resist any management that infringes on the workers’ Rights to Freedom of Association and LawfulAssembly.”

“The PENGASSAN condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies against our armless members during picketing and other legitimate industrial actions, calling on theArmy and the Police to call men and officers to order and refrain from harassing innocent and armless workers, especially PENGASSAN members,” the statement said.

RETREAT ON ACCOUNTABILITY

L-R: Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala Dogo; Governor Ibrahim Gaidam; and DFID National Programme Manager, Mr. Mark Walker, at a retreat on the state procurement law jointly organised by DFID and the state government for senior officials in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government in Abuja .....yesterday

FAAC MEETNG ENDS IN STALEMATE AS C’TTEE REJECTS NNPC REMITTANCE “Certainly, we believe that whatever will be distributed this month (February) will be higher than the previous month.

“I am confident and convinced about that. it is not about the quantum to be distributed, it is about reconciliation,” he said.

The various tiers of government shared N635.554 billion for January.

Asked when workers are going to be paid in view of the stalemate, Idris said: “As soon as possible. As we leave here, we are going to embark on the exercise because we feel time is of essence and we must meet our responsibilities to the Nigerian workers.”

Prodded on why the reconciliation could not be concluded in one week, Idris stated: “In finance and accounting, figures will not

always tally as presented, and once figures do not tally; there must be a way to agree. So, unless we get to the bottom of it; get some clarity and have some level of certainty, we cannot move forward.”

Also, the Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria, Mr. Mahmoud Yunusa, said the states were not comfortable with the figures from NNPC. “The AGF has thrown a light on what is happening. We are not comfortable with figures that we got from NNPC. We believe that the figures are supposed to be much more than what was remitted to the federation account for distribution.

“However, these are figures and in reconciling figures, you have to give five per cent room for errors, whether it I right or wrong. But what we have

from NNPC this is beyond that proportion.

“We are stepping down this meeting for us to meet with the NNPC to ensure that what is due to the federation account gets to the federation account.

That is our focus for now. This reconciliation will take minimal time as soon as possible.

“If you look at the total collection of NNPC, in terms of the quantum of sales is very high but what is being remitted is very very negligible to us as commissioners. That is our position,” Yunusa said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has reconvened the meeting of the committee for today (Wednesday) at 9a.m.

According to a statement by her media aide, Mr. Oluyinka

Akintunde, the meeting, which would hold at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, would have in attendance the AGF, Idris; Commissioners of Finance and AccountantGenerals of the 36 states and representatives of the NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service, Department of Petroleum Resources, among others.

“The minister has also called for an emergency meeting next week with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, and key management over revenue payment into the Federation Account.

“It will be recalled that the FAAC meeting was inconclusive on Tuesday, necessitating the intervention of the minister,” the statement concluded.

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

59

60

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

NEWSXTRA

N’ASSEMBLY EXTENDS 2017 BUDGET TO MAY 31 child health immunisation services as well as local and rural community health in this country.”

The senate president added: “In addition, there is the need to ensure real value-for-money in government spending as well as prioritise spending on locally made goods. The Made-in-Nigeria initiative, with particular regard to government procurements, is already the thrust of a significant law passed by the 8th National Assembly – and which has the added advantage of helping to revamp our industrial base.

This is one sure way of creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, encouraging private sector partnerships and creating jobs, especially

for the youth.”

Saraki also hinted that the National Assembly would work to set new performance standards for government corporations as well as developing stronger oversight frameworks to improve performance in independent revenues.

According to him, “We are concerned about governmentowned enterprises whose operating surpluses have always been significantly lower than projections.

Invariably, over the years, the performance of independent revenues has fallen short by at least 50 per cent. While we work towards setting new performance standards for government corporations as well as developing stronger oversight frameworks to

improve performance in independent revenues, we do expect more realistic projections of corporations operating surpluses.”

Also speaking at the twoday budget hearing, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, vowed that no amount of blackmail from any quarters will force the National Assembly to abandon zonal intervention projects because it is the tool with which they ensure equity in project allocation nationwide.

He said even though the instrumentality of zonal intervention projects has been grossly misunderstood and terribly maligned, it does not change the fact that it has brought development across all federal constituencies and

federal presence to remote and forgotten areas in the country.

The Speaker said: “Over the years, the efforts of legislators, especially at the National Assembly to inject equity in budget patronage nationwide through the instrumentality of zonal intervention projects has been grossly misunderstood and terribly maligned mostly by those who are deliberately ignorant and have concocted their own concept of constituency projects which they apply as their yardstick of measurement.

“I make bold to state that, but for zonal intervention projects, many communities in Nigeria would never have enjoyed any form of federal government patronage. Put differently, zonal intervention projects represent the

THE FASTEST WAY TO JAGUAR SIMOLA HILLCLIMB IS IN A JAGUAR

Purchase a Jaguar this Easter between March 16 and April 2, 2018 and stand to enjoy an all expenses paid trip for a couple to the Jaguar Simola Hill Climb in South Africa from 3 May till 7th May, 2018.

This will include Flights, Accommodation, meals and VIP Access to the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb event.

In addition, every purchase comes with: – – –

1 Year Complimentary Service 50% Rebate on Insurance Premium Complimentary Service

Coscharis Motors PLC KM 32 Lekki Epe Expressway, Awoyaya, Lagos 07013486251 jaguar.ng

*Ts and Cs apply.

only evidence of Federal government presence in most rural communities of Nigeria.

“Consequently, as representatives of the people, no amount of blackmail from any quarters will force us to abandon our resolve to ensure even development across all federal constituencies.”

He urged Nigerians who are showing more interest in the budget making process, to pay greater attention to the implementation of approved budget and not the size as only effective budget implementation determines its quality.

He said: “Demand strict accountability from all elected officials on this matter. Jacob Lew captured the issue succinctly when he said: ‘The budget is not just a

collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.’ The citizen must therefore insist on the total realisation of these values and aspirations rather than merely the collection of figures.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe, APC), said the joint committee is inundated with petitions, complaints and observations, including recommendations to delete frivolous, inappropriate, unclear and wasteful estimates in the 2018 budget of many ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs).

He said the committee would consider the claims with the deserved attention they merit.

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

61

WEDNESDAYSPORTS Mitrovic’s Brace Crash Eagles Flight in London

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

NIGERIA V SERBIA

Duro Ikhazuagbe Two second half goals by Fulham forward, Aleksandar Mitrovic, gave Serbia 2-0 victory over Super Eagles last night in London. It is Nigeria’s second defeat warm up game ahead of the World Cup 2018 in Russia.

The defeat is the second for Nigeria’s Franco-German coach, Gernot Rohr, out of the 14 games played by the three-time African champions under his watch.

The under-strength Eagles, without the commanding influence of John Mikel Obi and dependable central defender, Leon Balogun, were simply poor on the night.

The match which the team’s handlers were hoping to use to sample the playing style of Nigeria’s second Group D opponents, Croatia at the World Cup in summer, largely exposed the inadequacy of the defenders and midfielders.

Serbia’s much experienced players with class act proved too much to be handled by the backline that featured Bryan Idowu, Chidozie Awaziem who stood in for injured Leon Balogun, William Ekong, and Tyronne Ebuehi also starting at right back instead of Abdullahi Shehu. They left upcoming Francis Uzoho largely at the mercy of the sharp Serbian forward line.

Wilfred Ndidi and Ogenyi Onazi were perhaps Nigeria’s outstanding players of the night, as they were involved severally and in all sectors on the turf at The Hive, giving as much as they got.

Uzoho made the first save on eight minutes as he palmed

Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (centre) in a tango with a Serbian player during the international friendly between both countries in London…last night away Mitrovic’s shot close to the edge of the box.

The barrage of attack continued against Eagles with a few attempts by Victor Moses and the Nigerian forward line to even up upfront.

On resumption for the second half, Odion Ighalo replaced Moses but the substitution appeared ineffective as it did not add any bite to the potency of

the Nigerian attack force. Eagles lost the playmaking steam from the left of the channel, though the China-based forward was bright in the middle.

Former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic had a good chance to put Serbia ahead on 60 minutes after he was left unmarked from a corner only to see his strike end up in the hands of Uzoho.

But Mitrovic found space in the box to score two goal. to condemn Nigeria to defeat. The lively Mitrovic stabbed home the opening goal on the 68th minutes after good attack move from the left. He got his second on 81st minutes to take the game beyond the Eagles.

TV replays however, showed Serbia’s 13th minute ball scramble inside Eagles box actually crossed

the goalline before Uzoho retrieved it but centre referee Craig Pawson waved play on.

After the 1-0 victory over Poland last Friday and this defeat to Serbia, Eagles next game in the pre-FIFA World Cup build-up is the send forth match against Democratic Republic of Congo in Nigeria on Monday, 28th May, to be followed by a prestige game against England’s

Three Lions at Wembley five days later.

EAGLES STARTING XI (43-3) – Francis Uzoho – Tyronne Ebuehi, Bryan Idowu (Ola Aina 85), Chidozie Awaziem, William Troost-Ekong – Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi (John Ogu 77), Joel Obi (Moses Simon 77) – Alex Iwobi (Junior Ajayi 88), Victor Moses (Odion Ighalo 46), Ahmed Musa.

Ighalo: Chinese Super League A H E A D W E M B L E Y S H O W D O W N ‘Tougher, Stronger’ than Expected Ailing Carl Ikeme to Get ‘Special Guest’ Status at England/Nigeria Clash

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has said that the Chinese Super League has proved to be tougher than he expected following his move from English Premier league side Watford.

Ighalo, who plays for Changchun Yatai, made the move last year in a £20 million deal.

“Before I went there, people were saying the level of the Chinese League is very low and you are going to score a lot of goals,” said Ighalo who in London yesterday for the international friendly between Nigeria and Serbia at the Hive Stadium.

“When I got there I saw a different football game. There are a lot of foreign coaches and foreign players improving the league and the league is getting tougher and stronger,” Ighalo.

28-year-old Ighalo has kept up his good goal-scoring record in China.

Last year he scored 15 goals in 27 games and has scored one goal in three games so far this season.

“Football in China is still growing. I have played a season and this is my second season. I am enjoying the life there and the football.

“When I went there I was expecting a lower class of the league but when I arrived I saw how tough it is and

said this is not what I had heard about.

“This is not what people were talking about. It’s tough and it’s difficult to score goals,” said the Nigerian striker.

Ighalo stressed that despite the challenges China presents, other African players should consider a move there if they get a chance.

“If the opportunity jumps on them and they think properly about it, they should go because it’s an opportunity to make some money, play in Asia and to experience the life and culture there,” said Ighalo.

Having played in Nigeria, Norway, Italy, Spain, England and now in China, how does life at his current club compare with his previous experiences?

“Moving from England to China is a different life, the time difference, the way they live, the food, so it’s totally different from what I had experienced but for me it’s normal.

Every country you go to play, you experience different and new things. I have played in six countries so it’s not new to me,” Ighalo said.

The Nigerian is currently with the Super Eagles squad as they gear up for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

Femi Solaja The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has given ailing Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, a special request to be the guest of honour on June 2nd at the high profile international friendly against host, England in the build-up to the World Cup final in Russia.

The Wolverhampton Wanderer goalkeeper who is receiving treatment for leukemia at The Christie Clinic in Manchester, England was given the special request when the NFF board members led by its President, Amaju Pinnick, paid him a solidarity visit on Monday ahead of yesterday’s international friendly against Serbia at The Hive Stadium in London.

Aside Pinnick, others in the entourage during the visit to Ikeme include; First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi,

Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi, as well as Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi, Super Eagles’ Goalkeeper Trainer, Alloy Agu and Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye.

“We have also come to seek your permission to be our special guest at the pre- World Cup friendly game against England at the Wembley Stadium on 2nd June. We want you to perform the customary kick-off of that game and if you approve of it, we will immediately request this from The Football Association,” said the NFF boss, Pinnick.

The ailing goalkeeper was reassured that millions of Nigerian ball fans are still solidify behind him.

“We have come on behalf of the government of Nigeria and the NFF to check up on you, find out how your recovery is going and to tell you that you are still

very much on our minds and a member of the Super Eagles of Nigeria,” Pinnick remarked.

The NFF supremo further assured the goalkeeper that he would be fully captured in the team’s financial benefits for Super Eagles’ qualification for the FIFA World Cup “as we all remember the role you played in helping us get off to a winning start in the final phase of qualifiers in Ndola against Zambia.

“We believe this is just a phase that will pass away. You will come out of it stronger and still be able to do what you love to do the best, both for your club and the Super Eagles of Nigeria,” remarked the NFF boss.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi, said: “On behalf of the team, we want to reassure you of our love. The entire team would have been here to see you if we were not playing against Serbia.

“Coach Gernot Rohr, the

technical and backroom staff are all praying for your speedy recovery. The team asked that I present this autographed jersey, signed by all the players, to you.

It is our new kit for the World Cup.” An ecstatic Ikeme, moved by all the kind words, responded: “I am so overwhelmed by this show of love. I am indeed grateful to Nigerians who daily flood my phone with prayers and well wishes. I feel their love everywhere, every day, on social media. I thank the Government of Nigeria and the NFF for all the support and I appreciate my teammates so much for being there for me.”

The match billed to hold at the iconic Wembley Stadium will be the last the Super Eagles will play before the World Cup finals in Russia where they will play in group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.

Chess Pro Tour Debuts in Nigeria A private initiative to stimulate the pool of talents Nigeria is blessed with in the sport of chess has introduced a series of championships that will throw up established and budding chess players in the country.

The championships tagged “Chess Pro Tour” will begin on March 30 and end on December 16, offering chess enthusiasts the longest event calendar in the history of the sport in Nigeria.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the

sport property owner FijiVentures and Orchid Hotels that is the official venue partner of the tour, the events for the year were also revealed to the admiration of other stakeholders present.

The Managing Director of FijiVentures Limited Mr Joachim Idada, who is the brain behind the tour is excited to be back after a long hiatus from the sport he promoted years back in primary and secondary schools in Lagos “Chess is life and it is a dream come

true to be introducing professionalism into chess again, the chess tour will be giving the youths of Nigeria the opportunity to play the game, learn and also earn something for a living as you can see that the theme for the tour is “Changing lives”.

On his part, Reverend Jonathan Ordega who is the Chairman of Orchid Hotels canvassed more support for sports that have the potential to develop the nation like chess.

“Chess is one game I love a lot

because it teaches you about the reality of life, when it appears you are winning watch your back, so as a nation we must embrace what will develop our capacity to compete favourably with other nations, it is quite unfortunate that in Africa we spend so much money on dance and music but we need to realize that the world is going STEM an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics” which are part of the values embedded in the game of chess”.

WEDNESDAY, ÍşÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ëž T H I S D AY

62

WEDNESDAYSPORTS I N T E R N AT I O N A L F R I E N D L I E S RESULTS Nigeria 0-2 Serbia Germany 0-1 Brazil England 1-1 Italy Russia 1-3 France Egypt 0-1 Greece Australia 0-0 Colombia Spain 6-1 Argentina Morocco 2-0 Uzbekistan Belgium 4-0 Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arabia Tunisia 1-0 Costa Rica

Spain players in empathy with injured Diego Coasta during the international friendly between Spain and Argentinaâ&#x20AC;Ślast night

Iscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hat-trick Give Spain 6-1 Win Against Argentina Isco scored a hat-trick as Spain warmed up for the 2018 World Cup by crushing 2014 finalists Argentina in Madrid.

Spain raced into a 2-0 lead when Diego Costa stabbed past Sergio Romero before Isco side-footed his first goal.

Argentina, without injured forward Lionel Messi, pulled it back to 2-1 through Nicolas Otamendiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s header. Isco and Thiago Alcantara extended the lead to 4-1, with substitute Iago Aspas adding the fifth before Isco completed

B OX I N G

Anthony Joshua: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I Take Parker Seriously But Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Fear Himâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Anthony Joshua has said that he â&#x20AC;&#x153;has no fearâ&#x20AC;? of Joseph Parker but his opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to improve himself has inspired him to take the fight seriously.

WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion Joshua is to meet WBO title-holder Parker at the Cardiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The Briton, 28, says he took heed of the 26-year-old New Zealanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to put elbow injuries behind him after surgery in December. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have taken it too seriously,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I swear to you, my coach knows, I probably would have just gone through the motions in training camp. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the mind-set. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard he wants to improve, better himself. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had injuries he wants to overcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to prove Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m better than my last few title (fights).â&#x20AC;?

Last April, Joshua produced the performance of his career to add the WBA title to his IBF crown with an enthralling knockout win over former unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.

The Watford-born fighter said that contest, in front of a post-war record 90,000 fans at the national stadium, was a bigger test than the one presented by undefeated Parker on Saturday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I watched the fight back last

night,â&#x20AC;? said Joshua. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a physical and mental preparation and that had everything in it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always respect Klitschko and why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad he lost to me because I gave him the respect he deserves.

I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t belittle or undermine him - heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great champion and achieved so many things in his career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was like the young lion versus the old lion; inexperienced versus the experienced. It had everything a fight needs - it had respect, the attention of the world, there were belts on the line at Wembley. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what make that fight what it was. The times that I thought I had him gone. The times he thought he had me gone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took me two hours to get out of the arena. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat that experience and I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go down in history if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m honest.â&#x20AC;?

WBC title holder Deontay Wilder will be ringside as Joshua fights Parker, and could try to pursue a huge unification bout with the winner.

Promotional teams for the undefeated American and Joshua met in late 2017, but Wilderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manager Shelly Finkel has said Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promoter Eddie Hearn has not been in touch this year.

Joshua said he has put all thoughts of Wilder out of his mind in the build-up to Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight.

his hat-trick.

Spain are now unbeaten in 18 games since Julen Lopetegui took charge following their exit at the first knockout stage of Euro 2016.

They have two more friendlies, against Switzerland

and Tunisia, before they launch their World Cup group campaign against European champions Portugal on 15 June.

Lopeteguiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side look a major threat on this evidence as they scored with all six

shots on target.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who supported the recent Catalan independence referendum, ignored jeers each time he touched the ball in Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wanda Metropolitano to produce

a solid performance at the back.

Andres Iniesta was outstanding in midfield, Isco showed his threat in front of goal and Aspas also did enough to suggest he should make the plane to Russia.

Brazil Beats Germany 1-0 to Restore Pride Brazil edged past world champions Germany 1-0 in their international friendly yesterday to snap their opponentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 22-match unbeaten run and exact some measure of revenge for their 2014 World Cup semifinal humiliation.

Gabriel Jesus headed in the winner in the 38th minute as Brazil, beaten just once under coach Tite and missing injured talisman Neymar, beat a second-string German team to restore some pride after their 7-1

loss to the Europeans four years ago.

The Germans were hoping to match their record of 23 games without defeat but they lacked their usual spark, with several key players injured or rested, including

Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller.

Germany coach Joachim Loew made seven changes to the team that drew 1-1 against Spain on Friday as they prepare for a World Cup title defence in Russia in June.

Sports Ministry Visits Total E&P, Solicits Support for Eagles A special fundraising committee - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fly Me to Russia 2018â&#x20AC;?- set up by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has appealed for support for Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super Eagles as the three-time African champions begin preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign in Russia later in June this year.

The appeal was made when members of the committee led by the Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, paid a courtesy visit to Total E&P Nigeria Limited at its office in Lagos last Friday.

Mr. Olusade who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung said the team was at Total E&P to solicit support for the Nigerian team to enable Eagles perform optimally at the competition.

He said there was currently a huge funding gap between what the team needed for the campaign and what it had, and called on Total to support the team as government alone would not be able to fund the

R-L: NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, Ailing Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, General Secretary of NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi during the visit to the ailing goalkeeper in Manchesterâ&#x20AC;Ś on Monday Nigerian team.

The permanent secretary was accompanied on the visit to Total by former Super Eagles team members, Samson Siasia, Augustine Eguavoen and Waidi Akanni as well as President of

Para- weightlifting Nigeria, Queen Oboh Idris, among other committee members.

While receiving the team, the Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water District, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida

Musa, thanked the committee members for the visit.

He acknowledged the individual roles each of the committee members played in the development of football and sports in Nigeria.

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

63

Wednesday March 28, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Mbu to Obasanjo

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government with Obasanjo as president acted in breach of the Nigerian Constitution. The National Assembly could have declined the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement under Section 12 of the Constitution, thereby depriving it of any force of law domestically. Was the National Assembly properly informed?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, late Mathew Mbu in his posthumous memoirs criticising former president Olusegun Obasanjo for giving away Bakassi for his self gain.

!##### "

CHIDIAMUTA General Theophilus Hobbes GUEST COLUMNIST

O

n the scale of antiheroes produced by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history of violent disruptions, Mr. Theophilus Danjuma, stands out in glowing notoriety.

Endlessly rewarded by all regimes since after his 1966 bloody emergence as military supremo and poster coupist, he has also emerged as easily one of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest men, mostly for reasons other than his industry, corporate ingenuity or even plain hard work. On account of his long-standing presence in power circles, Danjuma has managed to anticipate some audience whenever Nigerians are pressed by bad governance to desperately seek an alarmist town crier. We are clearly at one such moment once again.

Therefore, Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest outburst on the sad security situation in the nation falls into a familiar pattern. For a veteran coup maker, the exploitation of public disaffection to align with the general drift of public opinion is a familiar gimmick. But this time, while Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outburst on the epidemic of killer gangs virtually all over the country may be in tune with our collective pain and anger, it ricochets with loud echoes of Thomas Hobbesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picture of anarchy when the state is absent.

Nigerians are united in their concern about the rampaging impunity and uncontrolled audacity of murderous Killer gangs and herdsmen all over the country. We are all worried that a band of armed bandits under the guise of either cattle herding or sectarian zealotry have been allowed to terrorize the entire nation and in the process make nonsense of an overstretched and disorganized security apparatus.

Those with any sense of history cannot but sleep with one eye open as tragic insecurity engulfs the northern half of the country with unfamiliar trends: cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, Janjaweed like scorched earth attacks that raze whole towns and villages with industrial scale casualty figures.

Ordinarily, President Buhari is not my kettle of tea. Characteristically, the President has displayed a less than keen interest in ending the menace of these killer gangs while in the process

Danjuma

allowing all manner of tales to spiral around the crisis. Similarly, both the military and the police have repeatedly proved impotent on the matter of containing killer herdsmen and other casual killer squads, again tempting all manner of unsavoury conclusions.

This situation has not been made any better by the uneducated utterances of high government officials like Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Defence and Information Ministers and even the chief of police, respectively.

There is of course no justification for the apparent tacit support, which all manner of killer gangs seem to be enjoying under President Buhari.

This conclusion is above the politics of the moment. No definition of partisanship can outsource these killings to an opposition party. The failure to take absolute responsibility for the security of the lives of every Nigerian can only be ascribed to one factor: crass incompetence and lack of executive decisiveness. No previous administration has presided over such a massive decimation of Nigerians in peacetime.

While these concessions remain valid, Mr. Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice of venue to cry out about the Taraba chapter of the new national killing sport - a university in his home state- does not quite fit into his erstwhile branding as a national elder statesman. The industrial scale sporadic killings of innocent citizens that has become the identity badge of the Buhari presidency is not localized to Taraba

or Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jukun ethnicity. Nor are they geopolitically skewed in any way.

Anambra, Abia, Delta, Ekiti, Benue, Nasarawa , Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kano states have all been theatres in an ever expanding national killing field featuring killer herdsmen and other migrants and vagrants .

If indeed Mr. Danjuma is concerned about the abuse of the military and its use to aid and abet violations of peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights, why is he just waking up now? If Mr. Danjuma wanted to atone for his murky past and acquire a national voice, where was he when the same military over which he had previously presided repeatedly (according to Amnesty International and most local observer groups) committed the mass killings of unarmed IPOB and MASSOB sympathizers in Onitsha and other parts of the South East?

Maybe it is also part of the attributes of men of immense power and wealth to develop amnesia even on matters that they themselves presided over.

Maybe I was the Defence Minister under whose watch the little town of Odi in Bayelsa state was reduced to rubble. I was probably the Minister of Defence when Zaki Biam in Benue State was similarly flattened by tanks and armoured vehicles.

Danjuma is a privileged citizen who has full unfettered access to the president. I have lost count of how many presidential advisory committees he is chairing under the Buhari presidency. There is no indication that Mr. Danjuma has tried and failed to get a presidential audience to air his views to Mr. Buhari on these and other matters. I guess it is easier and more convenient to seek audience to canvass yet another oil bloc than to proffer suggestions on how to improve the state of our national security. Since Danjuma was playing to the gallery, he could have gone the whole hog by openly canvassing suggestions on which the public can engage the government in search of ways to improve a bad situation.

While the idealism and fire of youth can tempt those angry with government to scream at high pitch,

the wisdom of age dictates that elders do not rouse the rabble or pull down the homestead. Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement may fit into his definition of freedom of speech. But it steps overboard into the realm of irresponsible utterance and even treasonable incitement.

The full implication of Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call for self help in matters of selfdefense by citizens goes beyond his immediate constituency. It is a toxic epistle on political philosophy of a most decadent variety. This dangerous epistle is addressed to all Nigerians who today feel increasingly exposed and vulnerable to these marauding killer gangs. It is simply a call to arms against fellow Nigerians and a tacit defiance of the state and its security apparatus. It announces and inaugurates the onset of a state of nature, a land of everyman to himself and God for all of us.

If we were to revert to a state of nature, the armed masses in defiance of the state would be out in the streets machetes, Dane guns, bows and arrows, clubs, cudgels and all.

Even a dysfunctional state with the weakest semblance of law and order and a monopoly of the instruments of violence is still our best guarantee for the protection and defense of our residual freedoms, holdings and rights.

Our challenge is to make the state work through the periodic regime changes that democracy guarantees.

But in the nightmare universe of Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toxic advocacy, the strong will kill the weak except the weak come together in mutinous gangs and arm themselves for self-defense since the state, according to him, has failed. For Danjuma, the state is failing, Nigerians should go back to a state of nature akin to what Thomas Hobbes described, a place where anarchy reigns and life is short, nasty and brutish. It was the fear of this descent into anarchy that prompted Thomas Hobbes to argue for the necessity of order under a sovereign leviathan.

Danjuma who owes his emergence, prominence, fame and fortune to anarchic decapitation of a sovereign wants a nation of anarchists. r %S $IJEJ "NVUB JT B NFNCFS PG 5)*4%": &EJUPSJBM #PBSE

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja.

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com